World Series Preview: Texas Rangers And San Francisco Giants Fun Facts

Mark my words: Bengie Molina is going to get a World Series ring.

Impressed with the boldness of my prediction?  Don't be: Bengie Molina is currently the catcher for the Texas Rangers, but he began the season as the catcher for the San Francisco Giants. Thus, by virtue of time served, he'll get a World Series ring no matter which team wins.

Rest assured though, he'd probably rather win the World Series and get the ring.

In anticipation of the Fall Classic matchup between the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers, which begins tomorrow, here are some other World Series fun facts.

The Flying Molina Brothers

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Bengie Molina #11 of the Texas Rangers looks on during batting practice against the New York Yankees in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas

This will be the fifth World Series in the last nine years to feature at least one of the Flying Molina Brothers.

Both Bengie and Jose went with the Anaheim Angels in 2002.

Yadier went with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004 and 2006.

Jose was back with the New York Yankees in 2009 and now Bengie is back with the Rangers in 2010.

Cliff Lee, Back Again

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: Cliff Lee #33 of the Texas Rangers stands on the mound for the performance of 'Gob Bless America' against the New York Yankees in Game Three of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 18, 2010 in New York

Cliff Lee has played for four teams in the last two seasons but this will be his second-consecutive appearance in the World Series.

Importantly, the Philadelphia Phillies shipped Lee to Seattle last offseason and then failed to return to the Fall Classic.

Gone Fishin'

Jorge Cantu and Cody Ross began the season as teammates with the Florida Marlins. They will end the season by facing off against one another in the World Series.

The Oakland A's Taketh Away, and the Oakland A's Giveth

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 20: Santiago Casilla #46 of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth inning of Game Four of the NLCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at AT&T Park on October 20, 2010 in San Francisco, Cal

The biggest lead-weight on the roster of the San Francisco Giants is, of course, Barry Zito. Prior to the 2007 season, the Giants signed Zito away from the Oakland A's for a seven-year deal worth $126 million, and now he isn't even part of the postseason rotation.

However, the Giants have made up some of the ground lost to the A's with the signing of Santiago Casilla.

In 2009, Casilla went 1-2 with a 5.96 ERA in 46 appearances with the A's. The A's chose not to re-sign him and the Giants signed him to a minor league deal.

Casilla has been an entirely different pitcher in San Fran, going 7-2 with a 1.95 ERA and striking out over a batter per inning.

Mitch Moreland, 2010's Playoff Rookie Sensation

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Mitch Moreland #18 of the Texas Rangers bats against the New York Yankees in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers won 6-1. (Ph

It has got to be some sort of joke.

The Texas Rangers once thought Chris Davis was their first baseman of the future. Then, when he struggled, they decided Justin Smoak was the man of the hour.

After trading Smoak in the Cliff Lee deal, the Rangers turned to Mitch Moreland, a 17th-round draft pick in the 2007 draft.

Moreland enjoyed a respectable 47 game debut with the Rangers at the end of the regular season, but in the playoffs he has been excellent, hitting .389 in the ALCS with a .450 OBP and an .839 OPS.

Looks like the Cliff Lee deal may have been all Smoak and mirrors for the Rangers. They had their guy all along.

Torres, Former Ranger

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 21: Andres Torres #56 of the San Francisco Giants looks to round third base in the fifth inning of Game Five of the NLCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs against the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T Park on October 21, 2010 in San Franci

The 32-year-old professional baseball nomad, Andres Torres, has been an absolute revelation for the Giants in 2010. He stopped off with the Texas Rangers very briefly in 2005, appearing in eight games and failing to hit his weight.

Torres played his final game with the Rangers on June 9, 2005, and on the very next day C.J. Wilson made his major-league debut.

The Legacy of Mark Teixeira

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Elvis Andrus #1 of the Texas Rangers slides safely into first under the tag of Mark Teixeira #25 of the New York Yankees in Game Four of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 19, 2010 in the Bronx borou

We must all remember Mark Teixeira's contribution to this Rangers trip to the World Series.

When Ron Washington took over the Rangers in 2007, he and Teixeira clashed almost immediately. By the trade deadline, Teixeira was gone.

