THE RANGERS REPORT – September 1, 2009

NFL betting is upon us and, while the Rangers have done a good job holding off the Cowboys for our attention this summer, they’ll need a big push to do it in October. They’ve stumbled in the Wildcard race and the Angels seem out of reach in the AL West. Does Texas have anything left in the tank?

Season record: 72-58
AL West rank: 2
World Series odds: 35 to 1

THE LINEUP

As the Rangers showed yesterday, when they cut an 11-run deficit to one before losing 18-10, offense isn’t the problem lately. Michael Young continues what will go down as one of his best seasons; he needs three homers to set a new career high and is on track to post a plus-.900 OPS for the first time in his career. Ian Kinsler has sizzled since returning from the DL, batting .311 with 14 RBI in 16 games.

THE ROTATION

The Ranger arms kept Texas afloat while the bats slumped, but they’re falling on hard times. Derek Holland has been rocked twice in a row after he flourished for most of August. Kevin Millwood has one win in his last six starts. Scott Feldman remains a revelation, having tossed 12.2 scoreless innings over his last two starts (both wins, of course). The Rangers and online betting fans alike hope the rest of the rotation can step up; perhaps Brandon McCarthy, who returned to the big club when the rosters expanded, can give the rotation a shot in the arm.

THE BULLPEN

Frank Francisco posted a 6.97 ERA in August but really hasn’t pitched badly; of the eight runs he allowed that month, six came during his one blown save. He actually held opponents scoreless in nine of his 11 August appearances and thus hasn’t been the problem for Texas.

Neftali Feliz continues to set the world on fire. Stat update: 17.2 innings pitched, 22 strikeouts, one earned run, one walk. Wow. I’m betting management gives him a chance to start next season.

OVERALL OUTLOOK

No matter what happens, 2009 will not go down as a failure for the Rangers. They’ve shown us that their great farm system has set them up for future success the same way the Rays’ system boosted them. If Texas falls short of the playoffs in the end, next season could be an entirely different story, as the young guns will only get better.

THE RANGERS REPORT – July 28

If you’re not betting NFL yet, you should turn your attention back to the Texas Rangers. They continue to sizzle in July, having gone 5-1 in the last week, and it’s almost time to wonder if they’ll be buyers before the trade deadline passes. Let’s catch up with the Rangers.

Season record: 55-42
AL West rank: 2
Odds to win World Series: 60 to 1

THE LINEUP

For most of the Texas hitters, the news is very good these days. Nelson Cruz’s power display at the Home Run Derby must’ve lit a fire under him, as he’s up to 24 homers and is hitting .348 since the All-Star Break. Even hotter post-break? Michael Young, who’s now hitting .447 since the break after three straight three-hit games. Another man fueling the Rangers’ increased betting hopes? Hank Blalock. He’s back to fairly regular lineup duty and has responded by hitting .298 with five homers and 17 RBI over 21 games this month.

Unfortunately, the Rangers can’t get Josh Hamilton going. He’s now hitless in 15 at-bats and has been dropped to seventh in the order for now.

THE ROTATION

Could rotation help be on the way? Though they’re not the favorites, the Rangers have reportedly entered the Roy Halladay sweepstakes, dangling a package of good prospects including blue chipper Neftali Feliz. Acquiring Halladay would seriously boost Texas’ chances of competing with the Angels and, heck, Texas could increase the price per head at Rangers Ballpark whenever Doc pitches if they wanted to.

The Tommy Hunter craze continues. The rookie held the Tigers to one run over seven innings for his third major-league win Monday night. He’s allowed one or fewer runs in four straight starts. Baseball predictions experts suggest he’ll continue his success as long as he’s facing lineups for the first time.

THE BULLPEN

Frank Francisco is still working his way back from pneumonia, but he doesn’t have to hurry. C.J. Wilson has converted all four save tries since taking over closing duties. He looks quite comfortable in the role, having saved 11 of 13 attempts overall this season.

OVERALL OUTLOOK

The Angels never seem to slump, but the Rangers deserve lots of credit for hanging in the AL West race. The bats are heating up again and the young pitching is stepping up its game, so the Rangers could compete for the Wild Card or division crown after all.

The Rangers Report – June 23

It’s fitting that the UFC 100 fight card is just weeks away, as the poor Texas Rangers look like they just fought five rounds with Brock Lesnar. They’ve lost four straight yet still have a hold on the division since the Angels are also on a losing streak. Is this the week when the Rangers finally fall from first?

