Well, looks like I lied earlier when I said I'd make it to the ENTIRE series, but I did manage to make it to Friday and Sunday at the Trop.  Both games provided notably different experiences. 

 FRIDAY

Friday night saw me, the wife, and her friends make it to the stadium over an hour before the game.  We got a parking spot right up next to the front entrance with the firm's parking pass, as well as primo box seats on the lower level past first base.  With time to kill, we went next door to Ferg's Bar and Grill, a great stop to stuff your face regardless of your choice of fare, healthy or artery-clogging.  Incredibly diverse menu.  There are three bars inside the place, with downstairs and upstairs DJ's spinning after the game, pool table, MLB extra innings package... so it's a fun and very convenient spot to hit up after games.  There's a bridge from the bar parking lot to the stadium gate, so it's wise to fill up there for about $3/pint or just tailgate in the parking lot... which not nearly enough people do, even for the big games. 

So, after a laughable excuse for a security search, we make our way through the gate and into the ginormous rotunda, which was built to model the late, great Ebbotts Field.  We walk for 15 minutes around the stadium, through a remarkably narrow passageway, herded in like sheep.  (Unfortunately, from the main centerfield entrance, they don't allow you to take a left and go towards right field and then first base... just a big wall to meet you... everyone must go through right field... hence the senseless log jam and extra travel time.  Just a stupid layout)  We arrive at our seats, surrounded by 60 and 70-somethings, one of which had a nefarious cowbell.  Nice enough and knowledgeable enough, they weren't bad to listen to, although they seemed to inexplicably hate on Kazmir the entire game as he was shutting down our lineup.  Not the best Friday night crowd I've ever seen, especially for the start of a series with huge playoff implications, but it wasn't awful.  As I got 2.5 sheets to the wind as a reflex to watching the Rangers' anemic offense, it was handy that there's a restroom at almost every single corridor ramp.  Seriously.  A drinking man's utopia.  Not the best restrooms in the world, but when you gotta go, you don't have to wait long. 

As we never really seemed in the game, the loss wasn't too difficult to take.  I still think Kazmir was wild and we didn't make him work quite enough (status quo for offense), but he made some quality pitches to get out of jams, most notably the clutch slider for called 3rd strike to end 6th.  Tip the cap.  After the game, we walked back over to Ferg's (with the ladies, who wanted to get down).  The drinking continued, drunk dancing ensued to 90s rap music, and so we walked back to my buddy's apartment in St. Pete and left the car in the main lot.  Ironically, Ferg's is directly across the street from the St. Petersburg Police Station, so you'd have to be a fool to try to drive home.  Fortunately, the Trop doesn't tow out of the stadium lots before 11 am the next day, so disaster was averted. 

SUNDAY

Made it back to the park on Sunday, and what a difference road warrior Scott Feldman makes.  I didn't have the firm seats or parking pass, so no parking up by the front door today.  I arrived on the main road by the stadium about 40 minutes prior to the game and was unable to park in the enormous main lot ($15 per car; free with 4 or more people in car) that spreads out from the rotunda entrance, the primary entrance to the stadium.  As such, I managed to find a $5 lot three blocks east and began a trek that rivaled walking from the cheap-o, distant lots by Texas Stadium.  I walked up to a lengthy walk-up ticket line, but managed to get an upper deck ticket very quickly.  There was an incredible absence of scalpers on my walk to the stadium.  Think I only saw one. 

Bigger crowd than Friday night, close to 30,000.  Lower level was a logjam and elderly ushers were everywhere... no moving down unless you were hard up for a body cavity search and a beatdown... or unless you were a stealth ninja.  Those old people have eyes like a hawk and move on seat squatters like they were trying to rid the world of tyranny.  Wow.  Anyhow, Ian Kinsler finally remembered where the opposite field was and the Rangers struck early.  The lead, with Scott Feldman's beastliness, pretty much kept the boisterous Tampa crowd in check, with much fewer cowbells clanging (likely due to less alcohol, no doubt).  Upper deck crowd was chock full of ruffians and high schoolers more interested in flirting and texting than watching the game.  There was a group of 40-somethings sitting in front of me that were semi-knowledgeable fans... although they didn't know who Scott Feldman or some of the newer Rangers were, so they're probably just casual Ray fans. 

Wandered to some of the highpoints of the stadium in the middle innings.  Centerfield Brewhouse is in the inner concourse right behind.... drumroll... centerfield.  Basically a big, open room with center and side bars.  Lots of TVs w/extra innings package.  Attractive ladies tending the bar.  Shot the bull with some old Rays fans, who saw my shirt and commented on how they think the Rangers are on the rise like the Rays from last year.  Tried to make it to the Ray tank in right-center, but the line was around the corner.  Made it around to all the other spots inside the stadium (quite a few) and returned to my seats in time to watch Scott Feldman and the bullpen round out the last half of the game.  Some drunk guy sporting a Hank Blalock jersey was dancing in the aisles (Josey Wales, perhaps?), waving bye-bye to what was left of the Rays' faithful who stayed til the bitter end.  Hit up Centerfield Brewhouse for a beer (and watched the postgame show) before departing stadium for a last beer at nearby Ferg's.  Not a bad day at the ballpark. 

