04/18/24
October 13, 2010
Cliff Lee Leads Rangers to ALCS: The Texas Rangers have won a playoff series for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 in a deciding fifth game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Cliff Lee pitched a complete game six hitter, striking out 11. The Rangers meet the New York Yankees Friday in game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
Don't you mean we beat the Rays?
Too bad Lee will be unavailable in the Yankees series until Game 3.
posted by holden at 01:23 AM on October 13, 2010
Hate to get political ('cause we know sports and politics don't mix), but I hope the Yankees sweep the George W. Bush Rangers. And I can't stand the Yankees. Thanks for nothing, Tampa Bay.
posted by afl-aba at 05:09 AM on October 13, 2010
Hate to get political ('cause we know sports and politics don't mix), but I hope the Yankees sweep the George W. Bush Rangers.
They aren't the "George W. Bush" Rangers (and haven't been for over 15 years).
posted by grum@work at 08:42 AM on October 13, 2010
Even when they were the "George W. Bush Rangers," he was a figurehead who owned only a small part of the team.
Coming to Tampa for these games, I've had a chance to see my team win *and* hear the aftermath on local sports radio.
Rays fans hate Joe Madden. They booed Kelly Shoppach mercilessly last night because they thought Madden should've played John Jaso instead. Any time one of Madden's creative moves fails, that's all the Rays fans focus on.
Though Madden didn't help things by throwing Rocco Baldelli out there in game 1 -- he looked hopeless against Lee -- the biggest reason the Rays lost is that Crawford, Upton and Longoria didn't hit well in the clutch and the team made some big fielding mistakes, like letting two runners score on ground outs last night.
posted by rcade at 09:20 AM on October 13, 2010
he was a figurehead
Good preparation for his eight years in office then.
posted by cjets at 10:55 AM on October 13, 2010
Hate to get political ('cause we know sports and politics don't mix), but I hope the Yankees sweep the George W. Bush Rangers
ummm, wow.
That's not political, it's just plain ignorant. Not only was Bush a minority owner that wasn't even much of a figurehead for the Rangers, but Steinbrenner was probably as staunch a Republican as you could find. Remember his legal issues due to illegal contributions to Nixon's campaign fund? Reagan pardoned the man.
posted by dviking at 12:09 PM on October 13, 2010
As a liberal I was not happy when Bush became the public face of his ownership group. But I will give him credit for one thing: He would come into the booth from time to time and hang out during games. He could call an inning like a pro announcer. He missed his calling.
posted by rcade at 12:18 PM on October 13, 2010
I was extremely pleased when the series went five games because it meant Lee wouldn't be able to pitch the opener, or wind up pitching (and possibly winning) three games. If weather in New York starts getting crappy, though, who knows? As soon as it was announced Lee was going to Texas, I knew the Yankees would have to contend with him to advance in the playoffs. If the Yankees don't take care of business the first couple of games, they will lose as there is no way they beat Lee this time of year.
posted by dyams at 01:03 PM on October 13, 2010
I hope the Yankees sweep the George W. Bush Rangers
I hope the Nolan Ryan Rangers kick some Yankee ass.
In fact, I am betting on it.
posted by mjkredliner at 01:30 PM on October 13, 2010
I'm already looking ahead to a Lee-Halladay match-up in the World Series. That game should take about 1 hour and 45 minutes to play...
posted by grum@work at 01:32 PM on October 13, 2010
Rays fans hate Joe Madden.
If he gets canned, I hope the Blue Jays jump right in and grab him.
posted by grum@work at 01:32 PM on October 13, 2010
Is it wrong that as I age my loyalties are moving away from a specific team and toward pitchers who work quickly?
posted by yerfatma at 01:33 PM on October 13, 2010
Too bad Lee will be unavailable in the Yankees series until Game 3.
I was extremely pleased when the series went five games because it meant Lee wouldn't be able to pitch the opener, or wind up pitching (and possibly winning) three games.
First two games in Texas, so Lee would pitch first game in NY. Not so bad. Also, Lee was never going to be able to pitch three games in series anyway because of way schedule lines up unless he went on three days rest, something reports indicated he has never done. If he could pitch on three days rest, he could go in second game; but I don't think Rangers would try it. Schedule sets up that he will pitch third and seventh if it gets there.
My biggest gripe about scheduling: two more freaking day games.
posted by graymatters at 02:26 PM on October 13, 2010
That's not political, it's just plain ignorant. Not only was Bush a minority owner that wasn't even much of a figurehead for the Rangers, but Steinbrenner was probably as staunch a Republican as you could find.
Umm, I said I couldn't stand the Yankees, and Steinbrenner was a big part of it. As bad as Steinbrenner was, he didn't order murderous invasions and establish global torture sites.
