Previewing The ALDS Match-Ups

Tampa Bay Rays vs Texas Rangers:

This will be a rematch from last years ALDS. Their roles will be reversed from the 2010 ALDS. The Texas Rangers will be hosting the Tampa Bay Rays this year in games one and two, where last year the Rays hosted the Rangers. The Rangers took the first two games in Tampa Bay, then the Rays tied the series winning games three and four. Texas took the series three games to two, by winning game five 5-1.

This will be a similar ALDS match-up this year between the two teams, but not the same make-up for either team in 2011. The Rangers no longer have Cliff Lee, who won two games in the ALDS match-up a year ago. Tampa Bay no longer has Carl Crawford, Matt Garza, Carlos Pena, and Rafael Soriano.

The Texas Rangers are a much more balanced team in 2011, despite not having Cliff Lee who won two games in last years ALDS. When you look at the Rangers starting pitching they are good, as well as deep. In the month of September both Holland and Harrison have pitched well down the stretch. With the addition of Koji Uehara, Mike Adams, and Mike Gonzales, that has strengthened the Rangers bullpen.

The Tampa Bay Rays, have been a very hot team in the month of September. Will the Rays cinderella season continue? The Rangers will be using three left handed pitchers in the series. That bolds well for the Rays, they are terrific hitting lefties. The Rays will face Wilson and Holland in the first two games of the series, both are lefties. In game four of the series Colby Lewis is scheduled to pitch for the Rangers, who is the other lefty.

As we saw down the stretch of the 2011 season, you can't count out the Rays at anytime. If you remember last year the cinderella team was the Texas Rangers. This is an even match-up like last year, but the Rangers are a more balanced team in 2011.

Prediction:

Texas wins the series 3-2


Detroit Tigers vs New York Yankees:

The Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees are two evenly matched teams. The Yankees are known for their powerful offense and pitching. The Tigers have the best pitcher in baseball, Justin Verlander. Out of all the match-ups in the ALDS, this could have the same drama as the end of the 2011 season.

With the additions of Doug Fister, Wilson Betimit, and Delmon Young this has made the Tigers a more balanced team. The Tigers have become a better team on the fly. The Tigers lineup is more balanced by adding Betimit and Young, with batting champion Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers bullpen is very strong with the perfect Jose Valverde.

The Yankees ace CC Sabathia is their top pitcher, after that they are succeptible. The Yankees bullpen is very good as usual. The back-end of the Yankees pitching rotation with Garcia is up in the air. Alex Rodriguez is not the same player he has been in recent years, with multiple injuries. Rodriguez will be batting fourth in their lineup and that could be a problem later on in the series.

We can look back over the years the Tigers and Yankees have met in the playoffs numerous times. This series could bring back old, old memories. Will theTigers and Yankees bring back some of that old drama?

Prediction:

Tigers wins the series 3-2

AL and NL Postseason Match-Ups Are Set!

The wild-card races went down to the very last day of the season. The battle between the Boston Redsox and Tampa Bay Rays was a fierce battle to the end. The Redsox took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, when Dustin Pedroia singled up the middle to score Mike Aviles. The Orioles came back in their half of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead, when J. Hardy hit a two run homer in the left field seats. Boston scored one run in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-2 lead. The Redsox lead held up until the bottom of the ninth, when the Orioles scored two runs to beat the Redsox 4-3.

While the Redsox were battling the Orioles, Rays had their own challenge facing the New York Yankees. The Rays found themselves down early to the Yankees 7-0. Tampa Bay was behind 7-1, going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Tampa Bay stormed back scoring eight runs in their half of the eighth to tie the game 7-7. Tampa Bays' Evan Longoria led off the bottom of the twelfth inning with a line-drive homer down the left field line to beat the Yankees 8-7. Tampa Bays' Longoria hit the homer minutes after the Orioles defeated the Redsox. With the win the Rays clinched a spot in postseason.

                  2011 ALDS MATCH-UPS:

The NL Wild-Card race was dead even going into the last game of the season, like the AL Wild-Card race. The Atlanta Braves had been struggling to win baseball games down the stretch. They had the toughest challenge facing the Phillies, who have the best record in the major leagues. Atlanta had a slim lead over Philadelphia 3-2 going into the ninth inning. The Phillies tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, when the bases were loaded and Chase Utley hit a scacrifice fly to score Pete Orr. The Phillies took the lead in the top of the thirteenth inning, when Hunter Pence singled up the middle to score Brian Schneider. Atlantas' Chipper Jones strikes out, then Dan Uggla walks, and Freddie Freeman ends the game, hitting into a double-play. With the loss the Atlanta Braves found themselves left out of the postseason for the second consecutive year.

