Texas Rangers: The 'Next' Year is Always Their Yar.

Throughout the less-than-storied history of the Texas Rangers, there have been but a few seasons where they were considered anything more than a sports bridge to get to Dallas Cowboys football season. 

As a die hard Rangers fan, that's a tough thing to swallow and admit but it's the truth.  The Rangers have always been a second class sports franchise in Dallas and while some would argue that any team lined up next to the Cowboys could be viewed as second class, when you get right down to it, they have no one to blame but themselves.

The Rangers moved here from Washington in 1972 and since that time have managed just three playoff appearances (1 win).  During that time they have given us some great moments (Kenny Rogers' perfect game, Nolan Ryan's 5000th K, 300th win, sixth & seventh no-hitters), a few MVPs (Jeff Burroughs, Juan Gonzalez, Pudge Rodriguez, Alex Rodriguez) and plenty of high-scoring games.  

But with every good moment, there's been bad to follow.  Kenny Rogers did his best pitching for other teams and Nolan Ryan came along a decade too late to offer Texas anything more than a few nationally televised games and a whole lot of sellouts.

Jeff Burroughs grew so tired of hitting into the wind that he got himself dealt to Atlanta. Juan Gonzalez could never stay healthy and Pudge was allowed to walk for nothing, going on to lead the Marlins and Tigers to World Series'.  A-Rod wanted out of Arlington, TX before the ink had even dried on his 252 million dollars contract.

Pitching has always been the death of the Texas Rangers.  At various times in the Rangers history they have had big name prospects, saviours of the franchise, who have gone on to underwhelm or flat out bust.  In the 70's David Clyde was to be 'the guy'. 

But the Rangers, in need of putting people in the stands, brought him to the majors straight out of Houston's Westchester High School, ruined his confidence, and killed any chance the guy ever had to make it as a big league pitcher. 

In the mid-80's Texas has a trio of big arms in Bobby Witt, Edwin Correa and Juan Guzman.  Correa blew his elbow out and, despite an extended rehab, never pitched again.  Guzman hurt his arm, came back, and gave Texas a few marginal seasons before leaving for the Cubs. 

Bobby Witt never put it together between the ears.  Rangers pitching coach, Tom House, once said Bobby Witt was the only person he'd ever know with zero muscle memory, resulting in Witt's inability to throw strikes on a consistent basis.  2007 was to be the year Rangers fans were going to see a new trio of potential pitching superstars in Thomas Diamond, Edinson Volquez and John Danks. 

Diamond missed the season with Tommy John surgery, Volquez was shipped back to A-ball to re-learn how to pitch and John Danks was traded away for Brandon McCarthy, who half of last season on the disabled list.  It never ends...

Whether it's been the Texas summers sapping teams of their strength, injuries, lack of talent, lack of quality ownership (such is the case no in my estimation) or just plain old bad luck, the Rangers have almost always found a way to lose.  Don't get me wrong, the Rangers have had some great guys on their teams. 

Guys like Geno Petralli, Brad Arnsberg, Steve Buechele, Nolan Ryan, Curtis Wilkerson, Julio Franco and Mitch Williams were really friendly, good people but that never covers up the persistent losing.  And it shouldn't. 

So, why do I bother?  Why do I continue to come back, year after year and watch this team let me down time after time after time?  Perhaps I'm a masochist?  Maybe I enjoy the torture?  

Maybe I've just spent so long as a Rangers fan that I smply know no other team to root for.  I don't know.  What I do know is this: the law of averages dictates the Rangers will play enough seasons that they'll finally win a World Series.  They have to, don't they?