Why excitement for the Texas Rangers should carry well beyond Opening Day

Opening day is finally here. Starting against the Chicago Cubs, the Texas Rangers look onto a brand new season with the hopes of being a competitive team.

Baseball; it’s more than just a game. It’s the tale of generations connected to each and every one of us. It’s the one sport that runs deep in the heart of every American, whether you’re a true fan of the sport or not, and it signifies the true beginning of summer. Perhaps more than anything, opening day represents a fresh start, a clean slate. The Texas Rangers will definitely view it that way.

It all starts here.

Opening day has arrived. Soon come the upsets, the surprises, and the wild division races. Not to mention the heartbreaks, the errors, and the anxiety of possible unmet expectations. You never really know what is to be expected of a new season, but that’s the beauty of it. Last year’s faults could be this year’s feats, and no team needs a surprise turnaround quite as badly as the Rangers.

Recovering from an abysmal 2018, maybe 2019 will be the rebound season for Texas. The citizens of DFW are craving for competitive baseball again, and I believe this could be the year that kicks back into gear. There a plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the forthcoming season.

Reasons to be optimistic

As the young trio of Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara, and Rougned Odor look to bounce forward in their progressions, the elders of the crew such as Elvis Andrus and Shin-Soo Choo look to recapture their previous successes.

The Rangers, while heavily left-handed, have a rather good lineup that could be even better if their young trio steps up. Pair that with a revamped rotation (fingers crossed that each member stays healthy) and this team may actually be good. The rotation is the glaring question mark, but we can count on it to at least be more effective than the one from 2018.

The influx of youth and experience could be the sign of good things to come in Arlington, and it could happen sooner than later. You never know what kind of image this year’s team can take upon the fresh canvas we call a season. The somewhat widespread low expectations surrounding the Texas Rangers could lead to opponents underestimating them, meaning they could catch a few by surprise. A good start is most needed. Especially with a young team, the start to the season can make or break the confidence throughout.

There could be a competitive team here after all. Hey, crazier things have happened.

Baseball is back, and we can all be optimistic for at least one day. Maybe this will be a special year! Opening day is the special time that allows us to look forward onto a season with excitement and wonder, no matter the outcome of the season ahead. I’ll end with an essential question… when will Opening Day finally become a holiday?