2011 World Series Game 6 (and 7)

To have it all come down to needing one more strike, not once but twice, is the most painful way to go. Twice the Rangers were one strike away from World Champions and twice they came up empty. After Game 6 (where the Cardinals came back five times) one could see the scenario for Game 7: Rangers take a two run lead in the top of the first, Cardinals come back to tie it in the bottom of the first and it was over.

2011 World Series Game 6

One word: @#$$%%^^&!

2011 World Series Game 6 Postponed

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Not to belittle an historic event, but I understand a little better those guys who were all set to go to France the night of June 4/5 and got called back to go again the next day.

2011 World Series Game 5

Na-Po-Li!
Once again the catcher hits a double in the eighth inning (appropriate for the number eight hitter) to give the Rangers the lead, 4-2, in the game, and to lead the Series three games to two with Game 6 in St. Louis. It was a game of sin and redemption. David Murphy bobbles a ball in left field allowing the runners to advance but gets two key hits. Mitch Moreland Bill Buckner's a ball at first allowing a run but then hits a mammoth shot to right that gets the Rangers back in the game. No sins from Adrian Beltre, just the usual vacuum cleaner style of play at third and a homer to left on one knee. And then there is Napoli... thank you Mike Sciosia!
The strange thing/controversy about the Napoli double is that LaRussa didn't bring in his closer to face Napoli. This made the game worthy to be mentioned on all the ESPN shows this morning. LaRussa claims that no one in the bullpen heard the phone ring to get Mott up and throwing...it was too loud. Very few people are buying it. Perhaps LaRussa got flustered because he was being outmanaged. If Mott wasn't ready and he was supposed to be there is an easy way around it. Claim your pitcher is feeling tightness in his arm and can't pitch anymore. The reliever who comes in due to injury is given all the time he needs to warm up. According to the rules:

8.03 When a pitcher takes his position at the beginning of each inning, or when he relieves another pitcher, he shall be permitted to pitch not to exceed eight preparatory pitches to his catcher during which play shall be suspended. A league by its own action may limit the number of preparatory pitches to less than eight preparatory pitches. Such preparatory pitches shall not consume more than one minute of time. If a sudden emergency causes a pitcher to be summoned into the game without any opportunity to warm up, the umpire-in-chief shall allow him as many pitches as the umpire deems necessary. (source mlb.com)

'nuff said.

2011 World Series Games 3 and 4

Game 3 was horrible, enough said.
But Game 4 made up for it. Derek Holland pitched 8 1/3 innings allowing only two hits, no runs. When he's on, he's one of the top starting pitchers, but when he's bad, look out. Mike Napoli's three run homer was awesome.

2011 World Series Game 2

The Series is now tied at two games apiece. I think Wash said it best, this is not one for the faint of heart. I have to admit I was concerned. When he brought Ogando in to face Craig it looked to be a repetition of the first game...and it was. A single hit to right field. I suppose the numbers say that is the best bet but what about that elusive quantity known as "feel"? Lewis was surviving, and if you're looking to get one out, the man is Gonzalez. If this was a mistake, it was the same one Tony "the Genius" LaRussa made in the top of the ninth. Men on second and third, none out, a gimpy Josh Hamilton coming to the plate. The only power Josh has shown is a deep fly out against Arthur "Tuffy" Rhodes. So what does LaRussa do? He plays the percentages, takes out his virtually unhittable closer and brings in a lefty: Tuffy. Result: Fly ball to right field, Kinsler tags and scores, Andrus tags and reaches third. Michael Young then flies out, deep enough to score Andrus, and then its Feliz time.
The two heroes are Kinsler and Andrus. Their defensive play kept the game close and the two hits in the ninth and a stolen base by Kinsler won the game.

World Series 2011 Game 1

So, on a cold, rainy night in the middle of October, the World Series began in St. Louis. It was a close, well-played game, but, unfortunately the Rangers lost. C. J. Wilson had his best postseason outing but it wasn't enough. The only question I have for Wash is why he brought Ogando in basically to face one batter. Isn't that Gonzalez's role? Game 2 is tonight.

Texas

When [Texans] have lost [their Texan-ness] altogether, and when the office-working, car-driving Texan is completely indistinguishable from his Northern counterpart, the history of Texas, as Texas, will be done.
-T. R. Fehrenbach. Lone Star: A History of Texas and Texans. (717-718)

Take that Socrates!

