The 2012 season was one to forget for the Texas Rangers. At points during the year they looked liked the best team in baseball but down the stretch they collapsed. They went 93-69, and made the playoffs as a wild card team, losing to the Baltimore Orioles in the wild card play in game. In the offseason the Rangers lost multiple key players, most notably Josh Hamilton. The Rangers go into the season with a middle of the pact pitching staff, and hitting that got worse. This season will be a long year for the Texas Rangers because fans expect them to make the playoffs and be an elite team. The Rangers took a step back in 2013 and they need their young players to step up to fill the holes left by players that left in free agency.
Rangers Hitting
The Rangers lost big name free agents Josh Hamilton, and Michael Young both of which were great hitters. This loss affects the “Best Lineup in Baseball” which they had last season. This season they still have some power mixed in with their young players to create a still top 10 lineup. I the middle of the lineup they have Lance Berkman who was once a top hitter in the league. At his age he still can produce, and help drive in runs. After Berkman they have third baseman Adrian Beltre who batted .321 with 36 Homeruns and 102 RBI’s last season with the Rangers. Beltre is a monster hitter in the middle of the lineup and can produce runs at will. Next they have Nelson Cruz who had an off season last year only hitting 24 homeruns. Cruz is a beast of a hitter, and can hit for 30 Homeruns in 2013. At the top of the lineup they have Ian Kinsler who had 21 stolen bases last season with 19 homeruns. At the top of the lineup Kinsler can be a 20-20 guy in the 2013 season which can help produce more runs. Number two batter Elvis Andrus is really young and continues to improve every season. He can hit for .300 this season and reach around 20-30 stolen bases setting up the middle of the lineup to drive in runs. The team brought in AJ Pierzynski who is a very solid hitting catcher. He can hit for power and average. He is one of the better number seven batters in baseball.
Texas Rangers Projected Lineup
1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Elvis Andrus SS
3. Lance Berkman DH
4. Adrian Beltre 3B
5. Nelson Cruz OF
6. David Murphy OF
7. AJ Pierzynski C
8. Mitch Moreland 1B
9. Leonys Martin OF
Texas Rangers Pitching
The Texas Rangers pitching staff is a middle of the pact pitching staff. Last season they were in the middle in every category and this year they will be in the middle in every category. They looked to add Zack Grienke in the offseason but failed to do so. At the top they have ace Yu Darvish who in his rookie season last year had a 16-9 record with a 3.9 ERA. Look for Yu to improve as he has gained more experience in the bigs. Derek Holland is the number two pitchers but his stats say otherwise. His stats from last year are 12-7 with a 4.67 ERA. His ERA needs to improve or he could be the number 4 pitcher by the end of the season. Matt Harrison their number three pitcher was 18-11 with a 3.29 ERA last season. If Matt has a season like he did in 2012 the Rangers are in good shape. Next they have Alexi Ogando who was a bullpen pitcher for most of the season. It should be interesting to see his conversion to the starting rotation this season. Finally they have Martin Perez who is 21 years old. He is a very highly ranked prospect and has excellent stuff. If Perez can have a 4 ERA this season the Rangers are in excellent shape. If all the starters have around a 4 ERA the Rangers are in good shape because they have one of the better lineups in baseball.
Texas Rangers Starting Rotation
1. Yu Darvish
2. Derek Holland
3. Matt Harrison
4. Alexi Ogando
5. Martin Perez
In the offseason the Rangers bullpen lost pitchers Koji Uehara and Mike Adams. Both pitchers were very good for the Rangers in 2012 and replacing them will be very difficult. The Rangers added ex star closer Joakim Soria who comes back in May after Tommy John surgery. Soria can be the closer or set up man when he comes back. The closer for the Rangers is Joe Nathan. Last season Nathan had 37 saves and a 2.8 ERA. Nathan has been an elite closer for years dating back to his days with Minnesota. If the Rangers have a lead in the 9th it will be hard for teams to win. Another solid pitcher in the Rangers pen is young star Robbie Ross. Ross was 6-0 with a 2.22 ERA last season in 58 games. He is 24 years old and is an excellent relief pitcher for the Rangers. The Pen took a step back but the Rangers still have solid pitchers in it which can help them win games.
Texas Rangers Season Schedule Break Down
The Texas Rangers have a lot of games within the AL West their division. This includes multiple games against the front runner to win the AL this season the Los Angeles Angels, the Oakland Athletics, the new AL West team the Houston Astros, and Seattle Mariners. Most of the teams in the AL west are improved from last season, and the Rangers will have a hard time against the Angles and Athletics. This season is unique for the AL West since the Houston Astros moved into the division creating more division rivals. The Astros can create an interstate rivalry for the Rangers. During interleague play the Rangers play the NL Central. This includes games against the St Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates. All these games will be competitive as they are all improved baseball teams. The Rangers also have a home and away 4 game series late in May vs the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Rangers Key Additions
1. RHP Joakim Sora
2. C/DH AJ Pierzynski
3. RHP Josh Lindblom
Rangers Key Departures
1. Josh Hamilton OF
2. If/DH Michael Young
3. C Mike Napoli
Prediction
Last season the Texas Rangers made the playoffs, but they lost in the play in wild card game, which ended their collapse and made the 2012 season a season to forget for Rangers fans and players. Going into the off season the team had many free agents and was in limbo. After losing out on Zack Grienke to the Dodgers, and Josh Hamilton to division rival Los Angeles Angles the Texas Rangers go into the 2013 with a new identity, and a fairly new roster. The team still has a core of solid players and is a top 15 team in baseball. The 2013 season will be a one to forget for the Texas Rangers, they will not make the playoffs for the first time in 3 years. They will fall just short in 2013.
Texas Rangers Season Schedule 2013
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