Series Thread: Rangers to prey on Twins at Target Field

[Bmurph]

7 games left until the AS break, the best teams in baseball, the Cubs and Rangers both showing that teams may be starting to get a little weary the closer it gets. Players can use the break to get a few days off and regroup and hopefully we get some guys back healthy too.

 

[DT LUNA]

7 games left until the AS break, the best teams in baseball, the Cubs and Rangers both showing that teams may be starting to get a little weary the closer it gets. Players can use the break to get a few days off and regroup and hopefully we get some guys back healthy too.

Yea but the board starts to slow down and I hate that just like day games.

 

[Nightcrawler]

7 games left until the AS break, the best teams in baseball, the Cubs and Rangers both showing that teams may be starting to get a little weary the closer it gets. Players can use the break to get a few days off and regroup and hopefully we get some guys back healthy too.

I'm not too concerned about the last 4. I think we will deliver some payback on the twinkies in Arlington. Gotta figure out a way to win at least one in Boston, but preferably 2.

 

[Bmurph]

Yea but the board starts to slow down and I hate that just like day games.

hopefully we start hearing a little trade talk and things maybe pick up a little

 

[WastinSomeTime]

We have to remember that when we finally get to the break we will have played 37 games in 38 days.

 

[Bmurph]

We have to remember that when we finally get to the break we will have played 37 games in 38 days.

and have lots more road games to finish off the month, but won't it be nice to have all those home games down the stretch

 

[Duane1952]

Everybody have a happy and safe 4th.

 

[darrylgann]

Everybody have a happy and safe 4th.

You as well, Duane.

 

[darrylgann]

We have to remember that when we finally get to the break we will have played 37 games in 38 days.

That is some peculiar scheduling.

 

[DT LUNA]

That is some peculiar scheduling.

Wonder if anyone ever protested it

 

[donaldson79]

7 games left until the AS break, the best teams in baseball, the Cubs and Rangers both showing that teams may be starting to get a little weary the closer it gets. Players can use the break to get a few days off and regroup and hopefully we get some guys back healthy too.

You're exactly right.....But honestly, who here thought the Rangers could possibly be playing .627 ball with 7 games to go until the AS break? Wasn't me, I assure you. I'm delighted beyond delighted.

Although I had to work outside and missed the 8/9th innings today and must say, you guys didn't get it done today. ha ha ha Sure looked like we had some opps though.

But hey, let's go spank some Red-Fanny tomorrow afternoon.

 

[donaldson79]

Everybody have a happy and safe 4th.

You as well my friend.....

 

[Bmurph]

Desmond was 1/2 a ft away from a double giving the Rangers a lead. It was there for the taking today

 

[Bmurph]

Seattle has beat up on the O's the weekend. 20 runs in the last 2 games and 30 in the series. Hopefully they go into Houston and both teams beat up on each other

 

[donaldson79]

Seattle has beat up on the O's the weekend. 20 runs in the last 2 games and 30 in the series. Hopefully they go into Houston and both teams beat up on each other

I seriously hesitate to say...."who's posting this REALLY?"

 

[Bmurph]

MLB Power Rankings: Time to separate the contenders from the pretenders
by Matt Snyder | Baseball Writer

June 29, 2016 11:53 AM ET

In glancing around most of the divisional races as we near the halfway point of the season, I believe we owe some gratitude to former commissioner Bud Selig.

Yes, really. I know it makes the skin crawl for some to admit that Selig did something to make the game more entertaining for the masses, but the wild cards do it.

Thank you, Bud, for the wild card spots, particularly in 2016 -- at least that's how it is shaking up so far.

Sure, maybe come September things will be significantly different and the one-and-done format, specifically, can seem unfair when a 98-win team goes home after one game -- as the Pirates did last season -- but look around the league right now going into Wednesday.

AL East

The Orioles are on pace to win 98 games and have a 4 1/2 game lead. SportsLine pegs their divisional chances at 55.6 percent.

AL Central

The Indians are also on pace to win 98 games and have a six-game lead. SportsLine gives them a 97.4 percent chance to take the division.

AL West

The Rangers are on pace to win 106 games and have a 10 game lead. SportsLine gives them a 94.8 percent chance to win the crown here.

