What is it about the 2009 Rangers that make them different then other Ranger teams over the past few seasons? Admitedly, they have been lacking in the last 5 to 9 years in just about everything but offense. Their offense has been magnificent, but everything else has been bad. Last season alone, the Rangers committed 132 Errors, which led the league by a bunch. Their team ERA was 5.37, the highest in the American League, and their ERA for the last 5 seasons averaged 4.85, much higher then the league average of around 4.50.  The League average for errors from 2004 -2008 was 101.4 errors per season, while the Rangers averaged 115.8 errors per season. So lets just say, pitching and defense were really bad.

 

But that is all in the past and I am not bitter at all. Now, lets look at what is different about this Ranger team then all of the others. First, I think it is something that is not going to show up on the field. They all like eachother. They all hang out, dance, play, read, and talk like friends, not just teamates. They believe in eachother as people and they think that they can win. They seemed to be missing alot of that confidence over the past 5 seasons, but I think they have finally found it. The team that plays together, seems to win together. Second, they

 

are pitching much better then they did in the past. much better. The team ERA doesn’t show just how good they have been. (team ERA of 4.51, 6th in the league). Matt Harrison has thrown two complete games, Millwood has an ERA under 3, Padilla has thrown back to back 1 hitters, Feldman has a starting ERA under 1. None of that happened last season. Not even close over the last few seasons. I think most of the credit goes to team president Nolan Ryan for his commitment to a new program for training pitchers and to pitching coach Mike Maddox for helping the pitchers work hard to start the new program. The pitching has been fantastic. It is hard to believe that if you watch much Ranger baseball. But it is true. Also, the Ranger have 20 errors, tied with the Yankees for the third lowest total in all of the American league, and seventh in all of baseball. They did not do that at all over the past few seasons, comming in dead last the past two seasons. They are not giving away runs this season.

Nobody seems to believe that it is real yet, but the Rangers have the second best record in the AL. I do not believe that is a fluke. I think the Rangers are here to stay. They are young, talented, and now, they can pitch. The only thing that can stop them is themselves. I am not saying I think they will win the World Series this season or anything, but I can see them being a playoff power for the next 5 to 10 seasons at least if they keep doing things the way they are doing them now and don’t trade away their young talent. Tampa Bay did it that way, and I think Texas can as well. Oh yea, and as far as superstition goes, keep the Red jersys.