A not so good Friday. 750 comments


Well, that one sucked the life out of everything. The Rangers managed three hits in yesterday’s Ballpark tuneup.

Out 1-2-3 in the first inning.

Out 1-2-3 in the second inning.

Out 1-2-3 in the third inning.

Jacob deGrom mowed down the Rangers like a highway worker on a John Deere.

Finally, after two outs in the fourth inning, eleven straight batters returning to the dugout bat in hand, the Rangers got their first base runner: Prince Fielder doubled on a line drive to left. We will see a lot of that this year.

He was stranded at second. We will see a lot of that this year.

Choo lead off the fifth with a walk, but was left stranded at first.

In the sixth inning DeShields walked, stole second, and stayed there.

In the seventh inning the Rangers came alive in an offensive explosion. Two runners got on (a Hoying single and a Smolinski walk). Then, just like that, the Rangers offense came dead. Both runners were stranded.

Another two-out hit in the eight (Thomas Field). Another runner stranded.

Then 1-2-3 in the ninth to close it out.

In the end, three hits, five baserunners, nobody advancing further than second, a 5-0 loss to the New York Mets, a team that knows how to develop good young starters. The Rangers saw one yesterday in Rookie of the Year deGrom. He has looked so good this spring (4-0 with a 2.08 ERA), he might just win Rookie of the Year again.

One more of these fake games, then the real ones begin. Ross Detwiler (0-1, 4.15) faces Dillion Gee (2-0, 2.49) at the Ballpark at 1:05.

I am anxiously awaiting my fresh shipment of positivity from the factory. Let’s hope it arrives soon.