The Texas Rangers drive to win the World Series and thenavarro $7500 thread

thenavarro

Since my request wasn't granted by the original author of "The Texas Rangers are fading...." thread to change the title, I figure I'll just start my own

It's been a fun season so far. Not too many times in my life, have the Texas Rangers been playing in games in late August that have playoff implications. We don't have the storied history of the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Dodgers, etc., but we do have a chance to play with the big boys this year. As I write this, we are 5 1/2 games out in the AL West, and 1 1/2 (about to be 1 when the Red Sox finish losing tonight) games out in the Wild Card race. Once the playoffs start, we all know anything can happen. Should make for a fun finish.

I've been a lifelong fan, but this is the first season I've "put my money where my mouth is". I'm holding a $100 voucher with 75-1 odds for the Rangers to win it all from the Rio Hotel & Casino in Vegas. Will make for a fun trip out there to pick up my winnings if they come through (actually I'll probably just hop on Southwest Airlines, fly out there, play a round of golf, try to eat that Big Bada** Burrito that was featured on Man Vs. Food a couple weeks ago, spend one night, pick up my winnings and fly back, yeah, I know I can just mail it in to redeem but that's not fun!)

Go Rangers!! Bring it home

perkdog

Hey if the Sox are not going to do it I would have no problem with Texas going all the way, and BTW dont think for a second that its not possible!


Sorry but I cant wish you good luck until the Sox are elimenated.

Bosox1976

Me likey carne asada. Me likey Red Sox too - so juxtaposed.

TomGshotput

Maybe a one in four chance of making the playoffs. Then once in can't be too much worse than a one in eight chance of winning. So definitely some good odds you are holding

If it does cash I would love to take a side bet on that burrito. I would go over there and finish it, but the prize is a free ride on the roller coaster. Only way it is worth it is if there is a little bit of money on the line

thenavarro

After on off day Monday, it's back to business tonight. In a potential first round playoff matchup, the Rangers just got past the NY Yankees 10-9. I almost had to take a blood pressure pill in the 9th, but they managed to pull it off

1 1/2 games out of wildcard as Boston won again, and waiting on the results of the Angels game but they are winning as well. Sure wish we had a couple more head to head series against the Red Sox.

Mike

matthewbschultz83

Mike,

Two things:
1) If that ticket proves to be a winner, I'm going with....
2) I didn't have to take a blood pressure pill, but I did have to change my underwear

Let's go Motor City Kitties....

thenavarro

A brutal night tonight. The Yankees had their way with Texas and Boston and California both won. Now 2.5 back in wild card, and 5 for the diviision.

thenavarro

Another victory over the Yankees today. Makes us only the 2nd team since the All Star break to defeat the Yankees in a series. However, if Boston sweeps the White Sox tonight, we will have still lost ground this series. Go White Sox, go Oakland!

Mike

matthewbschultz83

Great win today. Our starting pitcher didn't have his best stuff, only lasted 3 2/3. Burnett was perfect for the same amount of time, and after two 2 out walks, Kinsler blasts a 3 run bomb. So after 4 we've got a 3-2 lead on 1 hit. Another 3 run dinger, and a solo shot later we left NY with a series win!

White Sox over Red Sox....check
A's over Angels...in process (1-0 A's, don't trust and deficiet the Angels are facing...)

TheBoz

<< <i>Since my request wasn't granted by the original author of "The Texas Rangers are fading...." thread to change the title, I figure I'll just start my own

It's been a fun season so far. Not too many times in my life, have the Texas Rangers been playing in games in late August that have playoff implications. We don't have the storied history of the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Dodgers, etc., but we do have a chance to play with the big boys this year. As I write this, we are 5 1/2 games out in the AL West, and 1 1/2 (about to be 1 when the Red Sox finish losing tonight) games out in the Wild Card race. Once the playoffs start, we all know anything can happen. Should make for a fun finish.

