It's (literally) time: Time to go to the World Series

Kansas City, Mo. — Just about 30 minutes until I board my flight at Kansas City International Airport and travel to Dallas for one of the most exciting trips I can remember taking.

At 7:20 tonight in Arlington, Texas, I'll be at Rangers Ballpark with my brother Dave to witness Game 4 of the World Series.

Series status: Giants 2, Rangers 1.

Hoping to bring the home team some added luck tonight.

Should be an interesting pitching matchup between young starters. Tommy Hunter, age 24, will oppose southpaw Madison Bumgarner, 21, on the hill. Hunter hasn't lasted more than four innings in a game this postseason. If he could go six tonight, I like our chances of tying up the series.

More than anything, I can't wait to take in the atmosphere of the ballpark tonight. I've been to 20-30 games in Arlington, and I feel like I could navigate the stadium like it's my second home. I've never seen a postseason game there, though.

From what I've seen on TV, the postseason atmosphere looks electric. The crowd stands quite a bit on second strike, two-out situations, even in the early innings. The decibel level appears unlike anything I've heard there before.

Dave wrote on my facebook wall at about 5 a.m. and said, "Can't sleep!! Too excited!!! See you in a few hours!!!" Indeed, this should be a memorable night, win or lose.

Timing the gameday traffic will be vital. The Cowboys play next door at noon. Hopefully, it doesn't go to overtime and football cars clear by 4-4:30 p.m. I'm thinking we'll want to leave by 4:30 p.m. to time it accordingly.

Usually, it takes 30 minutes from my parents' house in Plano. Since it's Sunday, we shouldn't hit any traffic until we get to the ballpark. Parking could get interesting, but if we leave at 4:30, I won't be concerned. Should leave us roughly two hours until the first pitch by the time we arrive.

I'll have a slew of updates on the blog tonight and tomorrow. Pictures will be taken en masse. A World Series program will be purchased. Tickets will be kept.

Dave and I will be sitting in the Grandstand Reserved section 343. Way up there, no doubt. But we have seats.

Can't wait to get there and watch the team I've been following for so long take part in the World Series.

Let's tie this thing up tonight.

World Series Game 1 reaction: Unexpected outcome

Well, that wasn't what I expected.

The San Francisco Giants, after not scoring more than six runs in a single game all postseason, exploded for 11 runs on Wednesday night in a Game 1 victory over the Rangers.

Giants 11, Rangers 6.

Series status: Giants 1, Rangers 0.

What was so unexpected about it was it happened against Cliff Lee, one of the most dominant pitchers in the history of the postseason. Entering Wednesday night, Lee was 3-0 this postseason with an absurd 0.75 earned-run average. He had one walk in 24 innings. He was 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA for his postseason career.

What? The Giants did this to him, when he dominated the Yankees in New York? Tough to believe.

To me, Lee struggling wasn't even the most disappointing part of Game 1.

The Rangers committed an uncharacteristic four errors in the setback. You won't win many games that way. Two of the errors came from Vlad Guerrero in right field, a position he usually doesn't play. He did on Wednesday, though, so he could get into the lineup without a designated hitter in a National League park. It was a weird game.

One thing the Rangers have done this season, though, is respond after bad losses. The Yankees staged a comeback in Game 1 of the ALCS and the Rangers came back to dominate the series and win in six games.

That makes it all the more important for C.J. Wilson to limit the Giants' offense tonight. I think he's up for the challenge. And I expect the Rangers to play much cleaner baseball tonight.

Time to forget about Game 1 and even up this series.

World Series countdown: Ready for action tonight

When I think about Game 1 of the World Series, set to take place at 6:30 tonight in San Francisco, so many exciting aspects immediately rush to the mind.

Here's what I'm looking forward to most about tonight.

• First and not surprisingly foremost, the Texas Rangers are making their first World Series appearance in team history. When I look back at our path to the World Series, it gives me great pleasure to think that Texas defeated two AL East teams to reach the promise land.

