Poor Toby's Almanac...Sprouting Grass Moon over Fenway
This dog misses the great Robert Crandall:
Lessons from Fenway: A full moon rose over Fenway Park on Friday night. The Sprouting Grass Moon is what the North American Indians call a full moon in April.
There were 37,958 fans there to see it and the Red Sox rally to defeat the Rangers. It's the largest crowd ever to see a game at Fenway Park since World War II. The previous high had been set the night before.
How about that? The Rangers are a bigger draw than the Yankees.
Actually it's because Fenway's capacity is bigger this year. The owners added more seats on the roof down the left-field line. They have done that every year for the past several years.
On Sunday the place they call the "Most Beloved Ballpark in America" will celebrate a birthday. No. 96 if you're scoring at home. Fenway Park opened on April 20, 1912 and everybody in Boston knows that's the same day that the Titanic went down on its maiden voyage.
Fenway isn't going down. It's getting better and better every year. Everybody was stunned a few years ago when the Red Sox owners decided to put seats on top of the Green Monster. That's the 37-foot left field wall that may be as sacred as the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
The seats proved to be hugely popular. Rangers vice-president Andrew Silverman hosted 30 Rangers fans from Texas there Saturday night. Manny Ramirez's home run sailed over their heads.
The Monster Seats were such a big hit that the Red Sox owners kept finding ways to add seats. They put a whole new section of seats on the roof over the right field bleachers. They added bleacher seats on other sections of the roof. Capacity continues to grow. The charm stays the same.
It is still a great ballpark.
The Rangers need to pay attention. They have their own great ballpark although it is only 14 years old. You can make changes to a ballpark and not ruin it. Just be respectful.
The Oracle of Elysian Fields:
"I'll take the over."
General manager Jon Daniels scoffing at a national commentator's suggestion that manager Ron Washington was on the hot seat and might not make it until May.
Toby's Top Five
1. German Duran - We love Paschal High School. Long ago I lived just down the street from Paschal. You have to love a kid who played the outfield for the first time as a professional in just his second Major League game and wasn't intimidated by the Green Monster. He also had his first Major League hit and dropped two sacrifice bunts.
2. Kyle Lohse - The guy we said the Rangers shouldn't touch is 2-0 with a 1.48 ERA in four starts for the Cardinals and Scott Boras has a smirk on his face. Well, that's not unusual but..
3. C.J. Wilson - He hasn't given up a run yet. He just needs more work.
4. Josh Hamilton - He has more than twice as many RBI as any of his teammates. Actually that might be one of the Rangers problems.
5. Boston - What a great baseball town. Next up: Detroit.
Ex-Ranger of the Week: The Tigers called up pitcher Armando Galarraga from Triple A Toledo when Dontrelle Willis went on the disabled list. Galarraga made his first start on Wednesday and beat the Cleveland Indians, 13-2, allowing two runs in 62/3 innings.
The Rangers traded Galarraga to the Tigers this winter for Minor League outfielder Michael Hernandez. The Rangers released Hernandez at the end of Spring Training and he is now with the Mets Class A team in Port St. Lucie.
Birthdays: Former Rangers reliever Dave Schmidt turns 51 on Tuesday. Schmidt was a pretty good reliever from 1981-85 before being traded to the White Sox. If memory serves, his family was on Family Feud but can't remember if it was him or his wife. Do remember Richard Dawson saying something about the Phillies third baseman.
David Clyde is 53 on Tuesday. One of our all-time favorites, Frank Lucchesi, turns 81 on Thursday.
Anniversary: Today is also the 92nd anniversary of the Cubs first game in Wrigley Field in 1916. It opened in 1914 for the Chicago Whales of the Federal League but the Cubs took it over after the League shut down. Actually it was Weegham Park. They didn't change the name to Wrigley Field until 1926.
Pitching matchup of the Week:
Jered Weaver vs. Josh Beckett on Tuesday at Fenway Park. Pretty good start to a three-game series between the Angels and Red Sox.
Last call:
"That was impressive. That makes my 14 innings look like nothing."
Rangers catcher Gerald Laird on Yorvit Torrealba of the Rockies and Josh Bard of the Padres catching all 22 innings on Thursday night.
"Hail to thee Paschal, fight, fight, fight." A fight song for old Ft. Worth High School. Thats what the Rangers need a fight song, yeah, thats the ticket. Galaragga, Volquez, Danks, Harang, Demptster...What is coming next? You never ever trade young pitching, it is too unpredictable, especially with our history. Why did we get rid of Galarraga? Why trade that guy for someone that we didn't even keep? Isn't it wonderful how Daniels continues to not receive any talent in return for our players? Daniels better Thank God everyday that the Red Sox made that deal that gave us Gabbard, Murphy and Beltre. It is the only thing keeping him in a job. The Atlanta trade is still out, we got a lot of prospects but none are currently helping this franchise. "I take the over." Well how much further into the season does Washington get? I like Washington, he is Daniels hire, HE IS A GOOD PERSON. He just hasn't provided the leadership that is needed. According to Hicks, Daniels, Washington and Company we have the players in place. If we do then why are we not consistently playing good fundamental baseball? I don't care what people say and they will say this, the manager doesn't hit, field, throw, run or make mental mistakes. Well what are you going to do fire 25 players? No you fire the manager. It is going to happen folks, unless we go on sometype of winning streak. Why do these guys cave so easily to the pressure? Grover where are you? I think Daniels is scared to fire Washington because Nolan may say if he goes, you go. A package deal, now i can buy that deal. I am signing up for season tickets if they both get canned.
