And The Beat Goes On: Aug. 10th

Nothing complicated this morning ... just a classic Pete Rock instrumental:

● Jeff Wilson and Louie Horvath break down last night's dramatic win, and their writeups include some talk about how Alexi Ogando felt okay enough yesterday, but just didn't have any semblance of command. Drew Davison writes about the consistency of the Rangers' rotation, but that's boring. Here are some more interesting things to think about: which Rangers starter would survive the longest in a post-apocalyptic future? Which Rangers starter is the most likely to co-host a radio show with Greggo in 15 years? Which Rangers starter has the best chance of becoming an influential hip-hop producer? Yeah, I like these questions better.

● The Professor drops some knowledge bombs about the Rangers' farm system over at Texas Farm Review:

RHP David Perez: Still one of the best arms in the system, despite some control issues with Spokane. The ability to miss bats shows his stuff, which is a fastball that can work in the plus range with relative ease, and touch much higher when he wants it. The curve is there (meaning he can spin it), but again, it takes time to find secondary command, especially when you are working on so many things all at once. The changeup will flash, but it’s underdeveloped, and as a feel pitch, it takes time to find the armspeed and touch that will allow it to play off the fastball. [...] Give this kid all the time in the world, because the end result might have a higher ceiling than Martin Perez. When David Perez hits his stride, he could become of the best arms in the game.

● Corey Dawkins and Ben Lindbergh talk about Andres Blanco's health situation:

Blanco returned to the disabled list with low back inflammation on Tuesday. He missed over three weeks with a stress fracture in his low back earlier in the season and was able to make only four appearances before succumbing to another back-related ailment. Baseball requires repetitive flexion, extension, and rotation actions that place significant stresses on the low back. Even though these two back injuries are different, that does not necessarily mean they are unrelated.

Between the weaknesses preceding the stress fracture and the strengthening following therapy, forces are redistributed, and the body takes time to get used to the changes. Blanco will have an anti-inflammatory injection in hopes of soothing the symptoms faster than oral medication would. Once the pain subsides, he can resume his physical therapy program as directed.

● Ian Kinsler says that the Rangers' recent success coming from behind is a byproduct of "quiet confidence." Evan Grant writes about Matt Harrison gunning for the single-season record in double plays induced by an American League pitcher ... I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that's been a fairly important part of his above-average left-on-base rate this season. Darren O'Day will be getting sent down today to make room for Craig Gentry on the active roster.