Oakland Athletics (81-81, 2nd Place AL West in 2010): General Manager Billy Beane seems to find ways to push all of the right buttons in the offseason, and though he didn’t really make any of those “Wow!” moves this year, he certainly made some prudent calls. Bringing in Hideki Matsui and Josh Willingham should add some stability to a rather questionable lineup from last year, and David DeJesus should thrive now that he has some real bats around him. This is a young pitching staff from top to bottom, but many think that this could be a great year for this team.
Strengths: We know that there are all sorts of high hopes for this starting rotation in 2011, but the real reason that this team is going to succeed this year is its bullpen. Andrew Bailey and Brad Ziegler were great last season, and now added to the bunch are Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour, both of which have had amazing seasons over the course of the last couple of years. Sure, these are more moves that really didn’t pop up on the radar over the course of the offseason, but they’re big moves that should help the A’s nail down more games late on.
Weaknesses: There’s just no glitz and glamour on this team. There probably aren’t any 30+ home runs hitters, and there might not be any 100+ RBI or run scoring men either. You know on most other teams that there is that one guy in the lineup that you have to pitch around. Oakland doesn’t have it, and it could prove costly.
Baseball Picks & Prediction: Every now and again, this team crops up out of nowhere and wins a division title. It’s been a heck of a lot of seasons, but this bullpen is just what the doctor ordered this year. Dallas Braden, Gio Gonzalez, and Brett Anderson could be the newest threesome of pitchers that you had never heard of a few years ago that turn out to be absolute stars this year.
썛 Oakland Athletics Prediction: 1st Place in AL West
Texas Rangers (90-72, 1st Place AL West in 2010): Last season, the Rangers were making deer antlers and bear claws all the way into the World Series, and they proved that heart, hustle, and a well timed trade can really make your entire franchise. Don’t get us wrong. Even without Cliff Lee, Vladdy Guerrero, and Bengie Molina, this is still a team that is fantastic. However, it’s only a division and a Wild Card
Be the first to comment - What do you think?
Posted by Georgia Lafleur -
August 28, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Josh Hamilton believes he will have a powerful finish.
The former Athens Drive High star and the American League player of the year in 2010 entered Saturday’s game hitting .296, with 17 property runs and 71 RBI for the Texas Rangers, who are in a pennant race with the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West. The Rangers, who had lost 4 of their past six just before Saturday’s property game against the Angels, had a 3-game lead on Los Angeles.
Hamilton hit .359, belted 32 residence runs and drove in 100 runs last season. He also was the AL Championship Series MVP as the Rangers beat the New York Yankees and advanced to the Globe Series.
Hamilton stated he feels like he is on the verge of enhancing his productivity.
“I’m playing pretty great ball and I really feel like I am genuinely close to hitting better,” Hamilton said by telephone last week. “I’ve been searching a small bit and have been looking all year. I’m close. I’ve been close for a while, but I’m truly not hitting the way I need to have to. I’ve just got to figure it out.”
Hamilton, who began in the All-Star Game, said he is trying to help his club win, even if he is not hitting as nicely as he would like.
Manager Ron Washington named Hamilton’s catch of a lengthy fly ball the turning point in a 7-1 win over Oakland on Aug. 13. The catch ended the inning with the Rangers still leading 2-1.
“There is no doubt about it … he brings more than just offense,” Washington told reporters right after the game. “He’s a talented guy and right now was 1 of those games that I was talking about.”
Hamilton said the Rangers shouldn’t be in the position they are in in the league race. He stated the team has missed some probabilities to have a larger edge over the Angels.
“We’ve blown 13 or 14 games in the seventh, eighth or ninth inning, but we can’t cry more than that now,” he said. “We’ve got to go out and play the game.”
A new venture
On a personal level, it has been a tough season for Hamilton. He missed a month of play after breaking his upper proper arm in April and a fan fell to his death in July when he stretched to catch a ball that Hamilton flipped into the stands.
But Hamilton described his life as “blessed.”
He and his wife, Katie, are expecting a fourth child this fall and he continues to effectively battle the alcoholism and drug addictions that nearly ended his baseball career prior to it began.
He shares his faith-based recovery story often and is excited about beginning inspirational merchandising.
Hamilton, his wife and her sister Kelly Shiley have began a internet-based company, scriptureartdesigns.com, which offers inspirational supplies and aids to support memorization of Scripture.
“Josh is usually sticking notes up on the refrigerator of the wall to assist him memorize Scripture,” Katie Hamilton stated. “The notes would get frayed and fall down. Attempting to believe of a greater way to find out Scripture was the begin of the company.”
The company also makes posters and murals that adhere to walls. Hamilton has a enormous poster hanging in his property that quotes a Biblical Old Testament passage, “But as for me and my residence, we will serve the Lord.”
“It is a reminder to me of who I am and what I want my life to be about,” Hamilton said. “I can’t look at that wall and not get grounded again.”
