Monday Morning Manager....Memorial Day

1. That Hamilton has done as well as he has is a pleasant surprise. (Good,yes, but not that good!)Bradley? A very pleasant surprise!

2. The latest win is alwaye the biggest win...

3. Nah! There're all fantastic! Well, perhaps I reach for the antacid when Benoit is on the mound. Oh for the Benoit of last year...

4. I hope so....:-)

5. The Rangers. There're only .500...

Bonus Q. Give us another hint. Is it in the continental USA?

1. Josh by a landslide...He would have to slump to finish .300/30hr/120rbi!!! That's just sick---what happens when he really learns how to play the game? Bradley has always produced when he can stay on the field...
2. The Vinnie complete game shut out that started the good run...
3. Jamey and Frankie have been lights out solid but C.J. and Benoit get the heart rate up too often...
4. Couldn't understand all the hype at the beginning of the season--didn't they fall off badly last season??
5.Tie between the Tribe and the Tigers---all these world class starters and the great expectations hype--both playing mediocre at best...

1. Hamilton, I thought he would be good but not Triple Crown Great! Bradley is playing as well as I thought he was capable of.
2. If Mathis was in the majors to stay, I would rank the win higher. Ponson's win I would rate as the most important so far
3. There are certain times the bullpen makes me nervous. It is the 7th and 8th innings. So far I feel our bullpen wilts under the pressure
4.Yes, I didn't think the trade was the difference maker that a lot of the writers did. The Mariners were still planning on starting Brad Wilkerson in right.
5. Padres and Reds. I mean how could both teams with so many Great Ex-Rangers be in last place in their respective divisions.
Bonus- Honolulu Stadium

Bonus Answer: Guessing from your clues, how about Edmonds field in Sacramento?

1. Josh Hamilton's performance is not a big surprise to me, and really neither is Milton Bradley's - what is surprising is that they've both stayed relatively healthy (so far) - Hamilton's career is much shorter - but both have been plagued by injuries - nice to seem them both staying on the field.

2. Yesterday's game made them a .500 team - just my opinion - their biggest win will be the one that clinches a playoff spot.

3. Bullpens are a year to year proposition - last year's bullpen was a little better - but this year's isn't awful and no one in particular is a weak link.

4. Could have said the same thing about the Rangers (and many did) when they were 9-18. Every team AL West is a losing streak away from being in the cellar and a winning streak away from trying to catch the Angels (who I still think will win the division) - still too early in the season to write anyone off in the Mild, Mild, AL West.

5. The Mets - the fact that the penny pinching Marlins lead the big spending NY team just proves the fact that "money can't buy you [glove]" -- with apologies to Lennon & McCartney for the misquote

Bonus question: Well, it has to be a PCL team in San Francisco - (the Seals?) but I'm don't know the name of the stadium.

http://emcmlb.blogspot.com/

1. Between the two, Milton is more surprising because his knee is obviously still not 100%.

2. It was a great effort by a guy on his way out. Padilla's shutout was a bit of statement game that created a bit of attitude and swagger. I'll say it again, just keep winning series and good things will happen.

3. German was one that made me nervous but he is gone now. Benoit right now is the one that makes me nervous. He can do the job but his is walking too many guys right now.

4. Not looking good for Seattle right now. The Angels are a bit of a suprise to me. I really thought they might have some injury issues on the offense that would hurt them being able to consistently score runs. EMC is right about the division so far.

5. Detroit. That's a pretty loaded lineup but maybe they should have spent some on the 'pen too.

ummm...sorry TR, but if yo roll your mouse over the picture it t ells youthe name...

1. I expected big things from both of them, but I never would have guessed that at the beginning of the season that Josh Hamilton would be this good and a triple crown threat. Milton Bradley has been nothing short of spectacular and the heart and soul of this team. He may be the spark that we have been missing.

2. In my mind it has to be. It was the one game that had me on the edge of my seat the whole game. CC was incredible and Mathis was pitching out of jams. We finally caught a break and somehow won 2 games against 3 of the best pitchers in the American League.

3. There are quite a few pitchers on the bullpen that make me nervous. I still believe in Benoit, Wright, and CJ. Francisco is someone that I want to believe in but for some reason every time he comes out there I get a little sick feeling in my stomach. Rupe is still unproven and Steady Eddy isn't always so steady.

4. Yes. The Mariners have been atrocious. Their bullpen has been shaky, their defense has been awful (Ichiro looked terrified going after a ball in a tight ball game against the Yanks) their starting pitching has been inconsistent. It's a team that just seems to be getting worse and worse

5. Seattle. They were supposed to be contenders in the AL West and they are possibly the worst team in the majors. Them and the Padres but at least the Padres have some what of an excuse with the key injuries that they have had

Bonus Question: Al Michaels did the broadcast for the Hawaii Islanders at Honolulu Stadium. The only reason I know this is because I once wrote a paper on Al Michaels and his career.

