Baseball is My Boyfriend

2009 Rangers Highlights: June

June was far from a swoon -- the Rangers went 11-15 and fell out of first place, and Matt Harrison and Josh Hamilton went on the disabled list. Despite that, there were some interesting events during this month. Right away, in the month's first game, Vicente Padilla hit Mark Teixeira with a pitch. Twice. The next day, the Rangers placed Padilla on outright waivers. No teams picked him up, and he pitched a few more games for the team, before departing. He eventually went to the Dodgers and pitch in the playoffs, but count me among the Rangers fans who was glad to see Padilla go.  But that's about enough space devoted to Padilla. On with the month's best plays.

1.  June 4 - Cruz robs Johnny Damon

This wasn't a very pretty game, as Brandon McCarthy coughed up a 5-1 lead and C.J. Wilson surrendered a heartbreaking home run in the 9th.

2. June 5 - Millwood, Rangers get the W in Fenway

The Rangers didn't win a single game at Fenway in 2008, but they ended that drought with an exclamation point when they took the series in early June. Millwood was a big part of that as he struck out five and allowed just one run (unearned) on seven hits and four walks in seven innings of work.

3.  June 11 - Millwood wins pitchers' duel in Toronto

Millwood threw 7.2 scoreless innings Thursday night against the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Rangers went on for only its fourth 1-0 victory in 16 seasons since moving into Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

4 - June 26 - Offense wakes up against SD

San Diego got on the board first tonight -- with Tony Gwynn Jr.'s first home run...a lead-off shot -- but the Rangers' offense pounded away, winning 12-2 behind Kevin Millwood. Texas scored in every inning except the 5th, 6th and 8th (they didn't have to play the bottom of 9).  The Rangers bats slapped out 13 hits, including two doubles, a triple and two home runs.  A two-spot in the bottom of the first gave them the lead, and they just kept adding to it the rest of the game -- 4 runs in the second, 3 runs in the third, 1 run in the fourth and 2 runs in the seventh. Andrus was 4 for 4 (with a triple!) that evening with two RBI.

5. June 27 - Andrus, Kinsler and Davis team up for game-ending double play

I never get tired of watching these three work together.

Bonus!

June 12 - Rangers pitchers combine for shutout against Dodgers

June 16 - Kinsler hits a lead-off moonshot

June 24 - Wilson dives to get first out in the 9th

2009 Rangers Highlights: May

May was full of great memories, including three sweeps of TWO division rivals - the Mariners (twice for five games total) and the Angels (three games); the return of Tommy Hunter and two emotional walk-offs.

1. May 6 - Rangers officially move into 1st place

Scott Feldman and Derek Holland were the driving force in a 3-2 win over Oakland. Feldman earned his second win, tossing 89 pitches in six innings. In that span, he fanned three, allowed four hits and walked two. Holland's relief effort was even sexier -  Two innings. 16 pitches. 13 strikes. One hit. No runs. As the only AL West team to win on this evening, the Rangers moved into 1st place, a post they would hold for several weeks to come.

2.  May 8 - Harrison blanks the White Sox

Just prior to this game, Taylor Teagarden was annointed Matt Harrison's personal catcher. Usually, I'd call that pitcher a diva, but if it means a long string of shutout innings, so be it. As of this date, teams had failed to score on Harrison in 19 consecutive innings. He needed just 111 pitches to get through all nine innings. He gave up just four hits and one walk, fanning five en route to the complete game win in Chicago.

3. May 14 - Harrison goes the distance again & Davis walks it off

Harrison's scoreless inning streak ended in the 4th inning at a mark of 22. That's the best for a Texas pitcher in four years. While the streak is over, Harrison definitely showed no signs of hanging his head over it. He had a fantastic day, walking NO ONE and fanning seven in his second consecutive complete game. He gave up just five hits and two runs in his second complete game win in a week's time.

Now, I've heard about people "crying tears of joy," but I have never experienced them until this game. When that ball left Chris Davis' bat, I knew it was a long hit.  When the camera panned to the outfield, I knew it was gone - a two-run, one-out, walk-off home run.  I shrieked and screamed, and then the waterworks started. 

