Texas Rangers: 7 Reasons the Rangers Will Repeat as American League Champs
After 10 straight years of no baseball in October, the Texas Rangers shocked the world by winning the 2010 American League pennant. They were a very good team during the regular season but proved to be very dominant in the division series against Tampa Bay and made the defending World Series champion Yankees look silly in their own ballpark.
After losing to the Giants in the World Series, the Rangers are out to defend their title and make another trip to Arlington in late October. They are returning almost all of their key players and have added a few to their arsenal.
So what reasons do we have to believe that they will win the American League pennant again? Read on for my list of seven.
Starting Rotation
1 of 7
Good pitching in Texas? Say it ain't so! The Rangers have had a history of bad pitching but with coach Mike Maddux leading these guys, they have turned the page in a dark history of Rangers baseball. This is a rotation that posted a 3.93 earned run average last year and was fourth in the American League in strikeouts. The 2007 rotation posted a 4.75 earned run average and was last in the American League in strikeouts; however, the pitching staff has improved every year to get where it is now.
C.J. Wilson leads the rotation as the No. 1 starter and surprised everyone last year with his durability. Very few had confidence that a setup reliever could last 200 innings but that's exactly what he did last year. Colby Lewis had an unimpressive win-loss record but that's forgivable when you look at the run support he received in those starts. If he can master the control and velocity he had last year then he can easily win 15 games.
Matt Harrison and Derek Holland are two lefties that are in what I would call a do-or-die season. They've been in and out of the rotation since their major league debuts but coming off a visit to the World Series, the Rangers needs to know if these guys can carry them to where they ended up last year. So far in 2011, they've shown flashes of brilliance and have been very reliable starters. Barring injuries or confidence issues, these are two solid pitchers that could easily anchor the rotation.
Alexi Ogando has been the successful wild card in the rotation early in the season. He replaced an injured Tommy Hunter and has been good in that endeavor. He's been getting great run support and all of the runs he has given up have been the result of home runs. As with C.J. last year, there are durability issues since he has never made a start in the majors until this season. Early on there have been no issues with mechanics or velocity so it will have to be a "wait and see" situation.
Neftali Feliz
2 of 7
After some speculation about his role on this team, Neftali Feliz returns as the closer that won Rookie of the Year last year. The young fire thrower from the Dominican Republic put up a 2.73 earned run average with a 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
His control has remained strong and the work on his secondary pitches has vastly improved. The recent trip to the 15-day disabled list should be nothing to worry about as I expect him to return to form as soon as he comes back to the team.
But not to ignore the elephant in the room, his shoulder inflammation is a concern for the upcoming offseason as management explores the idea of having Feliz be a starter. This will be an issue he will have to overcome if he wants to make that leap to the rotation.
The Four Infielders
3 of 7
The Texas infield is by far one of the best in baseball. Not only do the Rangers infielders kill opposing pitchers with their bats but their defense has improved over the years. Adrian Beltre is a Gold Glove winner and Elvis Andrus is certainly a Gold Glove-caliber player along with Ian Kinsler.
Aside from defense, their offensive ability is outstanding. Beltre and Kinsler can easily hit 20-plus home runs a season and Andrus is a guy that can get on base and hit for average. Mitch Moreland will be playing some games at first base this season and is a tough, raw kind of baseball player. I expect a lot from Moreland this season and he has certainly shown the signs of meeting those expectations.
.png?w=256)
The Veteran Outfield
4 of 7
You know a team has depth when the league's reigning Most Valuable Player can miss a month while the players don't miss a beat. When Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz are healthy, they are a gruesome twosome.
But let's not forget about David Murphy and Julio Borbon. Murphy is a clutch hitter who has been getting more playing time since Hamilton went on the disabled list. Borbon has been hit-or-miss in his career and has a lot more to prove to his critics. He's certainly not a blemish on this team but fielding errors and lack of offense have left fans not knowing what to think about him.
Statistically speaking, Julio had the third-best ultimate zone rating (UZR) as a center fielder during the 2010 season behind Marlon Byrd and Michael Bourn. An outfield of Hamilton, Borbon and Cruz gives Texas the best chance to win.
Offseason Acquisitions
5 of 7
The Rangers failed in their pursuit of free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee but that doesn't mean the offseason wasn't productive in terms of newcomers. By far the biggest addition to the ballclub was Adrian Beltre. He replaced Michael Young as the starting third baseman and brings more skill and power to the position not seen in a while. Beltre is a two-time Gold Glove winner and has also won the Silver Slugger award twice, which gives the Rangers more offense in the lineup and a deadly defensive weapon at the hot corner.
Yorvit Torreabla comes over from San Diego with his superb defensive skills to become the starting catcher. Dave Bush, Brett Tomko and Arthur Rhodes all bring depth to the pitching staff and insurance should a starting pitcher go down with injury.
Brandon Webb is also a very exciting addition but there is room for some concern. He hasn't pitched since 2009 and is still a long way from debuting with the team. Reports have come out that the 30-45 day expected return date is likely to be extended due to a lack of velocity. If he is able to get healthy in time for the late stretch of August to September then opponents beware.
Ron Washington
6 of 7
Every ship needs a captain and Ron Washington is the man the team looks up to. This is a coach that the players love and support through good times and bad. Even though a positive test for cocaine clouded a spring full of optimism, the team stood by him all the way to a trip to the World Series.
A team needs a real leader and it is clear that Washington has the respect of his players. This unity is essential for moving on to the next level.
The Rest of the West
7 of 7
The other three teams in the division certainly have what it takes to win, but the Rangers seem to be doing better than them in most categories.
In terms of hitting, the only category the Rangers are losing in is hits and they currently trail the Angels by 15. In terms of pitching, it's not looking good as they are in last place in every category except for walks and saves.
The Rangers offense has always been great but a better pitching staff than previous years, which they currently have, will carry them to the division title.
.png?w=480)