All season, the AL West seemed to be thrown to the side when thinking about the elite teams in MLB. Surely, New York, Tampa Bay or Boston would come out of the AL because that's just what happens. For the past three years, an AL East team has played in the World Series. It's been a different one each of those three years.

Not that many people focused on how feared a lineup the Rangers have when healthy. Not that many people realized how dominant the team could look when Cliff Lee gets the team rolling. Not that many people realized the present-day mentality of the Rangers. We are not a slugging team anymore. We are not like the slug-or-die Rangers playoff teams of the 90s that had first-round exits. This 2010 team can beat teams on the basepaths. They can beat teams with power. They can beat teams with pitching. That's why this team is the best team in franchise history, by a long shot.

• The pitching matchup tonight has the makings of an epic encounter. Lee vs. Tim Lincecum. It doesn't get much better than that.

FOX might be mad the Yankees and Phillies got knocked out, and therefore, the East Coast won't be nearly as interested in this World Series. Who knows. There's something really nice about it, though. There's good baseball away from the East Coast. The pitching matchup tonight should prove that.

• There's a small chance (I'd say under 10 percent) that the Rangers or the Giants sweep the series. I'll sure be rooting for a Rangers sweep, though. My brother Dave and I will be on hand for Game 4 on Sunday in Arlington. Witnessing a series-clinching game would be out of control. But I'm not counting on it.

• Should be interesting to see our lineup without a designated hitter tonight in an NL park. Here's my guess:

1. Elvis Andrus, SS
2. Michael Young, 3B
3. Josh Hamilton, CF
4. Vladimir Guerrero, RF
5. Nelson Cruz, LF
6. Ian Kinsler, 2B
7. Bengie Molina, C
8. Mitch Moreland, 1B
9. Cliff Lee, P

• I'm curious to see how our pitchers fare against NL hitting. Of course, when you think of NL hitting, murderous lineups don't immediately come to mind. The Giants have some bats, but the 3-4-5 combination of Aubrey Huff, Buster Posey and Pat Burrell isn't exactly daunting. You'd think that Lee's success against better lineups in the ALDS and ALCS would translate particularly well to the World Series. I know this much: Lee won't be intimidated by the big stage.

• Prediction: I'm going Rangers in 5. May the dream continue. Let's get this thing started.

This may not happen again for a long time...so I'm going to the World Series

My brother Dave told me something a few months ago that has stuck with me to this day. One night, when we were catching up on the phone, he lamented the fact that we couldn't hang out more often because he lived in Denver and I lived in Lawrence.

It was the prime time of our lives, he said. Dave is 23, I'm 26. It's a shame we couldn't get to enjoy spending more time together.

Sometimes, life throws you a break.

This upcoming weekend, Dave already had a flight booked for Dallas months in advance. This upcoming weekend, the Texas Rangers will be playing in their first World Series in team history when they take on the San Francisco Giants. Add me into that mix and we'll just call it a joyous reunion.

When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity knocks at your door, sometimes you have to answer. Sometimes, you have to listen closely and weigh your options. And sometimes, you simply have to pull the trigger.



I'm officially going to the World Series.

Dave and I will be on hand for Game 4 on Sunday night at Rangers Ballpark. I can't wait to witness the electricity of the ballpark I've seen on TV this postseason.

You see, going back eight years, those three aforementioned components — Dave, me and Rangers Ballpark — formed quite the alliance. We shared so many memories. I'm still convinced that's why I think of baseball as my favorite sport. Baseball symbolizes some of my most vivid memories growing up. Many times, I shared those memories with my brother and best friend, Dave, in Arlington.

Now, of course, we live different lives than when we were in school and had every summer off. Our priorities have changed, too. We both have full-time jobs we enjoy, and they just so happen to be a plane ride (or an eight-hour car drive) away. I'm thankful for a lot in my life right now.

I'm also thrilled to have the opportunity to attend the World Series. This may not happen to the Rangers again for a while.