Season record: 37-31
AL West rank: 1
Odds to win World Series: 45 to 1

THE LINEUP

If you bet on MLB odds and you’re trying to figure out what’s wrong with Texas, what stands out first is the struggling hitting lineup. Forget Josh Hamilton’s injury for now – he was struggling to stay above .240 before he hit the DL. The Rangers’ biggest offensive contributors, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz, have gone cold. Last week, we discussed Kinsler’s slump and how it affects the offense. A closer look shows that the problems extend beyond him, as his best month as April but the team’s best month was May, when it went 20-8. Cruz, however, has a bigger impact on the offense as the prime run producer with Hamilton out; he feasted on Major League pitchers in April and May but is hitting just .197 in June. Is it a coincidence that the Rangers are 7-11 this month?

THE ROTATION

Kevin Millwood continues to do everything in his power to hold the staff together. His 10-strikeout performance on Sunday was the first by a Rangers pitcher this season. Not a ton of other news to report about the staff, though Texas activated youngster Matt Harrison from the 15-day DL and he survived against Houston, allowing three runs in five innings. A month ago, it looked safe for those betting management in Texas would try to acquire another arm before the trade deadline, but who knows if the Rangers will still be buyers a month from now?

THE BULLPEN

The good news this week comes from the Rangers’ pen. Frank Francisco returned from his short DL stint June 20 and picked up right where he left off, pitching a perfect inning. C.J. Wilson filled in admirably in his absence, so the Rangers have to hope that his confidence carries over into setup duty. For now, leads seem safe in the late innings for the Rangers.

OVERALL OUTLOOK

The Rangers were probably never first-place material, so the law of averages is correcting things at the moment. However, they’re not a last-place team either. The offensive talent should break out again soon and the Rangers still have a shot to stay in the Wild-card hunt, even if they’ll be underdog MLB picks.

THE RANGERS REPORT – June 2

THE RANGERS REPORT – June 2

Whether you bet on MLB odds or not, it’s hard not to enjoy a great summer of America’s pastime. Better yet, Major League Baseball has seen great parity so far; it seems almost every team is in the hunt. Included in that bunch: the upstart Texas Rangers. Are they for real? The first installment of the Rangers Report explores Nelson Cruz’s power surge, Josh Hamilton’s health and the surprising success of the pitching staff.

Season record: 30-20
AL West rank: 1
Current MLB odds to win World Series: 50 to 1

THE LINEUP

The Rangers are fourth in the American League in runs scored and first in homers. Yes, the big bats are bopping in Arlington; this is a recording. Ian Kinsler continues his torrid season, with seven RBI in his last 10 games, though his batting average continues so slip. Nelson Cruz is proving 2008’s minor-league power explosion was no fluke; he leads the team with 14 homers and shows no signs of slowing down, as six of those long flies have come in the last 10 games. The Bad news for Rangers odds supporters: Josh Hamilton could be on the verge of a DL stint. He underwent an MRI on his groin and abdomen yesterday and the results should be released later today. With Hamilton’s bat missing from the lineup, Chris Davis needs to be better. The slugger is still floating around the Mendoza line and has an absurd 77 strikeouts in 48 games. Eat your heart out, Mark Reynolds.

THE ROTATION

Is it Nolan Ryan’s new conditioning program? Whatever the reason, the Rangers’ pitching staff continues to surprise and is giving sportsbook odds makers fits. Fun fact: Texas’ May ERA was 3.57, the second-lowest for a single month since the Rangers moved into Rangers Ballpark in Arlington 15 years ago. Promising rookie Matt Harrison was placed on the DL with shoulder soreness this week but is only expected to miss the minimum amount of time. That’s a relief for the Rangers, as Harrison had a dominant stretch in early May, tossing two complete games and allowing two earned runs in a 23-inning stretch before the shoulder soreness got the better of him in his last couple of starts. Vincente Padilla will be activated from the DL today but, given his potential rustiness and the fact that he’s pitching at (gulp) Yankee Stadium, baseball betting fans should avoid the Rangers in sports wagering tonight.

THE BULLPEN

Yes, Frank Francisco finally allowed a run last weekend, but he’s 16 for 16 in save tries this season and hasn’t blown a save since becoming the full-time closer late last season. As long as he’s pitching like this (0.48 ERA, 18.2 IP, 19 K), the Rangers will have a chance to win every night.

OVERALL OUTLOOK

The Rangers are sitting pretty right now and have a respectable 4 ½-game cushion in the AL West. We know the bats will continue to mash, even with Hamilton hurting, but it remains to be seen if the pitching staff can keep up its brilliance. The Rangers’ MLB odds to win the West sure look good now, but the Angels are slowly getting healthy and creeping back into the race.