Odd Man Rush

I hope to post recaps of all 162 games this season.  I realize this is ambitious, so don’t expect to see recaps on the same day or even the next day – but I will get around to them.  They will be short and sweet – a link to a box score, 3 (or more) positives from the game, and 3 (or more) negatives from the game.  Of course, I reserve the right to call an audible, but that’s how I see this going.

Box Score

Positives

• Kevin Millwood pitched 7 innings and only gave up 5 hits, all of them singles.  He threw 113 pitches and said afterward he could have kept going, so I guess there’s something to Nolan Ryan’s conditioning program.  It’s nice to get an ace performance from your ace.
• The defense.  Pitching has always been a problem for the Rangers, but a significant improvement in defensive play will obviously help the Rangers as they try to avoid posting a league-worst ERA two years in a row.  Michael Young was tested in his first game at third base, and he passed.  He had to charge two balls, and he looked like he’s been doing it his whole career.  Similarly, Elvis Andrus turned two double plays and even made an amazing diving stop behind second base.
• Hank Blalock hit a 3-run homer, proving in my mind that he can be effective protecting Josh Hamilton or Nelson Cruz (depending on the handedness of the pitcher) in the lineup.
• Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit his first home run since June 3.  More importantly, he was in sync with Millwood behind the plate and kept the pace moving when things were going well.
• Michael Young is back.  Last year, he played with a broken finger on each hand.  Today, he looked like the player that’s accustomed to collecting 200 hits a season.
• Josh Hamilton didn’t have to be a hero, but he was effective at the plate and in the field.
• C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco each pitched a perfect inning in relief.
• Those new red uniforms looked fantastic.  I love the Rangers in red.

Negatives

• You really have to pick nits to find something.  It says a lot when only one player went hitless.  That player was Chris Davis.  Nothing to worry about here – Chris is going to be fine.
• The one run was caused by a Millwood wild pitch that Saltalamacchia maybe could have stopped.
• Frank Francisco’s entrance music/scoreboard montage was TERRIBLE.  One or the other (preferably both) needs to be changed.