My two cents on bunting. In that situation, EVERYONE expects a bunt. The pitchers aren't going to give you something easy to lay it down. IMO Gentry has delivered in the past and I still hold him in high regard. He has come through in the past ala Oakland walk off and perhaps the recent lack of playing time has something to do with it. Not an excuse, but he had two good attempts at it and then made contact (although it was a pop up). I would have had a harder time if he'd struck out i.e. Napolitis. He's bailed out others in the past and now the rookie has bailed him out. Team effort.

"In that situation, EVERYONE expects a bunt."

Yes, and if executed properly, it doesn't matter if they know it's coming or not. That's the whole point.

I agree, but you missed my point. I couldn't tell by the MLB.TV coverage, but where were those pitches? If they're a bit inside he risks pulling back and having one less attempt. Laying down a successful bunt is not a gimme either, especially in those circumstances. Should he have laid it down? Perhaps, but Gentry has disappointed me far less than other more highly paid Rangers. He has delivered in the past. In any case, game won.

And you are the one that have to have a Drama Queen fight with Whoop everyday.

You know you are off base when you and Nate agree, that should tell you something.

Doesn't matter where the pitches were. If you're bunting, you have the entire strike zone/ pitch movement covered. If you don't get a pitch to bunt, it means you should walk and the result is even better.

The fact that Gentry didn't do his job doesn't mean it wasn't the right call. Typically, Gentry will make that play and occasionally turn it into a hit because of his speed.

But you're right, Olt comes through and the Rangers get a win in a Verlander start. Not bad....

As per my original post on the subject, Washington now has a 13 man pitching staff and 12 man bench. He has 9 bench players in the game. That leaves 3 subs. Since he was ONLY going to bunt, it was and still is my opinion that Murphy has just as good of bat control as Gentry for that situation making it questionable to pinch hit. Olt made the play, and that makes all that came before moot. But if he had not hit the walkoff, the Rangers would have 1 player left on their bench for an extra innings game.

If you ignore my posts, how do you know that marhomo argues with me every day?

Hobo is exactly right on this.

I've read every post and the thing I'm taking away is that everybody is extremely happy with a great team win. Doesn't matter how they got there, just that they did. Is that accurate?

I don't know. Seems that many are not happy with HOW they got the win. Apparently to some, the Rangers won in spite of themselves and their manager. Some how I think that falls on deaf ears where the Tigers, A's and Angels are concerned....

All the ones who were predicting gloom and were sure sure they were gonna lose are trying to save face by arguing they won in spite of what they disagreed with.

I,for one, am happy that the Texas Rangers won the ballgame and that the roller coaster that is the 2012 season is on the upswing or at least leveling off right now. Period.
However, I recognize that I do not possess the greatest baseball mind in the history of history.

I was surprised Gentry didn't pinch run for Cruz after Nelly walked starting the 9th. Not that Nelson is slow or a bad baserunner, but with Young at the plate and being hot, a stolen base could have won the game on a MY hit. That move would have depleted the bench too.

Did you read some of Wash's comments after the game?

Talking about Darvish: "He’s got a lot on his plate. Maybe he finally got the point where it’s figured out, and maybe now he’ll rattle off some games down the stretch when we need him the most and his value will have been just as much as they paid for."

Maybe he figured it out? His value will have been just as much as they paid for? lol

And they have way more wins than they would if you were managing the team so, I guess they are better off with Wash, despite what you think.

And proof shows its face.

Huh? Frankly, I try to ignore their banter and bafoonary. I was just saying that I'd personally cut Gentry some slack because he has produced in the past. As far as the Queen, goodness, chalk it up to mere coincidence 'cause I surely try to avoid it like the plague...

Your point makes sense if, and only if, Gentry has proven to be a wash, which IMO he has not. You go with the L/R matchup since Murph and Gentry are both very capable players. Frankly, I wasn't trying to put a fly in the soup, especially since it all turned out good. Just offer my perspective.