Game 116: Rangers vs. Yankees

The girly Yankees... welcome to Game 4! I HATE the Yankees. I enjoy hating the Yankees... is that wrong? No. I don't think so...
This is another game that on my QP I had chosen the Yankees. How will it add up? Let's see. Mike Mussina vs. Scott Feldman.

The Rangers have lost the last three home games that Feldman has started, with Feldman taking the loss only once. Feldman comes into this game with a 4.97 ERA with 105 innings pitched. He has two games against the Yankees, one start, and is 1-0 in 6 innings of work. He did start in New York earlier this season and grabbed that win then when he threw 5.2 innings. He was hammered by the Yanks on May 16th, 2006, where he gave up 3 runs in that one out outing. The Yankees hit him for a .200 batting average this season and went yard in one of the four hits. Feldman has a 1.59 ERA on the Yankees this year.

This is the exact matchup from June 30 game. Mussina and Feldman went head-to-head in New York where the Rangers walked away with a 2-1 win. Mussina went 6 innings on that day and gave up 2 runs for the loss. Mussina has 133.1 innings this season and has only one start in his last twelve that went less than 6 innings. In his first 11 games, he went 6 or more only four times. Mussina gave up 7 homeruns in his first five starts and has given up another seven since. In the months of May and July, he gave up only two HRs in both months and three in June. He had stretches of five straight games twice where he did not give up a long ball.

Welcome to ARLINGTON… where the long ball reigns.

In his last eight starts, seven were at home. The one away game he started, the Yankees lost.

Rangers to Watch:

• Frank Catalanotto: 26-59 (.441 BA); 8 doubles, 2 HRs, and 10 RBIs
• Michael Young: 11-38 (.289 BA); 2 doubles and 3 RBIs

Notable:

• Chris Davis: 1-3 with a double and RBI
• Josh Hamilton: 1-2 with an RBI

The current Rangers roster is 45-168 (.268 BA) with 13 doubles, 2 HRs and 18 RBIs. Milton Bradley does bring the numbers down considerably, as he is 0-12. Historically, the Rangers bat a .241 BA on Mussina. He is 17-13 against the Rangers in 36 starts and 240.1 innings. His ERA is 3.74 against the Rangers, but this season, he is 14-7 with a 3.44 ERA.

I thought I would add these images from the Dallas Morning News. Washington getting ejected, again. I can't think of a manager that the Rangers have had who has gotten tossed more than Ron Washington. But then, if you pitcher gets a BALK call twice in an inning, yeh, you bet I would be giving them my fill.

Taco Time got delivered.
These guys are having fun. And that is AWESOME!

Forecast: I like Feldman in this one. Numbers tell me that the Rangers win, and who am I to argue with the numbers. It will still be an entertaining and close game. It should also be a low-scoring game. The change of CJ Wilson going on the DL and Eddie going to the closer role may somehow create a weird feeling when the Rangers go to the 'pen, but I think for the long-haul, the Rangers will be OK, if not a bit better off. I hope CJ has a speedy recovery and gets his game on... Score: 3-1, Rangers.

Home Plate