SB Nation User Blog: corbsclinton

TR, great game recap tonight...

corbsclinton — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:50:00 -0000

...Feel I didn't skip a beat:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090512&content_id=4691222&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex

ARLINGTON -- A 9-4 record while Josh Hamilton was on the disabled list might have suggested the Rangers didn't miss him that much.

That's hardly the case, even though pitching has been carrying the Rangers for much of the past three weeks. The pitching was terrific again on Tuesday night, but the Rangers also received a thunderous reminder of what Hamilton's bat can do for the lineup.

Hamilton, fresh off the disabled list, snapped a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run home run, and the Rangers were able to pull away to a 7-1 victory over the Mariners at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers, opening up a key six-game homestand against the Mariners and Angels, have now won 12 of 17 games to keep hold of first place in the American League West.

Michael Young, who was 3-for-3 with two walks after missing two games with a stiff back, started the Rangers' six-run sixth with a single to right off Mariners reliever Mark Lowe.

That brought up Hamilton, who was hitless in his first three-at bats -- he hit into a double play then left four baserunners on in his next two at-bats. This time, he swung and missed weakly at a changeup, then choked up on the bat and drove a fastball over the left-field wall.

"That's the first time in my career I've choked up on the bat and just tried to put the barrel of the bat on the ball," Hamilton said. "Obviously, my other at-bats weren't great, but that at-bat felt good. Anytime you can make a play or hit a home run like that, it gets your confidence up. You breathe a sigh of relief. Everybody in the dugout was hugging me, and I was hugging them."

Hamilton was playing for the first time since April 26, but he was struggling even before going on the disabled list, hitting .242 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in his first 18 games on the season.

"I'm just so happy for him to come back and get a big hit like that," Andruw Jones said. "He was trying to get it done too badly. Right now, he's a little too anxious, but once he gets patient and start getting his pitches to hit, he's going to be the same player he was for us last season."

Hamilton's home run set off a six-run rally against the Mariners' bullpen and broke the game open for the Rangers. They needed a lift after struggling for five innings against Mariners starter Jason Vargas and then not scoring after having the bases loaded with one out in the sixth.

"We were all just glad to have Josh back in the lineup for us," said first baseman Chris Davis, who hit his ninth home run of the year and his fourth in the past eight games. "When he hit that ball, we were all like a bunch of little kids jumping up and down in the dugout. To have him do that was big for him and a big pickup for us."

Rangers rookie reliever Derek Holland, pitching in relief of starter Scott Feldman, retired all five batters he faced to earn his first Major League victory. He lowered his ERA to 1.74 in six relief appearances since coming to the big leagues. Four of those have come in relief of Feldman, a deliberate tag-team arrangement on the Rangers' part.

"My first victory," Holland said. "I don't know what to say, especially against the Mariners -- a good ballclub -- and Ken Griffey Jr., who I grew up watching. I'm speechless. I can't believe it. I'm still stunned."

Feldman allowed one run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings and now has a 2.74 ERA in four starts. He threw 109 pitches, his highest total in 29 Major League starts. He took a 1-0 lead into the seventh but came out after giving up a one-out single to Franklin Gutierrez, a stolen base and a game-tying double to Kenji Johjima.

"Stuff-wise, I didn't have as good of stuff as I've had," Feldman said. "I would have liked to have gotten through seven. I'd like to go deeper in the game. I'm working on that, working on my stamina and working to keep my pitch counts down."

Maybe, but since the night Feldman stepped into the rotation for Kris Benson on April 24 against the Orioles, the Rangers' pitching staff has a 3.52 ERA in 17 games. Their starters are 9-3 with a 3.42 ERA in that stretch.

"It's great to have Josh back in there, but the story tonight was pitching," Young said. "First Feldman and then Derek. Right now, pitching is leading the way, and we couldn't be happier."

Thanks TR...

Lenny Dykstra is a Douchebag

corbsclinton — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:40:27 -0000

Lenny Dykstra is a Douchebag

OT: Can't One Man Guarantee Passage of the Stimulus Plan?

corbsclinton — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:41:27 -0000

It has been reported by many outlets that a bi-partisan group of senate members have been working the last few days on concessions from both parties to get a a bi-partisan stimulus bill passed in the Senate. So far nothing. A stimulus plan that exceeds 900 Billion dollars. A plan that both sides agree has no guarantee that passage will fix anything. The plan comes at at a time when both parties agree, immediate action is required. We have these quotes from our new president:

"time for talk is over"

"Everyone's going to have to give a little and understand this is a process and we have to move this ball down the court"

"We're not moving quickly because we're trying to jam something down people's throats," he said. "We're moving quickly because if we don't, the economy's going to keep getting worse."

But the quote that had the most impact on me was this: "They did not send us here to get bogged down with the same old delay, the same old distractions, the same talking points, the same cable chatter," he said. "They did not vote for the false theories of the past, and they didn't vote for phony arguments and petty politics, and they did not vote for the status quo."