I can't wait to continue following this magical postseason Rangers run to the World Series. But actually being a part of it, especially with Dave, will be an experience I'll never forget.

I've been to countless games in Arlington: 30-40 if I had to guess. None of them will be as memorable as this one.

It really is time: Rangers advance to World Series

That just happened.

The Texas Rangers — this 2010 edition is quickly becoming my favorite sports team of all-time — beat the New York Yankees, 6-1, on Friday night and advanced to their first World Series in team history.

Blue and red confetti fell to the ground. A constant beam of red light highlighted the stadium. Rockets were set off. Ginger ale (not champagne) was being sprayed, a non-alcoholic toast in respect to Josh Hamilton's substance abuse in the past.

I'll let that set in for a few moments: The Texas Rangers just won the AL pennant tonight.

You can't be serious.

This team, the one with the manager who admitted to cocaine use; this team, the one whose two supposed best pitchers at the beginning of the year — Rich Harden and Scott Feldman — aren't even on the postseason roster; this team, the one where it was easy to say no pitcher could ever thrive at the Ballpark in Arlington because of its hitter-friendly confines.

Well forget that. The Rangers are the best team in the American League.

We were clearly better than the Yankees in nearly every facet.

I am filled with happiness for this team that I've followed so closely since 2002.

This was the night. October 22, 2010. The night when it was time. The night when the Texas Rangers won the AL pennant.

Texas leads ALCS, 3-1: Rangers homegrown approach to building a winner differs from Yankees. And that's refreshing

When reflecting on two Texas victories in a row at Yankee Stadium and the Rangers' 3-1 lead over New York in the American League Championship Series, I couldn't help but think about the way in which both teams constructed their rosters.

I think that's been the most rewarding aspect of the ALCS so far: How the Rangers have built their 2010 ballclub.

Texas built its roster the only way it could: from within. Not like the Yankees, who shelve out millions upon millions of dollars for guys who sometimes work out and sometimes don't. With no salary cap in baseball, the juggernaut franchise is afforded that luxury.

Texas was not. Texas was bankrupt for most of the year before Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg finally ended the Tom Hicks era and were named co-owners.

Texas general manager Jon Daniels did not have hundreds of millions of dollars to play with like the Yankees. In fact, New York was the only team in baseball this season with a payroll above $200 million (it was $206,333,389, in case you were wondering).

The Rangers, conversely, operated this season with a $55 million payroll, nearly four times smaller than New York's.

Yet we are the ones with the better ace in Cliff Lee.

We are the ones with the superior lineup, one through six.

We are the ones with the superior youth movement.

We are the ones who only need one more victory to advance to the World Series.

It really puts into perspective how impressive a GM Daniels is. Imagine being in his position at the beginning of the year. Yes, you have an up-and-coming team with talented players, but the franchise is about to go bankrupt and you have little to no money to improve it via free agency.

Daniels still went to work. He signed Vladimir Guerrero to a one-year deal that resurrected his career. Vlad led the team with 115 RBIs this year. Daniels took a flyer on Colby Lewis, an MLB afterthought who pitched two solid years in Japan. Lewis logged 200 innings this year and finished just short of 200 strikeouts.

Then, in the most significant move of the season, Daniels acquired Cliff Lee from Seattle for first base prospect Justin Smoak.

Lee is having one of the most remarkable postseasons I've ever witnessed or even heard of.

What this series is showing me is that our scouting department is as good as there is in baseball. The Rangers have proven you don't have to have a $200 million payroll to build a playoff team. Hell, you don't even have to have half of that.

You do, however, need a smart general manager. You do need smart, informative and in-touch scouts. You do need a stocked farm system.

How do you think we acquired Lee this summer? Because we had the necessary talent in the farm system to strike the deal. If the scouting is bad and the talent isn't on the farm, we don't end up with Lee. And we're probably not in the position we're in now.

That position? Outside of one bad inning in Game 1, Texas has owned New York so far in the ALCS.

There were two instances Tuesday night in Game 4 that really illustrated the 3-1 status of this series.

