MLB FanHouse

Footprints in the Snow: Rangers

Matt Snyder — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.

For the Texas Rangers, 2009 was a rousing success of a transition year. The team who used to simply try to outscore you altered their mindset. They put more of an emphasis on pitching and defense, and it paid off. They dropped down from first to seventh in runs scored in the AL, but the team ERA climbed from last (14th) to eighth. Their defense went from one of the worst in baseball to being considered one of the best.

The result was a huge step forward in the one stat that really matters for Ron Washington and his troops: they won 87 games, which was the most for the Rangers since 2004. Expect the growth to continue as the Rangers are loaded with young talent. The only problems could be money (more on that later) and the fact that their division is going to be really strong for the foreseeable future. But, hey, to be the best, you gotta beat the best.

More Footprints in the Snow

Who Might Leave

Hank Blalock, 1B/DH; Andruw Jones, OF/DH; Marlon Byrd, CF; Omar Vizquel, SS; Ivan Rodriguez, C; Joaquin Benoit, RP; Eddie Guardado, RP

Shopping List

In a shocking reversal of a decade-long trend, the Rangers will be looking for an offensive boost. Their defense last season was exceptional and it aided in the growth of their pitching staff. The balance -- they finished seventh in the AL in runs and eighth in ERA -- was welcome, but there is always room for improvement.

Adding someone like Jermaine Dye or Vladimir Guerrero to the middle of the lineup would slide everyone else into a spot more suited to them, as the Rangers lack a truly menacing cleanup hitter. If Josh Hamilton returns to the form he showed in 2008, he could try to fill the slot, but that's making a pretty big assumption, considering the injury history he's building up. The Rangers are also reportedly talking with the Cubs about Milton Bradley, so he could fit the bill as well. Finally, the Rangers may simply retain Byrd and go with essentially what they had last year. The biggest drawback to this would be that the Rangers don't want to hold back the development of budding center fielder Julio Borbon. If he's ready, signing Byrd for twice the salary (or more) he made last year would be a waste of resources.

The Rangers pitching staff is teeming with potential, yet still incredibly young and mostly unproven. Ideally, they'd be able to bring in someone like John Lackey or Roy Halladay -- both have been mentioned as options in different reports -- to slide atop the rotation. Then Kevin Millwood would be the No. 2 starter and three youngsters -- from the group of Derek Holland, Scott Feldman, Tommy Hunter and Neftali Feliz -- could fill in behind.

Money Matters

Of course, the above shopping list could be rendered pretty useless in light of the team's financial situation. The Rangers are not going to be in position to land a big-time free agent or take on a huge amount of payroll in a trade because the team is in the process of being sold and is being handled by Major League Baseball.

That means they can forget about Lackey or Halladay. A more cost-efficient route for the Rangers could be Ben Sheets. They've been connected with him in the past and he's been rehabbing in Texas. He could probably be had for a one-year, incentive-laden contract, and he has the potential to be an ace once again. Remember, he's only 31 and had a 3.09 ERA in 2008. He also has worked with Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux before, so the move would be mutually beneficial.

Along those same lines, if they want to make a run at Dye or Guerrero, it could be possible with a creatively structured deal. If they end up acquiring Bradley from the Cubs via trade, they'll have to ask the Cubs to take on most of Bradley's salary (which reportedly the Cubs aren't willing to do just yet, but if they are desperate enough to deal him, they might have to).

Kevin Millwood's huge contract is up after 2010, so the Rangers will be free from those eight figures. Hopefully by the time the season ends, the ownership situation is settled and the Rangers can use that money for upgrades elsewhere.

Offseason Goals

Aside from adding a bat and hopefully a solid veteran starting pitcher, most of the Rangers' offseason plans will revolve around continuing to grow their young major leaguers and a farm system that has been rated as the best in the majors by Baseball America. Elvis Andrus, Chris Davis and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are helpful on defense -- to varying degrees, as Andrus is outstanding -- but need to grow offensively to truly help the club achieve their potential. Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz can continue to blossom, but can they handle middle-of-the-order duties if Hamilton doesn't play back to form and the Rangers can't sign anyone else?

The biggest offseason emphasis, however, will be the continued development of the young pitchers. Maddux and Nolan Ryan will continue to stress their throwing program (which involves much more frequency than other teams) and watch the strides made by Holland, Feldman, Hunter and Brandon McCarthy. Finally, the Rangers need to decide what to do with Feliz. The 21-year-old phenom rocks the radar gun to the tune of triple digits and was lights-out in his rookie season. He appeared in 20 games and allowed just six earned runs in 31 innings (1.74 ERA) out of the bullpen. He struck out 39 while allowing just 13 hits. Of course, he was predominantly a starter in the minors. Do the Rangers keep him as a setup man for Frank Francisco or get him in the rotation? It's the classic Joba Chamberlain debate. They need to decide now, not try to transition Feliz in the middle of the season. At least Feliz won't be handled with kid gloves. He'll be on the Nolan Ryan plan, whether in the 'pen or rotation.

Footprints in the Snow: Rangers originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas Rangers Withholding Playoff Ticket Refunds Until November

Matt Snyder — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Rangers, AL West, MLB Biz

You know how you can purchase playoff tickets for your favorite teams even before they've qualified for the playoffs? It's a conditional thing, with the understanding that if your team fails to make the postseason you'll have your money refunded immediately. Of course, if you are a Texas Rangers fan, that understanding apparently doesn't apply.

According to Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers have emailed those who purchased playoff tickets that they won't be receiving a refund until "sometime in November." That's good to know, I'm sure. The Rangers were only eliminated from playoff consideration on Sept. 30. Why should the fans, who spent their own hard-earned cash, expect to get it back within six weeks? It's not like playoff tickets cost much.

In all honesty, this is yet another illustration of the desperate financial situation in which the Rangers currently find themselves. Cowlishaw discusses the fact that the league (MLB) is currently controlling the team and also that some banks will be next in line, should Tom Hicks not find a buyer almost immediately. It's dire straits for the team who once signed Alex Rodriguez to the richest contract in the history of professional sports.

The sad thing is, the Rangers' financial woes could doom a very promising young nucleus. They made huge strides in 2009, becoming a legitimate contender for the first time in years. You can build your franchise from within, as the Rangers appear to have done, but in the real world there are always going to be issues that arise here and there. Will they have the resources needed to fill any gaps that may arise on the roster?

It's especially scary for Rangers fans -- in addition to having to wait on their refunds -- that the Mariners, Angels and A's aren't getting any worse. The window of opportunity was opened in 2009 for the Texas Rangers, but the money mismanagement by ownership could be slamming it shut prematurely.

Texas Rangers Withholding Playoff Ticket Refunds Until November originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rudy Jaramillo Is Leaving the Rangers

Tom Fornelli — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:44:00 EST

Filed under: Rangers, MLB Rumors, MLB Transactions

Year in and year out the Texas Rangers are one of the best offenses in baseball, routinely finishing among the league leaders in runs scored and home runs. While the players have come and gone through the door, the one constant has always been hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo.

Jaramillo has spent the last 15 seasons with the Rangers and helped mold young players into batting champions and MVPs, but after a down season for the Rangers offensively, it seems both Jaramillo and the Rangers have decided to make a change. After receiving a one-year offer from the Rangers to return in 2010, Jaramillo has decided he's going to end his time in Arlington and test the open market.

Rangers officials met with Jaramillo shortly after the season to extend the one-year offer but to also stipulate that the offense needed to improve. The Rangers ranked seventh in runs scored in the AL in 2009, but ranked 11th of 14 teams in batting average (.260) and 12th in on-base percentage (.320). There were concerns about the team's approach, particularly how often the Rangers swung at first pitches and put themselves in unfavorable hitting counts. Though the Rangers ranked in the middle of the pack in pitches per plate appearance (7th at 3.86), they had the highest percentage of first-pitch swings in the AL (31.1) last season.

During his tenure, Jaramillo has produced four MVPs (Juan Gonzalez twice, Ivan Rodriguez and Alex Rodriguez), a batting champ (Michael Young) and three home run champions (Alex Rodriguez, 2001-03).

Considering what Jaramillo accomplished during his time with the Rangers odds are that he's not going to have a hard time finding a new job with more security than a one-year deal elsewhere this winter. In fact, columnists in Chicago were already lobbying the Cubs to go after him before it was even announced he'd be leaving the Rangers.

Considering the work he's done with Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley while they were with the Rangers, Jaramillo could be a good fit in Chicago, though odds are they won't be the only team calling him in the coming weeks.

