I'll add a few more 2011 observations, since y'all have decided to gut me without anesthesia.
Darren Oliver was also the starter on a Rangers team against NYY, and was sent out to close out a CG in game 3 of the playoffs in 1996. He lost the lead and got the loss. Ironically, the only reason he was sent out there was because John Wetteland was still the Yankees' closer, and Rivera was the setup man. Oliver never should have been out there.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_American_League_Division_Series#Texas_Rangers_vs._New_York_YankeesHere's a link to that series. Gut wrenching still. As it was our first trip to the playoffs in 25 seasons, it didn't seem so bad, but in retrospect, one wonders if the Yankee dynasty ever would have happened if Texas had won that series.
Now, fast forward 15 years to 2011, and ancient Darren Oliver was the only option to close out a 2 run lead. Against 2 slap hitting lefties, he gave up hits, allowing the pitcher to bunt them over. The tieing run was driven in by Lance Berkman, who had basically quit on Houston, revived his career for one year in Saint Louis, and then came to Texas for one season to suck again and rub it in our faces.
The final irony is that in 2011, just as in 1996, Oliver was the wrong guy in the wrong place. Koji Uehara was out there in the pen, and despite having a very good career, he decided to spend his season with Texas giving up key homeruns and being unusable in high leverage situations.
Bon Appetit.
94chem,
That, sir, was the greatest post in the history of TexAgs. I salute you. -- Dough