Texas Rangers ~ 2011 ALCS Champions
Congratulations to the American League Pennant winner, the Texas Rangers and their MVP Nelson Cruz!
The Texas Rangers, 2010 American League Champions, have done it again, this time on Cruz control! The Detroit Tigers fell like dominoes tonight, one after another, until there was nothing left. The Rangers scored twelve runs tonight showing no mercy, stealing a base with a 9 run lead, grabbing high fly balls off the back wall like fly swatters and bowling the Tigers over like Tony was standing around hovering over a bowl of frosted flakes. Triumphant if you were a Rangers fan; not so much for the Tigers. For the second year in a row the Texas Rangers plowed through the New York Yankees to get to this point and I think it’s about time to admit this team’s for real!
Nelson Cruz, 2011 ALCS MVP
MVP for the ALCS was Nelson Cruz who homered six times and had 13 RBIs, a Major League record for the series. Cruz was an easy choice for series MVP. He went 8 for 22 (.364), with every hit going for extra bases and his two non-homers were doubles. Consider these feats by the 2011 ALCS MVP:
- He hit the first game-ending grand slam in postseason history.
- He became the first player with extra-inning homers in two games of one series.
- He became the franchise’s career postseason home run king.
Cliff Lee ~ 2010 World Series Press Conference
And one more thing……I just have to say this … they did it this time without Cliff Lee. Remember Lee? He’s the one who left the Texas Rangers after last year’s World Series play to find a team who could win the World Series. He by-passed the Yankees and settled in with the Phillies for the 2011 season. The Texas Rangers begged him to stay but to no avail and now the Texas Rangers are going to the World Series and Cliff Lee is not. C’est La Vie.
Detroit Manager Jim Leyland & Miguel Cabrera
Note: Did anyone else notice the little swat on the bum Detroit Manager Jim Leyland gave Miguel Cabrera as he dejectedly walked back from the strike-out pounding he’d just received from pitcher Olexi Ogando? I’m pretty sure Leyland knew he was witnessing the demise of the Tigers in the series at that point. It was an endearing moment, just a manager and one of his kids hanging on ’til that very last out in the game.
Related articles
- Texas Wins ALCS, Advances To World Series (newyork.cbslocal.com)
- Rangers’ Nelson Cruz sets playoff home run, RBI records (theglobeandmail.com)
- Rangers earn 2nd consecutive World Series berth (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Rangers Slugger Nelson Cruz Wins ALCS MVP (abcnews.go.com)
Garlicfriesandbaseball's Blog 
I loved your (aside) comment about Cliff Lee…… Boo Hoo.
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Thanks Pat, Sometimes I just can’t help myself.
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