Will you ever forgive Nelson Cruz

[JayTheClown]

If the Rangers lose game 7 tonight? I know for a fact that if Cruz did the same thing he did last night playing in a Yankee, Mets, Redsox or Cubs uniform he would be literally run out of town (Bill Buckner comes to mind). He wouldn't be able to wear those cities uniforms again. Cruz cost this team a WS victory last night. Cruz should have never let that ball go over his head. He should have been positioned right in front of the fence before the at-bat even started. So, how passionate a are Rangers fans about baseball? If it were up to me I wouldn't let this scrub step into a home team dugout in Arlington ever again.

Again, if they lose game 7.

[stretch]

I forgive him already, because there were a crapload of other things that went wrong throughout the game. I still think if there is a single finger to point, it should be directed at Michael Young more than anyone. He singlehandedly gave them life at two different points in the game by ing up routine plays. But ultimately, there was bad crap that happened everywhere, such as Andrus with an error and not throwing to 2nd to easily get Molina out. Or the poor management of the bullpen and lineup by Ron Washington. Or the hitters leaving over 9 guys on base, several times in scoring position.

It just sucks overall, but at least they get another shot tonight. If they can get to Carp (which they should considering he has pitched so much this year, is pitching on short rest, generally doesnt do well on short rest, and are facing him for the 3rd time in 10 days), they should be able to pull out the victory tonight. I think if the team sees their ace struggling, its going to completely deflate them, especially since they gave it all they had last night, I just can't see them pulling another game like that off.

[Kyle Orton]

Tbh was Cruz injured after that play or before? It's somewhat more understandable if he was injured before the play because this guy has made highlight catches over the past few seasons

[Monostradamus]

Cruz is 3rd or 4th down the list if the Rangers lose tonight and a scapegoat is needed. I'd start with Ogando, Feliz, or Darren Oliver myself.

[JayTheClown]

I forgive him already, because there were a crapload of other things that went wrong throughout the game. I still think if there is a single finger to point, it should be directed at Michael Young more than anyone. He singlehandedly gave them life at two different points in the game by ing up routine plays. But ultimately, there was bad crap that happened everywhere, such as Andrus with an error and not throwing to 2nd to easily get Molina out. Or the poor management of the bullpen and lineup by Ron Washington. Or the hitters leaving over 9 guys on base, several times in scoring position.

It just sucks overall, but at least they get another shot tonight. If they can get to Carp (which they should considering he has pitched so much this year, is pitching on short rest, generally doesnt do well on short rest, and are facing him for the 3rd time in 10 days), they should be able to pull out the victory tonight. I think if the team sees their ace struggling, its going to completely deflate them, especially since they gave it all they had last night, I just can't see them pulling another game like that off.

Young was "off the hook" when the Rangers were up 9-7. All those other things could have been avoided if Cruz made that routine (well routine if he was positioned correctly) catch.

Tbh was Cruz injured after that play or before? It's somewhat more understandable if he was injured before the play because this guy has made highlight catches over the past few seasons

If he were injured before the play he should have positioned himself further back. Where he should have been anyway. Injure or not.

[Monostradamus]

Young was "off the hook" when the Rangers were up 9-7. All those other things could have been avoided if Cruz made that routine (well routine if he was positioned correctly) catch.

By that logic Cruz was "off the hook" after Hamilton's home run.

[stretch]

Young was "off the hook" when the Rangers were up 9-7. All those other things could have been avoided if Cruz made that routine (well routine if he was positioned correctly) catch.

Rangers should have been up 9-3 or 9-4.

[stretch]

By that logic Cruz was "off the hook" after Hamilton's home run.

[JayTheClown]

Cruz is 3rd or 4th down the list if the Rangers lose tonight and a scapegoat is needed. I'd start with Ogando, Feliz, or Darren Oliver myself.

Feliz would have gotten a save if Cruz makes the catch. We wouldn't have even gotten to Oliver if Cruz makes the catch.

[JayTheClown]

By that logic Cruz was "off the hook" after Hamilton's home run.

Yeah, but we would not have needed Hamilton's home run if Cruz makes the catch.

[Monostradamus]

Yeah, but we would not have needed Hamilton's home run if Cruz makes the catch.

Cruz wouldn't have been in position to screw up a game-tying play if Michael Young makes routine plays and the Rangers have a 4-5 run lead. And round and round we go.

[JayTheClown]

Rangers should have been up 9-3 or 9-4.

Its no secret that Micheal Young was bad at playing first base. Yes, they were bad errors, but not surprising.

[Monostradamus]

Feliz would have gotten a save if Cruz makes the catch. We wouldn't have even gotten to Oliver if Cruz makes the catch.