4.  May 17 - Hamilton throws his body into it

This play would put Hamilton on the DL a few days later, but it's a spectacular catch nonetheless. (It also allowed me to have a nice convo with Josh when he was in Des Moines on a rehab assignment.)

5. May 20 - Kinsler, Andrus turn triple play in Detroit

This was probably the only good thing the Rangers did in the Motor City this season. It was the fifth triple play in Rangers history.

Honorable mentions (because May was full of AWESOME):

May 4 - Elvis puts on a show

May 13 - Blalock's walk-off double in the 11th inning

May 16 - Kinsler and Davis end Angels' rally hopes with an exclamation point

May 24 - McCarthy's CG shutout in Houston

2009 Rangers Highlights: April

The off-season, for most, is a time to look ahead to the next year.  The GMs moves are predicted, analyzed and scrutinized.  The more diehard fan keeps tabs on players who have taken the game south -- whether that's Arizona, Mexico or South America.  That's all fun, but a part of me also likes to look back on the season that has just ended. 

The Rangers' season ended rather unceremoniously. They were on the road and out of the race. I wonder how many so-called fans watched those last few series.  Either way, with the sad end, it can be hard to remember the good times, and, trust me, there were plenty in this Rangers season.  There were so many good times, that instead of doing one massive post, I've decided to share five highlights from each month. These posts will be made weekly, each Sunday night.  ENJOY...and don't be afraid to tell me if I've missed your favorite moment.

1.  April 6 - Red and Elvis: A New Era

After Elvis Andrus was pilfered from the Braves system, he snuck quickly through the Rangers farm teams.  Because of this, I had not seen the kid play with my own eyes.  I trust folks like Scott Lucas and Jamey Newberg, but I still didn't know what to expect from the rookie when I took my seat in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Opening Day. I watched him warm up and saw not a hint of nerves or a sense that he didn't belong there.  Quite the opposite.  Although he was still a teenager and years younger than most of his teammate, Elvis fit right in.  The same could be said of his play on the field.  He made plays with ease and even got his first hit -- a double in his first at bat against the reigning Cy Young winner, Cliff Lee.  Yep, the kid had arrived, and he'd only begun to show us what he could do.

The red uniforms also made their 2009 debut, and the result was a W. Coincidence? The jury is still out.

2. April 15 - Kinsler makes history

After a five-game losing streak, the Rangers desperately needed a lift.  Ian Kinsler was happy to help out. On Jackie Robinson Day, the 2B went 6 for 6 and hit for the cycle. He's the second Ranger to have a six-hit game (Alfonso Soriano was the other one) and the first to do it in a nine-inning game. He also scored five times, joining five others at that mark. Oh, and he hit for the cycle too.  He's the fourth Ranger to hit for the cycle. He's the first player since 1890 to hit for the cycle and go 6 for 6 in the same game.

3.  April 22 - Holland's debut, O'Day's hilarious entrance

The result of the April 22 game in Toronto is completely inconsequential. Two emotional moments win out over the loss. 

Derek Holland made his MLB debut in a tight game.  He entered the game two outs into the 6th inning. The bases were juiced. Holland came out throwing strikes but gave up an RBI single to the first batter he faced. He sat down the next four on flyouts and groundouts.  He ended up going 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and fanning two. He threw 29 of his 42 pitches for strikes. Now that's promise.

Holland should have been the headline of the night, but I guarantee the thing most people remember was the entrance of Darren O'Day. He would prove to be a fantastic waiver claim later in the season, but on this night, he was good only for a few laughs. O'Day was claimed on waivers that morning and expected to join the bullpen on Thursday. Well, with extra innings and the relievers nearly out of gas, O'Day had to get thrown into the fire right away.  He came in with two on and one out, wearing Kason Gabbard's jersey.  The infielders were laughing.  The announcers were laughing.  How can you not join the party?

