Excited about the start for Gallo. He's been clutch. The bats may make this season more fun than originally thought.

This must be the latest we've been over .500 in four or five years?

Who knows how all of it will feel a few months from now. The offense seems to be a little more patient and that could only help. The pitching needs to settle in but that was to be expected. For now, it's good to take an early series against a good team.

On a note unrelated to the Rangers, Josh Donaldson continues to make poor decisions regarding personal appearance.

bbattbq01 said:

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This must be the latest we've been over .500 in four or five years?

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Looked it up... last time we were over .500 was sept 9 2017. Very brief spell before before heading back to 4th place and final record of 78-84.

First opening series win since 2014.

Got invited to the game, at the last minute.

What a great game. Surrounded by Cubs fans. They were actually pretty cool. Many of them said they normally root for the Rangers, except when the Cubs come in town... transplant converts.

They were boisterous, but fun. High Fiving. Then the Rangers went up, and we tried to get them to High-5 and they laughed. Then the Cubs tied it, and they tried to High5 us. We obliged. Then the Rangers won and they High5'ed us. Great game.

The concourse was probably 20 degrees colder than the seats. 3rd Base side was nice and sunny. I will have a sunburned right side of my face, and a pale wintery left side of my face.... so, if you see, I'm "that guy." The 1B side started clearing out around the 5th. As the shade made it's way to us, it became very cold. I can see why those on the 1B side left early.

One thing for sure... these guys look like they are having fun and giving it everything they have. It isn't forced, but relaxed and you just get the sense they could explode at any given time. The pitching needs some work.

As mentioned... Not sure where we will be in a month, but this team is going to be worth watching, not for the Ws, but for the effort.

What an absolutely crazy game. Hamels and Strop... two more former Rangers Pitchers implode.

#DrawingMeIn.

https://instagr.am/p/BvuFrBAAk-o

Was at the game yesterday and it was, in the end, one of the most satisfying Rangers games I have been to in a long time.

Too many Cubs fans, but, as I explained to my 8 year old on the way home, it just shows how great it is to live in Texas. Most of the Cubs fans that I met were transplants. Why the hell dont they still live in the Chicago area? Because Texas is awesome. I'm disappointed that more Texas fans didn't show up but to be fair, NASCAR was in town so quite a few people were likely at the race. Tickets were plentiful, I bought ours Saturday morning and got third row down the LF line on the lower deck.

The game was great. When Delino came up with the bases juiced in the 4th, I expected a great disappointment. The pay off was one of the best feelings I've had at a baseball game in a while. Mazara's triple to tie the game in the 8th was huge. Cabrera's HR off the foul pole was surprising as I thought it was going to end up foul in my lap.

Overall, I think we are going to be a fun team to watch offensively and a frustrating team to watch on the mound.

This team definitely has the makings to be like the Texiera/Blalock/Soriano teams where every game felt like it was 12-10

PWestAg18 said:

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This team definitely has the makings to be like the Texiera/Blalock/Soriano teams where every game felt like it was 12-10

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And if we are going to suck, that's how I'd like it to be. At the very least we would be entertaining

Of course Springer hits a lead off HR

Drew Smyly strikes out George Springer on 3 pitches to start the game!

















April Fools

Watching Smyly pitch these first two innings has been painful. Averaging 10 pitches per out. He may not even make it through 3.

More like Frowny

Fuzzy Dunlop said:

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Overall, I think we are going to be a fun team to watch offensively and a frustrating team to watch on the mound.

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You know... I agree offensively they are going to be fun.

But, I don't see the pitching as being frustrating. I was asked about Kyle Bird, by one of the Cubs fans... I had confused him with Kyle Dowdy, and said "I think he is the guy that we picked up during Spring Training, that was released in the offseason and picked up and released by another team before that.

He asked who our good pitchers were, and I said, "Jose LeClerc. That's it. We have one legit MLB pitcher."

When I think about the pitching, I know it is bad, so it makes it easier to stomach. Would I rather have Darvish or Hamels, each making $20M and get blasted? Or Drew Smyly or hasn't pitched in like 3 years, making $8M, get blased? And an $8M we took, in order for the Cubbies to exercise Hamels' option for $20M.

I have no delusions our pitching is going to be effective, so any game they can keep us in, is like a Win.

gigem1223 said:

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Watching Smyly pitch these first two innings has been painful. Averaging 10 pitches per out. He may not even make it through 3.

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This is that "Opener" role, we've heard about.

Kyle Bird optioned. First of many moves that will be required this week.

Attendance is really light.

The midget is angry. Time to toss him.

Altuve *****ing about the most inarguable called third strike ever.

I would sit Choo for the rest of the game after that. If he hustles down the line as soon as he hits that ball, he's safe by a mile. Poor effort

Really could care less to see Forsythe at 1B again, unless Guzman needs a day off. Guzman is a good young player and needs everyday at bats, even if it's against a lefty.

Elvis's approach tonight has been terrible. Swinging at every pitch. Far from what it has been of late.

DallasAg 94 said:

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Kyle Bird optioned. First of many moves that will be required this week.

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He'll be back soon. We are going to kill our bullpen this year. None of the retread starting pitchers seem to be capable of going 5 decent innings. Going to be a lot of tired arms in the bullpen.

Or vice versa. This iteration of the Astros have been whiny little *****es longer than most atsros gear currently in circulation.

I wanna talk ta Sampson!

Old man yelling at clouds, but it drives me crazy to pass up what should be a free baserunner to start an inning

Lots of crying tonight by Astros bats

Well the disciplined plate approach of seeing more pitches lasted all but one series....

Cold and a school night. Comes with the territory in weekday games. Dropping from the current 49k to the planned 41k should be about right.