Cruz wouldn't have let 2 runs score if Feliz isn't giving up walks.

[JayTheClown]

Cruz wouldn't have been in position to screw up a game-tying play if Michael Young makes routine plays and the Rangers have a 4-5 run lead. And round and round we go.

Cruz is supposed to be an above average RF. We all know Young was bad a 1B. Yes his errors were awful. Yet, they weren't surprising.

[Monostradamus]

Cruz is supposed to be an above average RF.

Feliz is supposed to be an All-Star closer.

[JayTheClown]

Cruz wouldn't have let 2 runs score if Feliz isn't giving up walks.

Pitchers give up walks all the time and get out of innings just fine. If Cruz simply makes the catch we are not talking about this right now.

[Monostradamus]

Pitchers give up walks all the time and get out of innings just fine.

And right fielders make poor fielding decisions and miss balls too. In the bottom of the 9th inning to win the World Series, walks nor poor fielding is acceptable.

Feliz was erratic and godawful that entire 9th inning. For the life of me I still don't know how he didn't give up at least 2 homers in that inning, he left a few pitches fat right over the middle of the plate.

[stretch]

Pitchers give up walks all the time and get out of innings just fine. If Cruz simply makes the catch we are not talking about this right now.

If Feliz makes one good pitch, when up 2 strikes in the count with 2 outs, we are not talking about this right now.

If Feldman makes one good pitch, when up 2 strikes in the count with 2 outs, we are not talking about this right now.

[JayTheClown]

And right fielders make poor fielding decisions and miss balls too. In the bottom of the 9th inning to win the World Series, walks nor poor fielding is acceptable.

Feliz was erratic and godawful that entire 9th inning. For the life of me I still don't know how he didn't give up at least 2 homers in that inning, he left a few pitches fat right over the middle of the plate.

Series question: Did you see where Napali was trying to put those balls? Was Feliz intentionally throwing balls in the middle? Or was it a mistake?

[Monostradamus]

Series question: Did you see where Napali was trying to put those balls? Was Feliz intentionally throwing balls in the middle? Or was it a mistake?

Feliz was missing badly the entire inning. The slider he threw to strike out Craig was a terrible, terrible pitch that Craig should have jacked into the upper deck. My only guess as to why he froze is because he was expecting a fastball?

[JayTheClown]

Feliz was missing badly the entire inning. The slider he threw to strike out Craig was a terrible, terrible pitch that Craig should have jacked into the upper deck. My only guess as to why he froze is because he was expecting a fastball?

Yeah, I know exactly what pitch your talking about. You could tell Craig was shocked

That being said, I'm still mad as Cruz, and the bullpen right now
I guess I'll add Young in there there to

[4>0 Rings' Treadmill]

Cruz wouldn't have been in position to screw up a game-tying play if Michael Young makes routine plays and the Rangers have a 4-5 run lead. And round and round we go.

[JamStone]

There's a legitimate argument that the Rangers are not in the World Series without Cruz, so that has to offset at least a little bit of the disappointment of that play last night. I think there are several goats from last night along with Cruz. But sometimes as fans when we see our team this close to the mountain top and have seen them play so well for a long time, we almost come to expect perfection or close to perfection in their performances every game. It's just not realistic. Mistakes happen, and sometimes at the worst possible moments. Cruz deserves his share of blame. But as Mono has astutely pointed out, there were plenty of players to share that blame, as well as some of Washington's decisions.

And then there's always the "give the other team credit for not giving up" angle.

Cruz has carried his share of the weight to get the team to this point. While that play was pathetic, you have to look at more than just that one, individual play.

[NRHector]

Cruz is 3rd or 4th down the list if the Rangers lose tonight and a scapegoat is needed. I'd start with Ogando, Feliz, or Darren Oliver myself.

thank you dumbass Feliz gave too many walks

[JayTheClown]

There's a legitimate argument that the Rangers are not in the World Series without Cruz, so that has to offset at least a little bit of the disappointment of that play last night. I think there are several goats from last night along with Cruz. But sometimes as fans when we see our team this close to the mountain top and have seen them play so well for a long time, we almost come to expect perfection or close to perfection in their performances every game. It's just not realistic. Mistakes happen, and sometimes at the worst possible moments. Cruz deserves his share of blame. But as Mono has astutely pointed out, there were plenty of players to share that blame, as well as some of Washington's decisions.

And then there's always the "give the other team credit for not giving up" angle.

Cruz has carried his share of the weight to get the team to this point. While that play was pathetic, you have to look at more than just that one, individual play.

A well thought out reasoning

I still hate Cruz right not, but I still appreciate reading your post