Hold the Line: Rain postpones Game 6

Well, so much for that.

After looking forward to Game 6 of the World Series all day, it turns out the field in St. Louis was not fit for a ballgame tonight. Rain postponed the matchup between the Rangers and Cardinals until Thursday night. If a Game 7 is needed, it will take place Friday night.

One more: Rangers a victory away from World Series

Wednesday night could mark the most historic night in the history of the Texas Rangers.

This night, fewer than 24 hours away, could also mark my proudest moment in the 20-something years I've been following sports.

The Texas Rangers, who I've followed and identified with closer than any other pro sports team, are one victory away from claiming the franchise's first-ever World Series championship.

2011 World Series, Game 2: Rangers even series by playing Cardinals' game

Yes, the Texas Rangers can also perfect the National League style of small-ball play to manufacture runs in an ugly, yet effective fashion.

That was the recipe for success in a memorable Rangers' 2-1 rally over the Cardinals on Thursday night in Game 2 of the World Series in St. Louis.

Series tied, 1-1.

2011 World Series, Game 1: Rangers offense struggles in opening loss

Not the start Rangers fans wanted or anticipated.

The Texas offense, so powerful in earlier postseason games, went silent for the most part in a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night in St. Louis.

Second time's a charm? Rangers return to World Series

This doesn't usually happen to baseball fans.

Reaching the World Series is an accomplishment typically reserved for large-market, $200+ million payroll teams, particularly in 2011.

Boston spent an insane amount of money over the offseason on Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, then proceeded to score 875 runs in the regular season, most in MLB. The Yankees were the Yankees and won 97 games in the regular season to lead the American League. Philadelphia won 102 games behind one of the best starting rotations (Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, Vance Worley) of the modern era.

Best part about all this? All three of the aforementioned teams will be sitting on their couches when the World Series starts on Wednesday.

Instead, the two-time defending American League champion Texas Rangers will make their second straight World Series appearance, when they open Game 1 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in St. Louis.

2011 ALCS, Games 1-2: Nelson Cruz, bullpen propel Rangers to 2-0 lead

Before the American League Championship Series, Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz was a combined 1-for-15 with five strikeouts in the 2011 postseason.

What a difference two games make.

The 31-year-old Cruz has blasted three home runs in the first two games of the ALCS, adding an exclamation point to Game 2 with a walkoff grand slam in the Rangers' 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers in 11 innings on Monday in Arlington.

The game-winning homer was the first walkoff grand slam in postseason history.

Cruz cranked two homers Monday, and one on Saturday in a 3-2 triumph. Texas takes a 2-0 lead into Game 3, set for a 7 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday in Detroit.

Cruz has started to heat up, which makes the Texas lineup ridiculously dangerous, considering manager Ron Washington has inserted him into the No. 7 spot in the batting order. How do you pitch around this lineup?

In September, Cruz went 8-for-42 at the plate. That's a .190 batting average. A strained hamstring forced him to miss two weeks in early September, and when he returned, it seemed like his timing at the plate was shaky.

He's certainly settled into a groove lately, going 4-for-7 with three homers, a double and six RBIs so far in the ALCS.

I started my new, exciting job as social media manager at Grantham University on Monday. I've gone from working nights to working days, so I was able to get back to Lawrence in time for the last four innings.

Cruz will rightfully garner the headlines, but the effectiveness of the Texas bullpen cannot go unnoticed. After Derek Holland struggled through 2 2/3 innings, a Scott Feldman-led bullpen pitched shutout baseball for the remainder of the game: 8 1/3 innings, four hits, no earned runs, two walks, eight strikeouts. Feldman lasted 4 1/3 innings of long relief, surrendering only one hit and striking out four.

It's nice for the bullpen to be pitching so well right now. C.J. Wilson struggled in Game 1, but the Rangers bullpen bailed him out, tossing 4 1/3 innings, and giving up one hit, no earned runs and one walk, compared to eight strikeouts.

Let's put together a combined line of Texas relievers in the ALCS so far: 12 2/3 innings, five hits, no earned runs, three walks, 16 strikeouts.

Nelson Cruz and the Texas bullpen: perfect formula to start the ALCS 2-0.

2011 ALDS, Game 4: Rangers advance to ALCS on performance for the ages from Adrian Beltre

When thinking about the greatest individual performance in Texas Rangers playoff history, there's not exactly a wealth of options from which to choose.

Including this season, Texas has only made five total postseason appearances.

On Tuesday in the American League Divisional Series, Adrian Beltre put his name near the top of that short list. The Texas third baseman clubbed three home runs in the Rangers' 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

I've never seen a Rangers postseason performance quite like this one from the plate. Beltre connected on solo shots in each of his first three plate appearances, and the significance of the big flies was obvious in the 4-3 result that knocked Tampa Bay out of the postseason.

