Texas Rangers: Be patient, pitching is on the way

The Texas Rangers have lacked pitching depth in recent seasons. But help is on the way, and sooner than Texas Rangers fans think.

It’s always fun to watch a lineup mash. Chicks dig the longball, after all. But as fun as home runs are, it takes more than big bats to win big. The Texas Rangers have been sorely lacking on the mound in recent years. Injuries took their toll. Free agents didn’t work out. Pitching prospects never developed. Sometimes that’s just the way baseball go. (I miss Ron Washington.)

But really, how important is pitching to going deep in the playoffs? Let’s look at the World Series participants from the last few years to see.

Last year, the Dodgers ranked second in MLB in ERA, and the eventual champion Red Sox were eighth. In 2017, the Dodgers ranked second and the Astros eleventh. And in 2016, the Cubs were first and the Indians seventh. In fact, for the last ten years, the World Series participants have averaged eighth in ERA in MLB.

ARLINGTON, TX – JUNE 16: (L-R) Bubba Thompson from McGill-Toolen High School, Chris Seise out of West Orange High School and right-handed pitcher Hans Crouse out of Dana Hills High School pose for a photo after the Texas Rangers announced the signings of several of the club’s top selections in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 16, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

The Rangers, as mentioned above, haven’t had that kind of pitching success. They have ranked 19th in ERA the last ten years, on average. The highest they’ve ranked is tenth, in 2010 and 2013. The last five years they’ve ranked 24th. If you’re looking for a reason the Rangers haven’t gone deep in the playoffs lately, that’s it right there. Pitching wins championships, and the Rangers have not developed great pitching lately. But that’s about to change. Help is on the way.