Putting a Bow(tie) on 2010

Well, I guess that does it.  So much for the Rangers winning the World Series in their first trip.  The San Francisco Giants are your 2010 World Series Champions.  I don't know if I have it saved, but at some point during the season, I think it was on an MLB Network Radio status update midseason, I said that the Giants are a darkhorse for the World Series because of their pitching.  If they can get into the playoffs - seriously, this is what I said at the time - they have a legitimate shot of winning it all simply because of their pitching staff.  And then they scored 20 runs in the first 2 games.

While small victories are just that... small... I would also like to note that Timmy Lincecum is not going to legally be able to celebrate in his usual way, as Proposition 19 was shot down by California voters by half a million votes.  The reason: stoners weren't sensible enough to actually vote... because they were stoned.

Regardless, I think this officer of the law has the right expression as far as the Giants actually winning the Series is concerned.

Giants Advance to World Series

I suppose to be fair, I just probably mention that the San Francisco Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to advance to the World Series.  Sorry if I'm just not that excited about the Giants in the Series.  I'm really, really, not a fan of Lincecum.  Maybe I'm still a little bitter that he won the Cy Young over Wainwright (who totally deserved it more) last season, maybe I'm just not a fan of a guy who was busted for possession and didn't receive any kind of disciplinary action from the league, or maybe I just don't like the fact that an f-bomb is his go-to adjective.  Either way, congrats to the Giants, blah, blah, blah.

And, just a fun side note, Benji Molina, who was traded from the Giants to the Rangers earlier this season is officially the first person to win a World Series ring this season.  Good to see another Molina brother get a ring.

Pictures?  We don't need no stinkin' pictures.

Rangers Advance to World Series

Congratulations to the Texas Rangers for 1) putting a beat-down on the New York Yankees, and 2) making it to the first World Series in franchise history.

Just think, in Spring Training, manager Ron Washington was admitting to doing blow around this time last year (if you had to manage this team last year, you might've as well), everybody was penciling the Mariners in as the best team in the West, and the Rangers were a "good offense with no pitching."

Then they stole Cliff Lee from the grasp of the Evil Empire, and used him to take down the Yankees.  Then Nolan Ryan took over as owner of the team.  Then, just as everyone had imagined ten years ago, Alex Rodriguez was at the plate in Arlington with a chance to go to the World Series.... of course, everybody thought that he would be wearing a different uniform, but regardless, A-Rod played an integral part in the Rangers run to the World Series.

To honor the Rangers in their charge to the World Series...

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a clearer picture, but Ryan's face as the bullpen blew Game 1 was hilarious.  That, or former owner... and President... George W. Bush said something really stupid.... again.

Not that he needed it, but here is Nelson Cruz receiving directions as to the location of home plate.

And, of course, no Ranger post would be complete without Ron Washington eating another imaginary apple.

Rangers Advance to ALCS

Oh, what's that you say?  There was another Division Series?  Oh, I thought we were ready for a Philly-Yankee rematch already.  No?  Must've just been the talking heads.  Anyhoo....

We have moved one step closer to the inevitable conclusion of this season... you know, one where an East Coast team wins the World Series.... again....

Congratulations to the Texas Rangers for their first ever postseason series win in their long and illustrious history.  After giving me hope that I might be able to sneak over to a playoff game while I'm in Orlando at the end of the week, the Tampa Bay Rays' bats once again bowed down to the postseason greatness that is Cliff Lee, showing why the Rangers worked so hard to steal him away from the Yankees, and at the same  time, damaging the Rangers chances of winning the ALCS by making Lee unavailable until Game 3.

Enjoy it while you can, Arlington.  People have already written you off.... not me.... just other people.

Apparently Ranger fans are terrible at catching unless they use their face.  I love how the lady behind the guy who takes the phrase "keep your eye on the ball" too literally is laughing hysterically. 

 Michael Young, who had never been in the postseason until this year, tries to Kung Fu kick his entire team.

 Before Tuesday night, this was the greatest moment in Texas Ranger baseball history.

Once again, manager Ron Washington is eating an imaginary apple.  Crack is whack, folks.

Finally, a reminder of the greatest Texas Ranger in the history of the franchise.

Giants Advance to NLCS

The San Francisco Giants have advanced to the NLCS by virtue of another 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.  One thing is for sure about this year's NLCS - there probably isn't going to be a lot of runs scored. The Giants and the Phillies have put together phenomenal pitching performances so far this postseason, led by Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum.

I think that I'll be rooting for the Phillies in this particular series.  Not so much because I like their mascot better than the Giants' mascot, but because I can't stand Tim Lincecum.  For a stoner, girly-haired, foul-mouthed pitcher, he's pretty good, but I can't root for a guy who has absolutely no control over his language.  To get an idea of what I'm talking about, you can check out this highlight from mlb.com (he's the girly-haired dude whose profanity doesn't get drowned out by the fan noise), or jump back to this post.

Yankees Move on To ALCS

The New York Yankees became the first team to move on in the Highlander-style baseball postseason tournament by lopping off both heads of the Minnesota Twins.  It's good to see, as Alex Rodriguez described them, an "underdog" move on in the postseason.

Oh wait, what's that, you say?  Yes, A-Roid referred to the New York Yankees as being "David in this situation."  Oh, those poor Yankees.  They didn't win the division.  They won't have homefield advantage throughout any playoff series (because the NL won the All Star Game this year, remember that!?!).

I don't know how they'll manage to play with the big boys... you know, with their $206 million dollar payroll, top free agents and second-best record in the American League.  How ever will they match-up against the Twins ($97.5M), Rays ($71.9M) and Rangers ($55.2M) with their minuscule payroll?  Somehow, and the Lord only knows, they survived the first round.  We can only hope that they'll continue playing together as a team.

Twins Win AL Central

In honor of the Minnesota Twins wrapping up their claim to the playoffs by winning the AL Central, and beginning their inaugural season at Target Field with some measure of success.  Here's a picture of Twins player Michael Cuddyer frolicking in the field while supposedly playing first base.