I've been a lifelong fan, but this is the first season I've "put my money where my mouth is". I'm holding a $100 voucher with 75-1 odds for the Rangers to win it all from the Rio Hotel & Casino in Vegas. Will make for a fun trip out there to pick up my winnings if they come through (actually I'll probably just hop on Southwest Airlines, fly out there, play a round of golf, try to eat that Big Bada** Burrito that was featured on Man Vs. Food a couple weeks ago, spend one night, pick up my winnings and fly back, yeah, I know I can just mail it in to redeem but that's not fun!)

Go Rangers!! Bring it home >>




i read that chicken thread...you have to secretly admire joey Chestnut....

how do you stay so slim eating all those 10000 calorie Bombs?

matthewbschultz83

This first inning is brutal.....

thenavarro

Wow, another "kick to the nuts" game. 3-2, top of 9th, runners on 1st and 2nd running with the pitch, full count, pitch obviously outside (IMHO), called strike 3, add one to the loss column.

I'm not blaming the ump as it's not the ump that was trailing 3-2 and that had gotten themselves into the position where an arbitrary call by a human being could cost them the game. Another poor performance by the Rangers. If they keep up the habit of losing games like this (which they seem to be blowing a lot lately), then they don't deserve to make it to the playoffs regardless of how Boston, California, or Tampa Bay does.

Come on guys, go into the playoffs winning like champions, don't back into them because of someone else's ineptitude. (actually, I'll be excited if they get in any form or fashion, I'm just frustrated with them as they've blown some golden opportunities lately to pull close to California)

matthewbschultz83

Pitch was outside and low, don't fault Davis for the KL, it was a nice approach that AB. Give some credit to Brian Duensing, he pitched awesome for 7 innings. Hunter came back strong after that first bad inning and kept the Rangers in the game, saved the bullpen, and I thought Pedro Strop was going to get his first ML win in his ML debut.

Mike (or anyone else out there), did you notice what Ron Washington did in the 9th? Pudge started at DH, Teagarden at C, so no backup catcher on the bench. Wash pinch hits for Teagarden with Blalock in the 9th, so Pudge would have had to entered the field and the Rangers forgo their DH, thus making the pitcher bat had the game gone extras. Ron has said he has been reluctant to use both catchers in the same game. I like how Pudge changes that. Pudge needs to be playing against all lefties and catching 3 or 4 times a week, IMO.

matthewbschultz83

Nice sweep in the double Header...too bad MY pulled a hammy and they said on the postgame, probably out 2 weeks. This could be it.

thenavarro

3.5 out in the West and 2.5 out in the wildcard. A nice 3-0 start to September. Still 7 games left against California, whom we've owned this year. Will have to do it without Michael Young, but after some of the Rangers recent performances (or lack thereof), I'll take it. Hang in there Rangers, with the 7 games left against California (yeah, I know, they are the LA Angels, but they are still California to me), your destiny is in your own hands, and that's more than a lot of teams can say right now.

thenavarro

Matt,
I saw in the Red Sox thread where someone wrote this to you:



<< <i>Yo Ranger guy...aka Matt...

I figure we are going to have to at least 20-10 in that stretch

Have you taken a good look at the Rangers remaining schedule? Maybe another peek is in order.

irrational exuberance !! >>



I personally think our schedule sets up pretty good, and I think your hope is far from "irrational exuberance". Rangers won tonight, so they would have to go 19-10 against this remaining schedule:

3 games against Baltimore (Rangers are winning the season series 4-3 so far this year)
3 games against Cleveland (Rangers are winning the season series 5-1 so far this year)
3 games against Tampa Bay (Rangers are winning the season series 4-2 so far this year)
7 games against California (Rangers are winning the season series 9-3 so far this year)
7 games against Oakland (Rangers are tied in the season series 6-6 so far this year)
6 games against Seattle (Rangers are winning the season series 9-4 so far this year)

That gives them a record of 37-19 (or .660 winning percentage) against their remaining schedule, which is actually more of a winning percentage then his hoped for 19-10 (or .655 winning percentage)

I keep flip flopping in my mind on who I think we have a better chance to catch, and now I feel we have a better chance to catch California because of our chance to take matters into our own hand with them.

Nonetheless, no matter what opinions are out there, there is a reason they play the games. Should be an exciting last few weeks to the regular season.

