2023 World Series Tied at 1 game a Piece!

 

This 119^th edition of the World Series is going to be an epic battle, at least its turning into such, as the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers have split the first two games of the series in Texas, and now move to Phoenix to start GAME 3 on Monday evening.

The first game goes extra innings, and in doing so, represents the anniversary of Game SIX of the 2011 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals with the Texas Rangers, battling back and getting the lead on Josh Hamilton’s home run and then Nelson Cruz loses the ball and it goes for extra bases for the Cardinals then bottom of the 11^th, David Freize goes yard to end the game in walk off fashion. Well Game one  of this series, goes into extra innings, after the Rangers tied it up in the bottom of the 9^th with a two run bomb by Corey Seager with Leody Taveras on base after a walk, and the Rangers extend the game.

THEN the DRAMATIC happens. The Bottom of the 11^th inning, no one on and one out after Evan Carter flies out to right field, the man, the myth, the NOW—LEGEND—Adolis Garcia, launches a shot into the right field seats and seals the come from behind win with a walk off home run, and send the Game ONE crowd of 42,472 into an ear splitting roar, and celebration!

Fast forward, game two!

The Diamondbacks start to play the brand of baseball that is more accustom to the National League style of play, that’s small ball. Bunting runners over a base, sacrificing themselves to do so, a home run here, a stolen base there, a bunt single, a fielders choice now and then, and the next thing you know the D’backs have a 2-1 lead, and then Mitch Garver steps up to give a bit of hope to the Ranger hopeful with a home run to cut that lead into half.

That doesn’t last very long as, the offensive barrage continues for the Snakes, they’re coiled were ready to strike and when the dust cleared they held a 9-1 lead and final over the Rangers in Game Two.

More so than that, the pitching for the Rangers in the beginning of the game, was spot on—three sold innings, even giving a couple of runs, still was able to shut it down, but the other side of the diamond.. the Diamondbacks, their pitching staff, indeed handcuffed the Rangers bats, not allowing a runner in scoring position all night, and what did score was on the solo shot as we mentioned before by Mitch Garver.

Asked the key players, like Jonah Heim, the All Star Catcher for the Rangers, what was the difference, he put bluntly, “I don’t comment on the Umpiring….” Which is code for, the strike zone changed throughout the evening, and what was once a strike was now being called a ball! And that cost the Rangers pitching staff throughout the night.

Matin Perez, who came on in relief in the later innings, was asked if he would be ready to start if needed in a game four or five, he stated, “whatever is required of me, I will answer the call”.

The Team as a whole doesn’t see a problem, they all pretty much say, that this team is a road team, and plays that way, after eliminating Tampa, Baltimore, AND Houston, to get to this point in the post season.

From here they travel to the home of the Diamondbacks and games 3-4-and 5 will take place, and if by some chance the Rangers find themselves having to come back to Texas those games six and seven will be Friday and Saturday nights at Globe Life Field in November.

The 2023 World Series, now its serious business!

 

Just a thought!

This Turns into a Best of THREE SERIES!

 

Arlington, Texas—The American League Championship Series becomes a best of THREE series with the Astros tying it up 2 games a piece, after the Texas Rangers had gone up TWO Games to NONE in Houston.

These two teams have swapped the home field advantage, and in doing so, now this becomes a best of three games series!

The Astros beat the Rangers in Game 4—10-3, and mainly behind home runs by Jose Abreu, who lit the scoreboard in the 4^th with a Three run shot to left field to make it 7-3 at the time, after the Rangers fought back after being down 3-0—to tie the game after getting 2 in the second inning with a home run and then a SAC fly to left field—the HOMER by Adolis Garcia and the SAC FLY RBI by Josh Jung to score Mitch Garve who had walked earlier in the inning—the Tying run on a solo shot to left center by Corey Seager, and it was a brand new ball game.

Well, at least that’s what the Rangers thought—until the ceiling came in on them with that aforementioned four run 4^th, and two more in the 7^th including a home run by Chas McCormick that scored two more runs to make it 9-3 and then another run in the 8^th that was scored from a lead off double by Jose Altuve, and that was the final run for the Astros needed to make it a 10-3 final.

The Bullpen for the Rangers just could not get the Astros down—one shut down inning in the 3^rd with a one-two-three inning, but after that—not so much walks, and home runs did this Ranger team in. Their bullpen, though was pretty much “starter by committee”, with the starter Andrew Healey going only 2/3 of an inning (never getting out of the 1^st inning is not a good sign to start with), and then giving way to Dane Dunning, then Cody Bradford, followed by Chris Stratton, Will Smith, and finally Martin Perez. All of which (outside of Stratton) gave up runs.