Rudy Jaramillo Is Leaving the Rangers originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baseball Brunch: Bizarre, Rich Legacy at Metrodome as Twins Depart

Ed Price — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Angels, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Nationals, Padres, Rangers, Red Sox, Tigers, Twins, Yankees, MLB Inside Scoop, Baseball Brunch

Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Johan Santana had never seen the Metrodome before the Twins took him from Single-A in the Rule 5 draft.

"When I first got there," Santana told FanHouse, "my first impression was, 'How can you play baseball in a place like this?'

"I came from Single-A and from Venezuela, and we don't have any of that stuff. ... I couldn't figure it out. How could this thing [the roof] be up in the air? And then it feels like you're in a bubble. And then you play baseball."

Yes they did. The Twins won two World Series in that bubble, but unless they rally to make the playoffs, they will say goodbye to the Metrodome this week.

Open-air Target Field opens next April.

The Twins say about all they'll miss about the Metrodome is the guarantee of no rainouts (or snowouts).

Kent Hrbek -- who grew up in Bloomington and attended games outdoors at old Metropolitan Stadium -- went 2-for-4 in the April 6, 1982, regular season opener at the dome.

He said he has "so many good memories" there. But, "after playing the game there and becoming a fan again," he said, "it's a horrible place to see a baseball game."

It's not just the artificial turf. Or the noise level. And the seats that don't point the right way for baseball.

"Playing inside is not fun," former Twins center fielder Torii Hunter said. "It's not baseball."

In Minnesota, summer doesn't last very long -- and it's gorgeous. Who wants to spend it indoors?

"I just came back from five days in Canada," Jack Morris, who grew up across the river in St. Paul and pitched one of the most memorable games in Metrodome history (Game 7 of the 1991 World Series), said earlier this month. "I saw over 200 bald eagles. Believe me, what God creates is so much better than anything man can create, it's unbelievable."

Said closer Joe Nathan: "When you walk through the doors when it's a nice day out, it kind of deflates you.

"You get nice days, you see this place like half-empty and you wonder why. It's because it's nice out. People are outside."

But the Twins might lose their home-field advantage when they go outdoors.

Visiting teams, especially those in the AL Central, hated coming to the Metrodome so much they sometimes seemed psyched out.

"This ballpark is an advantage," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said, "just because people hate coming in here so much that maybe it intimidates them a little bit.

"But there's been an advantage in here. I guarantee it. We've had teams that can play on this [turf] and play in here and irritate the crap out of people, so that's been kind of fun."

Plus fly balls lost in the those 10 acres of Teflon-coated fiberglass overhead and the strange bounces off the turf and speakers hanging overhead and the "baggie" in right field.

In 1984, Dave Kingman hit a fly ball so high it went into one of the holes in the roof and stayed there.

Double.

"Especially during day games," said Aaron Rowand, who visited often with the White Sox in 2001-05, "if you try to go back on the ball and take your eye off it to run to a spot, and try to look back up and find it, it's real tough.

"I remember once somebody hit [a fly], it was going foul, it bounced off [a speaker], came back in and one of the infielders caught it."

There have been other subtle advantages. Some accused the Twins of manipulating the air conditioning, but Hunter said that once fans started leaving in the seventh inning, the opening of doors created a swirling wind current that carried balls out to right-center field. A "napkin" -- makeshift weather vane -- near the home on-deck circle would let the Twins know when to hit to right.

In the 1987 and '91 World Series, the Metrodome's advantage was mostly fans, packed houses making noise intensified by the roof.

"It's the most intimidating home field of any team, any sport that I've ever seen or been around," Oakland general manager Billy Beane, who played for the Twins and had A's teams lose in Minneapolis in the playoffs, told FanHouse's Jeff Fletcher. "As a player, as a GM, as a fan of other sports, from what I hear Saturday night in Baton Rouge is supposed to be pretty tough, but I'd put the Metrodome up there. If you had one of those tournaments for most intimidating it would be LSU and the Metrodome in the final, and I'm going with the Metrodome.

"There is nothing like the Metrodome. There is nothing that is even close."

The Twins' winning percentage since 1982 is 100 points higher at home than on the road. Of the teams that have been in existence since 1982, only Houston and Texas have had a larger advantage at home.

Metrodome Mosts
Stat	Twins	Visitors
Hits	K. Puckett (1,269)	C. Ripken (123)
HR	K. Hrbek (138)	J. Thome (28)
Wins	B. Radke (85)	Mussina/Clemens (10)
Saves	J. Nathan (123)	Montgomery/Jones (18)

Even so, the Metrodome won't be missed by the Twins.

"It wasn't really a baseball stadium," said Hrbek, who played more games at the Metrodome than anyone but the late Kirby Puckett. "It was a football stadium, and they decided to put a baseball park in there."

Said Gardenhire: "We can't wait to get outside and have our own field and not share it with anybody."

Twins catcher Joe Mauer, who grew up in St. Paul, played his first football game in the Metrodome, as a fifth-grader, and never saw an outdoor big-league baseball game until he played in one.

"I think it's more a football stadium than anything," he said. "I have a lot of great memories here ... but I'm really looking forward to getting outside and playing outside."

Target Field, not far from the Metrodome in the Warehouse District, will seat 40,000 and cost $412 million (about six times what the Metrodome cost).

"It's typical Minnesota," said Mariners infielder Jack Hannahan, who grew up across the river in St. Paul, attended the University of Minnesota (which plays its home baseball games in the Metrodome) and still has a "Homer Hanky" from the 1991 World Series.

"It took them forever to do it, and once they finally did it, they didn't do it right. If it would have had a retractable dome, like what Safeco [Field in Seattle] has, it would have been perfect. It didn't work out, it didn't work out. But anything they'll build will be successful in Minnestota because the fans are so good."

"It's the most intimidating home field of any team, any sport that I've ever seen or been around. ... There is nothing like the Metrodome"
-- Billy Beane University of Minnesota baseball and the Vikings will continue to play in the Metrodome; Gophers football opened its new on-campus stadium this year.

A large numeral beyond left field in the Metrodome indicates how many Twins games are left there. Then a series of banners reads, "Countdown to outdoor baseball," "Countdown to farmer-tanned vendors," "Countdown to mustard-flavored lip balm," "Countdown to ch-ch-ch-chhhhh (the sound of sprinklers on natural grass), "Countdown to skyline sunsets," "Countdown to real grass stains," "Countdown to starry nights."

The team itself is counting down to when it has a decent-sized clubhouse, it doesn't have to store equipment in the hallway and it won't have to share a weight room and batting cage that are on the other side of the stadium.

"If I play next year," Seattle's Mike Sweeney said, "and it's April and I go to Minnesota and its 25 degrees, I'll miss the Metrodome big time.

"But the stadium is outdated and it's cool to move on to a new place. We just might need to pack some more [long] sleeves."

Overheard and Understood

o. Angels ace John Lackey, an impending free agent, has told people he is seeking a $100 million contract. And a major league source said the Angels have no intention of meeting that demand. Who would -- even despite Lackey's dependability over the years? There have been five nine-figure deals for pitchers; Kevin Brown and Mike Hampton didn't produce over the entire lengths of their deals, Barry Zito looks similar and the jury is still out on CC Sabathia and Santana.

Chart of the Week
Colorado's Seth Smith is 17-for-35 as a pinch hitter. In the past 35 years, just four players have batted .500 in the pinch (minimum 20 at-bats):
Player	Team	Average
Bruce Boisclair	'76 Mets	.571 (12-21)
Kevin Seitzer	'91 Royals	.550 (11-20)
Alex Arias	'99 Phillies	.545 (12-22)
Willie McGee	'92 Giants	.524 (11-21)
Seth Smith	'09 Rockies	.486 (17-35)
Source: STATS LLC

o. Washington plans to talk with Bob Melvin about its managerial position soon after the season ends. Melvin and general manager Mike Rizzo worked together in Arizona. Bobby Valentine's name has also come up as a Nationals candidate, and there is talk that those interviewed for the Washington GM job were asked directly about Valentine, an indication that he has been in the team's sights for a while.

o. Are we in a golden age of second basemen? For the first time ever, five second basemen -- Dan Uggla, Aaron Hill, Chase Utley, Jose Lopez and Ian Kinsler -- have 25-homer seasons in the same year. Then there's Brian Roberts (55 doubles), Robinson Cano ( .321 average and .519 slugging percentage,), Dustin Pedroia (110 runs scored and .297 average) and Brandon Phillips (20 homers, 95 RBI). Only Roberts and Utley are in their 30s.

o. A scout who has examined the Diamondbacks system said it is severely lacking in top prospects, and he cited three factors: some of the top young players in the organization are already in the majors; Arizona gave up prospects in the deal for Dan Haren; and a couple of bad drafts in a row. In contrasting the depth of two systems, the scout said the Giants "have 20 guys like" Diamondbacks lefty Daniel Schlereth.

o. Texas' Elvis Andrus is the fourth-youngest player to steal 30 bases in a season after Rickey Henderson, Ty Cobb and Claudell Washington.

o. The Red Sox face a tough decision on how much to play catcher Jason Varitek in the postseason. He looks terrible at the plate (.167 with 20 RBI in 156 at-bats since June 30) and in the field. About all manager Terry Francona can cite is intangibles: "There was a reason they put that 'C' (for captain) on his chest. And even through disappointment and a little bit of a reduced role, he still exhibits a lot of leadership."

o. With the Angels, Phillies and Cardinals having closer issues, we wondered: how much does a closer matter in the postseason. Conventional wisdom says a lot, since the competition is better, the games are closer, and each loss is so significant. Well, according to STATS LLC, since the three-tiered playoffs began in 1995, there has been an average of one save opportunity every 2.89 postseason games. Over the same span, save opportunities have been MORE frequent in the regular season -- an average of one save opportunity every 2.68 regular-season games. And the save percentage is about the same, 67.0 in the regular season and 67.2 in the postseason.

