Series Thread: Rangers Host the Athletics For Four Games August 15-18

[saddles]

Oakland Athletics (41-74, fifth in the AL West) vs. Texas Rangers (51-63, third in the AL West)


PITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: James Kaprielian (3-6, 4.38 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 63 strikeouts); Rangers: Glenn Otto (4-8, 5.20 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 69 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The Oakland Athletics travel to the Texas Rangers looking to end a three-game road slide.

Texas has a 25-32 record at home and a 51-63 record overall. The Rangers have the ninth-ranked team batting average in the AL at .241.

Oakland has gone 24-35 in road games and 41-74 overall. The Athletics have a 27-10 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.

The teams meet Monday for the 14th time this season. The Rangers are ahead 8-5 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Adolis Garcia has 22 doubles, four triples and 19 home runs for the Rangers. Corey Seager is 13-for-40 with three doubles and two home runs over the last 10 games.

Sean Murphy has 26 doubles, a triple and 13 home runs for the Athletics. Tony Kemp is 9-for-30 with two doubles and five RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 5-5, .258 batting average, 3.64 ERA, outscored opponents by one run

Athletics: 2-8, .218 batting average, 4.90 ERA, outscored by 22 runs

INJURIES: Rangers: Spencer Howard: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Dennis Santana: 15-Day IL (ankle), Kole Calhoun: 10-Day IL (heel), Jon Gray: 15-Day IL (side), Joe Barlow: 15-Day IL (blister), Mitch Garver: 60-Day IL (forearm), Eli White: 60-Day IL (wrist)

Athletics: Ramon Laureano: day-to-day (side), Paul Blackburn: 15-Day IL (finger), Daulton Jefferies: 60-Day IL (arm), Deolis Guerra: 60-Day IL (elbow), Brent Honeywell Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow)

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson regarding the kids making so much noise during the game yesterday:

If a bird with a catchy name gets credit for the Rangers’ winning rally Saturday, when he wasn’t even on the field as they scored four runs, then three girls visiting from out of town get just as much credit for the W on Sunday.

Armed with ring-side seats, piercing voices and remarkable lung capacity, the girls’ steady stream of harassment toward Mariners hitters was more audible than Jeff the Bird was visible.

Maybe it’s just me, but I hope Jeff has his will in order. He doesn’t seem to have many flights left in him.

However, the girls — Ace Carter, Kimber Richards and Ella Bradford — appear to have years of yelling ahead of them.

Rangers hitters Meibrys Viloria and Brad Miller made eye-contact with one of the adults in the field-level suite and gave a nod of approval. Right-hander Josh Sborz, who turned in two of his best innings of the season in the 5-3 victory, confirmed that he, too, heard the young ladies giving Seattle hitters the business in the late innings.

“I felt like they were right behind the lefty hitters,” Sborz said. “I don’t remember what they were saying, but I heard them.” ...

Back to the girls. They were on hand thanks to their parents winning an auction for the suite at last year’s Do It For Durrett event. The next DIFD event is Oct. 14, and we’re hopeful the suite will again be donated for a game next season.

Get your vocal chords and wallets ready.

Tickets for Do It For Durrett The Ocho presented by Gateway Buick GMC go on sale at 10 a.m. today. Only 100 tickets are available, so don’t wait around to get yours. Buy them here.

 

[saddles]

Pitching for the Rangers tonight:

 

[saddles]

I just couldn't resist. Lol

 

[armadillooutlaw]

Pitching for the Rangers tonight:

View attachment 305252

Otto should have a pretty good game tonight.
Five innings, two runs allowed, four strikeouts, three hits and two walks sound good for a #5 starter?

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Not surprising.

The decision making has been questionable for some time.

Good call by the FO.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Holy shit.

Big, unexpected news.

 

[Kelleyman]

Wow and this is the layman response to this.

A lot more than wins and losses

 

[saddles]

Now, Chris Young can hire his guy.

 

[Kelleyman]

But even with the big offseason roster additions, Woodward has had to handle the challenge of managing a team that is still largely made up of players who are auditioning for a spot on the next contending Rangers team, including a bullpen that has struggled mightily at times. Many of the hoped-for reinforcements in the rotation have struggled in the minor leagues, namely Cole Winn, A.J. Alexy, Spencer Howard, and — while he was a long-shot to make the big leagues this year — Jack Leiter. Those shortcomings fall more squarely on the player development side of things than the big-league manager.

Whether their poor record in one-run games is the manager’s fault, or an issue of roster construction, or simply the sort of bad luck that occasionally befalls a big-league team, Woodward’s departure is the result.

Per Levi Weaver

Yes there is more needing done but if I am guessing all will be sympathetic to Woodward

 

[saddles]

Those shortcomings fall more squarely on the player development side of things

Yes, there are certainly some moves that need to be made there too.

 

[Kelleyman]

Ranger fundamentals, sloppy errors, loyalty to some vets and softness generally were my main beefs. The bullpen games may be not on him but I hated. I do think overall he should have protested the pen more Like letting guys wear the loss when behind. Conversely I thought he should have had guys ready on some late inning comebacks when the guy just did not have it

 

[saddles]

Lol at all of these writers who are surprised because they kept using the reasoning that the record had improved from last year as a reason Woodward should stay. They always brush aside any opinion a fan has, that they haven't thought of first, and now they are surprised.

 

[Kelleyman]

I wonder who makes the announcement JD or CY

 

[saddles]

I wonder who makes the announcement JD or CY

Whoever verbalize it, they will both be there. I imagine both talk about it, but who goes first, I don't have any idea. I hope Chris announces the new hire though.

 

[Kelleyman]

Lol at all of these writers who are surprised because they kept using the reasoning that the record had improved from last year as a reason Woodward should stay. They always brush aside any opinion a fan has, that they haven't thought of first, and now they are surprised.

Like AJM. Lol. Not to have sour grapes but he dismissed legitimate questioning and cherry picked the ludicrous

 

[scotsman1948]

so who do the Rangers (Chris Yong) hire to replace him?