Ranger Course Calendar

Community calendar

The Charlotte region is vast and diverse. The more voices engaged in conversation, the better for us all. The Charlotte Observer welcomes your comments on news of the day, but we ask that you keep the discourse civil.

Do not use profanity or obscenities. And don't try to camouflage profanity with asterisks, abbreviations or other symbols or foreign phrases. Do not use threatening language. Talk of violence won't be tolerated. No racial, gender or sexual-orientation name-calling. Do not attack other commenters for their views. Do not libel or defame anyone or violate their privacy. Keep your comments succinct and stay on topic. Comments that bear no relation to the story may be deleted. Do not add images to your comments. Do not report comments as abusive simply because you disagree with them. Report them only if they violate these guidelines. Do not post spam or advertising of any kind. Do not post a comment using all capital letters.

We do not monitor each and every posting, but we reserve the right to block or delete comments that violate these rules.

You can help: Notify us of violations by hitting the "Report Abuse" link. Users who continue posting comments that violate these guidelines may, at our discretion, be blocked from submitting future comments as well.

Breaking down the Tigers-Rangers AL championship series ...

<hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <strong><span class="infobox-head">GAME ONE STARTERS </span></strong><br /> <span style="line-height:0"><br clear="all" /></span><table border="0" class="story-table"> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td><strong>Detroit&#x2019;s</strong><strong>Justin Verlander</strong></td><td><p align="right"><strong>Texas&#x2019;</strong></p> <p align="right"><strong> C.J. Wilson</strong></p> </td></tr> </table> <span style="line-height:0"><br clear="all" /></span><table border="0" class="story-table"> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>24-5</td><td align="center"><strong>Record</strong></td><td align="right">16-7</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>2.40</td><td align="center"><strong>ERA</strong></td><td align="right">2.94</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>250:57</td><td align="center"><strong>SO:BB</strong></td><td align="right">206:74</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>6-2, 2.31</td><td align="center"><strong>vs. Opp.</strong></td><td align="right">0-1, 5.56</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>2-0, 2.05</td><td align="center"><strong>Last three</strong></td><td align="right">0-1, 1.88</td></tr> </table> <strong><span class="infobox-head">GAME TWO STARTERS </span></strong><br /> <span style="line-height:0"><br clear="all" /></span><table border="0" class="story-table"> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td><strong>Detroit&#x2019;s</strong><strong> Max Scherzer </strong></td><td><p align="right"><strong>Texas&#x2019;</strong></p> <p align="right"><strong> Derek Holland</strong></p> </td></tr> </table> <span style="line-height:0"><br clear="all" /></span><table border="0" class="story-table"> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>15-9</td><td align="center"><strong>Record</strong></td><td align="right">16-5</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>4.43</td><td align="center"><strong>ERA</strong></td><td align="right">3.95</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>174:56</td><td align="center"><strong>SO:BB</strong></td><td align="right">162:67</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>3-0, 3.41</td><td align="center"><strong>vs. Opp.</strong></td><td align="right">0-0, 2.25</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>1-1, 6.32</td><td align="center"><strong>Last three</strong></td><td align="right">3-0, 2.37</td></tr> </table> <strong><span class="infobox-head">GAME THREE STARTERS </span></strong><br /> <span style="line-height:0"><br clear="all" /></span><table border="0" class="story-table"> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td><strong>Texas&#x2019;</strong><strong> Colby Lewis</strong></td><td><p align="right"><strong>Detroit&#x2019;s</strong></p> <p align="right"><strong> Doug Fister</strong></p> </td></tr> </table> <span style="line-height:0"><br clear="all" /></span><table border="0" class="story-table"> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>14-10</td><td align="center"><strong>Record</strong></td><td align="right">11-3</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>4.40</td><td align="center"><strong>ERA</strong></td><td align="right">2.83</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>169:56</td><td align="center"><strong>SO:BB</strong></td><td align="right">146:37</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>2-2, 7.48</td><td align="center"><strong>vs. Opp.</strong></td><td align="right">2-3, 4.38</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>2-0, 5.50</td><td align="center"><strong>Last three</strong></td><td align="right">3-0, 0.47</td></tr> </table> </div> <hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <strong><span class="infobox-head">SCHEDULE (BEST OF SEVEN) </span></strong><br /> <strong>Today: </strong>Detroit (Verlander, 24-5) at Texas (Wilson, 16-7), 7:05 p.m.