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2011 WS Preview: Texas Rangers

Posted by on 18 October 2011, 7:32 am
CJ Wilson of the Texas Rangers pitching

Image via Wikipedia

The 2011 World Series kicks off on Wednesday night, with the St. Louis Cardinals hosting the Texas Rangers to start this best of seven series.

Which team has the advantage?

I have watched both teams throughout this postseason and they match up well. So instead of going stat crazy, below are my cut and dry observations on the Texas Rangers.

TEXAS RANGERS:

The Good:

The Rangers bullpen is one of the best in baseball, thanks to the mid-season upgrades of Mike Adams, Koji Uehara and Mike Gonzalez to complement Scott Feldman, Darren Oliver, Alexi Ogando and Neftali Feliz. Also, moving Ogando out of a starting roll gives the Rangers depth as he can pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen if needed. The Rangers have the type of bullpen that turns games into a six-inning affair, which makes an opponent’s job all that much harder.

Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus have 67 steals combined on the season, so look for both to be running machines

The Bad:

Just like the Cardinals, the Rangers starters have to be better, specifically the three lefties CJ Wilson, Derek Holland, and Matt Harrison. Wilson and Harrison gave up just 16 and 13 homers respectively and can shutdown the homer-happy St. Louis bats if they can get back on track. Wilson is supposed to be the ace, so his 0-2 record and 8.04 ERA this post season is unacceptable. Wilson will face Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter in Busch Stadium in Game 1 and the Rangers need a big performance from him. The Cardinals righty dominate line-up is a .500 team against lefty arms, so it could be a big advantage if they can step up and thus far that has not been the case. Continue reading ‘2011 WS Preview: Texas Rangers’ »

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2011 World Series: Rangers vs. Cardinals Game Schedule

Posted by on 17 October 2011, 12:39 am

 

2011 World Series Schedule
Series Date Match-Up Network Air Time (ET)
Game One Wednesday, October 19 Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals FOX TBA
Game Two Thursday, October 20 Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals FOX TBA
Game Three Saturday, October 22 St. Louis Cardinals at Texas Rangers FOX TBA
Game Four Sunday, October 23 St. Louis Cardinals at Texas Rangers FOX TBA
Game Five* Monday, October 24 St. Louis Cardinals at Texas Rangers FOX TBA
Game Six* Wednesday, October 26 Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals FOX TBA
Game Seven* Thursday, October 27 Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals FOX TBA
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New York Yankees Are Out So Who To Root For In Postseason

Posted by on 11 October 2011, 4:06 am

Everyone is well aware that the 2011 New York Yankees season is over; to be precise it concluded last Thursday in a heart wrenching ALDS Game 5 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

The 3-2 loss was about the worst thing I have ever saw at Yankee Stadium. It felt like a little of New York City’s heart broke that night and to say the fans didn’t do their job would be a crime, as the Stadium was as electric and more filled than the 2009 World Series…no joke.

Well, onward and upward as the postseason keeps moving forward with the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers.

Not sure how many New York, or East Coast viewers will be tuning into watch both Championship Series, but as a baseball fan you can bet that I plan to watch until the last out of the World Series.

My problem is that I have no answer for this one question that I have been asked about 20 times over the last three days by everyone from my Mom to the guy at Starbucks.

“Who do you want to win the 2011 World Series? You know since the Yankees lost.”

It is a legitimate question, but please note this does not entail me cheering for another team at all. Only which team would I not throw my remote at the TV with if they were to win.

For me no matter the sport, if my team is not in the championship there is usually one team that I wouldn’t mind winning a title. This has never been the easiest choice in the past, so why is it almost impossible this time?

Maybe because out of the four remaining postseason teams, somehow, individually have an aspect that bothers the hell out of me; and in turn, I just can’t commit.

MilwaukeeBrewers:

If you don’t know who T-Plush is by now, please accept my apology in advance.

T-Plush is short for Tony Plush, which is the self-appointed “name on the field” or his “gentleman’s name” of the outspoken, outfielder Nyjer Morgan.

