The One That Got Away
If a play ends up looking like this, something likely went terribly, terribly wrong.It seemed destined to become the eminent convention-shattering game in a season that has already defied so many of our expectations and beliefs, and, for seven innings, that's exactly what it was. The Rangers were positioned to rid themselves of the never-won-a-home-playoff-game distinction, and were taking the iconoclastic hammer to the notion that post-season experience is of great significance; actually, nothing that transpired after the seventh inning suggested otherwise, as the biggest goat of the game on the pitching side (Darren Oliver) has a whopping six seasons' worth of post-season experience underneath his belt. But I'm rambling now.
And I suppose I should be rambling with ferocity and anguish lacing each word that spills forth from my keyboard, but that isn't the case. I'm disappointed, but calm. The series isn't over, despite whatever media-borne hyperbole you might stumble upon that argues to the contrary. Texas has pulled this resiliency act far too many times this year for me to even begin to count. Believe it or not, teams actually do recover from late-inning, purportedly "devastating" losses in the playoffs -- or losses of any sort, really -- and advance into the next round. You're more than welcome to feel discouraged or even feel some pervading sense of dread, but if you've hung tough with this team all year (or, in particular, through all of those frustrating years that were necessary to get to this exact moment), now is not the time to turn your back on it.
Last night's debacle reminds me of one game in particular, and why this game has lingered in the recesses of my mind for more than a decade is anybody's guess: April 27th, 1999. In short, Texas dropped five runs on Roger Clemens before the second out of the bottom of the first inning was recorded, and it seemed that would be sufficient run support to carry Aaron Sele and company ... but it wasn't, and Jeff Zimmerman and John Wetteland ultimately allowed three runs in the final three innings of the game to lose to the Yankees by a 7-6 margin. The two collapses differed in the specifics, but mirrored each other in that the Rangers jumped ahead of New York early in both cases, and then watched their offense enter "Operation Shutdown" mode while the Yankees methodically whittled away at the respective deficits.
Manager Ron Washington contends that his eighth-inning bullpen machinations were not a problem and that he had the pitchers in the game that he wanted in the game -- and yet, I find myself questioning why Darren Oliver was summoned into the game in relief of C.J. Wilson when both Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira have materially inferior career splits from the left side of the plate (vs. right-handers), and, if the manager/pitching coach had enough trust in Oliver to use him in spite of his shaky first-round performance, why Neftali Feliz didn't receive the same benefit of the doubt and somehow figure into the high-leverage mayhem. Or, hell, even Alexi Ogando.
Ultimately, though, the bullpen management wasn't the real catastrophe here -- the performance was, as Oliver couldn't find the strike zone in yielding two walks to Swisher/Teixeira, Darren O'Day permitted a hard-hit single to Alex Rodriguez (albeit one that likely shouldn't have happened), Clay Rapada couldn't fulfill his sole obligation (that is, neutralizing Robinson Cano, who whacked the game-tying single against Rapada), and the offense couldn't accomplish much of anything after Josh Hamilton's seemingly momentum-setting blast in the first inning. Texas didn't lose because of one singularly monstrous failing, but rather because of a game-long series of smaller, individually innocuous failings that proved fatal to the Rangers' chances as they slowly compounded.
I almost don't feel quite right railing on Michael Young considering that he did smash a two-run double, but his matador act on Rodriguez's sharply struck eighth-inning grounder was infuriating -- and sadly predictable. Young is who he is defensively, which is a glaring inadequacy on the left side of the infield; it's simply unfortunate that this particular inadequacy had to enter into play at this critical juncture in such an important game. Nobody's going to argue that it was an easy ball to field, but it was easy to block, at the very least; instead, he stood transfixed, dropped to a squatting position and awkwardly extended his glove, almost as though he hoped he would just get lucky and the ball would magically find his glove. It didn't, and he later remarked that while he would have loved to have made the play, he wouldn't "lose any sleep over [it]." I'll leave you to ponder whether that was the appropriate remark after such a tough playoff loss.
And, of course, there was Ian Kinsler getting picked off first base by Kerry Wood with nobody out in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Rangers trailing by a mere run; that single play dinged the Rangers' win expectancy (WE) by 16.3 percent, which is nearly double the WE hit that Texas would have incurred if then-batting David Murphy had just gone ahead and struck out with Kinsler still residing on first base. I get that you live and die by the aggressive baserunning dictum, and that it meaningfully contributed to the Rangers' Game 5 win, but ... yeah, just mind-numbing. The ALCS is definitely not over, but things have to get better today, or else tomorrow is going to be a really tough day.