Still, we suspect that closers do matter, because of the importance of every game and the psychological effect of a blown save.

o. Seattle could be the second team ever to win 85 games the year after losing 100. The 1989 Orioles were 87-75 after going 54-107 the previous season.

o. Arizona vice president for player personnel Jerry DiPoto didn't get the Washington GM job, but if San Diego decides to promote long-time general manager Kevin Towers to a position such as team president, DiPoto would have a shot at becoming Padres GM.

o. The possible Game 1 matchup in one American League Division Series is Sabathia and Justin Verlander. They have faced off six times, their teams splitting the games (two this year between the Yankees and Tigers and the other four between Cleveland and Detroit). In the six games, Sabathia has gone 3-3 with a 5.13 ERA while Verlander has gone 3-2 with a 3.26 ERA.

o. An AL executive who recently saw St. Louis' John Smoltz in person said, "His stuff is really, really good. I guess Boston must be really good not to need that guy." The minuses, according to the executive: Smoltz's "command is not what it used to be" and he "labors," throwing a lot of sliders.

o. Some suspect Chad Billingsley's struggles for the Dodgers -- 3-6 with a 5.40 ERA since the All-Star break -- come from not getting along with catcher Russell Martin.

o. Derek Jeter, 35, is the oldest regular shortstop with a 200-hit season.

o. They aren't the most indicative statistics, but the Dodgers could become the first team since the 1946 Cardinals to lead the NL in club batting average, ERA and fielding percentage.

Baseball Brunch: Bizarre, Rich Legacy at Metrodome as Twins Depart originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Phils No Closer to Solving Closer Problem

Ed Price — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Brewers, Phillies, Rangers, Twins, White Sox, AL Central, MLB Injuries, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That Brad Lidge problem is back again.

Lidge on Wednesday blew a save for the 11th time -- most in the NL in 11 years -- as the Phillies lost 7-6 to the Marlins.

He entered for the bottom of the ninth, after Ross Gload's leadoff double, got two outs. But Hanley Ramirez walked, Jorge Cantu singled and Brett Carroll singled to hand Lidge the loss.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

Manager Charlie Manuel acknowledged the Phils' dilemma: With so many other contingency plans thwarted by injuries, [Ryan] Madson and Lidge are forced into the setup and closer roles. If those two succeed, the Phillies are a dangerous team. If they perform as they did last night, the team will not win another World Series.

"It's hard for us to close a game out," said Manuel, who conceded that the Madson-Lidge combination "is kind of what we've got."

Lidge spoke with a flat voice and glassy eyes. "It's incredibly frustrating," he said, clearly struggling to explain another loss. "I'm disappointed."

Lidge, who didn't blow a save all last season, has failed on five of his past 15 save chances. He has eight losses and a 7.48 ERA, worst ever for a closer (20 or more saves).

Only one pitcher ever, according to STATS LLC, has had 11 blown saves, eight relief losses and an ERA greater than 7.00: Norm Charlton for the 1997 Mariners (11 blown saves, eight relief losses, 7.27 ERA).

From the Trainer's Room ...
Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, who has made 97 starts this season, was found to have no structural damage in his sore left wrist, but he will sit out another three-five days after receiving an anti-inflammatory injection. Philadelphia needs Ruiz in the postseason; 37-year-old backup Paul Bako is a career .230 hitter with a .194 average in 17 playoff games.

Numbers Game ...
Milwaukee's Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer to take sole possession of the major-league lead in RBI, with 131. He can become the first Brewer to lead the NL in RBI and the first Brewer to lead the majors outright since Cecil Cooper in 1980. Another Cecil and another Fielder -- Prince's father, Cecil Fielder -- led the majors in RBI in 1990-92 for Detroit.

In Their Own Words ...
"We won our ballgames, but we also got a couple of guys hot so they can go play Detroit. I think Dye, we put him on the right track. Maybe he can take care of the Motown boys." -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, whose team (2 1/2 games out in the AL Central) overcame two Jermaine Dye homers for an 8-6 victory over the White Sox, who face the first-place Tigers this weekend

Advance Scouting ...
Scott Feldman needs a win this afternoon at Oakland (3:35 PM ET) if he is to become Texas' first 20-game winner in 11 years. Feldman is 17-5 with, likely, three starts left. The Rangers' three 20-game winners were Ferguson Jenkins in 1974 (25-12), Kevin Brown in 1992 (21-11) and Rick Helling in 1998 (20-7). With a 12-1 road record, Feldman can become the first pitcher with 13 wins away from home since CC Sabathia in 2001.

Starting Five: Phils No Closer to Solving Closer Problem originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Washington Would Take Milton Bradley Back

Jeff Fletcher — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:55:00 EST

Filed under: Cubs, Rangers

OAKLAND -- There may be only one manager whose time with Milton Bradley started and ended on a happy note, and he'd take him back.

Rangers manager Ron Washington endorsed Bradley, even in the wake of his latest problems.

"I wouldn't hesitate to get him," Washington said.

Bradley's tenure with the Cubs is likely over after the team suspended him for the final two weeks of the season because of a pattern of problems with the fans and the media.

He has passed through Cleveland, Los Angeles (Dodgers), Oakland, San Diego, Texas and now Chicago, and the only place where he apparently didn't burn any bridges was with the Rangers.

Before Texas played the A's on Monday, Washington said he thought having Bradley was "awesome."

"He did a great job for me," Washington said. "It wasn't my first rodeo with Milton. I knew Milton."

Washington was the A's third base coach in 2006, when Bradley played in Oakland.

"I aint never had a problem with Milton because I was always honest with him," Washington said. "If I didn't like what he was doing, I let him know. I didn't let anything fester with Milton. All Milton wants is people to tell him the truth, to be honest with him. He's no dummy. He knows when he's [screwing] up."

Rangers third baseman Michael Young said he had no issues with Bradley, either.

"A lot of guys like Milton," Young said. "I'm pretty sure if you ask guys in Chicago they'd say they like him. I don't know what's going on in Chicago, so I can't really comment on it."

Young added that he was "surprised" that Bradley would have trouble in the first year of a three-year deal with a team that had plenty of talent.

Apparently the only other person who was surprised was Cubs GM Jim Hendry.

Ron Washington Would Take Milton Bradley Back originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Peavy Wins in Sox Debut

Jeff Fletcher — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Angels, Brewers, Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, Rangers, White Sox, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the White Sox may be out of the playoff race, but Jake Peavy still gave them something to get excited about. Peavy made his much-anticipated White Sox debut, pitching five effective innings to beat the Royals.

Peavy gave up three runs and his command was shaky, but he consistently threw his fastball in the low 90s. He threw 73 pitches, only 20 in his last two innings.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

"Once you get out there, it's like riding a bike. It comes back to you," said Peavy. "You certainly are comfortable in that surrounding. I did some things well and some things not so well. I got a long way to go to be where I want to be."

Peavy had not been in a game since he hurt his ankle with the Padres on June 8. The White Sox got him in a shocking deal just before the July 31 deadline. Although he came back too late to help them get to the playoffs in 2009, he is signed through 2012.

From The Trainers' Room...
For the second game in a row, the Phillies' starter had to come out of the game with an injury. Fortunately for the Phillies, both pitchers say they will be OK. A day after J.A. Happ was pulled as a precaution because of a lingering side injury, Pedro Martinez came out with a neck injury. Although there may have been some concern that Martinez, who threw 130 pitches in his last outing, had been overworked, Martinez said that he actually tweaked his neck swinging the bat. He said his arm is fine.

