Yu Darvish's New Home In Arlington, TX.

Not quiet, but when Japan’s Mainichi Daily News publicized that pitcher Yu Darvish had the highest bid for a Japanese player under the posting system, a reported $51.7 million and that the team was the Texas Rangers, I was totally relieved.

The Yankees do not need another Japanese import to implode, or pay millions for a pitcher to be chauffeured to throw in Scranton-Wilkes Barre for five years.

As for now Nolan Ryan and Co have just bought 30-days to negotiate with the latest Japanese import and if Darvish signs a contract the Nippon Ham Fighters will get a cool $51.7 million.

You can bet that the Rangers will have to offer Darvish at least six-years and well-over $60 million bucks for him to stay in Arlington.

Remember that in Japanese culture if Darvish were offered less, or even equal a contract than fellow countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka made with the Boston Red Sox back in 2006, it would be considered a sign of disrespect because Darvish is regarded more talented.

The Red Sox gave Dice-K a six-year, $52 million deal, which had another $8+ million in incentives and a no-trade clause. Also, add in the $51 million posting fee, a personal translator, and a Japanese chef for clubhouse in exchange for one good season in 2008. Not to mention that Red Sox fans can’t stand Dice-K, who will be out till next September recovering from Tommy John surgery.(...)
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Post tags: Boston Red Sox, Brian Cashman, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Japan, Major League Baseball, New York Yankee, Rangers F.C., Texas, Texas Rangers, Yu Darvish

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The 2011 World Series had been a snooze, until last nights Game 6.

The game was far from perfect, way too much sloppy defense and both the Rangers and Cardinals reliable bullpens finally looked worn.

The imperfect, textbook mistakes aren’t what made this game so good; the attitudes and fight of the Cardinals and the Rangers did.

Anytime the underdog team fights to the last strike, with the World Series on the line and a hometown guy like David Freese hits a walk-off homerun it strikes up an uncontrolled emotion in anyone who calls themselves a fan of baseball.

This was an 11-inning, baseball masterpiece, and one of the best postseason games in history. All the imperfections in this 10-9 Cardinal win was what made the game so perfect.

All I can say is that I could not be happier for the baseball itself because fans fell in love all over again.

Game 7 is sure to be another fight to end and to repeat the words of FOX SPORTS and MLB Network Intentional Talk host Chris Rose:

“If you are not watching this thing tomorrow night you are not a sports fan.”

I will repeat my sentiments from my WS preview of the St. Louis Cardinals, there is something special going on in St. Louis.

Related articles

• Cardinals rally, win in 11th to force Game 7 of World Series (thestar.com)
• 2011 World Series: Rain Delay Gives Cardinals New Life Against the Rangers (bleacherreport.com)
• Freese tag: Son of St. Louis sends series to seven! (timesunion.com)
• 2011 WS: Rangers And Cardinals Enough Excuses (ladylovespinstripes.com)
• Your World Series Game Six Open Thread ['World' Series] (deadspin.com)
• And now baseball! (iamnotfromhere.wordpress.com)
• MLB World Series Update 2011 (alienriquez.wordpress.com)
• Game 6: Rangers blow lead, back ahead in 10th – Boston.com (news.google.com)

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Post tags: 2011 World Series, Cardinals, David Freese, Game 6, Rangers F.C., St Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Missouri, World Series

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Currently the Texas Rangers have a 3-2 hold-on the Cardinals, making Game 6 a must win for St. Louis.

As for Texas, winning Game 6 would be a first, as the championship trophy has never called Arlington home in Rangers franchise history.

On paper this World Series would seem compelling, with all the pitching changes and the close scoring games but for some reason it is not.

Sorry to say but baseball fans can only blame the Cardinals and Rangers for making this Fall so un-classic.

Never has there been more excuses made by the two teams playing in the World Series.

From having to hear about how much of hero Josh Hamilton is for playing injured; to star players snubbing the media in the postgame; and the icing on the cake was when the Cardinals blamed a game costing mistake on not being able to communicate properly from the dugout to bullpen.

All this blah-blah-blah has accomplished is making the Rangers and the Cardinals come-off as soft, and a bit like sore-losers. And this might be why MLB cancelled Game 6 at 2pm based on a chance of rain, as these teams are way to fragile.(...)
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Post tags: 2011 World Series, Boston Redsox, Cardinals, Game 6, New York Yankee, Ranger, Texas Rangers, World Series

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The more I watch the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals play, the more I realize that the 2011 Bombers were truly molded to win this postseason.

With only five games down and at most two left to play, the Rangers are looking to close this WS out after taking a 3-2 lead over the Cardinals. The Rangers won this unexciting Game 5 by a score of 4-2.