Mike

matthewbschultz83

Not only that, but half the games they have left are against teams with losing records. The surprising record of that bunch is Oakland. We need to do better than 6-6 against a last place team. I would really like to go 5-1 on this roadtrip to Baltimore and Cleveland. Those are 2 teams they need to beat up on.

MCMLVTopps

You guys need not count your chickens before they hatch!!

And BTW, I'm the "someone" and repeat irrational exuberance. If and when the Red Sox are mathematically out, then and ONLY then can you ponder your future, till then, the Red Sox still have a nice advantage.

Perhaps you might want to look at the box score from the WS-Twins game yesterday. Twins winning with 1 strike to finish the game, Nathan on the mound...results, WS win handily. Or maybe you guys need a Bucky Dent or Aaron Boone moment to hone your baseball experience. Can happen easily, so don't cheer too loudly just yet, the silence at the end can be very disappointing.

matthewbschultz83

<< <i>You guys need not count your chickens before they hatch!!

And BTW, I'm the "someone" and repeat irrational exuberance. If and when the Red Sox are mathematically out, then and ONLY then can you ponder your future, till then, the Red Sox still have a nice advantage.

Perhaps you might want to look at the box score from the WS-Twins game yesterday. Twins winning with 1 strike to finish the game, Nathan on the mound...results, WS win handily. Or maybe you guys need a Bucky Dent or Aaron Boone moment to hone your baseball experience. Can happen easily, so don't cheer too loudly just yet, the silence at the end can be very disappointing. >>



No one is counting anything. I think the Rangers have about a 25% - 33% of making the postseason. Look man I'm sorry that we aren't the almighty Boston Red Sox and don't have loads of tradition and postseason experience. As I've said before in the BoSox thread - We have 1 freaking playoff win in our history. So get off your high horse, if we want to get excited and loud and dream about a home October experience then I think we can, especially with the 4th best record in the AL. The OP just said he thinks we a better chance of catching LAA because of the head to head, not almighty Boston.

And you were completely wrong about our end of the schedule. We play teams that we've had success against this year and that have losing records the rest of the way. Our schedule sets up nicely for us to go on a run. Thats all we're saying.

And guess what if/when we catch LAA assuming that they don't overtake Boston in the Wild Card. Boston would be matched up with us in the first round and have to come here for 3 of the 5. Not a proposition I'd be relishing if we had gone 2-7 against somebody.

thenavarro

<< <i>You guys need not count your chickens before they hatch!!

And BTW, I'm the "someone" and repeat irrational exuberance. If and when the Red Sox are mathematically out, then and ONLY then can you ponder your future, till then, the Red Sox still have a nice advantage.

Perhaps you might want to look at the box score from the WS-Twins game yesterday. Twins winning with 1 strike to finish the game, Nathan on the mound...results, WS win handily. Or maybe you guys need a Bucky Dent or Aaron Boone moment to hone your baseball experience. Can happen easily, so don't cheer too loudly just yet, the silence at the end can be very disappointing. >>



1955 seems to have some comprehension difficulties. Neither Matthew, nor I have made any binding hotel accomodations for us or our families, nor have we adjusted our schedule yet to attend a Texas Rangers World Series. Perhaps I'm just a slow country boy from Texas, ill prepared to do battle with a Red Sox fan, and not able to read into other peoples written words like 1955 can do with ours. If you want to hold your hand up and identify yourself as the "irrational exuberance" person, that's fine, I wasn't going to identify you because it didn't feel right outing someone that made no logical sense. Additionally, even though I'm a Texan and just might be entitled to by that very nature, I don't feel it's my authority to tell 55 or any of the Red Sox faithful when it's appropriate to ponder their future, so we will continue to speculate about ours, even though the almighty Red Sox are currently a few games ahead. I have no interest in a box score from an irrelavent game yesterday, so I won't be checking that out. Thanks for stopping in, and because I'm a polite host, be sure and drop back by anytime, especially AFTER the Red Sox are eliminated, whether it be in the regular season, playoffs, or World Series.