The 2-2 series now has one more game in Arlington, then the final two in Houston, and then the Series will start NEXT Saturday, and the match up is still up in the air, it could be a rematch of last years series with the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies, or if the Diamondbacks from Arizona can make it a series even though they are down 2-1 after game three. Rangers vs Diamondbacks would be an interesting series, but none the less, they have to get past a very good and determined Astros Team that has shown that they might be down, but not out, after their win in game four.

The final thought is, that the Rangers, having won 7 games in a row going into game three the night before, and losing 5-4, it was bound to happen, but getting shellacked 10-3 in game three—it will take some BRUCE BOCHY magic to get this team off the mat, and make this a series for the ages against a very good Houston Astros team that Dusty Baker has put together.

It will have to come down in the next three games—that’s what this has come down too, the best of three.

Just a thought.

The American League Championship Series—Game THREE in the Books

 

Arlington, Texas—The third game of any seven game series is crucial, if you are the team that finds themselves down 2 games to none—you want to win the third game and keep the opportunity from being swept by the team with that advantage, that is what the Houston Astros needed to do without fail and, without fail they prevailed!

Winning game three by a score of 8-5 behind an outstanding pitching performance of Christian Javier, who, at one time had a no-hitter going into the 5^th inning, and for the most the part, a perfecto, into the third before giving up a walk.

For all of that—the Rangers were still able to keep the game with in reach for a little bit, especially with TWO home runs from a ROOKIE third basemen, Josh Jung, who battled for his team with a home run in the fifth and again in the 7^th inning, and bot of them with a runner on base. Four RUNS batted in on two swings of the bat, and this kid is being SNUBBED for a Gold Glove award at his position, five Rangers have been nominated, and rightfully so, but there should be a sixth and that is JUNG!

Beyond that, it was the Rangers starter, Max Scherzer who saw his first action in a month after going down with an injury in September. Manger Bruce Bochy stated, that “he’s one of our guys—and the ball was in his hands”.. to which his first inning out, 8 pitches and looked solid, it was the top of the 2^nd inning that got Scherzer into trouble, when he struck Yordan Alvarez on the left foot and then the another walk a single and a double that netted the three runs and the Astros never looked back,

The feeling is still that of optimism for the Rangers, and seeing that this team a year ago only won 68 games, here comes Bruce Bochy and crew and they harped on fundamentals, defense, because that is what wins games, the points on the board—as long as you outscore the other team you will see the wins mount up, and up until late August and through September, the Rangers held first place for over 160 days of the season.

Game four is set for Globe Life Field on Thursday and then Friday might be the closer if the Rangers win game four and lock game five up.

Still baseball to be played.

Just a thought

Rangers Are Playoff Bound!

 

For the first time since 2016, the Texas Rangers are headed to the American League Playoffs, and in doing so, after leading the American League West Division for over 140 out of 149 days, and they have regained that first place with one game LEFT in the season, they still have the chance to clinch the Division and be the NUMBER 2 seed in the playoffs.

A quick recap of the 2023 season, has to start with opening day against the Philadelphia Phillies, at Globe Life Field, and there was a feel in the air, something that hasn’t been felt since 2010, or maybe even 2011, under Ron Washington as the Manager of the Rangers.

New BOSS on the bench—Bruce Bochy, who after winning three World Series when he was the skipper of the San Francisco Giants—including the year that he faced Texas in 2010.

The Rangers also secured some arms with  Jacob deGrom (who later was lost to Tommy John , Surgery) a mid season pick up with Max Scherber from the Mets, and a couple of pieces for back up catcher and some outfield help, but the truth is, that this team had all the components that Chris Young wasis  able to put together before the Trade Deadline.

This season also gave us a chance to see what this offense could produce, such as 4 ALL STARS (including a Rookie Third Baseman) but solid All Stars like Marcus Semien at 2^nd base, or Corey Seager at short stop, Adolis Garcia in right field, Jonah Heim behind the plate, and Pitcher Nathan Evoldi… that’s a pretty good line up all on its own!

Go through the season and be at the top of the heap in the West for the majority of the season until August—when they go into a tail spin and Houston catches up, Seattle is in the hunt- and the eroding of the Angels falling by the way side—with Otani closing out his locker before the last week of the season, and also seeing Mike Trout of the Angels not being a factor in that three game series at the end of the season. BUT after sweeping the Mariners for the last series at HOME to close out the home side of the 2023 season, it looked promising that the Rangers would secure 1^st place in the West once again!

BUT WAIT! Its not over, losing 3 of four games to the Mariners in Seattle to close out the season and the Astros winning their last games against the Diamondbacks to move a game ahead of the Rangers to become the Western Division Champs on the LAST DAY of the season.

The Rangers will now take on the Tampa Bay Rays starting on the 3^rd of October in Tampa and it’s the best of three series for the Wild Card, and IF there is a third game to settle the score, it will also be played in Tampa. The Rangers WILL NOT play a home playoff game until the Divisional Series.

The Feel is the same as opening day—the thought is the same as that day as well.