alcs: yanks/rangers

[Pharmcat]

any predictions?

[studcrackers]

i think if the rangers win game 1 they'll win the series, either way they cant go back to ny down 2-0 (even if cliff is pitching, b/c even though people criticize burnett id be more confident in him than tommy hunter)

couple notes for the series, rangers despite just picking up their 1st playoff series win in it's history has still never won a home playoff game

the rangers didnt win a game on the road vs. any of the al playoff teams this year, didnt stop them from winning all 3 on the road in tampa. of course i contend that the rangers team vs. yanks in april was a completely different team, they didnt take off until mid may.

if the rangers want to win this series they absolutely HAVE to get production from their 2-3-4 hitters b/c michael young, josh hamilton (who im sure is still ailing from his ribs) and vlad all sucked outside of young's big homer in game 3. nelson cruz and ian kinsler are awesome but i dont expect them to both hit 3 homers in next series too (a feat only accomplished by 1 other pair of teammates, ruth and gehrig) josh and vlad both need to start laying off the breaking stuff down, i dont have much faith for young who's struggled most of the 2nd half.

gotta run on posada, we've done it the past 2 years no reason for that to stop, dont exactly expect us to be scoring from 2nd in the series though

people are wondering why the rangers arent putting cliff lee out there in game 2 on short rest rather than wait til game 3. couple things, he's never pitched on short rest, 2 id want my best pitcher who's been in this situation before on the road vs. the yanks to shut them down

and 3 here are the numbers he's put up in the playoffs when going on long rest: Cliff Lee in the 2009 playoffs on long rest: 3 games, 26 innings, 1 earned run, 15 hits, 25 Ks, 0 walks.

nobody nationally brought up this stat prior to game 5 and that's why i was most confident of him dominating tuesday night. also those #'s dont even include the complete game 1 run 11 k performance he had vs. the rays.

the one thing im curious about is if the series does get to game 6 and the rangers are down 3-2 will they go to colby lewis or start cliff lee who as previously mentioned has never gone on short rest (and statistically speaking most pitchers are at least a full run worse when doing so)

one last note, i know it likely wont matter but mariano rivera has blown 2 games vs. the rangers this year and the one game he did save he gave up a leadoff triple to start the inning but was able to escape. now i know the worlds greatest closer w/the worlds greatest pitch wont get rattle but it's some food for thought, but as a rangers fan if it gets to 7 and we're having to face wood then rivera in the 8th and 9th, im not holding my breath.

but i'll be a homer anyways and say the rangers will win and move on to their 1st ever world series

[sunshinekids99]

I'd love to see the Rangers win, but I'm just not seeing it. Feliz had that deer in head lights look in his eyes last series and I sure don't expect that to get any better. You need a closer to come in and close the door and nobody does it better than Mo.

Rangers put up a hell of a fight but lose in 6.

[studcrackers]

it'd be nice if these announcers just flat out admitted they dont know sh*t about the rangers since we havent been on their station all year, it'd be only slightly easier to excuse their constant knob slobbing of yankee players

[Wavy Q]

it'd be nice if these announcers just flat out admitted they dont know sh*t about the rangers since we havent been on their station all year, it'd be only slightly easier to excuse their constant knob slobbing of yankee players

Giants fans sympathize, trust me.

[studcrackers]

please for the love of all that is good dont break my heart rangers

[Jake Steed]

Ron Washington's George Jefferson hair makes me smile.

[High 5]

That was a heart breaker. We're going to see what these Rangers are made of in how they bounce back. The ball is still in their court if they can win the next one.

[sunshinekids99]

That pen is just not going to get it done.

[Jake Steed]

[Chester0]

Ultimately it is about the relievers doing their jobs, but Ron Washington has made some extremely questionable moves in this postseason.

[studcrackers]

ive done plenty of criticism of wash in the past, i cant really fault him for the decisions in the pen last night, that was just awful execution by the pitchers. maybe he shouldve had feliz in, that's about it

only thing id really bitch about him is letting cantu anywhere near the ballpark, he's a big bucket of suck

this rangers team has been resilient all year bouncing back from heartbreakers, idk if they'll recover from this though

[craig01]

The Rangers bullpen blew it last night for sure.

Being a Rays fan and having to see them face the Yankees 18 times every year.....I can tell you this.....they are the hardest team in baseball to close out games with.

I'm hoping the Rangers can rebound from this, but last night will certainly leave their bullpen with the late inning jitters from here on out.

[Pharmcat]

the game had GREAT ratings

nice to see

[studcrackers]

The Rangers bullpen blew it last night for sure.

Being a Rays fan and having to see them face the Yankees 18 times every year.....I can tell you this.....they are the hardest team in baseball to close out games with.

I'm hoping the Rangers can rebound from this, but last night will certainly leave their bullpen with the late inning jitters from here on out.

trust me as a rangers fan i know this all to well, im on edge every time we play

[studcrackers]

this ump isnt calling anything low both ways. i thought hughes was painting corners, could make for a long day

[RIPskaterdude]

the game had GREAT ratings

nice to see

It would have even better ratings if it wasn't only on cable

[Dr Positivity]

Hope the Rangers hold this lead. Regardless of what happens, they should've been heading home and into the Cliff Lee game with a 2-0 edge.

[Wavy Q]

Hope the Rangers hold this lead. Regardless of what happens, they should've been heading home and into the Cliff Lee game with a 2-0 edge.

they started at home

[Wavy Q]

Cliff Lee threw an absolute Gem, and the Yankees imploded