Texas Rangers’ Ron Washington keen to maintain current line-up for ALCS – MLB Playoffs
Texas Rangers’ manager Ron Washington looks keen to maintain his current line-up against the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday, October 8.
The manager confirmed his mindset to the reporters at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Thursday, October 6. The skipper affirmed that the team’s outlook will look similar to that of the American League Division Series squad that went up against the Tampa
Bay Rays.
The Tigers are looking to employ right hand pitchers against the Rangers and the one thing any expert will know is that the Rangers will employ hitters who dominate that region of play. Looking back at the Rays’ line-up, Washington will most likely play
Mitch Moreland on first base, David Murphy on left-field, Josh Hamilton at centre-field, Mike Napoli on back-stop and Michael Young at designated hitter.
Young has been 2-for-15 in the post-season so far and there is optimism he can deliver the regular season knock that got him to a hitting average of .338. Napoli on the other hand, is on fire. His .320 hitting average from the regular season and .357 average
from the Division Series puts him on top of the danger list with the Tigers.
Young will hit on the fourth slot while Adrian Beltre will feature on the fifth slot.
"It's not broke, so we're not going to try to fix it," Washington said. "Adrian has been doing a good job in the fifth slot, and Michael has done a good job in the fourth. We're not going to change it."
In case of adding uncertainty to the attack, Endy Chavez might enter the fray at the out-field position.
"Things can change. I don't want to start saying what I'm planning to be doing and then change it," Washington said. "We'll let this series dictate the rest."
Both teams will be looking to put in a good performance and try to dominate the series from the start. If the Rangers manage to do things right, they might as well be heading to the World Series, again.
Tags: