Here We Go Again

Cruz enjoyed a record-setting ALCS, that saw
him hit six home runs.

It's hard to believe at one point the Detroit Tigers held a 2-0 lead against the Texas Rangers Saturday in Game 6 of the ALCS. After Detroit shut out the Rangers high octane offense for the first two innings, Texas bombarded the Tigers' pitching staff for 15 runs on 17 hits, closing out the ALCS, 15-5.

In a 38 minute bottom of the third inning, the Ranger sent 14 hitters to the plate, recording six hits in a nine-run outburst, setting the franchise record for most runs scored in a single postseason half inning.

Two of those six hits came off the suddenly red-hot bat of All-Star Michael Young. Young hit two, two-run doubles in the inning, driving in four of the nine runs scored. The 12-year veteran added a solo home run in the seventh, giving him a 5 RBI game and totaling 7 for the series.

His teammate, Nelson Cruz, who was honored as this year's ALCS MVP, got out his boomstick once again and continued this unbelievable postseason run. Cruz popped a two-run shot for his sixth home run of the series, driving in his 12th and 13th runs of the series, both are single series postseason records.

With his six home runs, Cruz is now the only player in postseason history to have hit six home runs in two different postseasons. In his first postseason appearance a year ago, the Monte Cristi native also hit six home runs, but that came throughout the playoffs, not one series. If that weren't enough, Cruz hit the first walk-off grand slam in postseason history and had two extra innings home runs in the ALCS, the first time that has ever been done as well.

All eight of hits during the LCS went for extra-bases, that's a lot of production for a guy that bats seventh in the lineup. But it wasn't just Cruz's bat that did the talking.

In the eighth inning of Game 4, Cruz fired a perfect game-saving dart to nail the not so fleet of foot, Miguel Cabrera, at the plate, keeping the game tied.

While Cruz continues to exemplify an October legend, the Rangers are headed to their second straight World Series. After losing to the San Francisco Giants in last year's Fall Classic in five games, they have come back with vengeance and fire in their eyes. After capturing both their two straight division title and American League Pennant, Texas is the first AL West team to accomplish that feat since the Oakland Athletics did so from 1988-'90. They did in three years in-a-row.

Those Oakland teams were led by future Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, and with his Cardinals one win away from their eighteenth trip to the World Series, Texas could oddly enough face the last manager to do what they have achieved in 2011.

Texas accomplished all this without the power of last year's ALCS MVP, Josh Hamiltion, who didn't hit a home run in this series and has yet to hit one this postseason after hitting four in last year's LCS against the New York Yankees.

Showered in Ginger Ale for the second straight year, the Rangers hope to have one last celebration in them.

Young a Class Act

Young talking to the media at Ranger camp
in Surprise, Arizona.

Michael Young has been through every high and low in his 11 seasons as a Texas Ranger, while being the face of the franchise during that time.

Only a year after their first World Series appearance in franchise history, Young supposedly wants out of the only team he has ever known.

With the offseason acquisitions of Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli and the emergence of Mitch Moreland in the postseason last year, it makes Young wonder where he is going to get his at-bats.

Young was asked to move from his original position at second base to shortstop in 2004 when they traded their superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees in exchange for Alfonso Soriano. After becoming a Gold Glove shortstop in 2008, the Rangers asked Young to moved positions again, this time to third base.

In 2009, Young willing did so without a peep, making room for highly regarded prospect, Elvis Andrus. It was a formula for success with the Rangers reaching the playoffs in 2010 for the first time since 1999, after being a laughing stock much of the decade.

Young would be asked one last time to move positions with the signing of Beltre, he would no longer play the field, but be the designated hitter in Arlington.

Then the final straw had been drawn. Texas traded for Napoli, cutting into Young's at-bats. Now the face of the franchise of the past decade and the man that was willing to do what was best for the team has had it and wants out. At the age of  34, the Rangers may be thinking Young is on the backend of his career.

Young's career has been extremely under appreciated by most Ranger and baseball fans. Young silently had five straight 200-hit seasons, 2003-07, while winning a batting title in 2005 at a .331 mark. He also won the 2006 All-Star Game MVP and responsible for driving in the winning run in '08 at Yankee Stadium with a sac fly to center field.

All that being said, Young has flown under the radar much of his career to the average baseball fan, which is just the way he would want it.

The Rangers are replacing Young at third base with a .275 career hitter and his two best seasons have come conveniently in contract years. Beltre has been a quality player during his Major League career, but his work ethic and dedication to the game has been in question for sometime, especially after signing that five-year contract with the Seattle Mariners prior to the '05 season.

Now, when the Rangers have finally reached the mountain top and have become a significant World Series contender, they seem to be pushing out the face of the franchise of the past decade and someone who went through all the hardships of being on a bad team much of his career.

Yet, Young reported to camp this week, saying he will not be a distraction and is focused on the season ahead with this club. Would we expect any different from the six-time All-Star, who is the definition of a consummate professional.

If Young wants out of Texas, he has earned that right, but one thing is for sure when he steps between those white lines it will be business as usual, no matter what uniform he is wearing.

Mr. Young you are truly a class act.