9/7 Post Game Therapy

God Bless The Seattle Mariners
-- Marla Hooch

9/6 Post Game Therapy

Texas Rangers = San Diego Padres? -- Marla Hooch

Doom And Gloom And Other Things

I've read the comments on how some local wags say it's pretty far-fetched to think the Rangers won't win the AL West this season.  I know that if they go 11-16 in their last 27 games Oakland would have to go 20-7 to catch up and beat them by one game.  However,  tell that to the Padres who had an 8 game lead just a few days ago. Or mention it to a fan (like me) who was around in 1996 when the Rangers had a 9 game lead the first weekend in September, then promptly lost 3 out of 4 games at home to the Brewers that sent them into a tailspin resulting in a 1 game with just a week left in the season - and watch their reaction.

Here's my not so bold prediction:  the Rangers will clinch the division at home on Tuesday September 28th against the Mariners. (And Mike Hindman, I will buy your ticket to that game if want to come watch the game with me).  Yes, I'm almost sure they are going to win the division. 

What concerns me is this a team that is lurching by stops and starts into the post season. 

The Yankees and their 9 game win streak aren't doing that, neither are the Rays: 6-4 in their last 10 games or the Twins who've not only gained home field advantage over Texas but are also 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Although the stat that scares me the most is the one you'll read everywhere on the web today: the Rangers are 0-11 on the road against all the AL teams that will likely be in the playoffs.  If that doesn't make you shudder, I don't know what will.  As much as I like this team (and I actually really do even more than the teams of '90's) right now, they don't look like a team that can go any further into the playoffs than those teams that preceded them.

If there is a ray of hope - there are still 27 games for them to figure it out how to get on winning streak into the playoffs - I hope they do.

Finally: Okay, just to prove I'm not cranky all the time, here are a few stories that I heard and read this week that I found amazing, inspiring and made me laugh out loud.

Amazing: I heard this series last week on NPR, it's one of those that you sit in your car listening to long after you've pulled into your driveway at home: The USS Kirk: Valor At The Vietnam War's End - all the stories on this age are absolutely riveting.

Inspiring:  Detroit catcher Max St. Pierre makes the major leagues after 14 years in the minors.  This is why we love baseball.

You Have To At Least Smile:  Labor Day Songs From The Annoying Music Show - how can you not resist hearing a snippet of the Red Army chorus singing "California Girls"?

No magic numbers here (yet) -- Marla Hooch
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