Kuzul

Not only does the ALCS Game 6 loss to the Texas Rangers end the New York Yankees’ quest to repeat as baseball’s World Series champions, but it may also signify the end of an era.

No, not the end of a dynasty that some have spoken of, that would require more than one World Series title in 10 years to be spoken of in such terms. The last Yankee dynasty ended in 2001, or 2003 if you’re generous.

The era in question would be that of the Yankees “Core Four,” the homegrown quartet of veteran players that have persevered in the Bronx, playing a significant role in the Yankees’ five World Series titles since 1996.

Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada are the first trio of players in American sports history to play together for at least 16 years—a tremendous display of loyalty in an era dominated by free agency and frequent player movement. The fourth member, Andy Pettitte, arrived in the Bronx during 1995 like the others, but spent 2004-06 pitching closer to home in Houston. Otherwise, it is likely that these four Yankees would have remained with the franchise for the entirety of their careers.

Yankee fans have long been able to count on Jeter, Mariano, Posada and Pettitte delivering standout performances throughout the regular season and then when the stakes were highest, in the crisp autumn air of baseball’s postseason.

Jeter, long-revered by Yankee fans as “Captain Clutch” or “Mr. November,” holds a host MLB playoff records and has forged much of his reputation with dramatic postseason heroics.

Mariano, considered by many to be the greatest closer the game has ever seen, is a lock to join Jeter in the Hall of Fame once their playing careers conclude, and his postseason resume is one of the most impressive in baseball’s history.

Andy Pettitte also stands a chance to join his teammates in the Hall of Fame one day. Though he has never possessed the dominant stuff or numbers of the top aces in the game, Pettitte has nevertheless had an outstanding career and owns another highly impressive playoff career, one that boasts the most career victories in baseball postseason history. His longtime battery-mate, Jorge Posada, is a top 15 all-time catcher, and will get his share of Hall of Fame consideration as well once his playing days are over.

That incredible shared history is likely something that we won’t see again in baseball for quite some time.

The manner in which players move between teams today makes it quite rare what this group of Yankees has accomplished together. This offseason may very well represent a turning point in the story of the Yankees “Core Four” however.

With a devastating defeat in the American League Championship Series, comes a look toward the future for the Yankees. Constantly looking to evolve and improve their team, Brian Cashman and his fellow Yankee brass have some important decisions to make, and several significant determinations in regard to the “Core Four” with three of them at the end of their contracts. Even without the contract issues, the venerable quartet each come with their own set of questions as the Yankees head into a critical offseason.

Derek Jeter

The Yankee captain couldn’t have chosen a less opportune time to have his worst season of his storied career. Playing the final year of his 10-year, $189 million contract, Jeter struggled mightily outside of approximately seven weeks of the season. After posting one of his best seasons in 2009, hopes were high for Jeter as he entered his contract year, but those hopes were never realized. He looked a step slower in the field, and his bat had trouble catching up to fastballs all year. Outside of a hot April start, Jeter looked nearly incapable of driving the ball, instead racking up a massive collection of weak infield ground-outs.

His line-drive rate was the lowest of his career, his batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage all career lows. He was impatient, swinging at everything, especially in the first half, and he found himself killing more rallies than starting them.

Even in the postseason, where we are accustomed to Jeter outshining nearly everyone, he produced a steady stream of ground-outs, and was unable to pull any Jeterian magic from his hat.

Still, unabashed Jeter supporters will tell you that it was the only bad season of his career, and that he will rebound next year, because that’s just the way it is. Derek Jeter is a Yankee legend and he is their shortstop until he simply cannot do it anymore.

Some of that may be true; it may have simply been a down year. His uncharacteristic .270 batting average is actually only one point below Hall of Famer Joe Morgan’s career average. Jeter could very well rebound and look like himself again, but it’s never an encouraging sign to have your worst season, often appearing feeble and tired as you approach 37 years old. The established track record for players suddenly reversing decline at that age is short, especially after the end of the “steroid era.”

Most players exhibiting a severe decline in production might be facing the end of the line with their team as their current contract runs out. But, this is Derek Jeter. He has been the face of the most recent Yankee dynasty, and even the highest profile player in Major League Baseball for a decade and a half. His sterling reputation both on the field and off, combined with his overall package of looks and charm have made him the most marketable player the game has seen for quite some time, if not ever.

All of these factors come into play when considering the Derek Jeter contract situation. As much as his actual on-field production, Jeter has long been revered for the intangible qualities he possesses, his leadership abilities and the grace with which he handles the pressures of New York.

The Yankees are well aware of his impact on their bottom line. Any trip through Yankee Stadium or the surrounding Bronx streets will assure you of the captain’s popularity amongst Yankee fans. His jerseys are everywhere, from the old school fans that grew up with DiMaggio and Mantle, to the urban tough guys inhabiting the local neighborhoods, to little girls making their first trip to the stadium with their parents. Yankee fans, and there are many of them, love Derek Jeter.

Though out of a contract, there is no real fear that Jeter is going to ever don another uniform. There is the feeling that Jeter was born to be a Yankee, and to one day assume his place in the pantheon of career pinstriped heroes like Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Berra and Ford. Yes, I know Yogi had nine plate appearances with the Mets in 1965, but I’m not going to let that tarnish his stellar Yankee career.

As Jeter sits only 74 hits away from the 3,000-hit plateau, it stands to reason that he will reach it somewhere near the 2011 All-Star break. Since no Yankee has ever reached that mark, Jeter, already the all-time franchise hits leader, will undoubtedly achieve the feat in a New York uniform.

How to balance diminishing production with still undeniable value to the Yankee franchise? Jeter, though his numbers are declining, and no doubt his best days are behind him, will be paid as much for his intangible values, reputation and marketability as he will his baseball.

What is the appropriate amount to commit to a 36-year-old, singles-hitting shortstop with limited range? Not only that, but how long do you let him trot out to the most important position in the infield, knowing that range and athleticism are prime attributes that top shortstops must possess to be successful? That question becomes even more complicated considering the Yankees have all three other infield positions locked up long term, and Jeter has never played an inning in the outfield.

We know Derek Jeter is not going to play anywhere but the Bronx, in all likelihood ending his career as a Yankee. However, the situation could become much more complicated than many realize when considering Jeter’s future with the team. Everyone wants to see Derek Jeter play short forever, but history tells us that simply cannot happen. I don’t envy Brian Cashman in this scenario.

Mariano Rivera

Another modern Yankee legend that finds himself out of contract, Mariano Rivera, at age 40, just completed one of his finer seasons in pinstripes. Seemingly defying the nature of time itself, Mariano is as spry and fit as ever, providing the stable foundation for the Yankee bullpen 16 years into his career.

Completing his three-year, $45 million contract, there are suddenly worries that Mariano might be done with pitching. He will turn 41 in little over a month, and though his competitive fire still burns brightly, Mo has nothing left to prove in this game.

We also know Mo isn’t going to play anywhere else. A lifelong Yankee, the man is just as responsible for the Yankees’ five World Series rings during his career as anyone. Without the dominant force at the end of all those playoff games, who knows how different history could have been?

