Division Series Roundup

Cliff Lee finishing what he started
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Rangers 5 Rays 1: Before Ian Kinsler's insurance-run blast, the Rangers scored the "small ball" way, with base running and infield hits.  That and another dominating start by Cliff Lee won it for the Rangers.  Cliff Lee's career postseason stats need to be highlighted (literally):


7 starts, 56.1 ip, 6-0, 32 hits, 11 runs, 1 home run, 6 walks, 54 strikeouts.  1.44 ERA and a .781 WHIP.  Wow.  


David Price pitched reasonably well himself in the loss, throwing 6 innings and striking out 8 without issuing a walk.  He did give up 3 earned runs but with a couple of bounces he easily could have been scoreless. 


The Rays had a fantastic year, winning the toughest division in all of sports, but this offseason will be an important one for them.  The Rays will still have a great rotation (although still more built for the regular season) even if they are forced to trade Shields or Garza.  However,  Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena and Rafael Soriano are large shoes to fill.  Benoit will likely be an adequate replacement at closer and Jennings an OK replacement at LF, but what about Pena?  Even with Pena the Rays had a weak enough lineup that they felt the need to put in a claim for Manny Ramirez.  They also had Dan Johnson (a lefty) DH against the best left hander in all of baseball.   Like I said ,the Rays still have the pitching, so I agree with the Ray Area when they say the window is not closed but how they are able to rebuild their lineup while shedding payroll will determine how competitive they will be in 2011 and beyond.  


ANYWAYS, this is really about the Rangers and Cliff Lee who will now face the Yankees in the ALCS.  I will have a more in depth preview soon, but if the Yankees want to go to the World Series (again) they'll have to do it in 6 games or less, nobody is beating Lee.