The OFFICIAL 2011 Texas Rangers' Season Thread - Page 12 - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Kirobaito · 09-27-2011, 07:06 PM

Geez, Cleveland's just laying down for the Tigers.

mavspwnage · 09-27-2011, 10:47 PM

Beltre, Napoli, and Nellie go back-to-back-to-back. lmao

chumdawg · 09-27-2011, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavspwnage

Beltre, Napoli, and Nellie go back-to-back-to-back. lmao

Insult to injury?

mavspwnage · 09-27-2011, 11:17 PM

man, the Rangers are bludgeoning the Angels as if they were Bob Crane.

chumdawg · 09-27-2011, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavspwnage

man, the Rangers are bludgeoning the Angels as if they were Bob Crane.

The sons of bitches deserved every bit of it.

Murphy3 · 09-28-2011, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

The OPS+ of that club was 103, and the ERA+ was 113. They were actually better pitching than hitting, once the era/park was accounted for (i.e., steroids). Pudge's .300/.342/.473 was only league average. Ken Hill's 1996 (16-10, 3.63 ERA in 250.1 IP, 145 ERA+, 6.5 WAR) is criminally underappreciated.

The 2011 Rangers have an OPS+ of 108 and an ERA+ of 117.

EDIT: Speaking of Ken Hill, I vividly remember being at this game: http://www.baseball-reference.com/bo...99607170.shtml . I was eight years old at the time, but I remember Hill being lifted by Oates with two outs in the ninth and not being very happy about it (because my dad wasn't very happy about it).

Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and say bulsh on a couple of those stats. Again, I've learned to take all stats with a grain of salt. No one that was around following baseball would agree with the statement that the Rangers pitching was actually better than their hitting that year. If that's what some advanced metrics show, then the advanced metrics are wrong.

Trying to put a number to how much a ballpark impacts an offense is a good idea in theory, but it really cannot be done. Obviously playing in the ballpark has a positive imapct on offense, but how much compared to league average is something that we'll truly never know. There's simply no way to quantify all of the factors that would need to be quantified.

mavspwnage · 09-28-2011, 01:43 AM

A fascinating scenario has arisen. Jered Weaver was originally scheduled to start the season finale against the Rangers. But with the Angels falling out of the race, they removed Ervin Santana from his start tonight, and will do the same thing for Weaver tomorrow. However, if Weaver were to record just TWO outs, he would win the AL ERA title over Justin Verlander. But if Weaver does not pitch, then Verlander would win the triple crown. Kershaw has already clinched the NL triple crown. Not since 1924 has there been an AL and NL pitching triple crown in the same season.

Kirobaito · 09-28-2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and say bulsh on a couple of those stats. Again, I've learned to take all stats with a grain of salt. No one that was around following baseball would agree with the statement that the Rangers pitching was actually better than their hitting that year. If that's what some advanced metrics show, then the advanced metrics are wrong.

Trying to put a number to how much a ballpark impacts an offense is a good idea in theory, but it really cannot be done. Obviously playing in the ballpark has a positive imapct on offense, but how much compared to league average is something that we'll truly never know. There's simply no way to quantify all of the factors that would need to be quantified.

The league ERA that year was 4.99. The Rangers had a 4.65 ERA. The Rangers scored 5.69 runs per game, compared with 5.39 runs per game leaguewide. Even if one only adjusts the tiniest sliver for ballpark effects (or, not at all - we're .34 runs a game lower than the average in ERA and only .3 runs a game over the average rpg), I think the statistics back up the argument that, in the context of the time, the Rangers excelled more at pitching than hitting. It may indeed be misleading to say they were BETTER at pitching than hitting, if only because EVERYBODY in 1996 was better at hitting. But we were more above average in pitching than they were in hitting. It doesn't really even take advanced metrics to make that argument.

jthig32 · 09-28-2011, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

The league ERA that year was 4.99. The Rangers had a 4.65 ERA. The Rangers scored 5.69 runs per game, compared with 5.39 runs per game leaguewide. Even if one only adjusts the tiniest sliver for ballpark effects (or, not at all - we're .34 runs a game lower than the average in ERA and only .3 runs a game over the average rpg), I think the statistics back up the argument that, in the context of the time, the Rangers excelled more at pitching than hitting. It may indeed be misleading to say they were BETTER at pitching than hitting, if only because EVERYBODY in 1996 was better at hitting. But we were more above average in pitching than they were in hitting. It doesn't really even take advanced metrics to make that argument.

