2008 Texas Rangers season
Major League Baseball team season
The Texas Rangers 2008 season was the 48th year of the franchise and 37th since moving to Arlington, Texas . The organization, after finishing fourth in the American League West in 2007. The new season would be the first under the oversight of newly hired club president and former Ranger great Nolan Ryan . Upon his hire, Ryan indicated that his role in the 2008 season would be largely observational with regard to baseball operations, and any major changes would be made following the conclusion of the regular season.[ 1]
I don't come in with any preconceived ideas of what I want to do or what needs to be done", said Ryan, who indicated that he will make two extended trips to spring training to become acquainted with players and staff. "I think it'll be a learning process for me. I'm going to try to get my arms around our organization so I'll have a better understanding of who we are and what we do and what I can do to help us be better.
—
Nolan Ryan, February 8, 2008 [ 2]
The Rangers set a Major League record for the most doubles by a team in a season, with 376.[ 3]
Preseason
Notable offseason transactions
The Rangers' offseason was filled with activity as Jon Daniels moved to quickly acquire talent both on and off the field. The 2007 club roster fielded several arbitration -eligible players, whose status for 2008 remained unsure. Several of these players would sign short-term contracts with the Rangers while others would seek playing time elsewhere.
2007
January 2008
February and March
Ian Kinsler
Regular season
Opening Day starters
Gerald Laird , C
Ben Broussard , 1B
Ian Kinsler , 2B
Hank Blalock , 3B
Michael Young , SS
David Murphy , LF
Josh Hamilton , CF
Marlon Byrd , RF
Milton Bradley , DH
Kevin Millwood , RHP
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Team
BAL
BOS
CWS
CLE
DET
KC
LAA
MIN
NYY
OAK
SEA
TB
TEX
TOR
NL
Baltimore
–
6–12
4–5
4–4
4–3
5–3
3–6
3–3
7–11
0–5
8–2
3–15
4–5
6–12
11–7
Boston
12–6
–
4–3
5–1
5–2
6–1
1–8
4–3
9–9
6–4
6–3
8–10
9–1
9–9
11–7
Chicago
5–4
3–4
–
11–7
12–6
12–6
5–5
9–10
2–5
5–4
5–1
4–6
3–3
1–7
12–6
Cleveland
4–4
1–5
7–11
–
11–7
10–8
4–5
8–10
4–3
5–4
4–5
5–2
6–4
6–1
6–12
Detroit
3–4
2–5
6–12
7–11
–
7–11
3–6
7–11
4–2
3–6
7–3
3–4
6–3
3–5
13–5
Kansas City
3–5
1–6
6–12
8–10
11–7
–
2–3
6–12
5–5
6–3
7–2
3–5
2–7
2–5
13–5
Los Angeles
6–3
8–1
5–5
5–4
6–3
3–2
–
5–3
7–3
10–9
14–5
3–6
12–7
6–3
10–8
Minnesota
3–3
3–4
10–9
10–8
11–7
12–6
3–5
–
4–6
5–5
5–4
3–3
5–5
0–6
14–4
New York
11–7
9–9
5–2
3–4
2–4
5–5
3–7
6–4
–
5–1
7–2
11–7
3–4
9–9
10–8
Oakland
5–0
4–6
4–5
4–5
6–3
3–6
9–10
5–5
1–5
-
10–9
3–6
7–12
4–6
10–8
Seattle