By The Numbers...
Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder set the franchise record for RBI in a season with his 127th. Coincidentally, the man whose record he broke was in the ballpark. In the other dugout, actually. Astros manager Cecil Cooper had 126 RBI for the Brewers in 1983.

In Their Own Words...
"Wow," -- Rangers closer Frank Francisco, who could hardly believe the way his ninth inning unfolded in a victory Texas desperately needed. The Rangers led the Angels, 3-2, in the ninth, but the Angels loaded the bases with one out. Francisco went to 3-0 on Howie Kendrick, but he eventually got him to hit into a game-ending double play. The Rangers snapped a five-game losing streak and pulled within 6 1/2 games of the Angels. The Rangers have only 15 games left, but five of them are against the Angels, so they have a heartbeat. Barely.

Advance Scouting...
The Dodgers and Giants will meet for the final time this season (4:10 PM ET). The Giants, who can't afford to lose more than a couple games the rest of the way to have a realistic shot at the postseason, send Tim Lincecum to the hill against the Dodgers' Randy Wolf. The Dodgers' magic number for clinching a playoff spot is six. Depending on what the Marlins do on Sunday, the Dodgers could cut it to four.

Starting Five: Peavy Wins in Sox Debut originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: No Power Rangers Here

Jeff Fletcher — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Angels, Cardinals, Phillies, Rangers, Reds, Tigers, Twins, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the Rangers could not have fallen out of the playoff race any more quietly than this. Not only have they been losing, but their bats have fallen silent. Including Friday night's 2-0 loss to the Angels, the Rangers have scored just one run in the past five games, a first in franchise history. The last team to score once in five games was the Braves in June 2007.

Scott Kazmir handed them a critical defeat on Friday. The Angels, who had been scuffling themselves on a trip to New York and Boston, came into Texas and pushed the Rangers a season-high 7 1/2 games back in the AL West. The Rangers trail Boston by seven games in the wild-card race.

From the Angels side, Kazmir seems to have turned around his season with the trade from the Rays to Angels. Kazmir had a 5.92 ERA with Tampa Bay, but he's got a 1.42 ERA in four starts with the Angels.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

From The Trainers' Room...
The Phillies simply want to get through the rest of the regular season without anyone getting hurt, which is why they were being extra careful with rookie pitcher J.A. Happ on Friday night. Happ had been out of the rotation for two weeks with a strained side, and in the third inning of his return, he was pulled for what the team labeled "precautionary" reasons. Happ insisted he was OK. The Phillies also lost catcher Carlos Ruiz with a sprained left wrist. X-rays were negative, but the Phillies aren't sure when Ruiz will be back.

By The Numbers...
The Reds haven't been best in the National League at much, but in one respect they were perfect. Until Friday. The Reds had been the only team in the National League yet to blow a ninth-inning lead, winning all 57 games they led after eight, but the Marlins scored four times in the ninth to end that streak.

In Their Own Words...
"He just hit it absolutely perfect, as pure as you can hit it. If you hit great all the time, you hit .400 or .500, and nobody does that." -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, on Matt Holliday's walk-off homer to beat the Cubs. Apparently Holliday has hit the ball perfect more than usual since he's joined the Cardinals. He's hit .356 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs in 50 games with St. Louis.

Advance Scouting...
The Tigers need Justin Verlander to step up and right the ship before the Twins get any closer. Verlander starts for Detroit in the second game of a three-game series at Minnesota (4:10 PM ET). The Tigers have lost eight of their past 11 and the Twins are within three games. It's the Tigers' smallest lead since Aug. 23.

Starting Five: No Power Rangers Here originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Honoring Those Who Brought the Game to the Fans

Ed Price — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Rangers, Reds, Royals, Tigers, Yankees, MLB Injuries, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
The names Hal McCoy and Ernie Harwell.

Both were honored at ballparks on Wednesday, and their absence from the game will be felt by fans in Cincinnati and Detroit.

Harwell, the long-time Tigers radio announcer, has inoperable, terminal cancer. So the team chose Wednesday night to honor him at Comerica Park, and after a video tribute in the third inning, he thanked the fans:

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"In my almost 92 years on this earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey, and the blessed part of that journey is it's going to end here in the great state of Michigan.

"I deeply appreciate the great people of Michigan. I love their grit. I love the way they face life. I love the family values they have. And you Tiger fans are the greatest fans of all. No question about that.

"And I certainly want to thank you from the depth of my heart, for your devotion, your support, your loyalty and your love. Thank you very much and God bless you."

About 250 miles southwest, at Great American Ball Park, it was Hal McCoy Night.

Like Harwell, McCoy is in a wing of the Hall of Fame -- writers' instead of broadcasters'. McCoy has been the Reds beat writer for the Dayton Daily News for 37 years, but he is retiring after the season, another victim of the newspaper industry's short-sighted cutbacks.

In a nice touch, the Reds arranged for the Astros' Aaron Boone to catch McCoy's ceremonial first pitch. It was Boone, who when he was with the Reds, talked McCoy out of retiring after a stroke in his left eye damaged his vision.

McCoy stuck with it, and his writing and reporting didn't miss a beat.

There are no men in baseball classier than Hal McCoy and Ernie Harwell. So they will be missed.

From the Trainer's Room ...
Chan Ho Park, who has a 2.52 ERA in his 38 relief appearances for the Phillies, might be out for a while. Park left Wednesday's game with a strained left hamstring and said afterward he felt it "pop." It's another blow to the scrambled Philadelphia bullpen.

Numbers Game ...
The Rangers, who got just one hit Wednesday, have been shut out in three of their past four games -- scoring a grand total of one run. That's the franchise's worst four-game output since it moved from Washington to Texas. The last time any team scored one run over four games was in June 2007, when the Braves were shut in out three straight games, managed a run and then got shut out again.

In Their Own Words ...
"There's that feeling you can always do it because we've done it so many times. When guys have confidence, they are different players. When you have success in situations, you learn how to relax in those situations." -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi, whose team got its 14th walk-off win of the year, the franchise's most since 1943

Advance Scouting ...
Zack Greinke could use a win for his Cy Young Award campaign (not that wins are the be-all and end-all, but they certainly help). Edwin Jackson needs to get on track by the time the playoffs start. The two right-handers square off today in Detroit (1:05 PM ET). Greinke leads the AL in ERA, WHIP, shutouts and fewest homers per nine innings, but in three of his past six starts he has allowed zero or one earned run and gotten a no decision. Jackson, meanwhile, has a 5.31 ERA over his past seven starts after starting out 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA.

Starting Five: Honoring Those Who Brought the Game to the Fans originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: AL East Wasn't Much of a Fight, So Yankees Find One

Ed Price — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, Giants, Padres, Rangers, Rockies, Royals, Tigers, Yankees, MLB Injuries, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the Yankees are still fired up despite their large lead in the AL East.

After two Yankees pitchers hit Blue Jays batters in Tuesday's game, Toronto's Jesse Carlson threw behind Jorge Posada in the bottom of the eighth.

Posada glared, benches briefly emptied, but there were no punches. Yet.

Instead of letting it end there, or charging the mound, Posada waited until he walked and then scored a run to give Carlson a shove after he crossed home plate.

And then it was on.

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Posada ended up on the bottom of the pile in the ensuing melee -- and the Yankees can't afford to have him hurt. (Posada missed most of last year, and the Yankees missed the playoffs.)

"He was just right there on the line to the dugout. We got carried away and hopefully that's the end of it," the 38-year-old Posada said. "I don't want my kids to see that. ... Fight in the middle of the field, benches clearing -- that's a bad example."

A suspension seems likely.

"As he ran past Carlson, he gave him a little shove with his elbow. It was very unsportsmanlike," [home plate umpire Jim] Joyce told a pool reporter. "It was a cheap shot."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi met with his team after the game to ask them to chill.

From the Trainer's Room ...
Jarrod Washburn, Detroit's big trade deadline pickup, had to come out after an inning against Kansas City because of a bad left knee.

"Shortly after the strikeout [to start the game], we could tell he was in pain," [manager Jim] Leyland said. "We'll see what happens, but it seems pretty obvious to me that, at this point, he's unpitchable."

The Tigers went on to lose for the sixth time in eight games, four of those losses have come to the last-place Royals.

Numbers Game ...
Heath Bell's ERA has gone up almost a full run in less than a week. On Tuesday he gave up the winning runs after blowing two straight saves. In those three games, he has given up seven hits and seven runs in three innings, so his ERA has gone from 1.98 to 2.90. If Bell blows his next save chance, he will be the first Padres closer to fail in three straight save opportunities since Craig Lefferts in 1990; Trevor Hoffman has never blown three straight.