As a brief aside, what instantly comes to mind as the greatest Rangers individual postseason performance of all-time is Cliff Lee dominating the Yankees in Game 3 of the 2010 ALCS: eight dazzling innings, two hits, no earned runs, one walk, 13 strikeouts. At Yankee Stadium. Ridiculous.

Beltre's performance, though, certainly is in the conversation.

He displayed long-range power to all parts of the Trop, blasting two homers to left field and another impressive opposite-field smash to right. Beltre took promising right-hander Jeremy Hellickson deep twice. Matt Moore, who silenced the Rangers in Game 1 of the ALDS, was Beltre's other home run victim.

In a game where the Rangers connected on just three other hits, Beltre's contributions were vital to the Rangers advancing to their second ALCS in as many years. Texas is currently waiting on the winner of New York and Detroit before it continues play on Saturday.

Beltre was in a ridiculous zone, to the point where it seemed like he'd connect on a home run on every swing he took. It was a beautiful power display to witness.

I can't stress enough the impact that offseason acquisitions Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli have had on another dream season here in 2011. They were the Rangers' two best players in the ALDS, and neither was on the team in 2010. Funny to think about.

Beltre's home run hat trick to knock out a red-hot, so-called-team-of-destiny Rays squad — in Tampa Bay — has to be considered one of the most impressive feats in a single game the franchise has ever known.

The second straight dream season continues. Sometimes, I have to open my eyes a few times to make sure it's really happening.

2011 ALDS, Game 3: No Cliff Lee? So far, no problem thanks to Napoli, Beltre

Fairway — When left-handed pitching ace Cliff Lee declined a six-year, $120 million deal from Texas this past summer, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels focused his attention elsewhere in an effort to add quality talent to the club.

The result? Mike Napoli and Adrian Beltre.

After Monday night's thrilling 4-3 victory over Tampa Bay in Game 3 of the American League Divisional Series, it's not a stretch to call Daniels' two summer acquisitions one of the most productive offseason hauls in team history.

Texas took a 2-1 lead on Tampa Bay in the best of five, and Napoli was the primary catalyst, as he continued one of the more impressive tears of any Ranger I can ever recall. In the final two regular-season games, Napoli blasted four home runs, and is currently hitting .400 with a homer and four RBIs in three postseason games.

The most impressive part of Napoli's late-season surge is the game-altering, meaningful manner in which he's blasting these shots.

In the final game of the regular season, Napoli belted a game-winning, two-run home run in the ninth to propel Texas to a victory and home field advantage in the ALDS.

In Game 2 of the ALDS, an 8-6 Texas victory, Napoli battled James Shields through a slew of pitches with the bases loaded before roping a line drive to left field to score two runs and tie the game at 3.

In Game 3 of the ALDS on Monday, Napoli might have had his most significant impact yet:

• At the plate: With the Rangers trailing 1-0 in the top of the seventh inning, Napoli crushed a two-run home run off David Price and into the left-center field bleachers for the Rangers' first two runs of the evening.

• On defense: With the Rangers leading, 4-2, in the eighth inning, Napoli, from his catcher's spot, threw out Tampa speedster B.J. Upton, who walked and tried to steal second base. In a game where Darren Oliver and Mike Adams struggled mightily out of the bullpen, it was a critical out that the Rangers may have otherwise not been able to notch.

• On the basepaths: Napoli even stole a base in the top of the second inning on Monday.

I had a great time watching the action from the bar at Houlihan's in Fairway.

Simply put, Napoli is making up for an otherwise struggling offense with an inspiring display of power and defense. He is carrying this team right now. And should the Rangers take Game 4 today in Tampa and advance to the ALCS, Napoli would be the hands-down MVP of that effort. This is his ALDS, or as the media has tabbed it, The Year of the Napoli.

Can't stress this enough, though: What a trade by Daniels. For the services of Napoli, Texas parted ways with veteran reliever Frank Francisco, who at the time was an important part of the Rangers' bullpen. Thanks, Toronto. With Daniels acquiring relief arms Mike Adams and Koji Uehara (who has struggled in these playoffs, but I think will be a valuable bullpen arm) at the trade deadline, it almost feels like we poached away Napoli for free.

And considering he hit .320 with 30 homers, 75 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .414 during the regular-season in only 369 at-bats, that's a pretty darned impressive addition.

The other major offseason addition, Beltre, has proven he's been worth the six year, $96 million contract he signed in January. Beltre hit .296 with 32 homers, 105 RBIs and spectacular defense at third base in the regular season, all while missing more than a month in July and August with a hamstring injury.