In the first instance, the Yankees intentionally walked David Murphy to get to Bengie Molina. The Rangers catcher, undoubtedly motivated by the move, smashed a home run to left field to give Texas a two-run lead it wouldn't surrender.

In the second instance, the Yankees brought in lefty Boone Logan out of the bullpen specifically to face lefty batter Josh Hamilton. The Rangers MVP candidate responded by blasting a line-drive home run to right.

Yes, even when the Yankees are strategically planning to control factors in the game, the Rangers are dominating them. At their own place. Two times in a row.

Texas demolished New York, 10-3, on Tuesday night to move one game away from the first World Series berth in team history. What a game.

Game 4, to me, shed light on the entire lineup coming around. Hamilton cranked two home runs. Guerrero went 4-for-5. Molina had the biggest hit of the game and is batting .417 in the ALCS. Nelson Cruz broke out the tape measure (for good measure) in the ninth inning with a second-deck shot to left field.

If I'm Daniels, I'm sitting back and enjoying the moment to the fullest, toasting to the idea that the Yankees cannot buy World Series rings year after year.

Who needs a $200 million payroll to advance to the World Series? Hopefully, not the Rangers. Nope, over here, we have our own talent.

Pressure put on Lee (again) in Game 3 of ALCS

This surely feels like familiar territory.

Cliff Lee on the mound for the Rangers in the postseason, with a victory becoming vitally important.

We've been down this road before in the ALDS, when Lee shut down Tampa Bay twice, including the series clincher in Game 5.

Lee will take the hill at Yankee Stadium tonight with the ALCS tied, 1-1.

I don't want to call Game 3 a must-win for the Rangers, but it has that feeling, based upon how dominant Lee has been in the postseason.

Tommy Hunter will start Game 4. He's never pitched at Yankee Stadium. He's only had one career postseason start. I'd feel much more comfortable putting Hunter on the mound with a 2-1 lead in the series. It'd be like playing with house money.

The Rangers earned a pivotal victory in Game 2 behind Colby Lewis, a 5-0 lead that we didn't lose this time and an out-for-revenge bullpen.

Now, it's on to Yankee Stadium for Games 3, 4 and 5. Surely, there are a plethora of New Yorkers who still don't respect the Rangers; who think we're lucky to be here; who think that based solely on New York's history of 27 world championships and 40 pennants, that we're going to naturally fall.

Newsflash: We have a pretty darn good team in Texas. We have the most dominant postseason pitcher in the last few years on the hill tonight. He rarely walks anyone, works at a rapid pace and has already won two games this postseason.

Let's hope he makes it three tonight.

Rangers lose ALCS Game 1 in heartbreaking fashion

There's a favorable aspect to the game of baseball in times of heartbreak, like when the Yankees came back for a 6-5 victory over the Rangers in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Friday in Arlington, Texas.

The next game is less than 24 hours away.

Yeah, it was rather depressing. C.J. Wilson tossed seven solid innings and the bullpen couldn't hold it. We had a 5-0 lead and couldn't hold it. We had a 5-1 lead in the eighth inning and couldn't hold it.

Series status: Yankees 1, Rangers 0.

Ouch.

It looked so promising at the beginning. Josh Hamilton broke out of his postseason slump with a three-run home run in the first inning to put Texas ahead, 3-0, with no outs. The ballpark looked more electric than I could ever recall. Fans were actually standing for the majority of the first few innings.

Then in the fourth inning, Michael Young, who also struggled in the first round of the postseason, knocked a double to score two runs and make it 5-0.

I thought to myself before the game: If Young and Hamilton, the team's No. 2 and 3 hitters, can bring their bats around, we'd have a really nice chance of winning this series.

But the bullpen didn't get the job done. The Rangers brought in four different relievers, three of whom couldn't even record an out. Not good.

The casual fan will criticize the Rangers bullpen and call it terrible, but the unit had the second-lowest ERA in the AL during the regular season. They are far from terrible. Sure, they haven't been good in the postseason, but I'm hoping for a bounceback effort from the group very soon.

