Comeback time!

More bad news for our friends in Seattle...Erik Bedard's shoulder tightness will keep him out until August...

That means he can't be traded before the non-waiver trade deadline of July 31, and given that someone will put in a waiver claim on him after July 31, it means that the M's are probably going to have to wait until the offseason to try to get some value back for the guy they sold the farm to obtain just months ago.

There was also a fair amount of talk this offseason about how Bedard was a proven ace, and that the Rangers needed to be willing to pay top dollar to try to acquire him from the Orioles...

This season has shown, though, once again, that Bedard isn't a legit ace...he's a very good top of the rotation caliber starter who isn't going to be able to work deep into games, or make 32 starts for you in a season, because of his durability issues.

That kind of sucked.  Particularly after waiting 5 days for Rangers baseball to resume.

Texas is now 8.5 games out of first place.  That's farther out of first than the Braves were on July 19, 1993, farther out of first than the M's were on July 19, 1995, and farther out of first than either the Phillies or Rockies were last year.

So...if the Rangers are going to pass the Angels, they'll have to pull off one of the greatest comebacks of all time.  Another reason they should be looking at being sellers over the next couple of weeks.

Evan Grant says that yesterday's game highlighted the Rangers' weaknesses right now -- no shutdown starter, a worn out bullpen, and a lineup that doesn't hit lefties well.  Kevin Millwood was definitely disappointing last night, although he and Wright weren't generally hit real hard...but that 2 out, 0-2 pitch to Brendan Harris that he left out over the plate, that Harris drove to right for a 2 run single, seemed typical of the team's struggles yesterday.

Ramon Vazquez went to Jon Daniels to tell him that he's unhappy about the loss of playing time that is ensuing, with Hank Blalock returning to third base.  I have to wonder if, with Vazquez wanting more playing time and the Dodgers needing a stop gap shortstop with Rafael Furcal out, the Rangers might not look at trying to deal Vazquez to the Dodgers, and go with Ryan Roberts as the utility man.

Kason Gabbard is out for the year, after undergoing surgery for elbow spurs.  Given his injury history, it isn't shocking that he's out, and I don't know that he's someone the team should really be counting on going forward.

Ozzie Guillen ranted yesterday about C.J. Wilson being unprofessional.  Pot, kettle...

From Kevin Goldstein:

Already packed with one of the best systems in baseball, the Rangers rarely shy away from writing big checks at the signing deadline, and this year looks to be no different. While figuring out the value of first-round pick Justin Smoak might still take some time, the Rangers look like they've already come to terms with second-round pick Robbie Ross for a seven-figure bonus. A three-pitch left-hander with above-average stuff, Ross will simply add to what's becoming an organizational embarrassment of riches when it comes to young arms. They're also close to spending big money on seventh-round selection Matt Thompson, a Dallas-area right-hander who will get well over a half-million to go pro. Another player the Rangers will go over slot on is fifth-round pick Clark Murphy; the California high school first baseman has monstrous raw power and will sign for third-round money in the $350,000 range.

UPDATE --Via Grant on the DMN blog, Jon Daniels calls Goldstein's report "inaccurate," that the Rangers are working on reaching agreements with these guys, but don't have anything to report yet.

Taylor Teagarden's contract has been purchased, per the S-T, and Kam Loe is being sent down to make room for him.

Hank Blalock is also supposed to be activated today, and presumably, Joselo Diaz is being sent out to make room for him.

If Diaz is DFA'd, the there's no need to make room on the 40 man roster for Teagarden, since he can take Diaz's slot.  If Diaz is just optioned, or if Diaz isn't sent down, then presumably Jason Jennings will move to the 60 day d.l.

UPDATE -- As expected, Loe has been optioned and Diaz DFA'd.

Some more cultural education for you young 'uns...Sir Mix-a-Lot is not, contrary to popular belief, a one hit wonder...

Sir Mix-A-Lot "Posse On Broadway" (NastyMix Records) (via nastynes818)

Posse up!

From Rob Neyer today:

Hank Blalock, who moved to first base earlier this season because he wasn't much of a third baseman, is moving back to third base. But it's the right move, even though his replacement, Ramon Vazquez, has been a wonderful surprise. Why is it the right move? Because Vazquez isn't really this good, and Blalock's bat is too good to leave on the bench. But mostly because first base is now occupied by the best hitter nobody's talking about: Chris Davis. Last winter I worked up lists of the best players of the next five years at each position. Then, I'd never heard of Chris Davis. I suppose this was an oversight, as Davis was then listed as the Rangers' No. 2 prospect, but on the other hand he did strike out 150 times in 129 minor-league games last season. Now, though? He's still striking out, but not as often. And the guy's power is off the %@#& charts: 13 homers in Double-A, 10 homers in Triple-A, and now six homers in 17 games with the big club. Oh, and he turned 22 just last spring. This season his combined slugging percentage is .645. Can you find a better 22-year-old hitter in the game right now? Anyone?

Jason Cole linked this in the sidebar last night, but for those who didn't see it, he has a Q&A up in the free section of his site.

Some good stuff on Blake Beavan's low K rate, Cristian Santana's power potential, and the young middle infielders, among other things...

Check it out...