Isn't it fitting, then, that Beltre singled to left field on Monday night to set up Napoli's two-run, momentum-altering laser beam?

The direction, stability and winning culture of the Rangers under Daniels and owner Nolan Ryan is better than it's ever been in the franchise's 39-year history.

Proof of that lies in the fact that the Rangers didn't need Cliff Lee, arguably the most efficient pitcher in baseball, to repeat as AL West champions, and they may not need Lee to return to the American League Championship Series either. The brilliant, non-panicking nature of Daniels to add Napoli and Beltre after Lee signed with Philadelphia could be one of the most under-appreciated stories of the 2011 baseball season.

It's the reason Texas is in position today to advance to its second consecutive ALCS.

2011 ALDS, Game 2: Moreland's HR creates thrilling moment

There's fewer more enjoyable moments as a sports fan than when a player from your baseball team crushes a game-altering, meaningful home run in the playoffs, and you know it the second it leaves his bat.

Such was the case on Saturday night, when Mitch Moreland struck a towering blast to right field in the eighth inning that preserved a much-needed 8-6 Texas victory over Tampa Bay and tied the ALDS at 1-1.

I watched pretty much every pitch Saturday since I was at my apartment on my dinner break. As soon as Moreland's bat made contact with the ball, I jumped up with wide eyes as the ball began to take orbit. Adios.

There's a certain thrill that comes along with watching a meaningful playoff home run. First, you're paying attention to more at-bats. That's not to undermine regular-season games, but there are 162 of them. Sometimes, I have regular-season games on in the background while I'm cooking a meal, taking a shower, surfing on the computer or talking on the phone.

Playoff games are different. Nearly every pitch requires a certain level of increased attention.

And you know other people are watching, too, so when Moreland launched that ball last night, I imagined all of my closest Rangers fans with their hands in the air waiting for the shot to land in the souvenir section.

I went back and watched the Moreland home run to time how long it stayed in the air. Five seconds. One of the more exciting few seconds any sport has to offer.

I received a text from my brother Dave shortly after the home run that read, "Moreland! That was blasted!" Indeed it was.

Saturday was arguably a series-saving victory for Texas. No way you could feel good heading back to Tampa Bay on Monday staring at a 0-2 deficit. It's a new series at 1-1. Can't wait for Monday.

2011 ALDS, Game 1: Forget and move on

There's really nothing to say about Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series on Friday afternoon other than the fact that the Rays destroyed the Rangers in every possible facet of the game.

I'm not sure what it feels like to stand in a corner of my apartment and bang my head against the wall for three consecutive hours, but in my mind, that's what I was doing.

Tampa Bay cruised, 9-0, and Texas mustered only two hits. Brutal way to start the playoffs.

Especially considering the winning pitcher, Tampa Bay lefty Matt Moore, had pitched 9 1/3 total big league innings before Friday. Granted, the 22-year-old Moore has a very high ceiling — I heard on SportsCenter that ESPN's Keith Law ranked Moore the No. 2 prospect in baseball a few months ago, I believe — but therein lies the problem. Moore, a kid, came into Arlington and dominated one of the best hitting teams in baseball at their own place. Seven innings, two hits, no earned runs, two walks, six strikeouts. What more could Rays manager Joe Maddon want from the guy?

Conversely, nothing went right for the Rangers. C.J. Wilson allowed six earned runs and three home runs, two of which came from Kelly Shoppach, a guy who hit .176 during the regular season.

The eighth inning painted a clear picture of how it went for Texas after Elvis Andrus drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the inning. Josh Hamilton stepped to the plate with no outs, and proceeded to lay down a bunt. In an 8-0 game. Hamilton had only bunted once in more than 2,500 MLB plate appearances.

Tampa Bay threw out Hamilton at first base. Andrus advanced to second, but it didn't matter. Michael Young grounded out, and Adrian Beltre flew out to end the inning. And, by all means, the game.

In his postgame news conference, Texas manager Ron Washington said he didn't call for Hamilton to bunt. It was the decision of the slugger.

Not going to lie, I don't get that mad when watching the Rangers, even if they lose in the playoffs. But that was one of the more infuriating moments I can think of in the past two years of watching the team. I have no problem with losing, but I do have a problem giving away outs in an 8-0 game with the speedy Andrus on first base.

Nonetheless, it's time to forget about Game 1 and hope that Derek Holland can hold his own tonight in Game 2 against James Shields and the Rays.

The Rays, who trailed Boston in the wild card by 9.5 games on Sept. 3, may be the fabled team of destiny this postseason.

Let's hope Texas takes away some of this seemingly endless Tampa Bay momentum and ties the series up at 1-1. If not, it could be the beginning of the end of an amazing regular season that saw the Rangers win more games (96-66) than any other team in franchise history.