Texas Rangers: 10 Reasons They'll Go Back to the World Series and Win
The Texas Rangers were the big surprise in 2010 making it to the World Series against the San Francisco Giants. We all knew they would be good but maybe not that good. Playing with no fear in New York and finally beating the Yanks at what they do best, win in the post season, the Rangers will be back. We have come up with 10 reasons why the Rangers will be back for another chance at the title.
No. 10 Texas Is Best in the West
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We all know the AL West isn't chalk full of GREAT teams. What most people don't realize is that the West is full of some pretty good teams. Before the 1994 realignment, the league had up to 7 teams. The Texas Rangers now only have to beat out 4 for the league pennant. The Seattle Mariners are still trying to regroup under the Cy Young wing of King Felix. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are still good contenders with an experienced starting duo in Dan Haren and Jered Weaver. And then there are the youngsters down in Oakland. Like I said before, the West is not great but they are still pretty good.
No. 9 Nolan Ryan Never Fails
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Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan never fails when it comes to baseball. Everywhere Ryan has gone he has succeeded. Ryan threw 5 no-hitters and helped his teams move into the playoffs over his career with the Mets, Angels and Astros. Finally the flame thrower moved on to the Texas Rangers and again threw 2 more no-hitters, broke the MLB strikeout record and beat the crap out of Robin Ventura with a big right hook. After retirement, Ryan did a little coaching, became a success owning the Round Rock Express minor league baseball team and now has the reins of the Texas Rangers. I call that being SUCCESSFUL!!
No. 8 Brandon Webb
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He may have been out of the game for nearly 2 years, but Brandon Webb can make a difference this year. Webb signed a 1 year deal with Texas in the off-season and has something to prove. Webb, a former Arizona Diamondback, had shoulder surgery after pitching the first 4 innings of the 2009 season. Why is he going to make a difference for the Rangers? How about a career 87-62 record, 3.27 ERA with 1,065 strikeouts? Not enough? How about being a 3 time All-Star and winning the 2006 Cy Young trophy? He has the experience the Rangers need, enough said.
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No. 7 Michael Young Is Still a Ranger
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The guy has been a Ranger through thick and thin. Alex Rodriguez came to Texas, he moved from short to second. Ian Kinsler came up from the minors to be a star, Young moved from second to third. He has done everything we have ever asked him to do. His career line?
.301 BA
158 HR
927 Runs
83 Stolen Bases
6 All-Star Selections
Michael Young should be a Ranger for life.
No. 6 The 6th Man Award Goes To....
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I know this is a basketball award but it works in this situation. The Texas Rangers have 4 infield positions with 6 every day players available to play. If you include the DH, 1 person is sitting out and riding the pine.
3B: Adrian Beltre
SS: Elvus Andrus
2B: Ian Kinsler
1B: Mitch Moreland
Rotation: Michael Young, Mike Napoli, David Murphy
All 3 of those players could be every day individuals on a different team. The Rangers have a deep bench and with injuries throughout the season this is key to another trip to the Fall Classic.
No. 5 Neftali Feliz
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Closer or starter, it doesn't matter. Neftali Feliz is that good and the Rangers need him to step it up again this year. In 2010, Feliz had 40 saves in 43 chances. That's just 3 blown saves in 70 appearances all year long. And don't forget, the 22 year old can ratchet it up in the high 90s. He is just that dominant.
No. 4 the Batting Order 1-9
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1. Ian Kinsler
2. Elvus Adrus
3. Michael Young
4. Josh Hamilton
5. Adrian Beltre
6. Nelson Cruz
7. David Murphy
8. Mike Napoli
9. Yorvit Torrealba
What you need to know? 1-6 are All-Stars and 7-9 are pretty darn good. There are no weakness and if I was a pitcher, I would be a little worried. This lineup is dominant, young and that good.
No. 3 Josh Hamilton
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The name says enough, whine or no whine. Hamilton batted .333, 32 HR, 100 RBIs and 95 runs in 2010. I guess the better way to say it is the name and the stat line says it all.
No. 2 They've Gotten a Taste
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When you have gotten a taste of the BIG TIME, you never want to take a step back. The Rangers are young, dominant and eager to make it back and win it all this time. And they have a fan base standing at attention. The Claw and Antler Nation is ready to go and the Texas Rangers will be world champs.
No. 1 No Longer Scared of the Yankees
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Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodriguez and Rafael Palmero remember the late 1990s very well and the New York Yankees come right into view. The Texas Rangers won their very first AL West title in 1996 with Johnny Oates at the helm and finally made the playoffs. A small road block appeared with the Yankees winning the series 3-1. The Rangers made it back to the playoffs in both 1998 & 1999 with Yankees crushing their hopes sweeping all 6 games.
The 2010 Rangers are a different story. After beating the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series the Rangers got matched up once again with their nemesis, the New York Yankees. However, the Yanks were no match for the new-look Rangers who moved onto their first World Series winning the AL series in games.
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