after having him on the ropes early in the game. Normally I watch the games upstairs by myself because I can get a little worked up. But I went down to eat dinner and turn the game on and my mom asks the question, "How can you watch this everyday?"Now I can understand a sane person who had a life with tons of friends or someone with a lot of responsibilities not watching just about every game he or she possibly can but I'm not every person. For the most part I keep to myself and spend my time chatting endlessly on forums when the Rangers, Mavericks or Cowboys aren't playing. And I'm a little unsure how my mom has put up with my dad and I watching sporting event after sporting event for the past 20 years. At the time I thought nothing of the question until it crept back into my mind after Rangers newcomer 1st baseman Chris Davis tagged 1st to end the game and the Rangers won there 2nd straight 1 run game vs. the Yankees in Yankee stadium.
Now the teams that I've followed in sports have given me a lot of heartbreak for various reasons, be it the Rangers constant failing, the Mavericks getting screwed in the finals or the Cowboys making mistakes costing them in the playoffs and prior to that just being plain incompetent from the time Jimmy Johnson left until Bill Parcells left. But then there are those moments where you get that little payoff or as a drug addict would say, that little "high" that keeps you coming back. It's so addicting and fulfilling that you just can't get enough, and given this youth movement the Rangers are having this season and the great success they are having with all the young guys I'm experiencing that high. The same goes for this past Cowboys regular season, the Rangers season in 2004 and the Mavericks playoff run in 2006.
And since the last 2 nights the Rangers have beaten the Yankees in Yankee stadium it's given me an extra kick and incentive to be so happy. I hate the Yankees, everything they stand for, from the overpaid players, the New York lore, the jackass of an owner (and his son) the bitchy fans and bandwagon fans that feel entitled because they're the Yankees (I'm sure people feel the same way about the Cowboys) and the constant attention they and the Red Sox get from ESPN. Not to mention that the Yankees usually kill the Rangers every time they meet and I was fully expecting to lose at least 2 of 3 if not get swept.
But when I see Scott Feldman who is a completely different pitcher this year as a starter then he was last year as a reliever (when I loathed him so much to the point that I wanted to release him) pitch 5 and 2/3 and hold the Yankees to 1 run and see the bullpen come in and completely shut down the Yankee offense, that's why I love sports. Especially after reading comments by Yankee fans thinking Scott's a bum or when NY sport show's just dismiss the Rangers altogether expecting a sweep in preparation for there 4 game series coming up vs. the Red Sox. But then also getting to see Chris Davis who has killed the ball at every level of his professional career bang an opposite field double off the wall for an RBI, that's why I love sport. That guy is a player and although he struckout a lot in the minors when he gets a hold of a ball WATCH OUT!
But then back to today's ballgame where the Rangers are clinging to a 1 run lead yet again after squandering a couple opportunities and Josh Rupe comes in and gets 2 quick outs. Then in typical Yankee fashion get a couple of soft hits that find holes and the Yankees tie up the game. Normally in year's past the Rangers would crumble like a cookie but Rupe didn't lose focus and got the 3rd out of the inning preventing further damage. Then after wasting a couple opportunities in the 7th and 8th innings the Rangers go to the top of the 9th facing the best reliever of all time Mariano Rivera who has only given up 3 runs all year coming into this game. So first guy up is Ian Kinsler and he gets his hands in fast enough to fight off the famous Rivera cutter and get a double down the line for his 4th time on base in the game. Did I mention prior to this AB Kinsler had 2 stolen bases, he couldn't seriously try and steal 3rd could he? Well Kinsler did just that so now there was a man on 3rd with no outs and your 3 best hitters coming up.
So the infield has to come in for Michael Young's at bat and the next pitch after Kinsler's stolen base MY hits a chopper over Rivera's head and past the outstretched arm of Wilson Betemit (Derek Jeter had the night off) So fast forward to the bottom of the inning: Enter CJ Wilson, the Rangers closer got a save the night before but has been shaky the past month, so what does he do to inspire confidence to all of us viewers back in Dallas? Walks a guy who's walked 1 time in 82 at bats this year on 4 pitches. Now that's a Ranger pitcher if I've ever seen one, but then something changed, he got ahead of Melky Cabrera and jammed him causing a groundball right to Michael Young who turned a double play. Then he got even more pumped up throwing a 98 MPH fastball (though I don't think it was actually that fast) to Johnny Damon and following it up with a 96 MPH fastball. So Damon get's down 1-2 and the best he can do is saw his bat in half for a little dribbler to Chris Davis for the final out giving the Rangers the 1st 2 games of the series and a chance for a sweep in the "House That Ruth Built".
Growth is what this season is all about for the Rangers, and the youth movement, every young player that has come up this year has contributed in one way or another. C/1st baseman Max Ramirez had a go ahead and what would turn out to be the game winning runs when he hit a towering HR off Roy Oswalt against Houston this past week. Eric Hurley went 5 and 2/3 to get his 1st major league win against the Philadelphia Phillies this past Sunday beating them 5-1, and Chris Davis also had his 2nd homerun in 2 games. I don't know if this team can contend or stay in the race but I know if they do it will be with the young guys mixed in with veterans, and if they aren't helping, the way the Rangers system is right now they'll replace you with someone who will.
I don't want this team to trade any of Vicente Padilla, Milton Bradley or Kevin Millwood unless I get an offer I can't refuse. Fewer and fewer teams are parting with Major league ready pitching but if they want either of these 3 guys they're going to have to pony up. Personally I want to resign Milton Bradley, he's been exactly what the Rangers need, a fiery spirit who's loud and wears his intensity on his uniform. I love guys like Michael Young and Johs Hamilton and CJ Wilson and how they play but you also need to mix it in with a few loud mouths who love to get after it and yell and scream. Plus I think Bradley can provide better protection for Josh Hamilton moreso then our young guys can right now. I also think in the offseason we will make a big move for a pitcher in the offseason whether it's by trade or free agency remains to be seen, but we know that Jon Daniels isn't afraid to pull the trigger on a deal.
Youth=Potential=New Hope which means that one day this team might be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and fulfill there potential and we'll see the playoffs and hopefully World Series in Arlington. That is why I love sports.
