Couple of thoughts about recent games.
Great extra innings comeback win last night!
Chris Davis:
Chris looks like he is starting to try and hit for contact at times. Before it was as if he was swinging for the fences every time. This is very good. He should strikeout less (even though he still gets fooled quite a bit), but he should be much more productive overall. The guys defense is top notch too. He got screwed twice in the last two games by the umps. (see below)
CJ Wilson: This kid has the arm and the physical tools to be a very good pitcher. I think he lacks the mentality to be consistently a dominate pitcher. He suffers from what a lot of failed professional athletes suffer from. Mentally, he cannot handle the pressure. He cannot let mistakes go. He stresses out and you can see his body physically tighten up and it disrupts his mechanics.
Last night, he basically had what amounted to two errors and three wild pitches in two innings. (most of it in his first inning) Salty (who was known to have defensive deficiencies) was an all-star defensive catcher last night while CJ was pitching.
I think the Rangers should get him a psychologist. He has way to much talent to let his inability to control his mental state ruin his career.
Seattle series Umpires:
What is up with these guys? Their strike zone varies up to 5 inches. I saw them call balls that were two inches over the plate and call strikes that were out/inside three inches! The only thing I give them is that they were consistent with it, the team, pitcher, batter. It didn't matter, they were always all over the place.
Also, Chris Davis got screwed twice. Once they said he came off the base while catching a throw to first. He clearly didn't till well after the ball arrived. There is no way that mistake should have ever been called. The other was last night when he tagged the runner when he had to jump for the ball. Granted that would be harder to call than the foot off the bag, but I think he clearly tagged him on the back side of the shoulder
Rangers Hitting:
The Rangers are hitting, but whats with the horrible average with peple in scoring position. They have been stinking for the most part. The load the bases with no outs and get nothing. Get guys on second and third with one out and walk away with nothing. Guys on first and second and the next three guys proceed to pop or strikeout on the next 5 pitches. :bang2:
