Rangers 2010 Outlook

Guarded optimism on my part. I'm tired of the "we'll get 'em next year" bit year after year after year. We're longggggggggg overdue for a playoff team.

BTW, I gave a friend $50 last weekend to put on the Rangers to win the WS.
 
I'm in for 90!!!!!! Nolan putting fire in pitchers and hopefully a new approach to hittting that the team will buy into that is more about being a tough out for every AB.
 
OUE, I think 90 is possible - maybe even 94. The Rangers need (a) the pitching to equal or surpass last year, (b) the defense to equal or surpass last year, and (c) the offense to return to pre-2009 form. I like the rotation if Harden stays healthy. Scott Feldman is poised to repeat the success of last year. I'd personally like to see Feliz stay in the bullpen - in another year or two, he could become the lights-out closer. Let's see if Vlad can stay healthy enough to hit 30 and drive in 100 - if so, folks won't be able to pitch around Josh Hamilton. Borbon needs to become the prototypical lead-off hitter - he certainly has the speed to become a great baserunner and stealer. If Chris Davis doesn't get out of the gate quickly, it won't be long before Smoak is up to the Bigs.
The other factor, of course, is this - what does the rest of the AL West do? The Angels won't drop off much, if any. The Mariners should be back in the thick of things. The A's may be a bit behind, though.

I'm ready - I ordered my tickets last week. Got two 3-game mini-packs in my favorite section (326, near the front of the section, great view of the action).

A World Series for the Rangers and a BCS National Championship for the Longhorns - now that would be a nice way to end 2010!

I also have another key milestone myself - at the end of the year, I'm retiring!!!!!
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HornHuskerDad
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Im putting us down for 88-74.

I like the pitching for the most part. Interestingly, I think our division is a little more even across the field. The Angels are no longer the front runner in my opinion. The Mariners are a ton better on paper this year. The A's are the A's. Im sure they will have 5 players who you and I have never heard of do decently.

Unless something strange happens, you have to win the division or you don't go to the playoffs. The Red Sox/Yankees will shore that up I'm sure. I like our chances this year to make a serious run at the division.

We do have some big questions, though I guess most teams do in Spring Training. We could be a huge boom or bust team, maybe more than most any team this year as we have some of the biggest wild cards:

Vlad---30 homers in Arlington this year would be great. 35+ would be terrific.

Harden---could be a 20 game winner with the right run support and IF healthy....big if of course

Feldman---can he really match up to last year's production? My initial guess is no, but Id love to be surprised.

Salty/Teagarden---can they be a combined .275, 20+ HRs, 70 RBI tandem? I kinda thought Salty would be that kind of hitter alone down the road when he first came over but Im not totally sure about him just yet.

Borbon--We dont need him to be a great hitter, just someone who gets on and steals bases.

Andrus---maybe this year, he will completely break out. Like sick numbers to go along with his defense.

Davis or whoever plays first--If Davis, please do not be on pace to strike out 10,001 out of 10,002 at bats.

Love that its time to start talking Rangers!
 
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