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[David R Gold]

Opening Day and typical Ranger loss. Millwood looked fair against the Red Sox. However, Schilling is back and was the far better pitcher today. Sorry gang. It's going to be another long season for the home team.

Meanwhile
Piazza, Peavy lead Padres over Bonds, Giants
San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Mike Piazza went 2-for-4 with a home run in his San Diego debut, as the Padres downed the San Francisco Giants, 6-1, in the 2006 season opener for both clubs at PETCO Park.

Khalil Green had a two-run homer and also finished 2-for-4 for San Diego, which improved to 17-21 on Opening Day. Jake Peavy (1-0) threw seven strong innings to record the win, surrendering just one run on five hits while striking out five.

Barry Bonds, who played just 14 games in 2005 after undergoing three arthroscopic surgeries on his right knee, went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored for the Giants. He enters the season with 708 career homers, seven shy of passing Babe Ruth (714) for second all-time and 48 short of surpassing Hank Aaron (755) for the all-time lead.

The embattled slugger endured an offseason full of controversy amid reports of steroid use. The Padre fans voiced their displeasure each time that Bonds was involved in a play on Monday, and one person threw a needle-less syringe at him from the stands after he grounded out in the ninth.

[nagash]

I hate to say it, but even the announcers have the Rangers in last place. Reason: no pitching. The Rangers have the batters to put numbers on the board, but not the pitching to keep the other team from doing the same.

On a more interesting note: is the Rocket himself looking to come back to Boston? I'm not so sure that would be a good move. Nobody here will deny his strikeout record he put up while in a Sox uniform, but he left on bad terms, and people here have looong memories.
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As I am, so shall ye be.

[joe]

Based on opening day results, Oakland won't be any good this year either, but we all know they probably will be. I don't think Boston will be in the playoffs this year.

Rangers had wild card hopes until they lost Eaton for three months. I do remember Oakland and Houston tanking in April and May of last year only to hit a flurry of wins.
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All comments, opinions, sarcasm, and insults are according to King Joe (accurately nicknamed by Gary)...aka KJV

[robertlaf]

Kenny Rogers and 2 relievers combine on a 4 hitter, yech.
I think the wild card team will have more victories than the AL West winner. ESPN had the best 12 teams and 9 were in the AL. Funny Dave Campbell said "the Rangers are the only team I don;t think belongs there".

Jon Daniels said we would love Wilkerson. I do (not literally). He just ripped a single off Wakefield batting leadoff and stole second (it looked like on his own) diving head first into second. What an agressive player. Wakefield may have lost some concentration, walks Young and Nevin? hits a 3 run homer after Texiera singles, 4-0 Rangers.
What a differnce an agressive leadoff hitter makes especially with a .330 hitter next and four of the best sluggers after that. That could really spark that lineup.

The Rangers are good. I have high hopes for Padilla. He is so much better than the Ranger's no.3 last year, whoever that was it changed every week, it's not funny. Of course they need no.2 back. He struck out Ramirez with 2 on and nobody out in the first to get out of a jam. This team is good with quality players in character. Just hope they get some pitching and they will be in it. The Angels and A's aren't great.

I got down after the first game too but I kept reminding myself that was Schilling and Boston.
This is an exciting team with quality people not just players. 92 victories but it may not be enough. Their NL schedule is easy; NL west teams and Houston. That is about 22 extra easy games.

[joe]

The Rangers opened up the can of whoop-ass on the R Sox tonight. Looks like we are in the hunt afterall. Oh, I don't know.
_________________
All comments, opinions, sarcasm, and insults are according to King Joe (accurately nicknamed by Gary)...aka KJV

[nagash]

There's still 160 odd games to go.

I'm just glad Tavares won't be available for the opening game against the Yanks here in Boston. There's enough fireworks between the two teams as it is without someone deliberately throwing punches.
I'm actually rather worried about him in that he is apparently such a loose cannon that he is a high risk for future suspsensions, and you can't replace a suspended player on the roster. That will hurt the Sox.
_________________
As I am, so shall ye be.

[robertlaf]

It's not too shabby when Josh Beckett is your no. 3 tonight. Wakefield got the 2nd start out of loyalty I guess and he will pitch wherever they say. A class move by Francona who is a class mgr. with loyalty to his players.
I wish I could say the same about Showalter. Why doesn't he leave Young at leadoff and quit messing with the lineup?
The Rangers have minor leaguers coming up now pitching in 3 4 and 5 but they have some great hitting. That lineup with Nevin is better than ever.
Red Sox have Beckett tonight so it will be a long night probably.