</p><p><strong>Sunday: </strong>Detroit (Scherzer, 15-9) at Texas (Holland, 16-5), 6:45 p.m.</p><p><strong>Tuesday: </strong>Texas (Lewis, 14-10) at Detroit (Fister, 11-3), 7:05 p.m.</p><p><strong>Wednesday: </strong>Texas at Detroit, 3:19 p.m.</p><p><strong>x-Thursday: </strong>Texas at Detroit, 3:19 p.m.</p><p><strong>x-Oct. 15: </strong>Detroit at Texas, 7:05 p.m.</p><p><strong>x-Oct. 16: </strong>Detroit at Texas, 7:05 p.m.</p><p>x-if necessary</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">Offense </span></strong><br /> The Rangers and Tigers ranked third and fourth among AL teams in runs scored, but that&#x2019;s not as close as it seems. Texas had a 68-run edge, which translates to more than .4 runs a game. The Rangers are also more balanced, with five players who hit at least 25 homers &#x2014; and that doesn&#x2019;t count ultra-steady Michael Young, who hit .338 with a club-leading 106 RBIs. Detroit has a potent three-four combination in Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, but... <strong>Advantage: Rangers </strong></p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">Defense </span></strong><br /> Neither club can claim this as a strength, but while the Rangers are close to average most everywhere, the Tigers, on occasion, can be brutal. Don&#x2019;t be surprised if a game or two turns on a misplay. Texas wouldn&#x2019;t rate an edge against many teams, but, again&#x2026;<strong>Advantage: Rangers </strong></p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">Starting pitching </span></strong><br /> What Doug Fister showed Thursday in a strong clinching start against the Yankees is the Tigers&#x2019; rotation goes deeper than presumptive Cy Young winner Justin Verlander. Fister came from Seattle in a deadline deal and was a big reason Detroit pulled away in the AL Central. Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello complete a capable front four. The Rangers are solid, too, with C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and Matt Harrison. Lewis has come up big in the postseason the last two years. It comes down to this &#x2014; the Tigers have Verlander. <strong>Advantage: Tigers </strong></p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">Bullpen </span></strong><br /> Detroit closer Jose Valverde has yet to blow a save this season and backed up his mid-first-round boast that the Yankees were done by protecting a one-run lead in the decisive fifth game against the heart of New York&#x2019;s lineup. Rangers closer Neftali Feliz turned dominant down the stretch after some earlier hiccups. The edge hinges on the primary setup guys &#x2014; former Ranger Joaquin Benoit for Detroit, and trade-deadline acquisition Mike Adams for Texas. Tough call but&#x2026; <strong>Advantage: Tigers </strong></p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">Bottom line </span></strong><br /> This matchup has all the ingredients for a tense, pulsating series. The teams are pretty evenly matched &#x2014; Texas might have a little more pop, while Detroit seems to possess slightly better arms. Defense is the x-factor. The Rangers need to find a way to scratch at least one win from games started by Verlander and Fister. The guess here is they will. <strong>Rangers in seven. </strong></p><p></div> <hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <strong><span class="subhead">Three reasons the Rangers will win</span></strong></p><p><strong>1</strong> It&#x2019;s easy to forget, sometimes, that they are the reigning AL champions. They methodically rolled to 96 victories despite dealing with numerous injuries to key players. They have no obvious weakness. In short, the Rangers are good. </p><p><strong>2</strong> This lineup keeps coming at you. There are no easy innings. That takes a toll &#x2014; as Tampa Bay learned in the first round after winning the opener. </p><p><strong>3</strong> They spent the whole year waiting for October after last year&#x2019;s disappointing stumble against San Francisco in the World Series. And with 17 victories in their last 20 games, they look like a team on a mission.</p><p></div> <hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <strong><span class="subhead">Three reasons the Tigers will win</span></strong></p><p><strong>1</strong> If Justin Verlander can beat the Rangers in tonight&#x2019;s opener, in Texas, the math swings sharply toward Detroit. You want to bet against Verlander? </p><p><strong>2</strong> Miguel Cabrera might be the best all-round hitter in the game. (Or is that just a Royals-centric view from painful experience?) Either way, Cabrera is more dangerous than ever this year because of the protection Victor Martinez affords.</p><p><strong>3</strong> Tight games often come down to the closer, and while he often seems vulnerable, Jose Valverde hasn&#x2019;t yet spit back a lead. That magic just might hold for a few more weeks.

The Ranger, A Highland Guard Novel

The Ranger

Calendar, humanity's epic struggle to determine a true and accurate year

On Course, Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life

Calendar