Sunday Morning Open Thread: Five Questions (ALCS Edition)
Ian Kinsler mashes a run-scoring triple against the Yankees on Saturday, October 16th.1. How greatly are the post-season performances of Cliff Lee (fantastic) and Vladimir Guerrero (awful) affecting your opinion of their value going into 2011? In other words, if -- before the playoffs began --you didn't want to see the Rangers go any higher than, say, $115 million in their bid to re-sign Lee, are you now willing to see Texas run the bidding into $120-130 million territory?
2. Rank the degrees of trust you have in each of the Rangers' relievers right now, from greatest to least (listed here alphabetically): Neftali Feliz, Derek Holland, Michael Kirkman, Darren O'Day, Alexi Ogando, Darren Oliver, and Clay Rapada,
3. Given that Josh Hamilton is piling up walks in bunches and that Guerrero is doing very little at the plate right now, should manager Ron Washington contemplate bumping Nelson Cruz and/or Ian Kinsler above Guerrero and into the cleanup spot? Or would such a move disrupt the delicate balance of the lineup, as some might argue? (Note: Your thoughts on the importance of "lineup protection" will likely influence your answer).
4. Even though the Rangers will face lefties twice in New York (Andy Pettitte in Game 3; CC Sabathia in Game 4 or Game 5), is there still any semblance of an argument to be made for starting Jorge Cantu over Mitch Moreland at first base again in this series? And if the Rangers should somehow advance to the World Series, do you continue to carry Cantu?
5. Predict the final outcome of this 2010 ALCS following the format in this example: "Rangers win 4-2, Clay Rapada wins the final game." Or something loosely along those lines, anyway.
Open Thread, Playoffs, The Season
Reader Comments (54)
5. Cliff dominates Game 3 and Rangers win. Rangers beat up on AJ Burnett in Game 4 and Big Game Hunter pitches well enough for the Rangers to hold on. Major meltdown in NY meda and fandom results as they wonder why CC wasn't called on for Game 4. Sabathia pitches Game 5 in the Bronx but its too late. The Rangers show that their Game 1 bats weren't flukes. Rangers take CC to the wood shed again, and CJ pitches even better than Game 1. Rangers win 4-0. National media can't figure out which is more shocking - Rangers in the WS or Yankees fans calling for Girardi to be fired despite two trips to the ALCS in his only two seasons plus a world championship. Yankee fans reacting ultimately dominates the national airwaves as Rangers quietly advance to the Fall Classic.
Sticking by my original prediction = Rangers in 5.
1. For Lee, it's a slippery slope situation. If you're cool with 115, then how is 130 really that much of a bigger risk...or 140. If you do the deal and it ends up badly, it cripples the franchise terrifically regardless of the last 10-20 million. Vlad was ridden too hard in August and September when the race was well in hand. If he's healthy and just tired, then I'd do the same deal as this year. Gotta be confident he's not hurt tho.
2. Ogando, Feliz, DOD, Holland, Rapada, Kirkman Oliver
3. I;d leave it as is. The only meaningful change would be to take Vlad out or move him way down the order. Since there's no platoon-advantage concerns, flipping your 4 and 5 is pretty irrelevant.
4. If MM struggles against pettite, I'd use cantu against CC. For WS i'd keep him since there's no one else to play 1B after MM.
5. Rangers in 5. Lee + CC being flat on short rest + CJ
1. I've never like Vlad. I didnt want him to start the season and I dont want him now. Why the heck would I? Oh, hes a great hitter, but he was also my least favorite player on my least favorite team for years! Sign up Hamilton and Lee, screw Vlad. I've had enough of him, when he starte slumping the second half of the season he was the most useless baseball player I have ever seen. A big, slow, stupid baserunner that couldnt get on in the first pace and didnt contribute to defense. And he was a pain to watch in interleague play. I hate him. It may be an irrational hate, but I hate him.
2. Ogondo, O'day, Feliz, Kirkman, Oliver, Holland, any random homeless dude in downtown Arlington, Rapata. What the hell is Rapada doing on the playoff roster anyways? He has under 40 regular season innings for his career, 9 of which he got this season.
3. Weve scored 15 runs the past two nights. if it aint broke, dont fix it.
4. At this point Moreland is playing so much better than Cantu that I would let him get the start against every left from this point forward. And of course you keep Cantu on the roster, you need someone to back up the starter.
5. CJ gets the win in game 5 that seals the deal.
Hello!
I would like to introduce you new affiliate program on the new!
[url=http://www.store.syntheticsubstance.com]www.store.syntheticsubstance.com/affiliates/[/url]
Check the store itself:
www.store.syntheticsubstance.com
Best regards!