2–8
3–6
1–5
5–4
3–7
2–7
5–14
4–5
2–7
9–10
–
3–4
8–11
5–4
9–9
Tampa Bay
15–3
10–8
6–4
2–5
4–3
5–3
6–3
3–3
7–11
6–3
4–3
–
6–3
11–7
12–6
Texas
5–4
1–9
3–3
4–6
3–6
7–2
7–12
5–5
4–3
12–7
11–8
3–6
–
4–4
10–8
Toronto
12–6
9–9
7–1
1–6
5–3
5–2
3–6
6–0
9–9
6–4
4–5
7–11
4–4
–
8–10
Game log
Legend
Rangers Win
Rangers Loss
Game Postponed
2008 Game Log (79-83)
#
Date
Opponent
Score/Box
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
1
March 31
@ Mariners
5–2
Green (1–0)
Millwood (0–1)
Putz (1)
46,334
0–1
#
Date
Opponent
Score/Box
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
2
April 1
@ Mariners
5–4
Benoit (1–0)
Putz (0–1)
Wilson (1)
25,204
1–1
3
April 2
@ Mariners
4–1
Silva (1–0)
Jennings (0–1)
Batista (1)
21,349
1–2
4
April 4
@ Angels
11–6
Gabbard (1–0)
Moseley (0–1)
43,838
2–2
5
April 5
@ Angels
2–1
Weaver (1–1)
Millwood (0–2)
Rodríguez (3)
41,170
2–3
6
April 6
@ Angels
10–4
Padilla (1–0)
Garland (1–1)
39,242
3–3
7
April 8
Orioles
8–1
Burres (1–0)
Jennings (0–2)
48,808
3–4
–
April 9
Orioles
Postponed (rain) Made up as a doubleheader April 10
8
April 10
Orioles
3–1
Millwood (1–2)
Trachsel (1–1)
Wilson (2)
4–4
9
April 10
Orioles
5–4
Wright (1–0)
Bradford (0–1)
Wilson (3)
15,560
5–4
10
April 11
Blue Jays
8–5
Litsch (2–0)
Padilla (1–1)
Downs (1)
24,209
5–5
11
April 12
Blue Jays
4–1
Halladay (2–1)
Mendoza (0–1)
34,960
5–6
12
April 13
Blue Jays
5 – 4 (10)
Carlson (1–0)
Nippert (0–1)
Ryan (1)
21,515
5–7
13
April 14
Angels
7–4
Santana (2–0)
Jennings (0–3)
Rodríguez (4)
16,541
5–8
14
April 15
Angels
7–4
Oliver (1–0)
Rupe (0–1)
Rodríguez (5)
15,595
5–9
15
April 16
@ Blue Jays
7 – 5 (14)
Nippert (1–1)
Burnett (1–1)
Wilson (4)
15,686
6–9
16
April 17
@ Blue Jays
4–1
Padilla (2–1)
Halladay (2–2)
Wilson (5)
15,809
7–9
17
April 18
@ Red Sox
11–3
Matsuzaka (4–0)
Mendoza (0–2)
37,902
7–10
18
April 19
@ Red Sox
5–3
López (1–0)
Benoit (1–1)
Papelbon (6)
37,958
7–11
19
April 20
@ Red Sox
6–5
Wakefield (2–0)
Wilson (0–1)
Papelbon (7)
37,480
7–12
20
April 21
@ Red Sox
8–3
Buchholz (1–1)
Nippert (1–2)
37,539
7–13
21
April 22
@ Tigers
10–2
Verlander (1–3)
Padilla (2–2)
33,629
7–14
22
April 23
@ Tigers
19–6
Rapada (2–0)
Francisco (0–1)
34,245
7–15
23
April 24
@ Tigers
8–2
Miner (1–1)
Jennings (0–4)
39,058
7–16
24
April 25
Twins
6–5
Benoit (2–1)
Rincón (2–1)
19,016
8–16
25
April 26
Twins
12–6
Reyes (1–0)
Wright (1–1)
33,053
8–17
26
April 27
Twins
10–0
Padilla (3–2)
Hernández (3–1)
19,911
9–17
27
April 29
Royals
9–5
Mahay (1–0)
Jennings (0–5)
16,472
9–18
28
April 30
Royals
11–9
Millwood (2–2)
Bannister (3–2)
17,705
10–18
#
Date
Opponent
Score/Box
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
29
May 1
Royals
2–1
