Time To Right The Ship Against the Mariners

[Bmurph]

Richard Justice ‏@richardjustice 4m4 minutes ago
Astros 7-22 on road since July 4. Only the Braves (5-27) have been worse. Starters have 3.63 ERA in this stretch, 6th-best in MLB.

I hope they don't figure it out any time soon

F the Astros!

 

[saddles]

One game does not make a resurgence, but Gallo's 2 hits while seeing 16 pitches was at least a start.

OK Justin, did you consult a physic or something on making your prediction?

And Venable sure looked comfortable in the LO spot.

I think it is a case of a good hitter being due to break out of a slump that was unusually long for him. Kudos to Banister for not giving up on Joey and kudos to Justin for doing the same. I am glad Banister was willing to sacrifice some at bats to give Joey a chance to get back to a level that can benefit us a great deal. Let's just hope it continues.

 

[Bmurph]

TEXAS AT SEATTLE

Time: 10:10 P.M. ESTVenue: Safeco Field

Tuesday's offensive outburst is a good sign for the Texas Rangers and a very bad sign for several other playoff-hopeful teams.

Fresh off their highest scoring output since mid-August, the Rangers look to take the first three of a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.

A 9-6 victory in the second game helped Texas (73-64) claw within one game of AL West-leading Houston while bumping its advantage for the second wild card to 2 1/2 over Minnesota.

Even better, Texas showed signs of life at the plate with its highest run total since Aug. 15 and home runs from Shin-soo Choo, Mitch Moreland, Rougned Odor and Joey Gallo.

The Rangers - nine games over .500 for the first time since closing 2013 at 91-72 - averaged just 2.7 runs through the first seven games of their 10-game West Coast trip, but they have won nine of 12 to overtake the Twins for the second wild card.

"This is an offense that's been a formidable offense for us," manager Jeff Banister told MLB's official website, "...and when they come, they'll come in bunches."

Wednesday starter Martin Perez has been bitten by low run support in two of his last three starts. Perez (2-4, 5.07 ERA) has allowed three runs in each of his last five outings, but he took losses on Aug. 20 and Friday after receiving no runs and two runs, respectively.

The left-hander's most recent start featured another unlikely hurdle, stomach discomfort caused by food poisoning. Perez battled through to post a quality start, holding the Los Angeles Angels to three runs and five hits in six innings of a 5-2 loss. He walked four and struck out three.

Take out a dismal inning on July 28 against the New York Yankees in which Perez allowed eight runs during a 21-5 loss, and his ERA would be 3.70. Since then he is 2-2 with a 3.35 ERA, including six innings against the Mariners on Aug. 8 in which he gave up two earned runs in an 11-3 win.

Perez is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA in five career starts and two relief appearances against Seattle.

Vidal Nuno will get his fifth spot start this year for the Mariners (66-73), all coming since Aug. 4. The left-hander last started on Aug. 31, allowing five runs and seven hits in six innings of an 8-3 loss in Houston. He made two relief appearances in Oakland since, facing three hitters combined and surrendering two singles while recording one out.

Nuno (0-2, 3.72) is 3-15 with a 4.23 ERA in 36 starts during his three-year career, and he hasn't won since June 27, 2014.

Nuno has given up at least one home run in each of his five starts this year, including a career high-tying three his last time out against the Astros.

"Giving up those home runs killed me a little bit," Nuno told MLB's official website. "I was leaving balls up, not finding my fastball."

Kyle Seager went 1 for 4 with an RBI for the Mariners on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. He has seven hits in 17 at-bats against Perez, including two home runs.

Delino DeShields was out of Texas' lineup and is day to day after spraining his left knee trying to steal third base in the series opener. Will Venable went 2 for 4 with an RBI out of the leadoff spot in his place.

Nelson Cruz (right quadriceps) and Franklin Gutierrez (right groin) were not in Seattle's lineup Tuesday and are each day to day.

 

[Bmurph]

I think it is a case of a good hitter being due to break out of a slump that was unusually long for him. Kudos to Banister for not giving up on Joey and kudos to Justin for doing the same. I am glad Banister was willing to sacrifice some at bats to give Joey a chance to get back to a level that can benefit us a great deal. Let's just hope it continues.

Amen!