Using primarily his trademark cutter to shatter bats along with oppositional hopes as he silenced late-game offensive threats, Mariano has forged a reputation in many minds as the greatest closer the game has ever seen. His value to the Yankees has been readily apparent on the mound, but the depth of his impact reaches far beyond that. Mo has called upon his vast reserve of experience and knowledge to serve as a teacher and coach in the Yankee bullpen, imparting his wisdom on a variety of Yankee hurlers.

With no apparent replacement for Mariano currently within the Yankee ranks, it would appear that his formidable presence is still required by the team. Joba has not yet matured into the pitcher the Yankees envisioned, and free-agent closers of Mariano’s caliber simply don’t exist. The Yankees have had their eye on Joakim Soria in Kansas City, but his contract runs through 2011, with three option years following that. He may eventually be a target, but for now he doesn’t appear to be available.

It remains to be seen how much longer Mariano wants to pitch. After the World Series victory last year, he boldly proclaimed that he wants to pitch five more years. He has made no such claims recently though, and will return to Panama to ponder his baseball future.

One motivating factor could be the desire to wrest the all-time saves record from Trevor Hoffman. Sitting at 559, only 42 behind Hoffman, Mariano is clearly within striking distance. Though Hoffman is still active, he struggled through an abysmal season in Milwaukee, and could very well be considering hanging up his spikes. If so, Mariano would need just over a year’s worth of saves to take his rightful spot atop the all-time leader board. Whether Mo cares enough about personal records to continue playing for that reason is another story.

The other aspect of his story is that he was still one of the top relievers in the game, even as he approaches 41 years old. In 38 save opportunities, he saved 33 games for an 87 percent success rate, just below his career average of 89 percent. Though his strikeout rates may be lower, his 1.80 ERA was the fifth lowest of his career, and his 0.833 WHIP was the second lowest he has ever posted. He may not throw as hard as he once did, but his experience and veteran guile make him a more intelligent pitcher, enabling to him to continually succeed on the mound, despite the rigors of time.

The Yankees need a closer, and they appear unlikely to let the legendary closer they’ve employed for 16 years go anywhere. Depending upon a few other factors, we’ll have to wait and see how much money and many years the Yankees are willing to commit, but it seems highly likely that this successful partnership will continue for the foreseeable future.

Jorge Posada

Derek Jeter may be the captain, but Jorge Posada has long been considered the heart and soul of this Yankee team. More of a vocal leader than Jeter, Posada has helped steer the team with his toughness and determination, while playing a pivotal role in four world championships since 1997.

Posada, just turned 39 himself, and has seen better days. Though he is still under contract for one more year, he represents a significant question for the Yankees as they look toward next season.

His days as a regular catcher are clearly over, as he has only managed to catch 30, 100 and 83 games over the last three seasons, while also seeing significant time in the designated hitter role.

Jorge, a standout offensive performer relative to his position, is likely a top-15 catcher of all-time. His potent bat, patient approach and switch-hitting abilities have made him a constant fixture in the Yankee lineup for years. Though never considered a strong defensive catcher, his offensive abilities always outweighed his deficiencies behind the dish.

Never a quick-footed catcher, Jorge has always had a problem with blocking balls in the dirt and throwing out attempted base-stealers. Those problems were highlighted this postseason, as the Rangers ran rampant on a powerless Posada. Of course, some of that blame has to go to the pitchers for failing to control the running game, but Posada’s throws were weak and errant, allowing the Rangers to run at will, overwhelming the Yankees.

Clearly, the Rangers running game wasn’t the sole reason for the Yankee loss to Texas, but it was a significant factor. The pitchers were never able to focus on pitching because any time a baserunner reached, it was almost a foregone conclusion that he was about to steal his way into scoring position.

During the regular season, Yankee catchers threw out a measly 15 percent of attempted base-stealers, good for last in all of baseball. League average was 28 percent, and the next closest team was Boston at 20 percent. Clearly, this is a weakness that needs to be addressed.

Though his bat still contains plenty of pop, and his patient approach will still allow Posada to reach base at a steady rate, it becomes difficult to envision Jorge catching very often in 2011. With Francisco Cervelli having a solid year as his backup, and a stable full of young catching prospects waiting in the minors, Posada may be best suited for a DH role in the upcoming year.

One position the Yankees are stocked at is catcher, with uber-prospect Jesus Montero nearly MLB ready, Austin Romine making significant strides, as well as youngsters J.R. Murphy and Gary Sanchez developing in the lower minors. If Montero’s much-heralded bat is as lethal as reported, his time is surely approaching. His defense, always a weakness has reportedly improved greatly over the second half of 2010, and we may very well see his Bronx arrival sometime in 2011.

Posada, who hit 18 HR with 57 RBI while posting an .811 OPS in 2010, could see increased time in the designated hitter role. His experienced switch-hitting bat could serve in the spot where the Yankees used Nick Johnson, Marcus Thames and Lance Berkman in 2010, allowing younger, more defensively inclined youngsters to take over handling the pitching staff.

Though his veteran presence is preferred by the Yankees in the postseason, his stubborn methods of dealing with pitchers has helped create a difficult situation at times with various members of the Yankee staff. It has been public knowledge that specific pitchers don’t enjoy throwing to him, as he doesn’t frame pitches, lazily blocks balls in the dirt and butts heads with hurlers over pitch selection.

It may behoove the Yankees to minimize his time behind the plate in 2011, handing the reins to a duo of younger backstops. Of course, no one expects Posada to take that well when it inevitably occurs, but sometimes tough decisions need to be made, even when they apply to respected veterans in your squad.

Andy Pettitte

The third member of the Yankees Core Four to be out of contract is veteran left-hander, Andy Pettitte. A member of the Yankees since 1995, minus a three-year stint in Houston, Andy is also the proud owner of five World Series rings. His contributions to those postseason odysseys have been significant, as he is the all-time baseball postseason leader in victories.

While his fellow members of the Yankee starting rotation struggled to varying degrees in the 2010 playoffs, Pettitte registered two good starts, winning one and losing the other, but lasting seven innings each time, and utilizing his vast experience to shut down two powerful offenses. His outings were the only starts that felt the least bit comfortable from the Yankee starting staff.

His participation in the postseason was never a sure thing, as Andy made a last-ditch effort in the regular season’s final weeks to get himself ready for the playoffs. He missed a full two months of the season due to a groin injury he suffered on July 18, and only returned on September 18, a mere two weeks before the playoffs.

Prior to his injury, Pettitte was enjoying one of the finest years of his career, going 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA through July 18. He only was able to make three starts after returning from his stint on the DL, to uneven results. The Yankees were holding their breath, praying that their most experienced hurler could contribute as they attempted to defend their 2009 World Series title.

Pettitte’s triumphant return was a success on a personal level, but ultimately for naught, as the Yankees were thoroughly defeated in the ALCS, but through no fault of Andy’s.

Despite his great season, it remains to be seen whether Andy wants to continue pitching. It is likely that the Yankees would welcome his veteran presence in the middle of their rotation, however he has been a threat to retire at the end of every season for several years.