NL East

The Nationals lead the Marlins by 4 1/2 games and the Mets by five games. It's not bad like some of the other divisions, but it's not within a series. The SportsLine projections give the Nats a 94.5 percent chance, too.

NL Central

The Cubs, despite their recent struggles that seem to have given their haters new life, are on pace to win 107 games. They have a 10-game lead and 96.1 percent chance to win the division, per SportsLine.

NL West

The Giants hold a six-game lead and have a 84.3 percent chance to win this thing, per SportsLine.

On the other hand, the wild card races right now have a lot of teams mixing it up. Excluding the six division leaders, there are still 14 teams within five games of the second wild card. That means only 10 teams are more than five out of a playoff spot as we are just two days away from July. The A's, Diamondbacks and Brewers are 6 1/2 out, leaving only seven teams who we can probably say aren't contenders. That's great news and nearly all of it comes via the Wild Card.

Again, things could change. We aren't even to the halfway point of the season, though we're just a few days away from it. Let's hope the second half is as exciting as the first half has been for as many fan bases as possible. Right now it would appear that only the Wild Card spots will help the cause.

Please feel free to contact me with comments either on Twitter (@MattSnyderCBS) or via email: [email protected]. As for the rankings below, there's a huge gap between six and seven and then 7-15 was probably as difficult a time as I've had all season.




The Texas Rangers look like the best team in baseball right now. (USATSI)


RANK TEAM


1 Since a loss on May 18, the Rangers are 29-8. It doesn't matter if we think they'll keep playing at that pace. These rankings are a snapshot in time. Right now, the Rangers have the look of baseball's best team. We'll see how long it lasts, because I suspect the Cubs will have something to say again very soon (as might the Indians, Orioles or Giants).
2 The longest run at number one in The Official Power Rankings comes to an end, but barely. You could still make an argument for the Cubs at the top, notably with both record (still the best by percentage points) and run differential (the best in an utter landslide). For me, though, it was time. The Cubs are 25-20 (still a full-season pace of 90 wins, by the way) since their 25-6 start and though that start counts and there's every reason to believe the two rough stretches (2-6 and 1-6 with an 18-6 run in between) were simply blips on the radar, it is simply the right time for a possibly-quick demotion.
3 The 11-game winning streak marks the longest for the Indians since 1982. They are two away from tying the club record. Yes, I considered moving them above the Cubs, for those curious. Strongly considered.
4 The Orioles have hit 54 home runs in June, which is only one short of the MLB record (A's, 1996). Given that there are still two games left in June and this team is almost laughably powerful, I like the O's chances.
5 I'm not worried about the bad outing from Johnny Cueto last time out. Those happen. Jeff Samardzija, however, has a 6.89 ERA in his last six starts. He's given up nine home runs and only struck out 17 in 32 2/3 innings in that stretch. That is worrisome, for sure, given the lack of quality depth at the back-end of the rotation.
6 The seven-game losing streak is safely in the rearview now and, after Wednesday's game against the Mets, the Nationals have four against the Reds and three against the Brewers at home.
7 On May 22, the Astros were 10 games out of first in the AL West. They've gone 24-9 since then -- the second-best record in the majors during that time to the Rangers -- and are still 10 games out. Damn, that's rough, but it shouldn't prevent the continued rise in The Official Power Rankings.

 

[DT LUNA]

MLB Power Rankings: Time to separate the contenders from the pretenders
by Matt Snyder | Baseball Writer

June 29, 2016 11:53 AM ET

In glancing around most of the divisional races as we near the halfway point of the season, I believe we owe some gratitude to former commissioner Bud Selig.

Yes, really. I know it makes the skin crawl for some to admit that Selig did something to make the game more entertaining for the masses, but the wild cards do it.

Thank you, Bud, for the wild card spots, particularly in 2016 -- at least that's how it is shaking up so far.

Sure, maybe come September things will be significantly different and the one-and-done format, specifically, can seem unfair when a 98-win team goes home after one game -- as the Pirates did last season -- but look around the league right now going into Wednesday.

AL East

The Orioles are on pace to win 98 games and have a 4 1/2 game lead. SportsLine pegs their divisional chances at 55.6 percent.

AL Central

The Indians are also on pace to win 98 games and have a six-game lead. SportsLine gives them a 97.4 percent chance to take the division.

AL West

The Rangers are on pace to win 106 games and have a 10 game lead. SportsLine gives them a 94.8 percent chance to win the crown here.