Analysis, Game Recaps, Playoffs
Reader Comments (66)
The most depressing 3 hours of sport I can ever remember watching. The 8th was aweful. Ron Washington cannot manage a bullpen to save his life. How do ou lose like this with your 2 best RPs never getting in the game? Oliver is gassed for the season. He's got nothing left.
I'm sure Maddox has something to do with pitching decisions. If it was bad bullpen management, it's not all on Wash.
C.J. should never have come out in the 8th. He wasd or near 100 pitches (Maybe like 98) and he was showing signs of weakening. There are a lot of inexperienced pitchers out in the B.P. but I thought Oliver could throw strikes. Wash is going to keep riding that horse until it kills him and them. Oliver says he is healthy and wants the ball but i think maybe his mind is writing checks that his body can't cash.
At 90+ pitches, i wonder if Sabathia will be back sooner. Maybe against Lee on Tuesday. i hope not. This was a chance to steal a game. More whiskey, bar keep. This is insomnia i have tonight.
Advice is advice, and I'm sure he got some, but the buck stops somewhere. To go to your 4th best RP (Oliver) because he's a lefty and you like the matchup against SWITCH HITTERS is just getting way way way too cute. Which Wash does. He did, after all, set the single game record for most pitchers used earlier this season. That's just how he overmanages his bullpens.
Oliver has looked finished since about August 15th.
This loss is on Washington - decision to go with Cantu who sent Cruz home when he shouldn't and was slow to throw to CJ then all the bullpen matchup decisions.
I'm beginning to think that no matter what we do, the Yankees will always have that ace up the sleeve: the deal with the Devil!!!
Also, we missed Frank Frank in that 8th inning.
Why did Cantu start? He can't hit. He can't do anything. The Yankees luck out with the ball bouncing right back to Posada to get Cruz.
I don't understand the pitching mess in the 8th inning. I really don't.
Dang it. I'm mad as hell right now. I hate the stinkin' Yankees. We had that game until we decided to think it was over in the 7th inning.
Dang it.
Down with Yank.
Mike Young sucks
NY Mets fan here...What the expletive!
You let the EVIL EMPIRE off the hook!
I could guess why OLD OLD OLD Darren Oliver was put in to power them to a win-ten years ago, maybe.
Then, a side-winder? Don't you guys have a FIRE-BALLER to get guys out like a Josh Bard?
I will root for the Rangers, but, I honestly think it's already over.
That hurt as much as any Ranger loss I have ever watched. I would rather the Yanks had won 12-0. CJ should have stayed on in the 8th. The rest was vintage Ranger meltdown. They better win tomorrow or I will need to go check myself into the nervous hospital.
The Rangers can win the series with Michael Young's crappy defense because they won despite it all year. They can win whether Wash uses Cantu or Moreland because they did all year.
The Rangers cannot win without an effective bullpen. Had the bullpen performed all year the way it's performed since the postseason started, the A's or Angels would've won the division.
If the pen pulls its collective head out, there's a shot. If they don't, it was nice to finally win at least one series.
This loss is on Washington - decision to go with Cantu who sent Cruz home when he shouldn't and was slow to throw to CJ then all the bullpen matchup decisions.
I didn't notice Cantu waving Cruz home, but even if he did, I don't have any problem with it, nor with the bang-bang decision by Cruz to take off for home. You inherently expect an errant pitch that flies to the backstop to score a run from third base, bottom line ... however, even if you pessimistically assume only a 50-60 percent chance of scoring on that play, that's still leaps and bounds higher than Cantu's chances of actually reaching base.
In 2010, the average AL batting line after a 1-0 count was .278/.390/.445 ... Cantu himself is at .303/.382/.470 after 1-0. In any event, the odds of Cruz scoring on any wild pitch are definitely higher than the odds of Cantu reaching base via hit/error/walk/HBP.
Just be glad you weren't at the game guys. I hate this team sometimes.
MYoung is just awful
Not nearly enough comments about what really happened and some mistakes aren't mentioned at all.