While the Braves were facing the Phillies, the Cardinals were facing the Astros, who have the worst record in the major leagues. The Cardinals immediately took charge of the game by scoring five runs in the first inning. St. Louis never looked back pounding out twelve hits, while Chris Carpenter pitched a complete game. Chris Carpenter pitched a two hit shutout. The Cardinals were dominant the whole night, beating the Astros 8-0. St. Louis found out later on that night, they were heading to the postseason. When they saw that the Phillies defeated the Braves in the thirteenth inning 4-3.

                   2011 NLDS MATCH-UPS:

           

           

Rangers Win Totals Improve EveryYear, Under Ron Washington!

Rangers' manager Ron Washington came to Texas in 2007. When Ron Washington came to the Rangers, winning baseball games was very difficult. The last time we can look back on having winning seasons and making the playoffs, was when Johnny Oates was the skipper. Johnny Oates was the manager for Texas for six full seasons, during that time he managed the Rangers franchise to their first ever ALDS in 1996. The Rangers went to the playoffs in 1998 and 1999. Each time Johnny Oates went to the ALDS, his team happened to face the New York Yankees. The Rangers lost to the Yankees 3-1 in 1996, 3-0 both 1998-1999. Johnny Oates just managed twenty-eight games in 2001 due to illness.

The Rangers had only one winning season under Buck Showalter, when he went 89-73 in 2004. That year they finished third in AL West. Showalter managed the Rangers for only four seasons and he posted a record of 319-329 a winning percentage of .492. After the Rangers won 89 games in 2004, they won 79 and 80 games the next two seasons under Showalter.

In 2007 Ron Washington became the new skipper in town. In his first year as manager of the Rangers, he went 75-87. That was five games worse than the previous year under Showalter. We as DFW sports skeptics thought oh well it's the Rangers, we are not a baseball town. In 2008 we improved to 79-83, in 2009 we improved to 87-75 second place in the AL West, and last year we improved to 90-72 won the AL West and went to the franchises first ever "World Series. We lost to the San Francisco Giants 4-1 in the 2010 World Series.

The first season ever the Rangers are defending their coveted American League Championship. The Rangers are currently sitting with a record of 94-66, and have a chance to break their most wins in a season with 95 in 1999. The Rangers are a young team that keeps improving from year to year. The starting pitching for the Rangers have all won at least 13 or more games. The Rangers have more depth in their line-up than they did, in the 2010 season. Ron Washington was asked, how were you able to turn this Rangers baseball franchise around so quickly?

Rangers' manager Ron Washington said, "he did not do anything different, the players played the game the way they were coached and they made me look good. He went on to say, that the players bought into the Rangers system and they played their style of baseball."

"The players enjoy playing the game of baseball, by having fun. Most importantly they like to reward their fans by performing well on the field."

A lot of managers in baseball and coaches in other sports learn how to adapt to adjustments during games, not so with Ron Washington. Washington always thinks ahead on how he's going to approach each game, no different in the postseason. What ever decision he makes, you can assure it will be for the best interest of his team and where they want to be.

In the last three games he is allowing his starting pitchers to pitch a couple of innings to tune up for the postseason. He's auditioning his relief pitchers, so he knows which ones to use during postseason. Ron Washington is thinking ahead on what is best for his baseball team. Like any manager or leader he wants to have the very best players on the field, to give his team the best chance to win.

"The Rangers are peeking at the right time, currently they are the hottest team in the American League. They are currently defending their coveted American League Championship, like CHAMPIONS."

Ron Wahington has a philosophy with his players, that will continue to allow his team to get better throughout the years to come. Texas Ranger baseball has finally caught on around the Major Leagues and the North Texas area.

"The Texas Rangers are the first team ever to improve win totals under new manager, four consecutive years."


                                "TEXAS RANGERS BASEBALL, FOR CHAMPIONS!"          

AL and NL Wild-Card Leaders Are Holding On By A Thread!

With three games left in the regular season, both Boston and Atlanta are holding to the slimmest of leads in the wild-card races. Boston and Atlanta have a one game lead over their closest competitors. Boston has a one game lead over Tampa Bay and a three game lead over Los Angeles. Atlanta holds a one game lead to their only competitor St. Louis.