4.  April 24 - Rangers rally from 4-1 deficit

For the third time in a week, the Rangers new 3rd baseman had a clutch hit in a key moment. It's the top of the 9th vs. the Baltimore Orioles. Ian Kinsler is at 1st base with two outs and Texas trailing 4-3. Michael Young steps into the box. Moments later, he swings and drills the ball into right field ... over the head of Markakis and into the stands. Frankie shut down the Orioles in the bottom of the 9th and gets the save.

5.  April 27 - Harrison turns a corner

The first few starts of Matt Harrison's season were...well...not so pretty.  This outing looked to be the same as he gave up four runs in the first few frames.  He had a chat in the dugout with Mike Maddux, and whatever the new Rangers pitching coach said worked.  Harrison retired the next 15 Baltimore batters he faced.  Meanwhile, the Rangers bats woke up and left Baltimore with a 6-4 win.

Ouch, Omar

The Hot Stove is burning pretty hot.  Rumors are flying, and I'm doing my best not to let my heart sink or soar when I hear them.  Not unless they come from a reliable source and are practically done deals. 

So far, my favorite rumors are Kevin Millwood to the Cubs for Milton Bradley and Javier Vazquez from the Braves for Chris Davis, Nelson Cruz or Josh Hamilton.  Both of those had me squirming a bit, even though I never fully let them get to me.

Have I mentioned lately that I don't want Milton Bradley back?  I'm not sure how to make it any clearer.  I know his offensive numbers were good in Arlington in 2008, but that doesn't make up for his poor me, it's someone else's fault attitude.  I just can't handle that.  Plus, even though Kevin Millwood fell off in the second half of the season, the Rangers' starting rotation needs a veteran.  Who exactly would that be if Millwood was gone? 

As for the deal with the Braves, I don't know what to say. Obviously, I have a strong attachment to Davis, and I don't like the thought of him going anywhere.  I can't say I'd be thrilled to watch Cruz or Hamilton in another uniform either.  That said, I know one of those outfielders probably will need to find a home somewhere else in the near future.  I'll just cross that bridge when I get there.

Speaking of exits, apparently Omar Vizquel has played his final game in a Rangers uniform. Sources say he will not be returning and he "would prefer a high profile team."  Really, Omar?  If those are truly your words, were they necessary?  I know Texas doesn't have any rings, recent pennants or trophies.  I know your role required you to be a mentor 75 percent of the time and an actual player the other 25 percent.  I realize, at 42, you would like to have a ring before your playing days are over.  I can't blame you for seeing all of these things too.  I am offended, however, that you would take such a dig at a team that gave you the chance to get back in the game and play in 2009.  I really liked you, Omar, and I hope and pray those words were twisted and weren't really yours.  Even if you go play somewhere else, I'd like to feel OK still cheering for you to do well.

Byrd files for FA, Rangers waiting on Salty

Well, the Yankees became the 2009 World Series Champions Wednesday night, and the off-season officially started Thursday. 

The Hot Stove is already firing off lots of rumors, rumblings and moves.  I'm shocked and confused by the Mark Teahen to the White Sox transaction, but my friend Minda has much more on that.

Although I'm obviously interested in any moves that are made, I'll stick to worrying about what the Rangers are doing. T.R. Sullivan has a few notes up today.

Unsurprisingly, Marlon Byrd has filed for free agency. He has made it very clear he'd like to stay in Texas, but the club hasn't indicated a solid commitment to him, so Byrd is doing what he has to.  Personally, I'd be kind of sad to see Marlon go. He was a great defensive replacement in centerfield when Josh Hamilton went down. On top of that, he drove in 89 runs and hit 20 HRs and 48 doubles in 2009.  He finished with an average of .283 and a slugging percentage near .500.  His .329 OBP isn't very pretty, but I guess I'm not worried about that.  I hope Marlon stays, but if he goes elsewhere, I wish him all the best.

With concerns remaining in the outfield, the Rangers are said to be interested in Jermaine Dye. Sullivan says, "He hit .250 with 25 home runs and 81 RBIs last season for the White Sox and also has a reputation for having a strong clubhouse presence. The biggest concern is he hit .179 in the second half, which is why the White Sox are not expected to exercise a $12 million option for 2010." I've always liked Dye, so it's an interesting thought, at least.

