win or lose tonight...

[monosylab1k]

The Rangers had one of the most incredible seasons any baseball team in history has ever had.

What other team could survive -

1. The manager testing positive for freaking cocaine
2. Long stints on the DL by their 3 best players (Cruz, Kinsler, and Hamilton)
3. Their top 2 pitchers going into spring training completely licking balls all year long (Harden and Feldman)
4. Having to rely on a career reliever with a history of shaky outings (Wilson) and a pitcher who spent last year in Japan (Lewis)
5. The team going BANKRUPT in the middle of the year, with Major League Baseball actually seizing control of the team for a time.
6. A shitstorm of controversy regarding who would even have to rights to buy the team.

The fact that they even had a winning record shows how mentally tough these guys are. It took every ounce of energy to get here. Maybe they have one last push, maybe not, but either way the 2010 Texas Rangers, even in defeat, are more impressive than the vast majority of World Series winners.

[Phillip]

very amazing indeed. its been a disappointing WS so far, but gotta be proud of these guys. hopefully they remember what the Red Sox did, and can add to their already impressive resume, with an amazing series comeback.

[monosylab1k]

honestly, how would the yankees do if girardi admitted to doing coke in the offseason, A-rod, Cano, and Teixeira all spent like half the year on the DL, sabathia and pettitte both were so awful they couldn't even get into the rotation by the end of the season, and the team went bankrupt somehow.

Hell, Steinbrenner died and the best they could do was get their ass beat by the Rangers. If that chain of events ever happened, they might not win 60 games all year long.

These Rangers are so bad ass.

[The Batman]

Lame ass already making excuses

[Jose Canseco]

Really impressive season by the Rangers. I'd expect them to be a really good team for several years to come, with or without Cliff Lee.

Hamilton and Kinsler do need to use more steroids to stay healthier throughout the season though.

[Spurminator]

http://newberg.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/11/a_message_from_chuck_greenberg.html

A message from Chuck Greenberg.

This season has transcended expectations and transformed the psyche and hearts of legions of Rangers fans across Texas and throughout our country and beyond. At the core of the remarkable journey we have shared together is a ballclub and a community who collectively have consigned the conventional wisdom of the past to the dust bins of history, busting myths and charting a new course previously thought to be unattainable.

Can't pitch successfully in Rangers Ballpark. Wrong.

Can't compete successfully late in the season because the heat will break you down. Wrong.

Fans will lose interest when training camp opens. Wrong.

Fans won't come to Rangers Ballpark after the All Star break because its too hot. Wrong.

Rangers can't win a playoff series. Wrong.

Rangers can't win a playoff game at home. Wrong.

Rangers can't beat the Yankees in the playoffs. Wrong.

Rangers can't get to the World Series. Wrong.

Rangers can't captivate the hearts and emotions of fans new and old deep into the fall. Wrong.

And on and on and on....

I can't even begin to count the memorable moments we have shared this year thanks to a very special group of players with hearts and smiles as big as Texas, who always pull together, stand up for one another, and who have changed the sports landscape here in the Metroplex forever.

But here is a simple reality. Monday will be the last game played in Rangers Ballpark this year. We all owe it to ourselves, our players and each other, to celebrate with passion, enthusiasm and indefatigable belief from lineup cards to the final out, loud and proud.

The defining team of my young life was the 1979, "We are Family" Pittsburgh Pirates. I have often remarked how much this Rangers club reminds me of that team, with a confident but friendly swagger and an abundance of character and personality.

Now these two teams have something else in common. Both fell behind 3-1 in the World Series. Kent Tekulve, the great closer from the '79 Pirates, texted me after tonight's game to pass along this story. Before Game 5, Willie Stargell told his teammates:

"We are playing in front of the whole world. We may not win this thing, but before we go, let's show the world how the Pirates really play baseball".

The Pirates, playing against a team whose colors were black and orange, won Game 5. Then they returned to Baltimore and won Game 6. Then they won Game 7.

I know our players will show everyone how the Rangers play baseball tomorrow. As fans, let's do the same. We have one final opportunity this season to show the world what we have accomplished together and the passion we all hold for our players and our shared dreams.

The World Series is going back to San Francisco. And then there will be one final piece of conventional wisdom to prove wrong....

Believe.

Chuck

[Phillip]

http://newberg.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/11/a_message_from_chuck_greenberg.html

A message from Chuck Greenberg.

This season has transcended expectations and transformed the psyche and hearts of legions of Rangers fans across Texas and throughout our country and beyond. At the core of the remarkable journey we have shared together is a ballclub and a community who collectively have consigned the conventional wisdom of the past to the dust bins of history, busting myths and charting a new course previously thought to be unattainable.

Can't pitch successfully in Rangers Ballpark. Wrong.

Can't compete successfully late in the season because the heat will break you down. Wrong.

Fans will lose interest when training camp opens. Wrong.

Fans won't come to Rangers Ballpark after the All Star break because its too hot. Wrong.