I'm reacting to Bush sitting prominently at one of the Rangers' home games. He's clearly a fan and feels some connection to the team, which the Rangers don't play down. I suspect we'll see him again.
He should be in a cell at the Hague, not at the AL playoffs.
posted by afl-aba at 03:11 PM on October 13, 2010
*cough*
posted by tahoemoj at 03:44 PM on October 13, 2010
Wow, so ignorance it is.
For your own elightenment, do a Google search for Extraordinary Rendition.
You'll learn the following: The practice of extraordinary rendition arose in the wake of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing as a way for the CIA to keep key terror suspects out of the U.S. court system, where it was feared that intelligence sources would be jeopardized.[1] The program was later expressly authorized by President Bill Clinton in Presidential Decision Directive 39, which cited procedures for forcible abduction of terrorist suspects without the consent of host governments outlined in National Security Directive 77.[2]...In 1993, Richard Clarke, the former chief of counter-terrorism on the U.S. National Security Council urged the administration of President Bill Clinton to conduct the first extraordinary rendition. According to Clarke, Al Gore admitted the program's illegality, but urged Clinton to go ahead with the practice covertly.
so, to say that Bush set up global torture sites is just plain ignorant...I just quoted one article, many others out there
Yes, Bush also utilized the policy that Clinton set up and due to 9/11 had to expand the use of it, no denial of that.
Last comment on this subject from me...promise.
posted by dviking at 04:30 PM on October 13, 2010
Hate to get political ('cause we know sports and politics don't mix)
Apparently a few other things that don't mix with politics either.
posted by graymatters at 06:20 PM on October 13, 2010
Fuck that. That's a long suffering fan base. It has nothing to do with Georgie. (Though he does know his baseball, that's for sure.) Go get 'em Rangers!
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:30 PM on October 13, 2010
so, to say that Bush set up global torture sites is just plain ignorant...I just quoted one article, many others out there
Yes, Bush also utilized the policy that Clinton set up and due to 9/11 had to expand the use of it, no denial of that.
I agree: Clinton set the table for Bush, not only here, but in other ways as well (for one, the Effective Death Penalty and Anti-Terrorism Act of '96 set up the Patriot Act). It's a bipartisan racket. Clinton, Bush, Cheney and Obama all share in war crimes. You seem to think I merely bash the GOP. Not so.
That said, go Yankees. Steinbrenner may have been an asshole, but he didn't bomb civilians with depleted uranium.
posted by afl-aba at 07:24 PM on October 13, 2010
I'm reacting to Bush sitting prominently at one of the Rangers' home games. He's clearly a fan and feels some connection to the team, which the Rangers don't play down.
Are you suggesting the team should have asked the former president to leave, or just to move out of range of television cameras?
posted by rcade at 07:46 PM on October 13, 2010
Fuck that. That's a long suffering fan base.
You have no idea. I've been a fan since I was seven years old in 1974. We didn't reach the playoffs until 1996, the franchise's 36th year of existence. We didn't win a playoff series until yesterday.
For most of the time I've followed the team, our shining moment was when the Billy Martin-led Rangers went 84-76 in 1976 -- only 5 games behind Oakland. Only 5!
posted by rcade at 07:50 PM on October 13, 2010
Hate to get political ('cause we know sports and politics don't mix)
Good for you for hating to do something, knowing it is a bad choice, and doing it anyways.
posted by Joey Michaels at 08:00 PM on October 13, 2010
Steinbrenner may have been an asshole, but he didn't bomb civilians with depleted uranium.
That's true, George concentrated his bombers and missiles on military targets.
posted by tommybiden at 08:12 PM on October 13, 2010
I spent *way* too much time in my 20s marching, campaigning, registering people to vote, and donating money against Dubya while living in Dallas and going to many Rangers games. I'll be god-damned if I'm gonna let him affect this Rangers run in the fucking slightest, thank you very much.
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:31 PM on October 13, 2010
Schedule sets up that he will pitch third and seventh if it gets there.
You're assuming the games will all take place on the dates they are scheduled right now, with no rain-outs or weather cancelations. That's not a given this time of year. A few days of horrible weather in New York could mean extra days of rest for Lee, meaning another start.
posted by dyams at 10:15 PM on October 13, 2010
I was really hoping for the Rays to win so I we could see another Yankees-Rays series (not to mention I would rather not have Lee destroy the Yankees lineup again).
On top of the fact that liking Bush or not should have no impact on liking the Rangers...actually, I'm not going to get in on the argument and leave it at that. Grow up and lets watch should be a great series.
posted by Andy1087 at 11:20 PM on October 13, 2010
I went to all three of the games at the Trop. I've never seen the Rangers lose a playoff game.
Rays fans are incredibly cool. They gave Carl Crawford a standing ovation in his final at bat, and after the game was over they chanted "beat the Yankees" at the celebrating Rangers. I need to come back when I can root for them.