Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez insists the American League Championship Series with Texas is strictly business, but Rangers fans might feel otherwise.
“No emotion, just that we have four games to win. That’s our goal,” Rodriguez said of the best-of-seven series that will send one team to the World Series.
However, Rodriguez’ history in Texas, where he was awarded a record-breaking US$252 million contract prior to the 2001 season, but never managed to lead the team to the playoffs — will surely resonate with Rangers fans.
Texas have never won the World Series, losing to the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs in 1996, 1998 and 1999.
They wrapped up their first post-season series victory by beating Tampa Bay 5-1 on Tuesday night in deciding Game 5 of the first round.
They had punched their playoff ticket with their first division title in 11 years and host Game 1 of the ALCS today.
In the Yankees, they’ll face the team that has won more World Series titles than any other — a tally that climbed to 27 with their triumph last year.
The Yankees stumbled to a 9-17 regular-season finish to lose the AL East division title to Tampa Bay, but the AL wild-cards still had the third-best record in baseball at 95-67.
In their 15th post-season in 16 years, the Yankees are trying to become the first team to win back-to-back World Series titles since they won three straight from 1998 to 2000.
“We feel like we can play baseball with anyone,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “We only can blaze our own trail right now, and every time we do something that’s good, it adds to the history of the Texas Rangers.”
New York and Texas split eight regular-season meetings, but Texas won four of five at home thanks to a three-game sweep last month.
Mark Teixeira is another Yankees player with ties to Texas. He broke into the big leagues with the Rangers in 2003.
“I loved playing there, loved living there,” Teixeira said. “I have a lot of friends I’m going to see in Texas. We’ll probably go to dinner tomorrow night. And a lot of tickets to give away, too.”
Rodriguez said the Rangers’ Game 5 victory over the Rays was a prime example of their aggressive offensive style.
“As you saw last night in the first five innings, they stole three runs,” he said. “They do a very good job of attacking.”
The Rangers also boast a key defensive weapon in pitching ace Cliff Lee, who will start Game 3 of the series and could then be available for a winner-take-all Game 7.
C.J. Wilson will start Game 1 for the Rangers against Yankees hurler C.C. Sabathia.
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