What MLB should do to combat the dangers of ‘grip it and rip it’ pitchingPHOENIX — Chris Young had just finished a press conference in which he had to deliver difficult information prior to Tuesday’s Game 4 — Max Scherzer and the rampaging Adolis Garcia
As he exited, by happenstance, we bumped into each other. As these things go, the Rangers general manager asked how I was doing, so — by rote — I did the same and then, before he could reply, interjected that it was a dumb question under the circumstances. Undeterred, Young said, “No pity for us. We’ll be fine.”
A few hours later his Rangers were so much better than fine. They were overpowering. And because of that they were one win away from a designation previously unknown to this organization — champion.. The Rangers lead the 119th World Series three-games-to-one. A franchise that began in 1961 as the Washington Senators has been tantalizingly close before. headtopics.com
This Rangers team has three chances to finalize the title this time, beginning Wednesday with a Game 1 rematch of Nathan Eovaldi against Zac Gallen. That. The Rangers are 10-0 on the road this postseason (the 9-0 already was a record for one playoff). It exemplifies a tough-mindedness also on display to move on after losing Scherzer (back) and, especially, Garcia (oblique), who had eight homers this postseason.“It’s been a theme of our team,” Young said at the pregame press conference.
He hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give him three in this World Series, six in this postseason and 19 for a career — only Derek Jeter (20) has more as a shortstop. Seager has a 1.136 OPS these playoffs with 14 walks against 12 strikeouts. headtopics.com
Semien had seemed to play tight this month. He came into Game 4 hitting .197 with a .491 OPS, no homers, three RBIs and two extra-base hits. Then between the second and third innings, Semien delivered a two-run triple and a three-run homer.Those two innings decided this game. Well, actually, it was decided because Arizona does not have a trustworthy No. 4 or No. 5 starter. That contributed to its meh 84-win season.