Are the Rangers Serious?

[EDGECRUSHER]

How can you just give away a 5-0 lead at home in the playoffs? Ron Washington is also an idiot.

[mecadonzilla]

What did Ron do wrong? 

The whole collapse looked like it should be pinned on the bullpen.  The bullpen was a strength for the Rangers all year, but thus far in the playoffs, it's been a major liability and cost them 2 games.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Too many relievers and Wilson should've stayed in the game. The hit to Gardner was a routine groundball and while Jeter hit the ball hard, if the infield wasn't in for some stupid reason, it would've been a routine double play.

That, and even though the bunt worked, having Andrus bunt in the first place was dumb. Benji Molina can steal off of a Mariano/Posada battery, so why did they waste an out getting the guy to 2nd?

Girardi was also very stupid with his Swisher bunt.

[mecadonzilla]

Benji Molina can't steal off of anybody.  He's literally the slowest guy in the majors.

But Wash does look smarter after game 2, I'd bet.

[EDGECRUSHER]

When a team goes 1-11 with RISP and they don't score on 7 walks, the opposition looks brilliant in every way.

[StL FinFan]

Benji Molina can't steal off of anybody.  He's literally the slowest guy in the majors.

But Wash does look smarter after game 2, I'd bet.

Oh I don't know about that.  I think he could take Yadi in a race.

[mecadonzilla]

Oh I don't know about that.  I think he could take Yadi in a race.

Benji is seriously slow.  I'm worried he's going to get thrown out at first base before too long on a hit to center field.  I wish I was kidding, but aren't too many guys slower than him that are still ambulatory.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Instant replay was successfully used tonight when a Lance Berkman HR was called back due to being foul. It took all of 4 minutes and saved Texas a run. Your average playoff game is like 3.5 hours, I think an extra 4 minutes to get a huge call right is well worth it.

[mecadonzilla]

Too bad it wasn't used on the clear fan interference on Cano's HR.

But if baseball has taught me anything, 1 out of 2 ain't bad.   

[EDGECRUSHER]

Too bad it wasn't used on the clear fan interference on Cano's HR.

But if baseball has taught me anything, 1 out of 2 ain't bad.   

I actually don't know the correct ruling, because while I agree there was fan interference, I don't think Cruz had any shot at the ball. The ball was clearly into the stands and Cruz is not exactly Dwight Howard with his leaping ability. So, does the fan interference negate an obvious HR?

[mecadonzilla]

It looked like a great play could have been made had the fan not bent his glove out of the way.  Clearly, the ball wasn't going to fall into the stands and was on the top of the wall...which is exactly where Cruz's glove was.  That fan robbed all the other baseball fans out of the chance of seeing a great play or at least the attempt.  And after having watch Cruz play right field all season long, I think that was a ball that had a greater chance of being caught than dropped.

Keep in mind, I'm not a Ranger fan.  Just a fan stuck in Central Texas with no other baseball viewing options that don't involve the hideous Astros.

[Sunstroke]

If Benji hits 'em all out of the park like that last beautiful dinger, he can trot as slowly as he'd like.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I have to see it again, but I am pretty sure the ball hit the fan in the chest or stomach, so it was definitely over the wall.

Moot point anyway, because AJ Burnett sucks and the Yankees are busy looking at golfing brochures to give a damn about this series outside of Cano, Grandy and Pettitte.

[mecadonzilla]

The ball hit the fan in the hand after he leaned over the wall to interfere with Cruz's glove.
http://photographyblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/10/yankees-home-run-or-fan-interf.html


But the point is now moot.  The Rangers have outplayed the Yankees in almost every conceivable way.
And now the question must be asked...Are the Yankee's serious?  Because so far, they are not.

If not for one inning out of the 36 played, the Yankees would already have been swept.

[Sunstroke]

When the Yankees exit the playoffs as losers, I'll raise a glass to the Rangers!