Kafkas's Kitsch posterous

What in the HECK is going on with the Texas Rangers?  WHAT?  Yes, I know they have no play-off experience, how could they?  They have sucked for so many years and had management that sucked worse that there was no way they would even sniff a playoff game.  But things change.  Last year, the team was really good and those of us who have watched them over the years knew that 2010 was definitely going to be a better year.  Then came Bankruptcy.  And trading off Marlon Byrd and my precious Pudge Rodriguez along with Hank Blalock (a good move) and Omar Vizquel.  On top of that, the really nice manager who can't manage a bullpen  and needs to be fired, Ron Washington, admitted to using Cocaine.  The hopes for 2010 seemed to diminish a bit.  But that's the Ranger way.  Then came the injuries:  Ian Kinsler, Nelly Cruz (twice) and Josh.. (OMG!)  But then another hope...Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenburg as owners.  The media went on and on how great a bullpen we have (whatever!?!?!) and how the poor, playoff deprived team leader Michael Young just wanted to be in a playoff game before his days with Ranger baseball were over.  Well Michael???  You got your wish, we made the play offs...is that all you wanted?  Because judging by your plate appearances the last 2 games when you COULD have made a difference in the game...when you SHOULD make a difference in the game (You're the team captain for God's sake) you didn't....

And I cried.

And many other fans cried...

You should be ashamed....

Play off experience is important.  No doubt about it.  Playing together as a team is REALLY important...No doubt about it.  But the most important ingredient in winning play off games is HEART.  You have to REALLY want it...really, REALLY want it.  Like the fans do.  Like I do.  Like YOU should.   I will be watching on Tuesday and hoping upon hope that we are not the second team to win the first two play off games and then lose three in a row (Sorry to bring that up again Oakland). And I"ll be watching next year.  But you know what Michael Young, Ron Washington and the rest of you guys who obviously feel it's okay to settle?  We're Ranger fans, we're used to it.  But you had/have a chance to show the rest of the baseball world what we've known for many years--the Rangers are a bad ass team when they choose to be.  Why aren't you guys choosing to be?  You should be ashamed for getting our hopes up then making us cry--for making us settle.  Make us cry for happiness on Tuesday and quit )(*#^$*(P@#  around!  Ranger fans are TIRED OF SETTLING!  Are you listening Nolan????

The Magic Number for the ALWD TITLE HAS COME and IS NOW FOR REAL!

http://newberg.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/09/presto.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Another  reason to love this team...they might not win this year, but are they having fun or what?

http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/mlb/News/21390289#mlb/News/21390289

I still have that awful taste in my mouth this morning,  No, not dragon breath, smoker's breath of hangover breath....that taste you get when something you KNOW is good tastes bad: like the Rangers/Yankees game last night. 

I am sick to death of the DFW media and the "throw the Rangers a bone" national media talking about what a great Manager Ron Washington is for the Texas Rangers....How he could be Manager of the year...  How much is he paying you guys?  Or are you guys supplying him Coke? 

HE SUCKS!

I am but a mere woman.  I know I am not supposed to know or care about baseball.  But I do.I can think.  I can see.  And NO, I'm not being subjective.

  Let's just analyze last night's game from a  managerial standpoint, shall we?

Cliff Lee is on

Derek Jeter, a long-time Rangers nemesis, tripled to lead off the sixth and scored on a wild pitch. An RBI double by the Texas traitor Lance Berkman and a run-scoring single by "I cry about every ump call" Brett Gardner made it 6-4 in the seventh. The Yankees still had runners at first and third, but Darren O'Day struck out Jeter and Darren Oliver struck out Nick Swisher to end that threat.   Washington took O'Day out after striking out Jeter (WHY?) and put in Oliver.  Then came the Bullpen Parade of 6 relievers that ended Lee's streak of 10 straight starts with at least 8 innings pitched.  I cannot believe Washington didn't run Feldman and Nippert in (yeah, I know, NIppert is on the DL, but I wouldn't put it past Washington)

The point is, to the viewer at home, it looks as if Washington doesn't so much WATCH the game as he tries to SYSTEMIZE the game.  Why do you take O'Day out after a strike out and leave Frankie Francisco in after 2 walks?  TWO WALKS in the 9th for God's Sakes!  Then...Francisco gives up the dinger to Thames.  WTF?  But he STAYS IN THE GAME....now, let's go back...Cliff Lee allows 2 men on in the 7th, Washington pulls him...doesn't allow him to get out of the inning.  O'Day strikes out Jeter--Washington pulls him.  Oliver stikes out Swisher---Washington pulls him.  Washington just CANNOT wait to get FF in there each and every game.  Are you watching this Nolan????? The players are.  The fans are.  The viewers definitely are. 

Frankie is inconsistent at best.  AT BEST...We need Schleppers and in a hurry.  We need IAN BACK WORSE!

On an esoterical note that has nothing to do with managing or maybe is indicative of everything.  Ron Washington uses bad grammar as consistently as Frankie Francisco pitches inconsistently...Here's an example:

"The whole game, we had them where we want them," manager Ron Washington said. It should have been stated, "where we wanted them"  I'm available for tutoring Washington....email me.

More whys for Washington's management last night (well EVERY game night)

1.  Why is Guzman still playing?  Why?  His defense is horrendous, his batting is worse.  Put Blanco in. IAN COME BACK!

2.  Why oh WHY does our third base coach refuse to send runners home?  What happened to our aggressive base running from last year?  Why didn't the uber-quick Elvis run in to home on the snow cone basket catch?  He's not Bengie!

3. Why do you continue to put faith in Frankie?  Does he socialize with you?  Does he hold your sword of Damacles?

I'm sure I will get comments on how Washington is wonderful, Frankie is awesome and the heat in Texas makes it hard to win.  All I can say is, we have a team that deserves to be managed better.  Watch the player's faces.  Talk is cheap...it's all in action and reaction.  My reaction to last night's game is this diatribe.  What's yours Washington?

31 Games to go....Just sayin'

Now I'm traveling with the shadows
At the speed of light
Back along the arrow of time
Trembling at the rising of the red dawn
High over winding roads
And empty streets
And lonely houses filled with
Soldiers and debutantes
Lovers and losers Teachers and hoarders
Players and cheaters Healers and doubters
Heroes and hustlers
And in everything I see chaos
And in everything order
I can decipher the waste and the shame
The giving the dying
And my place in the scheme
Is clear and pure as the cold midnight

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This song seriously affects me in deep, soulful ways...

Here are the lyrics:

It's noon in the belly of June.

Let's wager with bodies, the night's coming soon.

 Come like a lover to me, let's lay in the dark and meet the birds and the bees.

 A scene at the past county fair.

 She swore to his face: "There's no rib that we share!

 Please won't you leave her alone.

 She's telling you boy, you don't know when to go.

She's had enough she sadly sung: We're no longer young, we're lazy and lithe, and our age makes us dumb.

 Don't call on me, paltering and pale, with sin on your mind, and dirt under your nails.

 Well, he holds to a vow just because.

Lamenting a love that never was.

 It's a thing that's never tested or tried.

 In a June that up and bloomed and quickly died.

 Between the two and under the sun, it's a war that's always fought and is never won

. Between the two and under the light, at last she's never convinced and won't stay the night.

Glorious