Ponson (1–0)
Greinke (3–1)
Wilson (6)
14,563
11–18
30
May 2
@ Athletics
4–3
Padilla (4–2)
Blanton (2–5)
Wilson (7)
15,408
12–18
31
May 3
@ Athletics
6–3
Murray (1–0)
Gaudin (3–2)
Benoit (1)
20,524
13–18
32
May 4
@ Athletics
3–1
Casilla (1–0)
Feldman (0–1)
Street (9)
31,673
13–19
33
May 5
@ Mariners
7–3
Washburn (2–4)
Millwood (2–3)
16,637
13–20
34
May 6
@ Mariners
10–1
Ponson (2–0)
Batista (2–4)
15,818
14–20
35
May 7
@ Mariners
2–0
Padilla (5–2)
Bedard (2–2)
Wilson (8)
17,173
15–20
36
May 8
@ Mariners
5–0
Germán (1–0)
Hernández (2–3)
22,922
16–20
37
May 9
Athletics
4–0
Feldman (1–1)
Smith (2–2)
23,516
17–20
38
May 10
Athletics
6–4
Rupe (1–1)
Eveland (3–3)
22,899
18–20
39
May 11
Athletics
12–6
Casilla (2–0)
Germán (1–1)
23,959
18–21
40
May 12
Mariners
13 – 12 (10)
Mathis (1–0)
Morrow (0–1)
18,509
19–21
41
May 13
Mariners
5–2
Rupe (2–1)
Hernández (2–4)
Guardado (1)
15,766
20–21
42
May 14
Mariners
4 – 3 (12)
Putz (1–1)
Germán (1–2)
Washburn (1)
22,934
20–22
43
May 16
Astros
16–8
Wright (2–1)
Wright (3–1)
32,117
21–22
44
May 17
Astros
6–2
Padilla (6–2)
Oswalt (4–4)
38,534
22–22
45
May 18
Astros
5–4
Backe (2–5)
Gabbard (1–1)
Valverde (11)
33,561
22–23
46
May 19
@ Twins
7 – 6 (12)
Korecky (1–0)
Germán (1–3)
16,680
22–24
47
May 20
@ Twins
11–4
Perkins (1–1)
Mathis (1–1)
19,376
22–25
48
May 21
@ Twins
10–1
Ponson (3–0)
Blackburn (4–3)
22,032
23–25
49
May 22
@ Twins
8 – 7 (10)
Benoit (2–1)
Bass (1–1)
Wilson (9)
23,126
24–25
50
May 23
@ Indians
13–9
Loe (1–0)
Carmona (4–2)
39,947
25–25
51
May 24
@ Indians
5–2
Lee (7–1)
Feldman (1–2)
Borowski (3)
40,504
25–26
52
May 25
@ Indians
2 – 1 (10)
Wright (3–1)
Kobayashi (2–2)
Wilson (10)
35,464
26–26
53
May 26
@ Rays
7–3
Kazmir (4–1)
Ponson (3–1)
12,174
26–27
54
May 27
@ Rays
12–6
Padilla (7–2)
Sonnanstine (6–3)
10,511
27–27
55
May 28
@ Rays
5–3
Garza (4–1)
Gabbard (1–2)
Wheeler (1)
10,927
27–28
56
May 30
Athletics
3–1
Millwood (3–3)
Duchscherer (4–4)
Wilson (11)
21,763
28–28
57
May 31
Athletics
8–4
Ponson (4–1)
Blanton (3–7)
36,798
29–28
#
Date
Opponent
Score/Box
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
58
June 1
Athletics
13–8
Gaudin (3–3)
Wright (3–2)
17,661
29–29
59
June 2
Indians
13–9
Kobayashi (3–2)
Guardado (0–1)
17,247
29–30
60
June 3
Indians
12–7
Francisco (1–1)
Mastny (0–1)
16,373
30–30
61
June 4
Indians
15–9
Lee (9–1)
Ramírez (0–1)
19,676
30–31
62
June 5
Indians
9–4
Millwood (4–3)
Sabathia (3–8)
17,795
31–31
63
June 6
Rays
12–4
Kazmir (6–1)
Padilla (7–3)
21,783
31–32
64
June 7
Rays
5–4
Howell (5–0)
Benoit (3–2)
Wheeler (2)
28,788
31–33
65
June 8
Rays
6–3
Mathis (2–1)
Garza (4–3)
20,258
32–33
66
June 10
@ Royals
6–5
Guardado (1–1)
Yabuta (1–1)
