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Texas Rangers

Game 1 of the Texas Rangers Playoffs I'm Handing the Ball To ...

By Richie Whitt Tue., Aug. 31 2010 at 8:27 AM

Categories: Texas Rangers

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Nope, not our Lord and Southpaw Savior Cliff Lee.

C.J. Wilson.

Why? Because at this point I trust him more. Because at this point he's the best pitcher on the staff.

No?

Amazing for a pitcher who a couple years ago drew our ire when he disgustingly flipped the ball to manager Ron Washington on the mound. Amazing for a pitcher who in spring training wasn't even assured he could be a starter, much less part of Texas' rotation. And amazing for a pitcher who, let's face it, is a bit of a goofball.

Last week against the Twins he actually reached for a line-drive single over his head - with his pitching hand. I asked him why.

"Because I'm a moron," Wilson said only half-joking.

Don't look now, but the moron dragged the Rangers closer to the American League West championship last night.

While the Oakland A's were losing to the Yankees, Wilson dominated the lowly Kansas City Royals, 3-0. He allowed two hits in 7.2 innings, running his post-All-Star break record to 7-0 and lowering his season ERA to a dazzling 2.88.

In his 27 starts this season the Rangers are 21-6. In Lee's 10 starts, they're 3-7.

Game 1 of the playoffs, I'm handing C.J. the ball. With confidence.

Magic number: 24.

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baseball, C.J. Wilson, Ron Washington

