The Rangers have been the 2012 University of Kentucky Wildcats over the last two years. They've been a seeming juggernaut for the past two years, and won the past two AL pennants, which were their first two in the history of their franchise. Unfortunately, they fell short both times, once to the upstart San Francisco Giants, and once to the upstart St. Louis Cardinals. That's right, those damn foreign cities, like that damn Katniss from that upstart district 12, have gotten the best of the Capitol that represents the Texas Rangers.
First of all, I saw Hunger Games with Frankie. Second, my analogy makes way more sense and he should have not used it because the Pirates are terrible. And third, there's no way in hell the Pirates should be ranked ahead of the A's in power rankings on ESPN. But the biggest point here, is that the Rangers are still really, really good. The odds are definitely in their favor. That's right. The Rangers, the team that was borderline hilarious for most of their history until the last three years, has become something of an equivalent to the evilness that is the Yankees.
Kentucky was really good last night. The Rangers are also going to be good. Though the Rangers don't have the long history of success that Kentucky does, over the last three years, there's been no question that the Texas Rangers have to be included in any discussion over the AL Pennant winner. You can think of them as the Career Tributes from District 1 or 2. These guys know that they're good. They know how to win, and they're willing to do what it takes to get there.
The Rangers are going to be good, and it's hard to suggest otherwise. Their lineup is right up with the Red Sox and Yankees in terms of potentness. Their .283 average paced the majors last year. Their 210 home runs were second and their 855 runs were third. Their .800 OPS was second. The point is, they could hit. They could hit a lot. It helps that The Ballpark in Arlington has been a boon to hitters since it opened, but it also helps when you have great hitters. It helps more when you return essentially the same lineup from 2011 into 2012. This teams knows its manager, it knows itself, and it knows what it can do. It's going to take a lot to knock this team off its pedestal.
The Rangers' offense runs through "The Natural", Josh Hamilton (.298/25/94). Though his career was derailed by "distractions" in its early stages, it doesn't seem that he's lost any of his overall talent. His balls out style keeps getting him injured, but when he's healthy he's one of the most feared hitters in the league. Backing him up will be sluggers Nelson Cruz (.263/29/87), Ian Kinzler (.255/32/77/30 SB)(one of the four members of the 30-30 club last year along with Braun, Ellsbury, and Kemp; aka, kind of good), and Adrian Beltre (.296/32/105). This trio doesn't need much more of an introduction. When healthy, they may be the best offensive threats at their respective positions in the league. Injuries have slowed the three of them throughout their careers, but there's no reason to believe it will sideline them this summer.
Michael Young (.338/11/106) will man the DH role as the starting lineup is predicted at the start of the season, but he can play anywhere on the infield should anyone falter. The Rangers keep trying to push him to the side, but his raw talent an abilities with the bat continually earn him a spot in the middle of the lineup. Elvis Andrus (.279/60 RBI/37 SB) will also play a big part, setting the table and adding a threat of speed to what is generally a stagnant, power-filled lineup.
Mike Napoli's (.320/30/75) bat earned him the starting catching job over Yorvit Torrealba halfway through last year. Though both are still on the team, Napoli's bat is going to keep him in the starting lineup. He was dynamite down the stretch, and if he keeps on hitting like he showed last summer, the Rangers will have a distinct advantage over many other teams at the catching position.
The weakspot in the offense comes from the spot that is usually the most prolific on most other teams. Mitch Moreland (.259/16/51) has been trying to take over the starting duties since he broke into the majors in late 2010, but he hasn't quite yet shown the durability to do so. The Rangers still think he's a part of their future, and will definitely give him a shot in 2012. Another weakish spot is Daniel Murphy (/279/11/46) in left field, but even his numbers don't make one worry too much, especially when it's realized that these two bat in the 8th and 9th spots in the lineup.
Fortunately for the rest of the AL, the chink in the armor, like a glimmer in the force field, might be in the starting pitching. Last year, their 3.79 ERA was only 13th in the majors (5th in the AL), but their lineup was more than enough to make up for it. They also gave up the 6th most home runs in the majors (170), but they also managed to stay in the top 6 in WHIP and average against. They've been good the last couple years, but will they be able to maintain the success with a bit of a new cast this year.
