Regardless of that or the lack of being nowhere close to his 2011 numbers in 2012, Napoli brought something to the team that we had been sorely missing. We had Michael Young’s quiet lead by example leadership, but Napoli was the on-field cheerleader. He could get the team and the crowd fired up at the drop of a dime.  Who does that now? Kinsler? Andrus?

Will anyone step up with Mike Napoli like fire?
(photo credit: wija.com)

It’s an important asset that you can’t just assume. But the fans bought it. There was the chant NAP-OH-LI. It worked. He was active on Twitter and his battle with C.J. Wilson as the season started last year set the tone and gave us a real “knock this off I dare you” mentality.  We watched Napoli basically do that for the Angels against us in the years leading up to his Ranger time. There was no chant at the Ballpark then. In fact he was so lethal against us, it was a simple but resounding chorus of boo birds.

It remains to be seen if it was good or bad for the Rangers to not be able to give Napoli what he needed to stay a Ranger. Right now, it looks like sound judgment in erring on the side of caution. That was our theme during all of the off-season.  But losing Napoli we lose over 20 homers which is probably replaceable, but something that isn’t as easily replaced.

Wrapping things up, you have to wonder if the Diamondbacks weren’t insistent on Andrus or Profar until they ultimately traded Justin Upton to the Braves. Whatever the reason, according to reports we were in it until the end of Kevin Towers self-imposed “I have to go on my vacation Friday” deadline. But now the question for Ranger fans to ponder. Do we give up a draft pick and Boras dollars for Bourn? Do we try to make a deal for Jason Kubel when Towers gets home from vacation? Or do we stand pat and pray Nellie Cruz has strengthened his legs even more and going with Craig Gentry and Leonys Martin in center field?

Still some things to ponder in the remaining 27 days before pitchers and catchers report.

Who would we trade to get Lee? Because of the age of Michael Young, it still makes some sense for the Phillies to want Mike Olt. He would be their third base guy of the (near) future.  But I don’t know that this wouldn’t be the place to ship Elvis Andrus.  Jimmy Rollins has been oft-injured and has just turned 34 and no matter their insistence on keeping him this winter, the front office is crazy if they think there is any chance they will want to meet the Scott Boras asking price when Tiny E’s contract is up. Especially if he puts up similar or better numbers in 2013.

Bring Cliff Lee Back
(photo credit: Zimbio.com)

Based on our off-season, the window everyone spoke of being open for the Rangers for years, appears to be only slightly open this year. While the Angels signing Hamilton was a painful blow to us, it didn’t necessarily hand the AL West title to them, but yesterday’s Morales-Vargas trade with the Mariners makes them better for sure. Then there are the A’s. Nobody has any idea if those guys can play over their heads again for another 162 games. A trade for Lee signals the rest of the division that we are not going to let the window close.  Lee has two more years left on his contract (the most expensive ones) with a damning vesting option in 2016. But Lee is a pitcher and uses his brain as much as his arm which means barring some catastrophic injury, should be solid for duration of his contract.  At worst he moves from our #2 starter to our #4 over the course of his stay here. We are looking for some clubhouse stability right now and Lee can provide some of that. Not to mention how he helped our younger pitchers in his short stay here.

I know that Jon Daniels and Nolan Ryan wanted to send a message in the off-season that we were far from done. The clear opportunities to do that eluded us. So why don’t we make our own opportunity. We had already set aside some cash for the off-season that doesn’t look like it’s going to be spent anyway.

There were many things we saw in August and September and while I couldn’t bring myself to say it at the time, when gathered with the lack of success in the off-season, I wonder if we are having a problem with hubris. Pride goeth before the fall you know.  Every step of the way, I have been very proud myself of the way we have done business. Going all the way back to that courtroom where the Nolan Ryan led group won the Rangers taking on some pretty impressive bidders.

Nolan Ryan brings an old school approach to business that I truly respect. It’s so rare in today’s cut throat world. The notion that a man is as good as his word is lost these days. I am sure that is exactly what happened with Josh Hamilton. We had his word that he would touch base with us one last time before he signed elsewhere. The end result was Hamilton breaking his word and signing with the Angels.  We didn’t low ball Zack Greinke, but we didn’t overwhelm him either. I think the front office is putting a dollar value on “your chance to play for the Texas Rangers”. After 2011, that was the pitch, after 2012, we’re the team that folded down the stretch.

Scott Boras client Elvis Andrus
(photo credit WDTN)

But while I am not an advocate in moving Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar, it became apparent very early on that every single team we wanted to do business with us would only take one of those players to get anything done.  The case for moving Andrus comes down to one thing. Scott Boras. Hey Nolan, Boras does not do business the way you do. Never has. So while we see Elvis coming into his own and becoming a superstar, down in the bottom right of the screen there is a money clock, running about as fast as the one we see that tracks the national debt. We could probably meet that price, but I don’t imagine we ever will because of our business model.  Profar is the keeper, Elvis is the next A-Rod. Not in makeup, but because of the massive number Boras the rat will be after.

What we have viewed from the bleachers this winter has been an extension of what we saw with every stride to the plate in September.  We got this. It’s ours. An attitude that led us right into an early exit from the post-season. All of the pundits say now is not the time to panic and I agree. But to disguise this as anything other as a step backwards in our window of opportunity is incorrect. If the guys would have taken a moment and said “we need to bear down” I am not so sure they couldn’t have righted the ship last season. To make a deal that includes Andrus for a front of the rotation starter or big production outfielder would yield the same effect.

I don’t think our whiteboard plans included a mini-youth movement in 2013. If we don’t get this done, that’s what we’ll get.