Tag Archives: rangers

Rounding the bases on various topics

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Time to touch on a few different topics in a pretty busy sports week.

  • Where was this San Francisco Giants offense all season? Twenty runs in the first two games of the World Series against Texas Rangers pitching, notably Cliff Lee in Game 1. This series could be a rout if the Rangers don’t get rejuvenated playing in front of the home fans in Game 3.
  • Watched a little bit of the Minnesota Wild game tonight against Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. One thought, and it has nothing to do with the action on the ice: A 10th anniversary team? Really? No offense to the Wild, but what kind of a team is this going to look like. Seems to me the franchise could have at least waited 20 or 25 years before they released a team like that.
  • The Minnesota Timberwolves played their first regular-season game Wednesday night, losing by 1 to the Sacramento Kings. I admit I watched none of that game, opting instead to have the TV at work tuned to the World Series. But it’s not a good sign to see after their first game that Kevin Love is in head coach Kurt Rambis‘ doghouse. I think he played nine minutes in the second half, despite grabbing 10 rebounds in the first half. Kind of a head-scratcher.
  • Speaking of the Wolves, team owner Glen Taylor on Wednesday squashed any contraction talk regarding his franchise. NBA commissioner David Stern suggested contraction as a way for the league to tighten its economic belts, but Taylor said his franchise will not be contracted. Being the fourth team in a four-team town(s), hard to blame the media for asking the question.
  • And finally, Winnipeg Jets fans have to be smiling if they caught this link from Yahoo’s Puck Daddy blog. The Phoenix Coyotes had an announced attendance of 6,700 fans for a home game last week. Considering the season just started, this is not a good sign for the future of that franchise in Arizona. But if you’re like me and think the NHL would be better served with more teams in Canada and fewer in the southern United States, then you’re not too upset about this development.

It’s not Yankees-Phillies, but Rangers-Giants still worth watching

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The World Series kicks off tonight, and I couldn’t be more excited. I know this is shocking, but the World Series and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament are my two favorite sporting events. I like the Super Bowl too, of course, but all of the hoopla and buildup is nauseating.

It’s the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants in Game 1 tonight in San Francisco. I’m sure a lot of people out there – notably, those employed by the Fox network – would have rather seen the two LCS losers – Phillies and Yankees – make it again. But there’s plenty to like about this Giants-Rangers matchup.

  • First off, you have two long-suffering fan bases. The Rangers franchise – dating back to its days as the Washington Senators – has never won the World Series. That’s 50 years of baseball, and no titles. The Giants haven’t won the World Series in over 50 years, and that was back when they were at the Polo Grounds in New York. So San Francisco has never celebrated a World Series title.
  • The Rangers are full of feel-good stories. There’s manager Ron Washington, who has battled cocaine issues that came up prior to the season. You have Josh Hamilton and that whole substance abuse story. By the way, how great was it that the Rangers celebrate their playoff series wins with ginger ale so Hamilton can take part? And there’s a guy like Colby Lewis, who was awful in the big leagues, went to Japan and re-invented himself, and now is a dynamite starter for Texas.
  • The Giants have great pitching, and Texas has that Cliff Lee guy. San Fran can counter with a deep rotation, led by Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. Jonathan Sanchez didn’t look great in the NLCS, but he can pitch better. Madison Bumgarner looks like an ace in the making.
  • The Giants have some pretty great characters. I’ve heard that Aubrey Huff is their version of Mike Redmond in that he keeps everyone upbeat (though I don’t know if he makes naked runs through the clubhouse like Redmond did). But unlike Redmond, Huff can flat out hit. And their closer, Brian Wilson, is, well, different. See the video below.

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FIvcogaZZM&feature=related

We’ll leave it there for now.

Let’s make a prediction. Before the playoffs started, I had Yankees-Giants in the World Series, so I was half right. So I’m going to stand by the Giants and say San Francisco wins the World Series in six games.

Feel free to make predictions of your own in the comments section.

Twins were missing more than just Cliff Lee

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When a team loses playoff game after playoff game after playoff game, it’s pretty tough to point a finger at just one player or thing and say, “That is what went wrong.”

Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee is being Cliff Lee again in this postseason. Associated Press photo

The Minnesota Twins will take a 12-game postseason losing streak into the offseason. Team meetings will start taking place in the next week or so, as management discusses what needs to be done.

The Texas Rangers keep on playing. They eliminated the New York Yankees on Friday in the American League Championship Series to earn their first-ever trip to the World Series.

And by securing that World Series berth in Game 6 on Friday, the Rangers were able to save their ace Cliff Lee for Game 1 of the World Series, which will take place Wednesday in either San Francisco or Philadelphia. The Giants and Phillies play Game 6 of the National League Championship Series tonight, with San Fran leading 3 games to 2.

Lee has been his usual self in this postseason. The free agent-to-be is setting himself up to be the most coveted player on the market this offseason, with apologies to Carl Crawford. Lee has started three times in these playoffs, allowing one run in 16 innings to Tampa, then pitching eight shutout innings against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS. His K-to-BB ratio in the postseason is an incredible 34-to-1 in 24 innings!

Because of this, I’ve seen and heard no shortage of Twins fans on Facebook or Twitter or, can you believe, through verbal communication, saying how great Lee would have looked in a Twins uniform. There’s no doubt he would have. There’s no doubt he wins Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Yankees, a game that saw the Twins squander a three-run lead en route to a loss and an eventual three-game sweep at the hands of New York.

Lee’s presence would have made a huge difference. Maybe they should have paid the price, though I seem to remember at the time that the Twins were just a couple games above .500 when Texas acquired Lee from Seattle in a trade earlier this season.

I’m just not sure if Lee alone would have gotten the Twins to a World Series. The problems from this postseason and the ones before it go well beyond adding another starter, albeit a dominant one.

As I’ve stated before, the Twins have scored a total – a TOTAL! – of 20 runs in their last nine playoff games. To put that in perspective, the Rangers scored 18 runs in a two-game stretch against the Yankees in the ALCS.

I’ve also heard some say, “If Lee wins Game 1 against the Yankees, then the Twins will believe they can beat them.” I disagree with that.

First off, this is a big league team that consistently makes the playoffs. We’re talking about the Twins, not the Bad News Bears. If they don’t “believe” they can beat another team right now, there are some real problems there. These aren’t the little-engine-that-could Twins anymore. This team had a $100 million payroll this season.

Secondly, even if Lee’s presence gets them Game 1, you could argue that it would only mean the Twins believe they can beat the Yankees when Lee is pitching. When it’s Francisco Liriano or Brian Duensing starting, would they really have a different mentality?

The problem with that argument is you could argue until you’re blue in the face because you really don’t know what’s up with the Twins and their playoff woes. I’m just not sold that Lee’s inclusion alone would have been enough to change things.

Rangers fans: We feel your pain

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Very tough to watch Friday’s Game 1 of the ALCS, which saw the Texas Rangers blow a 5-0 lead en route to a loss to the New York Yankees.

Pretty familiar territory for Minnesota Twins fans, who saw their team in Game 1 of the ALDS blow a 3-0 lead with the very same ace on the mound for New York in CC Sabathia.

The Twins, of course, went on to get swept in the series, which ended a week ago. Not sure what the outcome of the Rangers-Yankees series will be, but as I blogged about earlier, losing the first two at home - which could happen Saturday afternoon – would be no way to get started.

It’s become apparent – if it wasn’t already – you just can’t take your foot off the accelerator when facing the Yankees. No lead is safe. Their lineup is that good, with All-Stars and former All-Stars up and down it, plus a couple on the bench as well.

But it does get lost in the shuffle that the bullpen has done a nice job. Joba Chamberlain has pitched much better now that he isn’t the eighth-inning guy. Lance Berkman may have homered in the Twins series, but you could argue the biggest move the Yankees made during the season was getting reliever Kerry Wood from Cleveland. Seems like the rest of their bullpen fell into place after that acquisition.

ALCS, NLCS preview time

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The American League Championship Series kicks off tonight, featuring two teams with very different histories.

