AL West

Neftali Feliz just couldn’t wait. The rookie closer for the Texas Rangers propped open the bullpen door just a crack, peering onto the field to watch the action in the bottom of the eighth.

The Rangers' bullpen struggled in Game 1, surrendering a five-run lead to the mighty Yankee offense. Feliz was ever so anxious to redeem the unit. Redemption was the theme of Game 2 against New York. And the Rangers, seeking their first-ever postseason win at home, were in prime position to get it.

For the first time in franchise history, the Texas Rangers have won a home playoff game and ALCS game. Once again, the Rangers built a 5-0 lead and unlike last night, they held on.

A steal of home as part of a double steal for Texas got them going in the first and they never looked back. Just like in Game 1, the Yankees saw their starter struggle mightily. In the second inning, David Murphy hit his first career playoff home run and at the end, the Rangers won, 7-2.

Yesterday the Seattle Mariner front office garnered similar fan enthusiasm for their latest choice to manage the team, as one might find at an exciting university lecture on Wave Particle Duality and how that relates to quantum physics.

Lots of snoring, cat-calling, muttering, outright grumbling amidst the masses, scattered with skeptical “who the crap is that??!?

As the top of the eighth inning began, I was brainstorming for this article. I even wrote a title, and was looking forward to chronicling C.J. Wilson’s magnificent start for the Texas Rangers and harping on how woeful CC Sabathia was for the New York Yankees.

Considering they held a 5-1 lead, I assumed Texas was on their way to their first playoff win at home. Assuming is a dangerous thing. And, too much confidence fueled bad case of Karma. My foolish presumption began to backfire.

Game 1 of the ALCS is complete and the Yankees pulled off a stunning comeback. After trailing 5-0 at one point, they stormed back with a run in the seventh and five in the eighth to take the lead.

It was a rally that crushed the crowd at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and sent the Yankees to a 1-0 series lead, allowing them to regain home-field advantage.

The Rangers came out swinging early but couldn't build an insurmountable lead and saw their bullpen implode. Here's a report card, breaking down how the Rangers fared and what went wrong.

As reported by CBSSports.com, the Seattle Mariners have hired former Cleveland manager Eric "The Grinder" Wedge, to replace fired skipper Don Wakamatsu following a 101 loss season.  For a team that has suffered from a chronic case of underachievement, Wedge doesn't strike me as the antidote.  Furthermore, he doesn't strike me as the solution to any team's problems. 

It all makes sense. There should never have been any doubt in anyone’s mind that in The Year of the Pitcher, some of the better arms in the American League will be fighting for the Pennant beginning with Game One on Friday night.

After winning their first playoff series in franchise history, the Rangers have their eyes on a bigger prize, advancing to their first ever World Series.

Standing in their way are the New York Yankees, a team chasing its 28th World Series title. While the Rangers have home field advantage, many have the Yankees favored to advance to the Series.

However, don't count Cliff Lee and the Rangers out yet. Here are Five keys to the Texas Rangers advancing to the World Series. 

The 2010 baseball season will long be remembered as the year the Rangers made history.  I can only hope that one day someone will see the need to recreate it all on the movie screen.  During a season which will become almost mythical in Texas Rangers lore, two simple yet obscure clubhouse gestures were born.
 

When you go to the casino to play the slots, do you expect to win? Do you go to a casino expecting to win when you put all your money on double zero?

The odds aren’t terrible, but they aren’t in your favour either.

In professional sports, general managers constantly flirt with the odds when they decide to pick up rental players.