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@ EVERYONE WHO CAN'T READ ... Look at the statement. Jeremy = WHO I AM P1 = WHAT I AM ... RECESS TO ATTEND READING AND COMPREHENSION CLASSES ... JACKWAGONS.
Jeremy, a P1 is who and what you are!!!??? dude, it's a freaking radio station! hahahahaha! give me a break man.
Rangers get Jeff Francoeur, so, DMurph, sit down! Who's gonna have Otis Nixon head now that "spider" is gone?
Make me the number two in the playoff's? Who cares? I already have to put up with Warsh asking me for meth, David Murphy acting like an allstar, Vlad telling me he wants to "do me" in spanish, and that stupid "claw" thing that that third grader Ian Kinsler does everytime he walks by. Good gravy, when are the Redsox or Yankee's gonna get me out of here? ps-Oh yeah, Benji Molina keeps stealing the Ho Ho's out of my locker and Cantu keeps stealing my how to sound like Juan G guidebook. Also, Tommy Hunter has been taking and wearing my underwear, even though he weighs like 350 pounds more than me. ALLLSOOO, Mike Young keeps asking me for fielding tips, Nellie Cruz insists he has a part in Breaking Bad and Mike Maddox keeps whipping my ass about how he can "whip his bothers ass in whiffleball!". Number two, I could care less.
Hey Guys, Let's completely gay out! Join the Jerry and Rob gay fandom tandem reststop gay brigade-yeaaaaah, girl.
do you like asses with tatoo's and piercings? do you like only the finest of itching, bubblin', puss festering STD's? do you like a dame a with third grade education? do you like only the finest of broads telling you how sexy you are......even though you look like Bill Parcels after a doughnut eating competition? do you like the pungent smell of cheap perfume that would make granny gag? do you like only the finest of husky, cig voices that shake "dat big oh stanky ass up in dat grizzle"? do you like #4 starters to be your ace in the playoffs? do you like only the finest idea of being swept in the playoffs when you do something so stupid? do you like: -D Murph and his AAA skills? -Hambone with one leg? -Vlad in right? -Kins at second, with one leg and a free swing? -Nellie Cruz with no legs, cause he's hurt? -Mike Young at third, where he fiddles with more balls than a $10 hooker? -Big Ben and his gigantic ass? You guys are right, nothing is wrong here, make CJ the #1 starter in the playoffs......maybe they'll be scared, by, uhhhh, ummm, his, ahhh, his beautiful hair and fantastic tweeting skills? ps-maybe make Big Tom the #2 starter since you all are on a gigantic backwoods, backwater, fringe of society roll? do you like blogging? do you like only the finest of Kergo's?
Memo From the Desk of Coach Girardi: Great, sound thinking guys, start that CJ guy first in the playoff rotation-cause we are SUPER scared! Also, use that marginal 4th outfielder and .270 hitter David Murphy even more-especially versus us. Sure, if Cliff Lee played for the Yank's he starts a game 1, but, what do we know here in the Bronx? Good thinkin'! Also, don't make Hambone the part time DH for the duration of the season, you want to make sure Josh's knees really hurt come playoff time. Welp, we are all VERY scared here in the east; again go with that CJ thing, even though if he played for us he'd be the #1.....in triple A. ps-we cringe and coil in fear at the notion of that playoff tandem of Kins at second and Young at third. pss-we left a bag of donuts behind the plate for Benji, so when he gets hungry, he can just reach around his giant ass
If we dont think Cliff Lee should start the 1st game we are a bunch of morons huh? Really, what did Lee do tonight? Case closed--CJ will get the nod and deservedly so. P1 Jeremy. Guilty as charged. "A P1 is who I am. What I am. It defines me." Then you say--"I dont follow nobody, I'm not a cult follower of no one." You lost due to contradicting yourself there. I will admit though you had a strong (and entertaining and clever to be honest) argument going with the Judge filled with valid comebacks up until that point. Credit must be given to the Judge as well though. You hung in there and stayed the course against the P1 Cult follower of the Ticket Jeremy. And ultimately you won the case outright. Congrats.
Meow, meow..Dear Kergo, we are a bunch of backwater freaks..meow..born here and used to patched together rotations for the last 40 effing years and Cowboy season starting up..meow, meow..we can like CJ all we want..Clee charted CJ last night and didn't figure out shit..I only have half a cat body and I can hit corners..CJ for future Nolan Ryan, gay straight edge lifestyle and all..maybe a good, sweet Texan gal or RW can settle him down..meow,meow
I knew it.....how can you defend this position with a rational, valid point. Cliff Lee has skins-CJ, has, nice, hair-welp, rednecks win! Don't make us look like a bunch of backwoods freaks.
You people who wouldn't start Cliff Lee know zero about baseball......ZERO! You give the ball to one of the premier pitchers in the game, and don't look back-you fools. CJ's just this years Scott Feldman. What's next replacing Hambone with DMurph? Dumb redneck #ssholes. I despise people who know very little, especially when it comes to baseball.
Denial revoked, because I know what he means by Jedi. I was being Sturminated before he began the references. My following is founded on my independent thought. I started the P1 status before it was a cult. It just so happened to grow into one after said affiliation. My status as a P1 has surpassed the statute of limitations required to retract said membership. Appeal denied in favor of the newly proclaimed Defendant.
P1 status denied for not being able to understand any of Sturm's references to Star Wars and acting like the male version of a Twilight addict but claiming to be against cult followings. New status appointed: P1.6
My real name is Jeremy ? I like the fact that I'm a P1. It's who and what I am. Some choose to hide behind certain weird names and all. I didn't really care. I just wanted my name as a poster on here to be me. I will occasionally try and put things through like the paralyzed plugs I threw out to see if it would catch on, but other than that. I'm P1 Jeremy. Used to be a jock. I Play 7 on 7, softball and basketball in a league to relive former glory. I'm just a normal guy giving his opinion, and giving an occasional ruling here and there. I've never seen Star Wars. I'm against the cult following of anything.
A 27 year old that calls himself P1 Jeremy? Really? I guess it's not as bad as some dude referring to himself as "the Situation", but it still wreaks of some guy that dresses up like Darth Vader to see a Star Wars movie.
@P1, dude you are the defendant, not plaintiff, you were accused
