Texas Rangers: Is This Season Worse Than 2014?

The Texas Rangers are currently 26-31 and in the fourth place in the American League West standings. Last month, they went a ten-game winning streak and at one point, they were 6.5 games behind the first place Houston Astros. Since then, Texas is 3-11 and they’re now 15.5 games behind. At the moment, Texas’ season is shaping up to be like their injury-plagued 2014 season or worse.

Many say this is looking worse than 2014. In 2014, the Texas Rangers finished 67-95, the third worse record in baseball that season. Not only that, but Ron Washington resigned during the season, the day after Texas was officially eliminated from the playoffs. Honestly, 2017 is looking to be worse than 2014. Injuries have taken place, but that’s not the main problem. The main problem is simple; poor performance. Injuries can’t take the blame because despite the injuries, Texas seemed all right and many times were in perfect position to win a game and they fell short.

Now it’s time to see where each side of the ball is ranked. Truth be told, it’s not only the offense who’s in a slump. The entire team is. The Texas Rangers are not a good baseball team.

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Offense: So far this season, batting is 454-for-1898. The lineup’s batting average of .239 places them 24th in the league. They’re also 25th in hits with 454, 14th in scoring runs with 267, 12th in homers with 74, and seventh in strikeouts with 508. Furthermore, they’re fourth in stealing bases with 46 so far. Regrettably, they’re first base percentage of .312 places them 23rd and their .409 slugging percentage places them 21st.

At the moment, Elvis Andrus is the best player on the lineup with a .305 batting average with seven homers and 32 RBIs. He’s currently ninth in the league in hits with 68, as well as as fourth in stolen bases with 14. Sadly, Rougned Odor is not having a good year. He’s batting .204 with eight homers, 46 hits, and 24 RBIs. As we know, Odor signed a six-year, $50 million extension in March, and after hitting two homers in his first two at-bats this season, he’s been down the tubes since. Same thing with Carlos Gomez and Nomar Mazara. They’re not providing for Texas. Shin-Soo Choo is all right and he’s healthy. Adrian Beltre who returned last week is off to a decent start. Joey Gallo’s 16 homers ties him third in the league. But overall, the offense is a mess. A talented lineup, but it’s been a huge disappointment.

Pitching: Starters Yu Darvish, Cole Hamels, Andrew Cashner, Martin Perez and A.J. Griffin are 15-17 this season. This is Texas’ original pitching rotation. Nick Martinez who’s filled in is 1-3 in eight starts. Alex Claudio and Austin Bibens-Dirkx both have one start. Claudio is 1-0 and Bibens-Dirkx has a no-decision. The bullpen has had ups and downs this season. The biggest down is obviously Sam Dyson, who’s 1-6 with four blown saves. It’s a shame to see how this season is going for him. He went from being the team’s closer to being designated for assignment. Matt Bush who’s the closer now has six saves for the season. Keone Kela, who did not make the Opening Day roster due to behavioral problems has been playing well and behaving himself since his call up. Bullpen overall is okay.

Pitching’s ERA of 4.27 places them 18th in the league. They’re also in a tie for ninth in hits with 503, as well as runs allowed with 269. They have 388 strikeouts this season, placing them 28th. Pitching’s 25th in holds and 27th in saves with only nine.

Fielding/Defense: Tied for fourth in the league in errors with 40. They’re currently first in the league in double plays with 67, however, Colorado trails them only by one, so Texas should do their best to stay first. They’re also in a tie for 15th in runners caught stealing by a catcher with eleven, and their stolen base percentage of .703 places them 12th. Regrettably, Texas is in a tie for third with wild pitches while catching with 31.

There’s four months of baseball left. There’s still plenty of baseball. If Texas is still pursuing their third straight American League West title, then the time to wake up and play ball is now. In baseball, every minute, every play, and every game counts. No more excuses.

As far as this season being worse than 2014, it’s still early to be sure, however, as said earlier, it’s shaping up to be just as bad or even worse. If Texas can pick themselves up and pull themselves together then they can save themselves. They have a choice to get up and dust themselves off, or not get up and simply quit. Quitting is not an option. It should never be.

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