CTOD Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers were the AL Champs last year, yet lost to the Giants in the World Series. Will they repeat as AL Champs again? Do they have the stuff to take home the title of 2011 World Series Champs? Everyone knows they have the bats to get them there, no doubt about that. However is there pitching going to be able to hold up and give them what they need to win?



Texas can flat out hit and it's only going to get better this year with the emergence of young Mitch Moreland and the signing of Beltre. The Rangers, as a team, finished first in Hits last year (hardly any of those were for extra base though). Along with having the most hits as a team, they possessed the highest team batting average in all the majors. Texas has only one line-up issue - health. Texas lost 551 games, as of Aug 1, to injury. Now that's certainly not as much as say the A's (909) or the Nationals (885). but the Rangers don't lose bench players, they lose their best players and that hurts. Kinsler, Cruz and Hamilton all missed games last year and I realize it's a long season and things happen but c'mon Kinsler and Hamilton seem to miss 20-30 games every season and that's not a good trend. Yet like I said the Rangers are a good hitting team and will continue to be so, especially with some exciting prospects in the ranks such as Moreland and Profar. However, the issue isn't the bats, the concern is in the pitching department.

Last season Texas ranked, as a staff, 25th out of 30 teams in quality starts. The Rangers also ranked in the top 10 in walks allowed and that's with Cliff Lee for half a season (and that guy doesn't walk anyone). Now it's not all bad, they still held teams to a low .246 batting average and finished in the top 10 in wins and ERA. They also have the electric young Neftali Feliz. So what's the trouble?

Inexperience. Before 2010 C.J Wilson was a an average pitcher who never really set himself apart. Yes, I realize he was a reliever before and regardless did have a good 2010, but c'mon one decent season doesn't make you a dependable ace. Especially not when you're looking to get back to the dance. Not to mention, Wilson had a horrible September that bled into the post season, where he was unable to get anything going and that just can't happen from your number 1. Then you have Colby Lewis, another guy with hardly any experience and the experience he does have hasn't been overly impressive or enough to warrant him a solid number 2 starter. Now you have Holland and Hunter, who are each 23 years old and did rather well last year. Neither really has crazy good stuff but both could be dependable back end starters for sure. The big question mark is Brandon Webb. Here's a guy that won the CY young award in 2006 and was as dominant as they come, then blew his arm out and has been on and off the DL since and still isn't totally ready to come back. Texas signed Webb in the off-season and are hoping to find some of that 2006 magic in the tank. The question is what will they get? I hope Webb delivers and not just for Texas' sake but because it's sad to see guys that good cut down in their prime by injury. Now those guys aside the Rangers are still undecided about what to do with the young fireballer Feliz (closer or starter). I say he should start, the guy has a great arm and the Ranger's rotation could use a power arm. Not only that, closers are a lot easier to come by as opposed to starting pitching of Feliz's caliber.

Now you can see, it's pretty thin throughout the rotation. However if they were able to do it last year, why not this year right? Yeah I guess you never know, but with Oakland's rotation getting better and better, and the Angel's having a good proven staff, I just don't see it this year with Texas. Pitching wins games and Texas can't compete on that level with their division rivals. The Blue Jays had tons of pop and power, yet couldn't even come close to securing a spot in the post season, again it comes down to pitching - you need it.

Prediction - 3rd in the AL West behind LA and Oakland. However, if the Ranger's staff can get it rolling who knows how far they could go.

Player to Watch - there's always a ton of hype around Hamilton and rightfully so, the guy has been one of baseball's most exciting stories these past few years. However Nelson Cruz is quietly putting up some fantastic numbers and if he would've stayed healthy last season he would have finished with serious numbers across the board. I expect a huge season out of this guy in 2011, Cruz can run, hit and has good average. Look Out.