Wilson (12)
14,741
33–33
67
June 11
@ Royals
11–5
Padilla (8–3)
Gobble (0–2)
20,840
34–33
68
June 12
@ Royals
6–5
Mahay (2–0)
Francisco (1–2)
Soria (15)
15,515
34–34
69
June 13
@ Mets
7–1
Pérez (5–4)
Feldman (1–3)
49,880
34–35
–
June 14
@ Mets
Postponed (rain) Made up as a doubleheader June 15
70
June 15
@ Mets
8–7
Millwood (5–3)
Maine (6–5)
Wilson (13)
35–35
71
June 15
@ Mets
4–2
Martínez (2–0)
Gabbard (1–3)
Wagner (14)
55,438
35–36
72
June 17
Braves
7–5
Padilla (9–3)
Hudson (7–5)
Wilson (14)
33,558
36–36
73
June 18
Braves
5–2
Bennett (1–4)
Wilson (0–2)
González (1)
38,545
36–37
74
June 19
Braves
5–4
Wright (4–2)
Boyer (1–5)
28,853
37–37
75
June 20
@ Nationals
4 – 3 (14)
Hanrahan (3–2)
Wright (4–3)
30,359
37–38
76
June 21
@ Nationals
13–3
Gabbard (2–3)
Mock (0–2)
Mendoza (1)
32,975
38–38
77
June 22
@ Nationals
5–3
Padilla (10–3)
Ayala (1–4)
Wilson (15)
32,690
39–38
78
June 24
@ Astros
4–3
Moehler (4–3)
Hurley (0–1)
Valverde (19)
40,052
39–39
79
June 25
@ Astros
3–2
Mendoza (1–2)
Oswalt (6–8)
Wilson (16)
32,567
40–39
80
June 26
@ Astros
7–2
Rodríguez (3–3)
Millwood (5–4)
36,506
40–40
81
June 27
Phillies
8–7
Rupe (3–1)
Condrey (1–1)
Wilson (17)
28,623
41–40
82
June 28
Phillies
8–6
Hamels (8–5)
Padilla (10–4)
Lidge (19)
28,623
41–41
83
June 29
Phillies
5–1
Hurley (1–1)
Moyer (7–6)
26,283
42–41
84
June 30
@ Yankees
2–1
Feldman (2–3)
Mussina (10–6)
Wilson (18)
53,045
43–41
#
Date
Opponent
Score/Box
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
85
July 1
@ Yankees
3–2
Francisco (2–2)
Rivera (2–3)
Wilson (19)
53,223
44–41
86
July 2
@ Yankees
18–7
Ramírez (2–0)
Madrigal (0–1)
52,659
44–42
87
July 4
@ Orioles
10–4
Guthrie (5–7)
Padilla (10–5)
21,363
44–43
88
July 5
@ Orioles
5–3
Feldman (3–3)
Cormier (1–3)
Wilson (20)
19,006
45–43
89
July 6
@ Orioles
11–10
Millwood (6–4)
Liz (3–1)
Wilson (21)
22,276
46–43
90
July 7
Angels
9–6
Santana (10–3)
Mendoza (1–3)
Rodríguez (35)
21,170
46–44
91
July 8
Angels
3–2
Harrison (1–0)
Saunders (12–5)
Wilson (22)
18,788
47–44
92
July 9
Angels
5–4
Wright (5–3)
Rodríguez (0–2)
24,515
48–44
93
July 10
Angels
11 – 10 (11)
Speier (1–4)
Wright (5–4)
Rodríguez (36)
23,262
48–45
94
July 11
White Sox
7–2
Mendoza (2–3)
Floyd (10–5)
Guardado (2)
28,003
49–45
95
July 12
White Sox
9–7
Danks (7–4)
Millwood (6–5)
39,209
49–46
96
July 13
White Sox
12–11
Wright (6–4)
Logan (2–2)
28,459
50–46
97
July 18
@ Twins
6–0
Perkins (7–2)
Millwood (6–6)
30,134
50–47
98
July 19
@ Twins
14–2
Hernández (9–6)
Harrison (1–1)
35,085
50–48
99
July 20
@ Twins
1–0
Padilla (11–5)
Baker (6–3)
Wilson (22)
36,029
51–48
100
July 21
@ White Sox
6–1
Feldman (4–3)
Vázquez (7–8)
39,547
52–48
101
July 22