Appeal heard for use of prefix as a$$-kissing and lame. Appeal overturned as it represents a true and actual P1 who in no way uses the prefix to insinuate any a$$ kissing or presence of lameness. I live in my own home in Dallas. I have 2 children and happen to work in a cubicle, hence my time browsing these here forums. I have listened to the TICKET from when I was 15. I am now 27. I like to think I have earned the moniker. Case again ruled in favor of the Plaintiff, said P1.
The Supreme Court's ruling is final. You can use said prefix, but it's still ass-kissing and lame. The Supreme Court also rules those using it should move out of their mom's basement and get a life.
All who to use P1 may do so. He may have been known as P1 Jeremy on the air before or just gone by that name. I mean, most obviously its a ticket reference, but he can also be a P1 to this here sportatorium. I rule in favor of the defendant and dismiss said charges against him with prejudice. Peace Hoes
@ SC Not an authorized ruling, you are found in contempt for impersonating an officer of the courts. Please stand down. To expound on the Ruling, both cool and descriptive is the prefix therefore referred to as P1 henceforth. Carry on.
@Marty B's Fire Hose Dingus I only notice JJT's glorified shock-blogger headlines, I don't bother to read his drivel. All he does is find some point of view that is sure to get the mouthbreathing masses in a frothy state. It took two years for him to stop writing about T.O. Richie's post here is either baseball ignorance or Belo-level baiting for page views.
Rules it's lame. You can use said prefix, but it's still ass-kissing and lame.
@ MBLFD - Don't go bringing THE Ohio State into this. Leave it to the JJT hate, and move on. @ RACOON - Thank you for your input. Argument heard, and objection over-ruled. P1 can and will be an acceptable prefix to any who so chooses to use said prefix. Carry on. You can appeal if you would like.
@ Scruffy. You read that self-absorbed, egotistical, fat racist JJT? He's not as bad as Blackistone was but he is still a conceited Ohio State blowhard.
blah blah blah blah...freeeeeeeeeeeep..
Please. Even Wash on the greatest bender of all time wouldn't consider doing that. Nice DMN shock tactics you're using, white JJT. Look up Cliff's 2009 playoff stats. Then look up his August 09 starts. Notice the difference? As well as CJ has pitched, as well as he has the potential to pitch in the playoffs, you still let the guy with the skins open it up. CJ works best when things aren't riding on him. Cliff can handle the playoffs on his shoulders. It wasn't because of him Philly didn't win it all, he did his part.
I agree RW, CJ is pitching the best right now and there's nothing to say he won't be when playoff time rolls around. With that said I still give Lee the nod in game one. Let's face it he's been there before, he's nails in the playoffs and chances are he's gonna dominant on that stage. And let's say by some weird circumstance Cliff doesn't shove in game 1 and gets the loss, well then you have perhaps the best pitcher on the staff (still debatable) to stem the tide and get it to game 3 with a split. My guess is that the Rangers will start 2-0 and then we have to see which pitcher/offense combo you get for game 3 and that will dictate who pitches game 4. Call me a homer, but I think there is enough pitching in Arlington to at least get by the division series and I wouldn't be surprised if there's enough to get a pennant.
The problem with having Lee and CJ as our best starters is you don't want to pitch two lefties back to back, especially in the playoffs. That means one has to be a game 3 starter, is that Lee? I doubt it. You don't rent a player and give away that much farm talent for a game 3 starter. Hopefully next year we won't be talking about CJ like we have this year about Feldman...
does anyone else think that calling yourself a P1 is really lame? i mean, i really like texas tech, but i don't put red raider in front of my name. it is so extremely retarded. just wanted to put my 2 cents in about that. carry on...
RW you prove again today how little you know about sport. Cliff Lee gets the ball in Game 1 no question about it. The guy is money in the playoffs. CJ hasn't even pitched in the playoffs. Sorry if I don't get excited about 7-2/3 against the freaking Royals. Now go home and get f'ing your shine box...
And John Conner still isn't a funny name--that was 1991 when that name meant something Connie.
Of course you hand the ball to CJ. He's 14-5 for crying out loud and is confident as any current pitcher in the league presently. He has the lowest ERA of any starting pitcher since the All-Star break and hasn't lost. But we still have over a month of hardball left, and things could change like someone else mentioned. If CJ sucks in Sept. and Lee is lighting it up, then you go with Lee. Right now Lee is struggling so if the playoffs started this weekend, CJ gets the nod.
I agree. Hopefully the playoffs won't get in the way of him ustreaming, racing, dj'ing and being an all around cocky guy.
RW, I'm from the future and agree completely with this post. In the future we know things that you don't know..Rooster is still a dumbass in the future, and mishon/kergo/russell/scott are still the same person and your elderly Euro live-in is still in love with you..and The Fail is now a Tejano station..actually all DFW stations other than 1310 are Tejano all the time. Robot Greggo has been enlisted to help with the impending invasion. Cowboys still haven't sniffed the Suberbowl and Cliff Lee left after the 2010 season and signed with the Yankees, blew out his elbow and received 120 million for 6 starts in 5 years. CJ goes on to win 2 Cy Youngs and WS mvp. Neftali turns into a very serviceable starter, and leads the AL in S/O's for five years in a row. I can't tell you what happens to JHam (but it's spectacular)
BUT, the playoffs dont start today and Cliff will be fine. BTW, did you happen to see Cliff Lee in the playoffs last year, now how about CJ in the playoffs last year. Compare the two and I think I will take Cliff Lee.
Who has the skins on the wall ? There is a reason for that phrase. It may be cliche, but it's the truth. You give the ball to Lee, and if you have that much confidence in CJ, you have him nail down game 2. Tell me all the stats you want this year, but I will go with the man who has proven himself in the playoffs on numerous occasions against the best of the best. Don't lose faith.
RW, you will get a lot of flack from some of the losers who post on here for blogging this, but you are dead on. if the playoffs started TODAY, cj should get the nod.
You're an absolute mouth breathing idiot if Cliff Lee is on your team and not on the mound in game 1 of the ALDS.
Yup. CJ's the man right now. It may change by the end of the season though. That's the way baseball go.