Ode to the Silver Boot
By ghostofErikThompson
Silver Boot, o Silver Boot,
Yes 'tis you argent brogan of sterling majesty,
A glimmering prize offered to those we root;
The defeated not offered faint hope of amnesty
To field and hit, to pitch and catch,
Never have these skills meant more than now
For o'er shoe of Texan pride and rivals a'mismatch;
Silver Boot, we will avow
Though contrived and forced, collateral of proximity
An unfair battle forged, the Rangers owning seven of ten;
We soldier on each June without a hint of animosity,
For the Lone Star Series rages on, over and ever again.
Silver Boot, o Silver Boot,
Footwear memento of perhaps questionable taste,
Your worth isn't in satisfaction, but in memories made moot;
The chance to move to the AL Central sold for galosh glory and haste.
And now with rumor of a merger, a chance to be joined at the hip;
What will become of you, o Silver Boot
Will you fade into memory, a relic to a resplendent plated gyp;
Or will you never be forgotten, a permanent Texas salute
Whatever happens 'tween now and then,
One thing remains clear and without dispute,
We will fight for your every time we can, amen
Silver Boot, o Silver Boot
Monday, June 20 7:05: LHP J.A. Happ vs. LHP Derek Holland
Tuesday, June 21 7:05: RHP Jordan Lyles vs. LHP C.J. Wilson
Wednesday, June 22 7:05: RHP Brett Myers vs. RHP Colby Lewis
Let's get one thing out of the way: The Rangers and Astros are not rivals. They never have been rivals and they might never be rivals. Things like the SIlver Boot and the Lone Star Series probably aren't helping them to be rivals. Sure, now they're playing games that matter in the standings, but every time it happens we get to hear about how, "The rivalry is being renewed!" Moving the Astros to the same division would accelerate them becoming rivals simply because (sorry Silver Boot), something would actually be at stake. But for those writing that the Astros should join the Rangers in the American League West simply because of their white hot rivalry, you're wrong. It doesn't exist.
Here's a list of teams I feel more of a competitive and historical rivalry for the Rangers with than I do the Houston Astros:
- Seattle Mariners
- Oakland Athletics
- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- New York Yankees
- Chicago White Sox
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Boston Red Sox
- Minnesota Twins
- Detroit Tigers
- Cleveland Indians
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Kansas City Royals
- Baltimore Orioles
- San Francisco Giants
- Probably a couple of minor league teams
- San Jose Sharks
- Then, maybe, the Astros
That said, if rivalry can be born out of being forced to dislike something because of contrivances; good job, MLB. Now go win us that damn Boot, Rangers, because the Astros are terrible.
Houston Astros (27-46, 6th Place NL Central)
Rangers 2011 Record vs. Houston: Bootless
Houston's Recent Results: 2-1 Series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Houston's Road Record: 14-21
Ballpark in Arlington Park Factors (LHB/RHB): HR: 120/109 - wOBA: 103/106
SB Nation Astros Blog: The Crawfish Boxes
| Match-up: (as of 6/19) | Rangers | Astros | Advantage |
| Batting (RAR) |
23.4 (7th) |
2.6 (13th) |
Rangers |
| Starters (RAR) |
28.3 | 4.6 | Rangers |
| Bullpen (RAR) |
-15.4 (30th) |
-3.0 (27th) |
Sort of Astros |
| Defense UZR |
10.8 (6th) |
-24.2 (30th) |
Rangers! |
| Overall RAR + UZR | 47.1 | -20.0 | Rangers! |
Questions to Answer:
- Lone Star Ball Nelson Cruz Walk-off Home Run Bobblehead night! That's not a question you say? I don't care!
- Who is your pick for Maverick champion the Rangers will get to throw out the first pitch for one of the games in this series? (I'll say Jason Terry.)
- Over/Under: 4.5 wins for the Rangers in the Lone Star Series this season?
- Can you guess who the Astros' best pitcher by WAR is this season? I'll give you a hint: He doesn't pitch in this series. Can you guess who the Astros' second best pitcher by WAR is this season? I'll give you a hint? He also doesn't pitch in this series.
- Will you ever love the Silver Boot
?
