don't deprive me of my identity

These are valid points, generally, though I'm not sure I agree on the "holding back Price" part, since if Tampa lost yesterday, it was over. But yes, perhaps they would've pitched Price if Texas pitched Lee.

Why do you think Davis is better than Hunter? Looks like Hunter had a lower ERA and WHIP this season, which is the majority of both their careers.

Definitely true that Texas has no incentive to coddle Lee.

BUT, thanks for the new rank

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yes!

I am probably overly confident in my analysis based on how little I've actually seen Hunter pitch but I wouldn't have wanted Hunter to pitch if I were a Rangers fan. One, he's a soft tosser without great stuff and soft tossers often get hit hard in the playoffs. Davis' arsenal is a lot better than Hunter's even if the results haven't shown it over a full season. Two, Hunter's peripherals are a lot worse than his ERA suggests. He benefited from a high 80% LOB rate and his xFIP is a full run higher than his ERA. Three (and probably most importantly), he's a righthander against a team whose best hitters not named Longoria are all left handers and Hunter's shown to be much less effective against lefties. They had a chance to close out yesterday with Lee with CJ Wilson, another lefty to take game 5 if Lee lost. That makes a lot more sense to me.

You're right that there's at least an argument to be made that Tampa should have pitched Price given that a loss meant the season was over, but that would have left James Shields (who hasn't been pitching well) to take the game 5 game against Lee. Davis was Tampa's 2nd best starter down the stretch so Davis and Price (on full rest) to me were the better option than Price (on short rest) and Shields.

That's pretty sad that you are proclaiming your only playoff hopes are on a single pitcher that was acquired mid season. Have some confidence in the rest of your team. (Said the guy who had his team get swept.)

Well the season for both teams comes down to one game. I'd say both teams playoff hopes can be on the starting pitcher right now when it's win or go home.

Braves got 2-hit by Tim Lincecum and we lost 1-0. You got no-hit by Halladay.

Bottom line, you want your ace in there for the biggest moment. If the other team can't score, they can't win. Get the win and figure out the next series later.

Giants!!!

I understand how it works, but you can't sprint into the playoffs. There are too many games to play if you are going to win it all. They need to pace themselves a little and utilize the talent that got them to the playoffs in the playoffs. Lee isn't the only reason they are there. (He is the best...I'm just saying...)

Couldn't disagree more. The regular season is a marathon. The playoffs are a sprint. Teams without exceptional #1 and #2 starters go nowhere in the post season no matter how good and deep their teams are. Look at all those Yankee teams after Clemens and Pettite left for Houston and before CC arrived. They frequently finished with the best record in all of baseball, only to exit in the first round.

You ride on the back of your aces in the playoffs. Texas should be starting Lee and CJ Wilson as much as possible. They had an opportunity to go for the kill with Lee in game four and to line up the rotation with Lee and Wilson in games 1 and 2. Now instead, even if they advance, Lee won't likely pitch until game three. He'll get two starts at most while CC will get 3 starts, and in games 1 and 2 they will have their #2 go against CC and their #3 go against Pettite. Anything can happen and they will have an edge in game three if they can steal one of the first two but they are setting themselves up for likely falling down two games right off the bat.

You want to pace yourself -- then go for the kill and try to avoid a game 5. Big mistake in my opinion. Also, what the hell are you talking about FT pinning his hopes on one player. FT gave up back in March long before they acquired Cliff Lee.

Another excellent point.

march?

try 1972

FT...3 innings away...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

oh my god ft.

i really am ridiculous beyond description, aren't i?

Ive really never seen anything like it. Didn't you just name the rangers the worst team ever like two days ago? And you wanted cliff lee dead after like one loss? You are going to give yourself a motherfucker of a heartattack one day.

You could just play the odds and become a Yankees fan.

yeah, but my heart attack will also come from as the result of my morbid obesity and sedentary lifestyle

my sports bipolarity is merely one of MANY contributing factors

i would sooner root for the al-qaeda softball team

i kinda gave up on Cole Hamels after 1.25 seasons, "he might be good again, but not in this city."

sorry Cole.

Just read this over on Yahoo. More reason to pull for the Rangers:

Payroll:

A-Rod & Jeter: 55.6 million

Entire Rangers roster: 55.1 million

there is nothing I'd like more in this universe than watching the Phils beat the Yankees in the world series.

Yeah, the Rangers payroll is actually lower than the "small market" Rays and Reds. And their highest paid pitcher is Rich Harden.

4 down 7 to go.