My Feelings On The Texas Rangers Thus Far This Year:
Good, Bad, and "Meh"
So people in Dallas are pretty proud of their Rangers now, as they should be. A lead in the AL West, a respectable 14-6 home record…plus it takes the minds of Dallas sports fans off the Cowboys and Mavericks for a second, which, given Jerry Jones’ and Mark Cuban’s further descent into Al Davis-Hood and the Cowboys and Mavs further descent into irrelevance, is a welcome respite. I’d say the Rangers represent the Dallas area’s best chance for a championship in the next five years (not counting hockey because not enough people care and not counting soccer because I’m only including real sports).
So they probably won’t win it this year. But here are my likes, dislikes, and possible minor league solutions to some glaring problems with the Rangers.
Rangers Hitting
What I Like:
1) They lead MLB in HR and Extra Base Hits and are 2nd in slugging percentage. They also are 9th in the Majors in RBIs, 5th in stolen bases, and 9th in hits. In short, this team can score, and a lot, as evidenced by their 10th place ranking in runs scored (a very respectable 242) and the aforestated lead in extra base hits. The stolen base ranking is also important this year, as more teams are looking toward speed and small ball in this “unexplainable” dip in MLB home run production.
2) They have two players hitting over .300 and six more hitting over .250. They also have four players already in double digits homer-wise, and one more just a few away. This team has a large core capable of extra base hits
What Worries Me:
1) They rank 28th out of thirty in walks drawn.
2) They have the 7th most strikeouts in the league.
3) They rank 23rd in OBP
Promising Minor Leaguers:
1)Justin Smoak 1b AA- Will stay in Double-A no later than mid-season. Look for him to either make an impact on the Rangers or be a big trade chip by next year. He’s coming up quickly; keep an eye on this youngster.
2) Julio Borbon CF AAA- Solid outfielder who could fill in for injuries or be considered for trade.
3)Jose Vallejo 2B AAA- On a tear since being promoted to Triple-A, could play a role in the infield or groomed for the future. Also a trade prospect.
4)Max Ramirez C AAA- In a 2 month slump from awesome numbers posted last year, but no one doubts that he’ll pull out of it. A major trade chip considering the Rangers strength at catcher and the fact that Manuel Pina is more than ready to move up to Triple-A from Double-A Frisco.
Rangers Pitching
What I Like:
1) Not Much
2) Frank Francisco- 16.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 16 Ks, and only four walks. He’s looked good so far since his comeback from biceps tendinitis.
3) Kirk Millwood- A decent 4-4, 3.25 ERA, and 38 Ks in 72 IP with 21 walks. Not great, but not bad.
4) 25th fewest walks in the majors. Gotta count for something, right?
What Worries Me:
1) This can be summed up quite simply: 19th in ERA, 18th in opponents batting average, 22nd in opponents slugging percentage, last in strikeouts, and have given up the most home runs. Pedestrian; at the very worse, no numbers worthy of a team 1st in their division.
2) Very shallow bullpen. The numbers speak for themselves, with the exception of Francisco
Promising Minor Leaguers:
1)Neftali Feliz RHP AAA-Doing great in OK city; can probably be relied on for various relief duty, especially the 7th-8th inning shut-down pitcher the Rangers so desperately need
2)Kasey Kiker LHP AA Still in Frisco, but coming up the ladder quickly. Expect to see him next year if he can reduce his number of hit batsmen.
3)A.J. Murray P AAA Low ERA; very good MLB prospect, possibly ready to move up this year.
4)Guillermo Moscoso RHP AA-Possible starter in Triple-A or reliever in Majors
Overall Quickie Review:
The Rangers have enough minor league pitching prospects and enough spare talent at catcher and outfielder in both their minor and major league clubs, along with rising infield talent in the infield, that they should be able to secure a few trades for the pitching they’ll need to make a serious playoff run. I stress the word “should.” We’ll see, but this is my underdog pick of the young season. No surprise, but this team is entertaining, at least.
Keywords: Texas Rangers
