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Texas Rangers

GAME 2 - Rangers 6, Rays 0: My Top 10 Observations

By Richie Whitt Thu., Oct. 7 2010 at 5:20 PM

Categories: Texas Rangers

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10. I know the Rangers banged two more homers and generally roped the ball around the park, but I think Josh Hamilton set the tenor with his back-to-back superb catches -- one diving -- in the second inning.

9. As expected, Tampa starter James Shields was, well, James Shields. In the third inning alone he hit a batter, threw behind a batter and allowed the speedy Matt Treanor to score when he fired an errant pick-off throw to first base. Crooked numbers, indeed.

8. In two games the Rays are eight for 64. Even by my very sketchy sportswriter math that comes out to a cool .125. Ouch.

7. I think the odds of coming back from 0-2 is like 13 percent or so (don't kill me, I'm guesstimating). But if Tampa can cling to anything positive it's that the Rays led all of baseball with 47 road wins. So ... good luck with all that.

6. With their second playoff victory in a series for the first time, is it safe to proclaim this -- yes, already -- the greatest season in the 39-year history of the Texas Rangers? Thought so.

5. Cow bells waggled by old folks who are dozing off and/or leaving early to nibble the LuAnn Platter are embarrassing. And harmless.

4. Not sure C.J. Wilson topped Cliff Lee, but he dang sure tied him. How about 6.1 innings with only two hits and no runs. That's right, no runs. Oh yeah, and only two walks. Muy bueno.

3. Aggregate totals: Runs -- Rangers 11, Rays 1. Hits -- Rangers 19, Rays 8. This, my friends, is a blowout.

2. The Rangers are clearly the better team through two games. Pitching. Hitting. Fielding. Everything. That said, they've also been luckier. Happened again today in the fifth inning, when Michael Young should've struck out but wound up jacking a three-run homer that put the game outta reach. Admit it, with two strikes Young tried to check his swing, but he didn't. He clearly broke his wrists, but umpire Jerry Meals somehow saw it otherwise. With a new life, Young got his first career playoff hit, a bomb to center off reliever Chad Qualles that totally pissed off the Rays and got Tampa manager Joe Maddon ejected.

1. Brooms, anyone? Remember, Rangers' Game 3 starter Colby Lewis flirted with 200 strikeouts with an ERA under 4.00 while the Rays' Matt Garza has a 5.96 ERA in 22 innings pitched in Arlington.

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Tags:

Baseball, C.J. Wilson, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Ron Washington

