Texas Rangers 2016 Thread

Rangers take 3 of 4 from Indians to start home stand off right and get to 77 wins on year. Darvish and Hamels go in next two against Seattle with a chance to almost end the Mariners hopes for the year. Next ten are against the two teams tied for second 8 1/2 games back; 7 against Seattle and 3 with Houston. Viper has us all on magic number watch so hopefully he stays busy over the next ten games moving that number down.:texasflag:
 
FWHORN is right - Rangers have a real chance to put a lock (almost) on the AL West with the next ten against the pursuers. Yu and Cole can drive the first two nails on the M's this week. It would be very nice to wrap it up by mid-September (along with home field advantage through the playoffs).
 
Games remaining as of 30 August:
Texas - 30
Seattle - 30
Houston - 31

Magic Number update:

Seattle
24 as of beginning of play 29 August

-1 Seattle loss
-1 Texas win

22 as of start of play 30 August

Houston
24 as of beginning of play 29 August

-0 Houston win
-1 Texas win

23 as of start of play 30 August
 
Rangers continue their home success with big win over Seattle. I have felt all year it would take 90 wins to take the West but with Houston hot again and Seattle still in striking distance of 90 I have started to think 91 or 92 might be needed. Any way you look at it though, the math on all of those numbers really favors the Rangers now. To get to 92 wins the Rangers just need to go 14-16 over these last 30 while the Astros who have 31 games left would have to go 23-8 and Seattle (also with 31 left) would have to go 24-7 and that would just be to tie. At 91 wins the Rangers need only go 13-17 and if 90 is enough just 12-18, correspondingly Houston would need to go 22-9 or 21-10 meaning a minimum clip of over .670 ball for a full month just to get to 90 wins, Seattle would have to go 23-8 or 22-9. With 9 more games with Seattle and Houston coming up in this stretch even a 4-5 record in them would make that math even more tilted to the Rangers as we head into the home stretch. Rangers just need to keep Viper busy with that magic number update.:texasflag:
 
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^Good points, FWHORN. Adding to that, it would be very nice to keep the pedal to the metal and wrap up the best record in the AL to get home field advantage throughout the playoffs. It might take 95 or 96 wins to do that. 18-12 would probably take care of it, maybe 17-13 - at any rate, something better than .500 ball - and with a bunch of home games remaining, that's within reason.
 
It will be interesting to see if they go all out for the best record or start "resting people" mid-September to the end of the season. Doesn't do much good to have the best record if physically you are exhausted.

By resting I mean limiting Yu and Hamels to 5 innings per start with the everyday players getting a couple of extra days off.
 
ViperHorn said:
It will be interesting to see if they go all out for the best record or start "resting people" mid-September to the end of the season. Doesn't do much good to have the best record if physically you are exhausted.

By resting I mean limiting Yu and Hamels to 5 innings per start with the everyday players getting a couple of extra days off.
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He is a smart guy, you would think Banister would improve his odds in the playoffs and take the resting people strategy. Guess we will see.
 
Well, the win over Seattle tonight was a bit more exciting than I would have liked. Cole had an off night (doesn't happen often) and the Rangers had to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth. Guess Odor atoned for his baserunning blunder. That puts the M's 10.5 games down and might make it nearly impossible for them to contend (although they're still in the hunt for the second Wild Card slot). King Felix on the hill Wednesday afternoon; the Rangers are the one team that gives him trouble - a W in the afternoon game would be the cherry on top.
 
Games remaining as of 31 August:
Texas - 29
Seattle - 30
Houston - 30

(Thanks to FW for noticing Seattle has 30 games remaining not 29)

Magic Number update:

Seattle
22 as of beginning of play 30 August

-1 Seattle loss
-1 Texas win

20 as of start of play 31 August

Houston
23 as of beginning of play 30 August

-0 Houston win
-1 Texas win

22 as of start of play 31 August
 
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Cole Hamels struggles and it looked for all the world like the Rangers were going to lose, but not this year and not this team, Rangers again say hello win column with an 8-7 walk off win to take the series with chance for a sweep today against King Felix. The walk off home run was by Rougie who otherwise would have been under serious fire for yet another base running blunder where his aggressiveness got the best of him at the wrong time and the walk off is something like the sixth this year for Texas. 25 games over .500 in August, wow! Keep that magic number moving down Viper.:texasflag:
 
