Why not win the World Series? It has been an unbelievable season so far so why not continue? Going into Spring Training this team definitely had playoff potential but they exceeded every one's expectations this season. A look back on the season:
Day 1 on Spring Training, manager Ron Washington admits to failing a drug test last year testing positive for cocaine. This surely accounts for some of the strange moves he made during the season. What a way to start the season.
A walk off opening day win on a sac fly by our catcher of the future in Jarod Saltalamacchia starts the season off in the win column. The dude goes on the DL a few days later never to be seen in a Ranger uniform again and gets shipped off to Boston later in the season.
The Rangers stumble through the first 2 months of the season but all the sudden Josh Hamilton heats up, throws this team on his back and they go on a tear to get into first place and never look back. Meanwhile the sale process of the team has been heating up as the creditors are not happy with the deal Tom "the Rodent" Hicks and the Greenburg-Ryan group have in place so far. The team declares bankruptcy to speed things up. It is later determined the sale process will go to auction and this of course invites new potential owners into the process that no Ranger fan wants.
Meanwhile Jon Daniels is trying to maintain and build his lead in the American League West and pulls off what is now known as the greatest trade in team history. The Rangers finally get an ace. I remember reading that morning that Cliff Lee to the Yanks was all but a done deal. The Mariners were not quite satisfied with their return and decided to invite the bankrupt but prospect rich Rangers to the table. Justin Smoak made the deal for the Rangers. It was a hard decision for sure, this guy will haunt the Rangers for years to come but if you want to win now these are the kind of moves you have to make. Cliff Lee is brought here to lead the rotation to the playoffs and beyond. Never mind that he is a free agent after the season, this is about now!
The Ryan-Greenburg group are victorious in acquiring the team and this just energizes them more as they runaway with the division and are the first team in baseball to clinch a playoff spot. The Rangers are the only professional sports franchise to have never won a playoff series. They fixed that by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round and got to face off with their old playoff foes: The Damn Yankees!
A bullpen meltdown in game 1 really put a damper on the beginning of the series but these Rangers are resilient and shook that off and came right back to even things up. They took 2 of 3 in The Big Apple and finished the Yanks off at home to make their first trip to the World Series! What a moment. I had to sit back and reflect on all the Ranger games I have watched and just enjoy the moment. I knew this time would happen, I just did not know it would happen so soon. I tell my kids there are people in Chicago and Boston that went generations without seeing their team go to the series.
The Rangers are facing off against the San Francisco Giants in the fall classic. On paper the Rangers are the favorite but unfortunately the do have to play the games. After losing both games in San Francisco the Rangers come to try to get back on track and were victorious when hosting their first series game. Hopefully they can even things up tonight. Claws and Antlers!
Cowboys:1-5, getting whipped by Jacksonville right now. Romo is out for awhile so the season is definitely over.
Tv show of the week: History Channel's Swamp People. I find guys gator hunting in Louisiana amazing. These dudes are nuts. On top of gators they hunt snakes and frogs on top of that. Give it a try, highly recommended.
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