Game 113: Rangers vs. Yankees

It is no secret how I feel about the Yankees. It is also no secret that I am a Pudge Rodriguez fan. So, I am at an impasse. So, with this series, I will find myself rooting for the Rangers and rooting for a good game out of Pudge. I want the Rangers to win and Pudge to have a good game, but not so good that the Yankees win. Is that asking too much? Maybe. The reason I still am a Pudge fan is that Pudge did not sign with the Yanks. Had he signed in free agency, I would place him in the same category as any other Yankee.

So, it has been since July 18th that I last posted. And I am not sure why I just dropped off like that. I did have other things to attend to…

Anyway, I’m here now. The Yankees come into this series with a 61-50 record and the Rangers are 58-54. With a sweep, the Rangers could move a ½ game ahead of the Yanks in the Wild Card standing.

Here are the quick picks:
Game 1: Padilla (12-5; 4.52 ERA) vs. Chamberlain (4-3; 2.24 ERA) – QP: Padilla
Game 2: Harrison (2-2; 7.40 ERA) vs. Pettitte (12-8; 4.18 ERA) – QP: Pettitte
Game 3: Hunter (0-0; 10.80 ERA) vs. Ponson (6-2; 4.23 ERA) – QP: Ponson
Game 4: Feldman (4-4; 4.97 ERA) vs. Mussina (14-7; 3.44 ERA) – QP: Mussina
OK, so I REALLY hated saying that the Yankees would top this series 3-1… but that is the QP. Real stats should clear the Rangers… although Harrison and Hunter are rookies, something may come up from the other side of the coin in the Yankees pitchers.

In Padilla’s last ten starts, he has gone at least 6 innings in nine of them. The only start in which he did not go 6 innings, he went to the DL with an injury. The Rangers are 7-3 in his last ten. They are 16-5 for the entire season when Padilla starts. His career against the Yankees consists of two starts where he is 1-1 in 10.1 innings and has given up 9 hits and six earned runs for a 5.23 ERA.

Yankees to Watch:

• Ivan Rodriguez: 5-20 (.250 BA); 1 double, 1 HR, 2 RBIs
• Richie Sexson: 5-20 (.250 BA); 2 doubles, 4 RBIs
• Alex Rodriguez: 2-7 (.286 BA); 1 HR and 7 RBIs

Joba Chamberlain has one career start against the Rangers in which the Yankees LOST. YEAH BABY! It was also his last start to NOT go 6 innings (he has five starts straight that went 6 innings or more). He has 99 strikeouts in only 84.1 innings and struck out 6 in four innings against the Rangers. The Yankees are 8-2 in his last ten starts. Impressive. The Rangers hit him for a .313 batting average. Here’s something to swallow: only three homeruns given up this season. Really impressive. Let’s see how he does in the Ballpark, where the balls tend to fly!

The Rangers as a team (current roster) are 5-16 (.313 batting average) with no extra base hits and 2 RBIs. They have walked 4 times, so the OBP is .450, which is really nice.

Forecast: I haven't waivered from my QP on this one. I still think that the Rangers will take the opener tonight. I think it will be a low scoring game for both the Rangers and Yankees, at least for as long as the starters are out there. If Padilla goes 7 innings, the Rangers win. Period. And that is the call. Score: 4-2, Rangers.

Home Plate