Kins 2b
Andrus ss
Hamilton lf
Beltre dh
Young 1b
Murph rf
Soto c
Gentry cf
Olt 3b
Darvish P

So we get Gentrification and some Olt...but no Cruz vs LHP in TOR? Why Wash? Why must MY be in the lineup at the cost of Cruz who will now sit out two games in a row(yes he pinch hit and finished the Yankee game, but still two games not started in a row).

Discuss.

Expect weird lineups any time we go to Toronto because of the shitty artificial turf. Cruz and Beltre don't field today. I bet most of the big players get a day off or DH day this series.

Welp, got one of my answers via twitter:

Drew Davison ‏@drewdavison
Nelson Cruz out of lineup today with sore right hamstring. Available off bench. #Rangers

The way our guys take days off in Toronto it's a wonder how the bluejays don't have their entire 40 man on the dl after the first homestand of the season.

How do the AL East teams handle games in Toronto? Does Maddon and Girardi sit guys everytime they play a series there to protect them from the hard ground?

Moreland might be getting some more rest for his toe on this turf.

The infield defense with Darvish on the mound on turf is going to be an adventure tonight for sure....

I've lost it over this face topic. I proposed to myself if it was the bottom of the ninth, tie game, bases loaded, 1 out and mikey face up, would I root for a hit? Honest answer is, no I'd want an inning ending DP. I have to stop this or my Rangers season will be ruined.

RA, I disagree. 1B is the only problem.

That was kind of my point Tx...not worried about Olt...but the throws from the other positions to 1B will be the adventure. Plus, over/under on PADMY tonight is 3. I'll take the over.

FrancisIrvin, you are a prime example of how ridiculous this debate has become. You are telling us you would actually prefer MY to GIDP in a walk-off situation rather than hit a game-winner? That's really the choice you would prefer? That is the most bass ackwards thing I've heard today. And I read "Hello Win Column's" thread too, so that's saying quite a bit.

Good thing Cal Ripken didn't play for Wash. He would have given him a mental day off before the streak could even start.

Resting players with a comfortable division lead is a good idea. We could nitpick about batting MY 5th, but I'll let that slide. I'm excited to see what Olt can do playing his natural position.

dRitch, yes I'm not proud of my convoluted thinking but It's how my emotions push me. It's completely irrational that this topic has become almost as important as the Ranger's won/lost record. Oh well.

Well FrancisIrvin, I guess you think if Face fails in a critical at bat, Wash would sit him down. Um, yeah, not gonna happen. All season Face has failed, except for one for two times, in clutch situations and we see his playing time is not affected. If that scenario plays out, I hope he ropes a pitch to the OF gap. As much as I can't stand to see Face in the lineup, I want him to succeed at every PA.

Wait...if Ripkin had a day off "before the streak could even start," then wouldn't the streak still be intact?

I'm okay with this lineup. I don't like Young at 1B because his defense sucks and at this point he should be limited to being a platoon DH against lefties, but I understand why he's there today. If Napoli were healthy I would expect to see him at 1B over Young, but Napoli's out so I can understand Wash resting Moreland when you combine the fact that we're facing a lefty and playing on the bad turf (keeping in mind that not long ago Moreland was on the DL with leg problems).

Sucks about Cruz having a little hammy problem again, but at least it sounds like it's not major. At this point I'll take the mix-and-match lineups the rest of the regular season if it helps get everyone healthy and well-rested in time for the playoffs. When the postseason starts I want a healthy roster with all of our weapons at Wash's disposal. That's when I'll judge how Wash constructs his lineups.

Yeah, Francis, that's pretty ridiculous. Any true fan would root for FACE to get HBP and score the winning run that way...

Let's go. How about Romney's VP saying his favorite band is Rage Against the Machine?

Young has been better than terrible, though certainly not ideal, at 1B this year. I can live with this, if it happens sparingly. (If the PADMY O/U is 2.5 I'd take the under.) I wish he were batting lower, though. And I wish Soto were batting 8th or 9th. But it doesn't strike me nearly as odd as yesterday's enigma of a lineup.

Here's hoping today's the day Olt gets his first HR. Go Rangers.

Let's go. How about Romney's VP saying his favorite band is Rage Against the Machine?

August 17, 2012 at 4:48 PM | shoeswithlivegoldfish

That's a bit odd. Rage is most definitely one of the more left leaning bands out there. With that said in my earlier days when I myself was something of a gym rat Rage Against the Machine Evil Empire was one of the CDs I would listen too to get me pumped. It's raw choppy explosive sound had a way of getting the juices flowing. Other CDs I used were Sepultura Roots and Korn. Not sure if that's how he uses it or not. But I would highly doubt that he is influenced by their lyrics.