Andruw Jones and Hank Blalock have also become free agents.  I didn't really develop an attachment to Jones.  In fact, if you'll recall, I was opposed to his signing from the beginning.  As for Blalock, I have mixed feelings.  When I first became a Rangers fan, Hank was still being called "The Hammer" and was an integral part of the infield and batting lineup.  Thoracic Outlet Syndrome seems to have changed all that for Hank.  Though still adequate on defense (as long as he's at 1B), his offensive numbers practically fell off. In 2008, he hit .287 with an .846 OPS.  This past season, he managed just a .234 average and a .736 OPS.  He still hit 25 HRs, but he just didn't look like the same Hank up there, and fans didn't view him the same either.  A change of scenery might do him some good.

Another note in T.R.'s write-up deals with Ivan Rodriguez.  I know a lot of fans would like to see him back.  I have no problem with that.  I understand the nostalgia appeal he holds, and he was a solid contributor in a Rangers unform.  The Rangers are holding out on signing him, though, as they wait to see how Jarrod Saltalamacchia recovers from shoulder surgery.  I have to wonder where that leaves Taylor Teagarden, who is currently playing in the Arizona Fall League in Surprise.  Teagarden's first full year in the majors was a disappointment, to say the least. He managed just a .217 average and .270 OBP.  Each of his offensive categories dropped around 100 points from the previous season.  Heartbreaking.  And you have to wonder what happened.

And, of course, we can't discuss the Rangers without talking pitching.  The rotation is a bit of a concern. Jon Daniels and crew would like to add one more veteran arm.  Ben Sheets is surely at the top of that list, but he hasn't thrown a ball in quite awhile. They are also considering moving either Neftali Feliz or C.J. Wilson or both into the rotation.  My immediate reaction -- no and um....no.  Feliz is the ideal late-inning guy in my opinion.  I can't see him being as effective with that speed and velocity if he's stretched out.  As for Wilson, I've seen him in a starting role.  Granted, that was under the tutelage of Buck Showalter and Mark Conner,so maybe it wasn't properly executed.  That's why I hesitated on my "no" to C.J.  I have the utmost faith in Mike Maddux and will trust any work he does with C.J.  I'm still nervous at the thought of C.J. going 6-8 innings every five days though.  Maybe that's just me.

Go directly to hiring hitting coach, do not collect Milton Bradley

As the 2009 MLB season marches on in the northeast corner of the country, the Texas Rangers are not sitting and idly waiting for spring (although I believe many of their fans are).  At least one player has already resumed working out, and the front office has some major decisions ahead.

The first is a critical one - the hiring of a hitting coach.  Rudy Jaramillo's shoes are going to be tough to fill.  Although this last season was one big offensive fail, Jaramillo was a solid piece of the coaching staff and a well-liked guy among the players. Jon Daniels and crew have their work cut out for them.  The finalists are said to be Rusty Greer, Thad Bosley, Gerald Perry and Clint Hurdle. (Many were surprised Scott Coolbaugh, the hitting coach in OKC was not granted an interview.)

Greer is the candidate with whom I'm most familiar.  Sadly, I never saw the guy play (that was before my days as a Rangers fan), but his reputation precedes him.  Health cut his career short, but he reportedly had a very disciplined approach at the plate.  Plus, he knows the ballpark better than the other three, and he has relationships with some of the players.  This puts him at or near the top of the list for me.

Perry was fired as hitting coach from the Cubs organization in June.  And while I blame Jaramillo for much of Texas' offensive woes, I do not blame Perry.  The Cubs cut off their own offensive power by not holding on to Mark DeRosa after the 2008 season.  Did they really think Aramis Ramirez would stay healthy or that Milton Bradley would adequately fill their RF and batting lineup?  Ugh.  But that's off-topic. Perry has made his rounds in the league, and while the Chicago stop didn't end favorably, I'm a strong believer in new scenery and second chances.

Hurdle is a name I recognize from the Rockies organization. Daniels and Thad Levine worked with him when they were in Colorado, so they would likely have a good relationship.  Hurdle, I think, would also be good at working with the players.

