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Take a deep breath, Texas Rangers fans

By Heath Criswell |

Baseball is officially back! I know it’s very early in spring training and the Texas Rangers have only played 4 games. Yesterday we were presented with the news that the Rangers would likely be without Yu Darvish for the season. I thought I’d give a run-down of what my thoughts are so far.

Starting with the most important and devastating news that Darvish may undergo Tommy John surgery. As a Rangers fan, there is no worse news that we could have heard yesterday.

Needless to say, it put butterflies in my stomach and my immediate thought was not again with the injuries! There is no way that we can compete without our ace! The Rangers are done, put a fork in them. 

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I tried to think rational and I could not do it by myself at that moment. Later I found the article by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News and saw words of our new manager Jeff Banister at the end. Those words reassured me! Someone will step up and have a career year!

No, the Rangers should not trade for Cliff Lee or for Cole Hamels! It would cost too many prospects that I for one don’t want us to give up.

Enough with crying over the fact that Darvish will not pitch this year! Onto the other news so far this spring training.

The Rangers have only played 4 games but so far the pitching has been getting lit up and the offense is still finding its way. Two of the four games they have allowed double digit runs.

Colby Lewis got roughed up for 6 runs and only lasted 1 of his 2 scheduled innings during the first game. Nick Tepesch was basically throwing batting practice to get charged with 7 runs in 1.1 innings. This time of year it is more about pitch location and them working on pitches than focusing just on how many runs were given up.

The bright spot yesterday was not only a win against the Milwaukee Brewers but it was Ross Detwiler lasting 2.2 innings and giving up 1 run striking out 2. Detwiler pretty much becomes the automatic 4th starter with there still being a competition for the 5th starting job between Nick Tepesch, Nick Martinez and possibly Alex Gonzalez along with a few others. 

The last outfielder spot is still up for grabs being only 4 games in. The speedy outfielder, Delino DeShields had an error in which another article by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News describes.

Ryan Rua went 0-3 yesterday but had a run yesterday.  Jake Smolinski had a home run against the Giants. Ryan Ludwick and Nate Schierholtz  are the other candidates. It will be interesting to see who steps up and takes that spot.

No doubt that the Rangers will miss Darvish. It’s time for Derek Holland to step up and be the ace this year. My brother-in-law told me years ago that Holland would be the future ace for the Rangers. It appears that the future is now! I always thought that Holland has the talent but has been too inconsistent. He will have to step up from the number two starter and the others on the pitching staff will have to step up too.

Yesterday I was ready to throw in the towel, but today I am not near ready to count the Rangers out this year. I hope all of you other Rangers fans feel the same way. I still have faith that this team will accomplish great things. Yes, I believe we will make the postseason though it will be harder. Do you feel like the Texas Rangers can make the postseason without Darvish? Should the Rangers trade away some prospects for Cliff Lee or Cole Hamels?

Next: Will Darvish Miss 2015 Season?

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