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Photo courtesy Texas Rangers Will the Rangers clinch tonight or will the Yankees force Game 7 in Arlington? |
The Yankees, of course, will have a say in how this turns out. Coming off far and away their best performance of the series Wednesday in Game 5, they're feeling much better about themselves and their chances. The lineup still is lacking without Mark Teixeira, though if ever there was a capable fill-in for the 3-hole, Robinson Cano is it. Just a fantastic player who probably would hit third in any other club's lineup.
This is a pitching rematch of Game 2, in which Colby Lewis (two runs in 5 2/3 innings) beat Phil Hughes (seven runs in 4-plus innings). It'll be interesting to see if either manager has a short hook tonight, not wanting to let anything get out of hand, and is willing to turn things over to his bullpen early.
I'm out of town this weekend, but I'm hoping to catch at least part of the game. Probably won't be posting updates here, though, until late. As always, though, please keep the conversation going with each other and I may chime in at some point...
AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES — GAME 6
NEW YORK YANKEES at TEXAS RANGERS
Where: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington Gametime: 8:07 p.m.
TV: TBS Radio: WTEM-980 AM
Weather: Chance of storms, 82 degrees
YANKEES11:30 p.m. -- Congrats to the Texas Rangers, champions of the American League for the first time in the history of a franchise that first came into existence in 1961 as the expansion Washington Senators. Brilliant pitching performance from Colby Lewis, who three years ago couldn't even make the first cut in a wide-open competition for spots in the Washington Nationals rotation. Fantastic showing throughout the series from series MVP Josh Hamilton, whose life was in disarray only a few years ago but who now thrives as one of the game's best players. Superb job by Ron Washington, who overcame his own demons to manage a championship club. Tip of the cap to Nolan Ryan, who has embodied Texas baseball for three decades and now has brought the World Series to Arlington 41 years after he made his one and only appearance as a 22-year-old for the 1969 New York Mets. It's hard not to root for these guys, isn't it?
SS Derek Jeter
CF Curtis Granderson
2B Robinson Cano
3B Alex Rodriguez
1B Lance Berkman
RF Nick Swisher
C Jorge Posada
DH Marcus Thames
LF Brett Gardner
(P Phil Hughes)
RANGERS
SS Elvis Andrus
3B Michael Young
CF Josh Hamilton
DH Vladimir Guerrero
RF Nelson Cruz
2B Ian Kinsler
LF David Murphy
C Bengie Molina
1B Mitch Moreland
(P Colby Lewis)
Two other thoughts before you turn in for the night:
1) Wednesday night: Game 1 of the World Series. Featuring Cliff Lee vs. either Tim Lincecum or Roy Halladay. Can't go wrong either way with that epic matchup.
2) There are now only two major-league franchises that have never been to the World Series: the Seattle Mariners (who first came into existence in 1977) and the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, who first came into existence in 1969.
26 comments:
The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant!
Whatta game! Terrific game for Colby Lewis, Vlad, Cruz, the whole team!
How many of Girardi's moves really worked this series? The offense except Cano was pathetic but all bullpen changes were unimpressive. Is he going back to NYY next season for sure?
Rangers played so well that every move by Joe favored Texas. Offense is scary, starting pitchers not named Lee shouldn't be underestimated, and reliable bullpen. Very likely that they will be the champs no matter who they play against, Philly or Giants?
But if it will be the Giants, I will be rooting for The Freak and co.
I just love that the team that spent over $200 million did not even make it to the Series! This means it will be Lee vs. either Lincicum or Halladay which will make for a great series opener. The Ranger's shortstop is impressive and actually except for 1st base they have a really nice offensive team. They did not make many mistakes in the two series I have watched and we can only hope and dream we can play this type of baseball in the near future. Are Vlad's knees so bad that he cannot play in the field when its a NL home game? That will hurt the Senators/Rangers but I think they have a chance. Next chore is rooting against Philly fan, how great would it be to see them lose in their own park. Thing is, I kind of like their team, just can't stand the fans.
Mark, the political ads on your site are very inappropriate for a "for fun" site. They're offensive for those not sharing the far rightwing view of the world and/or an appreciation for sound bite public discourse.
Richard,
Mark has no control over what advertisements appear on his site. They are chosen by a computer program, probably Google's. And ads are different for each visitor. I live in London, England, so when I visit Nationals Insider the advertisements displayed are for UK airlines offering cheap flights to Spain.
When I see good things I say them....
for the first time Nats have a good group of prospects playing winter ball, together, with their own coaching staff in charge. That is progress.....
take a look at yesterday's box from PR winter league game one for Ponce......
Danny E, Chris Marrero, Van Allen and Mandel all played in the game.
That beats Dukes and Angle Hernandez and Bonofacio at Lacey a few years back......This team should have 25 players in AFL and Carib. leagues this year. Mark...can you post something on this progress?
Good to see Vlad Guerrero getting some stick last night. The archives shot that the broadcast showed of him hitting a pitched ground ball against Baltimore has been typical of his great career. Best bad ball hitter of the last 50 years--he makes Yogi look like a traditional hitter. He had a real cannon for an arm too.
I've been following him since he played Single A in Vermount. Hey, a few more bucks in the Expos' bank account, and he would have spent some of his pre-DH career in a Nats uniform!
