Rangers - Giants World Series.
Lets go Rangers!!!
Rangers - Giants World Series.
Lets go Rangers!!!
Posey v. Molina
Luke v. Obi Wan
HEAVEN OR HECK?
I AM MOST DISAPPOINTED I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WATCH GAME ONE DUE TO EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENTS.
HERE IS MY APOLOGY IN VISUAL FORM
Alrighty game 1!!
GOOOOOOOO RANGERS!!!!
Giants are shitting the bed, haha.
I'm shocked the Giants could pump out that many runs. When I heard the score was 8-4, I was already in disbelief. To think they put out another three is astounding. But it was a lucky win, not one of skill like Giants fans should be hoping for, and what we're used to seeing in those painful one run games.
Personally, I think this game is a wake-up call, for both teams. For the Giants, it shows that even without great pitching, Texas has incredible offensive power - ignoring that the Giants scored more, Texas got seven earned runs - and that without stronger starter pitching, they won't win the series. Lincecum was lucky Cliff Lee wasn't having a great day too, if either one of those starters had their best stuff this would have been a blowout. Brian Wilson also, when I saw two on base in the top of the ninth before I had to go, I had a feeling he'd give up at least one run. Not three, like he did, but it felt to me like he was underestimating what he was up against, especially since he apparently doesn't like games where he closes with a huge lead.
For the Rangers, it's that the Giants offense might be highly variable, but they're good at clutch hits and when they're on the ball, they do a lot of damage. I was reading a bunch of pre-game analysis and people were talking about how the Giants had very ho-hum offense. While this is true on paper, from what I've seen they're a very "sleeping giant" and "awake giant" kind of team. On average they're mediocre because most of the time they're weak, but hit them on a good day and they're nigh unstoppable. Under normal circumstances Cliff Lee should be overkill when used on the Giants; today, he couldn't even keep up.
I don't know how Cain will fare tomorrow, but I'm most curious about Colby Lewis versus Jonathan Sanchez. Has Sanchez finally tamed himself since the NLCS? Will Lewis be as good against the Giants as he was against New York? That'll be a big game to me. In the meantime, the Giants need to plan for dealing with Texas' offense and base stealing, and the Rangers need to think about an emergency plan for the Giants going off on mad rallies like today.
Guerrero's errors didn't help any.
Double post, but worth merit. I missed the first hour due to time-zones, so I'm having to catch up on the first four-five innings.
Looking at Colby Lewis' story, and watching his performances in the post-season, I figured of any Rangers pitcher he'd be the man to shut down the Giants. He shut down the Yankees, and despite the lopsided run count in the first two games, the Giants were simply lucky to score those runs. And sure enough he was, at first I was shocked Ron Washington would push him into the eighth inning, but then I saw his pitch count. He really lived up to all expectations.
Jonathan Sanchez didn't implode like last time, but his outing wasn't much better than his first against Philadelphia, which I feared. When he's on his top game, he's a better pitcher than Lincecum or Cain on their top days, but he was previously not consistent. At least he is now - his games at the end of the regular season were consistently great, and his outings since the Phillies have been distinctly mediocre.
Texas' strategy of trying to milk a starter is a good one. The Giants' counter strategy was/should have been keep Texas players off base and stay ahead in the count, even if it risks home runs. But of all the Giants pitchers, Sanchez tends to walk people a lot, so I'm not surprised he lost. Had he not given up that three-run homer, the game might have been a bit different.
But at least things have calmed down. I was rather annoyed at people saying GIANTS WILL SWEEP - TOTAL DOMINATION in the papers, anyone comparing Sanchez's and Lewis' record could tell it was going to depend on how tight they were in this game. With Sanchez easing off of his worst post-season start, and Lewis' off of his best (was Game 6 the best? Akumu?) I'd have hedged my bet on a small Texas lead.
Tomorrow's game, I don't know. Bumgarner is good, but I'm not familiar with Tommy Hunter at all. And I think there's a possibility Velez might be switched for Pat Burrell, and Burrell added to the DH. I know Burrell hates DH, and honestly he's been fine in the field, but Sandoval is simply too fat, I think even if he got what would normally be a single, he wouldn't be able to outrun the ball to first base.
Sacramento is going up in flames, holy god.
^ Pics? Links?
16 char
The camera on my phone wasn't built for it. But there was absolute pandemonium, people screaming and blocking streets and honking. A parade of cop cars rolled into downtown to break it up, I'd swear it was Second Saturday. I half suspect it's a pre-game celebration for Prop 19 passing tomorrow. When I came home I was surprised to see much of the same. A squad of girls were waving at a street-corner, I think they may have been flashing (?) the cars that went by from their body language, but it was pretty cold tonight, so it might have just been wishful (?) thinking.
I was in class during the game, and heard the bottom of the 9th over the phone (and narrated it to the people I was with) so this is a bit late, but I've got to tip my hat to the Rangers and their fans, they're the same kind of animal as the Giants and were classy to the end. In Game 4, I was impressed the Rangers cheered when the Giants hit home runs, and the standing ovation the Giants struck a chord.
You guys were fearsome opponents, never once did I ever think the Giants were going to out-muscle a team as powerful as yours. As I said before, I took exception to the "predestined" comments - this game was hardball, and the victory was hard fought, down to last.
Cliff Lee was humbled this time around, Game 1 was like "haha, what"? I think this experience might increase his chances of resigning with the Rangers, and if that's the case I wish you guys luck in holding his and Colby Lewis' reigns. With those two spearheading your pitching staff, and youngins like Tommy Hunter rising, I don't expect you to have quite as long a post-season victory drought as you had.
