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Monday, October 25, 2010

Who's Worth $400 Million And Likes The Feeling Of A Bat On Their Shoulder? Also, World Series Predictions!

The answer to the above question is...Ryan Howard and Alex Rodriguez!  Ha!  That's right!  The two highest paid douchebags on both the Phillies and the Yankees couldn't swing at 3-2 pitches to save their seasons!  What a bunch of losers. 
Seriously though, Ryan Howard, how do you not swing at that pitch?  Especially when you haven't been getting that call ALL SERIES?  Yeesh, way to be, Ry-Ry, way to fuckin' be.  Of course, it didn't help that the rest of your supposedly vaunted offense was hitting like a bunch of little leaguers.  That being said, at least your team competed in every game, which is something the Yankees couldn't quite grasp.  Along with A-Rod and Teixera the Yankees posted a sparkling .201 team batting average to go along with a combined 6.58 pitching staff ERA.  In case you were wondering, those are not good numbers, especially when the Rangers posted a .304 batting average and a 2.76 ERA to match them.  They just straight up got outplayed in every aspect.

The Giants and Phils, on the other hand, were very evenly matched, with the absence of the Philadelphia offense the only real difference maker outside of a gentleman I'll bring up in a bit.  The pitching was, as expected, amazing on both sides, with Jonathan Sanchez being the only exception.  The only man the Phillies pitching staff didn't have an answer for was...drum roll please...CODY ROSS!! I totally called that shit and I want recognition for it.  He earned every bit of that NLCS MVP trophy and was the main x-factor in the Giants making it to the World Series.

So, yeah, Rangers vs. Giants, the World Series that baseball fans wanted to see.  I would have shot myself if the Yankees and Phillies would have faced off again.  Just unwatchable dreck.  Now we get two hungry up and comers who are looking to win their first titles in franchise history.  Howabout that?

On to the prediction...

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Texas Rangers vs. San Francisco Giants

Did you know that one man has already won a World Series ring this year?  That man?  Bengie Molina.  Since he was traded to the Rangers from the Giants in the middle of the season, he will recieve a ring from whichever team takes the taco in the end.  What a lucky bastard.

The rest of these guys, however, will have to work for it.

The Texas Rangers will have the upper hand entering the the series based solely upon the fact that they have the much more potent offense.  They can, at any time, create runs up and down the lineup.  This is where the Giants having home field advantage comes into play, because at the very least they'll have four games where they can remove Vlad Guerrero from the DH spot and limit him to pinch hitting responsibilities.  Of course, you still have to face Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and Bengie Molina, so good luck taking a gasp of relief.  The Giants are gonna have a lot of trouble keeping up on the scoreboard, considering the strength of the Rangers' pitching staff, which was led not by Cliff Lee in the ALCS, but by Colby Lewis, who pitched an absolute gem in game 6.  You'll also be seeing C.J. Lewis and Tommy Hunter, who at times made the mighty Yankees look meek and may make the Giants at times anemic offense look downright childish. 

However.

If there's a lesson that should have been learned by now, it's that you would be insane to count out these Giants in these playoffs.  They've been underdogs from the beginning and have somehow managed to pull out victory after victory by the skin of their teeth, winning 6 of 7 games this postseason by one run.  Their starting pitching has been the main reason behind their success, keeping them hanging around until somebody steps up into the hero role.  So far, that hero has been Cody Ross, but if anybody else finds their bat in the World Series, we could have ourselves a quality matchup. 

As far as predictions go, I hate having to make one.  Both of these teams deserve to be here and they both got here by plowing through teams that I hate.  In the end, however, good pitching always, always, always beats good hitting, and the Giants have a pitching staff that rivals no one in these playoffs.  On top of that, the Giants just faced the second best pitching staff in the playoffs in their last series.  They're on a roll, and they know how to scratch out runs in tough conditions.  I hate to see either team lose, but someone has gotta win. 

Giants in 7

Onward.

- Terrence Adams

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Technical Difficulties


I applaud the NBA. I seldom applaud the NBA, but today, I applaud them. Literally: I’m clapping with one hand and typing with the other.

The NBA has echoed Howard Beale: “[They’re] mad as hell, and [they’re] not going to take this anymore.”

