Posted on 10/04/2015 3:40:26 PM PDT by Artemis Webb
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cole Hamels and the Texas Rangers finally clinched the AL West title on the last day of the regular season.
Hamels pitched a three-hitter, Adrian Beltre hit a go-ahead homer and the Rangers beat the Angels 9-2 Sunday, eliminating Los Angeles from playoff contention.
A year after their 95 losses were the most in the American League, two months after they were still eight games out of first place and three days after ensuring themselves a postseason spot, the Rangers wrapped up their sixth division title.
Texas plays its first AL division series game since 2011 on Thursday at Toronto or Kansas City.
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...
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I am so glad my braves season is over with hopefully they rebuild and get back into top shape.
I know how you feel. LOL! A Dbacks fan.
Angels suck, even with Pujols and Trout, they can’t get it together in the clutch. How does that $250 million feel like now Moreno?
From the worst team in baseball last year to division chaps this year. Not bad.
Hiring back some of those players released a couple of years earlier sure helped.
They probably could have wrapped it up yesterday, if the manager hadn’t taken Dysen out and brought in Tolleson.
Today, the pitcher Hamels took it to the final pitch.
Scoscia has to go. He has worn out his welcome. When the Angels won the series, Madden was the bench coach and Bud Black the pitching coach. Both of them made Scoscia look good.
We went to the game(s) today. It was nice to see Shelby win FINALLY!
That six run 7th inning was a disaster.
Lots of blame to go around, some bad breaks too.
I’m amazed he was still owned in about 75% of fantasy baseball leagues.
I bailed on him in June, the only way he can could get a win this season was to pitch a complete game shut out and hit a homer.
The Cubs were certainly a surprise this year.
Not so fast.
Scioscia had a team with only one regular who was an above average hitter for his position: Mike Trout.
They had only one starter who was an above average starter: Garrett Richards.
In fact, the 2015 Angels weren't a very good team. Indeed, they allowed 14 more runs than they scored (and it probably should've been worse). At best, they should've finished around 80-82. Yet, they won 85 games and were in contention until the season's final day.
Scioscia isn't the problem. Instead, you've got an owner who tends to make poor personnel decisions. For example, deciding to pay Josh Hamilton $62.5 million to play for the Rangers for three years.
The Angels won't be going to the playoffs this year. Nor , given the putrid state of their organization, they won't be playing in the post-season for the foreseeable future. That's not Mike Scioscia's fault. Nor is it Jerry Dipoto's fault.
It's Arte Moreno's fault.
Royals won the first AL seed with Jays losing so they get Home Field. Royals also ended Twins Wildcard chances. Royals get wildcard winner between Yankees and Stros.
Rangers therefore play Blue Jays.
Well yeah I can’t argue with that, the guys in the booth were sort of insinuating Sciosa pulled Richards for no good reason.
The walks and failure to make some tough plays probably wouldn’t have happened if he doesn’t give him the hook.
Time for a change.
If Hamels went > 110 pitches, he’ll take three starts to recover. Hoping he does well.
Detroit Tigers had me glued to the Little League World Series this year. Today was the final strikeout.
At least we’ve got great college football here.
Freese, Giovatella, Trout's wrist...Street, Smith...etc..
August was painful...and they still came up just one game short.
FWIW....that's baseball!!
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