Still a highly competitive hurler, Pettitte proved that he can still pitch effectively, but his desire has to be there. Always a devoted family man, Andy Pettitte has placed his fate in the hands of his wife and kids, and will only pitch if they still want him to.

He recently stated that he has nothing left to accomplish in this game, so the seeds of doubt over his return have been planted. When on the hill, there is little doubt as to the degree of his competitive nature, but one can fully comprehend the desire of a man to spend more time with his wife and children.

The Yankees may be ready to heavily pursue ace Cliff Lee after the conclusion of the World Series. That would seem to cast some doubt on the availability of a rotation slot for Pettitte, but if it came down to it, I’m sure A.J. Burnett’s spot is not fully secured. I can tell you that nearly every Yankee fan I’ve ever met would personally help chip in for Burnett’s contract if it meant they could move him to accommodate Andy Pettitte.

Not Quite the End of an Era, but Getting There

In all likelihood, at least three members of the Core Four will remain in Yankee pinstripes for at least 2011. Posada will obviously stay for the coming season, and the overwhelming odds suggest Jeter and Mariano will sign new contracts to keep them in the Bronx for at least another few seasons.

Mariano will very likely be right where we expect him to be, anchoring the Yankee bullpen, providing security late in games as he has for years.

The time has come for Jeter and Posada to both take a serious look in the mirror, and realize that they aren’t the dynamic young stars of their youth. Both Yankee leaders still have a valuable role to play with the only team they have ever known, but it may be evolving as the team needs to move forward without getting bogged down by nostalgia.

Andy Pettitte, as we have grown accustomed, will take his time to make his decision, and we very well may have seen the last of him on a mound. Sitting at 240 career victories, another season or two worth of wins would certainly garner him some significant Hall of Fame consideration when combined with his impressive postseason career. Pettitte has never been big on personal accolades, but that thought has to at least cross his mind.

Whatever happens in the offseason will have to wait a while to be revealed, but a season of change is surely approaching in the Bronx. Much of the uncertainty revolves around the Yankees Core Four, and the manner in which change is handled will go a long way toward determining how successful the next few seasons are for the New York Yankees. No one wants to see history repeat itself and watch the dark days of the late ’60s and early ’70s return.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

While Cliff Lee of the Texas Rangers continues his somewhat surprising march toward baseball immortality, each of his subsequent dominant postseason starts helps him climb higher and higher toward the pinnacle of baseball’s Mount Olympus.

Already, after only parts of two seasons performing on baseball’s grandest stage, Lee has earned himself the right to be mentioned alongside legends of the game like Sandy Koufax, Whitey Ford and Bob Gibson, pitchers who excelled when the stakes were the highest.

As baseball fans, we constantly attempt to place our heroes within their proper historical context, by comparing them with stars of the divergent eras in the history of the game. Sure, Albert Pujols is amazing today, but how would he fare in the Polo Grounds, or against spit-ball pitchers? Could Babe Ruth possibly have crushed 714 home runs against today’s fire-balling hurlers and relief specialists? Tim Lincecum may be “The Freak,” but could his dominance withstand the expectation to throw 300 innings a year?

The comparison between Cliff Lee and Sandy Koufax becomes inevitable, as their names now sit near each other on many postseason baseball leader boards. Obviously, their shared, left-handed throwing hand makes them easy to group together, but more so, the way in which they have dominated their playoff opponents has elevated them above the rest of the field into a class of their own. After eight playoff appearances each, seven starts for Koufax, and eight for Lee, they are at a nearly identical point in their postseason careers, making the comparisons even more appropriate.

These similarities between the two dominant left-handed hurlers practically beg the question: if your team was facing a decisive Game 7 in a playoff series, who would you prefer to have starting on the hill? Cliff Lee or Sandy Koufax?

Begin Slideshow

After storming out to a 2-0 lead in their ALDS clash with the Tampa Bay Rays, it quickly appeared as if the Texas Rangers had taken firm control of the series and were inevitably headed to their first American League Championship Series appearance in franchise history.

Tampa however, had their sights set on returning to the World Series, to erase the bitter disappointment of losing the 2008 Fall Classic to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Rays stormed back in Games 3 and 4 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, evening the series at two games apiece, and setting up the decisive Game 5 match-up between the teams’ aces, Cliff Lee and David Price.

The rematch of ALDS Game 1 starters pitted two of the game’ s premier left-handed pitchers against one another in what promised to be quite the pitchers’ duel. Game 5 didn’t disappoint, as the two lefties battled for six innings, with Price being eventually touched for three runs by some timely Rangers’ hitting and aggressive base-running. Lee hurled yet another complete game, limiting the potent Rays’ offense to only one run on six hits and no walks, while striking out 11. Texas would add two more in the ninth to seal their 5-1 victory which would send them to their first ever ALCS.

With the Division Series now concluded, the Rangers can now look ahead and begin planning for their ALCS match-up against another AL East powerhouse, this time, the New York Yankees. During the regular season, the Yankees claimed the Wild Card by finishing 95-67, one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the Eastern Division race. New York’s path to the ALCS began with a definitive three-game sweep of the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins, in which outscored the Twins 17-7. Displaying offensive strength, dominant pitching, and stingy defense, the Yankees easily dispatched the Twins, and their deeply experienced roster makes them a formidable foe for the Rangers in the ALCS.

Let’s take a look at how the two teams stack up against one another, in a position by position analysis of the primary figures at each spot around the diamond.

Begin Slideshow

In a baseball season frequently dubbed “the year of the pitcher” because of the sudden proliferation of dominant mound performances seemingly helping to shut the door on Major League Baseball’s notorious “steroid era,” we are being treated to an encore presentation in the 2010 postseason.

Only partially through the first round of the Division Series segment of the playoffs, we have already seen Roy Halladay toss the second no-hitter in postseason history in his personal playoff debut. Tim Lincecum offered a similarly dominant debut with a complete game, two-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts.

Cole Hamels clinched Philadelphia’s NLDS sweep of the Reds with a complete game shutout, and Cliff Lee continued to add to his impeccable playoff resume with a third career postseason start in which he struck out at least 10, while walking none, a feat that has only been accomplished by four other pitchers in history.

Jonathan Sanchez pitched a brilliant game in his first taste of the playoffs, and Phil Hughes went seven shutout innings in his postseason debut to clinch the ALDS sweep for the Yankees. The Year of the Pitcher indeed.

As if we hadn’t been treated to enough incredible pitching already, ALDS Game 5, between the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, will feature a rematch of possibly the most tantalizing head-to-head pitching clash we have seen so far.

Two of the top lefties in the game, Cliff Lee and David Price, will reprise their starting roles from Game 1, in the final, decisive game between the Rangers and Rays, determining which team will host the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.

Game 1 wasn’t quite the pitchers’ duel we expected, as Price was roughed up by the Texas offense in 6.2 innings of his first career playoff start. The flame-throwing 25-year-old lefty had five previous postseason appearances under his belt from 2008, but he had not yet started a playoff game before this series opener.

David was hit hard and often as he allowed five runs on nine hits, two of those being home runs, as his Rays squad dropped the opening game 5-1 at home.