[joe]

I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet and I won't stop cheering them on, but the Rangers suck!
_________________
All comments, opinions, sarcasm, and insults are according to King Joe (accurately nicknamed by Gary)...aka KJV

[robertlaf]

They won today in Oakland. Kameron Lowe, 6'6 245, pitched another great game. They have so much more pitching than the last 2 years it's not funny. There is NO WAY they should be be under .500 at the end.

Do you like Showalter Joe? You were on Parcells some when they didn't win. Showalter is gone after this year I hope. He has never won for more than 1 year any place he managed.
I watched some of Lowe today. He looks like the real deal. I was impressed. Very fast worker, funny motion, but moves the ball with OK stuff with control and has the hitters off balance which is pitching not just throwing.
If Eaton comes back that gives them 4 good pitchers. A long win streak just before the All Star break and then they start losing again after the break probably. It happens every year.

[rachel]

Oh. Is it baseball season again? :tong:
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"A civilization that feels guilty for everything it is and does will lack the energy and conviction to defend itself."-Jean Francois Revel

[joe]

Rob,
I like Parcell's, because he is a proven coach, but that doesn't mean I agree with some of his personnel decisions. I think Showalter is another Ranger disappointment.

Rangers are lucky no one raced off to a 9-3 record in their division. Being 5-8 is nothing to brag about. They finally won a series. The starting pitching has been a positive so far, but the offense, base running, strategy has sucked.

I understand Houston and Oakland got off to terrible starts last year and regrouped. They had some stud pitchers to support themselves. The starters usually don't come into their own until about four or five starts. I wish the Rangers would give one of their big three a chance from the minors. To me, that is like sitting Henson or Romo on the bench in week 16 this year.

The latest news I have heard is that Eaton won't be back until August. Which means he may not be very effective until the end of August or September. If the Rangers can hold on...........I just don't see the Angels or A's stumbling for the next four months.
_________________
All comments, opinions, sarcasm, and insults are according to King Joe (accurately nicknamed by Gary)...aka KJV

[robertlaf]

[nagash]

I must say that even I'm surprised by the Sox being in first place at all. Usually it's the Yanks with us a game or so back. This time the Yanks are in the cellar. Well, the season is young.

I am somewhat concerned over a a trend, though, that is happening at Fenway. In Major League, when the relief pitcher made his way onto the field, they played Wild Thing.
Today, when John Papelbon walks onto the field, they play Bodies by Downing Pool. This in itself isn't that new.
What is new, however, is that the Boston Herald took an on-line poll for what the song should be. More than 1100 emails resulted in the following:
(these weren't listed in any order, by the way)...

Super Bon Bon by Soul Coughing
(Move aside and let the man come go through, let the man go through)

Thunderstruck by AC/DC
(Sound of Drums..they beatin' in my heart/The thunder of gun, yeah...they tore me apart/You've been..thunderstruck)

For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica
(He hears the silence so loud/Crack o dawn, all is gone except the will to be/Now they will see what will be, blinded eyes to see/For whom the bell tolls)

Enter Sandman by Metallica
(Exit light/Enter night/Take my hand/Off to never never land)

Iron Man by Black Sabbath
(Nobody wants him/He just stares at the world/Planning his vengeance/That he will soon unfold)

We Will Rock You
(You got mud on your face/You big disgrace/Somebody better put you back into your place)

Wild Thing by The Troggs
(Wild thing/You make my heart sing/You make everything...groovy)

Papelbon has done a wonderful job thus far as a closer for the Sox. He's saved 6 in a row, and he's made the other pitchers look good in the process. Definitely a star. I'm not so sure that a rookie should get this kind of attention, though.
It's fine while you're hot, but if things turn ugly, this will all backfire on him.

If one must play he song, though, I'd take For Whom the Bell Tolls. I wouldn't play the words, though, just the intro. That alone can set the tone. Bring on the Yankees. I've can't wait to see Papelbon and Riviera against each other in the 9th.
_________________
As I am, so shall ye be.

[joe]

[David R Gold]

Fact-
If Michael Young played for the Yankees or Red Sox he'd be as appreciated as he should be.