Tag: Texas Rangers (Page 9 of 21)

      Yankees announcer Michael Kay accuses Cliff Lee of cheating

      October 15, 2010 /
      Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee throws against the New York Yankees in the first inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Arlington, Texas August 11, 2010. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      With the Yankees set to take on the Rangers in Game 1 of the ALCS in a matter of hours, it stands to reason that they should be mentally focused and prepared for their mission ahead.

      So it only makes sense for one of their TV announcers to open his mouth and accuse their opponent’s ace of cheating.

      From the New York Daily News:

      The lead singer of the chorus, the loudest yodeler, is Michael Kay, the television voice of the Yankees who also hosts a show on ESPN-1050. Kay’s association with the Bombers brings added significance to the controversy.

      Kay insists the combination of resin on Lee’s hat and the pitcher’s sweat produces a “tackiness,” making it easier to grip the ball. “I would think that’s illegal,” Kay said on 1050 Wednesday. “If I’m Joe Girardi, I’m telling the umpires he (Lee) has got to wear another hat.”

      “I would think that’s illegal.” What Kay meant to say is he thinks Lee is cheating.

      This is pretty smart on Kay’s part, as he’s probably managed to piss off the Rangers and distract the Yankees all in one fell swoop. His comments also won’t do New York’s front office any favors when they try to woo Lee this winter when the pitcher becomes a free agent.

      Well done, Mikey.

      External Sports, MLB

      Cliff Lee is pretty decent in the postseason

      October 13, 2010 /
      Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee throws against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 5 of their American League Division Series MLB baseball playoffs in St. Petersburg, Florida October 12, 2010. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      Cliff Lee is a bad, bad mother when it comes to pitching the playoffs.

      Once again, he went the distance in a postseason start as the Rangers knocked off the Rays 5-1 in the decisive Game 5 of the ALDS. With the win, Texas advances to the ALCS to face the Yankees. With the loss, Tampa now advances to its couch to watch the Rangers take on the Yankees.

      Lee scattered six hits over nine innings while striking out 11 and walking zero batters. With his 11 Ks, he now owns the ALDS record with 21 strikeouts, surpassing the previous total of 16 held by the Big Unit (1995, 1997) and Mike Mussina (1997). Because he had to pitch on Tuesday night, he likely won’t start until Game 3 of the ALCS, while C.J. Wilson will start Game 1 and Colby Lewis Game 2.

      The Rangers and Yankees split eight games during the regular season, which including a three-game sweep for Texas at home in September. Lee has beaten the Bronx Bombers twice in the postseason already, with both of those wins coming in the World Series last year.

      And whether or not he beats them in the ALCS, he’ll likely be in pinstripes by December. He’s a free agent at the end of the year and Brian Cashman probably has wood just thinking about signing Lee to a seven-year, gazillion dollar contract.

      External Sports, MLB

      Hey, there’s the Rays’ offense!

      October 10, 2010 /
      Tampa Bay Rays' Carlos Pena hits a two-run home run in the ninth inning, scoring team-mate Sean Rodriguez during play against the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of their American League Division Series MLB baseball game in Arlington, Texas October 9, 2010. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      It took two games and the threat of elimination but the Rays’ offense has finally showed up to the ALDS.

      Behind Carl Crawford’s 2-for-5 day, the Rays beat the Rangers 6-3 on Saturday to cut Texas’ lead in the series down to 2-1. Crawford also hit a long ball and made a great sliding catch to rob Josh Hamilton of an eighth inning hit.

      Perhaps the biggest surprise from the game was that Carlos Pena actually found the stadium and showed up. He went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored and also walked twice. His single to right in the eighth inning tied the game at 2-2 and then his homer in the ninth gave Tampa a 6-2 cushion heading into the last half inning.

      Matt Garza contributed to the win, although he wasn’t nearly as sharp as he could been. He gave up two runs on five hits over six innings while striking out four and giving up a home run to Ian Kinsler. For the longest time, it appeared as though Kinsler’s dinger would hold up and the Rangers would proceed with the sweep.

      Texas will have another chance today at 1:07PM ET to finish off the Rays for good. Tommy Hunter will oppose Wade Davis, who finished the season with a 12-10 record and a 4.07 ERA for the Rays.

      External Sports, MLB

      What happened to the Rays’ offense?

      October 7, 2010 /
      Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price reacts after he was taken from the game against the Texas Rangers during their American League Division Series MLB baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida October 6, 2010. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      The above picture is not of an offensive player for the Rays – it’s of pitcher David Price. But if it were a picture of an offensive player, he’d have the same expression on his face.

      In the regular season, only the Yankees and Red Sox scored more runs than the Rays, who crossed home plate 802 times this year.

      In their last two games, they’ve scored just one, which is a problem considering their last two games have come in the postseason. Following their 6-0 loss to the Rangers on Sunday, the Rays now trail Texas 2-0 in the best-of-five ALDS. Oh, and now they have to go on the road for their next two games, if they make it to Game 4, that is.

      The Rangers’ pitching staff has been good this season (great even, if you factor in the struggles its had over the years), but they’re not that good are they? Are they good enough to hold the third best run-scoring offense in the league to only one run the past two games? In Tampa no less?

      This in no way is meant to be a put down to Texas. C.J. Wilson pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings today and was outstanding all season. He’s made a successful jump from being a setup man to a full-time starter and he’s one of the many reasons the Rangers may go deep into the postseason this year.

      But one run? One run in two games? I figured when the Rays got that albatross Carlos Pena (who batted .169 against lefties during the regular season) out of the lineup that they’d generate some offense. But they actually produced less runs in Game 2 today than they did in Game 1, which was hard to do considering they only scored one yesterday.

      This Rays team is in trouble and nobody wants to face the Rangers right now. Those bankrupt bastards are on a mission.

      External Sports, MLB

      Cliff Lee once again shows his mastery in postseason

      October 6, 2010 /
      Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee throws against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second during their American League Division Series MLB baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida October 6, 2010. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      Cliff Lee pitched seven innings of one-run ball on Wednesday as the Rangers beat the Rays 5-1 in Game 1 of the ALDS.

      Lee was outstanding, striking out 10 batters to set a postseason record for the Rangers. He spread out five hits over seven innings and used only 104 pitches to complete his masterpiece today. The only run he allowed came on a Ben Zobrist home run in the seventh inning when the game was essentially out of reach for the Rays.

      David Price’s day didn’t go as well. He surrended five runs (four earned) over 6 2.3 innings, including two in the second. He also gave up a dinger to Nelson Cruz on a 3-0 pitch and had trouble with his off-speed stuff for most of the afternoon. Texas isn’t the lineup you want to face when you can only rely on your fastball.

      The other hero for the Rangers was an unlikely one, as catcher Bengie Molina finished 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Jeff Francouer gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the second inning and Molina followed the near home run with a single to right. He added his home run in the fourth to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead.

      Game 2 will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:37PM ET, as C.J. Wilson will take the hill against Tampa’s James Shields.

      External Sports, MLB

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