If Martin can swing a bat and throw and catch a ball take him on. Good speed and his bat HAS to be better than Stubbs and Venable combined.
Not hitting was the reason he got sent down and hasn't swung a bat now in over a month, his timing would be way off. Is Stubbs worse at bats behind him now or are they still to come, hmmmm...
As an AL team, the Rangers are handicapped when playing in an NL ballpark. Does Fielder or Mitch play first base? Which ever bat is most hot? Tough decision but we are not there yet:)
The only solution to that I can see is can Mitch play LF or RF??? If not then one sits and that would screw up the whole lineup. If we still had Cruz this wouldn't be an issue...
Royals have lost their closer Greg Holland for the rest of the season, that could put a big crimp in their style and chances to win the World Series...
Yes caught the 7th on the radio heading home. Saw the 9th at home. The A's are in a state where if a team does not sweep them there's a problem. What was one of the best rotations last season is now just a burned out hull. I hope for Beane's sake, he got some talent from dumping so much.
Nice pick up on Smolinski. Too bad he did not hit for us the way he is in Oak.
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.---Revelation 1:5b-6
If we keep present course we will face the Royals first. That's if the Jays keep the best record and get the WC winner.
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.---Revelation 1:5b-6
Bet Twinkies fans will be rooting on the Rangers this weekend.
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.---Revelation 1:5b-6
"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with the blood."---Psalm 106:37-38
Wow, LOL. Note to Rangers....win 2 of 3 or sweep the Astros and you won't have to worry about tie breakers:)
"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with the blood."---Psalm 106:37-38
Fraley is acting like Hamels has faced them numerous times this year when he hasn't, only once and he won. All the rest of the damage done has been done by the rest of the staff and that has been considerable, IIRC the Rangers are 12-4 vs the Stros.
Nobody must be reading his articles so he's just stirring the pot to get some attention...
Now that you've mentioned it I imagine it only took about a 1/2 hr or so and it was posted on their bulletin board in the visitors locker room...
LOL waiting for the off season where Banister says "The team did great, but a lot of credit goes to CZ and Red from LF. If I did not read their insights, I would probably coaching AA ball right now."
"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with the blood."---Psalm 106:37-38
If the Rangers come out tonight and jump on them early the Stros just might...
There's a lot to be said about 'scoreboard watching' when you are behind in the Division and trying to keep ahead in the 2nd WC. I remember Ian Kinsler mentioning in 2012 he kept peeking at the scores when the A's were handing the Rangers their 4th point of contact in that late season series. You know the one where all they had to do was win one of 4 to get the Div title.
"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with the blood."---Psalm 106:37-38
Rangers win 6-2. Great effort by the middle inning relievers. Up now 4-1/2 games. Finally got to Kasmir.
Yankees lost but still way ahead of the 2nd WC. Think they have it.
Rangers and Yankees have same record now.
Twinkies lose, and Angels winning in the 7th by 5 runs. Looks like Astros 2nd WC lead will be shaved to 1/2 game.
Mets magic number 1! Let's Go Mets!
"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with the blood."---Psalm 106:37-38
Well Rangers lost. But made the closer pitch 25+ pitches and knocked him out of the box. We had 2 on 2 out and the go ahead run at the plate. Scored 3 in the top 9th. That was with two outs.
Chi Chi and Luke Jackson lost the tie. Holland left 4-4 tie. Final 9-7.
Why the Stros put in their closer with a 5 run lead is a head scratcher.
"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with the blood."---Psalm 106:37-38
The good news is that Houston is tied in the lost column with the Angels and only has a 1 game lead in the lost column over the Twinkies. From the Yanks point of view ,the best scenario is for the 3 teams to fight to the end of the season and use up their pitching just to get in. Especially want the 'Stros to need to use Keuchel in a must win game on the final day of the season.
The Astros hitting 6 HRs tells me the pitching staff couldn't get their breaking stuff over the plate or just forgot how to throw that pitch and decided to go mano e mano with strictly "heeters". You don't throw a young team fastballs when they can't hit the curve or change...
Why the Stros put in their closer with a 5 run lead is a head scratcher.
Girardi does that. OFTEN. Especially when it's a "MUST WIN" he can't allow get away.
The rolling, rollicking Rangers were due for a clunker, and 'Stros due for a win -- ugly at that. Street going down is a bummer for the Angels, though he never scared me. The Twins are running out of time. The Cards' Martinez -- meh -- somehow the Cards do more with less. The Jays losing Tulo *has* hurt them -- instead of playing at a .800 clip, now it's only .600. Now that he and Price changed that clubhouse, they may not need him for the playoffs. The Yanks? Well...NO Tex, NO rallies, NO Bombers. They've been scoring 2-3 runs per game while Ellsbury, Gardner, and Headley ALL look sickly and kill rallies by the day, the week, the month. And Eovoldi, OUT, Tanaka, hurt...the team is incompetent and crippled. They may luck out and win a one-game WC game, but that's the extent of their season.
Strongest, most confident finishers: The Mets. The Rangers. Jays. Cards know they can beat anyone (but aren't scary.) Like to see the Cubs win between they and the Pirates, I put it in the Cubs favor -- Arrieta has been hittable since the AS break. KC ain't going anywhere -- not with Cueto's an epic fail. The Dodgers? Best 1-2 SP punch in MLB. Gonna be a good post season, fellas.
The Astros hitting 6 HRs tells me the pitching staff couldn't get their breaking stuff over the plate or just forgot how to throw that pitch and decided to go mano e mano with strictly "heeters". You don't throw a young team fastballs when they can't hit the curve or change...