Report any abuse or spam
Duran, i love him. But what kind of idiot, who made the decision to bring him up, have him bat against Halladay, then put him in left field at the green monster? Nuts. Duran is a second baseman period. Kinslers future is left field, or third base. So move that guy now if Duran is your player. How many guys do we now have on this team that are playing out of position?
Report any abuse or spam
The Robert Crandall from American Airlines and "jerry's kids?" If so, a class sort of guy.
Frank Thomas is on the loose.....I seldom go for something like this but sign him...put him at DH put Milton in the field put Botts at first and cut Brousard for the roster spot or I suppose it's just easier to German Duran down though I like that kid.. Just ask me I got all the answers. lol.
D'god...I'm just tired of it....you never get any more reasonable do you? How you can really be a police officer with your grasp of the word "fact" is beyond me.
Report any abuse or spam
Hey Fred, the facts get twisted and turned and are subject to the amount of money that you have and your abilitiy to pay a lawyer. Ask OJ he will tell you. Facts are that he brutally murdered 2 people and walked away because of his fame and fortune. Just the facts man: We have nothing for: Soriano, Gonzales, Young and now Galaragga. PS for someone who says they want to help me, you sure have a way of doing it. Fact as Billy Martin said, you can be beating a team for 6 innings, but the really great ones win out. Either Boston is great or we suck. You decide. Fact: this is a worse start than last year at the same point. Fact: Washingtons teams do digress in his second season. It will be proven more as long as he is allowed to manage. Fact: Washington was brought here to improve our defense and teach our hitters to work the count. Fact: Looks like he is Earl Weavering it and playing for the 3 run homer. FAct: We should have hired Hillman. Fact: You can't lose games that you should win. Fact: If you lose the games you are supposed to win, and lose the games you are supposed to lose then how many victories do we get? 71-91 if he lasts the season, which he won't. How much longer before he (Washington) takes the fall for Daniels bad trades? 10 more games, 15 more games 20 more, 25 more games? The manager is responsible for what the players do. Thats it even if he doesn't field, hit, run, or throw. He needs to get on their donkey and tell them that he ain't going down without a fight. But he is too positive to realize that he is the captain on a sinking ship. Good Bye Ron, say hello to the Mavericks down in New Orleans. Grover, Grover, Grover where are you?
Report any abuse or spam
CJ Wilson's ERA of zip is now an ERA of 2.25, as he gave up 2 hits and walked three without getting an out en route to a blown save today at Fenway today.
I don't know what's up with the Rangers bullpen lately, but the late innings have been painful to watch these last few games. Connor needs to take both CJ and Joaquin aside, and set them straight quickly - If he's capable of doing that, that is.
Also, the offense reeks. Gerald Laird is now hitting .207 - he needs to be benched. It's time for Saltalamacchia to take his rightful place behind the plate in Arlington, and JD needs to admit to himself that he has overvalued Laird, and give up on this idea that he'll improve with more playing time. Because he's not.
http://lonestarincalifornia.wordpress.com/
Report any abuse or spam
My God! How bad is it going to get? We actually had this game won untill the 8th. Its always the pitching in Texas. My wife and I paid for $60 bucks seats each last Saturday for our home opening week. The way things look, I will not pay any more money to watch this team implode. Things look to be even wose than last year. I say Washington needs to go, he is a "defense expert," yet our defense is horrible. Pitching is not all his fault, but pitching has always been the downfall of the Ranger's staff. I will be happy if we spend the next 3 years actually rebuilding the team, and not too worried about the record. Too bad nobody else wants to do that. I read this bolg weekly, but up untill now I just lurk, but I'm getting tired of being silent.
Report any abuse or spam
TR - Have you heard anything about whether Washington was ordered to play Botts some, last week?
Report any abuse or spam
No, not at this point
Report any abuse or spam
If he is starting to be ordered around, then the end is near. If this does in fact start, he would be wise to resign or make them fire him. It is apparent to me that Daniels has been distancing himself from Washington in order to keep his own job. Pretty ironic considering that Daniels skipped on Hillman for his own benefit. Thats just what this team needs an insecure GM, who was scared to hire a more qualified manager. I personally would like to see Daniels and Washington both get fired. Then Nolan could hire his own GM who would in turn hire a new manager. This is how a real organization has done it. I am going to say that the scouting department is more responsible for the Boston and Atlanta trades thereby depriving Daniels of any credit. Unless.....unless. Daniels stands up publicly and states that hiring Ronald Washington was a mistake. We need a veteran manager that can work with a young team. I personally want Mike Hargrove. I believe he has always wanted a job here in Texas. Grover, Grover, Grover. Lets get on with it.
Report any abuse or spam
Courtney where are you? I really thought that this would be a better team this year, didn't think that it could get worse. But if all else fails, go with the statistics. It is what baseball is all about. For those of you who have forgotten, In Rons limited managerial experience, his teams have digressed in the second season. What good does it do us to keep him around? I really don't care if they win 35 out of 60 at the end of the season if we start out 20 games under 500. It just proves the Rangers play better when the pressure is off of them. Newsflash. This is a pressure sport and you can't afford to be 20 games out by May, it makes for a long season. I can hear Young crying now. I want to play for a winner, i want to be in California. I love the fans in Texas but we have no chance every year. I want to be like TEX. Mike you had a chance a free agency you should have took it. If you would have refused their offer, they would have traded you and told everyone that you were a malcontent for wanting to win. You aren't going to win here so you better start the chatter. Ha Ha. We stink and it ain't gonna change until we get some leadership. Newsflash, managers are leaders. Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.
Report any abuse or spam