Bombs Away On A Ruthian Day!

Hello and Happy Hump Day everyone.

On a day when we remember the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. On a day we reminisce about the opening of Yankee Stadium on this day in 1923. On a day when we remember an earthquake so powerful that people by the Bay still look back in reverence. Within a day that Mike Schmidt had a four homer game in Chicago in 1976 it seems ideal to comment on what these eyes were witness to last night in Beantown.

I can only think of two other occasions when the Rangers put up an 18 spot on an opponent. July 4th 2004 in Houston and again on the Astros in May of 2005. An 8 homer affair at that led by Kevin Mench. This with the knowledge that there was that 39 run doubleheader in Baltimore 8/22/07 in Ron Washington's first year.

This 2012 Texas Rangers team is shaping up to be...special! Well into the sixth season under Ron Washington we witness daily a steady diet of pitching...and defense...and monstrous manpower at the plate. It matters not where you look in the lineup.

From Ian Kinsler or Elvis Andrus at the top to Mike Napoli toward the bottom. You really don't get any breaks within the starting nine. 

If you take away two blown saves by Joe Nathan we might very easily be discussing an 11-0 Rangers team. Tonight they will try to 5-0 on the current road trip. Think Texas misses C.J. Wilson? Nope! Josh Hamilton playing like a man possessed in a contract year? Yes! Timely home run hitting at any point in a game from beginning to end? How about last night as an example?

Tom Grieve has been a part of the Texas Rangers family for close to 50 years. There is very little Tom Grieve has not seen. When you hear Tom Grieve say 'WOW!' three times in reaction to a Josh Hamilton bomb to dead center at Fenway Park you are witnessing something special.

Six homers in an 18-3 blowout in Boston while Colby Lewis pounds the strike zone and goes a solid seven innings. Rangers fans might view last night as payback for a game in August 2008 during the Summer Olympics when Scott Feldman got lit up for a huge loss to the Red Sox.

I will forever be a huge proponent of the 1-0 pitchers duel. Even I am amazed at what the offense of the Texas Rangers can produce. You look past Lewis, there's Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Yu Darvish, and Neftali Feliz. Five guys who can pound the strike zone and take command of a game. Shades of the 1997 Mariners who hit some 257 homers despite 25 blown saves. Every game was a fight to the finish. 

I remember the 1998 Yankees team as being tough to handle from top to bottom. This current group of bats may qualify for a new term. 'Death Row' could be applicable. When they connect with a pitch the charge emitted is rather deadly and non defensible. 

Alas, it is only April and it is true how you finish is more important. The Texas Rangers of 2012 might very well be a team on a mission. Let's enjoy the ride shall we? Great game last night. Even greater start. Hopefully Detroit goes well after Beantown.

Make it a Great Day!

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will