World Series 2010: 5 Things the Rangers Must Do To Win the WS
Yogi Berra was right: it really ain't over 'till it's over.
The 27th out can be the toughest to get in any given MLB game. So too can be the fourth win in any post-season series.
The underdog San Francisco Giants are on the verge of their first baseball championship since moving west in 1958. The last time the Giants won the whole enchilada, Willie Mays was making "The Catch", and he was but 23 years old.
The year was 1954 and the New York Baseball Giants broomed out the Cleveland Indians in four straight contests.
The Texas Rangers, on the other hand, have NEVER won a World Series in their 50-year history (they started as the "new" Washington Senators in 1961).
A 3-1 deficit may seem like a death knell, as only five teams have done it in the Fall Classic since 1925, and none since the 1985 Royals.
An optimist might say that we're about due for such a comeback, right?
What follows are five things the Rangers must do if they are to not only win Game 5, but the series itself.
No. 5: Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz Must Relax
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Actually, so should the entire fleet of Rangers hitters.
The 1966 Dodgers were completely stifled by the fine pitching of the Baltimore Orioles, who swept the Dodgers with shutouts in Games 2, 3, and 4. The Dodgers hitters pressed badly and by the final out of Game 4 they were like a broken Mustang horse.
It can go sideways and downhill in a hurry, no question.
Josh Hamilton (2-for-16), Nelson Cruz (3-for-16), Ian Kinsler (3-for-14) and Vlad Guerrero (1-for-10) need to take a collective deep breath before tonight's Game 5. Yes, they're going up against Tim Lincecum, but the Giants are going up against Cliff Lee, who owes the Giants for roughing him up in Game 1.
Bottom line: the Rangers' hitters need to settle down and not try to do too much. Easier said than done? Of course. But squeezing the bat handle tighter isn't going to get it done, either.
You just need to live to fight another day. Everyone needs to remind themselves (and be reminded) that they're good hitters. Band together and don't press.
No. 4: Survive Game 5 and No More Lincecum, Anyway
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Tim Lincecum isn't (presumably) going to pitch a potential Game 7 on just two days' rest. He's not Mickey Lolich, who did so in 1968 and won, or Sandy Koufax, who did it in 1965 and won with a legendary shutout.
It's not wise to look too far ahead when you're trailing in a series, but if the Rangers can survive Lincecum and Game 5 tonight, they won't have to worry about the Giants' ace the rest of the series.
Of course, Lincecum isn't the only good starter the Giants have. Still, Lincecum is by far the Giants' ace, and NOT seeing him on the mound can do an opponent a world of good.
No. 3: Be Aggressive
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This isn't counter to what I said about No. 5; rather, it means that Rangers manager Ron Washington might want to be brazen on the base paths, try to make the Giants throw the ball around the diamond more than they'd like, and be proactive rather than reactive.
Of course, you need base runners to do this. Because those may be less prevalent than on a night when Lincecum doesn't pitch, all the more reason for Washington to put some plays on and keep the Giants on their toes.
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No. 2: Get Ahead of Huff and Renteria
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Veteran Giants hitters Aubrey Huff and Edgar Renteria are making their cases for being named World Series MVP.
But having seen both of them in Tigers uniforms (Huff in 2009's stretch run, Renteria in 2008 for the whole season), I can tell you that the key to pitching them is to throw the most important pitch in baseball: Strike One.
Huff and Renteria are not exactly known for their patience at the plate. And, true to form, they have drawn a combined one walk in 28 at-bats so far.
Get ahead of them and you won't even have to throw a strike to get them out. And you just might see those gaudy batting averages drop like a lead balloon.
No. 1: You Can't Win Three Games in One Night
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Perhaps the most difficult thing for any team in a 1-3 hole is to keep from looking at the big picture.
You're going to be constantly reminded that it will take three straight wins to capture the brass ring.
The Rangers need to keep all their focus on not just Game 5, but they must break it down even further.
Battle every pitch, every at-bat, every inning. You can't win three games on Monday night; you can only win Game 5.
Put blinders on and strive to win the battles within the war. You do that enough and before you know it, you're playing Game 7.
But first things first: stay within yourselves and live to fight another day.
A team leading a series 3-1 wants to get it over with as soon as possible, obviously.
The '68 Tigers were in the exact position the 2010 Rangers are in now: down 3-1 to the Cardinals, with Game 5 in Detroit.
The turning point was LF Willie Horton gunning down Lou Brock at the plate in Game 5 to keep the Tigers in the game, which they came back and eventually won. Then the Tigers went into St. Louis, tattooed the Cards in Game 6, and Lolich did his heroics in Game 7.
But the Horton throw against Brock turned the momentum and the Tigers rode it to the championship.
The 2010 Rangers need a break or two, no question. But the longer they drag this thing out, the more they'll believe they can win it.
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