I hope we see a similar picture all weekend long of A-Rod looking forlorne and the Ranger catcher looking excited. The Ranger roll into the Bronx with the best record in the AL, the Yankees right behind them. The poor Orioles have fallen down in the rankings, and the Yankees have taken over 1st place in the East. Remember, the Yankees were the team to beat in the 2010 season, and remember who ended their season. The media will tell you that Cliff Lee ended the Yankees season, but that is far from true. Cliff Lee won 1. It takes 4. Colby Lewis won 2. The Rangers won 4. This should be an exciting series for Ranger fans, and I will lay out why for you.
Game 1, Friday April 14, 2011: Harrison (2-0, 1.29 ERA) v Nova (1-0, 6.10 ERA)
Now, the Yankees have a hitter friendly ballpark, unlike the Tigers in Detroit. Expect the Rangers to be jacking some balls out of the park this weekend, starting with this game. Matt Harrison has been nothing short of amazing so far this season, and I expect that to continue tonight. He knows that he must prove he can pitch under the so called “bright lights” of NY city to keep his spot in the rotation. What better way to do that than to beat the Yankees? I look for his ERA to go up, I do not think you can help giving up at least 3-4 runs to the Yankees in their home ball park, but I think the Rangers will put up 6 plus against the Yankees tonight. Look for Harrison to go 6-7 innings and Nova to only last 5. I say the Rangers take game 1 on….wait for it…pitching.
Game 2, Saturday April 16, 2011 – Holland (2-0, 2.25 ERA) v Garcia (0-0, 9.00 ERA)
Don’t let Garcia’s ERA fool you, he is a good pitcher, I just hope the good version on him does not show up on Saturday! Holland has had some career struggles against the Yankees except in the playoffs last year, he has a career ERA of 5.48 against the Yankees. Look for Holland to maybe give up a few runs early and then settle in to a nice groove. I think he will throw too many pitches and this game will go down to the pen. I have one request to Ron Washington about this game. Please, please if it is close, don’t put in Mark Lowe!! Put in the man Darren Oliver, or Arthur Rhodes, or O’Day, or, well heck, anyone else on the roster. Thank you. The Rangers may have to slug their way to victory in this one, but we all know they are very capable of that!
Game 3, April 17, 2011 – Ogando (2-0, 0.00 ERA) v Sabathia (0-1, 1.45 ERA)
This will be the game for Ogando to prove himself as a legit starter. If he can beat C.C. on his home turf and remain un-scored upon, then I think the Rangers have something really special. I look for this to be a Detroit style game, maybe having only 2 or 3 runs in the whole game. I think Ogando will answer the bell and pitch lights out again, and I look for the Rangers to sweep the series against the Yanks, reminding them once again who is the defending AL Champs.
So, I say the Rangers return home with a record of 12-3, and a great chance to pull away early in the AL West race!
Want the Rangers to return home 12-3 but I think 10-5 or 11-4 is more realistic….to start a homestand I think the Rangers go 6-4 or 7-3 at worst. Still to have a chance to end April with a winning record under Wash is a huge deal!!!!
I want to see a lineup like this the next 2 nights vs righty Yankees pitchers:
1. Kinsler
2. Andrus
3. Davis–1st Fri and 3rd Sat
4. Beltre–3rd Fri and DH Sat
5. Young –DH Fri and 1st Sat
6. Cruz–LF
7. Murph–CF
8. Moreland–RF
9. Torrealba Friday and Napoli Saturday (warm him up for big Sunday vs CC).
I think most would be against Davis in 3 hole but I think if Wash puts him there then he sees good pitches and puts him in position to succeed. It is now or never with Davis and I want to be positive about him being here and his ability to hit. Leaving him on the bench and not playing him is hurting his chances to succeed!!!!
I want 5-8 runs/game vs NYY this weekend and the Ranger pitchers to make 6 innings and 3 runs or less in this series…I am OK with 3 runs and 6 inning games from the young guys in Yankee Stadium. I am very excited about this team and think they will hit, pitch, defense well this season.
PS—Send Lowe down to work on things in non pressure situation for a month and bring up Chavez in mean time for defense…don’t care to see him hit really.