I am starting to think that big block "T" on the Rangers' hats and helmets stands for something other than their home state. At least with the 2011 version of this club it stands for "team", and that is how they have played all season and are making their playoff push.
For decades the Texas Rangers relied on star power from individuals who put up big stats, threw hard and fast and hit the ball far, but did not make much noise in the post season (if making it there at all). All teams had to do at crunch time was get around these big names like Nolan Ryan, Juan Gonzales, Rubin Sierra and Alex Rodriguez, each in their own eras. Not discounting the efforts or abilities of these great players, but far too often they did not have enough around them to shake things up when it counted.
The franchise had accumulated six Most Valuable Players over the years and Ryan recorded two of his record seven no-hitters with the Rangers, but up until last season, the Rangers had never even won a playoff series.
But this team is different. They are built different. This is a team without a number one starting pitcher. This is a team that from one to nine on the line up card there are no easy outs. Sure Josh Hamilton won the MVP last year, but these guys can win even when he has an off night. They get contributions from players most people not from these parts have heard of like David Murphy and Yorvit Torrealba. They have a pitcher who made the All-Star team as a starter who has been lights out in the post season pitching from the bull pen. And no need to go into detail with what Nelson Cruz has done in this ALCS. And as a long time fan of the historically inept Rangers, the most satisfying contributor is a cast off from the hated division rival Angles in Mike Napoli.
Yep, this team is different, and I have a feeling this year the results will be as well.
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