Apparently the Rangers have earned the right to look down their noses at the Royals

[PunkinDrublic]

Rangers shake off some bad signs

With a plan in place, there's a flicker of hope for the future

10:40 AM CDT on Thursday, September 27, 2007


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ARLINGTON – A woman with Michael Young's last name and number tattooed above her right ankle stood in a concession line minutes before the first pitch Wednesday in the Rangers' final home game of the season.

A few feet away, a dude with a red Mohawk had the Rangers "T" painted on his head.

Imagine, if you will, how many fans like this the Rangers would have if they actually played some September ballgames that had playoff implications.

For now, Jon Daniels has given you a sliver of hope that might happen in your lifetime because there's a tangible plan in place for the Rangers to succeed. Tom Hicks would argue the Rangers have had a plan since the day he hired Daniels to run his ballclub a few years ago.
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Perhaps, but it wasn't a plan ordinary folks could see. Now, they can. Frankly, it's a plan that has the potential to succeed if Hicks and Daniels continue to follow it, even through the tough times that accompany every franchise.

If they don't, this franchise has no hope because you can't win by trying to buy the best team in baseball unless you're the Yankees. And, maybe, the Red Sox.

Before you pooh-pooh the notion of the Rangers having hope for the future, understand there is no hope in places such as Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Fans in those cities know their teams will stink until the end of time.

That doesn't have to be the case here.

If the Rangers continue to rely on the scouting and development of their own players, while staying away from over-the-hill big-name free agents such as Barry Bonds, then the Rangers have a chance.

Frankly, it's their only chance.

So put your faith in the Rangers' front office, no matter how silly that sounds or how much they've disappointed you in the past. Obviously, that's a lot to ask of a fan base that has enjoyed one playoff win in franchise history.

Hope resides in Arlington because the Rangers have some players they can build around including Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C.J. Wilson and Kevin Millwood, even though he's had a lousy season.

Others such as Hank Blalock, Marlon Byrd, Joaquin Benoit, Brandon McCarthy, Kason Gabbard, Brad Wilkerson, David Murphy and Gerald Laird should have roles on the team.

But it's the cadre of players who have not yet reached the big leagues that the Rangers acquired for Mark Teixeira, Kenny Lofton and Eric Gagne that will determine the long-term future of the organization as well as Daniels and Ron Washington.

It's hard to put your fate in prospects because they will break your heart as often as you pop champagne corks over their development, but that's the only way for the Rangers to turn this franchise around.

Daniels, who attended fall instructional league meetings a few days ago, understands this. He also knows the Rangers haven't had this much talent in their minor league system since Sammy Sosa, Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez were all there at the same time.

"In terms of the level of talent and character," said Daniels, "it's easily the best it has ever been."

Washington is part of the future, based on the one-year extension he recently received. Like any first-time big league skipper he struggled to make the transition from coach to manager.

This much is clear: His team refused to quit on him.

Trust me, that's the most important aspect of this season. The Rangers were 23-42 on June 13. A few days earlier, I had written – without equivocation – they were the worst team in baseball.
Ron Washington can point to a five-game win streak over the division-winning Angels as a sign of improvement.
LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN
Ron Washington can point to a five-game win streak over the division-winning Angels as a sign of improvement.

These days, the Rangers are nowhere close to baseball's worst team.

They are 10 games over .500 since their low-point of the season with an everyday lineup that has to be among the worst in baseball because of trades and injury. Their team ERA, once historically bad, has shrunk considerably. They have a winning record in one-run games, an indication the club has bought into Washington's offensive philosophy.

Still, it takes time for every team in the Rangers' minor league organization to understand the importance of taking pitches, going from first to third on singles and how sacrifice bunts impact scoring.

Washington must also continue to enhance his relationship with his coaching staff and his players. He must do a better a job of understanding who can deal with his blunt demeanor without folding mentally and when to criticize players publicly.

"It's impossible not to be optimistic after the way we started," Daniels said. "This is a bottom line business, and it has been a disappointing season. But we have laid the foundation for the future."
Before you pooh-pooh the notion of the Rangers having hope for the future, understand there is no hope in places such as Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Fans in those cities know their teams will stink until the end of time.