@ White Sox
10–2
Buehrle (8–8)
Mendoza (2–4)
32,670
52–49
102
July 23
@ White Sox
10–8
Dotel (4–4)
Guardado (1–2)
Jenks (19)
35,353
52–50
103
July 25
@ Athletics
14–6
Padilla (12–5)
Blevins (0–1)
20,141
53–50
104
July 26
@ Athletics
9–4
Harrison (2–1)
Duchscherer (10–7)
20,653
54–50
105
July 27
@ Athletics
6–5
Blevins (1–1)
Hurley (1–2)
Street (18)
21,135
54–51
106
July 28
Mariners
7–5
Green (3–3)
Francisco (2–3)
Morrow (10)
21,742
54–52
107
July 29
Mariners
11–10
Wilson (1–2)
Putz (2–4)
17,618
55–52
108
July 30
Mariners
4–3
Guardado (2–2)
Rhodes (2–1)
Wilson (24)
23,894
56–52
109
July 31
Mariners
8–5
Dickey (3–6)
Harrison (2–2)
17,839
56–53
#
Date
Opponent
Score/Box
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
110
August 1
Blue Jays
9–8
Wilson (2–2)
Ryan (2–4)
23,973
57–53
111
August 2
Blue Jays
6–4
Burnett (13–9)
Feldman (4–4)
Ryan (21)
32,641
57–54
112
August 3
Blue Jays
8–4
Mendoza (3–4)
Purcey (1–2)
17,488
58–54
113
August 4
Yankees
9–5
Guardado (3–2)
Marte (4–1)
33,813
59–54
114
August 5
Yankees
8–6
Harrison (3–2)
Pettitte (12–9)
Guardado (3)
34,473
60–54
115
August 6
Yankees
5–3
Ponson (7–2)
Hunter (0–1)
Rivera (27)
38,638
60–55
116
August 7
Yankees
3–0
Mussina (15–7)
Feldman (4–5)
Rivera (28)
44,603
60–56
117
August 8
@ Orioles
9–1
Guthrie (9–8)
Mendoza (3–5)
33,351
60–57
118
August 9
@ Orioles
9–0
Cabrera (8–7)
Padilla (12–6)
30,914
60–58
119
August 10
@ Orioles
15–7
Harrison (4–2)
Bierd (0–2)
26,878
61–58
120
August 12
@ Red Sox
19–17
Okajima (3–2)
Francisco (2–4)
Papelbon (32)
38,004
61–59
121
August 13
@ Red Sox
8–4
Lester (11–4)
Mendoza (3–6)
37,876
61–60
122
August 14
@ Red Sox
9–3
Matsuzaka (14–2)
Hunter (0–2)
37,856
61–61
123
August 15
Rays
7–0
Garza (10–7)
Millwood (6–7)
20,233
61–62
124
August 16
Rays
3–0
Harrison (5–2)
Jackson (9–8)
Guardado (4)
29,238
62–62
125
August 17
Rays
7–4
Kazmir (9–6)
Nippert (1–3)
Wheeler (5)
18,363
62–63
126
August 18
Tigers
8–7
Rogers (9–10)
Francisco (2–5)
Rodney (5)
17,786
62-64
127
August 19
Tigers
11–3
Galarraga (12–4)
Padilla (12–7)
18,470
62-65
128
August 20
Tigers
9–1
Millwood (7–7)
Robertson (7-10)
19,403
63-65
129
August 22
Indians
7–5
Carmona (6–5)
Harrison (5–3)
Lewis (5)
20,535
63-66
130
August 23
Indians
8–7
Perez (3–3)
Wright (6–5)
Lewis (6)
29,900
63-67
131
August 24
Indians
4–3
Betancourt (3–4)
Guardado (3–3)
14,956
63-68
132
August 25
@ Royals
9-4
Feldman (5-5)
Meche (10-10)
12,399
64-68
133
August 26
@ Royals
2-1
Millwood (8-7)
R. Ramírez (2-2)
17,004
65-68
134
August 27
@ Royals
3-2
Harrison (6-3)
Bannister (7-14)
Francisco (1)
12,662
66-68
135
August 28
@ Angels
7–5
Garland (12–8)
Wright (6-6)
Rodríguez (51)
37,541
66-69
136
