Everything’s bigger in Texas

Belt buckles, egos, home runs – they’re all things that are bigger in Texas.

Typically the Texas Rangers have been known for their ability to hit the long ball and this season is no different. Their club leads the majors with 89 total homeruns thus far compared to 62 by the Blue Jays. Aside from the wind tunnel otherwise known as Yankee Stadium, Rangers Stadium in Texas is the next most often place to see a ball leave the park. Apparently if you head below the bleachers between the 3rd and 5th inning at Rangers Stadium and ask for “Big Mike” you can also see a special trick involving balls leaving the park, no questions asked.

The Blue Jays and Rangers have almost identical runs scored/runs against stats (Jays: 297/268, Rangers: 296,268), yet the Rangers have five more wins to show for it. Texas has managed to lower their team ERA a little from last year, but they gave their starter Vicente Padilla the heave-ho last week, only to bring him back and have him pitch seven strong innings against the Yankees on Sunday. That’s really strange, I’ve never seen a team release somebody due to lack of performance and regrets of signing them to a big contract.

Over the past five seasons the Blue Jays have compiled a lackluster 7-18 record on the road in Texas, so you can see why expectations aren’t too extremely high to win this series against the Rangers. After pitching yesterday, Halladay will miss a chance to shut down one of the deadliest offensive teams in the American League. Instead it will be Tallet, Jannsen, Romero and Richmond that will be handed the reins against the Rangers in what’s sure to be an offensively charged four game series.