A lonestar in california

Welp, that offensive outburst didn’t last long. After pounding out 11 runs on 10 hits Friday, the Rangers offense sputtered to just 5 hits Saturday night against Ranger-killer Jered Weaver and the Angels.

Josh Hamilton doubled with 2 out in the top of the first, but was stranded. David Murphy provided the lone offensive output for the Rangers with a solo shot to right in the 8th inning off Darren Oliver. They did, believe it or not, have a chance to tie the game in the top of the 9th inning, when Hank Blalock hit a 2-out double off Fransisco Rodriguez, put pinch hitter Frank Catalanotto grounded out to first base to end the contest, a fitting end to another pitiful offensive performance.

Kevin Millwood was a story of his own, giving up an astonishing 12 hits (just two short of the franchise record for a starter), but just 2 runs (although Marlon Byrd did throw a runner out at the plate to end the 6th). Perhaps more notable was the fact that Millwood pitched all 8 innings for the Rangers, snapping the teams streak of consecutive games without a complete game. Irregardless, Millwood drops now to 0-2, despite pitching his tail off in his first two starts this year – it wouldn’t suprise me if perhaps Kevin is having flashbacks to 2005, the year he won the ERA title with Cleveland, yet finished 9-11 thanks to horrible run support.

I realize Jered Weaver is a pretty good pitcher, but I really can’t help but feel distgusted by the Rangers offense tonight. Anytime your starter throws 8 innings and gives up 2 runs, you should win the game, in my opinion, and the Rangers offense looked like the Bad News Bears up there for the fourth time in five games this year. And I also know it’s very early in the season, but that was the mantra for Rangers fans throughout April last season – I’m hoping the Rangers will heat up when they head back to Arlington this Tuesday, but so far, this is not shaping up to be much of a month for the guys with the sticks, with Josh Hamilton, David Murphy and Ian Kinsler the only possible exceptions.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia watch: Salty socked his second homer in as many days while going 2-4 in the Redhawks 7-1 win over Memphis Saturday. By comparison, backup catcher Adam Melhuse was 0-3 with 3 strikeouts while giving Gerald Laird (who, as I may have mentioned, is hitting .091) the night off. As more than one poster over at Lone Star Ball noted in the gameday threads last night: “this offense could use more Salt”.

In other news, TR Sullivan has a nice peice up on the Rangers website about Josh Rupe, and the Rangers bullpen, which hasn’t gotten much work on account of the almost stunning effiency of the starters so far. Rupe earns some high praise from pitching coach Mark Connor, despite the fact that he’s only considered a middle-reliever at this juncture:

“With his stuff, he could definitely be at the back end of the bullpen,” pitching coach Mark Connor said. “He’s got a power curveball, power sinker … he’s got great stuff. At this point, though, we just want to get him through the year healthy.”

The article also touches on the fact that Rupe has in fact not pitched in a game yet, something I find suprising, since he is currently tabbed as the pitcher who will be sent down when 5th Starter Luis Mendoza is activated off the disabled list on April 12th (this on account of Rupe’s remaining minor league option). In fact, the Rangers are even considering dropping Rupe (or someone, anyway) from the bullpen to carry an extra position player, and get a pitcher get some innings in AAA.

TR also notes that the reason Franklyn German faced only one batter on Friday night in the 9th inning was back soreness, which is not a very encouraging development at all. Lets see… German is 6′7″, and admittedly nearly 300 lbs… gee, I wonder what could be causing that back soreness? Not to knock the big guy, but it might help if he actually slimmed down to that 260 they offically list him as on the Rangers website. At least.

We now interupt this post for a Pet Peeve rant: Maybe I read too much Fire Joe Morgan or something, but stuff like this really irritates me. They’ll probably fix this before long (they better) but the frontpage headline on the Rangers website right now reads: “MILLWOODS NICE OUTING WASTED FOR LACK OF OFFENSE: Kevin Millwood allowed two runs in eight innings on Saturday, but still suffered the loss in a 2-1 defeat to the Angels. Donne Murphy homered for Texas.“

Okay, seriously: unless we made a trade I haven’t heard about, DONNIE Murphy is the backup infielder for the Oakland A’s, and he hasn’t even had an at-bat yet this year. DAVID Murphy is the guy who homered last night for the only run of the game, and is hitting .400 so far for the Rangers. They’re not even related. This is the front page of the goshdarn website, people - get it together, and get it right. End rant.

Vicente Padilla, who apparently had a touch of the flu bug that ravaged the infield in Seattle, is 100%, and ready to go agaist John Garland later today. It’s also noted that Ron Washington has reversed himself on his earlier statement that he’d start Jason Botts at first base for the first time Sunday, and will go with Ben Broussard instead. Sigh. looks like my past predictions that Ron wouldn’t give Bottsy any playing time once he got on the team have done nothing but come true. I garuntee you though, if Kevin Mench was on this team, he’d have more than one stinking at-bat so far.

Oh well. Hopefully, Padilla can refrain from buzzing people today, and the offense will actually live up to it’s name- it would certainly be extremely nice if the Rangers could head to Arlington at .500.