2010 MLB Season Preview: Texas Rangers

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Rich Harden (SP)
Darren Oliver (RP)
Vladimir Guerrero

Key Departures:

Jason Jennings (SP)
Kris Benson (SP)
Kevin Millwood (SP)
Omar Vizquel (SS)
Andruw Jones (OF)
Ivan Rodriguez (C)

When I look at the 2010 Texas Rangers roster I feel more conflicted than Carlos Silva does when staring down a Big Mac and Whopper. I love the Rangers lineup. I hate the Rangers rotation. How Nolan Ryan expects his team to win 90 plus games this season (unless he plans on slotting in as the number five starter) is beyond me.

The Rangers have one of the few lineups in baseball that can match the Yankees in terms of power. If, and this is a major if, Josh Hamilton can stay healthy the Rangers just might be able to compensate for their lack of pitching depth by simply putting up seven runs a game. This lineup has that kind of potential.

Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, Chris Davis, Julio Borbon, this lineup is littered with fantastic young hitting talent. Only problem is, the same cannot be said of the rotation. There is not one single dependable starter in the Rangers 2010 rotation.

Scott Feldman is entering his second full season in the Majors, and does not have the track record to back his status as an ace of the staff.

Rich Harden has not gone a whole season without a stint on the DL in quite some time. And reports have surfaced that Harden is having difficulty maintaining velocity on his fastball. When I first saw that my Mariners had missed out on Harden, I was disappointed. Now, after these reports, I do not feel bad at all.

Haven't heard of any of the Rangers' 3-5? I don't blame you. They are too young and I do not expect them to start throwing like Nolan Ryan anytime soon.


Projected Starting Nine:

1. Julio Borbon (CF)
2. Ian Kinsler (2B)
3. Michael Young (3B)
4. Josh Hamilton (LF)
5. Nelson Cruz (RF)
6. Chris Davis (1B)
7. Vladimir Guerrero (DH)
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C)
9. Elvis Andrus (SS)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Scott Feldman
2. Rich Harden
3. Colby Lewis
4. Tommy Hunter
5. Matt Harrison

Best Reliever: C.J. Wilson

Closer: Frank Francisco

Predicted Finish: Third in the AL West.