Texas Rangers

I grew up and fell in love with a Rangers team that was much different from this one. Back then the outfield was the offensive strength of the team, much like it was for most teams.

I remember watching Juan Gonzalez, Ruben Sierra, and the fan-favorite Rusty Greer. Jose Canseco was also out there for a little while, but we’ll just forget about him.

In recent years, the outfield has been somewhat of a revolving door.

Just when the Rangers thought they were in the clear after their manager, Ron Washington, apologized to fans and his players for testing positive for cocaine over the summer of 2009.

Well, today new news was leaked to the Dallas media that Washington used amphetamines and pot as his 10-year career as a player. The Fan, 105.3 FM in Dallas, reported that Washington had told a reporter of this but that the news wasn't ever supposed to be leaked.

I hate drugs.

Plain and simple.

No ifs, ands, or buts.

However you want to say it, there are few things that are dumber to me than doing drugs.  There was a time when we didn’t know what some of the effects of certain drugs were, so I guess I can see why people did it; because it felt good, and they didn’t know it was bad.

Major League Baseball has a real knack for standing under black clouds and refusing umbrellas.

Just when the nation was beginning to think the league drug testing policy was working, a story is broken about Ron Washington testing positive for cocaine in 2009 and receiving no punishment.

The Texas Rangers manager says that as soon as he found out he would be drug tested last July, he informed league officials and team ownership that he had made a “mistake.”

There are extremely different views as to the value of Nelson Cruz.  Prior to 2009 he was considered a Quadruple-A player, so there are those who believe that last season was simply an aberration. 

Then, there are those who fully believe in his breakout campaign, thinking that the sky is the limit for him in 2010.

Which is the right way to be leaning?  It’s a tough call, to say the least, so let’s take a look and come to a conclusion.

First, his 2009 statistics:

So let's get this straight. Current Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine just after the 2009 All-Star break, yet Major League Baseball did nothing to punish him, and the Rangers organization didn't—and won't—fire him because of the positive test.

Do you still believe in the strength of Major League Baseball's drug testing policy?

Since 2008, baseball managers, coaches, and trainers have been subjected to the same random drug tests as all MLB players. Not one non-player has been publicly outed as a user—until today.

Texas Rangers manager and former MLB infielder Ron Washington has admitted he used cocaine during the first half of last season.

The bullpen may be the biggest group of unsung heroes in recent years for the Rangers.

They haven’t had any big flashy names, but for the most part they have kept games close, and have been able to close them out when given the chance.

When considering the 2010 bullpen for the Rangers it is easiest to start with the givens.

The success of any team in Major League Baseball revolves around one very important group of people:

Starting pitchers.

For as long as I have been a Rangers’ fan their pitching has been a topic of much discussion, and limited group success. Last year proved to be a diamond in the rough as numerous young pitchers had good outings for the big club.

The further success of this team is largely contingent on these same young arms. There have also been some additions that should aid the team this season.

Every year it seems the Texas Rangers compete for a playoff spot, but at the end they just run out of juice.

Year after year sportswriters everywhere predict big things from the Texas Rangers, but this season you haven't really heard too much of that.

The reason is because they have delivered so much disappointment to those that have picked them in previous seasons.  Despite that, I'm still going to go out on a big limb here and say that the Texas Rangers will go deep into the playoffs this season.