The zero-tolerance backtalk policy, the rule change causing much ado in the preseason, happened because it had to. As of 2003, by my count, no NBA player was—according to the guilty party—actually guilty of committing any rules infractions. Ever.

How dare the refs blow the whistle on anyone?

Think about this: Kevin Garnett was recently ejected from a preseason game for arguing a foul call. Now, I want you to go view the infamous Allen Iverson “practice video” and simply exchange every utterance of practice with preseason. It’s PRESEASON and some jag-bags are arguing. In fact, the NBA Players Union is planning to file a grievance.

The UMWA fought for safety protections (for decades mining reigned supreme as the most dangerous job in the U.S.) and living wages (living in its strictest sense). Mother Jones led the Children’s Crusade* so seven year olds didn’t spend twelve-hour days in textile mills. Cesar Chavez and his UFW grape pickers struck for the discontinuation of toxic pesticides that were toxic to…you guessed it…grape pickers. Billy Hunter, executive director of the NBAPA, is filing a grievance because his players can’t complain or gesticulate displeasure with quite the demonstrative panache they’re used to.

Start smelting the bronze, we’re gonna need a statue.

Basketball is by far the most subjectively officiated game on the planet. (Don’t even start with the baseball strike zone argument. For one, there’s only one HP umpire per game. The pitchers/batters have to adjust to one strike zone. Ask any manager, player, or fan for that matter, and the general consensus will be as long as it’s the same strike zone for everybody… Besides, the no-arguing-balls-and-strikes rule has been in place for a while now, and you know what? It works. There’s haggling around the dish from time to time and plentiful harangues from the dugout, but the game moves forward.) In the NBA, fouls differ according to where the players are standing on the court. Twenty-three feet from the basket, hand-checks are frequently whistled. Four feet from the basket, second degree manslaughter is ignored.

Likewise, after a quarter or two of letting the players play, referees frequently make mid-game decisions to tighten up the game. And of course, at the end of a game—unless you’re Hue Hollins—only bulldogs and piledrivers are prohibited.

Still worse, rookies are not given the same protections as vets under NBA rules. It’s one of the many unwritten rules, but it’s true. Superstar vets can get slapped with up to 5 fouls, then they suddenly don an invisibility cloak for the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, non-superstars have to abide by the 6 strikes you’re out policy.

I pity NBA refs. I really do. I’ve always felt that the only way the games can be fair is to either give Draco a crack at the rule book, or give the game over to streetball rules. It’s one of those rare cases wherein seeking moderation makes something worse. It’s call everything, or call nothing. A fair game of basketball will be one refereed to the outer edges of the rule spectrum.

Actually…possibly…maybe…there is a third option.

Don’t change a thing. Keep the rules as they’ve been. See to it that a charge for LeBron is a blocking foul against Reggie Evans. Make sure a clean steal for Rip Hamilton is a reach against Luther Head. Guarantee that a punch to Brad Miller’s face is only a two-shot foul and not a flagrant against Rondo. But come clean. Own up to what you’ve been. Own up to what you are. Change the league name to the NBSEA, the National Basketball Sports Entertainment Association. Hand out belts instead of trophies. Script the histrionics so the fans know who to root for (Oh wait, ESPN instructs the world on this on a nightly basis). But just own up to it. Admit that the game exists to aid (and abet) the chosen few and to propitiate the highlight-reel seekers.

But for now, I’m just glad I won’t have to watch pouty-faced bitching for 48 minutes a night.

NBA, I’m giving you a “T”. But this “T” is for Thank You.
/slow clap

*Not to be confused with the ill-fated attempts by Christian children of France and Germany to take Jerusalem back for team Jesus.

-Kyle Wills

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Ben Wills Is A Total Knob And The Reds Season Is Over But The Playoffs Aren't: Second Round MLB Playoff Predictions

Well, the goddamn fucking Reds got goddamn fucking swept, and what more should I have expected?  It was amazing to see how every weak point that the 2010 Reds had showed up all at once during a string of three horrifyingly disappointing and depressing games. 

Our hitting committed suicide, our fielding took a gigantic runny shit all over the field and...well...don't even get me started on Marty Brennaman and Jeff Brantley.  Seriously, don't. 

