2011 Texas Rangers Predictions
Expectations are high for the Texas Rangers in 2011 following their best season in franchise history. They took the AL West with 90 victories and went on to make their first ever World Series appearance. Outfielder Josh Hamilton took home AL MVP honors and closer Neftali Feliz won the AL Rookie of the Year award. So much of what the Rangers accomplished in October, however, had to do with ace southpaw Cliff Lee. Unfortunately, the club didn’t succeed in bringing him back. Baseball odds makers have listed the Texas Rangers +1600 to win the 2011 World Series.
Pitching: Losing Lee certainly hurts, especially given his track record in the postseason. Not all hope is lost without him though. The Rangers built a 4.5-game lead in the West prior to Lee’s arrival with the same cast of returning pitchers. Plus, they add former Cy Young winner Brandon Webb to the mix.
Texas is taking a gamble that Webb, who hasn’t thrown a pitch since Opening Day 2009, can return to form. If so, he will combine with C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis to form a respectable trio at the top of the rotation. Wilson went 15-8 with a 3.35 ERA and Lewis went 12-13 with a 3.72 ERA last season.
Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland should also make the rotation. Hunter was the beneficiary of incredible run support (6.2 runs per start), but I’m not taking anything away from the season he had (13-4, 3.73 ERA).
Feliz is likely to find the starting rotation at some point, but for now he is a great weapon in the ninth. He saved 40 games last year.
Lineup: An already stout lineup could be even better in 2011 with the addition of Adrian Beltre. The third baseman hit .321 with 28 home runs and 102 RBIs for Boston last season. He will provide further protection for Hamilton, who hit .359 with 32 round trippers and 100 RBIs.
Second baseman Ian Kinsler, shortstop Elvis Andrus and first baseman Mitch Moreland join Beltre on the infield. Kinsler and Andrus, who were both All-Stars in 2010, make up one of the better middle infields in the AL. Moreland figures to get the first shot at third after hitting .348 with 7 RBIs in the playoffs. The Rangers could also elect to try Michael Young at first, but he’s expected to start the season at DH. Young had 21 jacks and 91 RBIs a season ago.
Nelson Cruz and Julio Borbon will join Hamilton in the outfield. The Rangers will likely put Borbon in center in hopes of limiting Hamilton’s injury risks. Cruz has a nice bat. He hit .318 with 22 home runs and 78 RBIs in 2010.
Yorvit Torrealba and Matt Treanor will share the catching duties.
Prediction – 1st Place AL West: The addition of Beltre is a big one, and Webb could help Rangers fans forget about Lee if he can return to form. Getting back to the World Series won’t be easy, but the Rangers still have a shot. The Rangers are listed at -120 to win the AL West.
