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2009 Texas Rangers Odds & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on February 24, 2009

rangers-22409 The Rangers won only 79 games in 2008, but it still proved to be a breakthrough year for the team as they finished better than third in the division for the first time since 1999. It will take an enormous leap to make up the 21-game gap between them and the Angels last season. They won’t be able to pull it off, but they will be able to narrow the gap. Jimmy Boyd breaks down the Rangers in this 2009 MLB betting preview. The Texas Rangers are listed at +6000 to win the World Series.

Pitching
Kevin Millwood is still considered the ace of this staff, but it is apparent that he has lost a step. Millwood was just 9-10 with a 5.04 ERA last season. In fact, he has allowed a .306 batting average the last two seasons which ranks him 75th among 78 pitchers with at least 50 starts. Probably not the first guy you want to take with your fantasy draft. We could see what Vicente Padilla is really made of as this is a contract year for him. He was 14-8 last season with a 4.74 ERA. Scott Feldman moved from the pen to a starting role in 2008 and will hopefully post better numbers now that he has a season of starting under his belt. Southpaw Matt Harrison went 5-1 with a 4.31 ERA over the final 6 weeks of the season. Will be build on that? Brandon McCarthy looks like the No. 5 right now but is going to have to show some durability of he could easily lose his job to a rookie.

It seems like its been forever since Frank Francisco has been healthy. The right handed closer finally appears to be back. He was 5-for-5 in save chances to close the season, not allowing a single earned run. It is vital that he return to his pre-2004 form or the Rangers’ pen is in trouble.

Lineup
The Rangers boast one of the most potent lineups in all of baseball, leading the majors with 901 runs scored last season. It all starts with center fielder Josh Hamilton. Hamilton is coming off a monster year in which he hit 32 homeruns and posted 130 RBIs. Third baseman Michael Young will likely hit in the No. 2 spot in front of Hamilton. We still made the All-Star team last season despite a down year. He hit .282 with 12 homeruns and 82 RBIs. Second baseman Ian Kinsler is one of the best at his position in the game. He hits for average and power in the lead off spot. Last season, Kinsler has 18 round trippers and 71 RBIs in 121 games. Plain and simple, the Rangers need more production from DH Hank Blalock, especially since this is a team which must outscore its opponent to win most games. Blalock hasn’t hit 20 homeruns or driven in 90 runs since 2005. Right fielder Nelson Cruz should be Texas’ everyday clean up hitter. He spent most of 2008 in Triple-A, but hit .330 over the last 31 games of the season with seven homeruns and 26 RBIs. Left fielder Marlon Byrd (10 HR, 53 RBI), first baseman Chris Davis (17 HR, 55 RBI), catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (3 HR, 26 RBI), and shortstop Elvis Andrus round out the starting lineup.

Prediction: 2nd AL West
It looks like the Rangers will find second place in the AL West for a second straight season, which isn’t bad considering they hadn’t finished better than third since 1999. The Rangers will score a lot of runs again, but a suspect pitching staff will hold them back. The Texas Rangers are listed at +900 to win the AL West.

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