MVN: Most Valuable Network

--Ex-Redhawk and all around good guy Carlos Pena needs our help to get him elected to the All-Star Game!  Go to Vote for him!  For you stat heads, Carlos has been solid offensively for the Rays all season with 23 HRs and 55 RBIs.

--The Rangers pulled the trigger and optioned 1B and personal favorite Chris Davis to OKC last night when they activated Josh Hamilton.  I am still not convinced it was the best move for Chris, as his psyche seemed to be holding up fine despite his lack of offense, but I can understand why they did it.  Barring an injury up in Texas, he will need to be in the minors for at least 10 days.  It will be curious to see how long he stays down.  When Hank Blalock was sent down in May, 2002 he was a Hawk for the rest of the season.  However, the Rangers also were completely out of the playoff race at that point which likely had an impact.  If I were a gambler, I'd say they re-evalute after 2 weeks and if he is hitting better (and the defense is as bad in Texas as everyone is predicting) he likely goes back up.

 --What I am most curious about is the division of labor between Chris and uber prospect Justin Smoak, both of whom are 1B.  My guess is that Justin in at 1B 4-5 games were week with Chris DHing and they switch the other 2-3 games per week.  It also means that any playing time personal favorite Royce Huffman gets is likely to be in LF.  With Brandon Boggs on the DL we only have 2 OFs, Steve Murphy and Greg Golson, so look for Royce and Casey Benjamin to share time in LF.  I also suspect this means Nate Gold will not be activated any time soon as I said yesterday.

--I suspect that Max Ramirez hits the DL to make room for Chris on our roster.  Max has not played for a while with a wrist injury and may need surgery.  That makes Emerson Frostad the backup catcher so I don't see him going anywhere if the Rangers decide not to DL Max.  I suppose it's possible that Jose Vallejo or one of the 3,000,000 pitchers on the roster are sent to Frisco.

--A couple more moves are likely this week.  Dustin Nippert is reportedly going to be activated by the Rangers which result in someone being sent down from Texas.  It sounds like Kris Benson is about to be activated as well which means another roster spot will need to be made for him.

--The much needed rain hit OKC last night about 6:00pm resulting in an approximate 2 hour rain delay before the game was called.  Fireworks did go on as planned though.  That delayed the AAA debut of Justin Smoak and the rehab start of Josh Hamilton to today.  Justin will be a nice addition to the Hawks.  He's a very nice kid and a solid player.  I also have only nice things to say about Josh who is one of the few Rangers players I root for and the only one who was never a RedHawk--though I guess I can't say that anymore huh? LOL --Matt Peterson has an article on the always amusing on-field announcer Darren Ransley. --Down in Frisco (well, technically up in Springfield) personal favorite Tim Smith stayed hot, hitting a grand slam and ended the night with 7 RBIs. --Congrats to Esteban German who is the RedHawks... Read more

--A win last night resulted in a sweep of the Round Rock Express and the RedHawks 6th win in a row.  Hitting is still pretty much MIA, but the pitching has really stepped it up as of late, resulting in a lot of 2-1 or 3-2 wins. --Jeff called me with some interesting news this morning.  Per the PCL transactions the RedHawks have released Esteban German and he no longer is on the online roster.  I don't see the Rangers releasing him, so we are speculating that he either had an out clause in his contract (which I don't remember) or MiLB goofed and removed Esteban instead of German Duran who was released yesterday (we are hoping the latter!) although he will not officially be placed on waivers until tomorrow. --Speaking of German, the Rangers released him yesterday when they optioned Brandon Boggs to OKC and activated Willie Eyre off... Read more

--Yes, I am still alive and kicking!  LOL  Life has been crazy lately and will continue to be so it will likely be a couple more weeks before I get back on a regular blogging schedule.  Thanks to everyone (all 3 of you! LOL) for their patience as I only got 1 mean message about being gone. --Lots of moves (surprise surprise).  El Duque Hernandez was activated today and Nate Gold landed back on the DL.  Kris Benson is on the RedHawks DL and Neftali Feliz is being moved to the bullpen.  Guillermo Moscoso and Warren Madrigal is back.  Beau Vaughan was sent down to Frisco. --The Rangers are on a losing streak and their fans are turning back in to Henny Penny...all is right with the world! LOL --There is an article up on the Hawks website about Max Ramirez and his troubles this season.  I have a problem... Read more