Don't get me wrong, Ben Wills is not wrong in saying that Roy Halladay's no-hitter was a truly beautiful thing to watch, but that's still not gonna stop me from hoping he gets into a major car accident and is fileted from stem to stern.  Or at least that he gets punched in the face by a professional boxer. 

Ugh.  You know what, though?  It was a fitting way for the Reds to re-enter the playoffs after fifteen years. 

Fuck Jonny Gomes and Orlando Cabrera.  Right in the ear. 

And now, onto this:

YOUR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

NLCS: San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies

First off, let me get this out of the way: FUCK THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES.  MAY THEIR ENTIRE FRANCHISE ROT IN THE FIERY PITS OF HELL. 

Ahem...

Okay, so what we're going to see here in this series is pitching, pitching, pitching.  Lincecum vs. Halladay, Oswalt vs. Cain, Hamels vs. Sanchez...I mean you really can't get much better than that.  I think both of these offenses are going to have to learn how to play sudoku before this series is over. 

If there's a team that has the best chance, however, I think you have to give the edge to the Giants.  Their offense is built for pitchers duels.  They are scrappy and have unexpected power up and down the lineup.  Cody Ross is maybe one of the most underrated players in baseball and Andres Torres maybe one of the best lead off hitters left in the playoffs (fuck you, Jeter).  The Phils have power and Victorino is one of the most frustrating match-ups for any pitcher, but the Giants rotation is full of guys that aren't just 'any pitcher', these are all high calibur hurlers who would be number ones or twos on any rotation in the bigs.  You know what else?  Oswalt looked mighty fallible during his start against the Reds, which should serve as a worrisome sign to Charlie Manuel, as the Giants aren't likely to commit four errors and pretty much gift wrap a Phils win (GODDAMNIT!).  Halladay may win his start, but Oswalt is no guarantee at home and Hamels pitching away in San Francisco is a crapshoot.  That ballpark they got out there is a voodoo worshippers dream.  Balls careen left and right off the outfield walls and infield is notoriously fast.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Chase Utley sobbing in the fetal position at the end of their first game there. 

Regardless, yeah these are both really good teams that deserve to be where they are, but I think that the Giants are looked at as the 'scrappy underdog' so much so that analysts seem to be forgetting that they have a roster full of veterans, aces and all around all-star level talent.  They'll take this series.

Giants in 6


ALCS: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers

Dear Minnesota Twins,

Why on earth do you even try to get to playoffs if you're going to play like third graders every time you get there?  You had chances to win each and every game of that sweep and instead decided that you didn't deserve it and let each and every game slip through your fingers.  You're more disappointing than the Reds because you actually BEAT the good teams all year.  You are a sad franchise and your new stadium does nothing to change that fact. 

Love,

Terrence

Now, I hate the Yankees more than any other franchise in baseball.  I hate that they have the luxury to pay players whatever they want, I hate that they hold this above every other team's ability to build a solid roster through free agency, I hate that they have a grooming code and I hate that they think their storied history is some kind of benchmark for them being obnoxious and entitled.  Their fans are a bunch of fuckwads and their new stadium is actually worse than the decades old one they tore down.  They also fucked the city of New York out of millions.  I hate this team, I hate each and every player (outside of Curtis Granderson, who is a good guy) and I hate Joe Girardi's braces. 

That being said, this is going to be a good match-up against the Rangers.  Texas managed to do to the Rays offense what teams had been doing to the Rays all season, just straight up out pitch them.  Cliff Lee dominated, C.J. Wilson dominated more and Colby Lewis held his own.  When you add Tommy Hunter to that mix, this Texas team is primed to keep these Bronx Brombers off the bases. 

Now, of course the Yankees rotation is no joke either, but each one of them outside of CC Sabathia has been questionable down the stretch, with A.J. Burnett being the worst offender.  If Hughes, Pettitte or Burnett have a melt down, that means that the Yanks are gonna have to rely on their terrible bullpen, which is oh so terrible.  Rivera can't pitch three innings for three games in a row, Joe Girardi.  He just can't. 