In Their Own Words ...
"I felt great in batting practice, ran around great, and then the second pitch he threw me, I got off balance, landed on my front side a little too hard and it just grabbed,. I didn't want to make it worse. I've been making too much progress." -- Texas' Michael Young, who tried to return from a strained left hamstring but came out of the game against Oakland after one plate appearance

Advance Scouting ...
With a 2 1/2-game lead in the wild-card race, Colorado will try to avoid its sixth straight loss to San Francisco in the teams' final regular-season meeting (10:15 PM ET). Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa is 2-0 against the Giants this year, but in those two starts he has a 5.40 ERA. He faces Matt Cain, who in 17 career starts against Colorado has allowed opposing hitters to bat just .212.

Starting Five: AL East Wasn't Much of a Fight, So Yankees Find One originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Time to Count Marlins Out?

Andrew Johnson — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Astros, Angels, Athletics, Marlins, Rangers, Rays, Red Sox, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That you can add the Marlins to the list of fringe contenders fading away with three weeks to go in the season.

Florida wasted an opportunity to gain on wild-card leading Colorado, which lost in San Francisco, in an 11-6 loss to the Cardinals. The Marlins fell behind 4-0 in the first, but managed to take a 6-4 lead by the fourth inning, only to squander that lead in large part due to Ricky Nolasco's five-inning, seven-run outing.

Poor starting pitching has been a big reason why Florida hasn't been able to make a run.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

From the Palm Beach Post's Joe Capozzi:

The Marlins haven't had a starter pitch at least seven innings since Aug. 18, when Nolasco threw a complete game.

"For us to get back into this thing and go forward and get into the playoffs, we need to improve it right now, as soon as possible," [Marlins manager Fredi] Gonzalez said.

Florida is 5 1/2 games behind the Rockies with 18 left to play.

From the Trainer's Room ...
A severe fever forced the Astros to quarantine closer Jose Valverde in the team's clubhouse Sunday and also kept him from joining the club on the first day of its road trip in Cincinnati. Valverde had a temperature of 101 degrees over the weekend.

"They're treating him, and he has some type of virus," [Houston GM Ed] Wade said. "Hopefully it will run its course and he will be able to get here [Tuesday]."

Numbers Game ...
Believe it or not, Oakland's Brett Tomko is a 100-game winner. The journeyman, who has played for nine different teams, reached the milestone by throwing a five-hit shutout against the Rangers, dealing another blow to Texas' rapidly shrinking playoff hopes.

"We want to put ourselves in as good a position as possible and we haven't done that the last two days," [Rangers losing pitcher Scott] Feldman said. "Regardless, we're still in this thing. We just need to show the character we've shown all year and move on."

Texas is now 4 1/2 games back of Boston in the AL wild-card race. The shutout was just the second of Tomko's career and his first since 2004.

In Their Own Words ...
"Sleep is more tranquil, food tastes better and I like my dog a whole lot more." -- Rays manager Joe Maddon after his team avoided becoming the first team to lose 12 straight games the year after appearing in the World Series by beating the Orioles 8-4.

Advance Scouting ...
In a potential ALDS preview, the Angels head to Fenway Park for a meeting with the Red Sox (7:10 PM ET). Los Angeles' starter, John Lackey, has thrown back-to-back complete games and appears to be rounding into form, but his struggles in Boston -- he has a 6.34 career ERA there -- are well known. Lackey will take a backseat in the intrigue department to Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, though. The enigmatic Matsuzaka has an 8.23 ERA this season and hasn't appeared in a Boston uniform since June, but with a strong finish to the year, it could still be possible for him to work his way into the Red Sox playoff rotation.

Starting Five: Time to Count Marlins Out? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Texas in Trouble

Andrew Johnson — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Astros, Mariners, Pirates, Rangers, Red Sox, Twins, MLB Milestones, MLB Playoffs, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That in a little over 24 hours the Rangers went from in the hunt for the AL wild card to hanging on by a thread. Texas split a doubleheader with the Mariners Sunday and dropped two of three to Seattle over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox -- the team the Rangers are chasing -- swept the reeling Rays, who have now lost 11 straight, including taking both games of a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park.

Boston doubled its lead in the race -- from two games to four -- with 20 games remaining for each team.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

The Sox were an 88 percent favorite to take the wild card entering play Sunday, according to Baseball Prospectus' Postseason Odds Report, an edge that should get even larger with two more games completed by each team and Boston's growing lead.

Things won't be getting any easier for Texas. The Rangers will play 13 of their final 20 games against teams currently above .500, including six against the Angels. The Red Sox only have six games against similar competition -- three against the Angels and three against the Yankees -- sandwiched around series with Baltimore, Kansas City, Toronto and Cleveland.

From the Trainer's Room ...
Justin Morneau has an appointment with the doctor. The 2006 American League MVP has a strained back in addition to a sore wrist, injuries which may explain his recent slump.

Morneau, who also has been playing with a sore wrist, is batting .100 (7-for-70) with two homers and six RBI in his past 20 games.

Though Morneau hasn't blamed injuries, Gardenhire said, "He's really been fighting through it with everything."

Numbers Game ...
The milestones keep coming for Ichiro Suzuki. The one-of-a-kind Mariners star notched his ninth consecutive 200-hit season, a major league record, in the second game of Seattle's doubleheader against the Rangers.

After he reached 200 hits for the ninth straight season during the second game of a doubleheader, Ken Griffey Jr. picked up his slight teammate, slung him over his shoulder and carried him to the showers, where teammates awaited with a beer bath.

"To get to enjoy this with these teammates I have, and especially that guy over there makes me very joyful," Ichiro said.

In Their Own Words ...
"Just compete. You don't need to do any of that stuff. Those two have a thing going out there. I'm set, and he's not even looking at me. That tells me all I need to know." -- Pirates closer Matt Capps, who got into a shouting match with Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada and first base coach Jose Cruz because he believed they were conspiring to steal signs. Tejada later denied any shenanigans.

Advance Scouting ...
The Angels and Yankees are mostly jockeying for playoff position at this point, but don't underestimate the significance of Monday's makeup game (7:05 PM ET) between the two AL powers. Not only are both teams vying for home-field advantage throughout the postseason, but New York is probably hoping for a little peace of mind. The Yankees have been eliminated from the playoffs by the Angels twice since 2002 and are 12-23 against Los Angeles since 2006. Joba Chamberlain will go for New York against Jered Weaver.

Starting Five: Texas in Trouble originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From the Windup: Individuals of Interest This Coming October

Matt Snyder — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Angels, Braves, Dodgers, Giants, Marlins, Phillies, Rangers, Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees, AL Central, AL East, AL West, NL Central, NL East, NL West, MLB Playoffs

From the Windup is Matt Snyder's weekly, extended look at some aspect of America's pastime.

As I look ahead to the MLB playoffs, I'm faced with the fact that my beloved Cubbies aren't going to be competing. Being a devout baseball fan, though, there's no way I'm not watching the postseason. Without a horse in the race, I'm forced to focus instead on individuals, and there are always plenty of reasons to watch certain players. Thus, I'm going to list 10 players I'm looking forward to watching and five players I wish I could come October.

Five Players I Can't Wait to Watch

Alex Rodriguez: The three-time regular season MVP was possibly the most polarizing figure in baseball before he was revealed to have used PEDs. Now most people just hate him. The stigma A-Rod carries is that he's a lion when there is no pressure, but a lamb when there is. He's actually been a pretty clutch regular season player the past few seasons, but he's been brutal in the playoffs since the Yankees ran up a 3-0 lead in the 2004 ALCS against the Red Sox. Will the presence of Mark Teixeira in the middle of the lineup help A-Rod come shed his "unclutch" image in October?

CC Sabathia: The big man is going to be leaned upon heavily in the playoffs, as the Yankees are thinking about using just a three-man rotation in the first round. I'd be pretty confident in Sabathia holding up his end of the bargain if I couldn't see that career 7.92 postseason ERA in five starts. The worst part? His command seems to disappear -- which is something that could be attributed to either nerves or fatigue. His BB/9 over the course of his career in the regular season has been 2.8. In the playoffs, it's 7.9. That's such a drastic leap it doesn't even sound realistic.

Kendry Morales: The 26-year-old first baseman has emerged as a star in taking over for the departed Teixeira, serving as one of the anchors to the Angels' mighty offense. He's 3-for-13 in the postseason, but he's never been a regular starter before and he's a different player. We'll see if he can step-up under the spotlight of the playoffs.