A win today, when Colby Lewis takes the hill to oppose Phil Hughes, would be huge. Cliff Lee starts on Monday in Yankees Stadium against a team he's owned lately.

Amazing to think we're 0-7 all-time in playoff games at Rangers Ballpark.

Let's get that first one today.

Few hours before ALCS: Time for preparation

In about three hours, left-hander C.J. Wilson will take the hill for the Rangers in Game 1 of the American League Championship series against the Yankees in Arlington, Texas.

Let's get this thing going.

I feel good. A little nervous, but not nearly as nervous as Game 5 of the AL Divisional Series at Tampa Bay. Got a little exercise in earlier with some pick-up basketball. Played decently. Even had the game-winning three-pointer in the final game, wearing my Rangers shirt.

I'm not much into karma, but maybe that meant a little something. What can I say: Baseball's the most superstitious sport out there.

After two off days, I'm ready. I've read a bunch of stories from several media outlets. I've also read the stories and the Facebook updates that still mock the Rangers for lacking the history of the Yankees. I'm over it.

Fact of the matter is we've earned our respect by now. Who cares what other fans think at this point? This is the ALCS. The two best teams in the American League. The Rangers will absolutely not be nervous about the 27 championships or the 40 pennants the Yankees have won. Elvis Andrus wasn't alive for the majority of them. Who cares?

Look, I respect the Yankees and their history. I have a lot of friends and family members who are Yankees fans. I tip my cap to them before the game and wish them good luck. Being raised in Texas, it's the only way I know.

May the best team win. Hopefully, the magical season continues.

It's time.

History in the making: Rangers advance to ALCS

I had been standing — pacing, really — since the eighth inning, knowing I was witnessing the most significant moment in the history of the Texas Rangers franchise.

The decisive Game 5 of the American League Divisional Series was tied, 2-2. Win and advance to the AL Championship Series. Lose and pack your bags for the season.

Cliff Lee, who's putting himself at least in the conversation as one of the best postseason pitchers ever, induced a pop fly off the bat of Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton. Elvis Andrus cruised back from his shortstop position and made the catch to preserve a 5-1 Texas victory.

Ballgame. Clincher. Let the celebration begin. We did it.

It's probably my proudest moment as a sports fan.

At long last, this was the team I followed so closely and the team that I scheduled many summer nights around for the past nine years. This was the team that I spent my hard-earned money on for apparel, game tickets and a mlb.tv subscription. This team, whose youth direction I've identified with since 2007, just won its first postseason series in franchise history.

I'm not a staunch supporter of that many teams anymore. Since my job at KUsports.com as a Big 12 blogger requires my unbiased attention to detail, I haven't rooted for a University of Kansas sports team since 2007. I'm a 2006 graduate of KU. I'm perfectly fine with the situation. Blogging about the Big 12 and maintaining my Conference Chatter blog is great fun. I happily gave up my Jayhawk rooting interests when I took on my job.

My job enables me, however, to keep up my rooting interests with pro teams: Rangers, Mavs, Raiders. The latter two are fine, but they don't bring me the joy that the first one does. I'm a baseball guy. Have been for the past nine years. This past Tuesday, Oct. 12, was particularly special.

What made it even better were the friends and family who shared the moment with me.

My mom instantly called when we recorded the final out to share in the game-clinching moment. Amazingly, she had tears in her eyes. She surprised me on that one. Wish I could have watched the game with her. She's been a huge fan for the past few years.

After I talked to my mom, I glanced down at my phone and saw nine text messages. Incredible. I have some really great friends. I got back to every text message and thanked them profusely for their support.

I checked my Facebook and had several other wall posts. My roommate Brenna walked out to the living room and said, "You should check your Twitter." When I logged onto my account, 10 at-replies were waiting with my username attached to them. I was blown away.