As a long time Expos/Nats fan who lives in Arlington, Texas, now, it is the coolest to see my favorite player of all-time - Vladdy - make it to the World Series. He and Cliff Lee are some of the last remaining links to the Expos and all Expos fans should have a smile on their faces today. I know I do. Hope the Rangers win it all.
Jay B:
thanks for the news and it is amazing to me that these kids take very little time off. As I remember the PR league is not over quickly like the AFL. Hope Espinosa will get a little break before spring training. Whatever happened to "smiley"? Although he is not as young as he wanted to be I would guess he had some talent or we would not have signed him.
My Senators finally beat those DAMNED Yankees!
And I still hate Bob Short!
Best I can tell on "Smiley" is that he was not that talented at all. He looked like he might project maybe at a 16 year old but he is nothing as a 21 year old and he was just a total scam.
"If the Expo's had money"......ouch, now the Nats have money just will not spend it...Vlad then Dunn now....Zimm next? I hope Lerners have learned something from their days of Jimbo and lets do it on the cheap.
It's because of Bob Short that I live in Florida.
After one summer without baseball (summer of '72)and after the Skins lost to Miami, I packed my bags and moved to Orlando, never to return to D.C. until the Nats arrived.
While I still hate Bob Short, things have worked out well for me.
I have lived to see it all: The Senators are going to the World Series. That is who they are, and that is where they are going. That said, I'm rooting for the National League. It's all about the Nats. BTW, my ads are for fitness stuff. No problem here.
Richard: My apologies for any political ads you've encountered. The purpose of this site most definitely is not to attempt to persuade anyone to vote for anyone at either end of the political spectrum. Unfortunately, I have no advance knowledge of what ads are going to be posted through the national ad program I've signed up for. And as some of the other readers said, the ads vary depending on your location. If you're in Washington, you're going to see different ads than you'll see if you're in Chicago. Also, some ads are determined based on what other websites you visit. They're targeted to the individual consumer. Not much I can do about that, short of canceling the ad program altogether, which would stop one of the revenue streams that helps keep this site going from coming in.
Again, my apologies to anyone who is offended by any political ads they see. All I can say is that I do not endorse any political candidate or issue that may appear on this site. Please don't view any of those ads and assume it reflects my opinions of the world, which as a professional journalist I make a point to keep private.
"Mark, the political ads on your site are very inappropriate for a "for fun" site. They're offensive for those not sharing the far rightwing view of the world and/or an appreciation for sound bite public discourse."
Don't forget that Zuckerman used to cash paychecks from that far right wing Moonie paper that is now thankfully almost gone. Clearly he doesn't care that there's a political message associated with his writings. Or does he?
I think Mark's explanation is reasonable and understandable. If you have a problem with his former employer, there are other blogs to read.
I was recently in China, so I get HSBC ads in Chinese, even here in DC.
While we are talking about the Senators, with the Rangers finally making it to the World Series it leaves only two franchises in Baseball that haven't seen a World Series game, the Seattle Marines and our Washington Nats. Oh, making this stat even worst, the Nats in there 40 years of existents have only made the playoffs once, in 1981 so they are probably, I think, the longest playoff drought of any team in the majors.
@Anonymous 10:56:
Holding Mark responsible for the Moonie rag's ravings would be like holding the news section of the Wall Street Journal responsible for its editorial pages. Some people do it, but I don't.
"@Anonymous 10:56:
Holding Mark responsible for the Moonie rag's ravings would be like holding the news section of the Wall Street Journal responsible for its editorial pages. Some people do it, but I don't."
No one claims Zuckerman was responsible for the Washington Times editorial stands, or for the ads currently appearing on his site. That's not the issue. The issue is that he himself has no problem with such viewpoints providing his own income. He seems to say "I'm just doing my job." Well, to use an extreme example, so did low-level Germans in WW II. But to what extent does just doing his job indicate at least tacit support of the viewpoints of his employers? I myself never read Zuckerman's work in the Times precisely because of who was paying him to write it. Do I need to stop reading him here? Maybe so.
Anonymous 2:11, you realize you just went Godwin, and therefore close this thread and you lose, right? Tis so.
I mean, srsly. They're ADS. Get over yourselves.
I don't know what kind of political ads are coming up that offend certain readers like Richard or the various Anons who post here as I don't see them here in TN. However if people like Anonymous 2:11 don't like the ads that pop up when reading Nats Insider that is too bad. It's called "free speech" and hopefully we will have it for a long, long time. As Sec3 said, they're ADS....get over it!!
Not only should you stop reading, please stop posting. I have not even noticed the ads, I go right for the meat of Mark's excellent writing and reporting. Some people must need something to complain about. I agree with Sec 3 ...get over it.
not that it matters but I am a l00% liberal democrat and they can post any ad they want here and I will continue to read about the Nationals and baseball. hate to keep piling on but why would anyone read an ad in the first place.
Anonymous, I have already written here that I am in London and therefore all the ads are for English things. Mark really has no idea what ads will come up and no control over them. And I think that you should judge Mark by the work he does and the courage and sacrifice it (now) takes him just to do it every day. If you can't judge him by the work he does, you can go judge somebody else.
nicely put, Brian.
Comments re the political ads are no reflection on your work. Thanks for the great sports journalism. Looking forward to it in the future.
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