Rangers can't win a playoff series. Wrong.

Rangers can't win a playoff game at home. Wrong.

Rangers can't beat the Yankees in the playoffs. Wrong.

Rangers can't get to the World Series. Wrong.

Rangers can't captivate the hearts and emotions of fans new and old deep into the fall. Wrong.

And on and on and on....

I can't even begin to count the memorable moments we have shared this year thanks to a very special group of players with hearts and smiles as big as Texas, who always pull together, stand up for one another, and who have changed the sports landscape here in the Metroplex forever.

But here is a simple reality. Monday will be the last game played in Rangers Ballpark this year. We all owe it to ourselves, our players and each other, to celebrate with passion, enthusiasm and indefatigable belief from lineup cards to the final out, loud and proud.

The defining team of my young life was the 1979, "We are Family" Pittsburgh Pirates. I have often remarked how much this Rangers club reminds me of that team, with a confident but friendly swagger and an abundance of character and personality.

Now these two teams have something else in common. Both fell behind 3-1 in the World Series. Kent Tekulve, the great closer from the '79 Pirates, texted me after tonight's game to pass along this story. Before Game 5, Willie Stargell told his teammates:

"We are playing in front of the whole world. We may not win this thing, but before we go, let's show the world how the Pirates really play baseball".

The Pirates, playing against a team whose colors were black and orange, won Game 5. Then they returned to Baltimore and won Game 6. Then they won Game 7.

I know our players will show everyone how the Rangers play baseball tomorrow. As fans, let's do the same. We have one final opportunity this season to show the world what we have accomplished together and the passion we all hold for our players and our shared dreams.

The World Series is going back to San Francisco. And then there will be one final piece of conventional wisdom to prove wrong....

Believe.

Chuck

great article

:toast

[easy7]

Win or lose tonight I give props and respect to those guys. I hope they win and make a series out of it. :toast

[Banzai]

I've been rooting for the Rangers..which is odd because I would think I'd be cheering for the Giants..being in California and all. Oh well.

[DesignatedT]

spoken like losers.

[Fpoonsie]

It's been fun watching TX this season. Sucks that there seem to be TWO "team[s] of destiny" in the WS.

Hope they can pull it off, though.

[monosylab1k]

spoken like losers.


Go Rangers!

[symple19]

Props to the Rangers

[phxspurfan]

I kinda feel sorry for rangers fans (and their team). They have run into a stellar pitching performance by my Giants. But it doesnt help that guys like Kinsler are batting what sixth? While Elvis Pierre (er, Andrus) gets to have the most AB's per game among all that talent.

[phxspurfan]

Oh and Lee is probably leaving next season to the Yanks or whatever

[Melmart1]

I agree with the original post. The future looks damn bright. And I think Lee is staying in Texas. I really do.

[crc21209]

i agree with the original post. The future looks damn bright. And i think lee is staying in texas. I really do.

+1.

[IronMexican]

As an outsider looking in, I don't see Lee staying put. At this point, I feel he's tired of getting traded. He knows the Yankees wouldn't trade him, no matter what. And if the Rangers aren't looking so great a year or two from now, they probably would. I hope he does stay, though.

[crc21209]

As an outsider looking in, I don't see Lee staying put. At this point, I feel he's tired of getting traded. He knows the Yankees wouldn't trade him, no matter what. And if the Rangers aren't looking so great a year or two from now, they probably would. I hope he does stay, though.

You really think so? I dont think the Rangers would trade him at all either, and he knows he'll be the ace of this group and they can hit and are young still, unlike the Yankees who might be on the age decline with Jeter, A-Rod, Rivera, and Pettite.

[Melmart1]

He has said he would love to stay in Texas during post-game interviews. Of course, they still have to pony up the money but I would give them a better chance of signing him over the Yankees.

The state AND city income tax combined in NYC would mean the Yanks would have to offer a significant amount more than the Rangers to make it worth his while. If all he is truly after is $ (as the people who think he will end up with NYC contend) then they would need to offer $30-40 million more to make it equal.

Also, the Yankees are old. In almost every position. They need to rebuild, and Lee saw that first hand during the ALCS. The Rangers are young and performing ahead of schedule. They can contend for years with this team and their deep farm.

[Jacob1983]

Even though the Rangers didn't win the World Series, this was their best season ever. No one is talking about this but this team came out of nowhere. They hadn't made the playoffs since 1999 and there were less than a handful of players on the team that had any playoff experience. And let's not forget that a lot of these Rangers are young and in their 20s. Pretty impressive if you ask me. And then add that with all of the drama they had this year too.

[EricB]

Awesome season awesome future, and quoting Keith Law who interviewed an unnamed GM "Unless another team blows them away by 50 or 60 million more, Cliff Lee is staying in Texas. Mark it down"

The Rangers have the backing to pay him and will IMO.

Resign him, resign Molina, resign Treanor, maybe resign Francisco, and look for a DH replacement as I think Vladdy is out of gas.