Series Thread: Rangers and Orioles Battle in the ALCS in a Best of Five Matchup October 7-13

[WastinSomeTime]

Baltimore and Texas are two teams that no one saw them being in this position this year. I am glad for both of these organizations. I know Baltimore finished with a winning record last year but before that lost 110, 108, and 115. Left 2020 out because of Covid. We haven't had a winning record since 2016. Nice to see some new kids in town.

 

[jaar01]

Baltimore and Texas are two teams that no one saw them being in this position this year. I am glad for both of these organizations. I know Baltimore finished with a winning record last year but before that lost 110, 108, and 115. Left 2020 out because of Covid. We haven't had a winning record since 2016. Nice to see some new kids in town.

Baltimore arrived a year early but they've certainly been building toward this success for a while now. They basically took the Asstoes model from last decade and copied it. They will be good for next several years. A little better bullpen and they'll be a juggernaut.

 

[scotsman#1948]

Baltimore arrived a year early but they've certainly been building toward this success for a while now. They basically took the Asstoes model from last decade and copied it. They will be good for next several years. A little better bullpen and they'll be a juggernaut.

same for the Rangers if they go hard after free agent bullpen pitchers and don't try to convert starters into relievers

 

[Duane1952]

I would like to see the Rangers leave Hedges off the playoff roster. Add Huff he’s more likely than get a hit than Hedges and can play catcher and 1B.

 

[saddles]

I would like to see the Rangers leave Hedges off the playoff roster. Add Huff he’s more likely than get a hit than Hedges and can play catcher and 1B.

I had folks argue with me on Twitter early in the week that the possibility of needing a third catcher was greater than the possibility of needing Huff to pinch hit. Then the Rangers went through that series not even using their second catcher, much less a third one.

 

[jaar01]

same for the Rangers if they go hard after free agent bullpen pitchers and don't try to convert starters into relievers

This is Rangers v Orioles postseason round 1.

There will be more in next few seasons. Both team's windows just opening this season.

 

[Duane1952]

I had folks argue with me on Twitter early in the week that the possibility of needing a third catcher was greater than the possibility of needing Huff to pinch hit. Then the Rangers went through that series not even using their second catcher, much less a third one.

If leave Grossman in the 3rd spot. Baltimore will pitch around Seager just like Tampa Bay did.

 

[jaar01]

Does anyone know if Rangers came home or did they go straight to Baltimore from Tampa?

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Does anyone know if Rangers came home or did they go straight to Baltimore from Tampa?

Not sure.

 

[scotsman1948]

If leave Grossman in the 3rd spot. Baltimore will pitch around Seager just like Tampa Bay did.

I don’t think it would matter who is batting behind Seager in the same situation it could be Carter or Garver or Grossman or Lowe or even Garcia and 9 times out of 10 the opposing manager would probably do the same IW

 

[saddles]

Congratulations, Cody!!!

 

[Duane1952]

Congratulations, Cody!!!

He should be on the next playoff roster.

 

[scotsman1948]

He should be on the next playoff roster.

Which pitcher gets dropped to make room

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Scherzer could throw to love hitters Friday.

 

[saddles]

From Evan Grant:

According to GM Chris Young, it “remains a possibility” that Scherzer could throw a live batting practice session to hitters on Friday ahead of the Rangers submitting their AL Division Series roster ahead of Game 1 on Saturday. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that Scherzer intends to throw to hitters on Friday.

“Live BP remains a possibility, depending on how he feels,” Young said. “I’m not getting ahead of ourselves. We will see where he is tomorrow and go from there.”


Scherzer, who left his start on Sept. 12 with his teres major muscle injury, threw a fairly strenuous bullpen session on Wednesday and sounded encouraged.

“Last week was a light bullpen, this one was real,” Scherzer told the Dallas Morning News after the session. “I was able to step on it more. And it was pain free.”

Though the Rangers have not officially named a starter for Game 1 on Saturday, it’s likely to be right-hander Dane Dunning, who pitched the regular-season finale on Sunday at Seattle and would be working on five days’ rest. Jordan Montgomery could pitch Game 2 on regular rest and Nathan Eovaldi Game 3 on five days’ rest.

Beyond that, though, the Rangers would be scrambling. Jon Gray is on the 15-day IL and is not eligible before Oct. 13, which would be Game 5, if necessary. And he could only be added to the roster if the Rangers have a pitching injury.

The other options would be left-handers Andrew Heaney and Martin Perez, both of whom have worked out of the bullpen for the last part of the season. Heaney was pressed back into a starting role on Sept. 30 against Seattle with the club completely out of starting options. He pitched into the fifth.

 

[Duane1952]

Which pitcher gets dropped to make room

Matt Bush.

 

[saddles]

They would, no doubt, have to piggyback someone with Scherzer.

 

[Duane1952]

I didn’t know this happened. On September 29th MLB umpire association released umpire Angel Hernandez. Several sites are reporting this. Sure hope this is true.