Cliff Lee, on the other hand, continued to add to what has already become a legendary playoff resume with yet another dominant postseason start in the last two years. Lee’s seven-inning performance, in which he allowed one run on five hits and no walks, with 10 strikeouts, pushed him to 5-0 with a 1.52 ERA in 6 career playoff starts.

His 1.52 ERA is the fifth-lowest in MLB history for pitchers with at least five playoff starts, trailing only four hurlers, three of whom are in the Hall of Fame. As previously stated, only seven times has a pitcher struck out at least 10 batters while walking none, and Cliff Lee has done it three times since last October.

The Rangers have precisely the right pitcher on the mound as they attempt to advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time in franchise history. They are fighting for the chance to go on to face the only other team they have ever played in the postseason, the New York Yankees, a team that has eliminated Texas in three playoff series since 1996.

Lee was acquired for occasions such as these, as his calm, cool demeanor projects an air of confidence that the Rangers hope will spur his teammates toward victory. In just a short time, Cliff Lee has crafted a well-deserved reputation as one of baseball’s best big-game pitchers.

During his short stint in Philadelphia last season, the Phillies rode him to Game 6 of the World Series before ultimately falling short to the very same Yankees that the Rangers are hoping to face in the ALCS. One can bet Cliff Lee has considered the shot at redemption against the team that denied him World Series glory in 2009.

For now though, Lee must not look ahead to the Yankees, as he faces a Tampa team who owned the best record in the American League during 2010. In his back pocket though, Lee knows that he just dominated the Rays in the very same venue less than a week ago. Despite that dominant outing in the ALDS opener however, Tampa were actually 3-0 versus Lee in 2010, as they managed 24 hits against him in 23.2 innings.

From the Rays’ perspective, there is at least that flicker of hope to rely on, and the knowledge that, after being down two games to none, momentum has now shifted in their favor. How far that pendulum has swung in Tampa’s direction will much depend on how well Lee can resemble his sterling playoff reputation.

Texas hope that they will see more of the same from the man they brought in to start games such as this one.

From Tampa’s perspective, they too have just the right pitcher heading to the mound for them in this decisive Game 5. All season long, David Price has been among the top pitchers in baseball, and will find his name right near the top of voting for the AL Cy Young Award at the conclusion of the postseason.

Price was 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA in his stellar breakout campaign during his first full year as a Major League hurler, playing a significant role in helping the Rays to the best record in the AL.

Aside from his subpar Game 1 performance against Texas, Price only faced the Rangers one other time in 2010. He earned a no-decision in his lone start against them, pitching six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and five walks, while striking out eight. Though he didn’t walk a batter in Game 1, he’ll have to avoid command issues against a powerful Texas lineup that can thoroughly punish a pitcher if given too many opportunities.

Despite winning the first two games in Tampa, the AL West Champion Rangers were not known as road warriors in 2010, as they only had a 39-42 road record, worst among American League playoff teams. Price knows that the Ranger offense isn’t nearly as explosive on the road, and will look to exploit that weakness in order to lead his team to an ALCS clash with the Yankees.

Texas was the fourth-highest scoring AL team in 2010, but only seventh away from Arlington. Their second-ranked team OPS at home of .800, drops to a seventh-ranked .716 on the road.

In addition to his opponents’ struggles on the road, David Price finds himself exactly where he wants to be come Tuesday evening. During his young career at Tropicana Field, Price is 17-5 with a 2.32 ERA, with a 1.10 WHIP and a .206 batting average against.

He has been even better in 2010, going 9-2 with a 1.96 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and an opponents’ OPS of .589, while striking out 107 in 114.2 innings. To say he is comfortable pitching at the Trop may be an understatement.

With the series tied at two games apiece, each team is feeling confident with their ace headed to the hill in the decisive Game 5 om Tuesday. The prize for victory will be an American League Championship Series date with the Yankees, an opportunity both teams will relish as they each seek the first World Series titles in their respective franchise histories.

Before we look ahead to that however, we should sit back and enjoy a rematch of ALDS Game 1 starters, Cliff Lee and David Price, two men hit that sit right at the top of the list of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball today. Play ball!

Please check out my piece on Roy Halladay’s No-hitter and the 10 Greatest Pitching Performances of MLB Postseason History.

For further coverage of the Texas Rangers’s 2010 postseason run by Scott Gyurina please read my prior articles:

Texas Rangers Firing On All Cylinders Against Tampa Bay Rays

Texas Rangers Vs. Tampa Bay Rays Positional Matchups

Texas Rangers’ Pitching Well-Armed For Deep Playoff Run

Texas Rangers: 10 Reasons They Can Beat the Yankees in the Playoffs

Texas Rangers’ 3 Biggest Question Marks Heading Into October

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Every year we hear the same whispers:

“How much longer can Mo last?”

Because it’s such an infrequent occurrence, anytime he blows a save, the doubters surface with their proclamations of Mariano’s imminent demise.

At a point in his life where most of his peers are playing golf, or delving into post-playing-career business ventures, the inimitable Mariano Rivera is continuing to add luster to his likely first-ballot Hall of Fame credentials.

It’s difficult to not lapse into fits of hyperbole when discussing the exploits of the humble man from Panama simply known as Mo. To speak of him is reminiscent of the accolades bestowed upon “the most interesting man in the world.”

He executes his craft with surgical precision, yet with such simplicity, and with a grace befitting a nobleman. It occasionally appears as if what he does is easy. To be clear, it is anything but.

His failings are so rare, especially upon the grand stage of baseball’s postseason, that we can remember them perfectly, likely even more so than his abundant successes. They stand out so dramatically from the bulk of his performances that they have seared themselves into our collective memory. Mariano Rivera’s dominance feels so commonplace that we barely bat an eye as he repeatedly shatters both bats and dreams.

With yet another entry into his vast collection of MLB playoff appearances, we are reminded what a blessing it has been to watch this man ply his trade over the last 16 baseball seasons. Even the most devout Yankee-hater finds difficulty disparaging the highly-respected Mariano Rivera or his accomplishments.

After laboring through a September in which he more than doubled his total of blown saves through the first five months of the season, the doubts began to resurface whether the Yankees could count on the stalwart at the back end of their bullpen to perform in October.

His performances during September, while not terrible, certainly didn’t approach the dominance he had displayed from April through August. In that stretch, he pitched in 49 games, logging 47.2 innings, and was 27 of 29 in save opportunities, while striking out 38 and only allowing 27 hits and 9 walks. His sparkling 1.13 ERA, .163 batting average against, and opponents’ OPS of .442 were among the very best marks of his career.

When his September ERA jumped to 4.76, with a .273 batting average against and .713 OPS, while blowing three of his eight save opportunities, theories that age had suddenly caught up to Mariano seemed to proliferate.

His opposition could only hope. 

Mariano Rivera served to thrust the proverbial dagger into the hearts of his Minnesota rivals, mercilessly ending each game with his own brand of shutdown pitching. Overall in the ALDS, he pitched 3.1 innings, allowing no runs and only two base-runners on two singles—one of which was actually an out, when umpires missed Greg Golson’s shoestring catch on Delmon Young’s sinking liner.