1-Easily Hamilton. Bradley had a couple of good years with Oakland (I remember him doing some damage to the Rangers), and he was doing well with San diego last year, before he was injured. Hamilton has already surpassed his RBI output by 6 over last year in 88 fewer AB's. I don't think anyone here thought he would have triple crown (it's early) numbers.
2-It's a close call between that game and the 3rd game of the Twins series but I would put it slightly ahead of that one.
3-These are the ones I am most nervous about in this order:
Benoit
Francisco
Wright
Loe
Wilson
The bullpen needs to get on another roll.
4-Yes. Their offense doesn't strike fear into the hearts of any pitching staff. Ichiro has been grumbling also.
5-Padres
Tigers (suprisingly terrrible pitching. Looks like Kenny Rogers is finished)
Mariners
Rockies
Bonus-UUUHHHH..........Honolulu Stadium?

1. Who has been more of a surprise. Hamitlon or Milton. I think they have both been key ingredients for the Rangers success over the course of there play over the last month. I think batting those 2 behind Young and Kinsler is a rough foursome to go through three or four times a game. Because sooner or later they are going to get you. You also almost have to put David Murphy in that group too. But have they been a surprise I would say yes to both of them being surprises because with those 2 guys in the middle of the lineup it make the Rangers offense one of the best in baseball and I think that if you asked anybody at the begining of the season if this would be a lineup that was going to be feared by pitchers like they used to be that it would be a surprise and with Hamilton and Milton right in the middle of that I would say that they have noth surprised me equally. I like what both of them bring to a game everyday. I knew I would like Josh Hamilton after I saw him in some spring training games. But I didn't know if I would like Milton Bradley and he is one of those players that you like having on your team and root against on the other team. But he has been more surprsing since we didn't get to see him as much in spring training to know exactly what we were getting. I think both should be all stars as of today along with Ian Kinsler and Padilla. Michael would normally get my nod but he has just been doing what he does and not standing out as much as the other 3 hitters around him in the lineup.
2. Doug Mathis pitched very well yesterday but the start of the year I wouldn't go that far. I like the start Sidney Ponson had against the twins earlier on the road trip. But I think Mathis showed great improvement from his first start and without him keeping the rangers in the game yesterday the lose that game by a mile. I hope the Rangers have a tough decision between Mathis, Feldman and Gabbard when Millwood comes off of the D.L. on Friday to pitch. I actually think Feldman and Mathis have pitched a little better than Gabbard has but he will stay in the rotation because of him being a lefty. But I really liked what I saw yesterday from Doug Mathis I hope to get to see him pitch again.
3. I like they way our bullpen looks at times the only person who scares me now that Franklyn German is gone and now that they have brought Kam Loe up is a Frank Fransisco although he has been very good a lot this season. But he is the only one. I like how C.J has bounced bakc after his bad patchabout a week ago. But overall the bullpen has been very good and a strength like I thought it might be at the begining of the season.

4. The Seattle Mariners. I think they have 2 good starting pitcher Bedard and Hernandez but beyond them and Ichiro there team is not very good. I think last year was as good as that team can play and this is what they played like the two years prior to last season. But yes I think they are going to finish last in our division by far. They just have a bad natch of players that need a change of scenery. Sexson, Beltre struggles have been the reason that they have struggled. The only player who really produces anything other than Ichiro is Raul Ibaenz. But other than that they basically used their best prospects to get Bedard and so until they can recover from that they are not going to be very good. Seattle thought just adding Bedard was the answer and it wasn't the right move.
5. The most disappointing teams to me have been the Detroit Tigers and the New York Mets. Just because they under achieving big time and letting alot of people down. A distant third would be the Yankees but I like seeing them struggle. For most surprising teams how about the Tampa Bay Rays what turnaround the Florida Marlins should also get some love too. But the Marlins have a history of being really good.
Bonus Answer: Honolulu Stadium like they have said above all you had to do is put your mouse on the picture sorry T.R. I wouldn't have known without that so I would have been stuck.

1: Gotta be Hamilton, we knew both of these players were great or had the ability to be great, but Hamilton being mentioned for the triple crown on Memorial day has to be a shock to most people.

2: Has to be the biggest win, after splitting with the Twins it would have been easy to drop the series to the Tribe, but mathis came out and out dueled Mr. Cy Young.