1. Two hits in 8th should have and did finish Wilson. Cantu good have flipped a bit sooner but Wilson broke a tad late and they weren't going to get the Yankee's fastest guy.
2. Oliver did force two power hitters to switch to their "weaker" side. He is not an 8th inning guy though and the two walks were horrible.
3. Michael Young not getting in front of that ground ball by O'Day was a 13 million dollar seasoned pro's impression of, "I'm afraid like a little girl" mistake that may have been the biggest of all. From 8th inning with lead I want DEFENSE.
4. Hamilton's error allowed winning run to third who probably wouldn't have scored on following bloop to outfield.
5. Lastly, Kinsler getting picked off. He got the gift of a walk. Should have run on old man Posada earlier in the count to get on second with no outs.
6. Cruz at beginning of game was out because of a Yankee lucky bounce and some hustle by the biggest man in baseball. Cruz should have slid head first and away to sneak a hand in.
The ONLY mistake Washington made was to not put his power against power in the 8th to shut it down. Everything else on the list is essentially poor execution.
Why did Cantu start? He can't hit. He can't do anything. The Yankees luck out with the ball bouncing right back to Posada to get Cruz.
This is a valid criticism. Cantu's bat speed is in the toilet and he can't do the one thing he's responsible for doing -- hitting lefties -- competently. At least Moreland gives you a remotely decent contact/OBP/power package against LHP, and doesn't necessitate a pinch-hitter if/when NYY brings on the right-handed reinforcements later in the game.
Just be glad you weren't at the game guys.
No kidding. Kinsler getting picked off was the last bit that let all the air out of the crowd. Chuck Morgan couldn't stir up much of any life after that play, even though most of the people stayed until the bitter end.
Yet again, less than 10 outs until the best baseball game ever, and then poof. The four Yankee fans sitting a few rows in front of me sure enjoyed it.
Oliver has looked finished since about August 15th.
Oliver, pre-Aug. 15th: 48.2 IP, 12 BB, 54 K, 2.40 ERA, .232/.286/.339, 9% swinging strikes
Oliver, post-Aug. 15th: 13.0 IP, 3 BB, 11 K, 2.77 ERA, .275/.315/.431, 12% swinging strikes
I'm not sure "finished" is the right word.
As soon as ARod hit that ball past Michael Young, I heard Lou Brown yelling
"Come on Dorn, get in front of the damn ball! Don't give me this "olé" bullsh*t!"
Well, that was disappointing ... not that the Yankees won ... but how they won ... which brings me to my point ...
The Texas Rangers are now, IMHO, at a "crossroads" moment in the future of this franchise ... the last step in becoming a CHAMPION is at hand ... and that last step is ... Mental toughness
The difference last night, as I saw it ... and I watched the entire game ... was that even through the first 7 innings, while we were "dominating" the hated Yankees ... they were maintaining their "focus" ... they weren't having any measurable success through the first 6 innings, but they weren't demonstrably rattled, either ... they've been here before, they knew what needed to be done ... they "knew what the game requested of them" ... stay calm, stay focused ... and be ready ... didn't mean that they'd necessarily win, but it meant that they'd be ready to seize any opportunity that presented itself ... and in the 8th inning, opportunity knocked ... and the "mental toughness" that comes from so many years (15 years worth) of "rising to the occasion" showed itself once again ... again, didn't mean that they'd get the chance ... but they were capable of being "ready" if the chance came their way ...
Which brings me to the Rangers ...
This morning, the Rangers will awake to the full-fledged realization of an opportunity lost ... of a chance wasted ... OK, so be it, it happens ... the bigger question is "How will they respond" ... they've dealt with more than their share of adversity, IMHO, over the course of this season ... and they have risen to the challenge each and every time ... it's why they're here in the first place ... and it has been the hallmark of this team all season ...
The question now becomes ... "do the Rangers have the "mental toughness" to respond" ... is the character of this team such that, with the energy of their fan base behind them, they can bounce back and take today's game ... in years past, the answer more often than not was a resounding "NO" ... what will the answer be today ...
Bad hops happen ... a round ball doesn't always bounce "true" on the natural surface of a baseball field ... it's why we have our Little Leaguers wear face guards on their batting helmets (I still have a tough time with that ... I'm old school ... I played Little League ... got run over in the base line ... got hit by enough pitches to feel it now at 55 ...) ... and sometimes, "stuff" happens ...
