2010 World Series: Rangers vs. Giants

[M's_Fan]

I just thought it would be cool to start a thread with a running discussion on the world series. The media is predicting very low ratings, but it should be a great series for baseball fans.

To start, what are your predictions?

I'm predicting Rangers in 6 games, maybe even 5. The Rangers look like they can match the Giants in every category, but have far superior hitting.

[barrysloate]

Giants in six...but my prediction is from the heart. Rangers are a better team.

[Chris D.]

I think the Rangers are superior in every category. Better ace, better rotation, better offense, better bullpen, better closer, they run like crazy and all the outfielders have guns.

Rangers in 5.

[tiger8mush]

when is game 1? seriously.

[Cy2009]

Rob,

Game one is tomorrow night (Wed.). First pitch is scheduled for 7:57 PM eastern time.

Cy

[Ronnie]

I'll be the contrarian and go with the Giants in 7. I like the Giants top three starters in aggregate better than the Rangers...and Brian Wilson is a stud and a little more seasoned than Feliz, so I'll go with the good pitching beats good hitting theory.

[Anthony S.]

I ordered a flu bug for the Ranger clubhouse from i-fluenza.com

Hopefully, it arrives in time.

[Section103]

Giants in 6. Partially from the heart, not totally abandoning the mind. In my mind, it really only comes down to whether the Giants pitching can stop the Rangers hitting. This is the best rotation, 1-4, that the Rangers have seen in October. If they can shut down the Ranger hitters, they'll win ugly like they have all year.

[alanu]

I like the Giants in 6 since they beat the team that I thought was the team to beat, the Phillies.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by Chris D.

I think the Rangers are superior in every category. Better ace, better rotation, better offense, better bullpen, better closer, they run like crazy and all the outfielders have guns.

All of the above correct. But Giants have the Ex-Cub Factor working in their favor. San Fran in an anxiety-ridden seven games, three blow-out losses, four one run wins. Keep the tranquility pills handy and Humm Baby.

[Chris D.]

Originally Posted by kawika

all of the above correct. But giants have the ex-cub factor working in their favor. San fran in an anxiety-ridden seven games, three blow-out losses, four one run wins. Keep the tranquility pills handy and humm baby.

lol!

[tesitzes24]

I really don't care because I would like to see either team win it, but I'll go Rangers in 6. Obviously it all rides on the Giants pitching, which is great. But, I think the Rangers will score enough to win it.

[Leon]

Rangers bats and pitching will beat the same of the Giants.

Rangers in 6.

[E93]

Originally Posted by Kawika

All of the above correct. But Giants have the Ex-Cub Factor working in their favor. San Fran in an anxiety-ridden seven games, three blow-out losses, four one run wins. Keep the tranquility pills handy and Humm Baby.

David,
You crack me up.
JimB

[David R]

Giants in 6. I think the Giants pitching is better and they will scratch out enough runs to win. As with Halladay, Lincecum beats Cliff Lee tomorrow.

[paulcarek]

No predictions, just a fervent hope that my Giants finally win one.

Semi-interesting side note to the Series: Wasn't Giants at Texas the first matchup after MLB introduced inter-league play?

[chaddurbin]

sanchez/bumgarner was effective against the phils' lefty lineup...that's not gonna be the case with the rangers besides hamilton.

rangers in 6...unless lincecum can win 3 games and blow out his elbow.

[David R]

The absolute worst part of this series for me will be having to listen to Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. Compared to the Giants announcers who did all the games during the regular season (Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow), I think McCarver and Buck are awful.

[Anthony S.]

Originally Posted by David R

The absolute worst part of this series for me will be having to listen to Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. Compared to the Giants announcers who did all the games during the regular season (Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow), I think McCarver and Buck are awful.

Agreed.

[tbob]

In this year of the Cowboys and Texas Longhorn debacles, if the Rangers don't win the whole state will go in to mourning.

Even though Huff will touch second base on a game winning hit, Posey will not be confused by a pop-up and Panda will not have a ground ball hit a pebble and bounce over his head, the Giants are still cursed. Rangers in 5. Sorry Matty and Muggsy.
C.J. Wilson is a lot better than most people think and this "Cliff Lee light" will win 1, maybe 2 games in the Series. That's my bold prediction.

[JasonD08]

Rangers in 5.

[DaveW]

If my UCLA guys can beat Texas in football, then I think it's the year for my
Giants to finally win the big one. They make me a nervous wreck, but Giants
in 7 close games. Also, I agree about Buck and McCarver being terrible - but
I kind of like to hear some of the stupid things McCarver says. My kids love
to go to www.shutuptimmccarver.com and read his quotes.

[nebboy]

Ill go with Lincecum over Lee and the batsin game one.
After that ???????????

I kind of like to hear some of the stupid things McCarver says
--DITO--

[JeremyW]

Giants win in six. Pitching almost always prevails in the post-season. Besides Lee, I'm not a believer in the Texas staff.

[tbob]

On a side note, everyone's favorite dunderhead Bud Selig announced today that there were not enough teams in the playoffs and wants to have 2 maybe 4 more added in 2012. Geez, the guy has been horrible and his used car salesman mentality (no offense to car salesmen on the board) shows a real inane attitude toward the history of the game. He doesn't want to trim the season back to 154 games but wants best of 7 series in the LDS. I guess they'll be playing almost to Thanksgiving. Can you imagine if Minnesota and Colorado make the WS in 2012. BRRRRRRRR.
Hey Selig, your ineptitude is showing once again. Please retire and do us all a favor.

[chaddurbin]

Originally Posted by tbob

Hey Selig, your ineptitude is showing once again. Please retire and do us all a favor.

$15/mil a year to not rock the boat, keep on the traditional course and shun changes...stay within 4-5 bonehead decisions a year...no one would walk away from that job.