Y'all come back now, you hear?

MCMLVTopps

I can assure you that I have no comprehension difficulties. this is merely a forum where we can post opinions, pro or con.

You may rest assured, that should the Rangers prevail and win the WC, I will be among the first to post congratulations.

thenavarro

<< <i>I can assure you that I have no comprehension difficulties. this is merely a forum where we can post opinions, pro or con.

You may rest assured, that should the Rangers prevail and win the WC, I will be among the first to post congratulations. >>

thenavarro

Another nice performance from Neptali Feliz. That kid reminds of a young Dwight Gooden but as a reliever. The lowest ERA in the AL since his debut on August 1 I believe. 0.45 or something like that.

Makes the Rangers 4-0 now in September, not a bad start to crunch time. As I write this, the boys from Boston are getting shellacked 12-1 and KC just got out of a bases loaded jam against California and is winning 1-0, so it might turn out to be a good night all around.

Go ChiSox! Go Royals!

thenavarro

Oh well, KC folded in the 8th and ended up losing to the Angels.

Therefore, Rangers are 2 out in the Wild Card and still 3.5 out in the West. I'll have to do some channel flipping tomorrow as the Rangers and Irish both play only 40 minutes apart.

matthewbschultz83

<< <i>Oh well, KC folded in the 8th and ended up losing to the Angels.

Therefore, Rangers are 2 out in the Wild Card and still 3.5 out in the West. I'll have to do some channel flipping tomorrow as the Rangers and Irish both play only 40 minutes apart. >>



Counting on the Royals do anything other than let you down is like asking Judas not to betray you....

Mike, I'm boycotting college football while the Rangers are on. I'll listen to the Texas Tech game tomorrow (its at 6) after the Rangers game finishes. Don't discount the effort by Feldman. I'm sure our enlightened Boston readers will scoff, but Scott Feldman is a serious CY candidate and has a legitimate chance to win 20 games. They need to go 5-1 on this 6 game road trip against Baltimore and Cleveland. I like the fact that our road warrior will get 1 more start on this trip. After September 15th (second tax deadline) I'm not missing a home game.

thenavarro

Another opportunity to narrow the gap with Boston down the drain. Oh well. There's always tomorrow as the Red Sox are making the White Sox look great.

matthewbschultz83

Now we just gotta pull for Zach Greinke and KC. If Mr. Greinke does what he's capable of, then all we lost was one less game to overtake Boston/LAA.

bman90278

Your Rangers are hanging tough and still just 2 games behind the Sox. That would be great for baseball if the Rangers can make it into the Post Season.

brian

thenavarro

They just keep making it harder on themselves to come back. Now 4-2 in September, and 3 behind Boston and 5.5 behind California.

Estil

<< <i>is like asking Judas not to betray you.... >>



Believe it or not, Jesus actually ASKED Judas to betray him. He did very clearly tell him "go do what you have to do", and of course Jesus wouldn't have fulfilled his destiny without the betrayal. But I guess that's going off the subject though.

thenavarro

Inclement weather so no Rangers until tomorrow. Doubleheader now on Tuesday. Not a bad day though, both California and Boston lost. Now 2.5 back in wildcard, 5.0 for the division.

With two games tomorrow, could make up at least 1/2 game no matter what Boston or California does. Have to take care of business though.

thenavarro

Game 1 of the double dip to the Rangers. Looked like a game of softball instead of baseball. Balls flying all over the yard. Fun game to watch though. Now 5 wins vs 2 losses in September.

Now 2 out of the wild card and 4.5 back in the division. Keep winning guys, and it won't matter how easy the Sox fans think their schedule is in comparison. Hopefully for the sake of my old college roommate from my Notre Dame days (who has worked off and on at Fenway for close to 25 years), the Sox will be able to stay ahead of California once we pass California.

thenavarro

Game 2, another victory. Now 6-2 in September. The Rangers just extended batting practice to both games of the twinbill. Scored 21 runs.

Still 2 back in the wild card, and currently 4 out in division but California is playing as I type so will go a 1/2 game either direction depending on their outcome.