I was pretty lucky on Tuesday night when I set my DVR to record the final inning, so I'd have it at my disposal whenever I wanted a replay (three times already). As soon as I hit record, Ian Kinsler blasted a two-run home run to give us a 5-1 lead. So the perfect 20-minute recording starts with Kinsler's homer and ends with the postgame celebration. I'll be watching that just a few more times.

My favorite camera shots on TBS came from the various angles they captured as we sealed the final out. The best one had to be Ron Washington (potential manager of the year?) hugging bench coach Jackie Moore around the neck as the final out made its way into the air. Or how about the reaction of Lee? I loved how he simply walked to catcher Bengie Molina and didn't even look back. He knew Andrus was underneath the baseball for the catch.

My reaction was somewhat like the reaction of team owner Nolan Ryan, who stared at the baseball in the air with wide eyes, hands up, then said, "We did it" when the victory was official. I stood in my living room as Lee induced the pop fly, had both hands in the air, and looked up toward the sky as the ball settled into Andrus' glove. I was too overwhelmed to scream or anything like that. I didn't mean to look up toward the sky in a religious manner, but that moment felt like a baseball-religious experience.

How about that deadline trade to acquire Lee for first baseman prospect Justin Smoak? Regardless of how the Rangers fare against the Yankees, that midseason trade for Lee was worth it. To establish a sense of respect around the league and finally win a postseason series was worth it. To defeat the AL East champions at their home field for all three of our wins was worth it. To see Lee dominate the Rays for all nine innings, strike out 11 and walk none was worth it.

Now the rest is icing on the cake.

Game 1 of the ALCS against the defending World Series champion Yankees will be Friday night, when C.J. Wilson takes the mound against CC Sabathia at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. We'll surely be underdogs, but that's just fine by me. We were underdogs against the Rays as well. And we'll surely have most teams and their fans rooting for us. I thought it was pretty cool when the Rays fans chanted "Beat the Yankees" when we celebrated on their field.

My former work colleague Ryan Wood phrased it interestingly on Twitter: "Congrats, sir! Now the whole non-New York world is on your side. Let's do it!"

Indeed. I'll toast to that. Let's put some icing on the cake.

Nerves building before Game 5 finale

I've followed baseball closely for a decent amount of time. I can definitely say this is the most nervous I've ever been before watching a baseball game.

You'll have to forgive me. It's just an exciting, but unfamiliar position.

The Rangers are the only team in Major League Baseball to have never advanced in a postseason series. I have no idea how I'll react tonight if we win.

I've been thinking about the game all day. At the gym. At the grocery store. I went pretty hard at the gym today, trying to work up a sweat as if I was preparing to play in the ALDS tonight.

First pitch is about 10 minutes away.

Let's make some history tonight.

Reaction on Lewin leaving Rangers broadcasting booth

Listening to Texas Rangers games won't be the same after this week's news that play-by-play announcer Josh Lewin won't return to the team in 2011.

Lewin began calling games for the Rangers in 2002, the year I started following the team closely. For my nine years of being a Rangers fan, I always looked forward to Lewin calling the games with Tom Grieve. He was really informed and an original, thought-provoking broadcaster.

The Rangers haven't announced a replacement, but will reportedly start the search immediately. Tough to imagine listening to anyone else on mlb.tv when I watch games during the regular season.

Lewin's signature "Ballgame!" call after the last outs of Ranger wins were classic.

The reason for Lewin's departure isn't publicly known. It sounds like Lewin and owner Nolan Ryan weren't on the same page in the direction of the broadcast. Specifics were pretty fuzzy.

Either way, I'll miss hearing him call games.

ALDS Games 3-4 reaction: Tough last two days

While I wasn't naive enough to think the Texas Rangers had sealed the American League Divisional Series with a 2-0 start against Tampa Bay, I entered the weekend confident.

Who wouldn't after the Rangers' showing on the road in Games 1 and 2?

To advance to the American League Championship series, Texas had two chances at home to beat Tampa Bay. We didn't win either of them.

The road team has won every game in the series so far. Now, the series turns to Tuesday in a do-or-die scenario at Tampa Bay. Cliff Lee vs. David Price in a rematch from Game 1.

