Nobody Asked Me But...
In deference to Jimmy Cannon, the greatest sportswriter of all-time, nobody asked me but...
* Clay Counsil's pitching was more impressive than Josh Hamilton's hitting at the Home Run Derby. If you watched that Derby closely, Counsil was throwing far better than the other pitchers and - don't kid yourself - that's HUGE in a contest like that. Counsil was firm and on target. Others lobbed it up there like a slo-pitch softball pitcher and were all over the place.
* The All-Star Game was tremendous even though Joe Buck sounded quite irritated that the game went into extra innings and seemed completely put out that it kept going on for six extra innings. Sounded like he was dying to get to his favorite Manhattan watering hole.
* Still don't think it's terrible that an All-Star Game should end in a tie. The All-Star Game is still far better than the Pro Bowl but we already knew that.
* Used to be pitchers went three innings and the best players played nine innings. Not sure why that had to change. Dan Uggla was lucky to be on the All-Star team. He didn't need to be on the field for nine innings. Alex Rodriguez, Joe Crede or Carlos Guillen... who would you want in the middle of your lineup if you are Terry Francona and home-field advantage for the World Series is on the line.
* Joe DiMaggio played the all nine innings in nine of his 11 All-Star Games. DiMaggio played in 11 All-Star Games and had 40 at-bats. Alex Rodriguez has played in 11 All-Star Games and has 26 at-bats.
* Here is what Michael Young said in 2007 after Jim Leyland didn't play him: "To his credit, he came up to me after the game and tried to apologize, but I wouldn't let him. As a competitor you want to play and do everything you can to help your team win, but I know what it's like for the manager. It's a tough situation. I don't consider it a big deal. I would have loved to have been in the game but it's just an All-Star Game."
* As for The Boss, there's an old Irish joke about the politician who dies and they have a big wake for him. All these people get up there and say great things about him, what a nice guy he was and a great man, blah blah blah. Finally the widow can't stand it anymore. She turns to her son and says, "Seamus, go up to that coffin and make sure it's your father who's in that box."
* Yes it is curious that Nolan Ryan wasn't on the field with the other 49 Hall of Famers. He and Carl Yastrzemski are the two most consistent no-shows at such events. Wonder if Ryan still not happy about what a few of those guys said about him many years ago. Let's just say that Bob Feller, Jim Palmer and Rich Gossage have on occasion been less than complimentary about the Rangers president.
* Right now Joe Maddon should be the A.L. Manager of the Year but seems that Ron Washington should be No. 2 on the ballot.
* Bet the Rangers are busy right now trying to figure out what they can get for Nelson Cruz and Joaquin Arias before the July 31 trade deadline. Bet Arias gets traded before Milton Bradley
After watching the replay of the first tound of the hr derby, hearing the crowd had to be the greatest high of Hamilton's life. I can't remember hearing anything like that since the USA chant in 1980.
Funny how every year a Ranger plays the key role in this game.
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Why does it make sense to move Arias now?
To make room for Vallejo?
I don't see the priority. There's even an outside chance he spells Young at SS, at least until Andrus is ready.
No?
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Congratulations to all of our all-stars. And especially to Michael Young who achieved something surely few others have. He drove in the winning run twice in the same game.
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Baseball man second on the Manager of the Year ballot? Please, T.R. - that is simply laughable.
Whether one develops a list of managers based on managing skill, or develops a list of managers alphabetically - he should be in the same place on both lists.
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BrianT,
That's funny....
But you are right, there has been more than one time a series I wonder what RW is thinking especially when it comes to how he uses the 'pen. Can't take away the team's rebound but I wonder how much of that was just the players deciding they were going to make a difference in spite of everything else.
Mr. Counsil should be considered an inspiration. Find something you love to do and keep doing it and don't let anyone tell you how old you are...
TR, you are just being nice to Joe Buck. He comes off to me as a self centered idiot who places way too much importance on his own opinion. I too have an opinion on just about everything and am willing to share it but, I also remember that old colloquialism about opnions...
Trying to predict what is going to happen at the deadline for this team is tough. I hope the team is talking to Milton about an extension because a 100% healthy Bradley on this team is pretty valuable. He's not 100% this year but is still turning in career numbers, methinks Arlington agrees with him... I agree on Arias, he is blocked for a while and Cruz had a shot and may benefit from a change of scenery.
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TR...you won't find a lot of Ron Washington followers among you're readers but I'm one who does support him. Joe Madden has done wonders and so has Ozzie Guillen (who I'm not so wild about) but Ron Washingoton has done "mooore with less" than any other Manager in MLB. Not offense wise necessarily though he does a nice job of pulling the strings and deciding who plays...but with the pitching. It was apparent before the season...in fact it was apparent when Washington came to us last year...that pitching was not a "Value" to Tom Hicks. That's why Hick's appointment of Nolan Ryan had such meaning for me. I was hooping it would mean a turn around in priorities in terms of aquisition. Well the trading deadline is soon and we'll see. Kudo's to Ron Washington for managing the Rangers over 500 ball since the All Star break of last year.. And that's all I have to say about that!
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With you on Wash, Fred. I'm not expert enough to discuss the finer points of managerial decision making when it comes to the handling of the bull-pen, or when to bunt etc. I'm quite content to leave such matters to the 20-20 hindsight posters who populate this site. But this Ranger team has developed that "something",call it chemistry or what you will, that makes the whole far greater than the sum of it's parts. And Wash is at the heart of this "something". Even d'god has addmitted that there would be a clubhouse revolution if Wash were sacked. Teixeira clearly didn't want to be a part of this team, so it's as well that he's gone. Same with Ponson. Those who mock Washington remind me of Oscar Wilde's definition of a cynic as being someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Well done,Wash. And well done Hicks and JD for bringing him here.
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Anthony and TR...With Anthony's Oscar Wilde reference I'm reminded that TR has hit us with very little Latin this season. That's probably good since Sister Lucinda's third year Latin is getting a little vague at almost 60. Tom Grieve was explaining what Washington brings to the team in attitude the other day. I'm sorry you don't get to see the telecasts Anthony...but basically it was what you said.. Here's to a good second half...cheers!
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Amo, amas, amat,amamus amatis,amant......"Grannie" Grant was my mentor, Fred. Hated it then; now I wish I'd paid more attention.
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Hey it is no secret that i don't care for squinty, and wanted him canned earlier this year. But i was wrong, the manager gets the blame when the team plays poorly, and he gets the kudos when they play well. Washington has done a good job, now go out and get a couple of starting pitchers, trade Blalock, Salt and Cat, Cruz and Arias if you will. I believe Bradley is THE TEAM LEADER on this team, he is only 29 and should stick around for 3 to 4 more years. The guy deserves it, let him sign if he will play DH. Move Ham to RF to keep him healthy. I personally could care less what a guys personality is like as long as he produces, Bradley has done it so reward him with a 3 year deal.
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