--Some how I always manage to pick Frisco games where they have some event going on which results in millions of kids.  Last night was Boy Scout night of all things.  As he pointed out, I also manage to always pick the games where Brennan Garr signs autographs at the entrance.  I think he just signs there a lot though!  RedHawks fans remember that name, because I suspect he will be a fan favorite by next year.  I was watching him interact with people last night as I stood talking to him, and his "fan club" included adult and children fans, the cheese steak guy, and an usher. Talk about a motley crew! LOL I have to admit that he is my favorite person on Frisco to talk to just because he is so laid back and comfortable...of course, that also leads me to say things I shouldn't (which usually... Read more

--Lots of moves in Frisco over the past couple of days.  The Rangers placed Dustin Majewski on the DL and promoted Tim Smith from Bakersfield.  Tim was one of the kids I got to meet from Clinton last year who I really liked so this is good news.  Omar Poveda was transferred from OKC to Frisco and the Riders also signed LHP Ryan O'Malley.  I want to say I remember O'Malley from the I-Cubs a couple years ago but I won't guarantee that.  The sad news is that the Rangers released ex-Hawk Kea Kometani.  Considering the way they treated him this year I can't say its a surprise, but it still sucks.  Looks like Eric Fry took Tim's spot on the Bakersfield roster. --Should I even gripe about the fact that Frisco loses an OF and immediately gets a replacement but the RedHawks are short on position players and see... Read more

--Jeff saw Brandon Boggs leaving the RedHawks game today before the game with his bags.  That usually means the player in question is being called up (or sent down but not likely in Brandon's case) or at least that he was summoned to Texas to be in a "holding pattern" if needed.  The Rangers are off today, so I guess we find out tomorrow.  The likely scenario to me is that Josh Hamilton lands back on the DL after receiving his MRI results though Jeff speculates that it could actually be that Chris Davis is sent down and Brandon activated in case the Rangers need an extra outfielder because Hamilton is still hurting, but not bad enough to land on the DL.  Either way, it will be interesting to see what happens. --In other moves, Adam Fox was sent back down to Frisco and Omar Poveda and Emerson Frostad joined... Read more

--Much needed win last night.  Clayton Hamilton made his AAA debut, going 4.1 innings giving up 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks.  Another solid relief outing by Brian Gordon who went 2.2 scoreless, hitless innings, striking out 3 to pick up the win.  The play of the game had to be a fully laid out diving catch by Julio Borbon.  He also had another nice catch later in the game.  Joaquin Arias scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th on a Greg Golson RBI single.  And since it was jersey night, that is about all I know about last night's game! LOL --The guys all wore pink jerseys last night which were auctioned off during the game with proceeds benefiting the Komen foundation.  I've always been a big supporter of the Komen foundation, but after last night I will never give them another penny.  The... Read more

--It's official.  Per the RedHawks website, Clayton Hamilton will join the RedHawks as our starter for tonight's game.  Still no word on who will start the double headers tomorrow.... Read more

--Tough, tough road trip.  On the plus side, yesterday's loss was not as a result of a bullpen meltdown.  The bad side is that poor Josh Rupe had one inning where he couldn't get anyone out, resulting in 7 Reno runs in the 3rd.  Nate Gold hit a grand slam, the RedHawks 1st of the year, in the top of that inning to stake the Redhawks to a 4-0 lead which they could not hold.  The Hawks were limited to 6 hits on the afternoon, though they did draw 8 walks. --Tommy Hunter was called up to Texas to make a start for the Rangers this weekend.  No definitive word on who replaces him in our rotation tonight.  Also no word on who starts the DH on Saturday.  We will obviously need reinforcements, even assuming Luis Mendoza has recovered from strep enough to pitch, but Frisco is also short handed... Read more

--Do you know what I hate?  When a favorite player is demoted (or worse released) and the player who is taking his place is a player you like.  It's this weird combination of sadness and happiness.  Happened to me today when the Rangers released my 2008 substitute favorite RedHawk Ben Harrison and promoted Mitch Moreland to Frisco.  Thanks to personal favorite Andrew Laughter I got to meet Mitch last year in Clinton and thought he seemed like a really nice kid.  Looking forward to getting to see him play in Frisco the rest of the year.  Jeff speculates that this may mean that Justin Smoak will be promoted to OKC soon.  I'm not as convinced though.  I asked him (Justin) this weekend if he was going to be promoted soon (pointing out that personal favorite Chris Davis) was promoted to the Hawks on Memorial Day weekend, but Justin didn't bite. ... Read more