3: Thus far, it's not the 2007 Rangers bullpen, but I have no doubts they'll get it together, especially if the starters can keep getting deep into games. (All hail Sidney Ponson)

4: Anything can happen, still a lot of season left, but I just can't see them completely turning it around. my question is whats the biggest surprise so far, the rangers at .500 in late May or the Mariners being this bad?

5: Padres

Bonus: Honolulu Stadium, obviously I'm a cheater.

1. Milton is more the suprise for me. Not for his playing ability; no suprise there; but for his leadership ability off the field, and in the dugout. So far he has seemed to overcome his reputation as a hot-head, Friday's game not withstanding.
2. Every win is big. It shows that this team is finding ways to win, even when the odds are stacked heavily against them,
3. I have confidence in them for the most part. Guardado and Benoit are becoming "lights-out". Good to see Kam back, but he has to earn his right to stay, after his poor overall showing in AAA. Still worry about CJ. He only seems to be at his best in save situations. Definitely don't look forward to Nippert and Fukumori returning.
4. Certainly looks that way. 11.5 games out with only 5 dats left in May, is about where we were last year. The only they get back in is to turn it around and play .800 ball for the next 3.5 months.
5. I have to agree with others on Detroit. With the addition of Willis and Cabrera this winter, to Pudge, Rogers and Ordonez, I expected them to be the team to beat in the AL.
Bonus Question: Honolulu Stadium home of the Honolulu Islanders

And yes I cheated...Wikipedia Al Micheals shows him as the announcer for the Islanders and the play-by-play announcer for the University of Hawaii basketball team from 1968 to 1970.

It's not a good idea to have the word devil in your name. Does it make them better because they dropped the word devil? If it does, then why are the Duke Blue devils so successful?
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,..."
Proverbs 22:1

1. Hamilton is a shocker, he has been better than advertised. If he continues he could be the MVP especially if we contend. I still say keep the pitching and how could we have been so wrong about Volquez? At least we got a player back after trading a pitcher. Better sign Ham up long term and have some protection clauses in it.
2. No.
3. Nervous other than Wright and Wilson.
4. Yes
5. TIGERS, TIGERPLAN.

1. I've been surprised by their realitve health more than anything. I knew Josh Hamilton was good, but this has been incredible so far.

2. In retrospect 4/25 against the Twins was pretty big. It ended that aweful losing streak and they've been playing much better since then.

3. Benoit is killing me this year. I advocated extending him this off season, but I cringe every time he comes into a game this year. I still think he'll straighten it out, though.

4. I hate to say any team with that sort of pitching depth is "done" but it's hard to imagine where they're going to get runs from. They've got a ton of hitters in that line up who don't get on base much. McClaren and Bevasi had better get to work on their resumes.

5. The Tigers.

1. I'm not really suprised at how awesome they've been, I'm just happy they've been able to stay healthy.

2. No, but it may have been our luckiest of the year. The biggest win was when we snapped that 7 game losing streak with the Murphy walkoff back in April.

3. I never know what to expect from Joaquin Benoit and CJ Wilson these days, although CJ has been much better his last two outings. Now that Frankyln German is finally out of the 'pen, Josh Rupe and Kameron Loe are the only guys I really cringe at seeing in the game, though.

4. This year? Yes.

5. The Detroit Tigers and their mighty offense. O-v-e-r-r-a-t-e-d.

http://lonestarincalifornia.wordpress.com/

1. Bradley's been blowing me away, but with Hamilton in only his sophomore season being a legitimate triple crown threat is nothing more than astonishing. Tough call, but if I have to choose then it's Hamilton. How else can trading away a guy who's 7-2 and a 1.31 ERA look genius?

2. I have to say Ponson's win over the Twins to end the losing streak at 3 was the most important win. We've already seen one 7 game losing streak this year and not only nipping that streak in the bud but starting a 3 game win streak keeps this team legitimate.

3. How can one not cringe at Benoit outings? At least he's not losing ballgames, it just seems he wants to make the game tied when he leaves so he can pick up the win.

4. The Mariners are done for this season. Last year they were lucky to even be above .500 and have just fallen flat this season.

5. The Yankees have been anything but disappointing, I giggle every time I see the East standings. But with all they hype I'd have to say Seattle's had the most disappointing season.

1. Hamilton, given how little time he has been back in the majors.
2. Don't mean to sound cynical, but I'm looking forward to big wins in August, not May.
3. Confidence? Hmm...
4,5. Not yet, but the Mariners are probably the biggest disappointment so far.

TR, if you're going to have a trivia question based on an image in the blog entry..

Don't leave the filename as the answer. Rename the image to something else before you upload it. All you have to do is look at the properties of the image, and the answer is right there. :)

Joe Siegler
rangerfans.com