Derp derp herp.

Rangers lose.

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

Your time to shine, Angrydome.

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

And so, the Rangers escape to California. Everyone got all gussied up for a road trip to the best coast. Hair was trimmed. Mustaches were manicured. The team was ready for sun and fun. But then the Seattle Slaughter happened. Thanks to the generosity of scheduling, the Rangers don't have to stick around and marinate in that failure. Instead, they get to enjoy a summer vacation in the Golden State. Three games in Anaheim, four games in Oakland, and three games in San Francisco. A team could really find itself out there.

Of course, it's not all sand castles on the beach and Wish You Were Heres. Those three cities amount less to Disneyland, Lake Merritt, and the Golden Gate Bridge and more to the team's biggest rival in Anaheim on an "upswing," a division rival in Oakland in a cavernous ballpark, and a ballpark in San Francisco where the Rangers are 0 for forever. But at least for once, the 2011 World Series won't be the World Series used to haunt us. Who is ready for replay after replay of the 2010 World Series!? None of you? Well tough. Remember when Vlad was in right field? You will.

But about these Angels. These Angels lost a series to San Diego in mid May, then lost the opening game in a series to Oakland to drop to 18-25. Since then, they've lost once. They are now 26-26. Through 52 games last season, the Angels were...wait for it...26-26. The Angels had a record of 18-11 for the month of May. The Rangers had a record of 14-14. Who can we blame? Where should we direct our anger? It's pretty simple. Be mad at Vernon Wells.

Vernon Wells was placed on the disabled list on May 22. May 22 was the date of the first game of an Angels' eight game winning streak. The Angels are 9-1 in the ten games they've played without Vernon Wells. In that time, Mike Trout has been hitting .324 with five home runs and a .941 OPS. Thanks for nothing, forever, Vernon Wells.

Of course, the Rangers are 31-20. That amounts to a 5.5 game lead in the American League West. Coming into this season--a season where the Angels were crowned preseason consensus favorite to win the World Series--you'd take a June 1 5.5 game lead any damn day. The 2011 Rangers were 26-25 at this point last season. It's easy, really. So far, the Rangers are better than they were last season and the Angels are only as good as they were when they weren't the team with too many good players. Here's hoping the Rangers get a little California love.

Here's a breakdown of what this series will mean in the standings:

• Angels sweep - The Rangers lead the Angels in the AL West by 2.5 games
• Angels win 2 of 3 - The Rangers lead the Angels in the AL West by 4.5 games
• Rangers win 2 of 3 - The Rangers lead the Angels in the AL West by 6.5 games
• Rangers sweep - The Rangers lead the Angels in the AL West by 8.5 games

Friday, June 1 9:05: RHP Jerome Williams vs. RHP Colby Lewis

Saturday, June 2 9:05: LHP C.J. Wilson vs. RHP Yu Darvish

Sunday, June 3 2:35: RHP Dan Haren (Or possibly Garrett Richards) vs. LHP Matt Harrison

Continue reading this post »

Except for you, Derek Holland. You must never forget.

Go...do something else...

Rangers record before signing Roy Oswalt: 31-18

Rangers record since signing Roy Oswalt: 0-1

Thanks for nothing, Roy.

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

This has been an enjoyable homestand so far.

T.R. Sullivan's game story focuses on Mike Napoli hitting the go ahead home run and making a nice play at the plate in the Rangers win last night.

Calvin Watkins reacts to the Rangers 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Gerry Fraley offers up some observations on the win from the DMN blog.

Drew Davison wraps up last night's game with some notes on Napoli, Matt Harrison's gem, Nelson Cruz, and Joe Nathan.

Fraley writes behind the DMN paywall about Matt Harrison pitching against the Mariners and how that's been a combination that usually leads to a win for the Rangers.

Keith Whitmire writes about Mike Napoli flashing power and showing signs that he is breaking out of his slump over the last couple of games.

Watkins has a piece on the big game from Napoli.

The DMN has a transcript of Jon Daniels on the Ben & Skin radio show. Daniels spoke about the potential interest in Roy Oswalt, the May mini-swoon, and Neftali Feliz's health and role upon his return this season.

Davison has some notes on Josh Hamilton's health, an update on Yu Darvish & Alexi Ogando after each left the game on Sunday with ailments, and FELDMANIA COMING AT YA.

Sullivan and Christian Corona team up for a Notebook article with items on Nelson Cruz's hustle last night, health updates on various players, Darvish scheduled to make his start on Saturday and other notes.

Finally, Davison writes about traffic jams around the ballpark being a good thing in the eyes of the players. Cliff Lee ain't even hearing that.

The Nap-O-Li! chant is back!

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

It doesn't seem like that long ago that I was cowering in the left field access tunnel on Opening Day trying to fight off the side effects of eating a Boomstick and the betrayal of Dale Hansen walking off with my victory t-shirt. And yet, this 2012 baseball season is already nearly a third of the way complete. After this series with the Mariners, the next time the Rangers play, it will be June. June is unofficially/officially when you stop saying things like "on the young season" or "to start a season" or "it's still pretty cool outside".

