“Five possible surprise heroes for Rangers - Dallas Morning News” plus 2 more |
- Five possible surprise heroes for Rangers - Dallas Morning News
- Grant: Five possible surprise heroes for Rangers - Dallas Morning News
- U.S. Sheet Metal beats Doyles in Easton Mens Softball series opener - Abington Mariner
| Five possible surprise heroes for Rangers - Dallas Morning News Posted: 05 Oct 2010 08:28 AM PDT 10:30 AM CDT on Tuesday, October 5, 2010Column by EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News | egrant@dallasnews.com Since the moment the Rangers clinched a playoff berth, all the conversation about this team's ability to advance has hinged on Josh Hamilton and Cliff Lee and to a lesser extent, pitchers such as C.J. Wilson and NeftaliFeliz. Sure, all those guys have the ability to make a difference. Come playoff time, in a short five- or seven-game series or some combination of the two, it is often some surprising player who makes all the difference in the world between a team advancing or being eliminated. As the Rangers prepare for their fourth trip to the playoffs, we try to prepare you to not be surprised if a surprise hero emerges. Here then is our list of the top five guys, in descending order, who could be Rangers playoff heroes.
RANGERS Q&A Q: Why was the first Rangers' post season game scheduled first over the Yankees/Twins Game? It seems to me that the networks show NO respect for the Rangers. Peter, Plano GRANT: What the networks respect are ratings and money. And the Rangers-Rays, no matter how compelling, is not going to do the better ratings over a series involving the Yankees. Maybe one day, if the Rangers build a dynasty, they'll be able to lay claim to a prime-time playoff spot over some other big market teams. Maybe.Someday. Not this year. • • • Q: Please help me understand why Tommy Hunter is scheduled to pitch game 4? Nothing against Tommy, but you trade for a true ace in Cliff Lee. Why wouldn't the Rangers maximize him for the playoffs? I understand not starting him if we are up 2-1, but not if we are down 2-1. Douglas S. Montoya, Indio, Calif. GRANT: Understand this, Douglas, the Rangers intent is to start Hunter in Game 4, if there is a Game 4, but everything is tentative at this point. If the club is down 2-1, I believe management will think long and hard about going to Lee on short rest. But, if they do, they'll be asking him to do something he's never done in his career. That's right. Lee has never started on three days' rest. Oh, his statistical profile for this year, will show different. It shows a start on three days' in which he threw a complete game. But he actually had six days of rest before that start. Let me explain. Lee started on July 10 for the Rangers and started next at Boston on July 17 when he pitched a complete game. Because the All-Star break ran from July 11-14, that time is not considered part of the schedule for some strange statistical reason. According to Stats, Inc., the schedule went July 11-15-16, so Lee had three official days of rest. Official or otherwise, it's the only time he's pitched on less than four days of rest. I'm of the thinking – and I believe the Rangers are, too – that only in extreme circumstances do you ask a pitcher (particularly one who is as much a creature of habit as Lee) to do something he hasn't shown an ability to do. An extreme circumstance might be an elimination game. The Rangers haven't ruled out that possibility. Now, if you are thinking about CC Sabathia pitching on three days' rest? He's the exception. Lee is more like the rule. • • • Q: I know my timing is pretty lousy, given that NeftaliFeliz just broke a save record, but I'm of the belief that it's FAR easier to find a good closer than it is to find a solid #1 ace. Are the Rangers still looking GRANT: Feliz will remain a candidate for spot in the rotation, I'd imagine. But right now, you can't see he is capable of becoming an ace. He still lacks consistency with his secondary pitches. Part of the problem is that as a reliever, he's not asked to throw much secondary stuff, but part of the reason he was moved to the bullpen for the time being is he doesn't have enough of a repertoire to be counted on a starter. If the Rangers can re-sign Cliff Lee this winter, I think there really isn't an opening in the rotation. Having Feliz and Alexi Ogando at the back end of the bullpen makes them that much stronger. If Lee leaves, then the Rangers might have to consider looking at Feliz as a starter again and giving Ogando a shot at closing, but I think you potentially weaken yourself in two spots if you do that. • • • Q: Do you honestly think Ron Washington can guide the Rangers to their first playoff series win? In my opinion no, I think they won inspite of him. Most managers you can find through the year where they made decisions and moves that resulted in wins and with the Rangers I saw none of this and many times stupid moves and non-moves that led to losses. Sorry, in my opinion he is not the one to lead this team to the promise land or even a series win, besides why do you think he was never really considered for the A's manager position when it was open. GRANT: I'm writing this answer at the end of a very, very, very long day, so forgive me for being a little blunt and grumpy, but I am so tired of this sentiment. And there is no answer to supply to people who refuse to look at facts. Fact: There were five men interviewed for the Rangers managerial job when Ron Washington was hired. The other four have all since been hired – and fired – as managers elsewhere: Don Wakamatsu, Trey Hillman, Manny Acta and, as of Monday, John Russell. It's not like there is anybody out there who has worked miracles with any other team. Fact: The Rangers had a horrible first season under Washington, going 75-87. Fact: The Rangers have improved in every season under Washington since. Three consecutive years of improvement over the previous year. Fact: With Washington at the helm, the Rangers won the AL West this year. That makes the club of managers to lead the Rangers to the playoffs a duo: Johnny Oates and Ron Washington. Fact: The Rangers won the AL West this year