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Friend of Batter's Box Jamey Newberg, proprietor of the best major league baseball e-mail newsletter on the planet, just posted a special edition of his daily missive to Texas Rangers (and other baseball) fans everywhere. Here's part of what he wrote:

We were on the road, starting a seven-game trip, losers of seven out of nine, facing the team with the best record in the American League, matched up against perhaps the most consistently dominating pitcher in the league ...


... (who, with a win, would have had one fewer victory on the season than the Rangers as a whole), sending out not our number one, and not our number two, but a young starting pitcher still trying to establish some degree of dependability -- and we battled our way to a win.

It's frustrating that we're capable of games like that but are just as prone to struggle against Detroit, Baltimore, and Kansas City.

But that’s about the only thing that was frustrating about Texas 5, Toronto 4. Good grief, that was a good win. A tough, resilient, solid win. A third straight three-run effort from Brandon McCarthy. Ian Kinsler’s first opposite field home run since birth. Nelson Cruz erasing any questions. Pivotal defense at third base from Michael Young. The consistently reliable Jason Jennings, commanding as nasty a breaking ball as this staff has seen in a few years. Ron Washington bucking conventionality and Frankie Francisco making it pay off.

Solid.

Your thoughts, Bauxites?
Newberg Notes: "tough, resilient, solid" | 11 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Magpie - Wednesday, April 22 2009 @ 01:30 AM EDT (#198770) #
That's baseball.
TamRa - Wednesday, April 22 2009 @ 01:43 AM EDT (#198772) #
Sounds like a helluva lot of superlatives to pour into one game.

The Jays almost always have struggles against the Rangers - most particularly in those series when "on paper" it should be a walk-over.

So I won't make any claims about the other two games but speaking in a generic sense:

It has been my experience that whenever you see a game one which makes you drool like that and wax poetic about how good your team looked - they will almost always reward you by losing the next two.

Hope that is how the Rangers reward this guy lol


brent - Wednesday, April 22 2009 @ 04:47 AM EDT (#198775) #

The Jays losses so far have been:

5-1

8-4

8-5

5-4

3-2

That's pretty good. The offense only let the team down twice (under 4 runs), and the biggest difference was 4 runs. I think that points to more good things to come.

Tenobia - Wednesday, April 22 2009 @ 09:14 AM EDT (#198777) #
It was a frustrating, exciting, and scary game.  As Magpie said, that's baseball.

I was surprised though at how noisy the crowd was considering it was a "dry" game (although the guys sitting next to me had a mickey of rum).  Maybe a lack of booze keeps people alert and into the game :)

Jdog - Wednesday, April 22 2009 @ 09:48 AM EDT (#198778) #
I just feel bad for Barajas.

He has hit a lot of hard balls so far in the season with very little to show for it. He has hit a bunch of flies that looked like HR's only to have them die near the track, and then he fights hard in his huge at bast last night only to hit a screamer right at Young. Tough luck.
christaylor - Wednesday, April 22 2009 @ 03:25 PM EDT (#198783) #
I was at the first dry game (April 7th versus the Tigers) and more-over found myself sitting in the midst of the tickets comp'ed to the children's choir that sang the anthems.

First thought: sugar is probably worse than beer for kids that age (if someone saw me act the way the kids were they'd wonder if I was on crystal meth or something, probably)

Second thought: mothers even when told by a friendly female staff member to make sure their children weren't running between sections while the ball is in play, tend not listen

Third thought: my girlfriend was beside me scoring the game and told me to be nice and calm down, even though she really didn't need to.

Fourth thought: If I make a comment that is only little blue after 9pm don't give me a dirty look (I called E. Jack, E. Jack-off).

Fifth thought: I really do like children, it is irresponsible parents I don't like (yes, I've studied some developmental psychology and my thesis advisor got his PhD in a development psychology lab)...

Sixth thought (really multiple thoughts about every half-hour during the game): I want a beer.

Last thought: What was it that got the RC license suspended? Were they caught serving minors on opening day? Is it something from last season (the $2 tuesday folks and their fighting)? Yes, I know the reason is probably out there on the web somewhere, but I haven't the heart to look it up, as I'm embarrassed for Toronto and the Jay's in general for this obvious (otherwise why'd would the license be revoked for X games) lapse in good judgement.
Dave Rutt - Wednesday, April 22 2009 @ 03:52 PM EDT (#198784) #
I think it was because of the fighting, chris. I was at opening day last year (or the year before?), and there were at least 2 very noticeable fights, one of which involved 10+ parties.
James W - Wednesday, April 22 2009 @ 05:41 PM EDT (#198788) #

It was for serving minors. 

The fighting during the first cheap game last year led to the team/building deciding not to sell alcohol on cheap nights, but they weren't forced to at all.  Just a wise decision.

Nick Holmes - Wednesday, April 22 2009 @ 07:23 PM EDT (#198789) #
...the guys sitting next to me had a mickey of rum Tenobia, were you up in 526?
brent - Wednesday, April 22 2009 @ 11:59 PM EDT (#198797) #

That's a huge relief to not lose after having a three run lead evaporate. The Skank$ and $ox are each just a game and a half back still.

It will be interesting to see what this looks like by the end of the year. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/index.jsp

Tenobia - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 07:58 AM EDT (#198807) #
...the guys sitting next to me had a mickey of rum Tenobia, were you up in 526?

I was in section 123, right behind home plate. 
Newberg Notes: "tough, resilient, solid" | 11 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.