2023 ALCS • Rangers vs Astros
- Thread starter Dionysus
- Start date
Horn2RunAgain
2,500+ Posts
They looked confident tonight , to me, for the first time since early on in game 1. I'd say the 2nd inning was when ranger fans said "oh ****". They have that edge to them now, very confident. It'll be hard to wrestle that momentum from them
Yep, that was 2 years before I was born and 10 years before I moved to Texas. Looking at the stats and roster, a second place finish is pretty incredible. Fergie was a beast - 328 innings. Wow.
The earliest memory I have about Martin is that my dad blamed him for ruining the Oakland A's rotation in the early '80s. Our family lived in Oakland from '70 - '84. (It's why I don't speak with a Texas accent even though I lived in Texas for 27 years.). He was a fan of the A's that beat the Mets, Big Red Machine, and Dodgers in a row. He saw Charlie Finley dismantle that team and then rebuild it with some talented young starters. However, in 1980 Martin had them pitch 94 complete games and 60 more in the strike-shortened '81 season. They were never the same after that (injuries and loss of stuff), and the rebuild failed. By the time the A's became good again, we had moved to Texas, where the Rangers largely sucked. Even today, though he respects Martin overall as a manager, he's still a little bitter about that. lol.
FWHORN
10,000+ Posts
It was always going to be a long series and the Rangers just got punched in the mouth, now we see how Bochy rallies the troops and in what is basically a bullpen start game for both teams. Game four is crucial for both teams especially with Verlander looming in game five.
LETS GO RANGERS!
LETS GO RANGERS!
Horn2RunAgain
2,500+ Posts
Handling starting pitchers was an issue for every manager in that era, except for Dick Williams (my 2nd favorite Mgr of all time) and Sparky Anderson. Williams was the manager of the early 70s A's btw.
Both Williams and Anderson had deep bullpens when Oakland and cincy were at their peak. But they also had a quick hook with lesser pens. Smart guys.
As for the early 80s A's talent, I wouldn't put McCatty or any of those guys in the Fergie category. It's not like they had Koufax, Drysdale, Sutton type guys, or Palmer. Cuellar, Dobson, McNally in that rotation.
.
And (rambling, I know) Charlie didn't dismantle that early 70s As team. Free agency did. 75 I believe was when Andy Messersmith (and Marvin Miller) won the court case opening that door. Oakland didn't draw enough fans or generate enough revenue to keep Catfish, Vida, Jackson, Rudi, North, Campaneris, Bando,etc etc. They were doomed by the court decision
I just looked it up:
Complete Games All-Time Leaders | Baseball Almanac
Martin was definitely old school. Probably thought they were wussies if they had arm problems.
you're a good husband.
The poor thing. She has to listen to my sports analysis. She's a good sport about it. I've totally impressed her by my ability to spot penalties during a football game before the flag is thrown. "How do you see that!?!?" Also, I am able to provide commentary, before the announcer says the exact same thing.
She's a Texas Exe and loves to watch football. She also loves to make up charcuterie boards for the game. I got a good one.
Horn2RunAgain
2,500+ Posts
My wife watches 162 ranger games, beginning to end. Regardless of the score. Drives me nuts
Same with the Cowboys.
I took her to a ranger game soon after we met. Never saw a woman that happy for 3 hours straight (enter Garmel for a reply & rebuttal with video of proof)
That was her first ranger game. She's the exact same way each time we go to a ranger game.
Same with the Cowboys.
I took her to a ranger game soon after we met. Never saw a woman that happy for 3 hours straight (enter Garmel for a reply & rebuttal with video of proof)
That was her first ranger game. She's the exact same way each time we go to a ranger game.
My wife watches 162 ranger games, beginning to end. Regardless of the score. Drives me nuts
Same with the Cowboys.
I took her to a ranger game soon after we met. Never saw a woman that happy for 3 hours straight (enter Garmel for a reply & rebuttal with video of proof)
That was her first ranger game. She's the exact same way each time we go to a ranger game.
Namaste. That's amazing.
Horn2RunAgain
2,500+ Posts
The only top 30 on that list that pitched in my lifetime is warren spahn. Perfect form , coordination and motion.
Hitting today is far far better, more advanced. Much harder to go deep into games. Not even sure a Mark Belanger, Dal Maxvill or Luis Aparicio could start today. All were excellent ballplayers, defensive talent. It's not the coveted skill it once was
Rangers defense is why I really enjoy watching them. Very sound. They make pitcher's stats look better than the talent on the mound
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It really wasn't Finley's fault. When teams like the Yankees started throwing money around, there was no way Oakland could financially compete with them. Teams like that have to outsmart the Yankees with a solid farm, finding hidden talent, and making smart trades.
Horn2RunAgain
2,500+ Posts
Definitely not his fault. In 74 , the year they won their 3rd consecutive world series, they were next to last in attendance. (Think about that!). They averaged only 10k per game in attendance.
Oakland never deserved a franchise imo. Dfw and sf/ oak have roughly the same population. It would be like the dallas eagles and fort worth cats both having MLB franchises. Insane. And I clearly recall san Fran had a helluva time drawing fans to candlestick Park in that era as well. The cold evenings were the excuse but when they made their runs in the late 80s they drew well . Bottom line, that area never could support 2 teams.
>>>>> ETA, if Charlie was hellbent on leaving KC, he should have leaned on dallas to build a stadium. The city knew they were losing the cowdogs soon ( eventually to Irving), and the city govt and leadership at the time would have worked with him to get that done. He could have had a very successful franchise here. Potential sites mentioned at the time were near the old bronco bowl (not far from the future site of Texas stadium ) and Addison. Back then Addison was nothing but a tiny airport and some fruit and egg stands. In 1974 I played Jr hockey in high school, we had a game vs Addison's travel squad. The rink was in the middle of NOWHERE. A 3rd site was mentioned, immediate dropped. The site of Burnett Field in the cliff, where the dallas Rangers played in the early 60s.
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Agree. They play defense the way it's supposed to be played. And that definitely helps the pitching staff.
Rangers lost the home field advantage they stole by winning the first two games in Houston. Now it's critical the Rangers win tomorrow so they can go to Houston with two chances to win one game.
Nobody appears to have any home field advantage whatsoever. And the Astros have been better on the road all year, which is strange. What’s the psychology behind that I wonder?
Away from their wives. Duh!
I'm not sure. I'm a Finance major and not Philosophy. However, that is one thing that my wife and I have discussed. Why are some teams better on the road than at home?
My theory is that on the road you have something to prove, at home you are relaxed.
Yeah, I’ve thought maybe being in “enemy” territory could provoke a stronger survival instinct, or something like that.
Seriously I think you have to give a slight edge to the Rangers right now with this thing going back to Houston.
In my day, I loved playing in front of hostile crowds. Or even just family and girlfriends. I liked beating on their loved ones. No pressure at all.
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