Rangers done and out.

Well, the Rangers post season run is over after their League Division Series game five loss to the Blue Jays last night.

I really didn't expect Texas to win the series but the two wins to start things off gave me a sense that there was a possibility they could do it. Then came two losses at home and the final loss in Toronto. That was a sudden stop and the way the team gave away game five with four unearned Toronto runs just added to the pain.

It's done though and there's no point in saying it should have turned out different. The team is still fairly young and, if everyone stays healthy, they look to have a good group next season. This season wasn't supposed to be a contending season and just the appearance in the LDS was a bonus. That thought and this 2002 Fleer Authentix game used card of Ivan Rodriguez should help cheer Rangers fans up. I don't know about you, but I'm still in. No renouncing the team as a co-worker of mine did. I have 32 years of following the club and can't see taking up another team. With that many next years in the past, one more isn't going to kill me.

Minor League Monday - Nick Capra, 1990 CMC.

Apparently the Texas Rangers had an on again, off again type relationship with Nick Capra, seen here on card 166 of the 1990 CMC set. Texas drafted Capra in the third round of the 1979 draft. He had been drafted by the Expos in 1976 but didn't sign. He did sign with Texas. The club started Capra at Double A and he worked his way up to Arlington. Brief stints with the Rangers came in 1982, 1983, and 1985. In October of 1985 Nick was granted free agency. He signed with the White Sox in January of 1986 and spent that season at Double A.

In January of 1987 Capra returned to the Rangers as a minor league free agent. He passed the 1987 season with Triple A Oklahoma City before again being granted free agency. 1988 and 1989 saw Nick with the Kansas City Royals, mostly at Triple A, but in 14 games with KC in 1988. In January of 1990 Capra again signed with the Rangers as a minor league free agent. He was back for his third stint in the Texas system.

Over all, Nick appeared in 122 games for the 89ers in 1990 and made 530 plate appearances. He put up a .277 batting average and a .375 on-base percentage. The on-base percentage was helped by the 68 free passes Capra worked while striking out only 61 times. There was also a little power in his bat as he compiled 26 doubles, three triples, and five home runs. Those hits helped him score 80 runs while driving in 45. Even at 32 years old, Nick had some speed. He stole 35 bases but also got caught 15 times.

On the defensive side of things, Capra spent most of his time patrolling the outfield. In 115 games cover the outfield he made just five errors. That gave him a .980 fielding percentage. There were also two cameo appearances at third base that went off without an error.

All told, 1990 was a decent season for Nick Capra. He put up some respectable numbers and seemed to be more than holding his own in Triple A. The problem for Nick was two-fold. First was the crowded Rangers outfield. It was going to be hard to break in without some Ruthian type numbers. Second was Capra's age. He still hadn't played more than 14 games in the Majors in any given season. At 32 years of age he still retained his rookie status. That wasn't a good thing. 32 is old for a minor leaguer who has never established himself in the Majors. Time was running out for Nick Capra to get a permanent call to The Big Show.

Headed north.

So, the Rangers kick off their half of the American League Division Championship Series this afternoon in Toronto against the Blue Jays. Going to be a tough series.

The Rangers have played well on the road all season and have a winning record overall against winning ballclubs. On the other hand, the Blue Jays were the hottest team in the American League since the All-Star break. Also, the Rangers do not have a winning record this season against the Jays.

I really don't know what to expect from this series. Some hard played ball probably. Hopefully a Rangers advance. Could go either way though and things will likely get tight.

To do my part to help the guys out, I am posting this signed 1999 Topps card of Rangers great Rusty Greer. Mr. Greer signed this card for me through the mail in 2014. During his playing career Rusty embodied the never say die style of gritty play Texas is going to need to get past Toronto. This season has shown the team has the grit, now's the time to use it. Best of luck guys, trounce Toronto.

1979 Topps - Richie Zisk.

As shown on the front of 1978 Topps card 260, Richie Zisk was coming off an All-Star 1978 season as the club reported for Spring Training in 1979. Zisk won the 1978 season opener for Texas with a home run in the ninth inning to beat the Yankees. He ended up missing three weeks with a sprained wrist but still put up good enough numbers to get the All-Star nod. Texas was hoping for more of the same, without the injury, in 1979.

The season started off on a sour note for Zisk as he came down with strep throat after the club played a damp, cold season opener in Detroit. That benched Richie for five games before he hit a game-winning pinch-hit home run. In spite of that, Zisk's season started off slowly and it took time for him to get his bat going.

Over the 144 games Richie appeared in for Texas in 1979, he made 563 plate appearances. He posted a .262 batting average and a .336 on-base percentage. Those were almost identical to the previous season. Known as a slugger, it is not surprising Zisk led the team in strikeouts with 75. However, he also led the club in walks with 57. He knocked 21 doubles, one triple, and 18 home runs (part of a three-way tie for team best) en route to scoring 69 runs and bumping in 64 RBI.

The team's primary right fielder, Richie played in 127 games in right. He committed just five errors over the course of 1020.1 for a fielding percentage of .978. That was just a hair below the .980 league average. Zisk also covered left field for 116 innings over 15 games. He had less success there, tallying a .913 fielding percentage due to his two errors. That was much lower than the average left fielder's .980 fielding percentage. Richie also appeared in three games as the Rangers designated hitter.

