Banister used a tired out closer who blew the lead last night. Now Kela will not be available tomorrow. Have no idea who will set up and who will close tomorrow. Basically they have Luke Jackson and Bass (where the heck has he been?) Possibly Nick Martinez but have to save him if Hamels cannot go 7.
Quite a predicament.
Angels not in any better shape either.
Maybe Banny needs to go strategic. Start Martinez and use Jackson in long relief. Keep Hamels for division tie breaker.
Having Gallardo starting a division tie breaker is not good news.
Don't know. This is a hard for them to figure out. They are in the playoffs but won't get a break. Banister has to decide what game he wants to put the stake in the ground. Tomorrow or Monday tie breaker. We seem to not be able to beat the Angels so I say push Hamels to Monday. If the Snakes can bail us out great. Hamels starts game 1 of the ALDS.
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."---Romans 5:6
down to the wire. Puzzling move by Girardi splitting starters and bench players in both games . The results were predictable . The Yanks lost both. Now instead of resting today they need an all out effort against a Buck Showalter team that refuses to roll over and play dead for any team ,let alone the Yanks .
Here are the relevant possibilities :
If the Rangers and Astros win: Texas (88-74) wins the AL West Houston (87-75) earns an AL wild-card berth
If the Rangers win and Astros lose: Texas (88-74) wins the AL West Houston (86-76) earns an AL wild-card berth
If the Angels win and Astros lose: Texas (88-74) wins the AL West Houston (87-75) hosts LA Angels (87-75) on Monday for AL wild-card berth Houston owns a 10-9 head-to-head edge over LA Angels
If the Angels win and Astros win: Texas (87-75) hosts Houston (87-75) on Monday; winner is AL West champion, loser earns AL wild-card berth Texas owns a 13-6 head-to-head edge over Houston
AL wild-card host:
If the Yankees win: NY Yankees (88-73) will host AL wild-card game Tuesday
If the Yankees lose, Astros win and Rangers win: Houston (87-74) will host NY Yankees (87-74) in AL wild-card game on Tuesday Houston owns a 4-3 head-to-head edge over NY Yankees
If the Yankees lose, Astros win and Angels win: NY Yankees (87-74) will host loser of Monday's AL West tiebreaker between Texas (87-74) and Houston (87-74) because loser will have 75 losses
Worse scenario for the Yanks ,sitting around on Monday not knowing where they have to travel to play a wildcard game. Best scenario ....Wrap up homefield for the wildcard game and watch a play in game Monday.
Don't know. This is a hard for them to figure out. They are in the playoffs but won't get a break. Banister has to decide what game he wants to put the stake in the ground. Tomorrow or Monday tie breaker. We seem to not be able to beat the Angels so I say push Hamels to Monday. If the Snakes can bail us out great. Hamels starts game 1 of the ALDS.
Whatever you do ,save a lefty to start against the Yanks . The Yanks just can't beat them .
#1411. To: tomder55, redleghunter, CZ62, Liberator (#1409)
And here come the Royals.
Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is craftily decked out in an attractive dress, so as by its outward form, to make it appear to the inexperienced more true than truth itselfIrenaeus, Against Heresies
Sitting on the bench twiddling his thumbs, he's only pitched 3 times since the roster expanded. Sounds like Banny doesn't trust him to pitch in certain situations, which would be just about all of them I would have to say...
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
Entering Saturday, teams were 975-2 when leading by four runs at any point in the ninth inning.
What does this stat tell you about yesterdays game?
Either the Angels were so lucky they should admit it and want to replay the game or the Rangers don't deserve to be where they are cause they will just rollover and die in the playoffs or play in game...
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
What message are you sending to the team if you decide to do this??
BTA he has already sent the message to certain members of the pen that he doesn't trust them to do their jobs, some of them haven't seen the mound in over a week...
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
Thanks for sending all of the updates yesterday, but you could have kept that last one to yourself... :(
Anyway we had fun and tried all different kinds of hot sauces, salsas, craft beers and hot jerky's. Hot sauces have come a long ways in the last 10 years I remember when they first came out it was all about the heat, flavor wasn't even considered. Now it's quite different some actually have a pretty decent flavor to go along with the heat. They didn't have every single item they carry in the store for trial, if they did we would still be there... I wouldn't be afraid to say they have over 1,000 different hot sauces in the store and over 100 salsas... The image only shows about 15% of what is there...
Anyway one of the best things we tried was something new by this company... http://deceptionsalsa.com/
So new in fact they don't even have it on their website yet but it's Heat index #6 a bacon flavored salsa called "OINK"...
Another item we found we liked was a rub from Spicy Greek and it's for Poultry... http://www.spicygreek.com/products
If I didn't have a corned beef brisket laid out to be smoked today I would make up some chicken and use the Poultry rub on it... :) In fact I better get busy with it or it won't get done before midnight...
Oh by the way something else I ran across recently was "Old Bay" flavored fries in the frozen food aisle. I didn't buy any of them I just decided to do them myself by using fresh cut/sliced fries and deep fried them then sprinkled on the Old Bay. Turned out pretty good... I have a substitute that I use for Old Bay cause I think it tastes better and it contains less salt, it's called Chesapeake Bay Seasoning. I buy it online from a place called the Spice House, prices are better and the spices are fresher than what you buy in the stores. You need to turn the wife on to them I think she would like them, I know your palette would!!!
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
What message are you sending to the team if you decide to do this??
You are right. Knee jerk reaction on my part.
