SB Nation User Blog: RangerBoy

John Mayberry Jr.

RangerBoy — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:29:45 -0000

He's hot - that's all there is to it... but is it just a streak?

Obviously, JMJ won't continue batting .480/.519/.840 (1 K in 25 AB!! prior to todays game), but is he finally realizing the potential the scouts have been talking about for years?

BTW - he went 5 for 5 with a double and triple on Friday and he's got 2 of the R'Hawks 6 hits including a double today...

RedHawks lay the smack down 19-3

RangerBoy — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:28:25 -0000

Watched the RedHawks play in the 40 degree temperature in OKC tonight. It looked like it was going to be a pitchers dual heading into the bottom of the 4th with Round Rock up 1-0.

Elizardo "The Lizard" Ramirez was on the mound for the 'RHawks. He didn't look dominating, but crafty, biting at the edges most of the night. Round Rock had Fernando Nieve going - and let me tell you - this guy can bring the cheese... hit 97 multiple times early dominating the RedHawks first time through the order. He just didn't have enough gas as the 'RHawks put up 3 in the 4th and 3 more in the 5th before chasing him.

It would probably be easier to list the guys who didn't have a good night at the plate, but these stuck out to me...

Ellison had a grand slam, a double and 2 singes... I know, I know... it's Ellison and nobody cares, but he really looked good.

Cruz hit a 3-run shot and had 4 RBIs...

Arias went 4 for 5 with 4 RBIs...

Salty looked good going 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs and 2 BBs...

Boggs seemed frustrated with the umpire at times (as did many of the players) and ended up 1 for 3 with 2 Ks.

The RedHawks had 7 players in their starting line-up who, after the game, are hitting over .300 - they really look good this year.

Is it time to move Young from SS?

RangerBoy — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:47:31 -0000

Young has looked terrible at SS this season. I could barely watch the pain that was Friday's game (he wasn't the only one - just the one I'm picking on right now). Elvis looks like he could be ready to start as early as next year. Is it time to start planning for the future?

For the record: Andrus is .317/.364/.366 7/2 K/BB and a .729 OPS - average is nice - not much else, but if he can provide better range and prevent a couple runs a week - I say he'd be an upgrade...

Poll

What should be done with Young?

Leave Young at SS and suffer through the rest of the season.

49 votes

Move Young to 3B and trade Blalock.

14 votes

Move Young to LF and make Catt the new full-time ball boy.

25 votes

Move Young back to 2B and put Kinsler in the OF.

14 votes

102 votes | Poll has closed

Mathis and 4/10 Hawks

RangerBoy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:10:09 -0000

Watched Doug Mathis toss the ball around last night. He looked solid until giving up a couple dingers in the 6th. His line was 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BBs and 4Ks..

I'd like to get some other opinions on him. He looks like he's progressing from last season and could make a decent back of the rotation guy somewhere in the future.

Other random observations. Salty had 4 RBIs and Gold had 3 RBIs and scored 3 times. Mench looks as mobile as a broken refrigerator at first... RedHawks won 11-4.

The Sounds brought in a guy named Luis Pena to pitch the 6th and I have never seen a pitcher look less like he wanted to be on the mound than this guy. He was frustrated from the first pitch and kept shaking his head and peering into the dugout. He went on to pitch a third of an inning giving up 3 hits, 3 walks and 6 earned runs.

3-3 Hurley / RedHawks

RangerBoy — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 03:27:31 -0000

Watched Hurley pitch tonight. He struggled with his command early and with Cardinal Uber-Slugger Colby Rasmus. You could kinda tell in warm-ups that he wasn't dialed in yet.

He was consistently around 93 with his fastball until he gave up a 2-run dinger in the 3rd. He then decided to get serious and took his fastball up a notch to 94 the rest of the way - hitting 96 a couple times. He proceeded to strikeout 6 of the next 10 hitters without allowing a run. He ended up going 5, giving up 3 runs with 7 Ks and 2 walks. His line doesn't show it, but he was dominant after giving up that homer in the 3rd.

Salty scored the winning run on a Roberts single in the 10th. Roberts had 3 hits, Ellison had a couple and Gold had 2 RBIs. The wind was cold and swirling all night and Salty ended up with a wind-blown bloop double in the 8th for his only hit.