NL East

The Nationals lead the Marlins by 4 1/2 games and the Mets by five games. It's not bad like some of the other divisions, but it's not within a series. The SportsLine projections give the Nats a 94.5 percent chance, too.

NL Central

The Cubs, despite their recent struggles that seem to have given their haters new life, are on pace to win 107 games. They have a 10-game lead and 96.1 percent chance to win the division, per SportsLine.

NL West

The Giants hold a six-game lead and have a 84.3 percent chance to win this thing, per SportsLine.

On the other hand, the wild card races right now have a lot of teams mixing it up. Excluding the six division leaders, there are still 14 teams within five games of the second wild card. That means only 10 teams are more than five out of a playoff spot as we are just two days away from July. The A's, Diamondbacks and Brewers are 6 1/2 out, leaving only seven teams who we can probably say aren't contenders. That's great news and nearly all of it comes via the Wild Card.

Again, things could change. We aren't even to the halfway point of the season, though we're just a few days away from it. Let's hope the second half is as exciting as the first half has been for as many fan bases as possible. Right now it would appear that only the Wild Card spots will help the cause.

Please feel free to contact me with comments either on Twitter (@MattSnyderCBS) or via email: [email protected]. As for the rankings below, there's a huge gap between six and seven and then 7-15 was probably as difficult a time as I've had all season.



View attachment 133837
The Texas Rangers look like the best team in baseball right now. (USATSI)


RANK TEAM


1 View attachment 133838 Since a loss on May 18, the Rangers are 29-8. It doesn't matter if we think they'll keep playing at that pace. These rankings are a snapshot in time. Right now, the Rangers have the look of baseball's best team. We'll see how long it lasts, because I suspect the Cubs will have something to say again very soon (as might the Indians, Orioles or Giants).
2 View attachment 133839 The longest run at number one in The Official Power Rankings comes to an end, but barely. You could still make an argument for the Cubs at the top, notably with both record (still the best by percentage points) and run differential (the best in an utter landslide). For me, though, it was time. The Cubs are 25-20 (still a full-season pace of 90 wins, by the way) since their 25-6 start and though that start counts and there's every reason to believe the two rough stretches (2-6 and 1-6 with an 18-6 run in between) were simply blips on the radar, it is simply the right time for a possibly-quick demotion.
3 View attachment 133840 The 11-game winning streak marks the longest for the Indians since 1982. They are two away from tying the club record. Yes, I considered moving them above the Cubs, for those curious. Strongly considered.
4 View attachment 133841 The Orioles have hit 54 home runs in June, which is only one short of the MLB record (A's, 1996). Given that there are still two games left in June and this team is almost laughably powerful, I like the O's chances.
5 View attachment 133842 I'm not worried about the bad outing from Johnny Cueto last time out. Those happen. Jeff Samardzija, however, has a 6.89 ERA in his last six starts. He's given up nine home runs and only struck out 17 in 32 2/3 innings in that stretch. That is worrisome, for sure, given the lack of quality depth at the back-end of the rotation.
6 View attachment 133843 The seven-game losing streak is safely in the rearview now and, after Wednesday's game against the Mets, the Nationals have four against the Reds and three against the Brewers at home.
7 View attachment 133844 On May 22, the Astros were 10 games out of first in the AL West. They've gone 24-9 since then -- the second-best record in the majors during that time to the Rangers -- and are still 10 games out. Damn, that's rough, but it shouldn't prevent the continued rise in The Official Power Rankings.

Do I smell a little respect?

 

[Bmurph]

Do I smell a little respect?

Nah couldn't be, someone must have broken wind!

Well maybe a hint of respect possibly, but not much and for long after this Minny series. Cubs will be back on top soon probably!

 

[RevSader]

Wonder if anyone ever protested it

Was originally 36 of 38 but the Oriole rain out made it worse.

 

[PhantomWarrior]

The blue Jays have turned the Indians into their personal whipping boys today, it's 13-0 in the 6th inning. I guess it happens to every team at some point.

Yes the Cubs got their asses kicked and swept by the Mets this weekend. The golden child of MLB network and ESPN whooped. It happens. Teams run out of gas looking towards the ASB to recharge.

It's a long season. Baseball is more a marathon than a sprint.