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Might as well watch and cheer on the Athletics and Dallas Braden, he who looks down on Florida for its storms (nice earthquakes, California).  It would be a boost to be able to start our 2nd half with a chance to tie for first by Saturday morning.  Regardless, it's worth watching on the baseball package tonight, especially since nothing else is going on.  Ervin Santana and his near-8 ERA go to the mound for Anaheim.  May his struggles continue.  Go Rangers Athletics.

So, it's time for the biggest game of the year, although you'd think the Pittsburgh Steelers were playing the Detriot Lions based on the fan turnout.  I've seen a only a handful of Arizona fans all week, while Steeler fans are pretty much everywhere, as you'd expect.  Who do you like?  What are your Super Bowl Sunday plans?  I'll take the Steelers 27-16.  I live 10 minutes from the stadium and can't go anywhere, so I will be grilling out steaks in the back yard and watching the game at home with the wife.  Low key.  Bah. 

Well, my wife surprised me with arguably the best surprise I could imagine... Cowboys-Giants tickets.  Although I grew up in Longview and am a lifelong Cowboys fan  supplanted in Florida, this will be my first trip to Texas Stadium.  I suppose she took the hint from all my bitching about not getting to see them play before they closed the stadium.  Anyone have any suggestions about where to go, what to do before the game?  Bars?  Etc? 

Not sure how much I believe this, because I heard on the radio today that this happened at the Boston airport, but the Boston Herald is reporting that Hamilton, in a hurry to get out of Boston to make it home for the birth of his child, refused to sign an autograph for a group of fans outside the team hotel and, when asked a second time by a female member of the group, turned around and barked in her face that he had to pack.  The team was reportedly nearby, and the Rangers' "media man" Court Berry-Tripp made a few damage control statements. 

We're getting one 5-minutes-of-fame fan's take on what happened, so we don't really know what was said or the context it was said in.  That being said, as good of a guy as Josh appears to us to be, I can understand if he was razzled at that moment about the implosion of the season, the lack of options to make it home, and possibly the edginess that comes with being a recovering addict.  If it happened, I just hate that it did in front of a 12-year old kid.

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the deal to send Ramirez to Florida has fallen by the wayside this afternoon, meaning lots more fun comments from Ramirez should be forthcoming. 

Per Rosenthal:

The Pirates' return for Bay, sources say, was the apparent holdup in the deal. The Pirates are seeking an "appropriate return for an All-Star caliber left fielder" — and one who is affordable at $5.75 million this season and $7.5 million in 2009.

To trade Bay, who turns 30 on Sept. 20, the Pirates presumably would need to exceed the offer they received from the Braves last week — Class AAA outfielder Brandon Jones, Class AAA shortstop Brent Lillibridge and two pitchers in the low minors.

Two prominent Marlins prospects who have been mentioned — Class AA right-hander Ryan Tucker and Class A outfielder Michael Stanton — will not be traded, multiple sources said.

I wonder if the Marlins might get on the phone and try to upgrade their catching position at the last minute.  Who knows.

Apparently teams have contacted JD about acquiring Padilla... including the Mets, Yankees, and Brewers. JD is looking for "quality young pitching".  Really... that's a stunner. 

If JD is receiving offers, what do you all think he should settle for?  Yankees: Horne or Ohlendorf plus a midlevel IF prospect... maybe more.  Mets: target Deolis Guerra and stand by your guns.  Demand it.  Minaya is a desperate SOB. Brew crew: Manny Parra or Matt LaPorta.  LaPorta hits for average and is a beasticon of the Chris Davis type.  Pie in the sky, but the Brewers are rarely this much in the mix, so they may decide now is the time to go for it. 

Hank Steinbrenner decided enough is enough and publicly blasted his team for its recent sluggish offensive performance (although this was mild compared to his normal rants).  It must chap his ass that a relatively unknown guy like Scott Feldman shut down his trillion dollar lineup and our no name, low money young guys are making plays.  With the Red Sox and Rays coming up, I guess he's just trying to jump start his team. 

Tonight's game is the kind of game the Rangers would often lose and lose big, but the team's confidence is on the rise and I think they'll play well tonight.  This will be a tremendous test for Mendoza in the Rangers' last game in the house of pain.

As we approach the midpoint of the season, this team, at last, appears to be headed in the right direction.  The offense is booming.  Kins is a budding star.  We have a catching problem... as in a very good problem.  Young guys are contributing.  E-Hurl and Feldman have pleasantly surprised so far.  Pads has looked good (let's remember he's only 30... as Evan notes and I agree, we might need him if it all comes together in 2009).  Hambone should get a major Dallas street named after him already.  Milton hasn't blown up.... yet... and seems to be getting along in a gelling clubhouse.  As Butters and Ed pointed out today, Chris Davis appears to be on his way up.  (Peace out, rattie.)  The Electrician has appeared to have risen from that slump since the Oakland series.  Everyday has been workmanlike (even if he's not a piece of the future, he's keeping the 8th inning from being a total disaster). Sans the bullpen, I feel pretty good about this team.

With all that in mind... my question is: what would it take for this season to be considered a success?  80-82 wins?  Finish ahead of Oakland?  I think 82 wins would be a great accomplishment, considering the youth movement taking place before our eyes and the revolving door through parts of our rotation.  What do you think?