The departure of CJ Wilson will hurt this lineup if any of the predicted starters struggle, but Nolan Ryan and company hope they don't. Colby Lewis (14-10, 4.40) will lead the way. He struggled last year after a breakout 2010, and the Rangers hope he can return to that form. Behind him are Matt Harrison (14-9, 3.39) and Derek Holland (16-5, 3.95). Both are young. Both are hungry. Both have shown flashes of brilliance. Both had breakout seasons last year, but have proven nothing. One has the stupidest mustache in the majors. These two may be the hinge of the Rangers' season.
Seriously, it's really dumb.
The big story of the team going into the season is former Japanese star Yu Darvish. If Darvish pitches as advertised, the Rangers might be unstoppable. In four starts this Spring, he's been good, but not unstoppable. If he proves to be a number four starter instead of a number two starter, the Rangers may have trouble at the back end of the rotation, and the strength of the Angels rotation may pass them. Rounding out the rotation is former closer Neftali Feliz, who moves to the rotation at the expense of Alexei Ogando. Feliz has looked fantastic in no matter what role he's in, however, his wildness was suspect last year, and he's struggled a bit this spring. Closing will be former stud, but recently injury troubled Joe Nathan. In 2009, he was 47 for 52 in save opportunities with a 2.10 ERA. But, that was three years ago. Fortunately, if he struggles, Feliz or Ogando should have the stuff to take the closer's role.
The Rangers will have a great lineup, but there are a few questions on that staff. Still, if the rotation can do what they did last year (meaning Darvish and Feliz perform as advertised, and better than they've done this Spring), they should have no trouble combating the threat that the Angels pose.
Your Reigning AL Champs, the 2012 Texas Rangers:
C Mike Napoli
1B Mitch Moreland
2B Ian Kinsler
3B Adrian Beltre
SS Elvis Andrus
LF Daniel Murphy
CF Josh Hamilton
RF Nelson Cruz
DH Michael Young
SP Colby Lewis
SP Derek Holland
SP Yu Darvish
SP Matt Harrison
SP Neftali Feliz
CL Joe Nathan
Best Case Scenario
The Rangers do what they do best: hit the freaking cover off of the ball. Hamilton, Kinsler, Cruz and Beltre all stay healthy throughout the season, and AL pitching trembles before the awesomeness that is the Rangers. In June, they go on a streak of 25 games of scoring five runs or more. The offensive prowess is enough to make Toby Keith and the Dixie Chicks perform a song together that ends up winning a country music award (obvious joke: that's not actually an accomplishment).
The pitching staff works right along with the offense, and it doesn't take much for the Rangers to win their third straight AL pennant (the first team to do so since the 98-00 Yankees and before them the 72-74 Oakland Athletics). The Milwaukee Brewers rotation is no match for the Rangers in the World Series, and the state of Texas finally has it's first Major League championship.
In May, Nolan Ryan declares his intention to run for President, and after his team wins the championship, the rest of the nation seems no reason why he shouldn't be given a shot, and he wins on an independent ticket. 100 years of peace and prosperity in the entire world follow his leadership. Global climate change is solved.
Worst Case Scenario
The Rangers get off to a hot start. The lineup clicks, the pitching holds strong, and the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area thinks a third straight pennant is all but certain. That's when the trouble starts. One June first, after taking a 5 game lead over the Angels and upstart Oakland Athletics, Josh Hamilton invites the bat boys over to his home, and during the visit, his meth lab explodes.
Though no one is killed, some are burned. Very badly. And the ripples that are sent through time are felt throughout, well, time. The scandal the envelopes the Rangers organization destroys the rest of the season. Without Hamilton anchoring the lineup and with the cloud hanging over their heads, the Rangers have a very weak June and July, and fall four games back of the Angels by July 20. Hoping to infuse hope into the lineup, the Rangers trade Ogando and Daniel Murphy for Ricky Romero, but the rotation still doesn't take the shape they hope it would. The lineup, without Hamilton, is not the juggernaut everyone thinks is should be. This is especially true after injuries to both Kinsler and Beltre. The Rangers, beyond everyone's wildest dreams, miss the playoffs.
Hamilton is released and banned from baseball indefinitely. Nolan Ryan, who admits to knowledge of Hamilton's struggles, is locked out of Rangers' operations, and the Rangers slip back into the mediocrity that the rest of the league is honestly WAY more comfortable with.
What Will Probably Happen
97 Wins, AL West Champions, and a third consecutive AL Pennant.
Song of the Post
It's two years old, but the autotune is just fantastic.
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