TexasRangers.com: Rangers-Rays position-by-position

[YosemiteSam]

One offense is known for its speed, the other is decorated with sluggers, and both clubs are led by ace southpaws at the top of their rotations and solid closers in the back of their bullpens.

Such is the case for this American League Division Series pinning the AL East champion Rays -- equipped with home-field advantage -- and the AL West champion Rangers. Tampa Bay won the season series, 4-2, and swept Texas in a three-game series at Tropicana Field. But that came in mid-August, and that was also the last time these two clubs met.

On offense, the Rays get their power from Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena, but a lot of their runs are generated from the speed of Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton, among others. The Rangers can run, too, but they will slug you to death with the big bats of Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero, Michael Young, Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler.

It's speed versus power, East versus West, and in Game 1, it's David Price versus Cliff Lee.

Here's a position-by-position breakdown: (link to site)

 

[Gzus]

I'm kinda nervous about our catcher position.
I'm actually not too worried about 1B cause Moreland and Cantu have been heating up as of late.
Yeah Longoria > Young but I think it's pretty darn close and Young ain't no slouch, hopefully he snaps out of his recent funk.
This should be a good series, if we can get by the Rays I think we got a good shot at the whole thing.

 

[MegaMagick]

I thought Longoria was banged up?

 

[Gzus]

I'm not sure how healthy he is gonna be for the series, if he's at full strength I give them the edge, otherwise I'll give Young the advantage. Forgot he was injured.