Oh yeah, and the hitting.  These teams are good at that too, but the Rangers' lineup looked damn near unstoppable versus the Rays.  I expect that trend to continue. 

Rangers in 7

I was 2-2 in the first round.  I expect to be 2-0 in this one. 

onward.

- Terrence Adams

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Throwing the Reds a Curveball: The Best Pitching Performance I Have Ever Seen


This post is undoubtedly going to piss Terry off. It potentially could initially make him vow never to talk to me again, because to be quite frank, it's kinda shitty to throw this in his face less than 24 hours later. But all in all, Terry should actually be happy about what I have to say. It should make him feel a lot better about rooting for the only team in the playoffs that is still hitless. What I have to say is...Roy Halladay's performance last night was the greatest pitching performance I have ever seen in my life.

Now, let me state this clearly. It was the best piece of pitching I've ever seen. Was it the best "stuff" I've ever seen? Not really. Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez have put in performances which I was lucky enough to view in which their "stuff" was impossible to surpass, and even (and I hate to say this, truly I do) Kerry Wood's 20 strikeout performance exhibited pure "stuff" that was breathtaking and left me awestruck. But what Roy Halladay did last night was pitching, PITCHING, at it's apex.

Don't get me wrong, Halladay's "stuff" was nothing to scoff at. In fact, he had exceptional stuff last night. His sinker was driving downward hard in the last 15 to 10 feet, he had precise command of his curveball, his change-up looked identical to his fastball out of his hand, and his fastball, both 4 seam and his cutter, were thrown with pinpoint control, and at 91-94 mph thrown with enough velocity to slip past the Reds hitter's bats. But, his stuff wasn't over the top unhittable. Instead, what made him so unhittable was how he took all 4 (5 if we are counting the 4 seam and cutting his fastball as 2 different pitches) and pieced them together. It was the beauty of turning pitching from science to art. Showing that it's not what "stuff" you have, but rather how you use it.

I watched all 104 pitches Halladay threw, and while there is nothing scientific here and I'm doing this off the top of my head, I can remember Halladay making roughly about 6 or 7 "bad" pitches. Meaning, after watching where the catcher set up then seeing what pitch was thrown, Halladay only missed the intended location on about a handful of pitches. Even his 1 walk, which was the only thing standing between a no-hitter and a perfect game, was a thing of beauty. The entire at-bat Halladay was attempting to get the free swinging and oft missing Jay Bruce to chase pitches out of the zone, and he almost suceeded. The count worked to 3-2 and Bruce was able to lay off a cutter down and in, but the entire at bat Halladay seemed in control, even getting Bruce to flinch slightly at the last pitch. As a former pitcher and a pitching aficionado, I relished in what I was watching.

This was the type of masterful work that should be studied. I think any kid age 18 and under should sit down and watch the tape of Halladay's night and study pitching. To use an English comparison, a book like "No Country For Old Men" is great for it's raw nature and unabashed, in-your-face style, much like a pitcher with a great fastball slider combo, whereas Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" is more delicately crafted, each sentence having a seemingly significant meaning, everything with a purpose all leading towards the climax, much like Halladay's gem. Both lead to greatness, but crafty is more consistently amazing than gut-wrenching brutality. The explosive fastball-slider combo can be there on rare given nights, but what Halladay did was take the stuff he has almost every single night, and craft a gem for the ages.

At one point, around the 4th inning, I thought to myself, "He's working hard in, and soft away." And he was pounding his fastball in on hitters hands and working his off-speed pitches away, keeping hitters off balance. But no sooner did I say that, Halladay flipped the switch, a plot twist of sorts (cheesy, I know), and began pounding his sinker down, occasionally mixing in off-speed stuff to keep the Reds off balance, and only working hard up in the zone to put guys away. He changed how he was pitching in the middle of the game, and was still effective in every aspect of his game. He switched from getting hitters to think East-West (in-out), to getting them to focus North-South (up-down). It was unfair to be honest. And just when that pattern became clear, Halladay began to work backward, throwing off-speed stuff early to get hitters on their toes and out front. Then, by about the 8th, he had the Reds so off balance that, not to sound to cocky, I knew a no hitter was almost inevitable. He had everything working with perfect command, perfect timing, with perfect anticipation, and perfect imagination.

