October 14, 2015
2015 Season Over
Texas drops the fifth game of the Division Series 6 - 3 in Toronto. Featuring a 7th inning in which Rougned odor scored the go-ahead run for Texas on a heads-up, situationally-aware play that lead to Toronto playing the game under protest. Which was all made moot in the bottom of the seventh when Elvis Andrus bobbled a routine grounder and Mitch Moreland threw short on a double-play ball on the very next play. And THEN Sam Dyson gave up only his second home run of the year to Jose Bautista, creating the final 6 - 3 score.
Obviously, Toronto will drop the protest.
I'm disappointed, of course; I really wanted Texas to go all the way, just like every other year. But it's tempered by the fact that, as I've said repeatedly, the Rangers weren't even supposed to be here today. Certainly I thought they were a better team than most prognosticators gave them credit for at the beginning of the year, but I figured they would finish a game or two over .500.
And even when they won the division, I knew they would have a hard time getting past Toronto. Toronto is the exact kind of team that is hardest on Texas. The only possibility the Rangers had was to get after Toronto's middle-of-the-order, which isn't so hot. Instead, Texas mashed against Price and Stroman, and couldn't do anything against the middle guys. Texas lost this series in Arlington; game five was just a second chance.
With Texas out, I suppose I have some small interest in how Houston plays out. I don't think they're actually as good of a team as they're seen to be, but that's just my opinion. The Cubs are the only team left that I have any real affection for, and those games are probably the only ones I'll continue to listen to.
Obviously, Toronto will drop the protest.
I'm disappointed, of course; I really wanted Texas to go all the way, just like every other year. But it's tempered by the fact that, as I've said repeatedly, the Rangers weren't even supposed to be here today. Certainly I thought they were a better team than most prognosticators gave them credit for at the beginning of the year, but I figured they would finish a game or two over .500.
And even when they won the division, I knew they would have a hard time getting past Toronto. Toronto is the exact kind of team that is hardest on Texas. The only possibility the Rangers had was to get after Toronto's middle-of-the-order, which isn't so hot. Instead, Texas mashed against Price and Stroman, and couldn't do anything against the middle guys. Texas lost this series in Arlington; game five was just a second chance.
With Texas out, I suppose I have some small interest in how Houston plays out. I don't think they're actually as good of a team as they're seen to be, but that's just my opinion. The Cubs are the only team left that I have any real affection for, and those games are probably the only ones I'll continue to listen to.
Posted by: Ben at
05:57 PM
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I've seen the highlight reel of that inning. I'm wondering how long it'll take for the first assassination attempt on Elvis Andrus to occur. Will it happen in the airport? Or will it happen while he's in the jetway? Or will he never make it off the jet?
That must have been agony. I'm sorry, Ben.
That must have been agony. I'm sorry, Ben.
Posted by: Wonderduck at October 14, 2015 08:29 PM (a12rG)
2
Twitter is full of acid for Elvis, but I think even more people attacking the jerks who are screaming at him. But, considering the furor over his incredibly poor play for the first half of the season (and some lingering concerns from last year), of course there are people demanding he be traded immediately. A guy who, once the coaches got through to him, generated 1.5 fWAR in half a season, which puts him back in line with his normal 3+ fWAR seasons.
I'm not mad at Elvis. The Rangers' offense had been slowing down for weeks, and they were back to struggling in The Ballpark. Just like they did for the second two games of the ALDS. That's where they lost the series; it's amazing that they took the first two and pushed the best team in the A.L. to a game five.
As much as the loss hurts, Texas had an uphill battle to fight to keep going, and I really am just glad they performed as well as they did. It was a confirmation that Jeff Banister was a brilliant choice as Manager, and that Jon Daniels is a damned good General Manager. The arrow is only pointing up right now.
I'm not mad at Elvis. The Rangers' offense had been slowing down for weeks, and they were back to struggling in The Ballpark. Just like they did for the second two games of the ALDS. That's where they lost the series; it's amazing that they took the first two and pushed the best team in the A.L. to a game five.
As much as the loss hurts, Texas had an uphill battle to fight to keep going, and I really am just glad they performed as well as they did. It was a confirmation that Jeff Banister was a brilliant choice as Manager, and that Jon Daniels is a damned good General Manager. The arrow is only pointing up right now.
Posted by: Ben at October 14, 2015 10:19 PM (DRaH+)
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