Although he only struck out one hitter, his dominance was such that Young was the only hitter to even make solid contact against him. The rest were the usual flares and harmless grounders that hitters routinely muster against the greatest closer that baseball has ever seen.

In the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 1 at Target Field, Mo entered with men on second and third and two outs, as the Yankees clung to a two-run lead. But after he retired Denard Span on a weak ground-out to Derek Jeter, the bottom of the ninth inning seemed like merely a formality.

He had extinguished the Twins’ dreams of a comeback in the eighth, and by the time they faced him in the ninth, the game felt like it was already over. Such is the futility most teams feel when tasked with mounting a comeback against him, especially in the playoffs.

Game 2 was more of the same, as Mariano entered the ninth, this time with a three-run lead. After Joe Mauer led off with an opposite field single, the Twins may have briefly entertained notions of a comeback, but those were quickly quashed as Mo induced a tailor-made double-play grounder to the next hitter.

He then retired Jim Thome on a soft fly-out to shallow left, strangely reminiscent of the soft fly that Thome ended the previous night’s game with.

As Game 3 entered the ninth inning, the Yankees possessed a seemingly insurmountable 6-1 lead at home this time at Yankee Stadium. Usually, Joe Girardi would prefer not to use Mo in such a situation, however after Kerry Wood tried to make a mess of the eighth inning, offering the Twins a minuscule glimmer of hope, the Yankees were unwilling to leave anything to chance.

With the chance to sweep, knowing that the Yankees would have several days to let their pitchers recover, Girardi wasn’t worried about burning out his veteran closer. Rivera entered in the top of the ninth, and quickly dismissed slugger Jim Thome on a strikeout looking, precisely locating cutters to retire the powerful designated hitter for the third time in three games.

The next two batters each flew out harmlessly to end the game, as well as baseball season in Minnesota, until it begins anew next spring.

Aside from the slightly tense eighth inning during Game 1, there was very little drama at the conclusion of any of the games. That was due partly to the Yankee leads of two, three, and five runs respectively, but additionally, the notion of Mariano Rivera looming in the bullpen serves as a psychological weapon that serves to weaken the resolve of even the best teams.

It essentially shortens the games, forcing teams to press more in the innings immediately preceding Mo’s ninth inning domain. If not leading a game by then, your only option is to come back from a deficit against a pitcher who, in his postseason career, is 41-of-47 save opportunities with a 0.72 ERA and only 84 hits allowed in 136.2 innings.

In other words, the odds are slim.

Interestingly, the conclusion of the 2010 World Series will see Mariano Rivera become a free agent, along with his teammate of 16 seasons with the New York Yankees, shortstop Derek Jeter. Of course, no one thinks realistically that either of them will play anywhere but the Bronx in 2011 and beyond, but it remains to be seen how long Mariano Rivera desires to pitch.

On November 29 the ageless Mariano will celebrate his 41st birthday. In this “post-steroid era” we now find ourselves in, we have seen players once again declining and retiring in their late-30’s, unlike their pharmaceutical-enhanced brethren from just a few years ago who were able to bypass the natural rigors of time trough chemistry.

Mo though, continues to defy the odds, and is clearly still near the top of his game at his relatively advanced age.

Clearly, Mariano has nothing left to prove, as he is widely revered as the greatest closer the game has ever seen, even if he doesn’t yet own the all-time saves record. I don’t know how much being the all-time saves leader would mean to Mo, but one has to think that a competitor of his caliber would at least be intrigued by the possibility of being alone atop the list of greatest closers in baseball history.

As it sits currently, Mariano Rivera is second to only Trevor Hoffman on the all-time saves leader board, and only 42 behind Hoffman. With Hoffman still pitching, it may be difficult to catch him, but with Trevor’s significant struggles in Milwaukee this season, his similarly impressive career may be coming to a close.

With a gap of 42 saves separating them, Mo could conceivably catch and pass Hoffman within two years. It’s certainly not unrealistic to envision the impeccably conditioned Mo pitching another two seasons in pinstripes.

Once the day comes when the Yankee manager no longer has Mariano Rivera to call upon out in the bullpen, the Yankees will certainly feel the effects of his absence as they try to fill the void left by the departure of one of the consistently reliable pitchers baseball has ever known. Finding a suitable replacement will be difficult, if not downright impossible to achieve. Even the best candidate will likely pale in comparison to the peerless Sandman.

For the moment though, the Yankees don’t have to be concerned with such unpleasant thoughts. They only have to focus on preparing for their second consecutive American League Championship Series, resting assured that Mo is still here, and in just the position he prefers himself to be in—pitching under the bright lights of October playoff baseball. Enter Sandman indeed.

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Now we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, not quite yet. With a two games to none advantage in the American League Division Series battle against the Tampa Bay Rays, the mood surrounding this Rangers ballclub is rather positive. After comprehensively beating the Rays in the first two games, on the road no less, this Texas ballclub is brimming with confidence.

For a team that was viewed as underdogs by many against whichever AL East foe they faced, the Rangers appear remarkably in control of the series that they find themselves involved in. With a 5-1 opening victory over leading Cy Young candidate David Price, led by a dominant Cliff Lee, the foundation was laid. Backing that up with a similarly impressive outing by C.J. Wilson, augmented by a potent offensive attack, Texas is looking like a force to be reckoned with.

A franchise traditionally associated with powerful, slugger-laden offenses, the Texas Rangers finally appear to have discovered that the key to greater success is a well-rounded club capable in all facets of the game.

Thus far in the ALDS, this new team philosophy appears to be reaping its rewards. No longer a one-dimensional club, the Rangers have constructed a team centered on its strong pitching, but still able to slug with the best of them. These primary strengths are complemented by efficient base-running and solid defense to give this Texas team a multidimensional attack less susceptible to being easily shut down.

Starting Pitching

As everyone should now by now, success in baseball always starts with strong starting pitching. The Rangers were a club rarely associated with dominant pitching through the years.  Team president Nolan Ryan has worked tirelessly to reverse that perception and his hard work is paying dividends.  Led by its two lefties, Cliff Lee, the highly-coveted ace, imported from the Seattle Mariners in a June trade, and C.J. Wilson, a homegrown talent converted from a late-game relief specialist to a starter just last offseason, the Rangers find themselves in good hands.

Cliff Lee was brought here specifically to lead the rotation into the playoffs, in their quest to reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history. His impressive postseason resume from 2009 was one of his primary attractions, and he lived up to the hype as well as he could in his Rangers postseason debut.

Pitching in hostile territory in Florida, Cliff Lee set the tone for the series with his dominant Game 1 start. The stoic lefty ran into trouble in the first inning, allowing three singles in the first four batters to load the bases, a less than confidence inducing start to the proceedings. However, he quickly recovered to strike out Carlos Pena and Rocco Baldelli, stranding the bases loaded. That would be the last trouble he would face for the remainder of the game. After the first, Lee would allow only two other hits, a second inning double to Ben Zobrist, and a solo home run, also to Zobrist, in the the seventh inning while the Rangers already led comfortably 5-0.

