subject: Texas Rangers Tickets - Back To The Postseason [print this page] The last time the Texas Rangers reached the playoffs, the best players on their team were Jose Canseco, Juan Gonzalez, Pudge Rodriguez and Mickey Tettleton. If those names sound like they're from a different era, with the exception of Pudge, it's because they are. Having not gone to the playoffs since 1999, fans have had plenty of time to reflect on their team's failure to put a winning club together.
It seems that the wait is over, however, as the Rangers have a more complete roster than any team in the division and an eight-game lead in the A.L. West as of Aug. 5 - easily the biggest divisional lead in the league.
Before the season even began, team president Nolan Ryan made a bold proclamation that the Rangers were going to win 90 games this season - a total that would probably win the division. Though many believed that they had some significant talent, it still seemed like a tall order for a team in the same division as the Angels and a Mariners team that seemed to be on the cusp of bringing it all together.
But the Rangers responded incredibly well to Ryan's confident look at his ballclub, jumping out to an early divisional lead that they have carried throughout the season. Coming off a disappointing, injury-laden 2009 season, outfielder Josh Hamilton reminded everyone why he was such a talented prospect coming out of high school. On Aug. 5, Hamilton was leading the entire league in batting average (.357) to go along with 25 bombs and 75 RBIs. In most seasons, Hamilton would probably have the type of numbers to take home the A.L. MVP, though this season seems to belong to Miguel Cabrera, who stands a legitimate chance of winning the Triple Crown if he can get hot.
The other major reasons the Rangers are atop the division are some unlikely sources. When the Angels let Vladimir Guerrero walk, it seemed that the former superstar was on a major decline. The Rangers have certainly had the last laugh, however, as Vlad is one of the top RBI guys in the A.L. and still is hitting over .300. If Vlad stays healthy and gets 14 more RBIs, it will become the first time since 2007 that he's been on the field long enough to get to the mark after reaching it nine times previously in his career. Guerrero also certainly helps sell plenty of Texas Rangers tickets.
Unlike the Rangers of old, however, they've also got plenty of pitching support as well. After being a reliever for much of his career, C.J. Wilson finally got a spot in the Rangers' rotation and has been nothing short of miraculous compared to the expectations. Wilson has a 10-5 record with a very solid 3.19 ERA to go along with a WHIP of 1.25.
But perhaps the most surprising has been Colby Lewis, who missed the 2008 and 2009 seasons before joining the Rangers rotation in 2010. Lewis is leading the team in strikeouts and only Cliff Lee has a better WHIP in the starting rotation. Now with Lee atop the rotation, the Rangers have a group of solid veteran pitchers who should be able to not only reach the playoffs but make some noise once they get there.
With such a long playoff drought, it also could be easy to merely accept a playoff appearance as a win for the franchise. For many franchises this certainly would be the case, but not for a team helmed by Nolan Ryan. Ryan has taken his fierce mentality and filtered it throughout the team, instantly changing the losing culture in the clubhouse to a much more positive environment.
Instead of being happy with the direction of the franchise, Ryan went out and grabbed Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners, giving them a legitimate chance to not only reach the World Series but to win it. Though analysts will likely be inclined to pick the Yankees, Rays or Cardinals to win the World Series, it wouldn't be wise to sleep on the Texas Rangers.
by: Pat Smith
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