I know nothing about Thad Bosley, but apparently he and Ron Washington shared some time in Oakland. He was also the hitting coach for the As at the height of the "Moneyball" success.

The final interviews are complete and the Dallas Morning News speculates that a new coach could be announced by the close of business on Tuesday.

While all of this is going on, fans have been rumbling about a possible return to Texas for Milton Bradley.  I am absolutely against this move. 

The Rangers do not need a DH, and that is essentially what Bradley is.  I understand there are concerns about Josh Hamilton's future.  If he is not the logical DH, then I could certainly see Chris Davis in that role (as he shares 1B duties with Justin Smoak) or one of the Rangers' many catchers. 

Moreover, Bradley had his shot in Texas.  His bat may have been fine, but his attitude was not. He played sporatically, and he just didn't seem that interested.  After he landed that lucrative contract in Chicago, he admitted to a reporter that he didn't try as hard as he could have in Texas because he didn't have a long-term contract in hand.  Pfft.  I want guys willing to play FOR a contract rather than those who just want one HANDED to them. 

Just say "no" to Milton Bradley. Let him play his games somewhere else.

Phillies or Yankees? Where's my other choice?

The American League and National League pennants have been awarded.  The Philadelphia Phillies will return to the World Series for the second year in a row and face off against the New York Yankees.  This is quite possibly the worst case scenario I envisioned as the regular season ended. 

Throughout the playoffs, I've shifted my cheering.  I really didn't care too much what happened in the National League, although the prospect of back-to-back rings in Philly bored me.  Come on.  Who wants to see the same team win all the time?  I mean, outside of that team's fans.

I was much more invested in the American League progression. I had a sneaking suspicion the Minnesota Twins wouldn't be able to extend their winning streak against New York, but I hoped for it anyway. I chalk that up to my natural predisposition to prefer the nice guy (Minnesota, in this case) over the flashy guy (yep, that'd be New York).  It could also be that I just don't like the Yankees.  Either way, evil prevailed, and they moved on to face my boys' division rival, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (I really wish they'd shorten their name).  I found myself torn.  I hated the thought of hearing "world champion Angels" 19 times next season. At the same time, my stomach churned at the thought of Mark Teixeira getting a World Series ring.  As you may recall, Teixeira is the reason I came to love baseball, but the trail of backhanded insults aimed at the Rangers he's left along his journey to Atlanta and then Anaheim and now New York has destroyed any affection I once had for him.  He's like that guy who left you for another girl and then constantly told the world how the new girl was so much better than you.  Sick feeling, right?  I went with the more tolerable of the feelings and cheered for the Angels.  It felt dirty, but not as bad as I felt at the mere thought of cheering for the Yankees.  Of course, they couldn't reward me, and I fear my cheering for them may come back to haunt me in 2010. 

So the much-loathed Yankees (have I mentioned I don't like them?) will face the Philles (who just got a ring last year).  I've told myself and others I won't watch this World Series and have no interest in it, but, of course, I'm lying.  I love baseball...even baseball played by teams I don't like.  I won't schedule my life around the games, but I will probably watch a few and pay attention to the scores. (I also work with one Phillies fan and one Yankees fan, so I'm sure they'll fill me in whether I want them to or not.)  But who will I root for?  I think, if you read this entry, that answer is obvious.  In case it's not....

GO PHILLIES!!

Jaramillo strikes out for the free agent market

Rudy Jaramillo's tenure as hitting coach for the Texas Rangers is over. After 15 seasons, Jaramillo has decided it's time for him to move on.  He turned down the club's one-year contract offer and will opt for free agency. 

Michael Young and Ian Kinsler are none too thrilled with this move.

"I'm disappointed to say the least," Young said, a day after his wife Cristina gave birth to the couple's second son. "As an offense, we need to get better because we are worse today than we were a week ago. It's tough for me personally because he's seen basically every at bat of my career."

"I think they are trying to fix something that's not broken," Ian Kinsler said. "I think it impacts the whole team. Rudy was respected by everyone, not just the hitters. From the pitchers on down to the cook, everybody respected him for how he worked and for how long he worked here and his loyalty. That's what baseball should be about, respect and loyalty. I think I speak for everyone when I say I don't want him to leave."