Josh Beckett: Beckett has always been known as a money pitcher when the pressure is on. His career 7-2 record and 2.90 ERA in the postseason illustrates as much. The thing is, he was pretty bad last season. His career playoff ERA was actually 1.91 before his three October 2008 starts -- when he allowed 22 hits and 14 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings. If the Red Sox hold onto their tenuous wild-card lead, Beckett's going to have to show last year was a fluke and he's still got the magic.

Mark DeRosa: It's no secret I'm a die-hard Cubs fan. Thus, I'm required to hate the Cardinals (and I do). Still, DeRosa was easily my favorite player from the past two Cubs' playoff teams and I'll enjoy watching him get to play in October once again. No real storyline here, just some love for Mr. DeRosa -- a true guy's guy who doesn't seem to take for granted how lucky he is to play baseball for a living.

Five Exciting "Debuts"

As you'll see, these aren't all necessarily debuts in the traditional sense, but, hey, it's my list.

Cliff Lee: Last year's AL Cy Young award winner came over to the Phillies in a trade deadline deal and took the National League by force initially. His ERA in his past three outings is 9.60, though, and he's never appeared in the playoffs. Can he get things turned around and handle the heat in October?

Ryan Franklin: The 36-year-old closer has appeared in 445 games over the course of his 10-season career. He has appeared in exactly zero playoff games to this point. Franklin's taken the closer job by force this season with ice-water in his veins, saving 37 games and sporting a 1.96 ERA. The postseason is totally different than the regular season, though, so can he keep it going?

Clayton Kershaw: Kershaw saw brief relief action in two playoff games last year. This time around, though, he'll be a starter and taking the ball in the first inning of a playoff game is a different animal than coming in as a reliever. Teaming his 8-8 record with his 2.89 ERA shows he can be quite inconsistent. When the 21-year-old lefty is on, there's almost no one better. Which Clayton shows up in the playoffs?

Edwin Jackson: Yes, Jackson has also pitched in the postseason before -- three short relief appearances. After a change of scenery, though, he's been a different pitcher and, again, it's much different to start a game in October. In Jackson's two seasons as a member of the Rays' rotation, he had a 5.04 ERA and a losing record. He was left out of the postseason rotation. This year, he's having his breakout campaign with the Tigers, going 12-6 with a 3.22 ERA. Will it continue on the big stage?

The Young Rockies: Again, I'm cheating here ... this time by including more than one player. Between Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, Chris Iannetta and Ian Stewart, there's plenty of new blood. Plus, Franklin Morales and Ubaldo Jimenez are different players than the bright-eyed youngsters they were in 2007.

Five Players I Wish I Could Watch

The Rangers trail the Red Sox by just two games, so it's possible they make a run and take the AL wild card. In the National League, the Giants are 4 1/2 games behind the Rockies. It's an uphill battle, especially considering how well the Rockies are rolling, but still possible. The Marlins and Braves appear left for dead. If things stay the way they are, the following five players are guys I'll be saddened to not see in the playoffs.

Tim Lincecum: It's a shame it appears the Giants will come up short, because Lincecum in the playoffs would be an absolute pleasure to baseball fans who love a good pitcher's duel. Imagine this: If the Giants do snatch the wild card away from the Rockies, their first-round opponent would likely be the Cardinals. How does a Chris Carpenter vs. Lincecum matchup sound? Hell, throw in Adam Wainwright vs. Matt Cain in Game 2. The games will last less time than a typical movie. (Of course, I also want to see the Rockies in the playoffs. Any chance both can pass the Dodgers?)

Pablo Sandoval: Hmm ... let's see: His nickname is "Kung Fu Panda." He's 5-foot-11 and weighs 245 pounds, but he's still stolen four bases. He's only 22, but he's got an OPS of .918. He's a switch-hitter with great gap power (an NL-leading 40 doubles). What's not to love?

Michael Young: 10 seasons, 1,345 games, six All-Star games, a career .302 batting average, and zero career playoff games. You think anyone on the Rangers wants to make up those four games more than Young?

Tommy Hanson: Young fireballers can steal the stage in October (remember Jaret Wright for the Indians?). The 22-year-old Hanson has a 9-3 record with a 2.83 ERA as a rookie. He's struck out 85 hitters in 101 2/3 innings this year, but he's picking up the pace lately, having punched out 39 hitters in his last 34 2/3 innings.

Hanley Ramirez: He's been one of the best and most exciting players in the majors for the past three seasons. He does everything well -- .358 average, .998 OPS, 23 bombs, 24 steals, good fielding range -- but we've never gotten to see him in the playoffs. That's a shame, but he's only 25, so there's plenty of time.

From the Windup: Individuals of Interest This Coming October originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: American League Wild-Card Race Washed Out

Jeff Fletcher — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cubs, Giants, Rangers, Red Sox, Yankees, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the Red Sox and Rangers weren't able continue what is the closest race for any playoff spot. Both teams were rained out, setting up Sunday to be a huge day in the race. Right now the Red Sox are two games ahead of Texas, and both teams will play doubleheaders on Sunday. Boston is playing Tampa Bay and Texas is playing Seattle.

The Red Sox might take a little advantage over the Rangers out of Friday's weather. Because Boston has an off day on Monday, the doubleheader on Sunday won't force them to dig up a spot starter later in the week. (Daisuke Matsuzaka will return to the Boston rotation on Tuesday, though, replacing Paul Byrd.) The Rangers are going to need a sixth starter for Wednesday's game against the A's, probably Dustin Nippert, Doug Mathis or Guillermo Moscoso.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

The Red Sox also caught a break that Jon Lester pitched only one-third of an inning before Friday's game was washed out, so he can still come back on Sunday. Lester was angry that the game was started at all. He fired a ball into the wall the plate when umpires ushered the tarp onto the field.

"Obviously it's very frustrating," said Lester. "They shouldn't even have started the game. It's different when you have a two-hour or one-and-a-half window, but when you have a 30-minute window and you're trying to get five innings of baseball in 30 minutes, that's very frustrating. You have to hurry up to go out there and warm up, and you don't know if you're going to start on time. It's just one of those nights that you have to deal with and try to get through -- luckily it gets postponed to Sunday."

From The Trainers' Room...
Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum played catch and said his back felt fine, although the Giants still aren't sure he's going to take his next turn in the rotation. Lincecum is expected to try to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. If that goes well, he'd be cleared to start on Monday, the first of a three-game series against the Rockies. If Lincecum can't go, the Giants would likely give Madison Bumgarner another start.

By The Numbers...
Now that Derek Jeter is the all-time Yankees' hits leader, a little trivia about franchise hits leaders: Three other players lead their current franchises in hits: Colorado's Todd Helton (2,113), Texas' Pudge Rodriguez (1,738) and Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford (1,274). Two other active players lead former franchises in hits. Atlanta's Garret Anderson is still the Angels' leader with 2,368 and the Mets' Luis Castillo holds the Marlins' record with 1,273

In Their Own Words...
"Sometimes, it feels like you're swimming against the current and you're not getting anywhere." -- Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, whose three-hit game on Friday temporarily interrupted what has been a miserable season for the reigning NL Rookie of the Year. Soto is hitting .220 with 10 homers. Last year he hit .285 with 23 homers.

Advance Scouting...
Today's game between the Yankees and Orioles (1:05 PM ET) has a chance to show what it looks like when two very tired teams take the field without the benefit of amphetamines -- not that we think major league players would really have turned to such things for energy. Thanks to a rain delay the two teams ended Friday's game at 1:31 AM ET on Saturday morning. Both starting pitchers, A.J. Burnett and Brian Matusz, were likely sent back from the ballpark to get some sleep long before the game ended, so they could be the only ones who are alert. Might want to take the under -- not that we'd ever bet on baseball.

Starting Five: American League Wild-Card Race Washed Out originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kevin Millwood Is Eight Innings Away From $12 Million

Josh Alper — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rangers, AL West

In a letter to his mailbag on Thursday morning, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram fielded a question from a reader who hoped the Rangers would sit Kevin Millwood down for the rest of the regular season to save $12 million. The question came from Bob from Plano, Texas, who is either not a Rangers fan or a pseudonym for team owner Tom Hicks.

There's not much other explanation for why you'd want Millwood to finish short of the 180-inning mark that triggers his option for the 2010 season. The team is two games behind the Red Sox for the wild card and Millwood is one of their five best starters. You don't play games in that situation, and the Rangers said Thursday that they weren't considering turfing Millwood.

"We don't let clauses in contracts determine who is in the starting lineup or in the rotation," general manager Jon Daniels said. "We don't make decisions like that. It hasn't even been discussed. The only thing being discussed is what can we do to get him back on track."