[Rickyy]

I want the Giants to win...just like Mad Dog Russo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM_8AQwk4gY

[Chris D.]

Originally Posted by nebboy

Ill go with Lincecum over Lee and the batsin game one.
After that ???????????

I kind of like to hear some of the stupid things McCarver says
--DITO--

http://www.shutuptimmccarver.com/

[GoldenAge50s]

I am going w/ the Rangers in 5 games.

[mybuddyinc]

Gott'a go with SF.

This is the very first time I have ever favored a NL team (other than the Phils) in my entire life !!!

[jimm]

Sf in 6

[tedzan]

The ghost of Horace Stoneham's "regrets" will continue to haunt the Giants. They should have never left Coogan's Bluff (NYC).

Besides, wherever Cliff Lee goes, success follows him.


TED Z

[majordanby]

The absolute worst part of this series for me will be having to listen to Tim McCarver and Joe Buck.

You can tune into KNBR 680 to get krukow, kuiper and dave fleming calling the game. Just turn the volume on your TV all the way down.

[nolemmings]

Pitching beats hitting. SF in 6. I root for the A.L. though (unless Boston is in).

[rdixon1208]

Giants in 6.

Lincecum will add a WS MVP to his 2 CY awards.

[Section103]

Originally Posted by David R

The absolute worst part of this series for me will be having to listen to Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. Compared to the Giants announcers who did all the games during the regular season (Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow), I think McCarver and Buck are awful.

Kruk and Kuip are worth the MLB TV package alone (unless you happen to live in the Bay Area).

[pitchernut]

SF
a. in 7 (more games the merrier)
b. west coast team
c. that Texas manager pulled a pitcher in the middle of a no-no

[jimm]

True, add John Miller and Dave Fleming on the radio side too when KnK are on the tube, a great crew

[Kawika]

It would be neat if they brought in Hank Greenwald to do an inning (assuming he's up to it). One of the highlights of my "career" as a baseball fan was listening to HG on the radio doing the Giants day games whilst at work during my stint as a land surveyor in Palo Alto in the '80's. He was definitely a thinking man's announcer.

Me and Hank Greenwald (on radio at left elbow), 1985

[Anthony S.]

Hank was awesome. Very laid-back, conversational, wry style. As much as people like John Miller, I'll always prefer Hank.

[jimm]

A big fan of Hank (and Lon Simmons) also, what do you think of his kid at Fresno. Assuming you've heard him.

.

[Rickyy]

I always liked Hank Greenwald as well. His son sounds just like him. He did some Giants games this year. The tv and radio crew in SF is top notch esp Kruk and Kuip.

[M's_Fan]

Great game last night! I can't believe that Cliff Lee is human. Looked like he couldn't locate his curveball, and kept throwing fastballs. Still, I think pulling him that early was a mistake given the Rangers' suspect bullpen.

[Robextend]

Originally Posted by M's_Fan

Great game last night! I can't believe that Cliff Lee is human. Looked like he couldn't locate his curveball, and kept throwing fastballs. Still, I think pulling him that early was a mistake given the Rangers' suspect bullpen.

I hear what you are saying, but I don't think Washington had a choice. Lee was up to 104 pitches and he didn't even get through 5 innings.

How about that Freddy Sanchez??

[barrysloate]

The final score was a complete surprise. I'm sure a 2-1 game was anticipated, so of course an 11-7 game was not expected. Lee was throwing batting practice to a weak hitting team, and Sanchez's three doubles were of course a highlight. And what happened to Lincecum in that first inning rundown? How could he forget to throw to third? He was lucky to get a double play with the bases loaded; they could have easily knocked him out that inning.

I still stick with Giants in 6.

[David R]

Barry,
I totally agree about that Lincecum rundown in the first inning. I am a huge Giants and Lincecum fan but I thought he looked like a deer in the headlights that first inning. I played college and minor league baseball (a pitcher) and I have never seen a pitcher forget to throw the ball to the infielder when he has someone in a rundown. For me, that was the most amazing play of the game. Of course, no one seems to be talking about it here in SF this morning. Go Giants!

[barrysloate]

I know David. I have no idea what he was thinking when he held the ball. At first I thought maybe two runners ended up at third, so one of them would have been out and no throw would be needed. Then when I realized it was a routine rundown I was in disbelief. I think he may have been really nervous, and he did not get off to a good start. They were hitting him hard from the opening bell.

[tbob]

The Rangers better hope CJ is on or this Series could be over soon. Vlady in right field reminded me of Willie Mays in the outfield in his last year as a Met. Sad.

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I know David. I have no idea what he was thinking when he held the ball. At first I thought maybe two runners ended up at third, so one of them would have been out and no throw would be needed. Then when I realized it was a routine rundown I was in disbelief. I think he may have been really nervous, and he did not get off to a good start. They were hitting him hard from the opening bell.

I remember being at the park for a bbq with a bunch of friends when I was in my teens and we played a pickup game of baseball (similar to game 1 of the WS, right? haha). I was playing shortstop, there was a runner on 2nd base, and a groundball was hit to me. I fielded it, looked the runner back to 2nd, had what seemed like 1/2 hour to throw to first base, but I just kinda froze. No idea why, but I didn't throw the ball. No explanation.

Who knows, maybe if Lincecum had thrown the ball, it would've went over the fielders head and scored the runner. Karma or something.

[nolemmings]

I thought it was a poorly played game. Six physical errors and some mental boners too. Looked more like a March matchup in Scottsdale than a World Series contest between baseball's supposed best (or even best at the time). I hope it was just opening game nerves, jitters or whatever for teams unfamiliar with the stage, and it was somewhat entertaining from a novelty sort of standpoint, but I was underwhelmed. I hope it gets better soon.