Rangers Countdown

[FWHORN]

21 games left; 3.5 game lead, magic number is 19.

If Rangers go 10-11 then Angels have to go 14-8 just to tie with both teams at 90-72.

Before year began I thought 90 wins would win the west but it looks now though like 92 may be the number and maybe even 93.

Playing out the math then with Rangers first then what Angels need to tie

11-10 then 15-7 to tie
12-9 then 16-6 to tie
13-8 then 17-5 to tie
14-7 then 18-4

Looking at schedules it is hard to see Angels not going at least 14-8. Rangers need to get 13 wins to really be safely in. Starts this afternoon in Tampa.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Looks like they'll have to start the countdown tomorrow...

 

[ViperHorn]

Pitching is beat. It is going to be a real struggle.

 

[sblazer]

once we get through this series with TB... our schedule gets waaay easier. we come home for 6, angels have 3 at home against streaking yankees... then go on a 10 game road trip to oak(whos playing better) baltimore and toronto.. thats where i'd love to see us build that 3-4 game lead going into final week of season.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

^That's the key - how will the Angels do this weekend against the Yankees? If the Rangers will take care of business during the homestand (Oakland and Cleveland), the lead should increase. The offensively-challenged Angels will have a very difficult time beating the big-hitting Yankees.

I'd like to see the Rangers cllinch the AL West before they go to Anaheim for the last series.

HHD

 

[FWHORN]

Rangers win tonight 8-0 lowering magic number to 18. Would be nice to get some help from Seattle this evening and push that lead back to 3.5.

 

[Horn69]

this was a big day. C.J. vs Rays; King Felix vs Halos and they both prevailed. 3 runs scored in LAA vs Seattle and they were all unearned...but, hey, we'll take them however we can get them. Go Rangers!

Hook'em!!!

 

[HornHuskerDad]

^Exactly! Now with 19 games to go, the Rangers are up 3-1/2 games. If Texas goes only 10-9 in the last 19, the Angels would have to go 14-6 in their last 20 to tie. If Texas goes 11-8, the Angels need to go 15-5. It's looking better!

HHD

 

[ViperHorn]

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[FWHORN]

Tough loss in Tampa after coming back and forcing extra innings. Still 3-3 road trip was better than expected, now need to take care of business at home against woeful A's. Must take 2 of 3 and a sweep would really be helpful.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

^And it would be very helpful if the Yankees would sweep the Angels in Anaheim.

HHD

 

[FWHORN]

Good start to Oakland series tonight moves that number to 16 and now it would be nice to get some help from the Yankees.

Saturday morning edit: well no help from Yankees who lose 2-1. The Angels have a terrible offense but their pitching is keeping them in games and giving them a chance. Rangers still really need a sweep of Oakland and hope Yankees can at least take one of these last two in Anaheim.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Rangers lose a game to the A's (8-7) they had no business losing. I've seen enough of Tateyama--- his last two appearances he pitched to one batter with the bases loaded and gave up a grand slam to each one. Totally ridiculous. This guy should only be allowed to pitch if Texas is blowing out someone or getting blown out.

 

[FWHORN]

16 to play and lead is down to 1.5. The Yankees have done Texas no favors in Anaheim so far and losing yesterday was a gut shot. Need to win today to at least take 2 out of 3 and hope that NY can get a win to push lead back to 2.5.

Really looks now like it will take 92-93 wins to win west and that means 10-6 or 11-5 over last 16 games.

 

[orangecat1]

3 outs to go for the Yanks to pull one out against the Angels.

I did not see this coming, I thought NY would take at least 2. I guess we can count on Angels winning every series from here on, just depends upon whether they sweep any series or not.

Our best hope for something other than an Angels series win might be when they go to Toronto? 4 games in Canada.

We need the Rangers to sweep at least one series, imo.

 

[FWHORN]

Rangers win and Angels lose so lead is back to 2.5 and magic number is 14 with 15 to play for Rangers and 16 for Angels.

Cleveland coming to town next starting Tuesday while the Angels go to Oakland beginning tomorrow. The Angels have played .500 ball against the AL west while the Rangers at 30-15 against the west have done significantly better. Lets hope that the Rangers can get a sweep or two and the Angels continue to drop games against division opponents at the clip they have thus far.