It's true that Millwood hasn't been turning in very good work over the second half, but is there anyone who would really rather see Brandon McCarthy or Derek Holland on the mound in a must-win late-September game?

It's also true that the Rangers are in pretty miserable financial shape, as illustrated by the $15 million loan they took from Major League Baseball. Their financial shape isn't going to get any better by telling fans that winning isn't something that interests them because that message would send their base of ticket buyers directly to other forms of entertainment.

It would also send a wonderful message to the other players in the organization about how much the team respects them and their service. And, to just throw some more fun into the mix, they might end up spending the money anyway if they lost a grievance that the MLB Players Association would file the second Millwood was taken out of the rotation.

The Rangers made their bed when they signed Millwood and they'd get to wriggle out of it if they were out of contention or safely in the playoffs. But they aren't, and any justification for dumping Millwood for cause would fail based on the other available options. Come next April they'll be in a tough spot with Holland and Neftali Feliz, but right now they're making the only sensible choice.

Kevin Millwood Is Eight Innings Away From $12 Million originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Not a Clean Sweep, but a Sweep The Rangers Will Take

Ed Price — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, Cubs, Indians, Orioles, Pirates, Rangers, Red Sox, Rockies, Twins, MLB Injuries, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That it took a lot of work for the Rangers to climb within two games of the Red Sox in the American League wild-card race.

Texas swept a doubleheader at Cleveland, 11-9 and 10-5, and the games took a combined five hours, 59 minutes.

"It's pretty good to get back on track and win some ballgames," manager Ron Washington said. "We'll come back tomorrow, get greedy and see if we can get a [series] sweep."

Texas has played three regular (i.e., not day-night) doubleheaders this year, most in the majors, and has swept all three.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

In Game 1, Texas led 4-0, fell into a 5-5 tie, went up 8-5, had that cut to 8-7, made it 11-7 and held on 11-9.

In Game 2, a 7-0 lead became 7-5 before getting extended to 10-5.

The pitching wasn't great, but no one had to work both ends of the doubleheader, and the batters pounded out 31 hits after coming into the game with a 15-inning scoreless streak.

From the Trainer's Room ...
Troy Tulowitzki, the Rockies' star shortstop, sat out Tuesday after leaving Monday's game with back stiffness.

"Tulo has to be right to have him out there," [manager Jim] Tracy said. "He has to be able to bend over, dive for a ball, run from first to third, score from second to home on a single. Right now he can't do those things."

Team trainers have told Tracy that once Tulowitzki's muscle spasms are gone and his back unclenches, he will be on the road to recovery. But Tulowitzki is not there yet.

Numbers Game ...
By losing 10-0 at Boston -- and allowing six homers -- Baltimore fell to 5-33 in its past 38 road division games. Since the start of last season, the Orioles have won just two of 20 road series against AL East teams, with the last series win July 28-30, 2008 in New York. (By the way, the last time the Red Sox hit six home runs in a home game was June 29, 2003 -- and four of them came off Brad Penny, then with the Marlins.)

In Their Own Words ...
"I've never really seen anything like that, but it happened. It was just one of those things where we couldn't stop it. You can't explain it. It was just bad luck or good hitting, I don't know what it is." -- Pirates manager John Russell after the Cubs tied a major league record by starting the game with eight straight hits, all off Pittsburgh's Zach Duke. No NL team had begun a game with eight consecutive hits since the 1975 Pirates.

Advance Scouting ...
Roy Halladay tries to keep intact his perfect record against the Twins as Toronto hosts Minnesota tonight (7:07 PM ET). Halladay is 8-0 in 12 career outings against the Twins, with a 2.77 ERA. He has been especially hard on Jason Kubel (1-for-12), Joe Mauer (1-for-10) and Alexi Casilla (0-for-7, four strikeouts).

Starting Five: Not a Clean Sweep, but a Sweep The Rangers Will Take originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Rays' Season Slips Away

Andrew Johnson — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Braves, Brewers, Marlins, Rangers, Rays, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the Rays left their magic in 2008.

Fading Tampa Bay wasted a dazzling major league debut by Wade Davis, who allowed one run and struck out nine over seven innings, in a crushing 5-3 loss to the Tigers.

Davis' pitching helped the Rays carry a 3-1 lead into the ninth inning, but then the bullpen came unraveled. Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon used five relievers in the ninth, three of whom -- Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell and Russ Springer -- failed to record an out in succession.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

Springer surrendered a grand slam to Detroit's Brandon Inge that turned a two-run lead into a two-run deficit.

"It's difficult, because if you lose games late like that, that's more difficult to take," Maddon said.

The Rays now sit a full seven games behind wild-card-leading Boston in the standings with 26 games to play, making them an extreme longshot to return to the postseason.

From the Trainer's Room ...
Bad news for two teams desperately trying to hang on in the playoff race. Chipper Jones missed Atlanta's 4-2 loss to the Reds Sunday with a sore abdomen. He's hoping to return to the lineup on Tuesday, but with Jones' injury history, you can never be sure.

Meanwhile, the Rangers will be without Josh Hamilton indefinitely. The Texas slugger missed the entirety of this weekend's series in Baltimore with a pinched nerve in his back and is expected to have a cortisone injection in the area in the coming days.

Numbers Game ...
Hanley Ramirez hit his 100th career home run Sunday, becoming the fourth-fastest shortstop to reach that threshold in major league history by hitting it in his 595th game. Only Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra and Ernie Banks reached the century mark faster.

"I didn't even know it was my 100th home run,'' Ramirez said, not in the mood to dwell on his accomplishment after Florida's 5-4 loss. "After the game, they gave me the ball and told me it was my 100th home run.''

In Their Own Words ...
"That was fun. Especially the way our season is going now, it's always good to have some fun." -- Prince Fielder, whose 37th home run of the season gave the Brewers a walk-off 2-1 win over the Giants in 12 innings. Milwaukee also turned a 5-4-3 triple play in the game.

Advance Scouting ...
Two of the hottest team in baseball hook up for a Labor Day matinee, and one of them has plenty on the line. The Rockies -- winners of five of their last six and leaders in the NL wild-card race -- host the Reds (3:10 PM ET), who have won 12 of 14. Per FanHouse's Jeff Fletcher, this is Cincinnati's best 14-game stretch since 1998, when it won 13 of 14.

Starting Five: Rays' Season Slips Away originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baseball Brunch: Senior Circuit Resembles Rest Home for Pitchers

Ed Price — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Angels, Athletics, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Rangers, Red Sox, Rockies, Tigers, Twins, Yankees, MLB Inside Scoop, Baseball Brunch

Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.

Ahhh, the National League -- where pitchers can play out their golden years without a care in the world.

Think of the NL as baseball's rest home.

Just in the past few weeks, Brad Penny and John Smoltz have reached the legendary fountain of youth that Ponce de Sabathia discovered last year in the wilds of Wisconsin.

"In reality, it's a little tougher to pitch in the American League than it is the National League," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who formerly managed in Seattle and Tampa Bay.

At least he admits it.

Others asked about the difference between leagues tried to downplay it.

"If you make pitches, you're going to get outs," Penny told FanHouse a few days after joining the Giants. "When I got hit in the American League, it was because I didn't make pitches.

"Obviously the American League's a little harder, but it's not as big of a gap as everyone would think."

As Red Sox this year, Penny and Smoltz combined to go 9-13 with a 6.24 ERA and a .310 opponents' average.

Thus far, back in the comfy NL, they are 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA and .205 opponents' average.

Then -- in perhaps the ultimate indignity -- Jose Contreras, who went 5-13 with a 5.42 ERA this year for the White Sox, held the Diamondbacks to one run in 6 2/3 innings in his NL debut for Colorado.

Sounds like a pretty big gap.

"I don't see how it could be," Cubs GM Jim Hendry said. "How many American League lineups are better than the Phillies?"

Point taken, and for Penny to shut down the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park was pretty impressive.

Ted Lilly, who went from the Blue Jays to the Cubs two years ago, would admit to only noticing "a little bit" of a difference between leagues.

Penny said Smoltz wasn't bothered by the AL as much as he wasn't fully recovered from shoulder surgery.

"He was trying to rush things," Penny said, "and got back out there probably a little too soon."

Phillies right-hander Joe Blanton also claimed to notice no drop in class when he switched leagues.

"Hitters are hitters," said Blanton, who was 47-46 with Oakland and has gone 13-6 with Philadelphia. "I mean, other than facing the pitcher, hitters are hitters."