Yup, no advanced stats needed at all for that argument. The general sentiment among the masses was that the Rangers were bashing their way to the playoffs, but that year it really was the pitching that made the biggest difference.

Murphy3 · 09-28-2011, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthig32

Yup, no advanced stats needed at all for that argument. The general sentiment among the masses was that the Rangers were bashing their way to the playoffs, but that year it really was the pitching that made the biggest difference.

Actually, if you look a little deeper, you will see how foolish someone looks when they're looking at 1996 player stats but 1999 team stats on baseball reference and then basing his argument off of .... arrogance and a screw up.

GermanDunk · 09-28-2011, 02:39 PM

Which team ist the first opponent ? A wildcard team ?

Male30Dan · 09-28-2011, 02:47 PM

If we win tonight or Detroit loses, we get Boston or Tampa Bay with home field advantage (depending on who ends up winning the wild card race). If we lose and Detroit wins we end up both with 95 wins but they hold the tie breaker in head to head games so we face NY without home field advantage.

GermanDunk · 09-28-2011, 03:04 PM

Thanks Dan. Hm, Boston and NY would be tough, but makeable. The American League seems to be much stronger than the National League.

Kirobaito · 09-28-2011, 03:17 PM

Looks likely that the Rangers are going Holland in game 2, wherever it is. Hopefully that's Harrison in game 3 and Lewis in a not-happening game 4.

Male30Dan · 09-28-2011, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GermanDunk

Thanks Dan. Hm, Boston and NY would be tough, but makeable. The American League seems to be much stronger than the National League.

Philly and Milwaukee are very good teams and so is Arizona (man - did you see their crazy game the other night - several records broken). Atlanta is falling fast and will be an easy out in all likelihood if they manage to sneak in but it appears that a very hot St. Louis team is in there as well.

If Philly makes it to the World Series, they will be terribly difficult to knock out. Not impossible by any means - but very, very hard. Tough to face Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Worley... Very tough. You could easily blink and their opponent be down 0-3, no matter who they are up against.

GermanDunk · 09-28-2011, 04:19 PM

Wait. 6:5 in the 10th inning

Which records were broken ?
Really bad for the Rangers that Lee has left. With Lee pitching, i´d rate their chances for the finals ~ 75%. But anyway.
Overall a very nice sports-season for the North-Texans, especially with the Cowboys back on the track. A cup and several playoffs made in four years is a good result.

mavspwnage · 09-28-2011, 07:31 PM

Another HR for Napoli. lmao

He must feel like a giant middle finger walking through the city of Anaheim. And he's loving every second of it.

DirkFTW · 09-28-2011, 09:28 PM

nervous

DirkFTW · 09-28-2011, 09:37 PM

Napoli's getting tons of mileage out of his middle finger tonight!

alexamenos · 09-28-2011, 09:38 PM

Bring it on home.

mavspwnage · 09-28-2011, 09:40 PM

I want to hug Mike Napoli right now. A big bear hug.

mavspwnage · 09-28-2011, 09:48 PM

ballgame! hello win column! franchise record 96 wins!

alexamenos · 09-28-2011, 09:49 PM

Rays tie it up against NY. Rangers sitting at home while Boston and Rays play tomorrow is best case scenario.

jthig32 · 09-28-2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Actually, if you look a little deeper, you will see how foolish someone looks when they're looking at 1996 player stats but 1999 team stats on baseball reference and then basing his argument off of .... arrogance and a screw up.

????

Kiro's stats are correct.

mavspwnage · 09-28-2011, 10:07 PM

Game 1 is 4:07pm on Friday. I'll be there!

Hope the Red Sox and Rays have to play each other tomorrow.

alexamenos · 09-28-2011, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavspwnage

Game 1 is 4:07pm on Friday. I'll be there!

Hope the Red Sox and Rays have to play each other tomorrow.

Awesome.

I caught a game in each of the ALDS, ALCS and WS last year. Rangers went 0-3 in those game. Think I'll stay home this year.

mavspwnage · 09-28-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexamenos

Awesome.

I caught a game in each of the ALDS, ALCS and WS last year. Rangers went 0-3 in those game. Think I'll stay home this year.

yep, same here. Went 0-3. I was at Game 3 vs the Rays...lost that one in the final innings. I was at Game 1 vs the Yankees...lost that one in the final innings. Went to Game 5 vs the Giants...another one lost in the final innings. Brutal.

Kirobaito · 09-28-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthig32

????

Kiro's stats are correct.