My old baseball coach in college(that prick) never understood that pitching was an art, not a science. Now I have the tape to show him exactly what I meant. Halladay constructed one of the most beautiful pitching performaces possibly in basebally history, and definitely in my lifetime.

So, Terry, as hard as it is to swallow (and you swallow a lot), look at it this way; your team got beat by the greatest pitching performance of my lifetime, and possibly ever. And they're still down just 1-0 in the series.

But they still don't have a hit.


-Ben Wills



Monday, October 4, 2010

The Cincinnati Reds: A Season in Review...Round One Playoff Predictions

The Cincinnati Reds are National League Central Division champions.  It has been fifteen long years since those words could leave the mouths of fans in the Queen City.  Fifteen years.  The last time the Reds made the playoffs I, your humble author, was 13 years old.  You know what it was like being 13?  I hope so because I sure as shit don't.  I can barely remember what the 1995 team was like to watch.  I remember that Barry Larkin was a beast and that Ronny Gant had a career year.  I also remember that I wanted to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, so take from that what you wish. 

Anyways, yeah, fifteen years.  What a long road it has been.  From Pokey Reese to Eric Milton to Ken Griffey Jr. to Scott Hatteberg, the Reds have, at times, been absolutely brutal to watch.  I for one had sworn them off more than once over the last ten years.  Not this year.  This year was different from the word 'go'.  With the addition of Aroldis Chapman to the departure of Willy Taveras, I knew that something was brewing.  Our young players, our future, began showing their mettle.  They made this team fun to follow again.  Joey Votto (who goddamn well better win the NL MVP) had more than a breakout season.  He became a superstar in front of our eyes.  Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce, who both struggled during the month of July, worked through adversity and provided an offensive and defensive push in August that guaranteed our victory in the central.  Our pitching was rickety at times, but our starting rotation was solid and Bronson Arroyo had himself a career year on a team full of guys having career years.  Even Jonny Gomes got in on the fun, even though watching his feast or famine swing made me cringe more often than not. 

Let me be brutally honest for a moment.  This summer has not been the easiest for me personally.  I have been on an emotional rollercoaster pretty much throughout.  It's been hard and I've been taxed because of it.  The Reds have kept me afloat more often than I care to admit.  Watching them has taken me out of my own head and given me something real and true to believe in.  They reminded me over and over again why the sport of baseball with its strange intricacies and poetic stoicism is far and away the most literary, most important and most beautiful sport there is.  For nine innings (or more) you are locked inside a world so rife with history and you are enthralled.  You pray for clutch hitting.  You love the dugout pranks.  You hate bad calls and boo strikes and balls.  You watch your favorite hitter step up to the plate and feel like a kid again, waiting for your hero to save your team from certain defeat.  This has been what it's like to be a Reds fan this year.  They have taken their entire fanbase and made them feel young again, made them care about something that may seem so arbitrary to anyone who doesn't understand its long standing and vital place within American history.

I am going to be an absolute mess on Wednesday when the Reds take the field, but no matter the result I will be thankful that this team, these 2010 Cincinnati Reds, have made me believe and hope and wish like a child again.  That's the true championship they have won, that's the true gift they have given all of us.

And now....

YOUR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DIVISIONAL ROUND PREDICTIONS

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS. CINCINNATI REDS

Look, my love for the Reds is going to overshadow any prediction I could make for this series, so I will refuse to make one.  What I'll do instead is analyze!

The Phillies are in no uncertain terms the best team in the NL if not the entire league.  Their offense is absolutely brutal.  Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Shane "Double Flap" Victorino, Placido Polanco, Carlos Ruiz...I mean Jesus Jumped Up Christ there are zero weaknesses.  No lead is safe, no deficit insurmountable.  If your'e going to pitch against them, you have got to bring your best or else you're going to be staring down the barrel of a blowout.  Especially considering the fact that they have three ace pitchers in their rotation.  Halladay is the Cy Young front-runner, Cole Hamels has had a resurgent second half and Roy Oswalt has re-discovered the fact that he's actually a good pitcher when there are people behind him that can play defense (fuck you Astros!).  They are tough, they have an amazing amount of playoff experience and they are the lock down favorite to win this series.