It's not just the presence of the DH that makes the AL harder on pitchers. Lineups are deeper, ballparks are smaller and the style of play different.

For example, through Friday's games, according to STATS LLC, American League No. 8 hitters had combined for a .400 slugging percentage and a homer every 33.4 at-bats. In the NL, No. 8 hitters had a .374 slugging percentage and a home run every 52.4 at-bats.

The National League has pitcher-friendly parks in San Francisco, San Diego, New York, Florida and Los Angeles. The AL has Seattle and Oakland -- and hitter's havens in New York, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago and Texas.

"I think the teams are put together a little differently," Piniella said. "The [AL] teams are put together with a little more offense in mind."

More AL teams, notably in Boston and New York, seem to emphasize patience at the plate and building opposing pitchers' pitch counts.

"I think that the lineups in the American League are more powerful," said Johan Santana, in his second year with the Mets after winning two Cy Young Awards for the Twins. "You see more guys with longer swings than you see here in the National League. ... You don't see that many bunt plays, you don't see that many hit-and-runs in the American League.

"What I found out here, is that here they make a lot of contact and they put the ball in play. In the American League, there are more swing-and-misses."

In any case, it seems not to bode well for Jake Peavy, who (eventually) will make the reverse trip, from a team that plays in one of the NL's top pitchers' parks to an AL team that plays in a home-run den.

Maybe, for Smoltz and Penny, it was just getting out of the AL East. Scott Kazmir stayed in the league but left the division when he went from the Rays to the Angels, and he allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings in his first start after having a 5.92 ERA in Tampa Bay.

Or maybe Smoltz and Penny will eventually revert to their Boston form.

"Well, let's wait and see how it goes," Lilly said. "Four games, that doesn't give you much to go on."

Overheard and Understood

o. The early AL MVP talk -- and it's early, since September performance can swing the race -- has focused on Twins catcher Joe Mauer and Yankees teammates Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter. But I see drawbacks with all three.

Mauer (back) and Teixeira (.200 average, 10 RBI) took April off. Jeter recently bunted against Contreras with two men on, a 2-0 lead in the second inning with Sergio Mitre pitching for his team. Jeter is a great player having a great year, but that's not an MVP play.

Chart of the Week
Seattle's David Aardsma has 34 saves -- sixth-most all-time for a pitcher who had zero career saves coming into that season:
Pitcher	Team/Year	S
Eric Gagne	'02 Dodgers	52
Derrick Turnbow	'05 Brewers	39
Kaz Sasaki*	'00 Mariners	37
Shawn Chacon	'04 Rockies	35
J. Papelbon	'06 Red Sox	35
Kerry Wood	'08 Cubs	34
David Aardsma	'09 Mariners	34
Chris Ray	'06 Orioles	33
Billy Koch*	'99 Blue Jays	31
* - First year in majors Source: Mariners

So let's expand the discussion. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is in the top five in slugging and on-base percentage for a first-place team. And as the Angels went on a 44-16 tear from June 12 to Aug. 19, Kendry Morales led the league with a 1.083 OPS over that span (.345, 18 homers, 47 RBI).

o. A friend of Bobby Abreu's said Abreu would be open to remaining with the Angels, but if there have been talks about extending him past his current one-year deal, they have not progressed significantly.

o. Interesting managerial matchup last week when the Diamondbacks played the Dodgers. Arizona manager A.J. Hinch was born on May 15, 1974 -- at which point counterpart Joe Torre already had won an MVP, been an All-Star nine times, and accumulated 2,035 hits. Torre managed his first game, as player/manager for the Mets, 16 days after Hinch's third birthday.

o. The Giants have that rare combination of neither power nor speed. San Francisco is on pace for 118 homers and 78 stolen bases. But give the Giants credit for somehow being in contention anyway. Since the three-tiered playoffs began in 1995, four teams have failed to have either 80 stolen bases or 120 home runs -- the 1995 Phillies and Cardinals, the 2005 Nationals and the '07 Royals -- and none had a winning record or finished higher than third place.

o. One scout, using the 20-80 scouting scale, rated San Diego shortstop Everth Cabrera, 22, an 80 on range and a 75 on arm. A year ago, Cabrera was with Asheville, N.C., in the lower-level Single-A South Atlantic League. Then the Padres took him from the Rockies in the Rule 5 draft. "Within a year or two," the scout said, "he's going to be the best defensive shortstop in the National League."

o. Oakland has used a starting pitcher age 23 or younger 85 times this year and could wind up with the most such starts since the woeful 1998 Marlins had 135. (Livan Hernandez and Ryan Dempster turned out OK; Brian Meadows, Jesus Sanchez, Rafael Medina and Joe Fontenot are not as easily remembered.)

o. The Rangers have clinched home field for a playoff tiebreaker game against the Red Sox or Rays and need one more win over the Angels to have an AL West playoff, if needed, at home.

o. The Division Series with an extra day off -- the one that allows teams to use a three-man rotation without anyone going on short rest -- is in the American League this year. The AL team the finishes with the best record has the choice of whether to play in the seven-day series or the eight-day series.

Baseball Brunch: Senior Circuit Resembles Rest Home for Pitchers originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Young Injury Could Be Fatal Blow for Rangers

Josh Alper — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:25:00 EST

Filed under: Rangers, AL East, MLB Injuries

Michael Young's superlative season has helped keep the Rangers in the thick of the playoff race, so this news out of Dallas on Wednesday afternoon must be greeted with gritted teeth. General manager Jon Daniels announced that Young will miss at least the next two weeks after an MRI revealed a left hamstring strain.

The news comes at a brutal moment for the Rangers. They enter Wednesday night's game 3 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the wild-card race and 4 1/2 games behind the Angels after sweeping the Blue Jays in a Tuesday doubleheader. Making up the remaining distance without Young in the lineup, however, will be very tough.

Young will have blood platelets injected into his leg to try and speed up healing, but the two week scenario still means he'll miss 13 of the final 30 Rangers games of the season. Even a 8-5 record in those games won't help them unless the Sox and Halos go into the tank, which isn't exactly doubling down on 11 when it comes to smart bets to make.

Omar Vizquel and Chris Davis are the likeliest bets to fill in while Young is on the shelf. Combined they might make an intriguing substitute, but Vizquel lacks Young's power at the plate and Davis has neither the glove nor the plate discipline to make for a sensible everyday alternative at the hot corner.

If you had to choose one of those options, going with the glove and the on-base percentage might be the smarter play. Contrary to past seasons, the Rangers are relying on pitching to win games this season, so giving them a substandard glove at third might do more harm than anything Davis can do at the plate. Davis will see at-bats at first and DH, so his bat wouldn't disappear, and the Rangers might be able to find a way to stay afloat until Young returns.

Michael Young Injury Could Be Fatal Blow for Rangers originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starting Five: Rangers' Feldman Still Rolling on Road

Jeff Fletcher — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Rangers, Rockies, White Sox, Starting Five

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That Scott Feldman is having a big season for the Rangers, especially on the road. Feldman beat the Twins, 3-0, on Saturday in Minnesota. Although Feldman lasted just 5 2/3 innings, the scoreless outing helped him improve to 10-1 with a 2.92 ERA on the road. Feldman has won his last six road starts, equaling Adam Wainwright for the longest streak in the majors this season.

For the season, Feldman is 14-4 with a 3.72 ERA. He has a chance to be the first Rangers pitcher to win 15 games with an ERA below 4.00 since Ken Hill went 16-10 with a 3.63 ERA in 1996.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

From The Trainers' Room...
An MRI exam of Cubs' outfielder Alfonso Soriano's left knee was negative. Soriano may have a cortisone shot, which would cost him the next three games, but he will not be placed on the disabled list.

By The Numbers...
Manny Ramirez snapped a 56-at-bat homerless drought, his longest in a Dodger uniform, with his first-inning two-run dinger on Saturday in Cincinnati. The last time Ramirez went longer without a homer was two years ago. He went 70 at-bats without a homer in August 2007, with the Red Sox. Ramirez has hit .264 with three homers in his past 34 games.

In Their Own Words...
"I watched Little League this morning -- they were playing better than we did.'' -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, after his team lost 10-0 to the Yankees. The White Sox have lost six of the past seven games, falling into third place.

Advance Scouting...
The Giants will go for the sweep of the Rockies (4:05 PM ET), which would pull them back into a tie for the wild-card lead for the first time since Aug. 9. Matt Cain takes the ball for the Giants against Jason Hammel. Cain hasn't won in his last eight starts, despite a 2.72 ERA. Hammel has pitched seven strong innings in each of his past two starts.

Starting Five: Rangers' Feldman Still Rolling on Road originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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