Drained.

Very disappointed even though I knew game six was the deciding game. So close. Going to take a day or two off and let it slide. 2011 is over and in the books. Now it's time for the off-season and Strat-O-Matic to get through the winter.

All over?

Not even going to recap last night's nightmare. You want a recap then go to any media outlet. They're all screaming about what a great World Series this is and how the game was awesome. As an ending note most of them say what a great game tonight is going to be.

I don't agree. I think the deciding game of the series was played last night. Mike Shannon commented that if Texas blew the game last night then St. Louis would own tonight. I fear he is right. The championship belongs to the Cardinals unless they hand it to the Rangers.

It's up to Matt Harrison, shown on his 2009 Topps Heritage card, to prove me wrong. I hope he does. I really hope he does. More than anything hope he does. Get out there and throw the game of your life Matt. That's what you're going to have to do to stand a chance of wearing a ring.

Rain, rain go away...

Ok, hopefully tonight's game is on and won't be postponed. Looking for clear skies for game six.

Decided to try the Charlie Hough magic again. Charlie's at 1-1 during this World Series. Hopefully this signed 1988 Fleer card of the Rangers all-time wins leader will help them clinch their first World Series title in franchise history.

Go Rangers!

Nostradamus Ryan?

In 1993 when Nolan Ryan posed for card number 30 in the Baseball Cards Magazine set I don't think that anyone was predicting that someday he would be the team president.

When he was hired as the Rangers team president I doubt too many people thought he would be an owner soon thereafter. He was though.

This past spring Nolan said he thought the Rangers would win 90-95 games this year and take the division. There was a lot of scoffing. They won 96 and the division.

Here's to hoping that Ryan can keep his prediction streak alive. If Texas wins tonight he will have been right again - Rangers in six.

Go Rangers!

Nap time.

Well, last night was a change. For the first time in a long time I watched the Rangers in a critical game and didn't think to myself, "I wish they still had Pudge." Catcher Mike Napoli did a pretty good impersonation of Ivan Rodriguez, shown here on card numer 96 of the 1996 Aficionado set.

Nap did just about everything for the Rangers last night. He hammered a two run double in the eighth inning. That added to the two solo home runs the Rangers had already scored off Chris Carpenter courtesy of Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland. 4-2 ended up being the final score.

Pretty good night for Nap eh? Well, in addition to his RBI performance Mike also made three great plays in the field. He caught Ranger nemesis Allen Craig stealing. Twice. Once on a missed hit-and-run play and once on the back end of a strike-out throw-out double play. The batter at the plate both times? Albert Pujols. On the final play of the game Neftali Feliz struck out Lance Berkman. Napoli missed the ball and it hit his left shin guard before shooting up the first base line. I figured that the Cardinals had just gotten an extra out. Up popped Mike and raced down the line. He outpaced the sprinting Berkman and pounced on the ball about three quarters of the way to the bag. An underhand toss to Moreland and the Rangers have a 3-2 lead in the Series.

Back to St. Louis with the lead. I'll take that. Go Rangers!

Dutch does it!

Sure, Mike Napoli made all the noise with his three-run home run last night. We all know that chicks dig the long ball and it's pretty clear that Nap can grow a better mustache than Derek Holland.

In spite of all that Holland's 2009 Topps 206 card, number 61, is the card of the day. With Texas down 2-1 in the World Series they absolutely had to win last night. Derek Holland made sure they did. Dutch went 8.1 innings shutout innings while giving up just two hits. he struck out seven Redbirds while walking just two before handing the game over to Neftali Feliz with two outs left.

Feliz was a little wild but kept the Cards shut down to seal the 4-0 Rangers win. Evens the Series at two games each and gives the Texas bullpen a much-needed breather. Hope to see C.J. Wilson come out tonight and follow Holland's lead.

Prepping for Game Three.

Ok, so it's not Thursday and so not normally the day to post autographs and game used cards. This is not a normal day though, tonight is game three of the World Series and it's all knotted up at one game each.

Posting an autographed card of Charlie Hough prior to game two seemed to work. Decided to try it again today with this signed 1988 Donruss card. Hey, if it works...

Go Rangers!