Unlucky Number 13

Is it the number on his back? Is it that he bruised his knees curling up like a scared puppy while Sexon ran at him throwing his helmet? Or is it the fact he sees no humor in hitting Pierzynski with a fastball to the ribs?

Whatever the reason is, Gabbard is disappointing me. I do not like to be disappointed. Six walks in one game..wow.

I promised to show Gabbard love today during the game, but the game is over, as is the love.

Perhaps he would be better off in AAA practicing his curve ball & allowing Botts to practice hitting it.

I am certain a number of Bullpen boys would be happy to take his spot in the rotation and be more than pleased to throw one at AJ's ribs. Wouldn't you??

Got Kam?

We are thrilled Kameron Loe is back in the bullpen. He got to pitch in tonights game and came away with the win. Way to go Kam!

Craig's phone chirped all night Wednesday, after the news hit the press of Kam's return.

If Angel ,(Kam's Snake), had ears she could hear the good news herself. We told her anyway and gave her a nice fat rat to celebrate with. Although I think she would have preferred Craig's little Quaker, Salty. She's been eyeballing him for months now.

I can't wait to sit with Aubrey over the bullpen and yell for Kam when he comes out on their first game back here on the 30th.

Erin

When helmets are outlawed, only outlaws will have helmets!

Let's start with something we all know. Sexon is a tall guy, #1 in the draft, either will hit a home run..or strike out. I've heard he's a nice guy, can't prove it by me. The guy is a jerk. He behaved horribly and my only regret of it all is that Padilla did not have the opportunity to let one "slip" out of his hand. Willing to bet when Padilla let's one slip..it'll hurt. Oh well, yesterdays news. Sexon is nowhere to be found and his Mariners just lost yet another series to us. Glad Sexon's outbursts fired up the team so well.

The ladies of the Snake Pit could not be happier. Our team is playing like big leaguers & everyone contributes. We are still not sold on Washington and would be happy to see him "go away", but it's good to want things, right?

We are convinced the flames tattooed on Josh's arms are what causes the huge home runs & amazing throws from the out field. Please join in with us while we yell, "It's the flames." We all may have to invest in flame tattoos for the entire team.

Let's hope tomorrow we can sweep the Mariners out of town! Then we can prepare for a HUGE weekend with many friends and good times as the Astros come to town & Robert Earl Keen does his concert at the Temple. As he sings, "It feels so good, feeling good again."

Winning sure beats losing!

Roughriders & Horses

The Ladies of the Snake Pit ( at least Erin & I) need some baseball! With that in mind, I trekked up to Frisco today to purchase 4 tickets for the 2:05 Sunday game. I call them the Puppies of Summer, they are all just babies! Gotta love them.

As I am telling the young man at the ticket counter I wanted 4 tickets "down & front" for tomorrows game he showed me their seating chart & offered up row 2 down the 3rd base line. He politely looked me up and down & said , "now ma'am these are heads up tickets, you will have to pay attention to the game because foul balls get hit there often." I of course replied, "Score!!!" So he proceeded to explained foul balls... blah blah blah.. I thanked him & said I am certain those are the ones I want & I will even bring MY Keith Foulke Game Used Glove in which to catch one of those foul balls. He looked up at me & pronounced me "hard core"..I was so proud.

We will give a full report after the game..

I have to take a minute & venture away from baseball to pay respects to Eight Belles and all my friends in Lexington that knew & loved her. She was bred at Three Chimney Farm that I was fortunate enough to have a private tour of and meet the only horse I ever loved, Smarty Jones. I even have pictures of me with him. I have officially quit yelling for horses. For days I have told everyone where Eight Belles was from & when she was ready how she'd be bred to Smarty. So to Tony, Marylou, Kristin, Jennifer & all the veterinarians that cared for her, my heartfelt sympathy.

Autographs

I love Autograph Wednesdays at the ballpark. It's fun meeting the players and watching kids get their first autograph on a ball, listening to parents explain who the player is they're in line for, and of course there's the guy hoping to turn a profit for his time spent in line.

I enjoy looking at their signatures. Gerald Laird has a real pretty signature, it looks like it came off the Declaration of Independence. Elvis Andrus in the Minors scribbles fancy too. I love how some of them shorten it, like Ben Broussard, his is B B squiggle. Gotta love C.J. Wilson's, his begins with a star. John Wetteland gives ya a scripture with his autograph. PS 9:10

Occasionally players are asked to sign things other than a baseball or a baseball card........

Last month my son went with us to to a minor league game in Corpus Christi. We watched the Frisco Rough Riders play the Corpus Christi Hooks. Anyway, he is a bit of a character and it's amplified when he gets bored. See pic above.
He decided he wanted to get autographs with his sister from the CC Hooks players. My son didn't have a ball like his sister had, but he did have a travel sized tube of toothpaste from the hotel. He asked #10 outfielder Mitch Einertson to sign his toothpaste. I wish I could have seen the look on his face; I'm told he looked confused and wasn't sure he heard right, then he said, "Huh?".
But bless his heart he signed that toothpaste as though it was just another ball.

Erin

Bye Bye Bottsy

Many of you will notice a sharp decrease in the sale of rebar. For those of you involved in the building products industry, we apologize.

The erection of the Jason Botts statue in OKC has been suspended temporarily. While Jason TORE-UP Triple A & Mexican pitching, he never quite mastered hitting the curve ball. Therefore, the Texas Rangers (who really are a major league team) have designated him for assignment.

We are only left to speculate that a porn star in the clubhouse wasn’t quite enough to keep him in the line up…sorry boys. Perhaps he was the “White Devil” that Parker Brothers hated on.

I only know oven mitts everywhere will feel empty.

Sincerely,

Protocol Officer-Texas Rangers

Goodbye Win Column

Yes, Friday was fun, tonight should have been fun too. But.. it was not. I was at the Jimmy Buffett concert and had my friend Craig texting Nate and I scores & updates. Even away from baseball..I am all baseball.

Great News..Salty is catching..bad news..I am not there to watch it.

Great News..Josh,(and his 26 tattoos) hits a double, Murphy,(uhh..okay) drives in runs..looking good. Then it all appeared to go south & quickly. The texts became ugly and my spirits began to drop. Even though I swear apathy has set it, I still hold on to a glimmer of hope. Yes, I am one of "those people"..a true Ranger fan, win or lose I love my team.

I got accused earlier today of being the only other person,(besides Jamey Newberg) of being optimistic. I told this person not to confuse my love of MY team for optimism. I am not optimistic at this point. Not until some major changes are made.

Listening to Rangers Replay on my way home from the concert, I heard Mike Rodriguez (Pretty Mike)saying not to blame Wash for the cards he was delt...Excuse me..What cards is he referring to? Young, Blalock, Hamilton, Murphy, Kinsler, Salty, Laird, Millwood, Padilla & on & on. Fairly decent cards if you ask me. Yet he choses to pinch hit Botts for Cat..why would he do that? Botts can't hit major league league pitching and God forbid he even come close to hitting a curveball. The guy is Career Triple A. We would have at least had a chance with Cat.

Changes have to be made & someone must be held accountable. Right or wrong, it starts with the manager. If my team at work is not producing, I take the blame. It's just how it is. The Rangers and fans have lost confidence in Wash & maybe shaking things up a little starting with him moving through the clubhouse as needed is just the jolt the team needs.

Regardless,at the end of the day & the ump yells, "Play ball" you can bet myself and the rest of the Snake Pit will be cheering on OUR team.. Vikki