When the Texas Rangers lose, they do so in epic, historic fashion. No this was not the World Series, and frankly every expert in the entire world didn’t believe that the team should have even been in the playoffs, let alone leading the series 2-0. One win away from advancing to the ALCS, and yet lost both at home, only to completely experience a mental breakdown in the most epic 7th inning in the modern history of baseball.
It should not have happened, the Rangers, not the Blue Jays should be getting ready for the next round that starts Friday night.
The expression I am going to use is called “Monday Morning Quarterback”, because that is exactly what I am going to do in second guessing this series. Let’s start with the Saturday game in Arlington, needing just one more win, Ranger manager, Jeff Bannister decided to start Martin Perez.
Perez had only been back for half the season and had done just Ok, but certainly not dominate. Meanwhile he left Colby Lewis in the bullpen. Perez a lefty facing a mostly right-handed lineup did again Ok, but I do not understand not starting Lewis. Colby Lewis is the winningest pitcher in post season history for the Ranger franchise. The end result was not really pinning the loss on the pitching, as they lost the game more so because of the lack of hits from the middle of the lineup.
Then on Sunday, Bannister again decided that Derek Holland another left-handed pitcher, again facing that right hand dominate lineup creating another match-up problem unless Holland was really on his game. Holland was not, and Lewis was brought in for relief in another desperate situation. The loss was epic as the Rangers were blown out in-game 4, and yet again the middle of the order gets only 2 base hits.
Through the first four games the combination of Choo, Fielder, Hamilton, Moreland, and Napoli were 4 for 47 at the plate. For those math majors out there that is a .085 batting average. Another question I don’t understand is why Moreland got the start in all those games, when clearly Mike Napoli has the post season track record and knows how to manage his emotions. He is a proven veteran who was relegated to only late game desperation. He also knows how to hit a knuckleball, and could have been a huge asset against RA Dickey.
However, even with all those questionable choices, decisions, and lack of production, the Rangers only needed to win that last game to move to the next level.
The freak play of the catcher hitting Sin Soo Choo’s bat on a deflection in the top of the 7th scoring Odor from 3rd seem to put the team exactly where they needed to be. One run up, with only 9 at bats left in the game. However, the Toronto fans went nuts, and displayed their wrath in a terms not seen since ten-cent beer night in the 1974 Rangers vs. Indians game from 1974. Players, coaches, security, were all in danger because of the Toronto despicable display. Frankly, it was embarrassing for that whole city, but then again so were the three consecutive errors the Ranger committed in the bottom of the 7th.
That fan meltdown of expression, with flying objects coming from everywhere, and the subsequent delay of game clearly affected the Rangers more than Toronto. Perhaps that distraction is a major causation for Elvis missing that easy routine play that was error #1. Then again, if Napoli was playing first base instead of Moreland, would the second error have happened? That is pretty extreme second guessing from me, but Moreland never had a base hit the entire 5-game-series. The third error was worse, because with the wheel play on, and Elvis covering 3rd, Beltre makes the perfect play on the bunt. He throws to the normally sure handed Elvis covering 3rd, who for some reason tries to catch the ball glove-side up.
I guarantee you that almost any little league baseball player would say that on that throw the glove should have been facing the ground, with the second-hand covering to make sure that the ball didn’t pop out, and that the second-hand was there so a quick grab and throw could take place to maybe get the double play. Elvis dropped the ball, no excuse.
Hamels strikes out the next batter, and then the blooper by Donnelly over Odors head again was the 4th miss-played ball of the inning. He just misjudged it as it sailed just inches past his outstretched glove. Then there was the sure double play when the ball was sharply hit to Moreland at first, who fires home for the force, but the runners slide was clearly inside the lines toward the infield. I don’t claim to be a rules expert, but I am pretty sure that another player from another team was suspended this week for a similar slide. In my view that should have been intentional interference and a double play ending the inning. That’s just my opinion, but I wonder if the Umpires were a little afraid to make any controversial calls against the home team at that point. People today are just flat-out crazy!
Yet, as former Ranger Manager Ron Washington used to say, “that’s the way baseball go”. Good teams find a way to win no matter what.
The Rangers had their chances, it is a complete team loss. Beltre’s hurt back, the lack of hitting from the guys you count on, too many errors, weird bounces, and poor management of pitching all are contributors to this series defeat. A team plays 162 games, and one thing you have to say is that this team never did quit, they just played their hearts out and gave fans something unexpected. They should not have been there, they should not have lost. This team now officially gets to wear the label of a team that chokes in the clutch. I think it is undeserved, but it is what it is.
The good news is that next year begins with Cole Hamels, and Yu Darvish at the top of the rotation. Derek Holland will be back and hopefully gets his head screwed on straight. There is still a wealth of guys including Chi Chi Gonzales, Nick Martinez, that may be ready to step up to prime time. Perhaps they resign Colby Lewis or Yovani Gallardo, but the team has plenty of depth and John Daniels did his job this year to build the franchise with a view toward the long haul.
Today is sad, but it was great entertainment. Maybe next year will be better, but that has to start with re-evaluating players. Elvis Andrus has to be at the top of that list, as does Hamilton and Moreland. The team needs players who can perform at a high level, not just during the regular season but when it counts. That is why my votes for players of the year go to DeLino Deshields, a guy rejected by the Astros, and Roughned Odor a guy sent down to the minors mid-season for a tune up. Those guys played big, so did Beltre when it counted most. There needs to be some re-tooling, and someone needs to help Elvis understand how to play with intensity and still have fun.
It will be a long offseason and plenty of time to speculate on trades, acquisitions, free agents, and more. For now let’s just consider ourselves lucky we got to have this ride this season. This is a team coming back from nearly a 100 loss season, that was 8 games back post all-star break, and yet scared the Blue Jays beyond all scares. Weird things happen in baseball, that’s what makes the game great! I am ready for next April, how about you!!!!!
Whatever the case there is no crying in baseball, NO CRYING!
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