Vlad Guerrero

Big Bad Vlad Guerrero is back, but will it be enough for the Texas Rangers? Associated Press photo

The New York Yankees are in the ALCS about as often as they aren’t in it. This is familiar territory for the Evil Empire.

The Texas Rangers hadn’t won a postseason series in franchise history prior to this year. They have never been to the ALCS.

The NLCS has the two-time defending NL champion Philadelphia Phillies facing the Barry Bonds-less San Francisco Giants.

I’m really looking forward to this series, which kicks off Saturday. Outstanding pitching matchups to watch.

I’m happy to say I did pretty good with my ALDS picks. I came within a game of getting all four of the LDS winners right, but Texas took Game 5 from Tampa Bay.

Time for some LCS picks:

  • ALCS: Yankees vs. Rangers. The Rangers have a balanced roster and, for once, a pretty solid pitching staff. Combine that with home-field advantage, and I could see why a lot of people would like the Rangers here. I don’t. They’re in a tough spot right away in Game 1, where the Yankees can “steal” home field if CC Sabathia out-pitches C.J. Wilson tonight. I’d have to think he will. Then, it’s Phil Hughes vs. Colby Lewis in Game 2, with the Rangers avoiding getting swept in the first two games before going to Yankee Stadium. The series just doesn’t shape up well from the get-go. I know Cliff Lee will pitch twice in this series regardless if it goes seven games, but I’m sure Texas would have rather had their ace going in Games 1 and 5. But the five-game series with Tampa was a detriment. Yankees in 5.
  • NLCS: Giants vs. Phillies. I’ve liked the Giants in the NL West all season long. The offense isn’t anything to write home about, but that pitching staff is potent. Facing San Fran is an equally potent staff in Philly. Look at these matchups: Game 1 is SF’s Tim Lincecum vs. Philly’s Roy Halladay; Game 2 is SF’s Jonathan Sanchez vs. Philly’s Roy Oswalt; Game 3 is SF’s Matt Cain vs. Philly’s Cole Hamels, etc. It doesn’t get much better than this. I’m not too quick to dismiss the Giants offense. Rookie catcher Buster Posey is a man-child. Aubrey Huff has resurrected his career. Cody Ross had a nice NLDS. Andres Torres … well, I didn’t know who he was before this year, but he’s been great hitting leadoff. Philly has plenty of firepower too, with familiar household names Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins. I said Yankees vs. Giants in the World Series before the LDS series started, and I’m sticking to it. Giants aces out-pitch Phillies, and San Fran gets just enough offense. Anyone else think it’s easier to root for the Giants now that Bonds isn’t there? Giants in 7

So there you have it. Feel free to drop your predictions in the comments section.

Cliff Lee shows what he’s worth

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The Texas Rangers made some history Tuesday, and at the same time shut the door on the Division Series portion of the Major League Baseball postseason.

Cliff Lee

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee would have looked good in a Twins uniform, but would he have made that much of a difference? Associated Press photo

The Rangers won a playoff series for the first time in franchise history, defeating Tampa Bay in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the ALDS. It also marked the first time in history that the road team has won every game of a series.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee kept the Rays at bay all night Tuesday. He improved to an impressive 6-0 in his postseason career.

The Minnesota Twins were among the teams rumored to be interested in Lee as the trade deadline approached this year. I thought the Yankee Slayer himself would have been a good fit, but I admit I was reluctant to give up too much because at the time Lee was traded from Seattle to Texas, the Twins weren’t playing very well.

The difficult thing about any trade for Lee is it would have done nothing to improve the usual dormant offense the Twins march into the playoffs with, no matter how formidable the lineup looks.

I mentioned this stat on “Dizzo’s Den” tonight, but it’s worth repeating. In their last nine playoff games dating back to 2006, the Twins have scored a grand total of 20 runs. That’s barely over two per game. I don’t care if your rotation is Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson in the playoffs. You’re just not going to win playoff games scoring that few runs.

By comparison, the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies have each scored at least 40 runs in their last nine playoff games. The Boston Red Sox have scored 33 in their last nine postseason games. It’s a big difference.

There’s no doubt Lee would have helped the Twins out a lot. Maybe they win Game 1 at least. But Minnesota’s postseason woes run a lot deeper than just the need for a bona fide ace. Sure would have helped though.