On the surface, Richie Zisk almost managed to duplicate his 1978 season in 1979. He didn't get selected to the All-Star team though and there were a couple of worrisome signs. The most concerning was Zisk's home run totals. They were down by four from the previous season and, for the first time since 1974, below 20. Was it a stumble or was the 30-year-old starting a power decline? The Rangers held on to Richie for the 1980 season but would be keeping their eye on his offense.

Made it! (Finally.)

Going into the final three games of the 2015 season the Rangers needed just one win or one Astros loss to clinch the American League West divisional title. They let the Angels slip away in a 2-1 in a squeaker on Friday night. On Saturday they reprised Game 6 of the 2011 World Series with the Halos standing in for the Cardinals. Eventually the stunned Rangers lost 11-10. Meanwhile, Houston decided they would rather have the division than a wild card slot and refused to lose. Suddenly Texas was looking at one game left in the season and the possibility of game 163 to determine the division/wild card spots.

Cole Hamels initially did little to soothe the fears of Rangers fans as he allowed two runs in the first inning yesterday to give the Angels a 2-0 lead. Cole calmed down though and that was it for Anaheim. Hamels cruised through the next eight innings without allowing any more runs. Meanwhile the Rangers offense picked up a run in the bottom of the first. That was it through four and a half. With the Rangers trailing 2-1, Adrian Beltre once again put the club on his shoulders and hammered a two-run shot in the fifth to give Texas a 3-2 lead. Meanwhile the Astros were refusing to die in Arizona. Angels starter Garrett Richards left the game after six with the score still at 3-2. In the bottom of the seventh it all fell apart for the Halos bullpen. Texas exploded for six runs as Anaheim ran five pitchers to the mound before finally stopping the bleeding. It was more than enough though. Final: Texas - 9, Anaheim - 2.

Shortly after the Rangers victory, word came in that the Astros fell to the Diamondbacks 5-3. That mattered only to Houston and the Yankees though. Texas already won the American League West and was headed for the American League Division Championship Series. Most of the players are different, but the celebration was very similar to the one pictured on the front of this 2010 ALDS program. Elvis Andrus, Josh Hamilton, Colby Lewis, Mitch Moreland, Derek Holland, and several of the coaches are still around from that 2010 team and they all have unfinished business in the post-season. The quest to finish that business starts Thursday in Toronto.

I admit it, this team has been a huge, and very pleasant, surprise. After the loss of Yu Darvish in Spring Training, I had them pegged at 81-81 on the season and a third place finish in the West. After the loss of Derek Holland for several months on Opening Day, I figured they would have to really work to meet my prediction. When they traded for Cole Hamels I expected the impact to be first felt only in 2016. Instead they never ever quit and are now back in the play-offs for the first time since a brief wild card appearance in 2012. That exceeds my expectations for the season by several lengths and it's all a joyride now. Do I expect them to get to the World Series? Honestly, not really. Would I be surprised if they do? Pleasantly. Whatever happens, I'm going to enjoy the ride as far as the guys can take it and then be grateful to this group of players and coaches for restoring post-season baseball to Arlington.

Senators Saturday - Ken McMullen, 1970.

Ken McMullen, shown here on card 420 of the 1970 Topps set, had anchored the Senators at third base since he arrived in the Frank Howard/Claude Osteen trade during the winter of 1964-1965. Well known for his golden glove, Ken's bat had been steadily declining over the past few seasons leading into 1970. The Senators really needed for him to get it going again.

In the first 15 games of 1970, McMullen continued to demonstrate his excellence in the field. He played all 15 games at third and committed just two errors over 143 innings. His .971 fielding percentage was head and shoulders above the league average .949.

The problem was Ken's bat. Once an integral part of the Washington attack, it just didn't have the same sting anymore. In 64 plate appearances McMullen posted a .203 batting average and a .266 on-base fielding percentage. He struck out ten times while working five walks. If Ken's bat still had power, those numbers might have been tolerable. It didn't though. He hit just two doubles and no other extra base hits.

The Senators had a problem. Ken McMullen's offensive skills appeared to have suddenly declined and opened a gaping hole in the already weak Washington lineup. The front office decided to move him while his glove still had value and the early stage of the season didn't rule out a turn around. On April 27, 1970 Ken McMullen was shipped off to the California Angels in exchange for Rick Reichardt and young Aurelio Rodriguez. The Senators hoped to use Rodriguez to replace McMullen at third. Reichardt could play all three outfield positions and looked to be a decent backup. After six full seasons, the longest serving Senators third baseman was no longer with the club.

Almost back.

Ok, last pre-scheduled post for awhile. I am planning on being back to regular posting after today.

Posting this 2002 EX Behind the Numbers game-used card of Ivan Rodriguez in hopes of keeping the Rangers luck running. Even though the card only shows a very small piece of Pudge's jersey, it's still a nice card.

Would love to see Pudge throwing out the first pitch again in another post-season series in Texas. In spite of my pre-season predictions, this might be the year. This team definitely didn't play the .500 ball I was expecting and that is a nice surprise.