Live.Laugh.Rangers

You guys knew it was coming. Like I could go this entire World Series without blogging about my beloved Rangers! Life has been beyond crazy lately, so blogging hasn't been on the top of my priority list. I could not, however, let this amazing season come to an end without putting my two cents in a blog. So here goes!

I love my Rangers. They have made my life better since moving to Fort Worth. Once I graduated from LSU and moved back to Texas, there was a gaping hole in my life. It was a void that I dealt with due to the lack of being able to watch my precious Tigers on Saturday nights in Tiger Stadium. There's not much like college football, but the Rangers have given me something to get excited about again. Something to look forward to every weekend (or weekday) that they're in town from April to October. I've been a Rangers fan since I was little. That was part of our summer "vacations" (come on guys, a coach's salary doesn't take three kids on worldly vacations every year!), and we loved it. Six Flags and the Rangers games. My family is so sports-obsessed that I don't even know if we realized that it was abnormal to choose the Ballpark over the beach. The past couple of years have put an exclamation mark on my childhood...to be able to see Rangers make history has been nothing short of phenomenal. I love true TEAM sports. I chalk it up to my up-bringing. More specifically, my dad that has worked so hard his entire career trying to show kids that being a selfless, committed athlete is second to nothing else. He showed me how sports that involve multiple people working together for a common goal is so special. The Rangers have shown the somewhat uptight and high-strung baseball world that you don't need ONE standout player, that having FUN and playing like you're just kids at a little league ballpark is actually okay. The hand signs and the pre-game laughs, the post game shaving cream pie-faces, and the enthusiastic energy of Ron Washington illustrate the bond that this team has that is unlike any other. Simply put, it's just fun to be a fan. Some call me obsessed, and that's probably true, but I don't care. I love it.

Now down to some serious baseball talk, how about Derek Holland? Wait, I said serious. There's not a lot about that guy that I can take seriously. The pre-pubescent trash stache is about the most amazing thing I've ever seen. His voices and impersonations are hilarious. He's got Harry Caray down PAT, and his Arnold Schwartzenegger is classic. But when it's time to get down to baseball, his performance on Sunday was freaking perfection, and we were there to see every pitch. People are bashing him today for not being serious enough during the game last night, but oh my geez people give the guy a break! It's his personality to behave the way he did on air last night, and it's been the mantra for the Rangers the past several years to NOT take everything so seriously and to just play ball. They feed off the personality of their manager. They are passionate and fun-loving and that's why the DFW metroplex and the rest of Texas have fallen in love with this team. Get off Holland's back; he was giving the people what they want! And just to reiterate my point about the awesomeness that is his stache...

I mean seriously, how could you not love that guy? It's taken him like 3 months to grow that unfortunate caterpillar on his top lip. I dig it.

Few more things about Ron Washington. 1.) So glad he accepts responsibility for his mistakes and holds himself and his team accountable. 2.) His excitement is contagious and his moves are to die for. If you don't understand my love for Ron Washington, the most animated manager of all time...you've gotta watch this video. Enjoy!

The Ron Washington DANCE.

And PS, I miss the Ron Washington kid from last year! BEST COSTUME EVER.

Moving on. Some things to note before the end of this blog.

1. Andrus & Kinsler are an awesome combo up the middle.

2. Nelly Cruz in the ALCS was one of the most clutch performances by an athlete I've ever seen.

3. I love Josh Hamilton. Yes, still.

4. Beltre was totally worth the money.

5. Can't go wrong with our outfield no matter who is out there defensively...but Murphy is a key to this team...offensively and defensively.

6. Mitch Moreland's homerun last night was WOW.

7. Bullpen. Nuff said.

8. Feliz...6-0.

9. I.like.Mike. Best.Leader.EVER.

10. It truly is Naptober. The year of the Napoli. NAP-O-LI M-V-P!!!

I know I'm all over the place with this blog. And I know that my brother will surely come at me with his superior baseball knowledge and tell me that some of this stuff is wrong and blah blah...but I'm a girl and I don't keep up with stats. I have, however, watched more MLB network the past two weeks than I ever imagined possible, but I still call 'em like I see 'em. That being said, boys will continue to inform me of every answer to every sports question I could ever have, and the girls can just read my blog and enjoy a laugh! :)

BRING THE CHAMPIONSHIP HOME TO US BOYS!!!!!!!!!