hard to watch these rangers

I attended the Rangers game tonight... 6 hits and no runs for the home team... not good! Quite an anemic offense the Rangers have though I've been preaching that for quite a while now. They're still waiting to score with the big hit. DeRosa had one tonight, a double to left on route to a 2-4 night. Teixeira also had a big hit, a double to deep center, off the wall (to go along with his 3 K's). The problem is, they were in different innings and no one was on base either time. When there were runners on, the hitting was non-existent. A prime example of the Rangers hitting woes was the 7th inning. With one out, DeRosa on second and Blalock on first, Liriano was starting to struggle and Kinsler had worked the count to 3-0. I was thinking, he's got to be taking here. Hell, the whole stadium was probably thinking the same thing. Load the bases for Mench and then Laird. Except that didn't happen. Kinsler, 0-2 up to that point in the game, grounded weakly to short on a pitch up in the zone, forcing Blalock out at second on a fielder's choice. So instead of bases loaded with 1 out, it was first and third with two outs. Mench proceeded to ground out to third. This offense is bad and undisciplined and frustrating to watch.

On a positive note, the Rangers made several defensive gems during the game. Hairston threw out Castillo at the plate in the 4th to end the inning and keep the game scoreless. Then in the 6th, Teixeira picked a hot shot at first and started a 3-6-3 double play. Both of those plays were ESPN web gems; Tex's play landing him at number 2 on the night. Just as impressive were Laird's two caught stealings of Punto at second, one time in the 6th and then again in the 8th. I have a feeling he'll be the starter next year and maybe sooner.

Albert Pujols hit his 29th homerun tonight, a game winning shot in the 10th to beat the Astros 7-6.