Leave it to Joe to break up no-no

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The way Joe Mauer is hitting right now, it’s hard to believe if he gets four chances to break up a no-hitter, he’s not going to do it.

The Minnesota Twins dropped a 4-0 decision to open a four-game set against the Texas Rangers on Monday in Arlington, with their start catcher breaking up a no-hit bid from the Rangers pitching staff with one out in the ninth inning.

Facing Rangers dynamite closer Neftali Feliz, Mauer laced a single to center field after an Orlando Hudson walk. Feliz struck out Jason Kubel and induced a harmless ground out from Michael Cuddyer to end the game.

Mauer continues to be red-hot since the All-Star break. He has only two hits in his last four games, but that’s mostly due to the fact that he’s walked seven times in 15 of those plate appearances.

And despite the fact that the current cleanup hitter Jason Kubel continues to mash, who can blame teams for pitching around Mauer?

In 33 games since the Break, Mauer is hitting an astounding .416 with a .497 on-base percentage and .632 slugging percentage. Further proof that he’s seeing the ball well is his 2-to-1 K/BB ratio since the Midsummer Classic. Pretty amazing how quickly he went in the batting average race of being outside the top 10 to reaching No. 3 with a .330 average, behind only Texas’ Josh Hamilton (.357) and Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (.341).

Feliz was the third Rangers reliever trying to finish what Rich Harden had started. Harden is known as much for his injury-laden past as he is for his bona fide ace yet often wild stuff.

The right-hander, who is battling through the worst season of his eight-year career, tossed 6 2/3 hitless innings. But a high pitch count that resulted in five walks forced Rangers manager Ron Washington to pull him from the start.

This is a familiar setting for Twins fans, who just one week ago saw starting pitching Kevin Slowey yanked from a start after seven no-hit innings because of a high pitch count. Slowey, of course, landed on the disabled list following his next start.

Report: Cuban is bidding on Texas Rangers

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Not that it will ever come to pass, but Mark Cuban is reportedly trying to buy the Texas Rangers.

The Dallas Mavericks owner is a "serious bidder" for the bankrupt major league team.

I would love to see Cuban get a team like the Rangers. It would be fun to see what he could do with them. Like him or hate him, he made the Mavericks relevant.

But it’ll never happen. Cuban is simply too polarizing of a figure for the "boys club" of big league baseball owners to let into their little group. God forbid anyone outspend the New York Yankees.

AL West should be pretty wild

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The Los Angeles Angels have seemingly owned the American League West in recent years, but I think that division race is the most intriguing one as pitchers and catchers report in just a couple of weeks.

The Angels won the AL West by a cozy 10 games last year. The other three teams in the division – Texas Rangers, Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners – all finished within 12 games of each other behind LA.

The Angels have won the division five of the last six years, but could that change this year?

Since the season finished, the Angels have lost Chone Figgins to Seattle, Vlad Guerrero to Texas and John Lackey to Boston. Those aren’t just losses. Two of them are losses to division rivals.

The Angels have added Joel Piniero to the rotation and Fernando Rodney to the bullpen, but those additions hardly make up for the losses. Piniero to me just seems like the kind of guy that St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan revived last year but might regress without him in 2010.

Meanwhile, the Mariners have added Figgins. Plus, they traded for pitching ace Cliff Lee and rid themselves of Carlos Silva (how’s that for a staff upgrade?!?!).

The Rangers have added Guerrero to an already potent lineup. And Rich Harden gives them an injury-plagued pitcher, but when he’s healthy, he’s as good as it gets.

And the A’s found their own version of Harden in signing Ben Sheets, who joins a young and emerging Oakland rotation. If they can find any offense and keep Sheets healthy and productive - granted, those are big ifs - who knows? The acquisitions of third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and outfielder Jake Fox should help on that front, but haven’t been huge difference makers thus far.

Despite all of their roster departures, the Angels will still be tough to beat. But while they’ve lost talent, the other teams in the division have made big moves for their rosters. It’s shaping up to be a fun race to watch in the upcoming season.