One strike away. Twice. The Texas
Rangers vowed shortly after Game 5 of the 2010 World Series that they'd
return and win it next time. They nearly had their hands on that trophy coming
within one strike of winning on two different occasions. Losses are part of the
landscape but the Rangers stinging Game 6 defeat is in a class all its own. One
can only imagine the disappointment of coming so close only to lose.
The burning question heading into 2012 is can
Ron Washington’s team bounce back? History shows that it will be extremely
difficult for the Rangers to make another World Series next year, much less win
one. 
There has been just one team in baseball history that lost twice in the
World Series and came back the next year to win a tile, the Babe Ruth Yankees
of 1923.
The Rangers opened as 20/1 MLB odds long shots to
return to Baseball’s ultimate stage. They are the third betting choice in the
American League behind The Red Sox and Yankees.
Season
to remember
Outside of the bitter disappointment of
another runner-up finish it was still a banner season for the Rangers. They set
a franchise record with 96 victories in 2011. They were in first-place in the American
League West lead for the final 85 days of the regular season and played 46 straight
games over the past two months without suffering two losses in a row. Ironically
that two-game losing streak didn’t happen until the final two games of the
World Series.
Here we go again
Last year the Rangers watched Cliff Lee exit
as a free agent and now they have another lefthander in the same situation.
C.J. Wilson was 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA and led the team with 223.1 innings
pitched last season following up a 2010 campaign in which he went 15-8. He’s
been the team’s most consistent starter but was a postseason bust this year
going 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA and 19 walks in 28 innings. Despite his playoff
failings you can bet the Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles and Cubs among others will
make their pitch for Wilson. The Rangers were willing to stretch their budget
to try and get Lee. It remains to be seen if Nolan Ryan will be willing to
match a huge offer for Wilson given his October failings.
Shopping list
There are few holes on the roster but another
outfielder is a priority. The Rangers want to move Josh Hamilton to left field
on a full time basis so that would mean picking up a center fielder. Despite
doing well with a first base platoon or Mike Napoli and Michael Young, Texas
will likely inquire about Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols from the Cardinals.
2012 outlook
The lineup is loaded with the likes of
Hamilton, Young, Napoli, Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus. The
bullpen, despite the World Series failures, is exceptional. The rotation, with
or without Wilson, is talented. If closer Neftali Feliz makes the transition
from closer to starter, it would lessen the pain if Wilson signs elsewhere.
Final
thoughts
If you’re a glass half-full kind of baseball
fan, then consecutive trips to the World Series are a good thing. But if that
glass is half-empty, than losing back-to-back World Series is the worst thing
that could ever happen. The Rangers are still the class of the American League
Western Division but a third straight American League pennant is a lot to ask
for. The half-full guy says this organization will continue to improve. They’ve
got a new TV deal that will be worth $80-$100 million dollars and that could
equal a free agent or two.
Then again the team might need to invest in a
sports psychologist. Game 6 will haunt this team, maybe forever.
“One
strike away, twice”.