I certainly understand the feelings of the players. This is a guy they've developed a relationship with, and, obviously, a close one.  I'd be lying, though, if I said I didn't think this was a positive move.  Jaramillo's aggressive, first-pitch-swing approach no longer fit this club's strategy.  They prefer patience and more selective hitting.  Evan Grant reports that 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.

Jaramillo won't be unemployed for long. There are already rumors about interest from the Cubs. I can't blame them. Despite this last season's dip, his track record is pretty impressive. He has coached four MVPs (Juan Gonzalez twice, Ivan Rodriguez and Alex Rodriguez), a batting champ (Michael Young) and three home run champions (Alex Rodriguez 2001-03).

Rudy's departure is bittersweet, but I think the Rangers' offense will be just fine with a fresh instructor.

Weighing in on the season's best

I should stop making promises I can't keep.  Last night, I told you all I would award various awards to my boys in blue and red. But after a stressful day at work, I can't focus enough to formulate a good list of categories and winners. I won't leave you hanging though. Here are my picks for the big categories in the AL and NL.

American League

Rookie of the Year  - Elvis Andrus.  I'm not objective about the Rangers' young SS, and I won't pretend to be. In his first season, he is already regarded as one of the league's top shortstops. He also leads all AL rookies in hits (127), triples (8) and stolen bases (33).

Cy Young - Zack Greinke.  It's appropriate that there are two Ks in his name -- he has the second most strikeouts (behind Detroit's Justin Verlander) of all American League pitchers.  Couple that with his 2.19 ERA and his 16-8 record in win-deprived Kansas City, and there's no question he deserves this award.

MVP - Joe Mauer. Whether or not his team ends up winning the AL Central tomorrow, Mauer played a huge part in getting them this far.  On top of his duties behind the plate, he hit .364 with 28 HR and 96 RBI.  His OPS was over 1.000.  Oh yeah, and he missed the entire first month of the season.  Just hand it to him now.

Manager of the Year - Mike Scoscia. The Angels might be my boys' rivals, and Scoscia is rarely my favorite person, but I have to hand it to him this year.  He had a lot of obstacles -- on and off the field -- to guide his team past, and he did it.  The Angels have another AL West title to show for all of it.

National League

Rookie of the Year - Chris Coghlan. Admittedly, I don't follow the NL as well as I do the NL, but even I know this name.  The Marlins LF joined the big club in May, and finished the season with a .321 average and an .850 OPS.

Cy Young - Tim Lincecum. With a 15-7 record, the Giants' righty posted a 2.48 ERA with a league-high 261 strikeouts. He also surpassed 225 innings to rank among the league leaders.

MVP - Albert Pujols. He led the Cardinals to the NL Central title with 47 HRs, 135 RBI and Gold Glove-caliber defense at 1B.  He finished the regular season with a batting average of .327 and an OPS of 1.101, 16 stolen bases and a National League record for assists by a first baseman. What more does he need to do?

Manager of the Year - Jim Tracy. When he replaced Clint Hurdle on May 29, Colorado was 18-28 and 14 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. On Sunday, the Rockies finished the regular season with a 92-70 record, good enough to win the NL wild card. Their 45-29 record in the second half was the best in the NL.

EDITED to correct the mistake my commenter so dutifully pointed out.  Thank you.  I don't know HOW I messed that up. 

All's well that ends well

I couldn't wait to post this, so here it goes.

When a season ends with two losses and a steady drop out of the playoff race, it's hard to remember the good times. The 2009 Texas Rangers gave us plenty of those though.  There were rookies making sparkling debuts, veterans reaching milestones, familiar faces returning to the roster and lots of walk-offs.

It's true - 2009 wasn't the "special" season many fans hoped for, but it was still a memorable one. Here are a  few of my favorite moments.

- Rangers sweep opening series. I guess we should have known then that this would be a great season.

- Kinsler hits for the cycle on Jackie Robinson Day. He was also 6 for 6 in that game. Pretty nice.

