By all accounts the Texas Rangers had a pretty good winter, adding players like Rich Harden and Vladimir Guerrero, but how good are they?
Well, just looking at their infield you have to say they have one of the best around, certainly in the West.
Michael Young at third will always produce with the bat and the glove, Elvis Andrus is already one of the best defensive shortstops in the majors despite only playing a year at the top level, and Ian Kinsler crushed 31 home runs last year.
Add a 23-year-old improving first baseman in Chris Davis who hit 21 home runs last year, the Rangers have reason to be optimistic.
The outfield of Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton and Julio Borbon isn’t bad either, provided they can all stay healthy. Now add Guerrero as a DH and Rich Harden as your pitching-staff ace and you have what on paper looks like a division challenging club.
Team president Nolan Ryan certainly has high expectations for the Rangers in 2010 saying the team can win 92 games.
"I just feel like that's a number that this ballclub should be able to reach, it's hard to sit here before we play a spring game and predict, but I feel like we have the depth and talent and we're capable of doing that,” Ryan said Wednesday
Anything can happen. The division could be balanced and you beat up on each other and you might win the division with 87 wins.
"They'll say the Angels have more established starting pitching and Seattle has improved and their pitching is good. All those things are true. But I also think that we have a balanced ballclub and I think our club is coming together in a way that I think they are ready to make that move. There are so many factors that come into play, but I don't think we're asking players to perform like they haven't before. The key is to stay healthy,” Ryan added.
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