Texas Rangers Enjoying Potentially Their Greatest Season Ever Despite Bankruptcy Issues
With questions surrounding ongoing bankruptcy issues and uncertainty over the future ownership of the club, things could possibly not be any worse for the Texas Rangers off the field.
Having said that, things could almost not be any better for the Rangers on the field. Heading into the second half of the season, the Rangers have the largest lead in baseball out of the six divisions. They sit at a record of 50-38, 4 ½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Angels have owned the AL West for pretty much the whole decade, winning the division five times in the last six years. This year, or at least so far, the Rangers have shifted the power in the division.
"Every possible twist and turn"
"I've been through every possible twist and turn," said Michael Young, the longest-tenured Ranger in his 10th season. "A lot of unknowns and a couple of rebuilding processes, and now here we are. It's just time to go on the field, be loose and have some fun."
In their 50-year history, the Rangers have never won a playoff series and have only had two winning seasons since they last made the playoffs in 1999.
However the team’s awful history and its bankruptcy issues have had no effect on the team in 2010 so far.
"What I sense is a confidence," said manager Ron Washington.
The pressure is on
Team President Nolan Ryan claimed before the season that he expected the Rangers to win 92 games. Texas is on pace to win at least 98 and have added all-star pitcher Cliff Lee to their starting rotation.
"Now it's on us. It's on us," Washington said, repeating with emphasis. "I don't think we can cry for anything else. ... There were expectations on us. Now there's really expectations on us."
General Manager Jon Daniels pulled the trigger on a six player trade for Lee despite the financial issues surrounding the team. It appeared the wealthy New York Yankees would land the ace, but Texas swooped in when negotiations between the Yankees and Mariners faltered.
The Rangers had already acquired veteran catcher Benjie Molina who won a World Series with the Angels in 2002.
Lee was one of six players from the Rangers in the All-Star game. Sluggers Josh Hamilton (.346, 22 home runs, 64 RBIs) and Vladimir Guerrero (.319, 20 HRs, 75 RBIs) both were AL starters while Kinsler and shortstop Elvis Andrus also played. Rookie reliever Neftali Feliz (23 saves) didn't get in the game.
Another reason for the Rangers success was signing former Angel, Vladimir Guerrero who has proven that he has some good baseball left in him. He can potentially be a candidate for MVP come season’s end.
Playoff hopes
If the Rangers do pull off the once unthinkable and win the AL West, one has to wonder how far the team could go in the playoffs.
They will of course be measured to what they can do against teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays, who are all a big threat once October rolls around. The playoffs may determine just how far the Rangers have come as a team.
The franchise faces an August 4th auction overseen by a federal bankruptcy judge. The auction will determine who will be the new owner of the team. The Rangers will shortly after have to address their bankruptcy plan.
Ryan’s future with the club will be uncertain if his group doesn’t win the auction.
"I haven't given that any thought," Ryan insisted last week after the Lee trade. "My mindset, I'm planning on going through the year and finishing the season and see eventually where things are and then make some kind of determination off that."
Well, at least the team’s doing well.
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