Texas Rangers: One of sports' worst franchises?

[BeatEmBucs]

They don't seem to identify talent well. They've let a lot of guys slip away and got little in return.

That's the Pirates in a nutshell since 1993. Being that there was a track record of success in the past (still over 500 all time despite the struggles since '93) and that the Bucs play in a great ballpark, the Bucs don't qualify for "worst" yet. But until they get back over 500, a lot of folks hare aren't too fond of the Bucs (many consider the Bucs a distant 3rd among the pro sports teams here)

It's amazing how the Rangers franchise has only won 1 playoff game (and it was a road game against the Yanks IIRC) in their 35+ years in Texas. It seems the Rangers hit well every year, but their pitching has been near the bottom of the AL for many years. I kind of look at the Rangers as the Rockies of the AL. If only they can go on a run like the Rockies did last year.

[Imgran]

What is wrong with the Rangers is simple: They have American League Disease (ALD).

American League Disease goes something like this: "Wow, with pitching this bad we need more hitters. Where can we get more hitters?

Or, "Rangers win 2-1? How boring, I remember last week when we lost 10-9 the crowd was really into it."

The Rangers have had ALD for as long as I can remember, back to my childhood in the 1970s. Other teams with noticeable ALD recently include Baltimore, New York, and up until this year, Tampa Bay. Virtually every AL team seems to have it periodically.

But then, as my User ID implies, I am biased.

Of course, since other recent ALD sufferers include San Bondcisco, Cincinatti, Milwaukee and the Mets, I'm not sure it's named all that aptly, now is it?

[RubeWaddell19]

In two years, the Rangers will be celebrating their 50th birthday. Should be a short highlight reel.

Currently, I think the main problem is Thomas Hicks. This man doesn't know thing one about running a sprots franchise. He's turned the Rangers in the poster boys for mediocracy. He also owns Liverpool FC, an English "soccer" team. He is so hated, he needs an armed guard when he attends matches.

[Old Sweater]

"---- and his partners hit what can only be described as a towering home run by selling the Texas Rangers to Thomas Hicks for $250 million. ----[for his $605,000 investment will get] between $10 million and $14 million. [But] they still haven't paid the $7.5 million they owe the city of Arlington."
Robert Bryce writing for the Austin Chronicle

http://austin.about.com/cs/bushbiogr...ckground_5.htm

That whole ownership was a curse for the Rangers and their fans that left the city of Arlington 7.5mil in the red that I doubt they will ever get paid.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

never mind

[abolishthedh]

What is wrong with the Rangers is simple: They have American League Disease (ALD).

American League Disease goes something like this: "Wow, with pitching this bad we need more hitters. Where can we get more hitters?

Or, "Rangers win 2-1? How boring, I remember last week when we lost 10-9 the crowd was really into it."

The Rangers have had ALD for as long as I can remember, back to my childhood in the 1970s. Other teams with noticeable ALD recently include Baltimore, New York, and up until this year, Tampa Bay. Virtually every AL team seems to have it periodically.

But then, as my User ID implies, I am biased.

[plask_stirlac]

The Rangers have a guy on pace for about 165 RBI's. They are scoring more than 5 runs a game. Right now, they're getting KILLED by their horrendous defense.

.500 is .500.

[Bothrops Atrox]

In 47 seasons, they have had only 15 wining years, never made it to the ALCS, and really haven't had tons of star power that stuck with the franchise. Sure, they have had guys kie Ryan, Jenkins, A-Rod, etc., but never for an extended period of time, and rarely through their primes. No, the Rangers aren't the Phillies or Clippers or Cardinals, but they have to be in the discussion as "one of baseballs' worst" at least.

[Imgran]

THey need to get Young out of shortstop, move Kinsler to 3B or to the outfield, and rebuild their middle infield.

Before you scoff, remember what happened to the Rays when they rebuilt their middle infield, and replaced inadequate defenders with competent ones. A defense-only SS and a competent defensive 2B would go a long, long way to restoring the franchise, especially since two of their best starters right now pitch to contact.

[dgarza]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think the Rangers get mentioned enough when people discuss the worst franchises in sports. It's not that they've been terrible, they've just never really done anything.

No, they do not belong in the realm of the "worst," but they aren't better than "mediocre" either. Certainly not a Phillies, but perhaps a young White Sox.

[Los Bravos]

I have a "high" threshold for really badly run franchises. Like the Arizona Cardinals (stretching back to their time in St. Louis and even Chicago), the L.A. Clippers, the Atlanta Falcons...

The Rangers haven't had much sustained success and it's usually the same set of problems, but I don't classify them in that kind of grim company.

[SamtheBravesFan]

When I lived down in Dallas, Bobby V and Tom House shredded up their young pitching prospects like they were heads of lettuce destined for a Wendy's salad. They chewed up Ed Correa and Jose Guzman in a couple of years, and they could never help Bobby Witt harness his stuff and throw strikes. Most prospects aren't going to pan out, but those two got nothing out of a lot of highly regarded young pitchers, and it makes me sick to hear people say that they're geniuses.

Correa? It looks like he had no control whatsoever and he didn't lead the league in walks only because of Witt. In the minors, he spent three years in Appleton (A White Sox) and his BB/9 totals were all over the place. Was he really that highly regarded?

[hellborn]

When I lived down in Dallas, Bobby V and Tom House shredded up their young pitching prospects like they were heads of lettuce destined for a Wendy's salad. They chewed up Ed Correa and Jose Guzman in a couple of years, and they could never help Bobby Witt harness his stuff and throw strikes. Most prospects aren't going to pan out, but those two got nothing out of a lot of highly regarded young pitchers, and it makes me sick to hear people say that they're geniuses.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Out of the spirit for the rules of this forum, let's not use this thread as an invitation to attack the current President. As Sam said, he has very little to do with the rangers inability to get decent pitching.

Keep the politics out, as always. Further political posts will be removed.

[bigtime39]

Also, one major handicap they had was when George W. Bush was in charge of the team for a number of years. I mean just look what he has done to our beloved Nation, and you get the idea.

I don't know what--if anything--the walking disaster known as George W Bush did as part-owner of the Texas Rangers, but how he got to be part-owner is an example of how corrupt he is, not to mention the oil and baseball businesses.
W invested about $400 of his own money in the Rangers (the rest was "borrowed" from his daddy's rich friends) and walked out a millionaire. Good work, if you can get it.