Early 11:05 game time tomorrow, have to break out the old school radio at work. I'm going to the game on Saturday night and it's free "Salsa bowl" night. Nothing like having nacho's and dipping salsa out of the official Rangers Salsa Bowl

Mike

thenavarro

More batting practice today. Sure made work go by faster listening to the game on the radio. 10-0 rout. Now 7-2 down the stretch run in September. Currently 1 1/2 games behind in wild card, and 4 behind in division.

thenavarro

I just got home from a rain delayed Rangers game with my 5 year old daughter. It's been a bad sports day for me results wise. Irish pissed it away in Michigan, and Rangers are getting killed while Boston is winning. Rangers are losing 8-3 with 2 on in the ninth though, but the rain will probably kill the game. Boston was the beneficiary of the rain yesterday, Tampa Bay had bases loaded with one out when that one was called. Having to fight the Sox and Angels is hard enough, having to fight the bs weather is bull.

Otherwise, was a fun night with my five year old, wide eyed, little girl though, and that's what its all about. We had nachos, Cokes, hot dogs, cotton candy, peanuts, and I picked up tickets to all the games in the first round of the playoffs IF the Rangers can make a comeback over the next couple of weeks. Free posters, and a free Rangers salsa bowl (kind of a weird promotion, but went over well down here). Even picked up a Frank Francisco game used jersey.

vladguerrero

Booooo Rangers! Go Angels!

thenavarro

It's getting grim. Lost 3 of the last 4 to sorry teams. Still enough games left with California to catch them though. GO RED SOX, SWEEP CALIFORNIA!!!!! GO YANKEES, SWEEP CALIFORNIA!!!!

matthewbschultz83

We got freaking shut out by Brett freaking Tomko???? Are you freaking kidding me!!?!?!!?

thenavarro

It's time for the Rangers to put up or shut up. Series with the Angels started a couple minutes ago. Basically a must sweep situation, down 6.5 with 7 games against the Angels left. Trailing by 6 in the loss column. Destiny still in their own hands, but if they lose one against California, then they lose that and would have to rely on someone else.

Get it together guys and take care of business.

Mike

halosfan

Sweet .. a shut out. Next nail in the coffin is getting ready now. This should be an interesting division next year.

thenavarro

Yep, a shutout of a team that has scored 1 run in it's last 40 innings of baseball. The worst such streak in their 37 years of futility. Their bats need a little blue pill.

Congratulations on the victory, if you play the Yankees in the playoffs, I hope you beat them, but if you play the Red Sox, I hope they beat y'all.

Like I said in the Red Sox thread, I'm still hoping for a Dewey Defeats Truman moment, but I'm not holding my breathe.

Mike

Treetop

Can't believe the rangers could go into just an offensive drought at such a critical time and at home! Oh well, the heat is just about off the halos. We really should have this wrapped up and looks like we get Boston in the first round. At least we have the first two games at home. Angels have to make some big off season decisions. Vlad, Lackey, Abreu, Oliver Figgins all free agents. Rangers should be in contention next year. could use some depth, and a starter, along with a legit base stealer and someone with a high on base percentage. You have plenty of guys that can drive in the runs, just need guys to get on base consistently. Guy like figgins could play left field for you and lackey is from Texas, and hmmmmmm.

halosfan

Makes 2 out of 3 ... Texas could have made a late push but it may now be curtains for them. Next year may be quite a different story.

Treetop

Yep, its over. Rangers jumped out and scored 3 runs in the 1st inning, but Angels came back and made a statement.

Final - 10-5

Bring on the Red Sux

thenavarro

The Rangers are beginning to tease me again. If the A's can come back against California tonight, (they are trailing 9-8), then Rangers will only be 5 back and they have 4 against California heads up next week. After their debacle a week and a half ago, we still have a fighting chance. Go A's Go!!!!

thenavarro

If nothing else, the Rangers are good for a little comic relief. Winning 5-0, with bases empty and 2 outs in the eighth inning, Chris Davis boots the ball all over the field, and before the Rangers can capture the final 4 outs, Tampa Bay scores 7 runs, with the winning run coming on a squeeze bunt to add insult to injury. Absolutely pathetic!!!! And to think I missed a whole afternoon of football watching that nonsense.

