A look back at the Texas Rangers’ 2011 AL Pennant-winning team

The Texas Rangers’ 2011 season was a near miss for the World Series.  The Rangers won the ALCS for the second consecutive year and were one strike away from winning their first World Series before falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.

Regular Season

The Rangers posted a franchise-best 96-66 record during the regular season.  This was good for a 10 game lead over the archrival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  The record was also the 2nd best record in the AL behind the  New York Yankees (97-65).

Playoffs

In the Divisional Series, the Texas Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 to win the series and the right to play for the ALCS.  The Rangers would play the Detroit Tigers who defeated the New York Yankees 3-2.

Texas defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-2 to capture their second consecutive ALCS title.  The Rangers would then face the St. Louis Cardinals who defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 in the Divisional Series, and the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 in the NLCS.

St. Louis were 90-72 during the regular season.  The Rangers were one strike away from winning the World Series in the 9th inning of game six.  The Cardinals would roar back and win games six and seven to win their 11th World Series Championship in franchise history.

Texas Rangers’ 2011 AL Pennant Team: Starting Pitching

Starting pitchers had a record of 73-39, a significant improvement over the 2010 starters.  The staff was once again led by C.J. Wilson who went 16-7, with a 2.94 ERA in 223.1 innings. Wilson also represented Texas at the All-Star Game for the first time.  Wilson went 0-3 in five playoff starts for the Rangers.

Colby Lewis was also once again a workhorse for the Rangers, pitching 200.1 innings and posting a record of 14-10.  Lewis went 1-1 in four playoff starts for the Rangers.

Derek Holland had a tremendous year starting for the Rangers.  Holland went 16-5 with a 3.95 ERA in 198.0 innings pitched.  Holland went 2-0 in four playoff starts for the Rangers.

Matt Harrison went 14-9 with a 3.39 ERA in 185.2 innings during the regular season.  Harrison went 1-2 in four playoff starts, with both loses taking place during the World Series.

Alexi Ogando moved to the starting rotation for the regular season.  Ogando also represented Texas at the All-Star Game when he went 13-8 with a 3.51 ERA in 29 starts.  During the post season, Ogando moved to the bullpen and went 2-0 in 13 relief appearances.

2011 Texas Rangers Bullpen

The Rangers bullpen compiled 38 saves during the 2011 regular season.  The pen was once again led by hard throwing righty Neftali Feliz.  Feliz had 32 saves and a 2.74 ERA in 64 games pitched for the Rangers.  Feliz pitched 11.1 innings during 11 playoff games, earning six saves.

Veteran righty Darren Oliver appeared in 61 contests while recording a 2.29 ERA while finishing 17 games.  Oliver went 1-0 during eight relief appearances, one game finished and his lone win occurred during the World Series.

Mark Lowe, who was acquired in the Cliff Lee trade in 2010, appeared in 52 games for the Rangers.  Lowe finished 10 games, earned one save and had a 3.80 ERA.  During the playoffs, Lowe had two relief appearances in the World Series and lost one game.

Yoshinori Tateyama was a Japanese rookie at age 35.  In 39 regular season relief appearances, Tateyama appeared in 39 games, had a record of 2-0, finished eight games and had a 4.50 ERA.  During the post season, Tateyama pitched part of a perfect inning against Detroit in the ALCS.

Arthur Rhodes pitched in the Rangers bullpen until he was released in August.  In 32 games, Rhodes had a 3-3 record, 4.81 ERA, and one save in 24.1 innings.  Rhodes would go on and pitch in three games for St. Louis during the World Series.

Scott Feldman pitched in nine games out of the bullpen during the regular season.  Feldman also made two starts and had a 2-1 record and 3.94 ERA in 32.0 regular season innings.  Feldman went 1-0 in nine relief appearances and one game finished in 13.2 post season innings.

2011 Texas Rangers Starting Lineup

The starting lineup was even more powerful in 2011.  The Rangers added perennial 3B All-Star Adrian Beltre to an already star-studded cast.  Michael Young became a super-utility player and was an All-Star for the 7th time.

The #1 catching duties were assigned to free agent veteran Yorvit Torrealba.  Torrealba played 113 games, and compiled a .273 AVG, while hitting seven HR and adding 37 RBI’s.  During the playoffs, Torrealba played seven games, had six hits in 17 AB for a .353 AVG.

Mitch Moreland became the primary first baseman and played 134 games.  Moreland hit for a .259 AVG, 16 HR and 51 RBI’s.  During the playoffs, Moreland played seven games, had three hits in 29 AB for a .103 AVG.  Moreland had one HR and one RBI in the ALCS against Detroit.

Ian Kinsler played 155 games as the primary second baseman for the Rangers.  Kinsler hit for a .255 AVG, with 32 HR, 77 RBI’s and 30 SB during the regular season.  Kinsler played all 17 games during the playoffs.  He went 20 for 65 for a .308 AVG, eight RBI’s and two SB during the post season.

Elvis Andrus played 150 games as the primary SS for the Rangers.  He hit for a .279 AVG, with five HR, 60 RBI’s and 37 SB during the regular season.  Andrus played all 17 post season games in 2011.  He collected 16 hits in 68 AB for a .235 AVG, one RBI and one SB during the playoffs.

Adrian Beltre made his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance as the AL third baseman.  In 124 games for the Rangers, Beltre hit for a .296 AVG, with 32 HR and 105 RBI’s.  In 17 playoff games, Beltre collected 19 hits in 72 AB for a .264 AVG, five HR and nine RBI’s.

Josh Hamilton was an All-Star Game selection for the 4th consecutive year.  Hamilton played LF and CF for the Rangers.  In 121 regular season games, Hamilton hit for a .298 AVG, with 25 HR, 94 RBI’s and eight SB.  In 17 post season games, Hamilton had 19 hits in 70 AB for a .271 AVG, one HR and 13 RBI’s.

David Murphy split the OF with Endy Chavez  When Murphy was in the lineup, Hamilton moved to CF.  When Hamilton was in LF, Chavez played CF.  In 120 games as the primary LF for the Rangers, Murphy hit for a .275 AVG, with 11 HR, 46 RBI’s, and 11 SB.  In 15 post season games, Murphy had 13 hits in 41 AB for a .317 AVG, three RBI’s and one SB.

Nelson Cruz was the primary RF for the Rangers.  In 124 regular season games, Cruz hit .263 with 29 HR, 87 RBI’s, and nine SB.  During 17 playoff games, Cruz won the ALCS MVP, had 14 hits in 62 AB for a .226 AVG, eight HR and 16 RBI’s.

Michael Young, being the super utility player, played 69 games at DH, 40 games at 3B, 36 games at 1B, 14 games at 2B and one game at SS.  In 159 games, Young hit for a .338 AVG, 11 HR, 106 RBI’s, and six SB. In 17 playoff games, Young collected 16 hits in 60 AB for a .267 AVG, two HR and 12 RBI’s.