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.

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.

HELLO WORLD SERIES!

The Texas Rangers defeated the New York Yankees tonight to clinch the American League pennant and advance to the World Series. There are so many things I want to write about but I will wait until Saturday to do so. At this point in time I just want to savor the moment.

Game 5

It wasn't pretty in the Bronx last night. The Rangers lost 7-2. C. J. Wilson didn't have his stuff. Neither did C. C. Sabathia but what he did have was a good imitation of it. In my gut, I did not expect Texas to win yesterday. If the Yankees had any pride, they were going to go down fighting, if for no other reason than to prevent Texas from clinching on their field. But can that carry them for two more games?

Game 4 ALCS

There is nothing sweeter in baseball than your baseball team playing in a quiet Yankee Stadium. Texas Rangers fans have been treated to this wonder for two nights in a row. Is it to much to ask for thirds?
Game 4 did not start out well. Tommy Hunter looked shaky from the start. When Cano hit that fan-aided home run I got a sinking feeling, not helped by Berkman's screamer that was just foul. But this team doesn't give up. With the bases loaded in the fourth and one out, in came Derek Holland. A hot grounder hit to the hole between short and third is flagged by Elvis Andrus. A run scores but he threw out the runner trying to advance to third. The inning ended and out came the Rangers bats. A three run homer by Bengie Molina gives Texas the lead and there was no looking back. Homers by Hamilton (2) and Cruz were icing on the cake.
Game 5 is at 3 today. Do you think work productivity in the Dallas-Fort Worth area might see a mild decrease around that time?
It is funny how expectations change. A week ago it was enough to get to the ALCS. Saturday one home win was enough. Monday it was winning one game at Yankee Stadium. Tuesday it was taking two out of three. Not to be greedy but now it would be awesome to finish it on Wednesday.

Game 3

The season just keeps getting better and better. The Rangers won tonight, 8-0. This was a game the Rangers had to have. Cliff Lee was pitching and when your ace is on the mound you don't want to waste his effort. What kind of effort? How about eight shutout innings, allowing only two hits, one walk, and thirteen strikeouts? We are witnessing a phenomenon. This has been one of the great postseason pitching efforts ever. Hopefully we will see a couple more.
I had a good feeling about this game when Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer in the top of the first. If you stake Lee to any type of lead before he even throws a pitch he becomes that much more effective. And the Yankees looked helpless in their at bats. The shame is, from their point of view, Andy Pettite threw a great game as well. He missed on one pitch, the ome to Hamilton and that was the difference. Baseball is like that.
There has been talk that with Lee being a free agent at the end of the season he is bound for New York. In fact some act as if it is a done deal. I don't think so, yet. Lee strikes me as being someone who makes up his own mind. He appears very comfortable here and he is close to his Arkansas roots. Not every great pitcher enjoys his stay in New York, just ask Kenny Rogers and Randy Johnson.

Game 2 ALCS: Goodbye Monkey, Hello Win Column

The Rangers defeated the Yankees by a score of 7-2 and in so doing removed two monkeys from their backs. It ended the Yankee postseason winning streak against them at ten, and it was their first home playoff win ever. As Ernie Johnson put it, it was 49 years in coming. And it was sweet! Especially after the Friday Night Debacle.
Pitching. Colby Lewis struck out 11. The bullpen did its job. Oliver, Rapada, Ogando, and Feliz did what they were supposed to.
Fielding. No errors. No silly mistakes.
Hitting. David Murphy hit a home run and a double. Bengie had a double. Josh Hamilton walked four times, two of those intentional, and had two stolen bases. Elvis Andrus ran wild on the basepaths and a double steal led to a run. Being over-aggressive hurt on Friday but the Rangers did not let up.
So the series is tied one game apiece. Cal Ripken said it is now a five game series and the Rangers have Cliff Lee for two of those games. The Yankee starting pitching has been shaky, both Sabathia and Hughes were hit hard. The Yankee bullpen has been solid so the strategy is get out in front early for Texas. Bring on Monday night!