Treetop

A win today and another Halo loss would have made it interesting, but still would have been difficult to take the division when 5 games out and 7 to play

See you next year and am going to love winning the division while playing the rangers. Just one win and the halos are crowned.

matthewbschultz83

<< <i>See you next year and am going to love winning the division while playing the rangers. Just one win and the halos are crowned. >>



Enjoy it. I will assume we don't sweep the Angels in LA and the Rangers are forced to watch you celebrate. While it won't be plesant for them or the Rangers fans the Rangers will learn something from it. This team is very young and that showed at times, especially last week when the pressure seemed to get to them. Hopefully they learned how to win this year. Either way, we aren't going anywhere, not for awhile. I hope you've enjoyed your decade of dominance in the AL West. As guys like Vlad, Torii Hunter get older and guys like Chone Figgins and John Lackey leave for more money it will be rebuilding time for the Angels while the Rangers and Mariners duke it out for the AL West for the next decade.

Thanks Rangers its been a helluva ride.

Treetop

<< <i>

<< <i>See you next year and am going to love winning the division while playing the rangers. Just one win and the halos are crowned. >>



Enjoy it. I will assume we don't sweep the Angels in LA and the Rangers are forced to watch you celebrate. While it won't be plesant for them or the Rangers fans the Rangers will learn something from it. This team is very young and that showed at times, especially last week when the pressure seemed to get to them. Hopefully they learned how to win this year. Either way, we aren't going anywhere, not for awhile. I hope you've enjoyed your decade of dominance in the AL West. As guys like Vlad, Torii Hunter get older and guys like Chone Figgins and John Lackey leave for more money it will be rebuilding time for the Angels while the Rangers and Mariners duke it out for the AL West for the next decade.

Thanks Rangers its been a helluva ride. >>



Next decade Matt? Sure, Figgins and Lacky are probably gone. Tori has a few more good years and the Angels are a better team without Vlad. Yes, without him. he's lost some speed on his swing. We also had a great record without him in the line up.

Woods will replace figgins at third and the entire infield, Aybar, Woods, Morales, kendrick and Iztus are under 28. The entire starting pitching staff (except lacky) is under 28. Both catchers are under 26. Rivera is 31. Sheilds will be back next year. if we sign Abreu, we are baiscally set. I think we have 3-4 more years with this group. and Old Arte isn't afraid to make at least one big FA signing a year. Texas is a hard long term sale. 110 in the summer. People don't like that. You might put together a couple of year run at the top, but it difficult to keep players in Texas.

matthewbschultz83

That's why we have the best pipeline of young talent. Sign one or two to long term deals, trade guys before they hit FA for prospects, restock, and reload. No downtime. Guys like Feliz, Andrus, Holland, Smoak, Davis, Borbon, Hunter, Murphy are 5 years away from free agency. Our nucleus is set for awhile. The heat has very little to do with it. Guys want to play where they can win and we will be a winner for a good time to come. There are only two, maybe three teams that can "buy" a championship. We don't have that kind of payroll so we have to go with the youth movement.

Good luck in the playoffs show the rest of the Baseball the AL West was tougher than a lot of people thought. I'm sure when the season started you expected to walk to a division title by 15 to 20 games. Outside of the NL West, I would argue this has been baseball's best, most competitive division.

Treetop

<< <i>Good luck in the playoffs show the rest of the Baseball the AL West was tougher than a lot of people thought. I'm sure when the season started you expected to walk to a division title by 15 to 20 games. Outside of the NL West, I would argue this has been baseball's best, most competitive division. >>



Actually no. I wasn't sure how our young infield would respond. all have played better then expect. We lost Tex to the yankees and Morales was unproven, but came with high expectations. Boy did he live up to those expectations. 32 HR's, 102 RBI's, 46 Doubles, and so forth.

I was more worried about Seattle and its starting pitching. Hernandez, Behard (sp?), Wash, Silva, etc., and these guys COULD have add an impact on the division title.