I don't know why, but I've never liked the Texas Rangers. Maybe it stems back to when Ivan Rodriguez was there. It's nothing close to my hatred for the Yanks or Sox, but it's still there. The Rays typically do not have good luck there.
I also tend to get tired during games from the Central Time Zone. It's very strange, but the games on 1 hour later wear me down even more than games on the west coast that start at 10:00.
Game 1
Edwin Jackson. Much better than his debut in Texas last year. I thought it was a solid start. Not earth shattering, but pretty good. He's going to be a good pitcher for us if he has a little improvement. Then the bullpen comes in. What the heck! Lugo and Camp come on without an out in the sixth. Suddenly I'm more tired than usual. Even when the Rays were down, I never got the impression that they had given up. Akinora Iwamura is definitely shining. Sorry but Aubrey Huff, BJ Upton, Alex Gonzalez would never have pulled those up
Game 2
Complete reversal. The starting pitching stuggled mightily and the bullpen did a solid job. The Rangers put up a 7 spot in an inning thanks to Seo. The Devil Rays had such an abyssimal (sp?) road record that a Devil Rays fan simply raises his hand in frustation. Especially after scoring 5 runs in the fourth inning. It's never enough. The Rays never have enough runs for the game. I think in their nine year history, I can't count 10 games where they had a huge lead and they just cruised to the end of the game.
Game 3
Jamie Shields pitches a solid game, with a huge hiccup in the sixth inning. Again, the Rays are up 6 to 1, and as a Rays fan, there is no comfort level there. You know it's still going to be close at the end of the game. What do you know? Soon it's 6 to 5. Great job by Brian Stokes and whew! I'm loving Al Reyes.
We're going into Minnesota tonight. I'm sure we'll here about how the Rays haven't won there in forever, and of course we'll hear about the Tyner bobble head doll.
I believe I will be one of barely any comments for this blog.
Not sure if anyone has any input for a Rangers, Devil Rays series. Regardless, I'm a Yankees fan seeking the Rays to fall to another 60 win season at the dead bottom of the AL East. You are probably the only die-hard Rays fan I've ever met, and probably one of the few hundred fans who attend Tropicana each night for the "Rays game" and I applaud you for not rooting for the Marlins or Braves. True fan we've got here, although I must disagree with your prediction. Rangers pull the series out 2-1. Good luck to Tampa this season.
I didn't like the Rangers before I moved to DFW.
When it's the local team, you learn about them.
I hated the old uniforms.
There are no players on the team who have visits with the cops. That's good.
No one is talking Rangers at work. That's bad.
1) The Rays looked BAD in the first game.
2) The second was up for grabs, especially in a 12 run third inning. Rays fans had to be grabbing their razor blades. Any Rays fans out there?
The game was to see who could outlast the other.
Rangers win.
3) Game 3...No way the Rays can win this! Then the Rangers Lost, or the Rays won, still it was entertaining. It ruined a future Blog on how any team playing the Rays would be guaranteed 2 of 3.
Hey Ryan, hate to tell ya bud. You shouldn't be hating any team. You should be hating your front office. Arizona and Florida have won World Series. Your front office. Last.Last.Last.Last.Last.Last.Last. Last.Last.Last. That's right bub. Hate to say it, that's the front office. My brother lives in Tampa. Met some hot chick. Became a Devil Ray fan. The chick? Gone. Go figure. GO SOX!
Last edited by socratesofswat on April 12th at 9:24 PM.
Hell of a series. I have got to say, in spite of the way the series broke down, the Devil Rays are an entertaining team to watch. Once the pitching prospects arrive, and they should within the next year or so, that will be a dangerous team.
I don't like the Mariners, Athletics, or Angels much either. I've seen the Rangers play them many times. But that was still one hell o####ame Felix Hernandez pitched.