His impeccable command was on display once again, as he became the first American League pitcher to strike out 10 batters in a playoff game while not walking a single hitter. It has only occurred seven times in MLB history, and Cliff Lee has now accomplished the feat three times, twice last year with the Phillies. Overall, Lee pitched seven innings, allowing five hits, no walks, with 10 strikeouts, exceeding the Rangers wildest hopes.

Following Cliff’s lead, C.J. Wilson offered his own highly dominant performance to further deflate the hopes of a stunned Tampa Bay Rays club. After allowing a lead-off single to Jason Bartlett to start the game, Wilson didn’t allow another hit until the bottom of the seventh inning. In between, he walked two hitters, but that would be all he would permit to reach base in his 6.1 innings of work, while striking out seven Rays. If he is able to consistently pitch like that following Lee, the Rangers like their chances against anyone in baseball. The baton is now passed to Colby Lewis to keep the train rolling in Saturday’s Game 3.

Relief Pitching

When your first two starting pitchers in a series pitch deep into the game, both reaching at least the seventh inning, it greatly reduces the stress on your bullpen. That’s precisely how any manager draws it up, a deep, effective starting performance, then hand the ball over to your elite relief arms. No messing with questionable middle relief, no stressful decisions on which relievers to use. You want your starters to transition seamlessly into your best setup men, then directly to the closer. Simple.

After two games in the ALDS, Ron Washington has been able to do just that. Thanks to his dominant starting pitchers, he has only needed to use his most reliable bullpen arms for a total of 4.2 innings. Both Darren O’Day and Darren Oliver have pitched in each game, with Oliver pitching three innings, allowing no hits and one walk, while striking out two. O’Day has face three batters, allowing a single, but striking out the other two. Closer Neftali Feliz was used in Game 1 to finish off the opening victory. He made it interesting to start the ninth, walking the first two hitters, but then retired Ben Zobrist on a liner to right and struck out the last two hitters to preserve the win. Order was restored.

No one can predict if the Rangers’ starters will continually work into the seventh inning as they have thus far, but even if they don’t, Ron Washington has a handful of reliable arms to hand the ball to late in games.

Offensive Production

A team usually doesn’t count on their run production increasing in the postseason when you’re facing the best pitching staffs in the game, but that’s precisely what the Rangers have done over the first two games of the ALDS. After averaging 4.86 runs per game in the regular season, placing fourth amongst American League clubs, the Rangers have increased that rate to 5.5 runs per game with 11 runs scored in the series thus far. Of course, it’s only a two game sample, but that bodes well for a team making its first playoff appearance since 1999, proving that they won’t wilt under the glare of the bright lights in October.

Through two games, the Rangers are balancing their strong pitching performances with a robust offensive attack, making it difficult to key in on any specific weak point in their game. Shutting down the opposition and scoring runs, the two primary aspects of a successful baseball team.

Thus far, the Rangers are tied with the Yankees with their 11 runs scored, are second to New York in total hits, have hit the most home runs of any playoff team, and have the highest slugging percentage in the postseason. Possibly the most encouraging sign for the Rangers is that they have accomplished that all on the road, where they struggled to a 39-42 record during the regular season. Many wondered if the team could hit enough away from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington to win crucial road games. Well, the team has stepped up and answered that question emphatically.

Also encouraging is that the Rangers are producing offensively, and they haven’t yet gotten a lot out of their two biggest hitters, Josh Hamilton and Vlad Guerrero. It has been a balanced attack, seeing four different players hit a home run each, with six different hitters collecting an RBI. This bodes well for the team going forward. If opposition is able to focus in on a couple of key hitters, it makes it much easier to stifle an offense, but if you never know where the damage is coming from, each batter is a critical situation for your opponents’ pitching staff.

Looking Ahead

With home-field now secured for the remainder of the ALDS, the Rangers are in prime position to advance beyond the Division Series for the first time in club history. The Rangers are a much more potent offensive club at home in Arlington than on the road, and will look to put the Rays out of their misery in the next two games. Texas was 51-30 at home this year, so heading back to Rangers Ballpark to try to conclude the series should bolster the team’s confidence even further. Although the Rangers don’t want to look too far beyond Game 3 on Saturday, their advance scouts have their eyes on their potential ALCS foes, with the Yankees looming as favorites to advance alongside Texas. If that matchup eventually occurs, it would represent an opportunity for the Rangers to exorcise their franchise’s playoff demons against the only team they have ever faced in the postseason, a team that has defeated Texas in three consecutive playoff series dating back to 1996.

Like I said, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves just yet though. For now, let’s look forward just to Saturday’s Game 3 in Arlington as the Rangers will look to finish off the Tampa Bay Rays as quickly as possible, and then we can start making arrangements for the American League Championship Series.

Please check out further coverage of the Rangers’ Playoff action and analysis of their postseason aspirations by Scott Gyurina.

MLB Playoff Predictions: Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays Positional Match-ups

Texas Rangers Pitching Well-Armed For Deep Playoff Run

Texas Rangers: How They Can Beat the Yankees In the Postseason

Texas Rangers’ 3 Biggest Question Marks Heading Into Postseason Action

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Finally. With the completion of Sunday’s Major League Baseball regular season schedule, we now know who’s in, who’s out, and which matchups to look forward to when playoff action commences Wednesday.

For some, season-long dreams were crushed, and in other cities, storied franchises will be returning to postseason baseball after a long time away, and feel good stories abound. A baseball prodigy once far-removed from the game due to his personal battles with substance abuse and addiction will make his playoff debut, as he helped lead his team to their first postseason appearance since 1999. Further east, legendary manager Bobby Cox, in his farewell to baseball, will try to lead his Atlanta Braves to World Series glory one last time.

A new crop of baseball’s younger generation of marquee stars will also be making their first appearances on the game’s grandest stage. With their victory over the heartbroken San Diego Padres on the season’s final day, the San Francisco Giants return for the first time since the Barry Bonds era, led by two-time Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum and rookie catcher Buster Posey making their playoff debuts.

Cincinnati’s Joey Votto, a man who gave a valiant effort in a battle for a potential National League Triple Crown will see his first playoff action, as well as the Reds’ first since 1995. Jason Heyward of the Braves will try to cap off his impressive rookie campaign with a successful postseason run.

All those potentially great stories aside, for the moment, our focus is on the American League Division Series. The Rangers had long had the AL West wrapped up, playing out the final two months of the regular season with little drama due to their sizable lead in the division. With their playoff appearance virtually locked up for quite some time, the Rangers were only left to wonder who their opposition would be, as the Rays and Yankees were locked in a heated battle for divisional supremacy until the very last day of the season.

As the Yankees sputtered in Boston, the Rays triumphantly finished out their season in Kansas City, celebrating their second division title in three years, after a decade of cellar dwelling in the big-money AL East.

Since the Yankees and Rays are unable to face each other due to both hailing from the AL East, the Rays, owners of the best record in baseball, will then face the division winner with the lowest winning percentage, rather than the wild card team. This configuration means that the Rangers will travel to St. Petersburg for the Wednesday opener of what should be a thrilling ALDS matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays.