I think he was referring to himself. Thinking of the 1996 team as the 1999 team. At least that's what I can figure.

God, the Rangers really traded FRANK FRANCISCO for effin' Mike Napoli? That guy is my least favorite Angel! I'm so mad right now.

mavspwnage · 09-28-2011, 11:19 PM

Papelbon blows the save and the O's walk off...only minutes later, Longoria walks off for the Rays. And Boston has completed their choke. The Rays win the WC and will be coming to Texas.

Red Sox and Braves fans will join hand-in-hand for a candlelight vigil. wow

mavspwnage · 09-28-2011, 11:30 PM

GermanDunk · 09-29-2011, 02:42 AM

How many games did the Red Sox lose ? 18 of the last 22 or so ?

Male30Dan · 09-29-2011, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GermanDunk

Wait. 6:5 in the 10th inning

Which records were broken ?
Really bad for the Rangers that Lee has left. With Lee pitching, i´d rate their chances for the finals ~ 75%. But anyway.
Overall a very nice sports-season for the North-Texans, especially with the Cowboys back on the track. A cup and several playoffs made in four years is a good result.

It was something like a 1-1 game going into the top of the 10th. LA scored 4 and led 5-1. Arizona came storming back and hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 10th to win by 1. Not sure the records, but there was something mentioned on ESPN radio that next morning by either Mike and Mike or their guest Olney.

dalmations202 · 09-29-2011, 10:16 AM

Rangers vs Tampa --- should be fine.

Will the Tigers take out the Yankees though is the question.

Kirobaito · 09-29-2011, 11:23 AM

Yankees missed the playoffs in 2008. They signed Tex, Sabathia, and Burnett to compensate.

Red Sox missed the playoffs in 2010. They traded for/signed Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford.

Now that they missed the playoffs again, anyone want to put odds on, like, them doing something like signing Pujols, Fielder, CJ, Buehrle, Bell, Kuroda, and Reyes? Who cares about position?

Male30Dan · 09-29-2011, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalmations202

Rangers vs Tampa --- should be fine.

Will the Tigers take out the Yankees though is the question.

I know if I were a Yankee fan I would be very nervous about this series.

Male30Dan · 09-29-2011, 12:35 PM

Man I love reading this guy's work!

chumdawg · 09-29-2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Male30Dan

Man I love reading this guy's work!

Wow...that's a great column.

Kirobaito · 09-29-2011, 03:59 PM

Game 1 (Fri)- Wilson v Niemann
Game 2 (Sat)- Holland v Shields
Game 3 (Mon)- Harrison v Price
Game 4 (Tue)- Lewis v Hellickson
Game 5 (Thur)- Wilson v Shields

Ogando and Moore as the long men if the starters can't wrangle it. Our game 3 and 4 starters could be flipped, but it looks like that will be how it shakes out.

Male30Dan · 09-29-2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Wow...that's a great column.

Yeah, check some of his older stuff. He is just top notch. As good as I have found. In fact, I always imagined the guy like 65 years old and super, super wise and was thrown off to hear him refer to himself as a 40-year old in the playing tennis in the rain piece.

Male30Dan · 09-29-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

Game 1 (Fri)- Wilson v Niemann
Game 2 (Sat)- Holland v Shields
Game 3 (Mon)- Harrison v Price
Game 4 (Tue)- Lewis v Hellickson
Game 5 (Thur)- Wilson v Shields

Ogando and Moore as the long men if the starters can't wrangle it. Our game 3 and 4 starters could be flipped, but it looks like that will be how it shakes out.

Man, Holland has a tough matchup in Game 2 and it would be hard going back to Tampa 1-1. Game 1 is pretty much a must-win considering how they laid out their pitching staff because I can absolutely see us losing game 2. Holland is pitching quite well and could steal that one by simply not allowing any runs but we have so much trouble hitting Shields.

With the way Price pitched this last game out we might be able to steal that game in Tampa but I have ZERO confidence in Colby for game 4. If we go to a game 5, man, tough to be super confident there. We can beat this team and I am confident we will, but there are some matchups we have to win to avoid being in a tough spot.

The more I think about it, the more I feel for their starting pitcher no matter who it is. Napoli, Cruz, Hamilton, Young, Beltre, Kinsler, Andrus, Murphy and Moreland (or Gentry or Torrealba)... Just damn. No wonder we won 96 games, and that's before you look at our bullpen.

6 SOLID innings from our starters and our offense and bullpen should take this thing home. GO RANGERS!