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8-7, OMG what a back and forth game and dramatic WIN!!! :yippee:

This team just never quits. They just keep fighting to the very end! Dare I say it? I will say part of it for you superstitious types. This team has the stuff the makings to go......:texasflag:
 
Some other good news, Colby threw 60 pitches in his final rehab start last night and even though he got knocked around a bit he is on pace to get back this weekend and there is talk of a six man rotation for the last month of the season to rest starters if he is capable, otherwise he and Griffin could platoon starts or even split with AJ going 3-4 innings and Colby going 3-4 innings and then handing it over to bullpen. With 40 man roster there are a lot of options with the staff starting tomorrow.
 
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FWHORN said:
Some other good news, Colby threw 60 pitches in his final rehab start last night and even though he got knocked around a bit he is on pace to get back this weekend and there is talk of a six man rotation for the last month of the season to rest starters if he is capable, otherwise he and griffin could platoon starts or even split with AJ going 3-4 innings and Colby going 3-4 innings and then handing it over to bullpen. With 40 man roster there are a lot of options with the staff starting tomorrow.
Click to expand...

This is indeed good news and would be a good strategy by Bannister to start resting some arms before the playoffs. I like the idea of a platoon approach with Colby and AJ - this will also serve well by slowly bringing Colby back into the rotation.
 
Games remaining as of 01 September:
Texas - 28
Seattle - 29
Houston - 29

Magic Number update:

Seattle
20 as of beginning of play 31 August

-1 Seattle loss
-1 Texas win

18 as of start of play 01 September

Houston
22 as of beginning of play 31 August

-0 Houston win
-1 Texas win

21 as of start of play 01 September
 
After last nights Odor gut punch, Seattle comes out this afternoon and just flat quits as King Felix and a bevy of relievers all get rocked and it was home runs for everyone it seemed like in a 14-1 drubbing that swept the Mariners right out of town. Only bad news on an otherwise great afternoon was Oakland being Oakland and giving up 3 in the 8th to blow a two run lead against the Astros late so lead stays at 8 1/2 but Viper gets to move that magic number again.

Rangers are 6-1 on this home stand with a big series against Houston to finish the ten game set. Even one win in that series would mean a 7 win home stand and a minimum 7 1/2 game lead. The Astros are on fire again having won 10 of last 12 but they are about to hit a stretch that includes 6 with Texas, 4 with Cleveland and 3 with the Cubs so you have to expect a few losses peppered in there. .500 ball for Rangers the rest of way puts them at 94 wins which might be enough to have best record in AL. Best Ranger record ever was 96 wins in 2011 and equaling or exceeding that is not out of realm of possibility.

Off day tomorrow and weekend sets up with Griffin, Holland and Yu on the mound for Texas against Fister, Keuchel and Musgrove. Colby apparently was stiff today so they wont be rushing him back too quickly but wouldnt be shocked to see him in some role in the Seattle series that follows. September is finally here and the Rangers come into it at 80 wins. No way you could have sold me in April that Texas would have 80 wins on August 31.:texasflag:
 
What an awesome roll this team is on--good thing they are done playing last place teams! IIRC, 5 under .500 against cellar dwellers, but +31 over the rest of the league. Crazy stat.
 
The Rangers got a good afternoon of batting practice yesterday - thanks to the Mariner pitchers for volunteering to throw the BP session. Hope the bats stay hot this weekend against Houston.

Also interesting to see the September call-ups - wonder if there is a spot for a call-up to make a real contribution. The current roster seems to be firing on all cylinders right now.
 
