Sweet sweep!

Decided to skip Minor League Monday this week in order to discuss a couple of other things. I will eventually get back to the feature though so stay tuned if you enjoy it. Decided to skip a specific player's card and go with this 1985 Fleer Sticker because I don't have Rangers cards of several of the past couple of days big performers.

First off, since I last posted the Rangers beat the Yankees twice more to complete a three game sweep. In the first game Jeff Francoeur recorded an almost unheard of walk-off hit by a pitch to win the game in the ninth inning. Equally amazing is that is happened against Mariano Rivera and was the end of a two run comeback against the legendary closer.

Yesterday Cliff Lee went to the mound for Texas for the first time in what seems like forever. Apparently his back is better. Cliff pitched like the ace he is and allowed just one run over eight innings before giving way to Neftali Feliz. For once Lee got adequate run support as the Rangers came out on top 4-1. Almost seemed anti-climatic after the first two nail-biter games.

I think this sweep is huge. It is looking more and more likely that Texas will be up against New York in the first round of the playoffs. This sweep should help the mental game even though the Rangers never faced the dreaded C.C. Sabathia in this series. They did beat Rivera though. For the second time this season. Mariano only has three loses on the year and two are against Texas. He can be beat and now they know it. Can't underestimate that with a young team.

Two more games against the Tigers and then the rest of the year is facing off with the A.L. West. Time to go to town guys. Tomorrow Derek Holland takes a shot at beating Jeremy Bonderman.

As an aside I am entered in two categories in this year's Benchies awards. In the team collector contest I drew a three-way contest for the first round. Currently I am in second place but will need to stage a dramatic comeback to beat the Red Sox collection that knocked me out last year. In the player collection contest my Jon Matlack collection is quite a bit ahead of a nice Matt Clement gathering. If you get the chance please head on over to The Bench and give me any support you feel you can. Also, don't forget to check out and vote in the other categories.