Texas Rangers: Converting Hype to Momentum for the Playoff Run

Having completed the Mid-Summer Marathon with a Michael Young sacrifice fly, MLB will commence the second half of the season with anticipation of the exciting pennant races.

Now that home field advantage rests with the American League, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at a heavy underdog for the AL West title. Befittingly, the winning hit of the All-Star Game belonged to a shortstop for the team about to be profiled. 

After viewing relentless coverage of Josh Hamilton and the boys from Arlington, I feel compelled to ruminate on the chance, however slight, that the Rangers could garner the AL West crown.

Referencing JJ Stankevitz's July 11 article "Respect These Rangers", I shall elaborate on the importance of the Texas Rangers reaching the playoffs.

A playoff series win would encourage the front office to be more selective with their future decisions. The endorsement of the Arlington community should precipitate the administration to provide an even more competitive product, straying from their history.

The Rangers have never won a World Series or AL Title game; their playoff experience claim to fame came under Johnny Oates: a 1996 playoff win in New York against the Yankees. A series that they would eventually lose.

The inception of the original franchise was MLB's attempt to avoid negative antitrust legislation from Congress. In 1961, MLB awarded the public with two new clubs to generate positive public relations: the second Washington Senators and the Los Angeles Angels.

The Senators were the definition of ineptitude, a common theme of the franchise's history. Frank Howard crushed in RFK and was the lone bright spot for the Senators team during the late '60s.

In 1969, Bob Short outbid Bob Hope and bought the team from clueless Elwood Quesada and proceeded to hire Ted Williams as the manager, who was none to pleased to move to Texas. The Splendid Splinter resigned shortly after the transition, logging only three years of service. 

Furthermore, the Senators had to forfeit a 9-0 lead on the Yankees for their last game at RFK. Annoyed fans rushed the field due to no security presence, and the umpires had to call the game. The Rangers transition from D.C. to Arlington in 1972 provided a comical spectacle for the baseball world.

Finally establishing their cleats in Arlington, the Rangers managed to have success in 1974. Rather brief, the achievements of Burroughs, Hargrove, Jenkins, and Martin provided a spark that wouldn't be seen again until future decades.

The '80s and '90s yielded the talents of Palmeiro, Gonzalez, Sierra, Incaviglia, Franco, Will Clark, I. Rodriguez, Valentine, and Nolan Ryan. Aggravatingly, quick playoff exits were the theme in the late '90s.

Divulging to ownership, Bush 43 was the Rangers' Managing General Partner for most of the '90s. Bush owned a two percent share due to a $500k loan and eventually sold his share of the organization for $15M.

Currently, Tom Hicks, Jon Daniels, and Ron Washington have placed a competitive ball club on the field, not since the likes of A-Rod, Soriano, and Teixeira were gracing Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The arrival of absurd offensive numbers from Kinsler and Hamilton have caused heads to turn throughout the American League. Despite the Angels strong seven-and-a-half game hold on the lead, the Rangers could make a late push and frustrate the Halos of Anaheim.

If the young talent (Chris Davis, Saltalamacchia, David Murphy, Max Ramirez, etc.) could contribute a boost to the already potent Arlington offense, the Rangers could provide some competition to the perennial leaders of the AL West.

Although Padilla, Millwood, and breakout CJ Wilson provide quality innings, the bullpen and remaining starting pitching could use reinforcement. Plus, a field better designed for Tee-ball and constant injuries to sluggers (Blalock and Bradley) supply further questions and concerns that could complicate a playoff run.

If Hamilton, Kinsler, and Young can provide young leadership to a team that desperately needs some, there is no reason to doubt a competitive run for the AL crown in 2008.

Considering the hard knocks the Rangers have had to endure over the years, a playoff series would boost the esteem and attitude exponentially for the Texas Ranger fan base. Hopefully, this would encourage the administration to acquire quality shutdown pitching. If not, they can always try to score 12 runs a game.