Basically, it's summer now. The baseball season is no longer new. The novelty is over. But for the Texas Rangers, that doesn't mean the thrill is gone. Only once have the Rangers had a better record through 48 games in their now 40 year history. That was in 1998. Those Rangers were 31-17. That team then lost four straight, had a dismal June, an even worse July, before rallying in the final third of the season to make the postseason.

The 1999 Texas Rangers, the prior-to-last-season claimant to the title of Best Rangers Team Ever, had a 28-20 record at this point in the season. That team had a solid June, a great July, a fantastic season, and were swept out of the postseason by the New York Yankees. The 2011 Texas Rangers, the new gold standard, were 25-23 after 48 games last season. Game 48 came after the Rangers scored four total runs in a series against Philadelphia. In that game, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz both homered in their long awaited return from the disabled list. In many ways, with the offense finally intact again, that felt like the beginning of the season.

Last season the Rangers had a combined May/June record of 27-28. It wasn't pretty. This season, even with this "slump" the Rangers have been in, the Rangers still have been over .500 for the month. One main difference with this team compared to the Rangers of other defining seasons is just how dominant they have been when you take a look at the numbers. As was noted by Sam Miller, the Rangers have the best pythagorean record at this point in a season since the 1939 New York Yankees. If the Rangers were playing to their pythag, they'd currently have a record of 33-15. That's nearing 2001 Seattle Mariners territory.

The Rangers lead baseball in runs, hits, home runs, total bases, average, OBP, SLG, and therefore OPS. The Rangers are best in baseball in team WAR and wOBA. Pitching? The Rangers have the lowest ERA in the American League. The staff's batting average against is best in the AL. The Rangers' bullpen is the best in baseball by nearly any metric. Defense? The Rangers are best in baseball in fielding RAR and UZR. It's a statistic orgy of awesomeness. Just about the only metric that hasn't been favorable for the Rangers this season has been baserunning and the Rangers have been one of the best baserunning teams in the game of the last several years. I expect that to improve. At just under a third of a season, the Rangers are doing nearly everything better than any other team in baseball.

In summary: I don't know what any of this has to do with the Mariners. The Rangers play them often. They're sort of boring. Enjoy your grilled meats and adult beverages today. The Texas Rangers are very good.

Continue reading this post »

Baseball is pretty fun when the Rangers win a lot.

T.R. Sullivan's game story focuses on Yu Darvish getting through five less-than-dominant innings with an upset stomach and stiff back. However, thanks to the bats going nuclear, Darvish still won his league-leading seventh game.

Calvin Watkins reacts to the Rangers 12-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Drew Davison has wrap up notes on the Rangers win and series sweep against the Blue Jays.

Jean-Jacques Taylor writes a baseball article on Yu Darvish's command.

Matt Mosley writes a baseball article on Elvis Andrus blossoming into one of the best shortstops (Statistically, he has been the best shortstop this season) in baseball.

Davison has a piece on David Murphy trying to draw walks and remaining patient at the plate in the absence of base hits. Here's a quote from Murphy in the article:

"I feel like I've had my fair share of hard outs this year, but I haven't necessarily had my fair share of luck. It's good to get some of those now and then."

Let's see...Murphy currently has a career high LD% of 23.6% so he is correct in his assumption that he is hitting the ball relatively hard. As far as luck, though, Murphy has a BABIP of .310. So he hasn't been terribly unlucky. Sorry, Murph. That said, Murphy's current walk rate of 10.1% would also be his Rangers' career high. That's neat, at least.

Watkin writes on the Rangers already drawing 1,000,000 people in attendance this season. Of note, this is the fastest the Rangers have ever reached the one million mark.

The Dodgers, Phillies, and Yankees are the only other teams to reach the one million mark so far this season. Each of those clubs have had at least two more home dates than the Rangers, however. Also, the 16 sellout games so far this season is second in total sellouts in one season behind the year The Ballpark opened in 1994.

Sullivan's Notebook covers Mike Napoli saying he still wants to stay a Ranger, Alexi Ogando day-to-day after getting hit in the hand on Sunday, C.J. Wilson vs. The Rangers: Round Three scheduled for Saturday, and other notes.

Jeff Wilson's notes cover Roy Oswalt not looking like an option for now, updates on the health status of Napoli and Josh Hamilton, and Matt Harrison looking to do better in the first inning of his starts.

Behind the DMN paywall, Kevin Sherrington writes about Yu Darvish's start yesterday somehow being another reason why the Rangers should sign Oswalt.

Finally, it's DMN Top 12 Prospects Slideshow time. You'll probably just want to skip the Martin Perez slide.

Twelve games over .500. New high-water mark!

Herbies at the ready.

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...

Go Rangers...