Give 'em hell, Wash It's all pretty ridiculous. Mainly because after Friday night's 15-5 win as the offense went completely nuts against the Florida pitching, you got the feeling it'd be a good weekend, if not a great weekend.
Instead, the offense peaked Friday night. They lost 9-5 Saturday after Derek Holland allowed a first inning to forget and then Sunday.
Errors ain't helping. I get that the Rangers are a good defensive team and that they get to balls that other teams dream about getting to. I totally get it and if you watch enough Rangers baseball, it's pretty clear that they are solid defensively. In theory.
However, if you get to it, you've got to make a play on it. You've GOT to get the ordinary plays done and you've got to finish off those toughies that come around.
Yesterday in the eighth inning, C.J. Wilson left the game with a runner on third base, one out and a one-run game. Mark Lowe comes in and induces a groundout to Omar Infante. Another out and it goes to the ninth. He walks Gaby Sanchez (who'd killed the Rangers all game) and gets to Hanley Ramirez.
He grounds toward Elvis Andrus, a bounding try that spends way more time in the air than the ground. Andrus charges and can't get the glove on it. Inning continues. Runners at first and second and a tied game.
That was your game. Not Darren Oliver's two-run double he'd allow or the fourth run that would cross off Neftali Feliz. Three unnecessary runs scored because Andrus couldn't make -- mind you, a difficult -- play.
Remember last season when Andrus and others were making difficult play after difficult play? The Rangers lead the world in unearned runs. It's not just the difficult plays that are seeping through the cracks. There are little league plays getting missed. It's an epidemic and if anything needs to improve, it's that. Now.
Notes:
1. C.J. Wilson was brilliant and deserved a much better fate. One earned run and a walk next to nine strikeouts. Just beat the shit out of the strike zone all night.
2. Josh Hamilton and Mike Young, yesterday: 1-8. Six runners left on base. Young, the king of the worthless 1-4 day.
3. Adrian Beltre loves the Marlins: 7-11 - 2 doubles - 1 home run - 5 RBI.
4. Nelson Cruz: 5-12 - 1 double - 1 triple - 2 home runs - 7 RBI.
5. Symbolic of the Rangers offense, Ian Kinsler got on base four times in three games (not including his home run) and stole three bases and scored one run.