Boston, who has a one game lead over Tampa Bay, has to travel to Baltimore. Baltimore, who has played a big role determining the wild-card winner, can be a spoiler for Bostons' attempt. However, Tampa Bay is hosting the AL Eastern Division Champion Yankees. New York has helped their long time rival Boston of late, by beating teams chasing them for the wild-card. The Angels, who are three games behind Boston is hosting the AL Western Division Champions. The only way Los Angeles can win the wild-card race is to "sweep" the Rangers, which will be a tough task. Texas is trying their best to hold off Detroit to have home field advantage in the ALDS. Texas currently has a one game lead over Detroit. If Texas and Detroit have the same record at the end of the season. Detroit wins home field advantage, since they won the season series with Texas.

Detroit is hosting the Clevland Indians, as Texas is on the road in Los Angeles for their last three games of the regular season. The Indians will be traveling to Detroit to play a role to determine who has home field advantage. Los Angeles still has the slimmest of hopes to win the wild-card race, while Texas is looking to win home field advantage for the ALDS.

Wild-Card Standings:

Team                      W      L      PCT      GB
Boston                     89      70      .560         -
Tampa Bay              88      71      .553         1
Los Angeles             86      73      .541         3

Home Field Advantage Standings:

Team                    W        L        PCT      GB
Texas                     93       66      .585         -
Detroit                   92       67       .579         1

  









The National League wild-card race has been like the American League wild-card race, Atlanta has been struggling to win ball games like Boston. The only difference between the American League and the National League it's a two team race. The defending World Champion San Francisco Giants were eliminated over the weekend.

The Atlanta Braves have the toughest challenge to win the National League wild-card race. Atlanta is hosting the best team in the Major Leagues, Philadelphia. While St. Louis is traveling to Houston to face the worst team in the Major Leagues. Without even playing the three game series, it would appear on paper that St. Louis not only has the advantage, but looks like they will beat out Atlanta. However, that's why we play the games.

Can Atlanta beat the odds by winning their series with Philadelphia, to win the wild-card race?

Will St. Louis over come Atlanta, by winning their wild-card race?

"We will know definitely by Wednesday night, as the postseason match-ups will be revealed."

Wild-Card Standings:

Team                  W        L        PCT        GB
Atlanta                89        70       .560           -
St. Louis             88        71       .553            1

Rangers Are Hoping To Clinch The AL West Title Tonight!

The Texas Rangers, who are the team to beat in the American League, are hoping to clinch their second straight American League Western Division Title tonight. The Rangers lost to the A's yesterday afternoon in the ninth inning 4-3. If the Angels could have beaten the Blue Jays, it would have kept the Rangers magic number to three. However, the Blue Jays' Edwin Encarnacion hit a walk-off homer in the twelfth inning to beat the Angesls 4-3.

If the Angels could have beaten the Blue Jays last night the Rangers could have clinched the AL West as early as Sunday. With the Blue Jays helping out the Rangers, by defeating the Angels. Now the magic number is two. Texas is hosting Seattle this weekend in their final homestand of the season. If Texas can beat Seattle tonight they will clinch the AL West and will get ready to defend their coveted American League Championship.

"Rangers can win the AL Western Division Title, as early as tonight. With a Rangers victory or an Angels loss, will assure a Rangers celebration. So Ranger fans we might as well begin to CELEBRATE.


                                        "TIME TO BRING OUT THE CHAMPAGNE"

Even though it's inevidible the Rangers will win the AL Western Division Title, they still need to keep winning baseball games. The battle with the Tigers for the second seed in the American League will be very intense the last six games of the season. The winner between Texas and Detroit, will face the wild-card winner. The loser of the home field advantage battle, will be facing New York in the ALDS.

The Boston Redsox are currently holding a two game lead over Tampa Bay and a three game lead over Los Angeles. The key weekend series schedule and remaining schedules below:

Bostons' Remaining Schedule:

Boston at New York-(Weekend Series)
Boston at Baltimore

Tampa Bays' Remaining Schedule:

Toronto at Tampa Bay-(Weekend Series)
New York at Tampa Bay

Los Angeles' Remaining Schedule:

Oakland at Los Angeles-(Weekend Series)
Texas at Los Angeles

The way the remaining schedules look for the wild-card race. It appears Boston has the toughest road ahead to maintain their slight edge on the wild-card race. If anybody had an edge to win the AL wild-card race, it would appear it's the Angels. Tampa Bay hosts Toronto this weekend, who has been hot of late. After the series with Toronto, Tampa Bay host the AL East Champion New York Yankees. As it would appear, the wild-card contenders will be facing some challenges in the last six games of the season.

Home Field Advantage Battle:

Texas Remaining Schedule:

Seattle at Texas
Texas at Los Angeles

Detroit Remaining Schedule:

Baltimore at Detroit
Cleveland at Detroit

AL and NL Wild-Card Races Are Shaping-Up To Be A Battle To The End!

