The Texas Rangers get to star in the MLB's 2013 Opening Day. We predict the year for the Rangers as they come into the season with a new looking lineup and old stars no longer donning the Texas uniform. Find out how the Rangers 2013 campaign has shaped up based on offseason movements and the players they decided to keep.
The Rangers still possess an above average offense. However, they will lack power and veteran makeup as they lost Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli and Michael Young. The youth of this team is still present in their pitching rotation, but the offense looks to have suffered the most this offseason.
They went out and signed Lance Berkman and A.J. Pierzynski, who can make up for the power lost in the Hamilton and Napoli deals, but they are not the same guys nor are they as threatening. Berkman is expected to take over the designated hitter role in the 2013 season and Pierzynski will be the starting catcher.
The Rangers still post a pretty decent lineup with guys like Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus, Ian Kinsler and Adrian Beltre manning the top of the lineup. This could be an even bigger year for Beltre as the Rangers will rely on him to drive in runs.
If there's one aspect of this team that looks absolutely fruitful it's the pitching staff. Pierzynski and this pitching staff look like the perfect marriage. Last season, with a pitching staff barely known to the majors, Pierzynski almost had the Chicago White Sox make the playoffs. With guys like Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis and Alexi Ogando, there's plenty of talent in that starting rotation to get the Rangers far this season.
The Rangers are bouncing back from a disappointing conclusion to their 2012 campaign where they missed the World Series for the first time since 2009. Though they didn't win a World Series in their two trips to the Fall Classic it's still a pretty good accomplishment to have simply made it. Last year, the Oakland Athletics stripped the Rangers of the A.L. West in the final week of baseball.
This season, they still look capable of making the playoffs. The question is, Can they compete against the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics? The Athletics have young pitching while the Angels have the powerful stars. The Rangers will have to stop Albert Pujols, Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and MarkTrumbo. That's a lot of slugging, but the Rangers have the pitching to stop it.
Season Prediction: It wouldn't be a surprise if these guys get everything together and finish in second place. However, because Cruz's health is inconsistent and Berkman is always a question mark, I predict a third place finish for the Rangers in 2013.
What do you think is ahead for the Rangers in 2013? A World Series? Will they bounce back to win the division? Will they finish in fourth place because the Seattle Mariners loaded up on players?
Check out offseason stories that headlined the Rangers' winter in the Related Articles section right beneath this story.
