By Aaron M Smith
Right now the World Series has taken on the form of a scene right out of the TV hit – ER. A doctor running down the hall yelling, ” We need a defibrillator – STAT!!! ” Okay, that might be exaggerating the situation, but the Texas Rangers return to Arlington finding themselves in a position they haven’t been in the whole playoffs – down 2-0. But everyone loves home cookin’ and well, the Rangers need a healthy dose.
Led by the arms of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain and a suddenly scorching hot lineup – San Francisco has scored 20 runs in the first two games. Each game has brought a different star. In Game 1, it was Freddy Sanchez and Aubrey Huff leading the charge. In Game 2 – it was Edgar Renteria. The Giants looking to put this series almost out of reach – send Jonathan Sanchez to the mound. Sanchez last pitched in Game 6 of the NLCS and didn’t look comfortable. Pitching in the first World Series game in Texas, will be loud and intimidating – can Sanchez hold up against the pressure?
Texas on the other hand, will be happy to be back in an American League park. Back is the Designated Hitter, which allows Vladimir Guerrero to return to the lineup. Guerrero looked uncomfortable in Right Field during Game 1 and being home allows the Rangers to keep David Murphy in right field. Colby Lewis takes the mound in Game 3. If Lewis can pitch like he did in Game 6 of the ALCS – Texas should be back in the series – and a lot of newborns in Texas will be named Colby. Can Texas get the bats going in time to save the Series?
Prediction: Texas ties this series up, 2-2.
I say a split in Texas, San Fran wins at home.
3 games in Texas. Rangers will win 2 and they will go back to SF trailing 3-2.
My bad, not awake. So they each take 1.5 games, then back to San Fran.
A tie in the world series? If anybody can do it, bud selig can.
Yeah, a tie, so they can have more commercials.
The key for the Rangers is who starts in Game 4. Does Lee come back on short rest? If they are down 3-0, absolutely. If it is 2-1, does Washington run the risk of allowing Lee to go full rest and pitch Game 5..
I wish I could take credit for this, but I heard it on the radio this week: Bud Selig should be elected to the Hall of Fame…in Canton because no one person has done more to promote the popularity of football than Selig.
Last night’s game started BEFORE 7:30. Tonight’s game gets going AFTER 8. WHY????????????????
Because the 4:00 football game gets over at 7… They start about 20 minutes before the Sunday night game. Plus Bud Selig has no regard for the average American being tired when they start their work week.
Take your pick..
Now down 3-1, it’s do-or-die for Texas tonight as Cliff Lee will face Tim Lincecum in a Texas-style mound shoot-out. I think the Rangers will get ‘er done tonight and force the series back to SF. At least this is what I hope happens … Although I want the Giants to win the series, I also want to see it go at least 6 games and create some drama. True black and orange Giants fans probably want to see them win it ASAP. 🙂
The most eye-popping stat for me these playoffs has been:
Barry Zito – $126 million salary – 0 innings pitched.
Unless he is injured or I am missing something, what a complete waste of money and a contract. But I give credit to Bochy for not feeling obligated to play him due to his contract.
Lee gets it done tonight, but Cain closes out the series for S.F. on Wednesday night, and takes the MVP.
I just read that it wasn’t until Tommy Hunter’s 79th pitch last night that he got his first swing-and-miss. Now that’s Wally’s kind of pitcher. 🙂
Rey – Aaron Rowand is next on the Giants payroll. He is getting 13.6. I think he was mentioned during one of the games. You take those two guys and their salaries out of the mix, and the remaining guys are getting roughly $70 million (salaries for Bumgarner and Posey aren’t available – because they started in the minors this year.)
Funny, Chas. Real funny. 🙂
Where is Casey with the Helmet Sticker???
One thing is for sure…. This Texas team won’t rollover. I think Lee will be alot better than Game 1.. This series heads back to San Francisco.
I agree with Chas – Cain finishes it in Game 6..
Smitty, are you accusing Casey of helmet sticker favoritism? First it was WAI-gate, now it’s helmet sticker favoritism. Do the accusations ever end? 🙂
hahahaha – you can only get one insight at a time.
By the way – where was everyone when I explained that I do not possess exclusive rights to helmet sticker distribution?
Okay the Insight of the Week works..
Rey – the fact that Barry Zito hasn’t smelled the playoff roster is a testament to the Giants organization. If I am not mistaken Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez and Bumgartner have all come up through the Giants organization.
Somebody in their front office knows what they are doing..
I was there, Casey.
Smitty … you should give one back for whining. (This distribution thing works both ways).
Chas – I was actually giving you a compliment and saying that was a great comment..
Geez… you are jumpy.. Seems you feeling pretty guilty about the whole WAI mess.. Like Barry, we all know you cheated – you will go to the Pickin Splinters Hall of Fame eventually…… after the writer..err readers forgive you.. 🙂
How about Smitty, the little freekin’ drama queen. 🙂
Hey… Management has mandated that I get the number of comments up on the pieces I am posting… So I am doing my best Joe Buck impression.. 🙂
If I add Tim McCarver, all I would be doing is agreeing with myself..
That’s what happens when you sit in your own little cocoon, insulated from the world, and then every 10 years or so you poke your head out to see what’s going on around you. Then you throw a tantrum when you realize the world has changed.
Smitty used to be on the cutting edge … now look at him. Tsk, tsk
When you guys are done laughin’ about Chas’s insight of the week, keep in mind that it’s pitchers who get it and throw strikes that keep games from lasting 4 hours. That’s the only hope we have.
Renteria of all people.
Actually doesn’t surprise me.. If this holds up, it would be Renteria’s second World Series winning hit..
Yeah – 13 years removed and in between some rather mediocre play – particularly in a Sox uniform.
Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants.. They aren’t the flashiest, they aren’t the most popular, but they are one hell of a baseball team..
This is the first World Series Edgar Renteria played in that he wasn’t the final batter.
So, I guess “Insight of the Week” is more prestigious than a helmet sticker, since anyone can dole out the latter, but only Casey can award the former. 🙂
SF Giants deserve this championship. With that young pitching, we might see ’em back in the WS fairly soon.
And I also hope the Rangers have some staying power so we can see them contend over the next few years.
Chas … the key to the insight of the week is that ONLY Casey knows how to get it properly displayed on the site. Now if you can figure out how to do that, we can really have some fun 😉