The defending 2010 American League Champion Texas Rangers certainly have the offense to defend the American League West Division title. Despite the loss of designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero to free agency, the Rangers added third baseman Adrian Beltre via free agency. Beltre spent the 2010 season with the Boston Red Sox. In his contract year, Beltre hit .321 with 28 home runs, and 102 RBI. Beltre has the ability to contribute to the Rangers’ lineup but don’t count on it. The veteran third baseman has a tendency to have a huge season during his contract year and then sort of fizzle after he signs a big contract. For example, in Beltre’s last season with the Dodgers in 2004, he hit a whopping .334, 48 home runs, and knocked in 121 runs in 156 games. After signing a five-year $64 million contract with the Mariners, Beltre hit a dismal .255, with 19 home runs, and 87 RBI in the same amount of games in 2005.
The Beltre signing also put long-time Ranger Michael Young and the Rangers organization at odds. Michael Young has had to move from one position to another to accommodate players such as Alex Rodriguez, Ian Kinsler, and Elvis Andrus. When the Rangers signed Beltre, the organization asked Young to make the switch as a part-time designated hitter. Understandably, the request did not sit well with Young. As a result, the Rangers’ all-time hits leader asked the organization to trade him. As of now, a trade has not been made and Young is still in Rangers camp. I believe that it is in the best interest of the Rangers to keep Michael Young happy. Young has represented the Texas Rangers with class and hard work since he first put on a Ranger uniform in 2000. If there is one player on that team that will take them to the next level, it is Michael Young.
During the offseason, the Rangers lost out on resigning Cliff Lee. Lee took his talents back to Philadelphia where he won a World Championship in 2008. Well, enough about Lee. The Rangers are stuck with converted reliever C.J. Wilson as their rotation ace along with veterans Colby Lewis and Brandon Webb. Beyond those three pitchers, the Rangers have two rotation spots open to, Tommy Hunter, Derek Holland, or Alexi Ogando. Both Ogando and Hunter pitched in Monday’s spring training game against the Giants. Ogando threw three shutout innings, allowing two hits on two walks and four strikeouts. Hunter, on the other hand, did not have his best stuff allowing four runs on five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts in three innings. Amongst those four runs allowed by Hunter was a two-run, opposite field home run to Pat Burrell. Don’t get me wrong, the Rangers’ rotation definitely has the ability to succeed in the American League, but I feel that the Rangers might not have been able to go as far as they did last year without Cliff Lee. With that being said, the Rangers’ lineup and bullpen will have to pick up the mercurial rotation.
Speaking of the bullpen, I believe that the success of the Rangers’ bullpen last year was a key factor in the team’s path to the World Series. The bullpen’s biggest asset last season was undoubtedly the 2010 A.L. Rookie of the Year, Neftali Feliz. Feliz recorded a rookie-record 40 saves for the Rangers last season. There was talk early in spring training on whether Feliz was better off moving into the starting rotation for the 2011 season. Ultimately, Feliz came out and said that he preferred keeping his role in the bullpen. Quite frankly, I believe that the organization made the correct choice. If you have a guy who has had success closing out games in the major leagues with a 100 mph fastball and a nasty curveball, you are better off leaving him right where he is. “If it aint broke, don’t fix it!” Other than Feliz, last year’s bullpen featured Darren O’Day, Darren Oliver, Alexi Ogando, and Frank Francisco. Despite trading away Francisco to Toronto during the offseason, the Rangers have signed veteran left-hander Arthur Rhodes. Rhodes spent the last two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and before that split time between the Seattle Mariners and the Florida Marlins. Rhodes has been a model of consistency since returning from Tommy John Surgery in 2008. The bullpen will once again have to play a big role if they want to play in October of this year.
Despite that competition from the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels in the A.L. West, I feel that the Rangers’ lineup is far greater than the other two lineups. Moreover, I don’t foresee this lineup going into many slumps as a whole. There are way to many productive bats on this team to not be productive on a daily basis. With that being said, it is imperative that the Rangers do indeed score enough runs for their questionable rotation. When it comes down to it, the Rangers should be in a playoff race at season’s end.
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