In exchange for Teixeira, the Rangers received Elvis Andrus and Neftali Feliz.  Andrus has become one of the finest defensive shortstops in baseball, while Feliz has become an elite major-league closer.

That is to say nothing of $100 million-plus savings that not re-signing Teixeira brought the Rangers.

Moneyball Draft Connection

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 26: Jeff Francoeur #21 of the Texas Rangers makes a pitching motion on the field prior to a workout session at AT&T Park on October 26, 2010 in San Francisco, California. The Texas Rangers will face off against the San Francisco G

Jeff Francoeur (23rd) and Matt Cain (25th) were taken within three picks of each other in the 2002 draft, a.k.a. the Moneyball draft.

The pick between them was Joe Blanton, who was just eliminated from the playoffs in the NLCS by the Giants.

Number One Overall

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 23: Pat Burrell #9 of the San Francisco Giants walks back to the dugout after striking out in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the NLCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October

Giants outfielder Pat Burrell (1998) and Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton (1999) were the No. 1 overall picks in the June MLB draft in consecutive years.

Former Devil Rays System Mates

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 26: Josh Hamilton #32 of the Texas Rangers walks on the field prior to a workout session at AT&T Park on October 26, 2010 in San Francisco, California. The Texas Rangers will face off against the San Francisco Giants in Game One o

As difficult as it may be to believe, Aubrey Huff, the Giants' 11-year veteran, and Josh Hamilton, the Rangers four-year veteran, were taken by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the MLB Draft in consecutive years.

Huff was the Devil Rays' fifth-round pick in 1998, while Hamilton was the Devil Rays' No. 1 pick in 1999.

Though Huff and Hamilton were never teammates, they both featured prominently in the Devil Rays system ten years ago.

The Ed Vosberg Connection

In 1988, Padres manager Bruce Bochy was a minor league teammate of Ed Vosberg with the Las Vegas Stars. In 1989, Rangers manager Ron Washington was Vosberg's teammate with the Tucson Toros.

Not that this makes them special. Vosberg spent 17 seasons in the minor leagues, from 1983 to 2007.

His teammates ranged from an 18-year-old Mitch Williams in 1983 to a 23-year-old Pat Burrell in 2000.

The 1999 Draft

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 02: Barry Zito #75 of the San Francisco Giants wipes his face after being removed from the game during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park on October 2, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin

Josh Hamilton, Barry Zito (9th), and Colby Lewis (38th) were all taken in the 1999 draft. 

By 2002, Barry Zito was leading the American League in wins and winning the 2002 AL Cy Young Award. That was right around the time Hamilton was bottoming out at his worst point, dealing with drug addiction and Colby Lewis was struggling to keep his ERA under 7.00.

Zito has peaked and is now in a deep valley, making tens of millions of dollars but being left out of the postseason rotation.

Meanwhile, Lewis and Hamilton have enjoyed career years.

Funny how things work out.

Uniquely Great Rangers Pitchers

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Starting pitcher Colby Lewis #48 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the New York Yankees in the first inning of Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arling

Colby Lewis and C.J. Wilson are the first Rangers pitchers since 1990, and first in the history of Rangers Ballpark at Arlington, to pitch over 200 innings in a season and allow less than 8.0 hits per 9 innings.

The last Rangers to accomplish the feat were Nolan Ryan, Bobby Witt, and Charlie Hough in 1990.

Only 19 starting pitchers have accomplished the feat in franchise history.

Former Award Winners

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 26: San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum speaks to reporters at AT&T Park on October 26, 2010 in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Giants will face the Texas Rangers in the first game of the World Series

Former award winners in this year's World Series:

MVP: Vlad Guerrero

Cy Young: Tim Lincecum (2), Barry Zito, Cliff Lee

The Run Driver Inners

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Josh Hamilton #32 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with Vladimir Guerrero #27 after hitting a solo homerun in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees in Game Four of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on O

Both Vlad Guerrero (115) and Josh Hamilton (100) had 100 RBI this season.

The Giants haven't had a batter top 100 RBI since Barry Bonds in 2004.