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Rangers Ready to Win

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Rangers Ready to Win
Watching someone else always win is tough. A player can even can begin to take offense to it, imagining their opponent pictures themselves as being better than them, not just on the field but off as well. It can be easy to focus on them as a target; beat them and your season is made.
The Texas Rangers have had to do that for the last few seasons as the Los Angeles Angels have dominated the AL West. In five of the last six seasons they have finished at the top of the division. It was not too long ago when they finished with a World Series win (2002).
For the Rangers, success has been harder to come by. The last time they saw a division title was in 1999. Since then they have finished in 3rd or 4th nearly every season except the last two. In 2008 and 2009 they finished in 2nd behind none other than the Angels.
Last season appeared to be their time. Much of the year saw the Rangers in first, only to have them lose it in the end. The 2010 season is starting off much of the same way.
So far so good
Seventy seven games in the Rangers are in first with a record of 47-30; their win percentage of .610 is the second highest in the league next to the New York Yankees. They currently have a four and a half game lead over the Angels who sit at 44-36.
Unlike the other teams in the AL West the Rangers are playing their best ball at home. Of the 40 games they have played so far at home, they are 28-12, tied for the most wins at home in the league but with three more losses than the best home team (the Atlanta Braves, 28-9). The other teams in the division have winning home records as well, just not as good as the Rangers.
Where the Rangers have really been able to stand out above the rest has been in inter-league matches and against the AL Central division. To date they have won 14 against National League opponents and only lost four; the Angels are the next best in the division with an 11-7 interleague record. Against the Al Central they have won 13 while only losing 9; the Mariners are the only other team with a winning record against the Central (9-6).
Where it counts
This year is looking to be different for the Texas Rangers. It helps the Angels appear to be having a down year, but it also helps that the Rangers are getting it done where it counts.
Their 47 wins are among the top of the league so far this season. A good percentage of those wins have come against the opponents they need them against the most—the division opponents (70%).
Statistically, the Rangers are performing much better than they have in years past. Offensively they have the second best batting average in baseball (.283; as of July 1). Their run total of 412 ranks behind only the 417 the Yankees have scored and the 435 the Boston Red Sox have scored. In 2009 their batting average was only .260, good enough for only 18th in the league. The run total they had in 2009 should be easily beaten in 2010; in 2009 they scored 784 runs (10th in the league).
The pitching staff has made significant improvement as well. In 2009 they were in the lower half of the league in staff ERA with 4.38 (18th in the league). So far through 2010 the pitching staff has been much improved with an ERA of 3.94 (12th). Their strikeout totals are much improved as well. During 2009 they were near the bottom of the league, 26th, with 1016. In 2010, they are on pace to easily best that number with 567 through 77 games (also good enough for 12th).

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