Field of Nightmares

Ehsan Azad

Field of Nightmares

                Three years ago the Rangers entered spring training with a loaded roster and hopes of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. They not only made the playoffs, they climbed to the height of the baseball world by winning back to back American League Pennants and being runner ups for the World Series twice. Now, they enter spring training with more question marks than talent as they try to prepare for the 2013 season after a nightmare off season.

                The Texas Rangers could be given the award for the best teasers in all of sports. They have back to back World Series appearances, their last one being a pitch away from winning it all, and starting last season as the best team in baseball, but loosing the division crown on the final day. It must be frustrating for a Rangers fan to witness this after years of irrelevance for their team. But the hope was in the winter offsetting. Media and fans alike were a buzz about how the Rangers were in so many conversations in free agency and could control how things would fall. There was at one point a chance that the Rangers would sign ace pitcher Zach Greinke and Josh Hamilton. Then trade for excellent Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton.  The Rangers would have been the overwhelming favorite to return to the World Series if they just got one of those players.  In the end, the trade for Upton was nixed, Greinke signed with the Dodgers, and Josh Hamilton left the Rangers for the division rival LA Angels. The nightmare scenario had happened.

                Now, I give Jon Daniels, general manager of the Rangers, some credit for putting a band-aid on the roster.  Though they lost Hamilton, Michael Young, and Mike Napoli, he replaced them with veterans such as A.J. Perzynski and Lance Berkman to help shoulder the offense. Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison still lead a solid pitching unit that still has some power in it. But overall this team is much weaker than previous Ranger teams. They lost a lot on offense and might lose more as Nelson Cruz’s name was found on a report alleging that he bought performance enhancing drugs. He could face a 50 game suspension.  The real problem however may not be the team, but the higher competition in the division.

                The AL West is much stronger now than it was the last few years. The Angels now have an elite pitching staff, and Josh Hamilton will join a high powered offense with players like Albert Pujols and Mike Trout. The Oakland A’s still are the defending division champs with their amazing pitching, which helped propelled them to that unlikely run in the playoffs.  The Rangers simply didn't make enough moves to compete in the division let alone in the American League.

                I could be wrong and the Rangers will pick it up from where they ended and coast to a division title and maybe an AL title. But, this team doesn't excite me. Jon Daniels was caught without a good back up plan and the fans are going to have to deal with the Rangers returning back to irrelevance.