When this revelation really dawned on me was after viewing the Rangers and Cardinals make a slugfest dull in Game 3, that the Yankees could have beaten both these teams. I mean the Bombers beat the Rangers 7-2 in regular season games, and even if the Rangers win the whole shebang, I am still not buying it.

I recognize how totally outlandish this theory is based on the Yankees early exit from the ALDS, as they lost a heart wrenching Game 5 to the Tigers but that was the Bombers at their worst.

The Yankees bats were all out of sorts because when a team has one or two opportunities to tie a game and fail that is getting outplayed. It is different when a team strands a total of 12 men on base, as that my friend is choking.

By no means am I taking away from the Tigers performance, as Detroit was playing at the top of their game. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that the Yankees were not.

So, how can I say that an eliminated team is built to win the World Series?

Well, anyone with a brain would realize that the Rangers and Cardinals are not winning off dominant starting pitching; instead they are disarming opponents with their powerful bats and shutdown bullpens.

And what were the Yankees biggest strengths all season long, hitting and relief pitching.(...)
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Post tags: Boston Redsox, Joe Buck, New York Yankee, St Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, World Series

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in the ALDS.

The Texas Rangers are playing for the franchise’s first WS Championship, for the second season in a row.

It is no secret that the Yankees don’t get any favors from anybody; even the most loyal of New York fans are pissed if the Bombers are anything but perfect. It is kind of ironic when the Yankees are baseball’s saving grace in terms of popularity, because even the haters can’t get enough.

So it came as no surprise when the Yankees lost that tragic ALDS Game 5 in the Bronx that everyone blamed Alex Rodriguez. A-rod did miss opportunities at the plate, but so did his teammates and why is it not about the Tigers winning?

So, why did no one care that the guy was playing hurt?

Oh right…. because no one can get over A-rod’s paycheck. Unlike other players, A-rod can wrap his wounds in $100 bills so how they cannot hurt that much.

Ok, I get it…. A-rod is public enemy #1, and he plays for sport’s most evil empire, but what really bugs me is that other players don’t get the same treatment.

One example is Rangers Josh Hamilton.

Hamilton has made immense mistakes throughout his career, and to say he was a drug addict is putting it politely.

Hamilton’s compulsions were so bad that the Rangers have a ‘special assignment coach’ on staff whose only job is to watch Hamilton. This job includes sharing adjoining hotel rooms on the road, eating every meal together, has to hold Hamilton’s wallet and never allowing Hamilton to be alone for more than a few minutes.

Without a doubt Hamilton has made an admirable recovery, but it is a tad scary that Texas has a babysitter on their payroll. Guess the Rangers know they need Hamilton to win and they cannot afford to take any chances with their best player.

Hamilton was probably the second most scouted prospect coming out of high school, the first being A-rod. Both men have baseball running in their veins, because they ooze exceptional talent.(...)
Read the rest of New York Yankees: Alex Rodriguez, Josh Hamilton, Excuses And Excuses

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Post tags: 2011 World Series, Detroit Tiger, Joe Girardi, Josh Hamilton, New York Yankee, Texas Rangers, Yankee

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The only sure thing is the one team will be crowned the champs, while the other will join the long list of World Series meltdowns.

Before getting to my prediction, read my posts about the good, the bad and the ugly about both the RANGERS and the CARDINALS. (Click on team name to read previews.) Click HERE for TV schedule for all World Series games.

So, who do think has the upper hand in this battle royal?

MY 2011 WORLD SERIES PREDICTION:

On paper the Rangers have a slight edge over the Cardinals, but neither team has an overwhelming advantage over the other.

Both teams have gotten sub-par performances in the postseason thus far from their starting pitchers, so look for the team whose rotation steps it up to play a big part of the series.

Looking at the regular season numbers, the Rangers have better starting rotation, but not as much vs. the Cardinals. See, the strength of the Cardinals hitters is the long-ball and the Rangers starters have given up 16 of the team’s 20 home-runs this postseason, with six off Rangers ace CJ Wilson. Wilson only gave up 16 homers in the regular season, so they need a big start from him in Game 1.

The Cardinals fate hangs on the Game 1 performance of ace Chris Carpenter, who is now suffering from elbow soreness but says he is good to go, but what else is he going to say.

Since Game 1 is in St. Louis, it gives the Cardinals home field advantage to start this World Series. The Cardinals are slightly better defensively than Texas, and have a better bench.

While the Rangers have the edge in their starting rotation, as they feature three lefties, which could make it tougher for the Cardinals righty dominate bats to get going. This is pending on at least two of the three lefties kicking it up a notch.(...)
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Post tags: 2011 World Series, Cardinals, Chris Carpenter, Ranger, St Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Missouri, Texas, Texas Rangers, World Series

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