Hamilton said the new venture is an extension of what he has been doing already.
“I’ll tell anybody who wants to know all about my life. The excellent and the poor,” he said. “Memorizing Scripture has been a massive part in my recovery. To me this organization is just like going into a town and talking about my faith. I want to share it.”
Combining comfortable construction with versatile style, the Antigua Sport Debut Women’s tank top will help you display support for your favorite team with an embroidered team logo on the center chest. It’s constructed from 100% cotton and includes bra strap snaps, and Antigua icon side seam label.
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When it comes to essential fanwear, this Texas Rangers Red Wordmark T-Shirt from Majestic is it. Features screen printed team graphic including name in official font with logo on chest.
Question by hockeyref2688: how did the texas rangers pitcher get a save if they won 30-3?
today, 8-22, the rangers won 30-3 and the pitcher got a save. how is that possible since the tying run was no where to be found?
Best answer:
Answer by Casino The reliever came into the game when the Rangers were winning by 3 or less.
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The Texas Rangers fan died after falling out of the stands Fan Dies at Ranger Game; Announcers Ignorantly Laugh Rangers Fan Dies After Falling Out Of Stands During Game TORCEDOR MORRE EM ESTADIO – Fan Dies at Ranger Game Announcers Ignorantly Laugh Texas Rangers say a fan died after falling out of the stands while trying to catch a baseball tossed his way during a game Thursday night. The Rangers said the man fell about 20 feet. Absolutely heartbreaking. Josh Hamilton tosses a foul ball to a fan who leans over to catch it, but then the fan falls over the rail 20 feet to his death A man fell out of the stands reaching for a baseball tossed his way during the Texas Rangers’ game Thursday night and dropped about 20 feet to the ground. The fan landed out of sight from the field, behind the 14-foot-high wall that has a video board that shows replays and scores from other games. The Rangers said the fan was taken to a Fort Worth hospital after getting medical attention from ballpark staff. They did not identify the man or release details on his condition. The accident happened in the second inning after Oakland’s Conor Jackson hit a foul ball that ricocheted into left field. Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton retrieved the ball and tossed it to the stands. Replays on Oakland’s television broadcast clearly show the man reaching for the ball and apparently catching it before tumbling into a gap of several feet between the outfield wall and the front row of seats, which are higher … Video Rating: 4 / 5
ARLINGTON, Texas — The AL West-leading Texas Rangers are skipping Matt Harrison’s subsequent turn in the rotation and planning for C.J. Wilson to pitch every fifth day in September.
Manager Ron Washington stated correct-hander Scott Feldman will begin in Harrison’s spot Tuesday night in the opener of a residence series against Tampa Bay. Harrison (10-9) is expected to take his subsequent scheduled turn Sept. 4 at Boston.
(Tony Gutierrez/Linked Press) – Texas Rangers relief pitcher Scott Feldman delivers to the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. The Red Sox won 6-.
“You’re not pleased with getting to skip a begin, particularly near the end of the season,” Harrison mentioned after Washington’s announcement Saturday. “But they feel that€™s what is very best for me. … I understand it. They were honest with me.”
Harrison is 1-2 with a 6.51 ERA in 5 August starts, and his season ERA has risen from two.94 to three.59 in that span. The left-hander allowed seven runs and 11 hits over five innings in a loss Wednesday against Boston. He has already pitched 153 innings, his most since 167 two-three innings combined in the majors and minors in 2008, and could be on track to begin as many as 5 a lot more times.
“He’s in uncharted waters and we’re performing what we can to aid him get through it,” Washington mentioned.
Washington addressed the pitching plans for the final month of the normal season just before a game against the Los Angeles Angels that Wilson began. The manager stated Wilson is expected to be kept on a consistent schedule and pitch every single fifth day regardless of the team’s off days.
That would set up Wilson to make 5 far more begins in the normal season, such as the opener of the standard-season ending series at Los Angeles if the division title is still at stake.
The Rangers also strategy to get Alexi Ogando (12-6, 3.57 ERA) an extended break soon, like they did with the very first-time starter around the All-Star break. Washington mentioned Derek Holland (12-five, 4.30) their other young starter, doesn’t look tired.
Washington mentioned he and pitching coach Mike Maddux have â€made plans for the rest of the year.” Washington mentioned he wasn’t going into the details about those plans, other than Feldman starting Tuesday.
Feldman has a 3.94 ERA in seven relief appearance given that returning from offseason appropriate knee surgery. Feldman won 17 games in 2009, and was the opening day starter in 2010 before acquiring hurt.
There have been two extended relief appearances for Feldman more than the last week. He threw 90 pitches over 4 2-3 innings at the Chicago White Sox last Sunday, then threw 54 pitches in four innings against Boston on Thursday.
“I’m somewhat stretched out,” Feldman mentioned. “I’ve had plenty of rest, and my arm’s feeling excellent.”
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