Morgan annoys the hell out of me because his antics are so ridiculous that it takes away from his talent. Morgan has been known to start trouble for no reason with opposing teams, flicks off fans, and looks for trouble too much.

I get the love/hate thing Brewers fans have with T-Plush because he does come through in the clutch, followed by shouting some f-bombs in his post game interviews that I guess are amusing. Still, the day Tony Plush ran his mouth at Cardinals Albert Pujols was arrogance gone overboard. Funny thing is now look who his Brewers NLCS opponents are…guess Nyjer needs a tall glass of Shut-the Plush-Up.

Texas Rangers:

I have stuck to the theory that the Rangers are so overrated and get thrown bones left and right from ESPN, MLB Network etc. Excuses, and more excuses for a team that plays in the AL West. The Rangers will come back down to earth once the Angels get Kendry Morales back in 2012, and considering 37 of their 2011 wins were against the Mariners, A’s and Indians speaks volumes. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Are Out So Who To Root For In Postseason’ »

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New York Yankees: Welcoming The Detroit Tigers Back To Bronx

Posted by on 6 October 2011, 3:14 am

Welcome back to the Bronx… Tigers!

What happened to having the celebration in Detroit — 100 percent this past Tuesday night?

Well, I guess that the Tigers had to cancel the big party after getting waxed 10-1 by the New York Yankees, forcing them to come back to the Bronx to play the Yankees in the eleventh hour, ALDS Game 5.

The Yankees had their backs against the wall on Tuesday night in Comerica Park being down 1-2 in games.

Then AJ Burnett pitched a six-inning gem, at the same time the Yankee bats woke-up and the Tigers got a nice whiff of reality to realize the ALDS was not over just yet.

So, the Yankees will send Ivan Nova to the hill in the winner takes all ALDS Game 5; and the Tigers will counter with Doug Fister…. making it a rematch from last Saturday’s ALDS Game 1, Part 2.

IVAN NOVA:

Coming in relief after CC Sabathia’s start got rain out, Nova threw six+ scoreless innings of no hit baseball against the Tigers powerful bats. This 24 year-old seems to not get phased by situations, and the Yankees hope he remains calm and collected, but you can be sure that Yankee fans will be rocking at the Stadium particularly hard this time.

DOUG FISTER:

Fister took the loss, lasting just under five innings, giving up seven hits, six earned runs but struck out six Yankee hitters. This guy can without a doubt throw strikes, and at moments dominated over the Yankees line-up.

Fister has good control over the strike zone, as he doesn’t walk batters much, just two Yankees last Saturday. This might be Fister’s biggest problem too, as batters can hit him because he is easy to figure out. Even before he met the Yankees last weekend, he never has much success against them in the past but the stats are scarce, so it is hard to judge just yet.

BIGGEST FACTOR IN GAME 5:

This will come down to a battle of the bullpens, but realize that the bullpens include everybody with an arm.

And don’t believe Tigers skipper Jim Leyland statement that ace Justin Verlander will not be available for Game 5. Unless Verlander is secretly injured, there is no rhyme, nor reason that Leyland would give up going to the ALCS to keep the AL’s best pitcher on the bench. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Welcoming The Detroit Tigers Back To Bronx’ »

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New York Yankees: Burnett Pitches ALDS Back To The Bronx

Posted by on 5 October 2011, 2:46 am
A.J. Burnett

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

Last night’s ALDS Game 4 was a do or die for the New York Yankees, as they were down 2-1 in games to the Detroit Tigers.

So in an almost reckless effort to succeed, Yankees skipper Joe Girardi put the team’s fate in the hands of AJ Burnett.

To say Burnett’s time in New York has been rocky would be an understatement, as he is the definition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the mound.

A majority of Yankee Universe couldn’t stand Burnett. And once enemy #1, Alex Rodriguez just continued playing too well for to even excusable Bronx booing, the fans road Burnett like Sea-biscuit, and he become almost to easy a target.

The difference with Burnett is that Yankee fans didn’t enjoy to booing him like they did with Javier Vazquez, Kyle Farnsworth or Sergio Mitre.