Games remaining as of 02 September:
Texas - 28
Seattle - 29
Houston - 29

Magic Number update:

Seattle
18 as of beginning of play 01 September

-0 Seattle DNP
-0 Texas DNP

18 as of start of play 02 September

Houston
21 as of beginning of play 01 September

-0 Houston DNP
-0 Texas DNP

21 as of start of play 02 September
 
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Games remaining as of 03 September:
Texas - 27
Seattle - 28
Houston - 28

Magic Number update:

Seattle
18 as of beginning of play 02 September

-0 Seattle Win
-1 Texas Win

17 as of start of play 03 September

Houston
21 as of beginning of play 02 September

-1 Houston Loss
-1 Texas Win

19 as of start of play 03 September
 
Great way to start series with Astros though bullpen giving up five runs in the seventh and eighth innings is a recipe for future disaster. Dyson with shut down ninth though came through in clutch situation. Someone up above said the offense would have to carry this team for a couple of games when the pitching had its inevitable struggles and between picking up Hamels on Tuesday when he struggled and putting enough runs up that a bullpen off night was still a win last night that appears more than capable of happening on any given day.

Rangers just needed to win one against Houston to have a 7 win home stand which I had thought would be a hugely successful home stand, now they have two chances to really put a stranglehold on the west and go a good way toward being in shape to have best record in AL and maybe a franchise record of 97 wins. To get to 97 they would need to go 16-11 over these last 27, not an out of the question number.

Some Colby news, he is getting a rehab start in Spokane on Monday (Rangers are in Seattle so nearby flight to get back to team). Griffin looks to be odd man out if Lewis comes back strong but we will have to wait and see how fast they try to get him back into starting role.

Good way to start September off right!:texasflag:
 
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Rangers take game two against Houston 12-4 and now have won 13 of 15 on the year against the Astros. This home stand has been decisive and there is one more game tomorrow that with a win would leave Texas with an all but insurmountable 11 1/2 game lead with 25 left to play. Holland went six and got the win and but for Alvarez with his usual blow up in the ninth the bullpen was solid with scoreless seventh and eighth. Yu Darvish goes tomorrow as Rangers look for a sweep.:texasflag:
 
Games remaining as of 04 September:
Texas - 26
Seattle - 27
Houston - 27

Magic Number update:

Seattle
17 as of beginning of play 03 September

-1 Seattle Loss
-1 Texas Win

15 as of start of play 04 September

Houston
19 as of beginning of play 03 September

-1 Houston Loss
-1 Texas Win

17 as of start of play 04 September
 
Games remaining as of 05 September:
Texas - 25
Seattle - 26
Houston - 26

Magic Number update:

Seattle
15 as of beginning of play 04 September

-1 Seattle Loss
-0 Texas Loss

14 as of start of play 05 September

Houston
17 as of beginning of play 03 September

-0 Houston Win
-0 Texas Loss

17 as of start of play 04 September
 
Cant argue with an 8 win home stand even if Darvish struggles in finale. Ten game road trip now, last long one of season as Rangers push to get that magic number to zero.
 
Games remaining as of 06 September:
Texas - 24
Seattle - 25
Houston - 25
Magic Number update:

Seattle
14 as of beginning of play 05 September

-0 Seattle Win
-0 Texas Loss

14 as of start of play 06 September

Houston
17 as of beginning of play 05 September

-0 Houston Win
-0 Texas Loss

17 as of start of play 06 September
 
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Rough start to road trip as Cole Hamels has his second bad start in a row against the Mariners. Perez goes tonight as Rangers look to stop this little two game losing streak.:texasflag:
 
Games remaining as of 07 September:
Texas - 23
Seattle - 24
Houston - 24

Magic Number update:

Seattle
14 as of beginning of play 06 September

-1 Seattle Loss
-1 Texas Win

12 as of start of play 07 September

Houston
17 as of beginning of play 06 September

-0 Houston Win
-1 Texas Win

16 as of start of play 07 September
 
Rangers lead 8-4 going to the seventh but then Diekman who has suddenly become the second coming of Tom Wilhelmson and Mark Kirkland is unable to get an out and almost coughs up a 4 run lead, but Kela saves him again and Rangers end up outscoring Mariners 10-7. That potent Ranger offense has really shown up the last two weeks and is bailing out a pitching staff that is really getting hit suddenly. Perez gets a road win so watch for pigs flying somewhere. Lead is still a very healthy 8 1/2 and more importantly 2 games up on Cleveland in loss column for best record in AL.:texasflag:
 
I'm worried about Diekman - he can't seem to get an out anymore, and they need a quality southpaw in the bullpen for the playoff run.
 
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