despite having their top two starters be complete flops, their first baseman and catchers fail on a grand scale offensively, the leadoff hitter having to be dumped out of his spot, the third baseman having his worst all-around season since 2002, the second baseman missing two months, the right fielder missing two months and the MVP-caliber center fielder miss a month. And they won going away. What more evidence do you want to support the idea that Washington has done not only a good job as the Rangers' manager, but more like the work of a genius? I get the feeling that some people have some personal issue with Washington – why I don't know – and let it bleed over into objectively looking at the record. I half expect to get emails, if the Rangers World Series in seven games, saying: "Yeah, but somebody else would have done it in five." Enough. The guy has overseen the complete teardown and rebuilding of this club and has them back at a spot this organization has seen on only a precious few occasions. • • • Q: I am certain that you will be getting this question many times this week. However, I was wondering if you have any insight as to exactly why MLB allows for two consecutive games in a playoff series to be scheduled on a weekday afternoon. I understand the ratings game, and that the Yankees are obviously more popular teams then the Rangers and the Rays. But I would think that MLB would have an interest in expanding the popularity of their game as a whole. One game during the day is hard enough, but it would seem that they could juggle the viewing times so that at least one weekday game for every series is scheduled at a time when a majority of the fans can watch, even if that means scheduling two games at the same time. I am certain there are very few fans who have an interest in watching every single game of the postseason. I can guarantee there are a lot more people who have to DVR the Rangers games on Wed. and Thurs.and hope they don't hear the score so they can watch after they get home from work, or try to follow the game on the radio while they work. It's very frustrating for fans like myself who watch most of the games during the season, but when the games matter the most they are unable to because of work. Kevin A., McKinney GRANT: As we mentioned before, it's all about ratings. And think about this: Rays fans are probably getting hurt even more than the Rangers and the Rays had the best record in the AL. How's that, you say? Well, both of Tampa Bay's home games are weekday day games. The place is hard enough to sellout on the weekends. Now, in order for the Rays to take full advantage of home field advantage, they are having to rely on their fan base taking off two days from work to spend premium dollars to come support their club. It's not fair. Or just. But the Yankees and Red Sox and their fans dictate how MLB and the TV networks arrange things. Ratings matter. That's it. • • • Q: What does it feel like to cover a Rangers playoff game? Andy Young , Gilmer GRANT: Andy, I've covered the team since 1997. I've covered Rangers playoff games before. I can tell you that it's felt depressing. I've covered six playoff games to this point and seen all of two runs scored. It hasn't been a great feeling. Maybe this year. • • • Q: I presently have DISH NETWORK. Will I be able to see my RANGERS on FSSW or will I have to change to DIRECT TV, assuming they carry FSSW? I can only afford to go to about two or three games a season, but I watch as many games as I can on FSSW or Channel 21. GRANT: Well, you won't have to worry about that again until April. FSSW is out of the game broadcasting business for the season. The rest of the games will be carried on TBS (Division Series and ALCS) or FOX over-the-air (World Series). Hopefully, DISH and FSSW will have their issue resolved by next spring. The only people who lose in these situations are customers. Ultimately, the network and the satellite provider eventually make a deal to split up the billions and billions of dollars they receive. Until then, you are out of luck. • • • Q: Will you please break down Engel Beltre's current and projected defensive skills, and now that another season is behind him, when is his projected arrival in the majors? GRANT: Beltre might be the best overall athlete in the system, but he's still only 20 and still raw in a lot of ways. Because of that, he still has a tendency to take your breath away both positively and negatively – often in the same game. He certainly broke out this year offensively at Class A Bakersfield and I expect he'll continue that now that he's got a half-season of experience at Double-A Frisco. As far as tools go, he's got all the raw skills to be a phenomenal defender: He's quick, he's got plus arm strength and he's athletic. When Beltre arrives is all a matter of him refining those skills on both sides of the ball. I don't expect him here before September, 2011 – unless the club has some kind of catastrophic injury situation. But if he gets here to start the 2012 season, he will do so as a 22-year-old. Just consider this: When Julio Borbon broke in during the 2009 season, he was already 23. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Grant: Five possible surprise heroes for Rangers - Dallas Morning News Posted: 04 Oct 2010 08:54 PM PDT 10:59 PM CDT on Monday, October 4, 2010Column by EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News | egrant@dallasnews.com Since the moment the Rangers clinched a playoff berth, all the conversation about this team's ability to advance has hinged on Josh Hamilton and Cliff Lee and to a lesser extent, pitchers such as C.J. Wilson and NeftaliFeliz. Sure, all those guys have the ability to make a difference. Come playoff time, in a short five- or seven-game series or some combination of the two, it is often some surprising player who makes all the difference in the world between a team advancing or being eliminated. As the Rangers prepare for their fourth trip to the playoffs, we try to prepare you to not be surprised if a surprise hero emerges. Here then is our list of the top five guys, in descending order, who could be Rangers playoff heroes.