It's crazy how one inning can turn around an entire series. We led Tampa Bay, 2-1, in the eighth inning of Game 3 when the Rays finally started clicking in a manner I thought I'd see much earlier in the series.

Two singles to take the lead and two home runs in the ninth inning for good measure.

Tampa's momentum carried into Sunday's game, where Carlos Pena (the guy wasn't even hitting .200 on the season) suddenly woke up and decided to be a timely hitter. To me, he's been the difference in the Rays turning around their fortunes on offense.

I've heard several rumblings about how the Rangers should have pitched Lee in Game 4 on Sunday. I suppose it's easier to say now. Personally, I didn't have a problem with Texas trotting out Tommy Hunter, who was 7-0 at home this season, to face Wade Davis, a guy we rocked for eight runs on June 4. Plus, Lee has never pitched on three days rest. Results could have varied.

But that's what Game 5 will be about. For Tampa to advance to the ALCS, it will have to beat Cliff Lee.

I'm luckily off Tuesday night, so I'll get to watch the prime time game on TBS. Hopefully, Lee carries us like he did in Game 1.

Could be the most special moment in team history. Or it could represent an unfortunate letdown after jumping out to a 2-0 series lead.

This will be a significant one.

ALDS Game 2 reaction: Hey Rays, stop complaining

Just one day after Cliff Lee silenced Tampa Bay's bats, another left-handed Texas pitcher — this time C.J. Wilson — shut out the Rays for 6.1 innings in the Rangers' 6-0 triumph on Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Series status: Rangers 2, Rays 0.

Incredible, really. Before the series, I said to mostly every friend I talked to about the series that I'd be content with a split going back to Arlington.

So much for that.

The Rangers are playing their best ball of the season, and they're beating the Rays at their own game. Timely hitting, fundamental baseball, running/being aggressive on the base paths...and most importantly, above-average pitching.

The story in the series, to me, so far is pretty simple.

Game 1: Lee 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K.
Game 2: Wilson 6.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K.

Both, of course, earned victories. And both gave us the chance to sweep Tampa in Saturday's 4:07 p.m. game in Arlington. No way I would have imagined that before the series.

One topic from yesterday's game that I'm still thinking about was how much Tampa Bay's players and fans complained.

It's tacky and looks bad. I know it's built-up frustration, but to really think the Rays could have won had the umpires called Michael Young's check-swing a strikeout is preposterous. The Rays didn't say that, but their actions spoke like the umpires completely blew the game. Blue, how could you do such a thing?

After all, Texas didn't take a 2-0 lead before Young's three-run home run after the check-swing. The Rangers didn't shut out Tampa Bay in its own place.

Oh wait...yeah they did.

Rays runs before Young's check-swing: 0.
Rays runs after Young's check-swing: 0.

Stop complaining. Tampa Bay would have lost Thursday's game either way.

Baseball 101: To win, you have to score at least one run.

I can't wait for Saturday's game, when Texas tries to advance in a playoff series for the first time in team history. I'm working, but I'll get to see every pitch like the first two games since first pitch is at 4:07 p.m.

Let's finish this.

ALDS Game 1 reaction: Cliff Lee is who we thought he was

To paraphrase a line from former Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green in one of the greatest coaching meltdowns in sports history, Cliff Lee is who we thought he was.

Turns out that's pretty damn good.

In Wednesday's 5-1 Rangers victory, Lee toyed with the Rays for seven innings at their own place. He gave up five hits, one home run, didn't walk a batter and struck out 10.

Series status: Rangers 1, Rays 0.

I awed at the ease with which Lee released his pitches. Doesn't look like much. But it's awfully effective.

Lee threw 104 pitches, and 76 (or 73 percent) were strikes.

Exactly the formula I called for in the blog post before Game 1: Limit free passes and make the Rays beat you with their bats.

Lee is a great matchup against the Rays, a team that relies on plate discipline and timely hitting to manufacture runs. One problem: Lee doesn't give up walks.

