The last team in the AL West and the team that closes out the American League's all-time rosters is currently first in their division. Here's the all-time roster for the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers didn't make the playoffs once in their 22 seasons at Arlington Stadium and haven't yet reached the expanded dance in their new airport hanger/warehouse. Every ounce of success this team has experienced happened at this park.
Ron Washington managed more games and earned more wins than anyone in team annals. He skippered the 2010-11 American League champs, who were excruciatingly close to winning the 2011 World Series.
Here's his all-time starting lineup:
For a team with only one Hall of Fame hitter and moderate team success.. this is a strong group. Rusty Greer could be considered the weak link, but it's tough for Texas to improve upon a .305 lifetime hitter with three 100-RBI seasons to his credit.
Adrian Beltre will be the second* Ranger in Cooperstown - and he's far from the only All-Star Texas has had at the hot corner.
*Technically Nolan Ryan is a Ranger in Cooperstown but I only count Pudge. See? He's too Texan to have a halo on his plaque.
Toby Harrah played more games as a Ranger than any third baseman including Beltre. Can he hold on to his spot as a reserve?
Buddy Bell's best years came after he was traded to Texas - for Toby. He succeeds Harrah here, too.
Texas has good depth at every other infield position except catcher, where Jim Sundberg is safe. [Fun fact: Sundberg's Ranger WAR is higher than that of Juan Gonzalez!]
Like Tino Martinez, Mark Teixeira's only chance at an all-time roster is with his original team. Does Texas make room for Tex?
Teixeira and Franco played five years and under 700 games as Rangers; Elvis Andrus spent a dozen seasons in the Dallas area and only Michael Young played more games for the franchise. That said, a Palmeiro/Howard split at first base is dicey. Tough call here.
The Rangers have another DH-right field option to compete with Jeff Burroughs. Can we squeeze another steroid user onto this squad?
I actually like Nelson Cruz, which is admittedly at odds with my otherwise hardline stance against cheaters.
If Washington wanted, he could play Frank Howard in left field, DH Palmeiro, start Teixeira at first, and have Rusty Greer bump Burroughs. But Howard was soooo bad defensively.
Let's skip to the Rangers' rotation for now.
This is a complete list of every qualifying pitcher with 150 or more starts for this franchise, plus Wilson who would fit better as a swingman out of the 'pen.
The Rangers relief corps is certainly deeper, in that there are a few halfway decent options.
We'll have to make room for Wilson as well, so Russell and Foucault have to go. My apologies to all the Steve Foucault fans out there. (See why I had C.J. as a starter?)
One more division to go. We'll kick off the National League West with the wild-card leading(!!) Arizona Diamondbacks.
Thanks for reading!
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That rotation is weak! I never realized how solid Rusty Greer was. And I'm a little surprised to see Russell go from this bullpen, but I suppose Wetteland is an upgrade.
ReplyDeleteBoy, the Texas Rangers just haven't made that much of a mark on baseball. Maybe it's the after-effect of the bizarre way they started--could you imagine if your favorite team moved away, but they just put a new team in the same park and the same uniforms the following year?
ReplyDeleteBurroughs and Harrah are definitely guys I think of when I think of the Rangers, because they were stars when I was a kid, but that doesn't mean they belong on the team.
Rusty Greer was my favorite player for the back half of the 90s until he was wrecked by injuries early in the 2000s. Happy to see him stick on this roster.
ReplyDeleteThat is a brutal rotation! I remember those late 90s teams always had good offense, but then got rolled in the postseason due to lack of good starting pitching. Rick Helling and Aaron Sele seemed to have good regular seasons, but couldn't do much when the calendar flipped to October.
ReplyDeleteWoo that staff wilts under the Texas heat! I always quietly rooted for Palmer and Greer.
ReplyDeleteThat starting lineup is stacked with home run hitters. And kinda bummed to see Harrah get bumped. He's one of the first Rangers... which is weird since he played with the Indians most of the 80's.
ReplyDeleteBrian Leetch! Mike Richter! Mark Messier!
ReplyDeleteSomeone had to do it. I'll see myself out.
I'm glad someone said it :D
DeleteColby Lewis, lol ... That starting lineup makes it appear that the Rangers didn't exist until the '90s. Not so coincidentally, the last time I liked the Rangers was the '80s.
ReplyDeleteI think Martin Perez will do just enough to push his way into the starting rotation, and Adolis Garcia will earn his way past Greer in the outfield. Other than that, Seager and Semien might find a place too when their contracts are done.
ReplyDelete