In anticipation of this meeting of two of baseball’s most dynamic and well-rounded teams, let’s take a look at the on-field matchups, position-by-position to find out which team has the edge in this leg of the ALDS.

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The age-old axiom so often quoted in baseball circles that pitching and defense win championships is just as true today as it has always been. Of course, loaded lineups and the ability to score runs in bunches are always a plus, but those aspects of a team don’t always show up in the playoffs when you’re facing the best pitching staffs in the league.

Fortunately for them though, the Texas Rangers possess the best of both worlds. They have a deep pitching staff, led by one of today’s premier left-handers, as well as the fifth-highest scoring offense in Major League Baseball. Even on the days that their lineup isn’t battering opponents pitching, Texas‘ staff can keep them in tight contests long enough to squeak out wins late in games.

Texas has a long tradition of slugging ball-clubs in Arlington, but under the guidance of team president, baseball Hall-of-Famer and former Ranger fire-baller, Nolan Ryan, the Rangers have endeavored to remake themselves as a pitching oriented franchise.

Helping lead them to an American League West title, and their first playoff appearance since 1999, their pitching staff as a whole is currently fourth in the AL with a 3.93 ERA. The starting staff has been consistent if unspectacular, but is rounding into form as the post-season approaches.

Their starters’ ERA of 4.25 ranks them eighth amongst AL clubs and their WHIP of 1.33 places them seventh. They have pitched slightly better in the second half, partially due to the arrival of Lee.

Texas’ bullpen has been a strength all year with its 3.33 ERA leading all American League bullpens, and their collective WHIP of 1.27 places them third in the AL. Their 7.63 strikeouts per nine innings ranks them fourth in the AL. Rangers pitchers are a significant factor in the increasing confidence evident around the Ballpark in Arlington.

Originally intending to use a three man starting rotation throughout the first-round divisional series, the club decided to go with a four-man staff after analyzing the statistics regarding pitching on three days rest.

For the ALDS, the Rangers will pitch Cliff Lee in Game 1, C.J. Wilson will take the mound for Game 2, followed by Colby Lewis in Game 3, and if necessary, Tommy Hunter will be handed the ball in Game 4. A playoff hero for the Phillies last season, Lee would then take the ball in a decisive Game 5 if the series came to that.

Lee, the suddenly well-traveled ace, has pitched for four teams in the last year-and-a-half, after spending the first seven-and-a-half years of his career in Cleveland. After getting off to a superb start with the Mariners, he was traded to the Rangers on July 9 to bolster their starting staff in order to make a strong run at a playoff berth. His numbers have dipped slightly after coming to Texas, but overall he has pitched well.

After the trade, he is 4-6 with a 3.98 ERA and a WHIP of 1.06. A poor August skewed his overall numbers, but his performances have been improving, and he just finished a stellar September in which he went 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA, as opponents only hit .189 against him.

His dominant playoff performance in 2009, in which he was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in five starts, gives Texas every reason to hope he can repeat that form as he leads them deep into October.

Converted reliever C.J. Wilson made a seamless transition to the starting rotation for the Rangers. After spending the previous four years as a closer and set-up man, he has been one of the Rangers top starters all year. The lefty is currently 14-8 in 32 starts, pitching 199 innings, striking out 166, while posting an ERA of 3.35, with a WHIP of 1.25. He has proved tough to hit, as opponents have only hit .217 against him.

Wilson has been brutal on lefties, as they’ve only hit .144 against him, with a paltry .400 OPS. C.J. will prove a valuable commodity against any team with big left-handed hitters that the Rangers may face in the playoffs.

Game 3 starter Colby Lewis has made a triumphant return to Major League Baseball after pitching the last two seasons in Japan. Although he’s only 12-13, the big right-hander has pitched well, tallying 196 innings, and leading the team in strikeouts with 192. His 3.72 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and .231 opponents’ batting average have earned him a coveted spot in Ron Washington‘s post-season plans.

In the event of a Game 4 in the ALDS, 24-year-old Tommy Hunter will get the nod. After a solid first year with the team in 2009, Hunter joined the rotation in Arlington during June of this year. Overall his stellar 13-4 record, 1.27 WHIP and 3.72 ERA have been a pleasant development for the Rangers, but he has pitched even better than his totals might suggest.

Of course, the win/loss totals are great, but the ERA is bloated by a few terrible starts, but otherwise he has been a force in the rotation. Out of his 21 starts, he has gone at least six innings and allowed two or less earned runs in nine of them. His emergence has allowed the Rangers the luxury of a deep four man staff to ease the burden on the front three, eliminating the need for Lee to pitch on three days rest.

Although the Rangers have yet to announce their final post-season rosters, several recent revelations have helped to form a clearer picture of what their bullpen could look like in the playoffs.The decision to use Hunter as the fourth starter has eliminated him from inclusion in the relief corps.

It has also been announced that Frank Francisco, the 2010 squad’s original closer, who transitioned to a set-up role in favor of highly-touted phenom Neftali Feliz, won’t be available to pitch until at least the American League Championship Series.

Francisco strained a rib cage muscle in late August, and was hoping to return prior to the division series, but a recent MRI revealed that he was not yet ready to begin his throwing program.

After Feliz assumed control of the closer’s role around May 1, Francisco had thrived as the primary set-up man, throwing 41.2 innings, striking out 51 and only walking 11, posting a 1.15 WHIP and a 3.24 ERA, while stranding 85% of inherited base-runners. His presence will undoubtedly be missed.

Thankfully for the Rangers’ sake though, they possess a strong stable of quality arms capable of filling the void created by Francisco’s injury. After making his debut on June 15, rookie Alexi Ogando has emerged as likely candidate to fill Francisco’s role. He has assimilated nicely into the late-inning corps available to Ron Washington.

His predominantly fastball/slide repertoire has stymied AL hitters thus far, making him a dangerous weapon late in games. In just 40.1 innings, he has struck out 37, only allowed 31 hits, a fine 1.17 WHIP and a 1.34 ERA.. His only Achilles heal may be that he allowed 40 percent of inherited runners to score, so he is not ideal for situational use.

Closer Neftali Feliz is finishing off his first full season in fine form. Originally slated as a set-up man, he assumed full control of the closer’s role after Francisco’s struggles and never looked back. In 68.1 innings, he has notched 71 strikeouts, allowed a stellar 0.89 WHIP, a 2.77 ERA, with 39 saves in 42 opportunities.

Opponents have only hit .177 against him, with a meager OPS of .520. After struggling slightly at times early in the year, he has been absolutely dominant in the second half, posting an ERA of 1.47 and a WHIP of 0.69 after the All-Star Break. Although only 22 years old, there is little doubt about his ability to shut down the Rangers; opposition in the late innings of October.

Darren O’Day offers the Rangers the versatility to be utilized in a variety of roles. His submarine style delivery makes him death on RH hitters, as they only hit .185 off him in 2010. He was effective against lefties as well, only allowing them a .229 average, so he is not limited to situational status.