- Holland called up in mid-April. I thought it was too early, but the rookie held his own for much of the season.  He had a few bumps later, but I no longer think it was the wrong decision.

- Darren O'Day's humorous debut in a Kason Gabbard jersey.

- Scott Feldman is put back in the rotation by the end of April.

- The many, many walk-offs in April and May.

- Another good draft by Jon Daniels. This has been one of his major strengths as GM.

- Omar Vizquel becomes all-time hits leader for a Venezuelan-born MLB player.

- Pudge Rodriguez breaks the all-time record for games caught.  He accomplished the feat in an Astros uniform in Rangers Ballpark.  He returned to the Rangers later on in the season.

- Nelson Cruz representing the Rangers in the Home Run Derby.  Michael Young also participated in the All-Star festivities, starting at 3B.  Ian Kinsler should have been there, but wasn't. 

- The debut of Neftali Feliz. 101 mph.  Wow.

- Rangers release Vicente Padilla. I wanted to like and believe in this guy, but he made it impossible in the end.

- Chris Davis' return from AAA.  He looked like a completely different hitter.

- The debuts of Julio Borbon and Craig Gentry.

- The Rangers' pwnage of the Angels over the course of the season.  The last two series were all Halos, but earlier in the season was a completely different story.

- Kevin Richardson getting a big league call-up.  The guy has been a mainstay in the organization for a long time. He deserved it.

- Ian Kinsler reaching the 30-30 mark.

- E-mails about postseason tickets.  These would later be worthless, but at the time, it was really nice to think about the possibilities.  I'm considering it a warm-up for next year.

Also, back on April 5, I listed team and personal goals for 2009. Let's see how we fared.

FOR THE TEAM

1.  A perfect game thrown by a Rangers pitcher. This has been on my list every season since I became a fan.  I know this is a tall order, so I'd settle for a no-hitter. Eh. There was no perfect game by a Ranger, but there were some gems from Matt Harrison and Derek Holland.

2.  Chris Davis knocks out 25 HRs. It was a rough year for Davis, who was on his way to shattering the strikeout record before being sent down to AAA in early July. He returned with a renewed confidence at the plate and ended up with 21 HRs for the season.  Just imagine if he'd been himself the whole season.

3.  Scott Feldman makes his way back into the rotation. Check, check, check. Not only did Scooter return to the rotation, he had the most wins of any arm in the starting line, and he was, in my opinion, the most reliable pitcher on the staff.

4.  Andruw Jones plays seldom, but well enough in the first half to be trade bait by July. Jones was ok, but he wasn't traded.

5.  A great brawl.  In fact, I'll be more specific.  I want it to happen while C.J. Wilson is on the mound.  I'm curious to see how he'd react if an angry batter came after him.  No helmet throwing though.  Let's fight fair here. There were no brawls for the Rangers, and certainly none with Wilson on the mound.

6.  Rangers finish at least 2nd in the AL West. That's a big check. They even made a good run at finishing 1st.

FOR ME

1.  Autographs from Scott Feldman, Matt Harrison, Chris Davis, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and David Murphy. FAIL. I didn't get any of these.

2.  A photo with any of the above plus perhaps C.J. Wilson, Josh Hamilton and Taylor Teagarden. I got Hamilton, and that was it.

3.  Find a way to get to the September series in Baltimore.  Airfares will affect this greatly, but I really want it to happen. I've already had to veto the trip to Chicago in early May because I know I can't afford a hotel room plus gas and tickets. This didn't happen either.  I'm ashamed that I only got to see one game this season.

4.  Obtain a game used ball.  I don't care if it's a foul ball, a home run ball or one thrown to me by a player. I just want one.  I haven't gotten one yet.  Apparently, I haven't been sitting in the right place for the foul or HR, and I'm not cute enough for a player to want to throw me one. Does a minor league ball count? If so, then this is a success. I was hit with a foul ball hit by Travis Metcalf during a RedHawks/I-Cubs game in Des Moines.

Late Monday, I'll offer my awards for the Rangers as well as my picks for the AL and NL rookie, Cy Young, MVP and manager.  Stay tuned.