4 burning questions the Texas Rangers already need to answer

The Texas Rangers are in desperate need to find out a formula that translates not only to success but sustained success this season.

While success is something they've been seeing 23 games into the year, entering Wednesday’s matchup against the Athletics 14-9 and atop the AL West. Their success however, is not sustainable with one of the least productive offenses to start the season.

I am sure it can be solved but they need to take a step back and answer four critical questions, and answer them sooner rather than later.

Question One: When do the Rangers move Marcus Semien out of the leadoff spot?

This was a question we explored a couple of weeks ago and it still reigns true. Going back to the start of 2024, Marcus Semien is slashing .228/.298/.371 with 24 home runs, 80 RBIs a .669 OPS for a 3.6 WAR in 179 games.

That is a lot of non-productive at-bats, majority of them coming from that leadoff spot. Which gives the Rangers a poor start to a game and provides Corey Seager with absolutely no RBI opportunities on base. The good news is Texas explore with lineup shifts moving Semien to the fifth hole and hitting Josh Smith, Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager 1-2-3. The lineup switch resulted in not just the team’s most productive offensive game but Semien’s as well.

The question remains on whether or not that change will stick but it's a move in the positive direction if it can yield positive results. If Texas wants to get back on track and find some positive momentum, they can't have a player with a -0.2 WAR and a .160 batting average to kick off the offense game after game.

Question Two: When is a big enough sample size to bench Joc Pederson?

Another topic we explored the other day, how many games is enough of a sample to consider a massive change to the lineup that puts veteran DH Joc Pederson on the bench.

Pederson is currently in the middle of the worst stretch of his career, 0-for-41, and hasn't recorded a hit since April 2. He's now slashing .052/.141/.069 in 58 at-bats and he's lucky to be a platoon bat or he'd be the worst qualified hitter in the league by a mile.

Now, Bruce Bochy has rested Pederson against lefties, which is usual practice for him. He's also occasionally giving him a day off against righties, as he did on Sunday against Tyler Glasnow. But we haven't really seen any solid commitment to giving Joc any time off. But we are closing in on 20 games for Pederson and it's clear he's not showing any signs of life in the batter's box.

Question Three: When is it time to finally give up on Leody Taveras?

Leody Taveras has been a mainstay in the Rangers lineup for the last few years and with the departure of Jose Leclerc he is the team's longest tenured Ranger. That still doesn't justify the decline we've seen from him over recent years.

To start 2025, Taveras is hitting .200 with a .213 on-base percentage and .463 OPS. On top of that he's also been a real mess on the defensive front, seemingly making multiple uncalled for errors and poor reads in centerfield.

The Rangers have started to notice that a bit recently as Dustin Harris has really impressed the organization and when Wyatt Langford was reactivated off the IL on Sunday, they chose to option keep Harris with the big club. Not sure what they do with Taveras but if he continues to play poorly on both sides of the ball, there's zero reason to keep him around with the influx of young talent they have being wasted in the minors.

Question Four: Is it too early for coaching personnel changes?

This is the more or less the same coaching staff that was in place last season when the offense took a massive step backward. In 2024, fans gave them the benefit of the doubt having just won the World Series but they still weren't happy about the lack of production at the plate.

Hoping to see an increase in offensive output this season, it has only gotten worse. Not only that, the game plan and adjustments have clearly not been happening.

It is really do or die time for hitting coaches Justin Viele and Seth Conner as well as offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker. If they can't somehow find an effective strategy to dig Texas out of the hole offensively then their jobs should be in jeopardy.