The wild-card races are going down to the wire in both leagues. The Boston Redsox are hanging on with a 2 1/2 game league over both the Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays. The Redsox are struggling to win games, Bostons' long time rival New York seems to be bailing them out. New York helped Boston out by sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Los Angeles Angels have been winning of late, trying to stay in the american league western division race. While the Angels have been winning, so have the division leading Rangers. The Rangers currently seem to be in control with a 5 game lead on the Angels and a magic number of 3 with any combination of an Angels loss or a Rangers win. However, with the Angels continuing to win they have drawn closer to the wild-card race, while both Boston and Tampa Bay have been losing of late.

AL Wild-Card Standings:

Team                W      L      PCT      GB
Boston               88      68     .564         -
Los Angeles       85      70     .548      2 1/2
Tampa Bay        85      70     .548      2 1/2

Wild-Card Playoffs just beginning. This is the "Great" time of the year in Major League baseball. Scoreboard watching, where every game counts. A loss could mean your team stays home to watch the postseason at home.

"THE ROAD TO THE FALL CLASSIC"









The national league wild-card race is no different from the american league. The Atlanta Braves are struggling to win games down the stretch. The St. Louis Cardinals are peeking at the right time, winning game after game it seems. When you thought the Cardinals were out of the playoffs, well here they are only 1 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the wild-card race.

The defending World Champions are 4 games behind Atlanta. The Giants virtually needs to win all their games to have a shot at making the postseason. The Giants need help from the Braves and Cardinals opponents to have a chance.

The way the national league wild-card race is shaping up thoug, it looks to really be a two team race. Even though Atlanta is holding on for dear life, St. Louis seems to have the advantage even though they are trailing by 1 1/2 games.

NL Wild-Card Standings:

Team                W      L      PCT      GB
Atlanta               88     68     .564         -
St. Louis            86     69     .555      1 1/2
San Francisco    83      71     .539         4

Wild-Card Playoffs just beginning. This is the "Great" time of the year in Major League baseball. Scoreboard watching, where every game counts. A loss could mean your team stays home to watch the postseason at home.

"THE ROAD TO THE FALL CLASSIC"

NL Wild-Card Race Is Heating Up!

The National league divisional races, are close to being clinched. However, the wild-card race is heating up. The Atlanta Braves are currently up by 2 1/2 games on the St. Louis Cardinals and 3 1/2 games up on the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants.

Going into last nights game Atlanta was up by 3 1/2 games on the Cardinals, until they lost to the Florida Marlins 6-5. While St Louis defeated Philadelphia 4-3. The three team wild-card race is heating up and a lot of scoreboard watching will be going on the rest of the season. The NL wild-card race is so intense, it's as good as the playoffs.

The defending World Champion San Francisco Giants are currently 5 1/2 games behind Arizona and the St. Louis Cardinal are also 5 1/2 games behind Milwaukee. The only way Atlanta can make the playoffs is by winning the wild-card race, where as both St. Louis and San Francisco have an outside shot at winning their division.

Wild-Card Race and Remaining Schedules Below:

Wild-Card Standings

Team                W      L        PCT        GB
Atlanta               87    67        .565           -
St. Louis            84    69        .549        2 1/2
San Francisco    83    70        .542        3 1/2

Remaining Schedules:

Atlanta

9-20-21 at Florida
9-22-25 at Washington
9-26-28 vs Philadelphia

St. Louis

9-20-22 vs New York
9-23-25 vs Chicago
9-26-28 at Houston

San Francisco

9-20-22 at Los Angeles
9-23-25 at Arizona
9-26-28 vs Colorado

For the National League wild-card race, all you can say is "GAME ON."

Other Major League News:

Boston Redsox split twin-bill with the Baltimore Orioles, to maintain a 2 game lead in AL wild-card race.
Yankees' Mariano Rivera tops the Major League saves list, with 602.
Angels lose to Toronto 3-2, to fall 5 games behind the Texas Rangers.

Two Playoff Races In American League!

While the Texas Rangers have a 4 1/2 game lead on the Los Angeles Angels and a magic number of 6 games, with any combination with a Rangers win and an Angels loss in American League West division. The Detroit Tigers have won the American League Central division and are in the playoffs. The race between the Tigers and Rangers is to see which team wins home field advantage to play the winner of the tight wild card race between Boston, Tampa Bay, and Los Angeles.

Texas will begin a three game series Tuesday night against the Oakland A's, while the Angels will be opening up a four game series in Toronto tonight. After this weeks games the American League West divisional race could be over by the time the Rangers and Angels meet in the season ending three game series in Anaheim, CA.