Speaking personally, I have never booed Burnett. Why? I am a huge Burnett fan and you can see he wants to do well for the team. Burnett’s teammates love him, and to be honest I bet he is a riot as a friend.

Regardless, (and apologies for my above girly mush) Burnett had to pitch well or season over, but either or, the Yankees were getting on a plane late Tuesday night back to New York.

Well, thanks to a great performance on the bump in Detroit, AJ Burnett made sure that the Tigers were coming back to the Big Apple too.

The Bombers in the eleventh-hour gave the Tigers a beat-down in Game 4 to a tune of 10-1.

Wonder what Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde thought about the game? If you didn’t know according to Valverde this ALDS was over last Sunday, and told Detroit fans to get ready to party following Game 4 because this series was not going back to New York, no matter what.

Some recommendations for Valverde… once in New York don’t leave your hotel because you pissed off a lot of Yankee fans here.

Look plain and simple, for any athlete to make such arrogant statements in the midst of a playoff series is just fueling the opposition. Valverde is just another athlete writing checks that his team just can’t cash. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Burnett Pitches ALDS Back To The Bronx’ »

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Yankees-Tigers: Aces On Deck Predictions Part 2

Posted by on 3 October 2011, 3:44 pm

After winning ALDS Game 1, the New York Yankees lost their second match-up to the Detroit Tigers 5-3; on what should have been a travel day for both clubs.

For the second time in three days the skies opened up yielding to more teeming rain in the Bronx, a sight that both baseball fans and players are getting way to accustomed too.

So both teams leave New York on route to Comerica Park in Detroit tied-up at 1-1; making it the perfect time for some Game 1 déjà vu, as Yankees CC Sabathia will once again take the hill vs. Tigers Justin Verlander.

This battle of aces is what baseball fans anticipated seeing last Friday night, as it was a textbook match-up worthy of opening the postseason. To bad Mother Nature had another plan and allotted just an inning and a half to be played.

So now Sabathia and Verlander will try again, and I think the urgency for perfection is a necessity for both teams, as they are tied at a game apiece…. with just two games to go after tonight’s BATTLE OF THE ACES!!!

MY PREDICTION:

If you read my original article about ALDS Game One….New York Yankees: Secret To ALDS Success Vs. Detroit Tigers my prediction was that the Yankees would win 3-2.

Being that it is a different day, in another team’s house makes absolutely no difference to me. Comerica Park is a pitcher’s park, which means home-runs will have to go further than in the Bronx; and the Yankees haven’t always had the easiest time in Detroit but I think the comments from Tigers closer, Jose Valverde might be just what the team needed to prove through actions, not words.

My prediction remains… Yankees win Game 3, but the scoreboard will read of 5-2.

 

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Detroit Tigers Pitcher To New York Yankees “It’s (ALDS) over!”

Posted by on 3 October 2011, 3:39 am
José Valverde

Image via Wikipedia

Following a must win ALDS Game Two victory vs. the New York Yankees, reporters were in the visitors locker-room surrounding the Detroit Tigers players asking about the 5-3 win in the Bronx.

The Tigers closer, Jose Valverde who is known for his idiotic actions following a save, as well as his perfect 49 saves in 49 opportunities in the 2011 regular season also has a big mouth.

As reported via Tim Brown on Yahoo Sports, Valverde started off by stating, “It’s over.”

When asked what he was talking about, Valverde responded:

“This,” he said. “Two more games. When are the games? Monday and Tuesday? Tuesday we celebrate and that’s it.”

Valverde went on to say he was kidding, but that kind of statement has to have some truth behind it.

Especially after Ian Begley of ESPN New York reported that Valverde gave the same guarantee that this ALDS is the Tigers already to the Spanish-speaking media

“I think the series will finish in our house,” Valverde told ESPN Deportes’ Enrique Rojas and other outlets. “They have a good team, but the series is not (coming) back to New York.”

This coming from a pitcher who was about a hit away from blowing the Tigers chances of winning Game 2.  Continue reading ‘Detroit Tigers Pitcher To New York Yankees “It’s (ALDS) over!”’ »

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