Are The Rangers Snake Bitten?

An image far too familiar to Texas Rangers fans of late.

Last year, some of my friends and I decided to support the Texas Rangers in their World Series bid because we like Josh Hamilton, so when we watched Game 7 on the church projector the three of us were a little...miffed with what we saw.

Cardinals pitcher throws ball.
Ball lands off plate.
Umpire calls strike three.
Phil flips table.

It takes a lot for Andrew and Bryan to get angry, but I remember Game 6 and Game 7 being very trying experiences.

Flyball to right field.
Nelson Cruz to catch ball & win World Series.
Nelson Cruz lets ball drop.
Phil flips table.

I respect the Texas Rangers a great deal, so when they lined up against the Oakland Athletics for the penultimate game for the American League West Division championship, once again, I decided to pull for the Josh Hamilton, Ron Washington, starting pitcher Ryan Dempster, and the rest of the Texas Rangers.

David Murphy wears knee socks;
that means he's good.

Third inning begins.
Rangers rally for five runs.
Rangers on course leading 5-1.
Phil feels good.

I remembered former Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster was pitching this very important game. Since the trade, his ERA progressively rose higher and higher with each start, and was barely pitching past five innings. Naturally, as his pitch count neared sixty heading into the fourth inning, I was concerned.

Fourth inning begins.
Dempster allows two runs to score after facing four batters.
Dempster leaves game with two on, and no outs.

Phil upon learning Dempster will pitch:
I have a bad feeling about this...

Phil finds table.

That's alright. Manager Ron Washington usually finds a way out of these situations. You don't win back-to-back American League Championships, and beat the best in the AL (Yankees, Tigers, etc.) just passing through town. Washington will find a way.

Washington brings Derek Holland into game.
Starter Holland pitching on two days rest.
Holland gives up game-tying double to right on first pitch.
Phil flips table.

The horses officially left the barn, and the game is tied at 5-5. Once again, I'm stressed, but with two Athletics on base, and two out with Yeonis Cespedes at the plate, I draw comfort there is a lot of game left, and Texas can "get out of Dodge (City)" and recover. Then, this happened.

NOOOOOOOO! D:

Cespedes pops ball up to centre field.
Favourite player Josh Hamilton runs to catch.
Hamilton drops ball.
Phil flips table.

Really? REALLY?! Nine batters faced, six runs scored, three doubles, two singles, two walks, one fielding error to bring in two unearned runs that give up the lead, and the Oakland fans are going crazy!

I love Josh Hamilton to death, and what he said in the post game interview is true. When you are running in the outfield to catch a steady flyball, you set your feet so the image of the baseball doesn't "move" as you stand still. There will be times when a diving catch is required, and you will know these times when a girl you like is sitting in the stands watching you play outfield. I'm not nearly as miffed about Hamilton's error as some Rangers fans I know might be (Hi Berent >_< ] ...Hi Tony >_< ] They flipped their tables, too).

Nelson Cruz in WS 2011, and now
Josh Hamilton in Game 162 vs Oakland in 2012.

I already stated "the horses already fled the barn", so if Hamilton makes the catch to end the inning, a tired Derek Holland remains in the game to pitch into the seventh inning and gets tagged with the loss. Although Holland is the losing pitcher, Dempster got the ball rolling with a disastrous fourth inning meltdown pitching down the middle on pitchers' counts. I don't know why Washington would call on Holland at that time, in his state of little rest, to end the inning? Does anyone know? Are the Rangers snakebitten?! o_O

The Rangers play a one game playoff at home to another surprise team, the Baltimore Orioles, tomorrow. I'm hoping the Texas Rangers can put this behind them as superstar Yu Darvish will start for the Rangers on Friday.

Now, if you will excuse me: Phil flips table.

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