Mizzou in the Majors: Ian vs. the Yankees

■ Bring on the evil empire (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

"They're probably the best organization in all of professional sports," second baseman Ian Kinsler said. "We respect that, but at the same time, that has nothing to do with this series. We believe we have the best team in baseball, and we're going to try to prove that."

■ Two key Rangers expect more hits in ALCS (ESPN.com)

While Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz were busy garnering references to Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth in the ALDS, probable MVP Josh Hamilton and Michael Young, the franchise leader in hits, couldn't get things going at the plate.

Kinsler and Cruz each had three homers in the five-game series win over Tampa Bay, becoming the first pair of teammates in major league history to have at least three long balls in a postseason series of five or fewer games since Ruth and Gehrig did it in the Yankees' four-game sweep of the Cardinals in the 1928 World Series.

Both players helped carry the offense. Kinsler hit .444 (8-for-18) with three homers and six RBIs in the ALDS. Cruz batted .400 (8-for-20) with two doubles, three homers and three RBIs. He also stole third base, resulting in a bad throw and a run in Game 5. Bengie Molina and Elvis Andrus also had averages over .333 and came through with some big hits.

■ Rangers closer, Rivera, similar (azstarnet.com)

Ian Kinsler speaks about Neftali Feliz, the Rangers' closer, in glowing terms. Kinsler admires his poise, his lack of pretense, his ability to compartmentalize and rebound after rare wobbly outings.
Feliz does not pump his fist or thump his chest or dance around the mound. After strikeouts, he lowers his head and walks off the mound. In that way, Feliz reminds Kinsler of someone else: Mariano Rivera.
"The only other guy that I can think about is Mariano, who's pretty similar as far as poise and consistency with his emotions," Kinsler said. "You can go look at the past saves that he's had. The only one I can think of was the one that he closed out in Oakland to clinch the American League West. He smiled. He pointed. That was about it."