 

[jta4437]

I think it is a case of a good hitter being due to break out of a slump that was unusually long for him. Kudos to Banister for not giving up on Joey and kudos to Justin for doing the same. I am glad Banister was willing to sacrifice some at bats to give Joey a chance to get back to a level that can benefit us a great deal. Let's just hope it continues.

I'm all for him getting ABs against RHPs that throw a lot of fastballs

 

[jta4437]

Need to let Deshields get healthy so Venable might play a lot in the next couple weeks

 

[Justinkm83]

One game does not make a resurgence, but Gallo's 2 hits while seeing 16 pitches was at least a start.

OK Justin, did you consult a physic or something on making your prediction?

And Venable sure looked comfortable in the LO spot.

Just a hunch. Broken clocks are right twice a day...

 

[donaldson79]

Just a hunch. Broken clocks are right twice a day...

Please go buy a lottery ticket and don't forget the little people.

One primo hunch.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I'm all for him getting ABs against RHPs that throw a lot of fastballs

Right. Him against King Felix might not be so good.

 

[jta4437]

Right. Him against King Felix might not be so good.

True, that's b/c King Felix has an even better changeup and curveball compared to his fastball, which he only throws about 43% of the time

 

[saddles]

Jurickson Profar will not play for the Texas Rangers this season

Profar, who finished the season at Double-A Frisco, will go Arizona and continue his throwing program and increase baseball activity. He will work with the Rangers’ minor leaguers in the Fall Instructional League with the idea that he would be ready to play – without limitations – in the Arizona Fall League, which begins in mid-October.

 

[PDay8810]

Jurickson Profar will not play for the Texas Rangers this season

Profar, who finished the season at Double-A Frisco, will go Arizona and continue his throwing program and increase baseball activity. He will work with the Rangers’ minor leaguers in the Fall Instructional League with the idea that he would be ready to play – without limitations – in the Arizona Fall League, which begins in mid-October.

no rush here

 

[saddles]

no rush here

That's right. The important thing is to get his shoulder completely healed and that appears to be well ahead of schedule.

 

[saddles]

Catching on at the Position: An Interview with Jose Trevino

A very good article and interview.

 

[romeo212000]

I'm all for him getting ABs against RHPs that throw a lot of fastballs

I think 3 of Gallos homers have come off offspeed stuff. I'm almost certain that two came on sliders.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Jurickson Profar will not play for the Texas Rangers this season

Profar, who finished the season at Double-A Frisco, will go Arizona and continue his throwing program and increase baseball activity. He will work with the Rangers’ minor leaguers in the Fall Instructional League with the idea that he would be ready to play – without limitations – in the Arizona Fall League, which begins in mid-October.

It is hard to think what this team would be like if everyone was healthy. I know there are DL stints here and there but to lose your entire starting rotation for just about 2 years along with the other injuries that we have had along the way. This team would be a W.S. contender for sure. And possibly the AL odds on favorite.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

In the following article I pulled out a paragraph that stood out to me because the Angels are not all that themselves. And the Rangers have had to overcome a whole lot more than the Angels. I mean it is not even close. But it is from Tim Brown so what do you expect.
The Angels are in danger of wasting another season of Mike Trout

The Angels dangled Tuesday evening 5½ games behind the breakout – but otherwise so-so – Houston Astros in the AL West, and 3½ games behind the surprising (and still not that great) Texas Rangers for the last AL wild card, with Clayton Kershaw the next thing that could go wrong.

 

[donaldson79]

Nothing to do with much, but I just heard this and think it's rather amazing.

The Nationals BP threw 70 pitches over 2 nights without getting a swing and a miss.

 

[Bmurph]

Nothing to do with much, but I just heard this and think it's rather amazing.

The Nationals BP threw 70 pitches over 2 nights without getting a swing and a miss.

They can ask the Braves for Detwiler back?

 

[Bmurph]

CF
Drew Stubbs (R)
RF
Shin-Soo Choo (L)
DH
Prince Fielder (L)
3B
Adrian Beltre (R)
1B
Mike Napoli (R)
SS
Elvis Andrus (R)
2B
Rougned Odor (L)
C
R. Chirinos (R)
LF
R. Strausborger (R)

Perez vs. Nuno