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Paul the damn Viking needs to move his act to THE FAN. RAGE is a much better place for him. Plus, it was Greggo that gave him the nickname and made him a funny character Give Ritchie and Greggo a chance. They are hilarious and its such a breath of fresh air from what the Ticket has been forcing down our throats for years. Plus, they have the hot Sybil Summers working on their show. And never forget,Greggo is a baseball expert. It drives the old gray wolfe nuts that Greggo knows more than him. EMBRACE YOUR RAGE
Don't kid yourself, Greggo is the best baseball voice on the radio. He carried Rhyner for years. And now they are trotting Corby out there to try and re-create that Diamond Talk magic. I know Greggo screwed himself , but I've been listening to him for 4 months on the FAN and he is sounding terrific. When he is on, no one talks the great game better. And he has been TOTALLY ON !!! i hope he stays clean because not only can he talk baseball better than anyone (yes, even better than you Rhyner) he is also great on college football. And of course, it goes without saying, he is absolutely the funniest personality on the D/FW airwaves. Keep on keeping on Greggo !!! Rhyner and Corby...ahhh, its time buddy !!!
Some of you snitches are like a bad girl friend. What does his credibility have to do with these observations ? Go comment on those posts if you have an issue with the facts of that entry. It's like a whiny room of women with some of y'all. Move on already. Rangers look great. That pitch to Young was a direct kick in the gut. If CC pitches like he did against the Twins against us, we win against the Yanks with Lee on our side, and Wilson for that matter. Looks like we will have to play the Yanks any way you look at it, so what the hell does it matter whether its the first or second round ? Nagging know it alls. ENJOY THE EFFING RIDE, AND HAVE SOME FUN. No need to rain on a parade.
The Rays are stuck in a very similar slump much like they went through mid-season. Enjoy the ride for now Ranger fans. The real test unfortunately will be when the Yankees come to town next week. I sure hope that playing a slumping Rays team will not lull the Rangers into a false sense of security.
@markymark - You left off RW claiming Fresno State was in the CWS (when they didn't even make it out of the WAC tourney), his insider scoop that Wayne Gretzky was buying the Stars, and of course his prediction of the ultimate demise of The Ticket. Shock jock posing as a sports journalist, plain and simple.
Yeeee Haaaaw! Shoot fire, I'm happier than my brother used to be when he and Warsh hung out. I'm telling you what brothers, this is fantastic..been following the redshoes since they were the Senators..and Tommy Grieve had hair..and Greggo had a T/A with Jerry Reed blasting on the 8 track..It makes me so proud to be an All American Texan deep in the heart of the great state of Texas...POW POW POW
I admittedly wanted the Yanks, but as I watch this Tampa lineup wilt in the dome, I am glad we are where we are. Its no wonder these guys got no hit twice this year, when they struggle, its real bad. I mean they are just looking at strike 3. As for all the national guys saying that michael young call cost the Rays the game, I strongly disagree, while it may have affected them, when you only get 2 hits, 8 total for 2 games and 1 run, you are not going to win, no matter the circumstance. I love, Richie Whitt, Kergo recipes, "First" posters, and the Ranger BEST SEASON EVER, and it aint over yet.
anybody else forget that the cowboys play on sunday?
Read Martin Fennelly's article over on the Tampa Tribune this morning: Since Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria singles in the first inning of Game 1, Tampa Bay's 2-3-4-5 hitters are a combined and truly astounding 0-for-27. The Rays have struck out 23 times in the series - 11 times looking. And some of you suckers (RW) wanted to face the evil empire in the first round!
How to kill a team's will: Watch "strike three"-by-check swing get called a ball and then see the guy go yard a pitch later. Could've just ended the game right there. It was over. Rays still haven't pulled their jaws off the floor.
@kergo, gagreed pardner! Beer, beer, beer, beer..(new song I just heard)...eff the effing yanks..better go ahead and getya standing room ticks bras from uptown! This shit is going down! I feel like Paul the damn Viking felt last year! And it's a scary feeling, like a newborn walking..is this thing what a good basebol team looks like? Y'all didn't like CJ as a starter..BJ..Kinslr's uppercut swing..Warsh's confusion of chalk and cocaina' once! Clee's most of September. Jham and Boomsticks fragility...Vlad's deteriation in the 2nd half..and yet, We are one fucking game from taking on the dreaded Evil Empire, with home field advantage. That, my friends and rooster, is all in the wideworldofsports..that anyone could hope for.
I have a huge pimple on my forehead. I can't pop it, either. It's down really deep.
I thank: cj warsh oli frenchie/frankie benjie kinz more more CLIFFY! HAMBONE! MIKE YOUNG! this is great....a......long time comin'.
giggle @ Richie calling the Gbags the Dbags accidentally but truthfully. Well done.
@ahhh yesss pt 3: Guilty.
OK I was listening until I heard Richie and Hammer talk about erectile dysfunction on a commercial. "Currently I'm doing OK in that department" seriously Greggo, I'm trying to eat some dinner here.
@Richie Whitt Really? CJ should start game one, then coming on here yesterday and saying this is why we signed Cliff. Then there is the Jimmy scouting McNabb, Deion winning two super bowls with Dallas and going in the HOF as a cowboy....
Richie blogging while on the air? Can't blame him when the G-Turds talk. Enjoying the postgame, RAGE, switching back and forth with you and the Ticket.
my apologies to the FAN, just tuned in and RAGE is on. But I cannot excuse the G Bag douches on with them. Ears are bleeding, I'll try to stick it out long as I can. Hammer and Rhyner talking baseball, different airwaves, but same time. Ahhh memories.
@Markymark: Aw, come on man. You can rip me for my height and hair and being an admitted d-bag. But "no sports credibility what so ever"? That shit ain't right.
Anyone nostalgic for some old school Diamond Talk should checkout the Hard Line right now. Rhyner is talking Rangers post game baseball, but the downsides are blowhard Corby pretending to sound like he knows what he's talking about and super cocky Sean Bass. I wish the FAN would get Greggo in on this, but gotta have super arrogant Brian Dolgin spare it up I guess. ...but before I post this, Corby does do some good reportage: If the Yanks beat the Twins and the Rangers beat TB, the Rangers (division winner even if regular season record is worse than NYY) would get home field. How bout them apples! Let's wrap this up, Rangers!
@Sports Panties gagree, only read this stuff for the giggle factor. He has no sports credibility what so ever.
write "Your an idiot."
@Sports Panties: What? Did I miss something or did C.J. not pitch a gem? Your an idiot man. If you are a man. men wear panties?
The Rangers of this year are the anti-Mavericks. The Rangers were a lackluster regular season team built for postseason play. But even if the Rangers win this series, did you see those Yankees? That's a team built for the postseason, too. I'll admit that their performance intimidated me. How do you stop a team like that? (Hopefully, this comment won't be screened and rejected. I didn't realize the Dallas Observer hated me that much.)
@Sports Panties a lot of people on here wanted the Yanks, and I agree I never understood that, but it wasn't just Richie. Tropicana spare Field or whatever it's called is one of the most non intimidating venues in sports and the Rangers could not have asked for a better start to this series. Cliff and CJ were spectacular and the hitting showed up. Way to go Rangers, now let's finish this off at home! GOOO RANGERS!!!
Tampa looks dejected and lost out there. And sure the Rangers had some luck, but Tampa only scoring 1 run in 2 games can't blame this on bad luck but only themselves. Hypothetical: If the Rangers lose game 3, do they go back to Cliff Lee (over Tommy Hunter) to try to close it out at home Game 4? Or keep Lee for game 5 @ TB if needed?
Anyone else have a hard time reading a top 10 list by this fool? Remember, this is the guy that thought CJ Wilson should be the game 1 starter over Cliff Lee & wanted to face the Yanks instead of Rays in 1st round. How's that looking?
First!