Wow. I couldn't agree with him more on this one. The nation spoke. I heard it. You heard it. So here is what I'm getting at. Democrats and the president are dealing from a position of strength. And what have I seen? 2 parties that wont give when there is much to concede. The republicans had NO input on what went into the stimulus. They did, however, get to add 2 things (cars and housing amendments). They want to knock down the total cost by an 1/8th (100 Billion). An 1/8th for a bipartisanship vote. Yet that looks like it won't happen. So who can fix this?

President Obama. He can reach across the aisle with his pen and the power of line-item veto. If his party's leadership in the senate refuses to budge why not show us what change is all about and let the minority leadership know that he will line-item to get the bipartisan support. End the "phony arguments and petty politics" and power plays and unite this country.

That would be change I'm interested in.

Perspective Piece: Texas-Texas Tech

corbsclinton — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:44:11 -0000

Perspective Piece: Texas-Texas Tech

Everyone remember the name Matt Zemek.

How old is Elvis?

corbsclinton — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:02:45 -0000

Went to the Missions/Hooks game last night. Free tickets from little sis. Not much to report about the game but after the game we grabbed a beer and some wings with one of the Hooks. I was giving him crap about giving Frisco a hard time and he said the oddest thing. He said no way Elvis is as young as he says he is. I said "how's that?"

He said after one of the games this past weekend a few of the guys from both teams went out for beers. Elvis was there, bellied up to the bar, showed an ID, and got a beer. They started giving him crap about it, asking whether he used his passport or a fake and he said," No I am really 21" and something to the extent of you know how we do it down there.

I didn't press the subject or talk about it any further with him. I just find it odd that I mentioned I follow Frisco and that was the first thing he chose to mention.

Anyway, thought ya'll would want to know.

Who the Hell are These Guys???

corbsclinton — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:51:22 -0000

I know, I know be wary of small sample sizes. I get it. But sometimes you can
pick up consistencies before patterns and I've seen 2 things enough to think it won't
change with a larger sample size.

Plate discipline.
I have never seen a Ranger team work pitchers like they have the first 6 games. I
found a preconceived notion that kept coming up every time top of the inning. I assumed
I could walk away from the TV if they reached an 0-2 count. The only person I watched
passed a 0-2 count regularly before was Michael Young. After 3 games, I started staying
in my seat even if I needed to throw a leak. By FAR FAR FAR the best I've ever seen a Ranger
team collectively work pitchers. They seem committed as an entire team to this as much as I've
seen any major league team. I believe this will be worth 10-15 games this year as they
continue past the small sample size through the entire season. I think most of these wins
will come against 4th or 5th starters.

Quality Pitching
I watched Gabbard pound strikes with junk low in the zone. I watched Milwood's opposition
at the plate give the look like they just got bested by somebody. Padilla throw heat and
not melt down after a few misfortunes. Jennings go after hitters down a few runs and most likely to
get the L a few innings later. Benoit/Blue Glove doing what they do. The Electician mopping up
like the janitor at school we all loved that always had a story.

Guys, this is baseball at its best and the bar just got raised for my expectations this season.
Thanks.

OT: EarthHour08

corbsclinton — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:44:37 -0000

http://www3.earthhourus.org/

I'm headed to the Austin Wrangler game but will be unplugging before I leave.

Here's another link for home owners that want to be green and save a buck at the same time:

http://greenswitch.tv/

Getting FA's to sign here

corbsclinton — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:43:42 -0000

Remember when the Mav's were the laughing stock of the NBA? When free agents spurned them and the only use in them negotiating with the Mav's was to up the deal somewhere else? The ranger's franchise has always had a hard time getting good starting pitchers to come because of the heat and the park. Milwood was an exception.

But now hitters????

With the evolution of the $10M+/yr contract,
multi-year deals, and more teams willing to give these type contracts, we can only assume its going to get worse. The value of prospects have risen to the point where if you want to go out and grab an impact bat via trade you are going to give up 3-5 of them. The off season is not over but we are no closer to being competitive in 2009 then we were when we started, so in my mind, we took a step back.

Unfortunately, I joined many of you in thinking 2010 at the earliest. That realization sucked. I'd really like to hear an interview with JD that revisits managements "its looking more like 2009" take on current situation and explain to us how we are going to pull that off. I didn't expect much, just a glimpse that we are headed in the right direction.

Not signing someone to a bad contract was not what I was looking for.

OT: Mike Leach is Whiny little bitch

corbsclinton — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:04:32 -0000

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3104347

Randy Chrystal is aurguably the best white hat in college football. He has been chosen to do the BCS championship multiple times. According to Leach, he was partial to UT because he lives in Austin. I know Randy personally and there is no way in hell he doesn't call the games by the book. If Leach needs something to blame that loss on he needs to look in the mirror, his defenses have been some of the worst in college football during his tenure.

SI article

corbsclinton — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:54:11 -0000

Adam is going to love this one:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/10/29/bp.alwest/1.html

What position does Sammy play? I cant remember the last time I've seen a slap in the face to a current player like that one.

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