Texas Rangers:

Addition by subtraction

Deep in the heart of Texas is where the Rangers lie. They’ve become as much a part of the state as the heat or the cattle since their first opening day in 1972. The teams won their first American League West title in 1996 and have won two more since then. During their three trips to the postseason they were eliminated by the New York Yankees in at the most 4 games each time. In 1991, flame throwing north paw Nolan Ryan threw a no-hitter at the age of 44. Last season the Rangers finished with a 71-91 record in 4th place in the AL West, 25 games out of 1st place.

The Rangers had a topsy turvey off-season. They tried to trade away AL MVP Alex Rodriguez to the Boston Red Sox but it was shot down by the players union. Manager Buck Showalter then named Rodriguez as their team captain and management traded him away weeks later to the New York Yankees. In return they got All-star second baseman Alfonso Soriano who had flirted with joining the 40/40 club twice in his young career. The team also signed free agents Brian Jordan, David Delluci, Kenny Rogers, and Jeff Nelson.

The Texas Rangers have a great deal of fire power in their batting order. Last season they scored 826 runs and hit 239 home runs which put ranked them 5th and 1st in the AL. The 239 home runs were also the best in all of Major League Baseball. This year the team is lead by slugging second baseman Alfonso Soriano. Soriano has averaged 31 home runs and 88 RBIs in his first three seasons. At the top of the lineup will be shortstop Michael Young, and third baseman Hank Blaylock. Blaylock hit the game winning home run in the 2003 All-star game. Technically he was the only person to break up an Eric Gagne save since August 28, 2002. In the heart of the lineup behind them are Soriano, designated hitter Brain Fullmer, and first baseman Mark Teixeira. Finishing out the lineup are left fielder David Delluci, right fielder Kevin Mench, center fielder Lance Nix, and catcher Rod Barajas.

The Rangers pitching staff was less than spectacular last year. They finished with an asinine 5.67 staff ERA that put them in dead last in the AL and all of the majors. This year pitching coach Orel Hershiser looks to help improve that number. The return of Kenny Rogers should help out other starting pitchers R.A. Dickey, Ryan Drese, Chan Ho Park, and Joaquin Benoit. In the bullpen the Rangers feature closer Francisco Cordero.
Since 1994 the Texas Rangers have called Ameriquest Field, formerly The Ballpark at Arlington, and their home field. This 49,000 seat stadium includes a baseball museum, children’s learning center, a 12 acre lake, and recreation space on the perimeter of the park. It also features the “Walk of Fame” in which each full team roster since 1972 is engraved on bricks outside of the stadium.

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