This is exactly why I was on board with the trade to acquire Lee for first base prospect Justin Smoak.

With a true ace like Lee, who can put you in position to win road games in hostile environments, you roll the dice and don't think about 2011 or beyond. We've already made a serious commitment to the future by shoring up the farm system over the past three years.

How many times will we have this chance? Only four teams in each league make the postseason. It's far from an annual guarantee.

Whether Lee comes back or not in 2011, it's worth the trade to see how far he can take us this postseason. Before 2010, we hadn't played in the postseason in 11 years.

The Texas offense was solid on Wednesday in knocking around David Price a bit. Nelson Cruz hit a towering, tape-measure shot to center field, the postseason experience of Bengie Molina paid off with a home run and we cruised to 10 hits.

I'm starting to embrace the underdog role in this series that most baseball experts had Tampa winning rather easily. I'm not here to rip anyone, but the Rangers seem to play better with an us-against-the-world mentality. Hey, whatever works.

Taking Game 1 was huge. It established home field advantage.

At worst, we head back to Arlington with a split and a chance to clinch a spot in the American League Championship on our home field.

At best, we head back to Arlington needing to win only one of two games to clinch a spot in the ALCS. Not a bad deal, either way.

While I realize the significance of taking Game 1, I'm not naive enough to think the series is over.

History hasn't changed. We still are the only team in Major League Baseball to have never won a playoff series. That sad streak will continue unless the guys do something about it this year.

With the best Rangers team in the franchise's 38-year history, though, I'm hopeful that streak will come to an end.

And the trade for Cliff Lee will be the biggest reason why.

The day has finally arrived: Rangers set to play in postseason

Considering that it's past 2:30 a.m. and I'm awake typing this blog, it's a fair bet that I won't get a whole ton of sleep tonight.

No matter.

The day is finally here.

The Texas Rangers will play in their first postseason game in 11 years when they take on the Tampa Bay Rays at 12:37 p.m. Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Luckily, it's an early first pitch and I don't have to work during the game. The early game times (12:37 p.m. Wednesday, 1:07 p.m. for Game 2 on Thursday, 4:07 p.m. for Game 3 on Saturday) are favorable for me watching every pitch.

I've been waiting for this day for nine years. I don't really want it any other way.

Good news on the apparel front: My AL West champions shirt arrived on my doorstep on Tuesday. Plenty of time to wash the red T-shirt and have it ready for Wednesday. Combine that with the grey T-shirt my mom surprised me with when I visited my parents last week, and I'm in position to sport two AL West Champions shirts for the series.

Cliff Lee will start Game 1, C.J. Wilson gets the nod in Game 2, Colby Lewis takes the hill in Game 3, and Tommy Hunter, if necessary, will get the call in Game 4 in the best of 6 series.

The batting lineup should be back to full strength with a healthy Josh Hamilton hitting in his No. 3 spot.

My bet for what the lineup will look like: Andrus, Young, Hamilton, Guerrero, Cruz, Kinsler, Francoeur, Jorge Cantu, Bengie Molina.

There's no question our lineup is considerably better than Tampa Bay's.

The key for the Rangers will be whether the pitching staff can limit free passes. The Rays don't hit for average. They strike out a ton. But they also walk a ton. And when they're on base, they do a great job of driving in runs.

My message to Rangers pitchers: Limit the walks. Make them take hacks and beat us with the bats.

That's why I like Cliff Lee and his 185/18 strikeout/walk ratio taking the hill in Game 1.

Winning the first game would be huge. Any sort of split in Tampa Bay must be considered a victory. Our 39-42 road record is a bit concerning, but really, what does it matter now? For the first time in team history, we have a legitimate ace taking the hill in Game 1 of a playoff series. The fact that we're three games under .500 on the road doesn't really matter.

All four American League teams in the playoffs (Rangers, Rays, Yankees, Twins) are 0-0. It's a new season. And it's an incredible one to finally be a part of.