It's a game that the Rangers had won ... and they should have won it handily ... they didn't ... I'm more interested in how MY ... and Josh ... and Vladdy ... and Cruz ... and Kins ... and Colby Lewis will respond today ...
Is this team ready to take that last step towards being a CHAMPION ??
We'll know by dinner time ...
GO RANGERS !!!
Darren Oliver failed to perform. Okay. But Mike Young on that ball was pathetic. At least 20 third basemen in baseball get at least a force at home on that ball. 15 get a home to first double play. 25 do no worse than knock it down and keep it in front of them. I am so sick of that awkward little glove wave thing that he does when he's afraid to get in front of a hard=hit ball. Has any player since Mike Lamb looked so unathletic at third base?
45 Year Red Sox fan observations here:
1. This one was (mostly) on the manager.
2. In the 8th he should have had M Young more or less hugging the line on Derek Jeter.
3. The game needed saving in the 8th, not the 9th. Meaning? Either bring in the closer or start your set-up guy with a fresh inning inning in the 8th instead of waiting for the starter to get knocked out.
4. One man specialty pitchers (Rapada) are fine for the regular season. The ALDS is no time for the back of the pen in a close game.
5. Darren Oliver? Probably should have been pulled after his first BB, not second.
6. Good thing they have Ogando!
7. This is MLB. Why do you Rangers fans think this carries over to game 2? It doesn't. Ranger can pull out a game today or even blow out the Yankees. Jeesh. It's only one game. Other than in the fanbase there is no emotional carryover from last night to today's game. None.
The Rangers had the bases loaded with two outs and tried to score on a wild pitch. Btw, that was probably the right thing to do. Moreoever, he beat the throw but failed to touch homeplate with the correct leg.
Bad defense (a sign of nerves?) was displayed by Michael Young at third just stabbing at the ball instead of throwing his body in front of it and on the slow developing play on Gardner's grounding.
"Oliver has looked finished since about August 15th Oliver, pre-Aug. 15th: 48.2 IP, 12 BB, 54 K, 2.40 ERA, .232/.286/. swinging strikes Oliver, post-Aug. 15th: 13.0 IP, 3 BB, 11 K, 2.77 ERA, .275/.315/. swinging strikes I'm not sure "finished" is the right word"
Fair enough, although I used the wod about and picked the date out of my ass.
I still say that Oliver has lookd like a 40-year-old-LOOGY for about 6 weeks, not anything like a setup man who happens tp be a lefty. Not like 1st bhalf Ollie. And he's failed the eyeball test for me many time in that span.
Good teams have bullpen hierarchies
Ours should be:
Feliz
Ogando
(Frankie)
O'Day
Everyone else is either a long man, a LOOGY, depth in case the top guys are unavailable, or guys to hold a lead in a blowout. That we didn't see Ogando in the 8th is inexcusable to me.
I hate when managers use the relief pitcher excuse: "he hasn't gone 2 innings all year". Starting pitchers aren't used in relief in the regular season either. That doesn't mean they can't be used in relief in the playoffs.
JD21: Spot on.
I'm still reeling, but I'm not taking the field this afternoon. This is a resilient bunch, and I'm hopeful we salvage a split today, and we'll feel good about Cliff toeing the rubber for Game 3. It's just Game 1, and it hurts that it got away, but all is not lost.
A collective team choke.
felt like a kick in the nuts. You can say it all you want Joey but this series is over. i too have seen this team overcome adversity and bad losses this year but this is the Yanks in the playoffs, it ain't happening. If we can't win a game that we are up 5-1 with 6 outs to get how can we win 4 games? I will be cheering them on in NY for all those fans who can't make it!
bvan: are you crazy or just nuts? one game played. think about that. the national writers gave the rangers little chance to win a game 5 in Tampa and they were all wrong. I have watched this game for 45 years (seems more like 145 years) and I am telling you that you are wrong.
ARod made a play at third that was similar to what Young had a chance at... ARod made his, and Young didn't. Ballgame.
uh, excuse me WSGJ, but A-Rod muffed an easy ground ball if I recall. And, it was hit right to her!
MY" not loose any sleep over it" Are you kidding me what a looser the guy hasnt been in a playoff game before this year and makes minimal to no effort to stop a ground out that if he would have stood there without making a single move it would have bounced off him and it might have saved some runs.