With the Giants winning, I have no idea what's going to happen in the upcoming years. Will this win be the start of a Bumgarner and Posey dynasty? What will be the fate of Cody Ross (please resign him), Sandoval (please lose weight), Velez (please get better) and Burrell (better luck next time)? Renteria is going to retire, I don't doubt that at all - he capped his final season with the best possible ending.
We'll still be lead by the four pitchers we have, but the Giants are still in need of long-term bats for the run support. I'm very optimistic for next year, when we get to see everyone rested up and playing without as much pressure. It'll be good to see San Diego activated again for some payback, and the Dodgers, haha, we're tied with them now. Still even after all this time.
The only picture I have is one I forgot to share earlier.
Oh well, congrats to the Giants.
Terek, you were talking about the class. I think a large part of that really stems from the Rangers never really having a post season before this one. Just being able to make the WS is an accomplishment many of us never though that we'd see.
Truth be told, most of the Ranger fans I know did not expect us to win it all. Yes, it would have been nice, but we're happy enough as ALCS Champs. Now all we need to do is show up next season and make it back. Prove to everyone that this wasn't a fluke.
Holy Shit, did not see that coming.
So CLiff Lee joins the Phillies forming the Phantastic Phour.
Honestly best rotation in baseball at the moment, and if the offense shows up this season, it's theirs for the taking.
So all of Texas is going insane and is just about ready to kill Cliff Lee.
I can imagine. Living in New York reading and watching the news they're in total shock and awe that he didn't become a Yankee. They're baffled and bewildered, and they don't know what to do next.
This is too funny, someone actually turned down the Evil Empire.
2011 World Series Red Sox vs Phillies.
oh, those poor, poor Yankees fans
So all of Texas is going insane and is just about ready to kill Cliff Lee.
Why? He didn't spend the whole season with Texas, and even though he clearly felt comfortable and welcome in Texas, his best times were in Philadelphia. Even though he's no longer with Texas, he's not an enemy of Texas by any means because he went back to the NL.
Honestly, when I heard Phillie made a last-minute bid for him on Monday, I figured he'd go with them if they offered a comparable salary to Texas and NY. The way Lee was being characterized (as money hungry mercenary for hire) didn't really gel with my impression of him. He's no A-Rod, nor a Sabathia, so he was kind of in a tough spot.
I don't doubt that had Lee not gotten an offer from Philadelphia, he'd have stayed in Texas. The Yankee offer was significantly less money than I'd expected they would give him (I was expecting a record-breaking 170M+), considering they gave in to Jeter, and they're supposedly so much richer than everyone else, a 30M difference for a year or two didn't seem spellbinding. 7 miserable years in NY, or 5, maybe 6 great ones in Philadelphia? Now the Yanks are in real trouble, and it's delicious to watch.
@Iceman - haha, well, they'll have to beat the Giants and Dodgers at some point. I wouldn't discount the weakened Padres either, NL West was (overall) the strongest division this year, and it'll likely still be next year with the rosters intact.
Phillies have great offense though, even without Werth. Unless this Brandon Belt kid turns into a Will the Thrill, the Giants are still going to be offensively challenged until we can do something about Rowand and Zito.
Atlanta hasn't done anything news worth thus far…I wonder what they're up to?
To most Ranger fans, Lee had become a savior figure of sorts.
Was it a coincidence that the best season in Ranger history occurred while he was here? Maybe, but it's hard to look at it that way.
@Iceman - haha, well, they'll have to beat the Giants and Dodgers at some point. I wouldn't discount the weakened Padres either, NL West was (overall) the strongest division this year, and it'll likely still be next year with the rosters intact.
Phillies have great offense though, even without Werth. Unless this Brandon Belt kid turns into a Will the Thrill, the Giants are still going to be offensively challenged until we can do something about Rowand and Zito.
Atlanta hasn't done anything news worth thus far…I wonder what they're up to?
I see the NL West as being the most interesting NL to watch this year. Really looking forward that.
Phillies have a great offense they just seem to go through droughts, and and not really keep a steady stream of production.
Atlanta stayed mostly the same but they added Dan Uggla to their roster, the dude hits about 30+ home runs every year. They lost Omar Infante though. Other than that they kept the same players. Should be interesting however if the lose of Bobby Cox will affect them.
I heard Texas got its ace pitcher in Brandon Webb, if only for a year. He was the Yankees #2 pick after Cliff Lee, I can't get enough of the massive embarassment NY must be feeling right now. I almost feel sorry for them because they broke down and overpaid Jeter yet can't land any of the free agent pitching they need so badly.
What's up with their farm system, anyway? Wasn't that how the '90s Yankees became such a force?
I'm really enjoying how the Yanks aren't getting anything this offseason. Their team is still quite good unfortunately, but watching them suffer will always fill me with joy.
If Pettitte retires, the Yanks' rotation is FUCKED. I'm sure they'll be able to trade for the best guy available at midseason but as it stands they need a whole lotta help.
Can't believe I'm actually typing those words.
See you in the hall, Trevor. A true class act and a fine ambassador for baseball.
I hope they make a statue of him to go next to Tony Gwynn's at the stadium, because really, do statues ever get more awesome models than this?
Hard to see why they wouldn't make a statue of him; he's one of the greatest players and one of the greatest relievers ever to boot.
Speaking of the Hall, I think they need to reassess how people are inducted. Only two people out all the available choices got enough votes? Really?
Man, do I love seeing the Yanks suffer. My O's have made some interesting acquisitions as well should be an interesting season…
oh, those poor, poor Yankees fans
[qimg]http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/1286/yankeedouche.gif[/qimg]
yo bro, you wanna bro with my bros so we can bro while we bro bro?
LOL SF GIANTS ALL THE WAY.
Lincecum > Lee
Lincecum 2011 cy young i hope :)