the Texas Rangers and Cole Hamels... any Playoff Chance This Year?

Good pitching beats good hitting. The relievers are too weak for a solid run.

And Hamels is going to miss his next start!

What is it with pitchers in Texas? At least it is his groin and not arm trouble but still!!!

Seems if not for bad luck, well, ya know...

Just a game out of the wild card. Got to get that home record fixed tho..

The truth is no, no chance

The truth is no, no chance Originally Posted by Uncas

no chance? I'm getting more on board with the idea they have a real chance.. 4 wins in a row, and Hamels returns tonight.. I predict he will finally show his best stuff, and pitch 8 innings this evening, giving up just 5 hits, 1 run, with 10 strikeouts..

Good prediction Chung. He will also cure cancer.

The Astros and Angels came back, just as predicted. Astros at least have decent pitching, but the Angels are just a mess. The Rangers now control their own destiny for the division.

Good prediction Chung. He will also cure cancer.
Originally Posted by Boltfan

Hamels went 7 innings, gave up 7 hits and 3 runs.. not bad, but below his capability.. another no-decision for Hamels, Rangers have now won 5 straight..

The Rangers are winning despite Hamels. He may have pitched pretty good, but he is not being paid to be a pretty good pitcher. It will be interesting to see if the Rangers can sustain their level of play and overtake the two teams ahead of them in their division as they have many games head to head with those two down the stretch.

Just a game out of the wild card. Got to get that home record fixed tho.. Originally Posted by St.Mateo

The Rangers are winning despite Hamels. Originally Posted by davidfree986

home record is fixed.. they have won 11 of their last 12 home games.. Hamels has 3 outings so far, okay in each, but he must do better.. the team generally speaking looks much better than a month ago.

take off your red and blue glasses. true its not as hard to make the playoffs as it once was, but this is not a championship team. Fun team to watch, but they are 1 year away at best

take off your red and blue glasses. true its not as hard to make the playoffs as it once was, but this is not a championship team. Fun team to watch, but they are 1 year away at best Originally Posted by Uncas

They added one more team per league to get in, and that is for a one game chance to go to the real post season, which makes it exciting for the fans, as for years, September baseball was pretty dull when the divisions were pretty much locked up. Teams are not making it their goal to just get in, like they do in football and basketball, it is winning that division and it is still just as tough as it has always been. With 7 games still to play head to head against Houston and having won the last 6 against them, if they can just keep on pace with the Astros in the other 30 games they have left and beat them head to head as they have been doing recently, the division is the Ranger's for the taking. And this, all without their #1 pitcher never pitching one inning this year and their #2 just coming back on board. As far as Hamels goes, he is pretty good, but thus far, he is not worth what they are paying him, but I hope he does become a dominant pitcher down the stretch.

I agree that barring injury to key players, they are 1 year away from being a championship team, as they will get Darvish back and with Hamels, Holland, Gallardo and Lewis in the rotation, then with the capable offense this teams has, with all they key players under contract for the next few years, this should be an exciting team, blue are red glasses not withstanding.

With 7 games still to play head to head against Houston and having won the last 6 against them, if they can just keep on pace with the Astros in the other 30 games they have left and beat them head to head as they have been doing recently, the division is the Ranger's for the taking. Originally Posted by davidfree986

yup.. make that winning the last 10 against the Astros, with 3 left to play!

any previous naysayers changed your mind yet? the Boys are looking really good right now, BUT..

it was just last week when they were shut out in 3 of 5 games played.. the recent offensive pounding must continue, the bats can't just decide to go cold for a few games.

They have ample games left with the two teams above them in the division that they can still control their own destiny. We have another May and they are set. Originally Posted by Boltfan

Why yes, you were right!

Nope no chance this year, need to do a little house cleaning and Hamels is a move for next year. 2016 looks good on paper. Originally Posted by sweet_k47

You sure about that?

Good prediction Chung. He will also cure cancer.

The Astros and Angels came back, just as predicted. Astros at least have decent pitching, but the Angels are just a mess. The Rangers now control their own destiny for the division. Originally Posted by Boltfan

Dead on...

The Rangers are winning despite Hamels. He may have pitched pretty good, but he is not being paid to be a pretty good pitcher. It will be interesting to see if the Rangers can sustain their level of play and overtake the two teams ahead of them in their division as they have many games head to head with those two down the stretch. Originally Posted by davidfree986

He isn't a GFE provider with YMMV issues. Hamels is an athlete and particularly with pitching scouting your opponent is crucial. Dude can't throw a shutout everytime. And throwing a no hitter means you have some chops. Have some realistic expectations man. It might be tough if you haven't ever had any personal athletic skills to base your opinions.

He is earning every penny right now.

yup.. make that winning the last 10 against the Astros, with 3 left to play!

any previous naysayers changed your mind yet? the Boys are looking really good right now, BUT..

it was just last week when they were shut out in 3 of 5 games played.. the recent offensive pounding must continue, the bats can't just decide to go cold for a few games. Originally Posted by Chung Tran

The Napoli experiment is paying off major dividends right now. Nap is just comfortable here in Texas. His bat has come alive. Love to see it. That guy is my gay man crush. Love his attitude.

Hamels pitching has been pretty good and where he was dominating against Baltimore, those kinds of performances is what he is getting paid for. But he is also earning some of that money with the example he sets and confidence he has brought to the entire pitching staff since the trade. I think they are going to be celebrating the division title in front of the Angels in the last homestand.