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2012 MLB Team Preview: Texas Rangers

Posted by on 6 March 2012, 11:10 am

Texas Rangers Logo.

Down in Arlington, Texas the last two years have proven to be optimistic yet frustrating.

Last season marked the Rangers second consecutive, yet unsuccessful trip to the World Series.

The franchise had never gotten past the ALDS before 2010, so winning two consecutive American League pennants in their first two visits means it is no fluke and that this team knows how to compete.

Last season the Rangers finished 96-66, which was the second best record in the American League. And in the AL West they left the competition in the dust, as the next best team was the Angels who were 10 games back.

Will 2012, prove to be another year of celebration in Arlington?

Let’s take a look.

THE POSITIVES:

Overall the Rangers line-up, when healthy, is one of the best in baseball. Playing in hitting friendly Rangers ballpark certainly helps, as the team’s overall batting stats are better at home. In 2011, the Rangers finished with the best batting average in baseball posting a .283, and they were the hardest team to strikeout with 930 on the season. Texas finished second in homers with 210, third in RBIs with 807 and had the second best slugging percentage with .800 on the season. And in Ranger Stadium the team is hard to beat, with a batting average just shy of .300.

The Rangers best player Josh Hamilton had a rough off-season, as he fell off the wagon and the concern meter is on high alert. Hamilton’s past does not allow for any slip-ups, but he did this once before during Spring Training in 2009 and went on to win the AL MVP. Turning a negative into a positive seems to be something Hamilton has become very good at. His shame alone should once again make him strive to prove his worth on the baseball field, maybe not another MVP year but a solid one. Also, Hamilton is a free agent after this season and players tend to rev it up in years before they can hit the market.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Texas Rangers’ »

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New York Yankees: Phew, Rangers Got Yu

Posted by on 20 December 2011, 6:01 am

Are the New York Yankees are officially cheapskates?

The Ballpark in Arlington home of the Texas Ra...

Yu Darvish's New Home In Arlington, TX.

Not quiet, but when Japan’s Mainichi Daily News publicized that pitcher Yu Darvish had the highest bid for a Japanese player under the posting system, a reported $51.7 million and that the team was the Texas Rangers, I was totally relieved.

The Yankees do not need another Japanese import to implode, or pay millions for a pitcher to be chauffeured to throw in Scranton-Wilkes Barre for five years.

As for now Nolan Ryan and Co have just bought 30-days to negotiate with the latest Japanese import and if Darvish signs a contract the Nippon Ham Fighters will get a cool $51.7 million.

You can bet that the Rangers will have to offer Darvish at least six-years and well-over $60 million bucks for him to stay in Arlington.

Remember that in Japanese culture if Darvish were offered less, or even equal a contract than fellow countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka made with the Boston Red Sox back in 2006, it would be considered a sign of disrespect because Darvish is regarded more talented.

The Red Sox gave Dice-K a six-year, $52 million deal, which had another $8+ million in incentives and a no-trade clause. Also, add in the $51 million posting fee, a personal translator, and a Japanese chef for clubhouse in exchange for one good season in 2008. Not to mention that Red Sox fans can’t stand Dice-K, who will be out till next September recovering from Tommy John surgery. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Phew, Rangers Got Yu’ »

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WS Game 6 Was A Baseball Masterpiece

Posted by on 28 October 2011, 3:01 am
David Freese

Image via Wikipedia

The 2011 World Series had been a snooze, until last nights Game 6.

The game was far from perfect, way too much sloppy defense and both the Rangers and Cardinals reliable bullpens finally looked worn.

The imperfect, textbook mistakes aren’t what made this game so good; the attitudes and fight of the Cardinals and the Rangers did.

Anytime the underdog team fights to the last strike, with the World Series on the line and a hometown guy like David Freese hits a walk-off homerun it strikes up an uncontrolled emotion in anyone who calls themselves a fan of baseball.

This was an 11-inning, baseball masterpiece, and one of the best postseason games in history. All the imperfections in this 10-9 Cardinal win was what made the game so perfect.

All I can say is that I could not be happier for the baseball itself because fans fell in love all over again.

Game 7 is sure to be another fight to end and to repeat the words of FOX SPORTS and MLB Network Intentional Talk host Chris Rose:

“If you are not watching this thing tomorrow night you are not a sports fan.”

I will repeat my sentiments from my WS preview of the St. Louis Cardinals, there is something special going on in St. Louis.

 

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