Ian's back!

So Ian Kinsler has finally caught up with the team. The Rangers activated him off the DL today and he will start tonight against Seattle.

That's very good news for Texas fans and merits an appearance on today's card. Ian appears here on card number 95 of the 2007 UD Future Stars set. As best I can figure this picture was taken on May 13, 2007 in Arlington. That was Mother's Day and the Rangers beat the Angels 7-6.

Glad to have Kinsler back in the lineup and on the field. The team has missed him. Andres Blanco just doesn't have the bat Kinsler does and Joaquin Arias doesn't have the defense. To make room for Kinsler the team placed Joaquin Arias on the 15 day DL with a strained back. When Arias is ready to come back from the DL is when things will get interesting. There's going to be a shootout between Arias, Blanco, and Ryan Garko. The loser is going to get sent down to Triple A.

Arias has recently had the hot bat with a .312 average. Blanco has the defense at both middle infield positions. Garko has the advantage of being able to play both first and third base. Could be interesting to see who gets the bus ticket north.

Beating the odds.

Charlie Hough makes another appearance. This time on a signed 1983 Fleer card. Charlie's got a grin here because we have a winner in the guess the number of autographs contest.

Totaled up I have the autographs of 154 different Rangers players from the past and present. There were 14 guesses in the contest and I really appreciate all who entered. Johngy guessed 153 to grab the prize. Guess the Bill Stein, Scotty Fletcher, Alan Bannister, Brian Downing, and Joe Lahoud numbers combo worked. I guess if folks can do birthdays on lotto tickets then your method is just as valid.

Congratulations Johngy! If you haven't gotten over to Johngy's Beat you really ought to, it's very interesting reading.

Wantlist - 1986 Donruss.

The 1985 Donruss team set is completed so today we move on to 1986. To represent the set we see Gary Ward on card number 20. Gary is on a Diamond Kings card from back when that was a subset rather than it's own set. Have to admire the 1980's looking background.

Only need one card to put this set to rest:
1986 Donruss
422 Mike Mason

If you have Mike's card running around and agree with Night Owl that this is an ugly set then do yourself a favor and trade it to me.

Can't cruz if the wheels are coming off.

Nelson Cruz, seen here on card number UH317 of the 2009 Topps Update set, went on the DL today. Craig Gentry was called up from Triple A to replace him on the roster. Cruz injured his hamstring a week ago but had been trying to stick it out. Without his wheels though he couldn't get it done.

Speaking of wheels, they seem to have come off for the Rangers as far as catching is concerned. Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden were both optioned to Oklahoma City today. Salty had been there on a rehab assignment but was activated and assigned to Triple A. Teagarden had been replaced by Matt Treanor as the Rangers' primary catcher and was sent down. Max Ramirez was called up to serve as Treanor's backup. Saltalamacchia is supposed to serve as the primary catcher in Oklahoma City and Teagarden will be the backup. If the assignment lasts too long it is likely Teagarden will end up in Double A in order to get more catching time.

I must say that I am getting worried. First Chris Davis heads north on I-35 and then the two top catchers the team has. Not good. The DL and OKC are both getting crowded with the guys that Nolan Ryan said would take the division this year. Not encouraging.

Minor League Monday - Rick Surhoff, 1986 ProCards.

Today's a travel day. Well, for me anyway. Should be on my way home from visiting my folks.

Rick Surhoff did some traveling in 1985 and 1986. In 1985 he pitched for the Phillies, their Triple A team, and the Rangers. While he did well in the minors he wasn't particularly impressive in the Majors.

As a result Rick started his 1986 season with the Eighty-Niners. Rick would appear in 53 games for OKC and would pitch 85.2 innings. He posted a 5.46 ERA.

This was an improvement over his MLB experience but not enough of one for the Rangers to try him again. On July 28, 1986 they sent him to the Chicago Cubs to complete an earlier deal. Rick would stick it out in the minors until the end of the 1989 season and would pitch for three more organizations after the Rangers. He would never get back to the Majors though.

Senators Saturday - Casey Cox, 1968.

Casey Cox appears today on a creased number 66 in the 1968 Topps set. In 1968 he appeared hardly at all for the Senators.

Casey spent most of the 1968 season in Buffalo, New York. He showed up in 60 games for the Triple A Buffalo Bisons, all in relief. In 104 innings pitched he struck out 65 and walked 30. His minor league ERA was 2.34 on the season.

Casey appeared in just four games for Washington in 1968, all of them out of the bullpen. He went 7.2 innings while facing 29 batters. Four of those batters struck out and none walked. Cox posted a 2.35 ERA for the season. That was lights out for the Senators pitching staff.

I wonder why Casey didn't spend more time with the Senators in '68. In the short time he had with the team his ERA seemed to hold up. With the hurt that the Senators were in for pitching it is hard to understand why he spent so much of the season at Triple A. It's not like he was even a rookie, over the 1966 and '67 seasons he had thrown a combined 186 innings. As it was his 2.35 ERA was the second best of the whole pitching staff for the season.

Success!

So Paul over at Wrigley Wax was the first of two readers who responded to my 1982 Donruss wants post. He had both this Steve Comer card, number 341 and Jim Kern on number 89. He said he would send them my way and they arrived today. Knocks another team set off the list. Many thanks Paul! I'll try and get something out to you in return.

Don't forget to enter in the contest that kicked off yesterday.