WHAT A LOOSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uh, excuse me Larry, but ARod made an error with nobody on base in the 6th down 5-0 on a softly hit ball. MY had runners all over the bases with a play that had to be made and wouldn't throw his body in front of a rocket. On a similar rocket hit right to third, ARod made his play. ARod's error wasn't because he wouldn't move his body in front of it. ARod with his fake monkey hip is a better fielder any day of the week than Young and it's not even close.
WSGJ - I agree and said so in one of my earlier posts.
But, I think A-Rod's purse may have gotten in the way so he actually has a good excuse.
I'm probably being a bit reactionary here, but would we be fielding a better team over all today if we put Young at DH and Blanco at 3b?
I know Blanco doesn't have the offensive potential that Vlad does, but Vlad basically hasn't bee hitting in the post season. Almost makes me think that the fact that we would have someone with more range then a rotting corpse at 3b might make us a better team.
Can't argue with that Larry... or maybe his man boobs.
talk to me in a week Larry - 5 games tops. i hope i am wrong but i am not.
Hell no that was not a proper response. He should be losing sleep over it. This guy has been told what a great player and leader he is so many times that he is starting to act entitled. He should lose sleep over that play. It was hard hit, but easy to stop. Half the third basemen in the league get an out on that play.
I hope the NY media rips him apart for that comment when he gets there next week. They won't though because, of course, this is Michael Young's first trip to the playoffs and all and he has carried the Texas team for so long that anything he does now must be celebrated or excused. We should be fortunate that he wants to show up and accept the 17 million a year or whatever it is.
Sorry. I feel better now. And I always have and always will like Michael. But there is no excuse for that comment. Some reporter should have blasted him and pointed out there are third basemen that do make that play.
Folks: I have no skin in this game. From from a standpoint of MLB history, losing the first game of a 7 game series? Meaningless. Don't make me pull out the encyclopedia!
It means nothing. In 2003 Yanks go up 2-1 in WS only to lose next 3. Better yet, Yanks go up 3-0 in the 2004 ALCS only to lose next 4.
Red Sox also are down 3 games to 1 in the 2007 ALCS and win next 3. Almost repeat feat to Tampa in 2008.
This is your team. They won 90 games and beat Tampa. Pitching moves (not on the field) make all the difference as we saw last night. Not one misplay or a post-game comment.
I understand from news reports, however, lines at Dallas area bridges are starting to form...
NEVER GETS OLD:
http://www.mobclan.com/forums/upload/lofiversion/index.php?t5278.html
I have no problem with Wash's bullpen moves last night. If you look at what Oliver did during the season, he should have been a solid choice. But I think we've seen enough of Oliver in crucial situations these playoffs, and I hope that Wash gives Kirkman the ball tonight when they need a lefty with the game on the line.
Diogenes arguing with himself about Oliver. Sit back and enjoy......
I could see Blanco @ 3B, but that means Young to the bench. Vlad stays @ DH over MY. But Wash will never even consider it.
I was pissed to hear MY says he wouldn't lose sleep over that ole moment. That was terrible. Get your body in front of it, man!
Larry being an asshole for no reason, sit back and enjoy!
"I was pissed to hear MY says he wouldn't lose sleep over that ole moment. That was terrible. Get your body in front of it, man!"
Scooby: what should he have said? How about: "I feel bad about that ONE play and will let it affect my play the rest of the series as I let my fears take over my baseball instincts. I may even let it affect my hitting. Hey, maybe I can bring down my teammates as well."
Scooby: I am trying hard to relax your fanbase. Your making my job a bit tougher :)
I think not removing Cantu for Moreland was a pretty big mistake. If Moreland goes to first in the 8th (or earlier, when CC leaves the game), I think he makes that play on Gardner's grounder. Cantu didn't charge the ball, and granted C.J. should have gotten over, but I think Moreland charges that ball and makes the play by himself.
Then C.J. should not have been pulled. That was an even bigger mistake. If Wilson stays in the game the Rangers at least have a lead going to the ninth, probably a 2-3 run lead. C.J. wouldn't have fallen apart like the bullpen did.
Today is big (obviously). With good matchups (I think) in games three and four, we need a win today to possibly get tihs series in our favor.