August 29
@ Angels
3–1
Santana (14–5)
Nippert (1–4)
Rodríguez (52)
40,084
66-70
137
August 30
@ Angels
4–3
Arredondo (7–1)
Feldman (5–6)
Rodríguez (53)
43,937
66-71
138
August 31
@ Angels
4–3
Millwood (9–7)
Lackey (11–3)
Francisco (2)
39,153
67-71
#
Date
Opponent
Score/Box
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
139
September 1
Mariners
12–6
Green (4-4)
Mendoza (3-7)
16,171
67-72
140
September 2
Mariners
6–4
McCarthy (1-0)
Feierabend (0-2)
Francisco (3)
14,521
68-72
141
September 3
Mariners
1–0
Nippert (2-4)
Hernández (9-9)
Francisco (4)
12,882
69-72
142
September 5
Red Sox
8–1
Beckett (12–9)
Millwood (9–8)
30,264
69-73
143
September 6
Red Sox
15–8
Harrison (7–3)
Wakefield (8–10)
38,208
70-73
144
September 7
Red Sox
7–2
Byrd (11–11)
McCarthy (1–1)
28,644
70-74
145
September 9
@ Mariners
7–3
Padilla (13-7)
Hernández (9-10)
Madrigal (1)
22,704
71-74
146
September 10
@ Mariners
8-7
Corcoran (5-0)
Millwood (9-9)
Putz (13)
23,644
71-75
147
September 11
@ Athletics
6–1
Nippert (3–4)
Braden (5–4)
10,566
72-75
148
September 12
@ Athletics
7–0
Harrison (8–3)
Smith (7–15)
15,117
73-75
149
September 13
@ Athletics
7–1
Outman (1–0)
Feldman (5–7)
21,102
73-76
150
September 14
@ Athletics
7–4
Devine (6–1)
Madrigal (0–2)
Ziegler (9)
18,551
73-77
151
September 15
Tigers
11–8
Francisco (3–5)
Farnsworth (2–3)
13,536
74-77
152
September 16
Tigers
5–4
Wright (7-6)
Rodney (0–6)
14,659
75-77
153
September 17
Tigers
17–4
García (1-0)
Nippert (3–5)
17,808
75-78
154
September 19
Angels
15–13
Oliver (6–1)
Wright (7–7)
Shields (3)
23,708
75-79
155
September 20
Angels
7–3
Speier (2–8)
Padilla (13–8)
Rodríguez (60)
38,973
75-80
156
September 21
Angels
7–3
Lackey (12–4)
Feldman (5–8)
28,390
75-81
157
September 22
Athletics
4–3 (11)
Embree (2–4)
Mendoza (3–8)
Casilla (2)
14,925
75-82
158
September 23
Athletics
6–4
Wright (8–7)
Embree (2–5)
Francisco (5)
18,408
76-82
159
September 24
Athletics
14–4
Harrison (9–3)
Eveland (9–9)
16,832
77-82
160
September 26
@ Angels
12–1
Padilla (14–8)
Lackey (12–5)
43,758
78-82
161
September 27
@ Angels
8–4
Feldman (6–8)
Santana (16–7)
43,141
79-82
162
September 28
@ Angels
7–0
Saunders (17–7)
Millwood (9–10)
43,761
79-83
Roster
2008 Texas Rangers
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Other batters
Manager
Coaches
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Spokane
References
Franchise Ballparks
Culture and lore Rivalries Key personnel World Series Championships (1) American League championships (3) American League West Division titles (7) Wild card berths (2) Media Minor league affiliates
Seasons (65)
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s