I'm calling it: TX Rangers make the playoffs

[RoadRunner]

They are due damn it. Its been what? Ten years since the last time the made the playoffs? I don't care. Against all logic and sanity I am picking the Rangers to make the playoffs this season. If I am wrong I will come back to this thread with hat in hand.

 

[MC KAos]

They are due damn it. Its been what? Ten years since the last time the made the playoffs? I don't care. Against all logic and sanity I am picking the Rangers to make the playoffs this season. If I am wrong I will come back to this thread with hat in hand.

no one thought the devil rays would make it to the world series, so you never know, but i seriously doubt it.

 

[Rampage]

no one thought the devil rays would make it to the world series, so you never know, but i seriously doubt it.

yeah but they had pitching which turned out to be a lot better than eveerybody thought. the Rangers still have no pitching which means no playoffs.

 

[peplaw06]

No way. Better chance of finishing last than first in the West.

 

[StylisticS]

I'll believe when I see it. I won't care what they do in April and May. I want to see what they do when July and August rolls around.

 

[DIAF]

I think the Angels are in for a disaster of a season. Their pitcher's numbers did not match their results last year, so that's bound to come crashing down sometime soon. Plus now Santana is hurt, Vlad is on the decline, lost K-Rod...I would not be shocked to see a couple of injuries and poor performances make them a 75-85 win team.

However....

Don't think the Rangers will be able to take advantage. Pitching is still awful, but will be better than it was last year. IF IF IF McCarthy stays healthy and doesnt suck out loud. Feldman will be bounced out of the rotation by mid-year due to performance (hopefully derek holland will be up and take his rotation spot), and you better pray milwood and padilla stay healthy. Even then, this squad has virtually no shot of winning the division. IMO. The A's are a much better balanced team. Rangers topped 900 runs last season and still finished what, 5 games under .500? Nothing has changed except this year McCarthy is "healthy". As far as the sticks go, everyone knows what Hamilton/Kinsler/Blalock(lol) are gonna do (or in Blalock's case, NOT do). Thoughts on other players:

Michael Young - the offensive decline continues
Andruw Jones - look like he's got his swing back somewhat; 25 homers, .250
Nelson Cruz - cautiously optimistic - .265, 28 homers
Crush Davis - 35 homers, 175+ Ks, too scared to even predict a BA
Elvis Andrus - lol. Vizquel will have his job before the season is over, kid needs more seasoning. Rangers' SS will combine for around a .260 average and no power.
TT/Salty/MaxRam - 3 headed-catching monster (although MaxRam won't be catching if/when he comes up) - I expect a low BA out of TT, but good power for the position and good defense, while expecting a nice average, good power, and bleh defense from salty. All together, I think the Rangers can get .275/20/80 out of this position.

 

[Mavs Man]

I think they will be better than last year, but 2010 is much more primed to be a breakout season. As others have said, we are riding our hopes on the same terrible starting pitching as last year, and it will be pitching that does or does not get them to the postseason. Maybe Matt Harrison will continue to progress, or maybe not. Maybe McCarthy throws over 100 innings thanks to tweaks in his throwing motion (I sure hope we can get something out of him). I would hope that Millwood has better conditioning this year thanks to longer outings in spring training, and with a contract year coming up. Ditto for Padilla.

That's a lot of ifs, a lot of maybes, and a lot of hoping to say anything with certainty. But if (there I go again) they can get 200 innings each from Padilla and Millwood, and serviceable seasons from McCarthy, Harrison and Scott Feldman, then I think they will contend into late August and possibly even September. They should have a good enough offense to keep them in games if they do not blow late leads.

But again, I'm looking more towards 2010 when Elvis Andrus will have a season under his belt, Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz should be in the starting rotation, Justin Smoak, Taylor Teagarden, and Julio Borbon should be in the lineup or knocking on the door. Many, if not all of those guys will get MLB experience sometime this year, and next year we may have that Devil Rays type breakout with the young guns making the leap to stars.

 

[Mike_45]

I just hope they dont raise the prices on Hot dogs this year. Although a playoff appearance would be very nice, I dont think it will happen this year. The following year however...I can hope cant I?

 

[theebs]

I just hope they dont raise the prices on Hot dogs this year. Although a playoff appearance would be very nice, I dont think it will happen this year. The following year however...I can hope cant I?

I think every wednesday is dollar hot dog night..might be tuesday I cant remember.

 

[Mike_45]

I think every wednesday is dollar hot dog night..might be tuesday I cant remember.

Its difficult to get up there during the week though for me, I spose I will have to settle for Minor League baseball with the Express here in the Austin area. They do have dollar hot dog night as well. They dont do dollar beer night anymore, its just discounted.

 

[Mavs Man]

I just hope they dont raise the prices on Hot dogs this year. Although a playoff appearance would be very nice, I dont think it will happen this year. The following year however...I can hope cant I?

The last time I bought a hot dog at a Ranger's game it was the nastiest hot dog I ever ate... or tried to eat. It was even cold in the middle. So I returned it and paid the difference between that and a hamburger. Which was also cold in the middle.

So, I no longer buy concession stand food at the Ballpark.