I see Josh played LF yesterday, didn't seem like he helped or hurt them in the game. Wonder if he'll be sore today, and I doubt he'll pay today with Keuchel pitching...
From the Yanks point of view ,the best scenario is for the 3 teams to fight to the end of the season and use up their pitching just to get in. Especially want the 'Stros to need to use Keuchel in a must win game on the final day of the season.
True about the other WC teams going down to the wire, using their best SP. But frankly, I'm not all that secure in that the streaky Yanks will definitely get in. IF the 'Stros make it (I doubt it) Kuechel owned the Yanks this season. They have to hope they they pitch lights-out. The Bombers' problem is scoring more than 3 runs per game with the top of the formerly vaunted lineup hitting a buck and change since August. Gardner is been useless. Ellsbury got his $153m base on his juice-related 2011 when he inexplicably whacked 32 dingers when he averages a dozen HRs. He now has ZERO power. Cashman got fooled by the same anomaly with Headley -- a guy who also averages 12 HRs per year, broke out and hit 31 in 2012. Now both IMO have reverted to their normal un-juiced baseline. IMO they are two over-priced frauds.
That leaves (IMO) the Rangers v. the Jays as the teams to beat. Unbelievable that Texas has become so strong a contendah and running on all cylinders. That *without* Hamilton?!
Btw, Tommy -- who is #55 of your handle? Hideki Matsui? Or Gary Reasons? :-)
But frankly, I'm not all that secure in that the streaky Yanks will definitely get in. IF the 'Stros make it (I doubt it) Kuechel owned the Yanks this season. They have to hope they they pitch lights-out. The Bombers' problem is scoring more than 3 runs per game
3 runs per game .....That's playoff baseball. And the Yanks have played playoff baseball for a month. In the scenario I gave Keuchel gets used in a must win game before the WC elimination game. The truth is that they are very vulnerable to lefty pitching ,and everyone has been throwing lefties against them . That is part of the reason for their mediocre month.
Yeah they are limping in and Price is going to get the Cy Young Award mostly based on how he took the Jays on his back since the trade . His performance is reminiscent of CC's for the Brewers as far as it's impact.
In April ,if anyone would've told Yankee fans that they were going into the playoffs as a wild card ;they would've signed up for it . This team in truth has over performed . No one thought AROID would turn it around after 1 season suspension and two hip surgeries . Before he broke his leg on a foul tip off his shin ,Tex was on pace to have his best year . He has been replaced by Bird who has been a revelation.
Girardi in my view has done by far his best managing job keeping this team winning enough to secure a playoff spot. Every one of their starters have gone down at one time or another during the season;and when they are healthy ,they only are good for half a game. He has 3 very good relievers ,and the rest of them don't belong on a major league roster .
They did shore up 2nd base with the acquisition of Dustin Ackley. He and Rob Refsnyder form an adequate platoon . Didi is a solid replacement for Jeter . He should probably be moved up the the 2nd slot in the line-up since Gardy is slumping . Headley has been playing equal to his playing card . McCann is the AL catcher of the year . There are none better in the AL . Yes Ellsbury has struggled since he came back from DL .But no one ever thought Beltran would do as well as he has . Gardy had an all star 1st half . Then he slumped badly since . When all is said and done ;his numbers will mirror his playing card. He and Ellsbury do need to step it up because they are the catalyst .The Yank power numbers have not suffered . But it would be nice if there were runners on base when the homers are hit .
Unless they completely collapse this week then they will host the elimination game. They will win at home . After that ,it's anyone's guess.
For the Rangers to get there they will have to beat the Angels at least 2 of 4 maybe more. Angels play the woeful A's next week and it seems Kyle Seager takes a powder when there's not a Ranger on the mound.
Someone might have to meet CJ Cron in the parking lot with a sock full of pennies:)
"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with the blood."---Psalm 106:37-38
Yes saw Chi Chi hang one and Luke Jackson. Then again that 3 run inning for the Stros could have ended on GIDP if Mitch got a handle on it. But such is the game and I won't beat on Mitch. That was only his second error all season. Amazing.
"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with the blood."---Psalm 106:37-38
Yeah Nap will be in the line up today until he becomes a liability.
"They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with the blood."---Psalm 106:37-38
The Rangers had to win one of three and they did. Perez did ok given he pouted like a child when Elvis botched up a 2 out no base runners on ground ball. Which led to 2 unearned runs, and thus the game. But that is baseball and the kid needs to grow up and put such behind him. He did rebound well and go after Altuve for a strike out.
I have to say the HP Ump was consistently horrible yesterday.
Sherrington gives us a good analysis for the final week of AL West baseball. He mentions what you already posted here. The closer Street is probably finished and so is the set up man Joe Smith:
The AL West is shaping up to become a lot like the NL Central. The AL West might be a lot more interesting next year if the Mariners find their way too.
Well here's to some exciting baseball in the next week:)
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."---Romans 5:6
Sherrington: Astros' biggest concern isn't the division leading Rangers, it's the surging Angels
With Houstons record on the road they do have their work cut out for them to maintain their place as the 2nd WC. They need to play .500 as a minimum to stand a chance...
The key to beating Keuchel is to lay off the breaking stuff if you do you can beat him. That is what they did when they laid a "9 spot" on his the last time they faced him, short memories I see...
Perez did ok given he pouted like a child when Elvis botched up a 2 out no base runners on ground ball. Which led to 2 unearned runs, and thus the game.
Or he's tired of always being the victim of Elvis errors?
Maybe we'll get to see a Papelbon/Harper moment in the dugout... :)