MVP Texas | Are the Rangers Going to be Able to Stay on Top?

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Are the Rangers Going to be Able to Stay on Top?

Written by Travis Pulver

Sunday, 18 December 2011 12:45

Winning the American League once is nice. Winning it a second time is great. Losing the World Series two years in a row—well, it’s just like the Iceman said in Top Gun:

The plaque for the alternates is down in the lady's room.

On the upside, the franchise has proven that it is a quality one that is on the up and up; here to stay so to speak. The question is whether it is going to do enough in order to put the team in a better position to win its first World Series.

So far the task is looking like it is going to be tougher than it was the last two years. Not only has their main division rival, the L.A. Angels, added one of the best sluggers to ever play the game in Albert Pujols, but they took the team’s best pitcher, C.J. Wilson. The team does not appear worried about what the Angels have done.

"We believe we have the best team," Ian Kinsler said. "You can talk about all of the signings…All of the things that have been talked about and that will probably continue to be talked about, but it's just like the past with us…We're worried about ourselves."

Kinsler is an important piece of the puzzle going forward. His batting average may have been down by 31 points last season, but he hit the most home runs of his young career (32), the second most RBIs (77), and the second most steals (30). It looks as if the Rangers may be looking to lock him up for the near future.

"I want to be here, and I think they know I want to be here," said Kinsler."The thing I want them to know and the fans to know is I want to be a Ranger. I'm going to try to do whatever I can to stay a Ranger."

Kinsler and the rest of the lineup could get some serious help in the form of one of the most dangerous home run hitters in the game, Prince Fielder. The team does not make a habit of talking a lot about their free-agent targets, but there are some that believe that the Rangers could be high on the list of would-be-suitors with their strong lineup and hitter-friendly home field.

The problem could be whether the team would be willing to make the financial commitment that Fielder is believed to be looking for. Texas has proven that it will pay well like when they signed Adrian Beltre to a five-year $80 million deal prior to last season. Fielder is thought to want more of a long-term commitment; somewhere in the range of six to eight years.

Even if they do add Fielder, the team will need to do something about its starting rotation. Wilson is gone, but they have decided to bump closer Neftali Feliz into the starting rotation. The rest of the starting rotation is fairly young (with the exception of Colby Lewis) and could be even better next season now that they have some experience under their belts.

Veteran Joe Nathan has been added to close, but the World Series showed that the team is weak in the bullpen and needs help. The team has recently added a handful of young pitchers, but it remains to be seen if they could be the answer to the Rangers bullpen issues.

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