Highs and Lows for the Texas Rangers in 2011.

The Texas Rangers last year were one of the best teams in baseball, also without that being said they did play in a weak division but none the less they proved to everyone that were the best team in the American League. They won the AL West division title, beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS, beat the New York Yankees in the ALCS and went on to the World Series were they rain into a hot San Francisco Giants team and lost the World Series. For the Rangers it was more than they could have hoped for. The Rangers were a joke team in baseball and never really had a great team, their fans never showed up to game and they never really got any support. In Texas we all know it’s about FOOTBALL, then baseball. But in 2010 something changed and fans started to see that they had a baseball team in Texas. In 2011 will the Rangers have that same kind of effect? View my highs and lows for the Rangers in 2011.



High:

This offseason the Rangers signed free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre to take over at third base. Beltre last year had an outstanding year for the Boston Red Sox and hit .321, 28 home runs, and drove in 102 RBI's. Beltre will be a nice bat in this already good Rangers line-up.

Low:

The lost of starting pitcher Cliff Lee who signed back with the Philadelphia Phillies for five years, $120 million dollars was a big blow to the gut. Lee last year was the ace of this pitching staff and helped them to a division title and got them to their first ever World Series.

High:

The Rangers still have one of the best and young starting line-ups in the American League. They have guys in this line-up who can hit for power and speed. Their big power house hitter is Josh Hamilton who did have a rib injure but came back and still hit well. Hamilton won the 2010 AL MVP award with putting up great numbers with a .359 average, hit 32 home runs, and drove in 100 RBI's and is the most dangerous hitter in the American League.

Low:

The Baltimore Orioles are working on a contract for free agent DH Vladimir Guerrero who was the Rangers big pick up last year and had a great year for the Rangers. The Rangers needed a DH last year and they got one but now it seems like they may not want him anymore, Guerrero in 2010 hit .300, 29 home runs, and drove in 115 RBI's. It would be a big lost if they lose him.

High:

The Rangers were able to so far keep infielder Michael Young after signing Adrian Beltre. But now that Beltre is over at third base where will Young go? Young who has been part of this team his whole career will be used as their new DH and be asked to play any infield spot from time to time that's if the Rangers don't trade him away.

Low:

Now that Cliff Lee is gone who is the ace of this pitching staff? The Rangers are very weak on pitching and most likely C.J. Wilson will be their ace. The Rangers did pick up free agent Brandon Webb, but Webb hasn't pitched a game since 2009. The Rangers thought they could bring in Zach Greinke but the Brewers traded for him before the Rangers could even have a chance. The one thing I will give the Rangers pitching staff is, last year they were in first place in the first half of season without Cliff Lee. Better hope they have the luck this year like they did last year.

High:

The Rangers bullpen is their strong suit of their team with young closer Neftali Feliz who won the American League Rookie of the Year award with 40 saves. He is the answer to their back end of their bullpen. Now rumors have gone around that Rangers would like to turn Feliz into a starting pitcher and make Arthur Rhodes their closer. As we saw in New York the Yankees tried to turn Joba Chamberlain into a starter and it never worked out. I say just Feliz alone and their pitching will come around one way or another.

So if the Rangers are serious about winning themselves another division title they better work on a few things, other than that I still think it's going to be a close run for the American League West Division title. The Angels have made some big offseason moves by trading for Vernon Wells, either way it’s anybody's division.