Kenny Rogers kept the Stros off balance all Friday night as he led the Rangers to a 3-1 win in the opening game of the Long Star Series.
Rogers made it look like the Stros played 18 innings the night before rather than the Rangers. He gave up only two singles and a double, walked only one and threw less than 100 pitches in chalking up his 10th win of the season. Meanwhile, Stros starter Wade Miller was all over the place, walking six and throwing 116 pitches in five and a third. Miller is among the league leaders in walks, and that lack of command is keeping him from being anything other than a barely above-average pitcher.
I’ve been quiet on the Jimy Williams front lately, but tonight he fielded just a ridiculous lineup. He has a team that is struggling at the plate and he bats Everett second (sorry, Jimy, Everett is a below average hitter regardless of how many times he lays down a sacrifice bunt), he DH’s JK so that he can play the punchless Brumlett at second, and, of course, we always have the incredible out machine Ausmus. That’s a third of the lineup that cannot hit their weight. By playing Kent at second, Williams could have DH’ed either Lamb or Lane and there is absolutely no reason with Beltran around to be batting Everett second in the lineup.
Wake up, Jimy. Your team is struggling. Play as many of your good hitters that you can and bat them more than your below average hitters. This is not rocket science.
Things could get ugly on Saturday as Tim Redding tees it up for the Rangers’ potent lineup. My bet is that Redding’s RSAA (explained here) is well into negative double digits once the Rangers get through with him.