Overall, in 71 appearances, he has thrown 61 innings, allowing only 43 hits for a minuscule 0.90 WHIP. He only struck out 43, but excelled at keeping men off base. His arm will surely prove useful over the coming weeks.

Darren Oliver keeps defying time, and at age 40, continues to provide Ron Washington with a valuable veteran arm as his left-handed specialist. Since transitioning to full-time bullpen work in 2006, Oliver has turned in three of his best career seasons from 2008-10. Pitching 60.2 innings, he struck out 65, with a WHIP of 1.10, and an ERA of 2.52.

Against left-handed hitters is where he excels, only allowing a .192 average and .516 OPS in those splits. With all the top left-handed hitter on the opponents’ playoff rosters, Oliver will surely be a valuable component of the Ranger bullpen.

Other left-handed options for the bullpen include young starters Matt Harrison and Derek Holland. Due to their starting experience, each could be valuable as a long reliever as well. Holland could also be suited as a LH specialist to aid Oliver, since he only allowed lefties to hit .130 this year with an impressive .362 OPS.

Harrison was not as effective against lefties and struggled somewhat with his control this year, so he would most likely see long relief duty if included on the roster. Scott Feldman provides another long relief option as a regular starter, but he struggled mightily this year with a 1.6 WHIP and 5.48 ERA, after posting a strong 2009 in which he won 17 games.

Manager Ron Washington has several other hard-throwing options to choose from as he finalizes his postseason bullpen. Dustin Nippert can bring the heat as he vies for a spot in the Texas pen. He was very good in 2009, but regressed in 2010, as he struggled with his command and appeared too hittable at times. His 4.36 ERA was decent, but his 1.73 WHIP provided evidence to support the concerns over his ability to keep men off base.

Mark Lowe could be a late inclusion to help fill Francisco’s shoes. He has only pitched one inning for the Rangers after rehabbing from a back injury, but he is receiving a late look to see if he may help bridge the gap to Feliz.

A wild-card could be Rich Harden, he of the phenomenal ability, but unable to stay healthy. He was used only a couple times in relief, to disastrous results, but the Rangers may be inclined to try to get some value out of him, as they have thus far not been repaid on their $7.5 million investment.

We shall soon know how the Texas Rangers will construct their post-season bullpen for their first playoff appearance since 1999. Whichever relievers he selects, Ron Washington possesses a deep group to choose from, and the Rangers appear well-armed to attempt to make it beyond the Divisional Series for the first time in franchise history.

Please check out Featured Columnist Brian Winett’s detailed analysis of all the playoff teams’ bullpens in this piece.

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2010 season has represented unfamiliar territory for Yankee fans. For the first time in his distinguished 16-year career, Derek Jeter has struggled mightily with the bat for significant portions of the season. Generally regarded as one of the top offensive shortstops baseball has ever seen, the Yankee captain has thus far been a shadow of his former self at the plate.

After posting what many consider one of his greatest seasons in 2009, Derek has regressed terribly, leading many to wonder if he is facing the inevitable decline phase that unmercifully befalls all athletes eventually. For a player who hit .334 with an OPS of .871 last year, the fall from grace has been dramatic. His average currently stands at a career-worst .268, his slugging percentage only .369, and his mediocre OPS of .707 is also the lowest of his career. His OPS-plus of 89 is by far the lowest of his career as well; the first time he has posted an OPS-plus lower than the league average of 100.

Despite all the dire indicators however, there may still be reason to hope. Yankee fans and unwavering Jeter supporters have held the belief that the Yankee captain will revert to his former ways, turning up his performance when the calendar turns to October, and the games matter the most. Long esteemed as a great playoff performer, it seems almost inconceivable that Derek Jeter could go out with a whimper, carrying his sub-par 2010 offensive performance into the postseason.

Mired in a season long slump after a hot start during April, Jeter has appeared impatient, less selective and utterly incapable of driving the ball as he once had. Suddenly though, just as many Yankee fans have long hoped, he is once again hitting at the top of the Yankee lineup.

Posting miserable OPS totals of .622 in July and then .652 in August, Jeter’s September started off just as badly, or even worse, as he hit a paltry .186 with a .527 OPS over the first 10 games of the month. Somewhere amidst those struggles he found a small spark, embarking upon a 14-game hitting streak in the middle of September. Throughout his hitting streak, he batted .322 with a much improved OPS of .804.

Giving himself and Yankee fans reason to believe as October approached, Jeter once again appeared calm and composed at the plate, such a familiar sight to followers of the game for the last 16 seasons in which Jeter has graced the diamond.

Over the last 15 games since September 14, Derek has hit .339, reached base at a .432 clip, posted an OPS of .820, while scoring 14 runs and grounding into only one double-play, something that had become increasingly routine for him as he struggled. Detractors might point at his high batting average on balls in play of .420, presenting his apparent resurrection as merely luck, and that may be true to some degree. But, even so, after a season of so many negatives for the captain, a little good fortune won’t be viewed as a bad thing.

Whether Jeter’s recent turnaround is a result of a small sample size, good luck or an actual improvement in his offensive production, offering a glimpse of what to expect in October, Yankee fans don’t really care. They’ll care that the captain is hitting again, just in time, as he prepares to lead his team into the postseason in order to defend the Yankees‘ World Series title that they currently hold.

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With their thrilling 4-3 victory over the A’s in Oakland on Saturday, the Texas Rangers have finally made their long-awaited return to baseball’s promised land, earning their first postseason berth since 1999.

While it was nearly a foregone conclusion that they would eventually clinch the AL West, considering their significant division lead, nothing in baseball is ever set in stone until the other potential outcomes are mathematically eliminated. The Rangers were able to erase any lingering doubt, claiming the American League West division crown with a week’s worth of regular-season action remaining.

The ability to clinch with a week left should not be underestimated. Although their rotation has been set-up for postseason action for the last few weeks, the Rangers now don’t have to rely on dramatic “must-win” scenarios for at least a week, easing the burden on their staff.

Relievers can also be used judiciously, keeping them fresh for baseball’s “second season,” while still giving them the proper amount of work to keep them sharp and ready. Similarly, position players are now afforded the opportunity to heal their weary bodies, and opportunity that their opponents, Tampa or New York won’t have.

In baseball, it pays to adhere to the age-old cliches of “taking one day at a time” or “never looking beyond today’s game,” but now the Rangers can actually look ahead somewhat, with their clinching victory rendering the remainder of the regular season meaningless in terms of playoff ramifications.  

Texas knows that since the Rays and Yankees hail from the same division, they are unable to play each other in the first round of the divisional playoffs, so one must play the Rangers, and the other, the Twins.

Currently, with the Yankees and Rays embroiled in a tight division race, only separated by a half-game, the AL East battle is likely to go down to the final day of the season. As it stands today, the Rays lead the East with the best record in the league, and would therefore play the postseason entrant with the lowest winning percentage, the Rangers.

That could all change over next few days if the Tampa and New York were to exchange places in the East standings, in which case, the Rangers would then face the Yankees in the Division Series. Although the Yankees have been a strong team, and are the defending World Series champions, there are many factors that may contribute to that being a match-up that the Rangers would actually prefer, if given the choice.

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