Looking Back at January 2010 for Texas Rangers

This entire year has been a remarkable one for the Texas Rangers.  They shined throughout the entire year and then made their very first World Series appearance with ace pitcher Cliff Lee.  Let’s take a look back on 2010 and see just what got the Texas Rangers to the World Series.

To start the 2010 year off, the Rangers first signed free agent Vladimir Guerrero. They were able to ink the designated hitter to a one-year contract that contained an option for 2011. The one-year contract was worth $5.5 million and was definitely a good way to start off the year right. Prior to joining the Rangers, Guerrero held a .321 batting average for his career, which was the fifth highest among all active players.  The previous six seasons he was with the Los Angeles Angels where in the prior season, he participated in 100 games hitting 15 home runs and 50 RBIs.

While with the Rangers in 2010, Guerrero was a huge aspect to the Rangers making it to the World Series in November.  He had a batting average of .300 securing 29 homers and 115 RBIs in 152 games.  He went on to win the 2010 American League Silver Slugger award, which was his fifth in the AL. His 115 RBIs from 2010 ranked him as fourth, 29 home runs ranks his as ninth and .300 batting average ranks him 11^th in the American League stats.

In the middle of the month, the Rangers also signed free agent RHP Colby Lewis to a two-year deal worth $5 million and this wasn’t his first time in Texas, as he played with the Rangers from 2002 to 2004.  Prior to making his way back to Texas, he played in Japan.  He figured he might have that shot at playing in the Japan Series – only to find out that he ended up coming back to Texas and pitching in the 2010 World Series.  He said he would make the most of it and he sure did.  His pitching was impressive throughout the playoffs and while he may have had a good number of walks in Game 3 of the ALDS and ended up leaving just after the fifth inning, he didn’t allow a single run.

Looking at Lewis’ stats in 2010 with the Rangers, he pitched 32 games as a starter, went 12-13 and had an earned run average of 3.72.  Not the most impressive statistics, but he made up for in the playoffs.  He went 3-0 with an earned run average of 1.71.

Bringing Lewis back was a very good investment for the Rangers as he a very impressive pitcher.  I think he has a lot to show us all in 2011.  Look for him to be second in the rotation behind C.J. Wilson (not confirmed, just my opinion!).

Also, in January, the Rangers secured contracts with outfielder Josh Hamilton (who I’ll speak significantly more about in a later post) for $3.25 million after for the first time ever he became eligible for arbitration as well as reliever Chris Ray for just shy of $1 million.