The home field advantage race is very tight between the Tigers and Rangers. Currently the Tigers have a one game lead over the Rangers. The Tigers record is 89-64, while the Rangers record is 88-65. Both, Tigers and Rangers are playing outstanding baseball, and seem to be peeking at the right time. The Rangers remaining schedule is three games with the A's, Mariners (3), and Angels (3), while the Tigers remaining schedule is against Royals(2), Orioles (4), and Indians (3). This is the time of the year for scoreboard watching, anybody that's a baseball fan will be watching for at least another week. Then the road to the "Fall Classic" will begin.

The wild card race is a very tight race between three teams, but really can come down to only two teams. See the wild card standings below:

AL Wild Card Standings:

Team              W      L      PCT      GB
Boston             87     65     .572         -
Tampa Bay      85     67     .559         2
Los Angeles     83     69     .546         4

Tampa Bay has been probably one of the hottest teams in baseball down the stretch, while Boston has been hurting of late and hope to hang on to the wild card lead. If you like "scoreboard" watching then this will be your cup of tea.

AL West Is Coming Down To The Wire!

The Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels Divisional race seems to be coming down to the wire. The only current divisional race in the American League is between the Ranger and Angels. Texas is currently leading the Angels by three games and have a magic number of (11) to win the AL West.

The past few weeks the Rangers would have a seven game lead, then cut down to a two game lead. The Rangers have had some key injuries in that stretch, by losing Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz with hamstring injuries. Since Beltre has come off the DL to rejoin the Rangers his bat has been on fire. While Cruz has been out of the line-up and on the DL, David Murphy has stepped right in to play right field. Murphy has been a big part of the offensive production, as he was last year. Nelson Cruz was called back up this week, only as a pitch hitter. Rangers' manager Ron Washington said, Nelson Cruz is better, but not quite ready to play at full strength.

Questions have been asked, what are the Rangers planning to do with Murphy, when Cruz is ready to play at full strength? Since Murphy has been very productive at the plate, the best scenario would to keep Murphy into the line-up. David Murphy could move over to play left field, while Nelson Cruz plays in right field. If Ranger fans can remember, Murphy played a key roll in the incredible playoff run last year. Murphy has been a productive player for the Rangers, when he has been called on. The Rangers are fortunate to have deep positional players, who can step up when they are called on.

The Rangers seem to be back in the "swing" of things again, with the meat of the order about to be fully intact. Nelson Cruz could be in full strength within a few days or so. The Rangers are currently in a series with the Cleveland Indians and hoping to finish with a "sweep," before heading to the Great Northwest. The Rangers offense has been in full throttle throughout the series, by beating the Indians 10-4 and 9-1 in the first two games. Tonight the Rangers would like to have a 3 1/2 game lead, going into the weekend series with Seattle.

Remaining Schedules for Texas and Los Angeles Below:

Los Angeles Angels:

September 16-18 at Baltimore
September 19-22 at Toronto
September 23-25 vs Oakland
September 26-28 vs Texas

Texas Rangers:

September 15 vs Cleveland
September 16-18 at Seattle
September 19-22 at Oakland
September 23-25 vs Seattle
September 26-28 at Los Angeles

*The Rangers are also battling the Detroit Tigers for home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Who Needs Berkman and His Salary For The Rest Of The Year?

Last week it was said, that Lance Berkman could move to Texas from St Louis. Well that has not happened and most likely won't happen. If the Rangers would have used Berkman's services it would have cost them $1.33 million for the rest of the 2011 season. Even though Berkman has had an All-Star type of year, his salary is pretty pricey for just a month or so.

However, seeing the Rangers' David Murphy catching on fire here of late, going 4 for 4, knocking in four runs in their 8-0 victory over the Rays last night. Who needs to have Berkman in the Rangers lineup. On paper it looked fantastic, but Murphy is filling Nelson Cruz's spot just fine. The most important part the Rangers are not out of $1.33 million. If you remember in last years World Series run, Murphy was a big part of the Rangers offense.

The only troubling thing the Rangers have to be concerned about in this years playoff run is their pitching. Last year the Rangers were fortunate to have the formidable Cliff Lee, who was the key player that brought the Rangers to the World Series. In the last three starts Wilson has had, he's had to come to the rescue. Are the other Ranger starters wearing out at a time they are needed the most? When Cruz comes back and  inserted into the lineup. Will that carry the Rangers over the edge to win the AL West?

"Who knows, only time will tell."

The Texas Rangers need to be thankful that they have David Murphy, who can step into Cruz's spot and deliver. "Most importantly Texas hangs on to $1.33 million."