This team has scraped their way through the season to the playoffs, it would seem appropriate they have to claw their way to the ALDS and ALCS the hard way.
The Rangers motto should be "Per aspera ad astra"
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."---Romans 5:6
Thanks. Good that the Bronx Bombers play at home. Astros have a horrible road record.
Tuesday will be a good game.
Rangers get to rest the BP a couple of days before travelling to Canuck land. They have a horrible record at Rogers. Then again we can throw Holland and Hamels at them in the first two games. But probably won't.
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."---Romans 5:6
Now that we know they are going to face the Jays and that offense you still think they can get away with using 11-12 pitchers, or they gonna have to go with 13???
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
#1441. To: redleghunter, CZ82, tomder55, liberator (#1437)
The suspicion is the Jays wanted to avoid the possibility of facing the New York Yankees, a wild-card entrant, in the ALDS. Toronto went 13-6 against the Yankees this season but has a long history of trouble against that club.
that's silly ; The way the Yanks limped into the season ,the Jays should be salivating at the prospect of facing them. Yes the Yanks played better than the record indicates ,but with the attrition at the end of the season they would be facing a one month rookie (Severino) as the Yanks game one starter . Then after that the Yanks have CC with a brace on his knee ,Pineda ,who has been shaky since his return from DL ,Tanaka ,one start removed from a strained hammy ,and Nova who possibly came back too early from rotator cuff .
The best pitcher in the pen Betances has worn down from the use and is not close to the pitcher he was at the all-star break. He gets over used because there is no one in the middle relief that Girardi can count on.
The Yanks set up batters have been in a month long slump. They rely on the homer to generate their runs ,and their best home run threat had a season ending leg injury (Tex) ...AROID has become a mistake pitch hitter .... only Beltran shows consistent power .
Hoping the Rangers take articles like this as bulletin board fodder . If that's the game the Jays played then they deserve to get spanked.
Fraley: Blue Jays' odd ending to season suggests team wanted to face Rangers in playoffs
Something I've noticed the last couple of days is Josh seems to be getting his stroke together, if you remember correctly he was very streaky at times! And Price is going to be their only LHed starter in this series cause I don't think Buehrle is gonna be on the roster. So are you thinking what I'm thinking as to who could do a lot of damage against the Jays??
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
Now that we know they are going to face the Jays and that offense you still think they can get away with using 11-12 pitchers, or they gonna have to go with 13???
Another thing to consider is the Jays are heavy RHed and the Rangers SP are heavy LHed. (Which is probably why RHed Gallardo has 2 wins vs the Jays, their only wins)!!! I think you can see where I'm going with this but you might wanna try Chi Chi. He did pretty good in his start against them, a quality start...
If the Rangers can win at least 1 game in Toronto they can beat the Jays because most of their big bats stats drop off when they are on the road, to the tune of 150 points less slugging percentage in Donaldson's case!!!
Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
Now that we know they are going to face the Jays and that offense you still think they can get away with using 11-12 pitchers, or they gonna have to go with 13???
LOL...Probably 14 pitchers now:)
It is what it is. Have to keep at least Alberto for all infield positions. And carry a INF/OF utility guy. Why? Don't know what that turf is going to do to Beltre. They always try to keep him from playing in that stadium but no avoiding it in the playoffs.
Good news is our BP, Gallardo, Lewis, Perez and Holland get some much needed rest.
Banny not announcing the probable pitcher is a good move.
However it is either going to be Gallardo or Holland.
Holland is a mixed bag against Toronto in the past sporting a .218 BAA
Gallardo matches up better given he has given up only 4 HRs and 17 RBI in 159 ABs for the Jays active batters. .239 BAA
Holland has faced 170 ABs for 7 HRs and 16 RBI.
Colby Lewis' numbers are not much better. Lewis vs. Jays
Lewis could pitch Thursday on regular rest. But the dude is smoked. They probably need to keep him in Arlington and rest more and start in Game 4 if there is a game 4.
So I think this is the rotation:
Game 1: Holland
Game 2: Gallardo
Day off travel back to Arlington
Game 3: Hamels (ace should be the backstop if down 2-0 or if up 2-0 or tied 1-1 gives best shot to win it or go ahead in the series)
Game 4: Lewis
Travel day back to Toronto if needed
Game 5: Holland or Perez
Perez has little experience pitching against the Jays. His numbers are not too bad but might be skewed from when he was a rookie: Perez vs Jays
The big story is David Price. He will pitch on 11 days rest. That could work well or not.
The Rangers are 3-0 in the postseason against Price.
Take a look at the link on Price. LOL "EVIS" is doing great against Price. A .400 BA in 25 ABsZ:) Beltre batting .300 no surprises. Choo batting .313, And Josh tears him up too (not long ball). Napoli is dismal against him. Mitch good. And Fielder dismal.
LOL Drew Stubbs is 3 for 6 with a triple and RBI against Price:)
So Banny might do some crazy things like move Elvis up in the order. Don't see him using Napoli at all given Josh does fine against Price.
Finally the Pen. Hopefully Tolly finds his groove again after his last start. The 4 days of rest should do him good. Don't know...Dyson makes a better closer with his stuff. Will Banister (should he) swap the two or go with the match ups? Meaning if Jays bottom to top of the order is up in the 9th and we are up 1-3 runs go ahead with Tolly. But if facing the middle of the order go with Dyson. Tough decision. You don't want to kill a young guy like Tolleson by demoting him, but you have a better pitcher in Dyson who can get HR hitters to ground out.
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."---Romans 5:6