Rangers in the World Series at Last

There is no doubt now that when the Rangers are healthy, they are the best team in the American League. In their series against the Yankees, the Rangers for the most part outhit, outpiched and outmanaged the Yankees. After Nelson Cruz's two run home run to make the score 5 to 1, the Yankees knew they were defeated and were up against a superior opponent they could not beat. It has been a long time in the making but Ranger fans have finally gotten the chance to see their team in the World Series.
The Rangers will face a different opponent than they are use to in the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. The Giants do not have any big name all star hitters but do have an outstanding and deep pitching staff. Their two best pitchers are starters Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain who both have the ability to completely shut down their opponents hitters as evidenced by the fact that Cain has not given up an earned run in more than 13 innings. The Giants like to keep the game close and use timely hitting to score a run late in a game to win. What I doubt we will see is long 4 and 1/2 hour games like we did against the Yankees (Thank God!). What I have a feeling we will seee is close games where the pitching will be the determining factor in who wins. The Ranger hitters must be smart and opportunistic in not swing at pitches out of the strike zone and getting timely hits with runners on base. One concern I have is that designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero will have to play right field since the first two games will be played with National League rules. In close games like these could be, errors are a deciding factor in who wins so the Rangers must be at their best defensively. This has the makings of a great world series with two teams eager to show they belong there and make people aware that there are other teams than the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies in baseball.
The Rangers have been very impressive and have given all Ranger fans great memories already and let's hope some even better ones are coming in the World Series.
Let the games begin!
Go Rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Step to the Series

With the Rangers coming home with a 3 to 2 lead in in AL championship series with the Yankees, fans all over the metroplex will be on the edge of their seats watching every pitch tomorrow. For the Rangers to win the series they need to remember what got them there which is timely hitting, smart base running and solid pitching. The Yankees won't give up without a fight so for the Rangers to win tomorrow the hitters need to be patient and not swing at pitches outside the strike zone. The Yankee bullpen has looked vulnerable and the Rangers need to work the pitch count and force Yankee Pitcher Phil Hughes to throw pitches over the the mid portion of the strike zone. The Ranger defense cannot afford to make any errors and what would also help would be a spectacular defensive play. These type of games can turn on either an error or a great defensive play so the Rangers infield and outfield will need to be at their best.
Note to all Ranger fans in the first two rows on the first and third base line. If a Yankee hits a pop foul and you see it is coming toward you, don't try to catch it!! Every out is important and we don't want a Steve Bartman moment to come to Arlington. Support your Rangers and let them make the catch. If the Rangers are at their best they can defeat the Yankees so let's hope Ranger fans can celebrate the Rangers going forward to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

GO RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!

Rangers Biggest Test

Unfortunately the Rangers were unable to put away Tampa Bay in Arlington this weekend. I would like to say I am surprised but Tampa Bay didn't finish the season with 96 wins by luck and the Rangers inability to hit with runners in scoring position and costly errors are some of the reasons we are at game 5 now. This looks to be a very close low scoring game. If Cliff Lee pitches for the Rangers like he did in game 1 they will be in good shape but David Price is unlikely to have two poor outings in a row so for the Rangers to win they must play smart fundamental baseball and get key hits with runners in scoring position. This is the type of game where timely hitting will make you and errors will break you. In game 4, outfielder Nelson Cruz's failure to call Ian Kinsler off for a short fly ball which ended up in an error and the Rays first run cannot happen tomorrow if the Rangers want to win. They would also benefit if Vladimir Guerrero will stop swing at pitches low and outside the strike zone with runners on first and second with one out. I know Guerrero has hit home runs this way but so far all he has gotten is strike outs or double plays in the playoffs and has killed any rallies that the Rangers were leading up to. For the Rangers to win they must be agressive and smart. This is the biggest game in franchise history and let's all hope the Rangers bring out their best game tomorrow.

Go Rangers!!!!!!!!!!

The Playoffs are Here

The Rangers are in the American League playoffs and will face the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rangers are not favored to win but it would not be a big surprise if they can win a playoff series for the first time in franchise history. For this to occur Cliff Lee must pitch as he has in past playoff games with the Phillies and CJ Wilson must be at his best as well. Of course the middle part of the Ranger lineup (Hamilton, Guerroro and Cruz) must hit with men in scoring position but this is the type of series that can turn on an error. The Rays rarely ever beat themselves and are among the best in baseball in fewest number of errors. The Rangers must avoid both fielding errors and baserunning errors. Too many times this year Ranger baserunners (most often Nelson Cruz) have crossed the line between aggressive and stupid baserunning and these type of mistakes can be the decisive factor in close games in the playoffs. Manager Ron Washington must have his team focused on every detail of the game and tell his players that when they are on the bases tagging on second base to go to third on a medium fly ball to right field with one out is stupid. The other thing that concerns me is the play of 3rd baseman Michael Young. Young's range at 3rd base has declined and too often he has either flyed out to right field or grounded out to shortstop with men in scoring position. Young is the leader of the Rangers on the field and has waited a long time to be in the playoffs and here is where he needs to get back to the way he played in a younger day and help lead his team to victory. This should be a close series so let's hope the Rangers can elevate their game a notch and win their first playoff series. For the metroplex, that would be a great thing to see. Go Rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Cocaine to Champagne

The Rangers may have had the most tumultuous and chaotic run on their way to winning the American League West. The season started when it was revealed Manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine last year and offered his resignation that Ranger management did not accept. Soon afterward it looked like the sale of the club to Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenburg would be finalized but the many banks that prior owner Tom Hicks was in debt to would not finalize the deal. On the field the two Ranger pitchers, Rich Harden and Scott Feldman were struggling and the Rangers had to place their hopes on CJ Wilson who had never been a starting pitcher before and Colby Lewis who had been pitching in Japan for the last three years. Thankfully both pitchers exceeded their expectations as did the acquisition of slugger Vladimir Guerrero and bullpen pitcher Darren Oliver. When outfielder Josh Hamilton was healthy he was the best player in baseball and the late season trade to acquire pitching ace Cliff Lee showed that the Rangers finally had the team to contend for the pennant. When the seemingly endless bankruptcy ordeal finally concluded in court where the Rangers were put on the auction block and the team of Greenburg and Ryan won, a sense of relief was felt everywhere and fans were confident that the Rangers would win the division. In mid September the Rangers won the division and for the first time in a very long time that the Rangers can make a push to make it to the world series. There are so many people to credit but to me General Manager Jon Daniel should be given a special award for bringing in so many key players like Vlad Guererro and Cliff Lee with one hand tied behind his back thanks to the Rangers bankruptcy situation. The Rangers are not quite the best team in baseball right now but if their hitters can get on a hot streak and if Cliff Lee can pitch like he has in the playoffs in the past, the Rangers can make it to the World Series for the first time in their franchise history. Let's all hope for it.