 

[ViperHorn]

The AL West looks to be a last series winner take all deal as I don't see Texas being 4 up going into that series. If Nolan has any pitching magic, he needs to lay it on now.

In other AL news Tampa Bay is closing in on Boston for the Wild Card.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

Rangers got a little help from Oakland last night, as the A's beat the Angels to move the lead in the West back up to three games. Big series with Cleveland starts tonight. Mrs. HHD and I will be at the game tonight - this is the last game of our mini-packs for this season. We will cheer very hard for the Rangers (and for the A's). The rest of the Ranger zealots need to crank up the cheering as the race enters the home stretch!

HHD

 

[FWHORN]

Rangers take night off and magic number goes down to 13 with lead up to 3 games and ahead 3 in the loss column. Thank you Oakland now please take one or two more today and tomorrow. Rangers cannot afford to lose a series the rest of the way out and need a sweep somewhere.

15 to play for both Rangers and Angels.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

In reply to:

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[HornHuskerDad]

OK, Mrs. HHD and I just got back from The Ballpark - we cheered successfully and the Rangers beat Cleveland 10-4. Now we need to do some cheering for the A's - Angels currently ahead 3-2 in the 4th in Oakland.

HHD

 

[sblazer]

the A's have had the tying run on 3rd the last two innings with less than 2 outs and have grounded into 2 dp's...... i'm so annoyed it's ridiculous.

 

[WorsterMan]

HHD - nice mojo at the ballpark getting that 10-4 win last evening... Rangers just gotta keep their foot on the gas and hope LAA loses a few more than they do in the stretch.

 

[ViperHorn]

If it weren't for that last series Texas would be close to sewing this thing up. However in a 3 game series to decide the conference champion, anything can happen - especially when Scioscia will not go brain dead again on his rotation. Texas pitching will be out classed in 2 of those 3 games.

Stranger things have happened.

 

[FWHORN]

Rangers have 3 game lead and magic number is 12 with 14 to play.

I dont want any part of a series in Anaheim at end with the west on the line so hopefully the Rangers can string several wins together and the Angels can continue their .500 ball against AL western division opponents.

Incidentally Oakland doing us no favors today down three in the 8th so Rangers will need win tonight to keep pace.

 

[sblazer]

umm... Hamilton just hit a grand slam... IN SEPTEMBER. anyone see those commercials??!?! hahahah FREE COUNTERTOPS AND FLOORING IF JOSH HAMILTON HITS A GRAND SLAM IN SEPTERMBER>?!!?!?! ooh man that guy is probably shitting his pants right now...

 

[FWHORN]

Huge bottom of the fourth for an 8 spot. Helps with resting arms iif Texas can maintin a big lead and not have to use its set up men and closer tonight especially with 4 more games to come before next rest day and playing 7 straight games including yesterday and today.

Hold this lead and magic number is 11 with 13 to play.

Update: Rangers win 9-1 they have won series and go for a huge sweep tomorrow. Up 3 with 13 to play. Angels are off tomorrow then travel East for their next seven and are 18-19 v AL East on the year. Would be great for them to have a .500 trip while Rangers deal with one more against Cleveland tomorrow then 6 road games with Seattle and Oakland.

 

[ViperHorn]

Angeles announced today that they will be short pitching Weaver and probably Santana in order to align the pitching for the last series. Full expected, but if the short pitching leads to 2 or 3 losses next week and Texas gets a 4 game lead they will have out-thought themselves. I would have thought they would have pushed longer next week before doing this as if they start losing games and Texas loses 2 less, the last series isn't going to mean anything.

 

[FWHORN]

Rangers pick up 7-4 win tonight to finish off the sweep of Cleveland. Magic number is now 10 with 12 to play. Angels have 13 games left.

Rangers head west for six games at Seattle and Oakland while Angels head east for 3 in Baltimore and 4 in Toronto.

If Rangers go 6-6, Angels must go 10-3 just to tie.

 

[Dewbrewer]

CC Carpet took out insurance for the promotion. And you had to buy your product prior to the homer. Very interesting. And way to go Hamilton!!! See that other line drive homer as well??? He is hot. Plus Napoli has the best BA in the AL since the ASB. Plus I like how Holland has become more consistent. GRAND SLAM