A look back at the Texas Rangers' 2010 AL Pennant team

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The Texas Rangers’ 2010 season was a memorable one for players and fans alike. The team won their first Division title since 1999 and also won their first AL Championship banner with the right to represent the AL in the World Series.

Regular Season

The Rangers posted a 90-72 record during the regular season. This was good for a nine game lead over the archrival Oakland Athletics. The record was also the 4th best record in the AL behind Tampa Bay Rays (96-66), New York Yankees (95-67), and Minnesota Twins (94-68).

Playoffs

In the Divisional Series, the Texas Rangers defeated the favored Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 to win the series and the right to play for the ALCS. The Rangers would play the New York Yankees who defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-0.

Texas defeated the New York Yankees 4-2 to capture their first ALCS title in franchise history. The Rangers would then face the San Francisco Giants who defeated the Atlanta Braves 3-1 in the Divisional Series, and the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in the NLCS.

San Francisco were 92-70 during the regular season. The Rangers were no match for the NL Champions as the Giants defeated the Rangers 4-1 to claim their 6th World Series title.

Texas Rangers’ 2010 AL Pennant Team: Starting Pitching

Starting pitchers had a record of 56-47. The staff was led by C.J. Wilson who went 15-8, with a 3.35 ERA in 204.0 innings. Wilson went 1-2 in four playoff starts for the Rangers.

Colby Lewis was also a workhorse for the Rangers, pitching 201.0 innings and winning 12 games. Lewis went 3-0 in four playoff starts for the Rangers.

Scott Feldman won seven games and logged 141.0 innings. Feldman did not see any playoff action in 2010 for the Rangers.

A 23-year-old Tommy Hunter went 13-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 128.0 innings. Hunter went 0-2 in three playoff starts for the Rangers.

Cliff Lee was added to the starting rotation prior to the trade deadline. Lee went 4-6 in 15 regular season starts with the Rangers. Lee went 3-2 in five playoff starts for the Rangers.

Rich Harden went 5-5 in 18 starts. Harden did not see any playoff action for the Rangers in 2010.

2010 Texas Rangers Bullpen

The Rangers bullpen compiled 46 saves during the 2010 regular season. The pen was led by hard throwing righty Neftali Feliz. Feliz had 40 saves and a 2.73 ERA in 70 games pitched for the Rangers. Feliz pitched 7.1 innings during six playoff games, earning one World Series save.

Darren O’Day was a terrific lefty who pitched 72 games and recorded a 6-2 record , 2.03 ERA, and finished 14 games. O’Day went 0-1 during 11 relief appearances and one game finished during the playoffs.

Veteran righty Darren Oliver appeared in 64 contests while recording a 2.48 ERA while finishing seven games. Oliver went 0-1 during eight relief appearances, two games finished and one ALCS save during the playoffs.

Frank Francisco pitched in 56 games while recording a 3.76 ERA while finishing 20 games. Francisco did not see any action for the Rangers during the playoffs.

Rookie Alexi Ogando compiled a 1.30 ERA in 44 games and finishing 12 games for the Rangers. Ogando made five relief appearances and finished one game during the 2010 playoffs for the Rangers.

2010 Texas Rangers Starting Lineup

The starting lineup included power and speed. The catching position was a platoon that worked for the Rangers. The primary catcher was veteran Matt Treanor who played 82 games for the Rangers during the regular season. Treanor was a defensive specialist who hit .211 and compiled five home runs and 27 RBI’s. In the playoffs, Treanor was replaced by Bengie Molina as the primary catcher.

Rookie Justin Smoak started the season at first base but, was traded before the deadline in the Cliff Lee trade.

Rookie Mitch Moreland took over at first base and played 47 games. Moreland hit for a .255 AVG, nine home runs and 25 RBI’s. Moreland played 15 playoff games for the Rangers going 16 for 46 for a .348 AVG, and seven RBI’s.

Ian KInsler played 2B for the Rangers. In 103 games, Kinsler hit for a .286 AVG, nine home runs, 45 RBI’s, and 15 SB. Kinsler played all 16 playoff games for the Rangers going 16 for 54 for a .296 AVG, three home runs, nine RBI’s and three SB.

Elvis Andrus played SS and was in his 2nd season playing MLB. Andrus made his first all-star game appearance and played 150 games, hit for a .265 AVG, 35 RBI’s and 32 SB. Andrus played all 16 playoff games for the Rangers going 20 for 68 for a .294 AVG, four RBI’s and eight SB.

Michael Young was in his second year playing 3B. In 157 games, Young hit .284, had 21 HR and 91 RBI’s. Young played all 16 playoff games for the Rangers going 17 for 67 for a .254 AVG, one home run and seven RBI’s.

Josh Hamilton helped lead the offense while playing LF. Hamilton made his 3rd all-star appearance while playing 133 games, leading the AL with a .359 AVG, hitting 32 HR and adding 100 RBI’s. Hamilton played all 16 playoff games for the Rangers going 11 for 58 for a .190 AVG, five home runs, nine RBI’s and four SB. Hamilton was the ALCS MVP when he hit four home runs and added seven RBI’s.

Speedster Julio Borbon played CF for the Rangers. In 137 games, Borbon hit .276, had three HR, 42 RBI’s and 15 SB. Borbon played eight playoff games for the Rangers going one for nine for a .111 AVG.

After being an all-star the previous year, Nelson Cruz played RF for the Rangers. In 108 games, Cruz hit for a .318 AVG, 22 HR, 78 RBI’s, and 17 SB. Cruz played all 16 playoff games for the Rangers going 19 for 60 for a .317 AVG, six home runs and 11 RBI’s.

Vladimir Guerrero was the full-time DH. Guerrero played in his 9th all-star game while playing 152 games for Texas. Guerrero hit for a .300 AVG, 29 HR, and added 115 RBI’s. Guerrero played 15 playoff games for the Rangers going 13 for 59 for a .220 AVG and six RBI’s.

2010 Texas Rangers Bench

Going down the stretch, the Texas Rangers’ bench was primarily made up by five players. David Murphy played a platoon role and ended up playing over 100 games for the third consecutive season. In 2010, Murphy played 138 games, hit for a .291 AVG, 12 HR, 65 RBI’s and 14 SB. Murphy played 11 playoff games. In 27 AB, Murphy collected five hits, one home run and three RBI’s.

During the last half of the regular season, Bengie Molina split most of the catching duties with Treanor. Molina was acquired in July before the trade deadline as insurance at the catching position. Molina ended up playing 57 games with the Rangers in 2010 before retiring at age 35. While with the Rangers, Molina hit for a .240 BA, with two home runs and 19 RBI’s. Molina played 13 games during the playoffs. In 44 AB, Molina collected 12 hits for a .273 AVG, including two doubles, two home runs, and eight RBI’s.

Andreas Blanco was a utility infielder for the Rangers. In 69 games played in 2010, Blanco hit for a .277 AVG, with 10 doubles and 13 RBI’s. Blanco did not play during the playoffs.

In 2010, Chris Davis was in his third season playing for the Rangers. Davis was limited to 45 games while hitting for a .192 AVG, one home run and four RBI’s. Davis did not play during the playoffs.

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Outfielder Jeff Francoeur was acquired from the New York Mets prior to the roster freeze and roster expansion on September 1. Francoeur played 15 games during the regular season for the Rangers and hit for a .340 AVG, with two home runs and 11 RBI’s. Francoeur played nine playoff games for the Rangers and only collected three hits in 24 AB.

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A look back at the Texas Rangers’ 2010 AL Pennant-Winning team