How 'Bout Them Rangers

[MegaMagick]

We shoulda taken care of business with only 5 outs to go in Game 3 but our bullpen faltered and gave them an opening. I still like our chances if we have to go back to TB w/ Lee starting on full rest, but I'd much rather see them comeback at home and close it out now.

Don't have much baseball playoff knowledge obviously but if it comes to a game 5 with lee then that screws every thing up. Instead of setting the tone with Lee in a possible game 1 vs the yanks we'd have to start CJ and then Colby.

 

[utrunner07]

We shoulda taken care of business with only 5 outs to go in Game 3 but our bullpen faltered and gave them an opening. I still like our chances if we have to go back to TB w/ Lee starting on full rest, but I'd much rather see them comeback at home and close it out now.

I think Wash messed up game three quite a bit, but thats past now, I thought he managed a good game today.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

It's not a good day to be a sports fan in the Dallas area.

 

[juck]

Thank You Clifford Lee.

 

[LongSnapper]

Claw and Antlers Biyatches :laugh2:

 

[Gzus]

In anticipation of the ALCS, here are a few points for consideration:

• Out of the top 5 in batting average duing the post season we have 3 batters (Kinsler, Cruz, and Andrus)
• We lead the postseason in home runs (Kinsler & Cruz, 3 and 2 others with 1; team 7 total, next closest 4)
• Rangers lead all postseason teams with 55 Ks most in MLB history by any team in a series
• We got batters heating up and it's not Hambone... yet
• Our three starters have ERAs of (1.13, 0.00, 0.00) respectively
• Cliff Lee
• Cliff Lee
• and...... Cliff Lee

 

[utrunner07]

If Hamilton heats up for the ALCS in games 1 or 2 I think we win (assuming the middle and bottom of the order stay as hot), if not, we lose. Obviously a lot more complicated than that, but ultimately I think this may be the biggest factor. We've done good with the Yanks all year (esp at home) but as the twins may tell ya, I think the yanks are going to be a whole different animal come post season. Going to be fun.

 

[Gzus]

Hambone will be the difference maker in the ALCS. Kinsler & Cruz are already hot and our pitching is there. If Hambone heats up it's over.

 

[Gzus]

Don't have much baseball playoff knowledge obviously but if it comes to a game 5 with lee then that screws every thing up. Instead of setting the tone with Lee in a possible game 1 vs the yanks we'd have to start CJ and then Colby.

Game 5 with Lee means that our starting rotation will look like:
Game 1: CJ Wilson @home
Game 2: Colby Lewis @home
Game 3: Cliff Lee @NY
Game 4: Tommy Hunter @NY
Game 5: CJ Wilson @NY
Game 6: You have options you can either throw out Cliff Lee if you're down and on the verge, if not then you throw Colby out there. (If you start Lee here if would be in a must-win situation b/c he'd be on 3 days rest) @home
Game 7: Cliff Lee @home

To be honest I like this rotation b/c you have Lee for a Game 7 on full rest if it comes down to it. CJ gets two full rest starts (he's IMO just as good as Lee) and you may only have to rely on Colby/Tommy only once during the series depending. Either way you have Lee available for a decisive Game 6/7.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Weeeeee!

 

[TheCowboy]

Rangers WINNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like my sig? GO RANGERS!

 

[YosemiteSam]

Rangers WINNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like my sig? GO RANGERS!

Hopefully we can update it to AL Champs, and then again to World Series Champs!

 

[juck]

I felt so good today I forgot about how bad the Cowboys suck til now. lol

 

[Gzus]

The Yanks have updated their rotation which makes it easy on us.

So it'll be.....
Game 1: CJ Wilson vs. CC Sabathia; so our #2 vs their #1
Game 2: Colby Lewis vs. Phil Hughes; matchup of #3s
Game 3: Cliff Lee vs. Andy Pettite; our #1 vs their #2
Game 4: Tommy Hunter vs. AJ Burnett; match up of #4s
Game 5: CJ Wilson vs. CC Sabathia; our #2 vs their #1
Game 6: Flexible Colby Lewis/Cliff Lee vs. Phil Hughes/Andy Pettite; If we're up 3-2 we go with the A matchup, if we're down 2-3 we go with the B matchup
Game 7: Flexible Colby Lewis/Cliff Lee vs. Phil Hughes/Andy Pettite; Dependant on who startes in Game 6

Thankful that they didn't match Pettite on Lewis.

 

[TheCowboy]

Hopefully we can update it to AL Champs, and then again to World Series Champs!

Hopefully nothing because it WILL happen! SCREW THE YANKEES!!!!

 

[MegaMagick]

The Yanks have updated their rotation which makes it easy on us.

So it'll be.....
Game 1: CJ Wilson vs. CC Sabathia; so our #2 vs their #1
Game 2: Colby Lewis vs. Phil Hughes; matchup of #3s
Game 3: Cliff Lee vs. Andy Pettite; our #1 vs their #2
Game 4: Tommy Hunter vs. AJ Burnett; match up of #4s
Game 5: CJ Wilson vs. CC Sabathia; our #2 vs their #1
Game 6: Flexible Colby Lewis/Cliff Lee vs. Phil Hughes/Andy Pettite; If we're up 3-2 we go with the A matchup, if we're down 2-3 we go with the B matchup
Game 7: Flexible Colby Lewis/Cliff Lee vs. Phil Hughes/Andy Pettite; Dependant on who startes in Game 6

Thankful that they didn't match Pettite on Lewis.

1st Maddon with Shields and now Girardi with Hughes. They basically had a chance to take it to us in the 1st two and make the 3rd game irrelevant. Now if CJ can outduel C.C and Colby can do well against the yankee lineup in game 2, we can look at going up 3-0 the Lee v Pettite game.

Ron doesn't play mind games and change his rotation around and that seems to be working so far.

 

[YosemiteSam]

1st Maddon with Shields and now Girardi with Hughes. They basically had a chance to take it to us in the 1st two and make the 3rd game irrelevant. Now if CJ can outduel C.C and Colby can do well against the yankee lineup in game 2, we can look at going up 3-0 the Lee v Pettite game.

Ron doesn't play mind games and change his rotation around and that seems to be working so far.

My question is why wouldn't he play Pettite in the second game? Thats what I would do. I would do everything in my power to win as many of the games as possible as quickly as possible. If the Rangers are starting Lewis in game 2, then I throw my best most experienced playoff (usable) pitcher at him. I don't worry about matching up with Cliff Lee in game 3 if game two in the next game. You got to take it one game at a time.

I mean what if CJ beats CC, then Lewis beats Huges. That puts the Yankees in serious trouble with Lee on the mount in game 3.

Even if the Rangers didn't win the first two, you go into game three with a possible split and have to face Lee. Not a good idea either. I much prefer to go into game three up 2-0 then have to face Lee and let the cards fall where they may.

 

[Cythim]

Pettitte has a better chance to win at home than on the road. Texas lights him up at the Ballpark.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Pettitte has a better chance to win at home than on the road. Texas lights him up at the Ballpark.

I expect them to light him up in Yankee stadium too! :

btw, I can't imagine his changes are better facing Cliff Lee.

 

[utrunner07]

Pettitte has a better chance to win at home than on the road. Texas lights him up at the Ballpark.

And the exact opposite is true for Hughes, hence, IMO, the reason the Yankees set their schedule the way they did.