Know thyself? If I knew myself, I'd run away.
-Goethe

World Series 2011

The Texas Rangers clinched a berth in this year's World Series with a convincing 15-5 win over the Tigers. Their opponent will be the St. Louis Cardinals. I would have felt more comfortable playing Milwaukee, whose pitching staff was weak. The Cardinals look too much like another version of the Rangers. Add the fact that they are the wild card entry, like the Giants last year, and it spells trouble. But who am I to complain. Over forty years of never tasting the Series and now, two years in a row!

Ten Years

Ten years ago was the best day of my life. The day I married Cynthia.

ALCS 2011 Game 5

I think the Rangers missed an opportunity in this game: bases loaded, one out, Verlander on the ropes, and what happens...Double play! I am also concerned about C. J. Wilson. His pitching in these playoffs has been sub par. Of course that concern will only matter if the Rangers can win one of these next two games at home.

ALCS 2011 Game 4

Can we get a refrain for Nelson Cruz. Fantastic throw from rightfield to get Cabrera tagging up from third and then a three-run insurance blast (which I called, just ask my wife) in the 11th to put away Game 5. And while we're at it, how about Mike Napoli: standing his ground to apply the tag to Cabrera, and driving in Josh Hamilton with a single after the Tigers intentionally walked Beltre to get to him.

ESPN

ESPN has sold out. Why does the NFL need its own network when there is ESPN? Last night Nelson Cruz hit the first walk off grand slam home run in postseason history and did it in the eleventh inning. Was that the lead on this morning's Sports Center? Did it even get mentioned on First Take? No! Fifteen minutes into Sports Center, after extensive coverage of the Bears-Lions Monday Night game, there was three minutes about the ALCS. Why? Because ESPN does not have the rights to postseason baseball, therefore it does not exist. That's not news coverage, that's advertising.

To Live and Die with the Rangers

Bases loaded, none out, bottom of the ninth and what happens? Murphy pops out and Moreland hits into a double play. Should have pinch hit with Torrealba.
A postscript: Nelson Cruz. Enough said.

ALCS 2011 Game 1

So we found the solution to the drought in Texas: Bring in Justin Verlander to pitch.
The Rangers won last night in a game broken up by two rain delays. The winning run was a Nelson Cruz homer. If he's back in the groove, that's good for Texas. The bullpen was, once again, awesome. Ogando, Martinez, Oliver, Adams, and Feliz were all outstanding. The only concern is another rough outing for C. J. Wilson. Is the pressure of being a number one starter getting to him? Too many pitches, too many walks has been the story of his starts in the postseason this year.

ALCS 2011

So, it's the Rangers and the Tigers in this year's ALCS. As usual, I am worried. The Tigers and the Brewers seem to be the sexy picks now. We've just gone through a week of the genius of Joe Madden, now it will be a week of the genius of Jim Leyland. Once again, Ron Washington gets ignored.
The Yankees lost to the Tigers in Game 5. Alex Rodriguez striking out was particularly sweet. The Phillies lost 1-0 to the Cardinals (also in Game 5). Cliff Lee, how's that Philadelphia thing working out for you? The Brewers beat the Diamondbacks in extra innings in Game 5. Pretty exciting.

Rangers Defeat Tampa Bay 3-1

Here we go again. The Rangers are in the American League Championship Series...again. This could be habit-forming. Adrian Beltre's three home runs yesterday were certainly the most replayed highlight, but I think the most memorable from yesterday came from Johnny Damon of the Rays. He was in the dugout as the Rangers were celebrating. He caught the attention of someone in that mob, pointed at him and saluted him. That is a class act.
All the experts say this team is better than last year's. There is certainly more depth and experience. Yes, there is no Cliff Lee, but the pitching staff is still better. Yet, if they don't survive the ALCS, it won't be considered a success. We take it one win at a time.

Barbarians

Today the barbarian is the man who makes open and explicit rejection of the traditional role of reason and logic in human affairs. He is the man who reduces all spiritual and moral questions to the test of practical results or to an analysis of language or to decision in terms of individual subjective feeling.
-John Courtenay Murray. "The civilization of the Pluralist Society." in Bishirjian, A Public Philosophy Reader. (150)

Power and Liberty

It [American Society] had not yet got a glimpse of the elementary truth which was so clear to the mind of Mr. Jefferson, that in proportion as you give the State power to do things for you, you give it power to do things to you; and that the State invariably makes as little as it can of the one power, and as much as it can of the other.
-Albert Jay Nock. Memoirs of a Superfluous Man. (175-176)