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| U.S. Sheet Metal beats Doyles in Easton Mens Softball series opener - Abington Mariner Posted: 05 Oct 2010 08:53 PM PDT It's go time. The Easton Mens Softball finals are in full swing this week and it's the matchup fans wanted to see. The U.S. Sheet Metal dynasty , winners of three straight EMS titles, is being challenged by Doyles Wolfpack. It's no stretch to say these teams just don't like each other. Doyles has a score to settle after being swept, 3-0, by Sheet during the regular season. "All the games were competitive, said Doyles manager Chris (Diesal) Tracy. "Two of the games were decided by one run." Sheet, which entered the playoffs as the number one seed, swept 5 Star Electric in the first round and beat Phillips Trucking, 3-1, in the semis. Tom Fontes, who hit .627 with 19 home runs and 66 RBI during the regular season, leads the team with six playoff homers. Doyles swept FL Smith in the first round and beat number-two seed Lombardi, three games to one, in the best-of-five semi-finals. Chris Tracy and Pat Callahan are hitting over .750 in the Pack's postseason run and Pat Callahan, Brett Wright and Dustin Crossman have belted four homers apiece. Sheet (22-5) boasts a modern day Murderer's Row of Fontes, Scott Pearsons (team-leading .651 BA), Tim Golden (.600, 13 home runs, 48 RBI), Eric "Rico" Giovanello (.575, 8, 36) and Bobby Christensen (.533, 3, 48). "Sheet Metal also plays flawless defense," Tracy said. "Bobby Christensen is probably the best shortstop in the league." The Pack counters with Callahan, Wright, Tracy and Dustin Crossman, who hit a league-leading 26 home runs. Left fielder Derek Maheux and third baseman Ben Grimes earn their pay with their gloves. Both teams boast a small, but rabid, fan base. "We averaged about one fan per game this season," Tracy said. "We're hoping to double that in the playoffs." A series of rain-outs have pushed the series into October, meaning the weather will be more suited to the Iditarod than a softball game. "We can't let the weather be a factor," Tracy said. "Were just going to take it one game at a time." With the Sox out of the postseason, what better way to get your diamond fix than to head up to Oliver Ames High School this week and watch these two titans collide? This is an event that promises to provide a sports memory that lasts a lunchtime. U.S Sheet Metal beats Doyles in series opener Few sporting events ever live up to the pre-game hype. Tuesday night's series opener between U.S. Sheet Metal and Doyles Wolfpack somehow surpassed the hype. Trailing, 15-6, after three innings, the defending champs showed why they are threatening to eclipse the Daly Drywall/Deibel Building* dynasty of the late 1980's. Sheet scored 10 unanswered runs over the final three innings to win, 16-15, and take a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series. "No lead is safe when you are facing that team," Doyles player/manager Chris Tracy said. In a battle of heavyweights, Doyles tried to land a knockout blow early. The Pack, led by Tracy's three-run homer to left-center, batted through the order and scored six runs in top of the first inning. Sheet Metal was on the ropes, but answered right back with four home runs in the bottom of the first with Tom Fontes, Rico Giovanello (3-4, HR) and Timmy Golden (4-4, HR) going back to back to back. Three of the four homers were solo shots and Doyles clung to a 6-5 lead. The Pack came out of their corner looking to finish off Sheet in the third inning. Pat Callahan (4-4) and Brett Wright hit back-to-back home runs as Doyles scored nine runs to take a 15-6 lead. The Pack had thrown their best shots, however, and Sheet Metal was still standing. Sheet brought in closer John MacDonald, who shut down the Pack bats the rest of the game. "MacDonald pitched a gem," Tracy said. Sheet Metal chipped away at the lead over the next three innings, closing the gap to 15-13 as the teams entered the bottom of the seventh. Tom Fontes (3-5, 2 home runs) came to the plate with the bases loaded and promptly laced the first pitch he saw over a drawn in infield to send everyone home. "We went four innings with out scoring," Tracy said. "You just can't hang goose-eggs on the board against that team." Fans won't have to wait long for a re-match. Same two teams tomorrow night. *As we enter the fall of 2010, all true sports fans are celebrating the 20th anniversary of one of the greatest softball dynasties ever assembled. The Daly Drywall/Deibel Building teams won three straight Easton Mens Softball titles from 1988-1990. The team was a collection of OA legends. Cagey veterans Jim Craig, Tommy Holmes, Dave Harris, Paul 'Cal' Calarise, Ray Daly and Peter Deibel combined with younger Tiger heroes Tom Hedrick, Chris Ryan, Steve Osiecki, Jay Ryan, Ed Rollo and John Quattrucci to form a true dynasty. Craig, who won a gold medal with the 1980 Olympic Hockey team, said that beating Fernandes Lumber was better than beating the Russians. The team assembled for a reunion this past winter and looks like it could still compete for a title in 2010. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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