2011 ALDS: 10 Takeaways from Game 3 of Rangers-Rays Series

On Monday afternoon the Texas Rangers traveled to St. Petersburg to take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. With the series even at one game apiece, the Rangers certainly had to feel comfortable going back to the Trop where they won all three games during last season’s ALDS to advance to the League Championship Series.

The Rays are certainly not used to playing in front of a sold out crowd. In spite of their late-season heroics and entering the postseason for the third time in four seasons, the Rays were still one of the lowest-drawing teams in terms of attendance at an average of just 18,879 fans per game.

The Rays faced starter, Colby Lewis, who dazzled in last year’s postseason for the Rangers. The Rays countered with David Price, who went through a winless month of September and who has never beaten the Rangers in his brief career.

In a game that featured 11 pitchers that were used by both teams, the Texas Rangers got the upper hand, defeating the Rays 4-3.

So, what were the things learned from Game 3 of the ALDS between the Rangers and Rays? Let’s take a look.

Johnny Damon Hustles More Than Any Player in Baseball

Tampa Bay Rays' designated hitter, Johnny Damon, is now 37 years old, and the strength of his game and his speed, is not quite where it was when he was 27. However, Damon continues to use his hustle to get the most out of every at-bat.

In the bottom of the second inning, Damon tapped a grounder to Rangers’ first baseman Mitch Moreland, with pitcher Colby Lewis rushing over to cover the bag. Moreland’s toss to Lewis just barely nipped Damon at the bag.

Damon was hustling down the line from the moment he made contact with the ball. Hanley Ramirez, if you’re reading this, you need to take notice.

Colby Lewis Continues to Establish Himself as a Quality Postseason Pitcher

Texas Rangers’ Game 3 starter, Colby Lewis has put up decent numbers during the regular season in his career, with a 4.40 ERA and 14-10 record this season.

However during the postseason last year, Lewis was outstanding, with a 3-0 record and sparkling 1.71 ERA, including a win in Game 3 of the 2010 World Series.

On Monday afternoon, Lewis retired the first nine batters he faced, and in the bottom of the fourth, Lewis gave up a solo home run to leadoff hitter Desmond Jennings, followed by a walk to B.J. Upton. Lewis, instead of folding, buckled down and struck out the side (Evan Longoria, Matt Joyce, Johnny Damon) to get out of the inning and limit the damage.

Lewis allowed just one run on one hit during his outstanding six-inning effort.

LA Angels Fans Have to Be Seething Watching Mike Napoli in the Postseason

With Texas Rangers catcher Mike Napoli starting the first three games of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays and continuing to produce, is there really any doubt that Los Angeles Angels general manager Tony Reagins is now out of a job?

Reagins pulled the trigger on the trade that sent Napoli and Juan Rivera to the Toronto Blue Jays for outfielder Vernon Wells. The Blue Jays then sent Napoli to the Rangers for reliever Frank Francisco. Napoli shined in Texas, hitting .320 with 30 HR and 75 RBI and has assumed full-time catching duties for the Rangers, relegating Yorvit Torrealba to bench duty.

Angels' catchers for the season combined to hit for just a .192 batting average (29th in the majors), .252 on-base percentage (tied for 28th) and .302 slugging percentage (28th).

Rays Bench Coach Dave Martinez Needs to Be Managing a Team in 2012

Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez has been rumored to be in the running for at least one managerial job in 2012, and all I can say is it’s about time.

Martinez is not just one of those bench coaches who consults with his manager during a game, he is one of the more active bench coaches in the game today. Martinez is constantly animated during the game, and is responsible for play calls on the field as well. During breaks between innings, Martinez can be often seen gathering his players, discussing situations that may have occurred during the prior inning or just giving them a pep talk.

Hopefully, one of the teams with a managerial opening will forsake the recycled names floating about in terms of availability, and will take a chance on Martinez, who is clearly ready.

Desmond Jennings Asserts Himself as Clear Offensive Threat for Rays

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Desmond Jennings collected the first hit of the game for the Rays, connecting on a Colby Lewis pitch and sending it into the left field bleachers for a solo home run, giving the Rays an early 1-0 lead.

Jennings connected again in the eighth inning off reliever Mike Adams, getting the Rays back within one run of the Rangers.

For Jennings, it raised his average to .364 in his first postseason action, and he clearly doesn’t look overmatched in any way in his first taste of pressure baseball in October.

Texas Power Not on Display as Widely Expected

The Texas Rangers were second in all of baseball in home runs hit during the regular season (210) behind the New York Yankees, and their lineup featured five players with at least 25 home runs.

However, it’s the Rays who are showing off the power during this series, with seven total home runs compared to the Rangers’ two home runs, one each by Mike Napoli and Mitch Moreland.

The Rangers are not a small-ball team. They are built around players capable of hitting the long ball at any given moment. Those moments have not happened anywhere as much as expected during the postseason thus far.

However, Napoli’s second home run of the series was the catalyst that led to the Rangers taking charge of Game 3.

David Price is Learning to “Trust His Stuff”

David Price struggled through the last five weeks of the regular season, going winless in his final six starts with a 4.01 ERA.

On MLB Network during their pre-game discussion on Monday afternoon, former pitcher Al Leiter discussed Price’s struggles and said that Price needed to rely more on his fastball, and to “trust his stuff.”

Price must have been listening. He was nearly dominant in Game 3, working Rangers’ hitters in and out with his 95-97 MPH fastball and keeping them off-balance with the occasional off-speed pitch. It was a great example of why Price has become one of the elite left-handed pitchers in the American League.

Mike Napoli’s two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh was the only mistake pitch that Price threw all game long, but with the lack of support from his Rays’ teammates, it was nonetheless a pretty big mistake pitch.

It was a gritty performance for Price, giving up three runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings, all the while dealing with a fingernail issue as well.

Wind Conditions in the Dome

While watching the game, naturally I had the game streaming on the internet as well (I’m a serious multi-tasker). I happened to notice between innings that the streaming interface had Tropicana Field wind conditions, which seem ridiculous considering it’s a domed stadium.

However, it’s probably a fixed field camera on most game channel streaming sites, so it wasn’t so much that tidbit that caught my eye. What did catch my eye is that they listed a wind of -1 miles per hour.

Does that mean the Trop has a vacuum effect?

Just a random thought…

It’s Worth Saying Again: The Angels REALLY Screwed Up Getting Rid of Mike Napoli

In a terrific at-bat against David Price in the top of the seventh, Rangers catcher Mike Napoli launched a two-run home run to left-center, his first of the series, giving the Rangers their first lead of the day at 2-1.

And Angels’ manager, Mike Scioscia wanted him out of town? Maybe owner, Arte Moreno should rethink who really calls the shots in Anaheim.

The Tampa Bay Rays Have No Home Field Advantage

Including Monday afternoon’s Game 3 loss to the Texas Rangers, the Tampa Bay Rays are now 4-6 when playing at home in Tropicana Field since first making the playoffs in 2008.

In order for the Rays to be a viable team in any postseason, they have to figure out a way to take advantage of their home field when given the chance.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.