So why are the Reds even showing up?  Well, they can produce some runs too, and they've beaten Halladay once this year (albeit at home).  They've also beaten Roy Oswalt twice, and neither loss was because of the Astros defense, but more because the Reds' offense had finally managed to figure out how to hit his pitching.  Also, don't forget that though they are 2-5 against them this season, three of those losses came down to the last out and neither team was completely healthy.  When last the Reds faced the Phillies (a four game sweep in Philly) they were without Edinson Volquez (game one starter), Scott Rolen, Ramon Hernandez and both Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce were in the midst of what was arguably the worst hitting slumps of their young careers.  Oh, and Aroldis Chapman was still figuring things out in Louisville.  This playoff roster will be much different.

That being said, the Phillies were not healthy then either.  They were without Utley, Polanco and Carlos Ruiz.  They will not be without them this time around.

The most one can hope for is a good, competitive series.  I predict that regardless of who wins, it will go five games.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS VS. ATLANTA BRAVES

I feel sorry for the Atlanta Braves.  I really do.  They have to travel to San Francisco and face the best starting rotation in the National League (sorry Phillies).  The Giants pitching in the months of September (1.44 era, 0.82 whip) has been absolutely lights out.  Tim Lincecum finally remembered how to pitch like a two time Cy Young winner, Matt Cain finally got some run support and the combined trio of Barry Zito, Jonathan Sanchez and rookie Madison Bumgarner, along with relievers Ramon Ramirez and Brian Welson (48 saves), helped the Giants overtake the San Diego Padres and win the NL West division. 

Oh, and they have a good offense too.  Aubrey Huff is in the midst of a career year and rookie catcher Buster Posey is playing like a ten year veteran behind the dish.  If anyone is going to make it to the NLCS with ease, it's these Giants. 

The Braves, on the other hand, have some issues.  Their offense has sputtered of late and though the addition of Derrek Lee has helped, they still seem to have trouble pushing runs across the plate consistently.  Their pitching staff is hittable and their relievers, especially Billy Wagner, have been so-so.  I know the feel good prediction here would be to give it to Bobby Cox's team.  But fuck Bobby Cox, he's a wife beater. 

Giants in 4

NEW YORK YANKEES VS. MINNESOTA TWINS

Jesus Christ, the Yankees again?  At least they didn't win their division.  There has never been a team yours truly has hated with so much vitriol outside of the St. Louis Cardinals (how's my ass taste, Cards fans!).  Their lineup has been bought, their manager has fucking BRACES and their fanbase is abhorrent.  Fuck the Yankees. 

What's that?  They're playing the Twins?  Holy moly.  Talk about a lesser of two evils scenario.  Look, the Twins have the better pitching staff and the better relievers.  The Yankees have one lock down starter and really shitty middle relief.  That should be enough to take down the mighty Yanks, who haven't looked all that mighty in September.  Plus, come on, if you're gonna give me the option of rooting for Jim Thome or Alex Rodriguez it's a no brainer. 

Twins in 5

TEXAS RANGERS VS. TAMPA BAY RAYS

There is no reason the Rays shouldn't sweep this series.  On paper they have the better pitching staff and better all around offense.  On paper.  In reality, though their pitching is legit, their hitting at times has been putrid.  It seems like every American League pitcher who has come close to or achieved a no-hitter or perfect game has done so against the Rays.  Carlos Pena has zero patience at the plate, B.J. Upton falls victim to insane slumps and defensive lapses and Evan Longoria has had a decidedly down year all around.  The only guy who has been better than average has been Carl Crawford.  Though I suppose we're talking about a team that has quite a bit of playoff experience and one would think that they can turn things around in October. 

Well, they could turn things around, if they weren't playing the Texas Rangers.  Josh Hamilton, Vlad Guerrero, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler....I mean this team can flat out hit.  They will take the Rays starters to task at every at bat and have the ability to chase a guy like David Price after five innings.  Not to mention the fact that they have maybe the best pitcher in baseball in Cliff Lee leading off their starting rotation.  They are tough, hungry and ready.  I don't think the Rays really know what they're walking into. 

Rangers in 5

Stay tuned....

Onward.

-Terrence Adams