Texas Rangers
 

The Texas Rangers made a lot of noise this winter signing free agents, the most notable being shortstop Alex Rodriguez.  But their Opening Day loss to the Blue Jays revealed what will make or break this season: pitching. If they get any, the should be able to compete for the wildcard in the AL.
 

Offense

Given his age and his career numbers to date, there is a possibility that Alex Rodriguez will finish his career as baseball's all-time leader in hits, home runs, runs and runs batted in. He's 25 years old and has 966 hits, 189 home runs, 627 runs and 595 RBI.  At the same age, the all-time leaders had 899 hits (Rose), 179 home runs (Aaron), 738 runs (Cobb) and 617 RBI (Aaron).  The runs scored title might be a bit of a stretch, but the rest are reachable if he decides to play that long.  Needless to say, he's the best offensive shortstop in the game.  If he can get 600 at bats this season, he has a very good chance of leading the league in batting average, homers and RBI.

The Ranger's other cornerstone is catcher Ivan Rodriguez.  Last year, he was having a career year when his hand was broken on a pitch just after the All-Star break.  Had he continued at the pace he set, he would have finished with 45 homers, 138 RBI and 110 runs scored.  Piazza may still get the nod as the best offensive catcher in the game, but Rodriguez, who is 4 years younger, has obscured the gap.

In addition to ARod, the Rangers signed to other notable free agents: first baseman Andres Galarraga and third baseman Ken Caminiti.  Caminiti is looking to quash an injury bug that has plagued him for the last several years.  Last year, it took the form of a wrist injury that ended his season prematurely.  He's also looking to come to grips with a relapse of his well-publicized struggles with alcohol.  The former was taken care of with surgery.  The latter, the much more daunting of the two obstacles, will have to be dealt with willpower and support.  If he overcomes both, he proved last year that he is still one of the most productive offensive third basemen in baseball.  Galarraga made a much publicized comeback from cancer last year and was a solid contributor to the Braves' offense in the first half.  However, he wore down for the first time in his career after the All-Star break.  While his production numbers don't show a lot of drop-off - his batting average and on base improved slightly while his slugging dropped by 50 points - his number of at bats took a big hit, having 100 fewer after the break.  The Braves had the luxury of another first baseman they could use to spell Galarraga.  The Rangers have that same luxury.  So while Galarraga's days as a 40-home run threat are probably gone, he might still be a productive player, even at age 40.  On the surface, his spring training numbers look encouraging - .339 batting average with 6 home runs.  However, there are some troubling signs as well: 1 walk, 18 strikeouts in 59 at bats.

Raphael Palmeiro has two distinctions: the first is that he is the only player to win a gold glove award for a position at which he played fewer than 50 games (first base, 28 games, 1999).  The second is that he is the most overlooked lock for the Hall of Fame in history.  He's got career 400 homers, 455 doubles, 1259 runs and 1347 RBI.  He's 36 and has shown no signs of slowing down.  Given 3 more good years of production, he should have more than 500 homers, 550 doubles, 1500+ runs and 1600+ RBI.  Only Hank Aaron and Eddie Murray have accomplished that feat.  He will alternate with Galarraga at first and DH.

The Rangers' outfield will be manned by lead-off man Rusty Greer, and a rotation of three young and very promising hitters: Gabe Kapler, Ruben Mateo and Ricky Ledee.  All three have 20-homer power and good on base skills for their age, and Kapler and Mateo both have good speed.

The Rangers could have had hit-machine Frank Catalanotto at second base, but decided they wanted 38-year old Randy Velarde there for his superior defensive skills.  While he doesn't have the hitting prowess of Catalanotto, Velarde does have good on base skills.  However, I think he'll struggle with the new strikezone as he is the type of hitter who is primarily looking to draw a walk and if he sees a pitch he wants, then he swings, as opposed to the type of hitter who is looking to get a hit and draws a walk because he doesn't see a good pitch.

The Rangers have a number of gray-beards in their regular line-up, with 4 players over 35 projected to get 500+ at bats.  That shouldn't be a problem for them as they have talented youngsters to back them up at every position but third.  The Rangers should be among the league leaders in runs scored this year, with Alex Rodriguez making a run at the triple crown.  RATING: 70   
 

Defense

Simply put, the Rangers will have the best defense in the American League this year.  The only position where they may not have one of the 3 or 4 best defenders in the league is at third, where Caminiti has lost some range.  Even so, he still has the great arm and good quickness on balls hit in close proximity.  The addition of Velarde at second is a big upgrade range-wise on defense.  Ivan Rodriguez is the best defensive catcher since Johnny Bench.  RATING: 70
 

Starting Pitching

I guess this is where the accolades begin to thin out for the Rangers.  Rick Helling is a decent starter but really isn't what you could call an ace.  The new strikezone should help him some as his best pitch is a high fastball.  Veteran lefty Kenny Rogers is a good groundball pitcher and an excellent fielder.  The upgrades of the infield defense should help him the most of any of the Ranger hurlers.  The rest of the rotation is not so clear.  Darren Oliver has vacillated between mediocre and ineffective for the past 4 seasons.  He's always had the potential to be a good pitcher but has never put it together and hasn't shown any signs of reversing that any time soon.  Ryan Glynn, Doug Davis and journeyman Pat Mahomes will vie for the 4th and 5th spots.  The Rangers would prefer to use Glynn and Davis in those spots and let Mahomes fill the long relief role, where he has had some success.  Davis's terrific spring may have gotten him the 4th spot.  His minor league numbers show some promise.  Newly-acquired Aaron Myette is possibly the best candidate for the spot, but looks like he'll be relegated to bullpen duty judging from how he was used this spring.   RATING: 50
 

Bullpen

Here's where the picture gets staticky.  Last year's closer John Wetteland has un-officially retired due to back problems.  Tim Crabtree is the primary candidate to succeed him as closer.  However, Crabtree isn't exactly ideal - he doesn't strike hitters out with any great frequency, he gives up a high number of walks for someone who doesn't get strikeouts and he gives up a lot of hits.  That's not exactly the profile of the guy you want coming into the 9th with 2 on and nobody out.  Jeff Zimmerman is another possibility.  He followed up a brilliant 1999 season with a pretty ugly 2000.  The 1999 Zim would make a very good closer.  The 2000 Zim is Crabtree: part 2 but with more strikeouts.  He looks more like the 1999 Zim this spring.  Veteran Jeff Brantley, coming off his latest arm/shoulder surgery might also get the call.  The rest of the bullpen is a compilation of the rather average Mike Venafro, Mark Petkovsek, Chris Haney and Jonathan Johnson.  RATING: 40
 

Management

Johnny Oates is a popular manager with just about everyone but those who count pitches.  Last year he allowed pitchers to throw 120 pitches 20 times and 140 pitches once.  Only one other manager can be cited for the same: Dusty Baker.  If he's counting on significant contributions from young pitchers like Davis and Myette, he's gonna have to be much more careful.  Doug Melvin has a lot of money to play with.  If his Rangers contend in the division, everyone will say what a smart guy he was to spend it so wisely.  If his Rangers don't contend, everyone will say that the apocalypse is near and that baseball, a multi-billion dollar industry, is about to collapse under the strain of one $25 million a year contract.  RATING: 45
 

Conclusion

The Rangers have enough hitting to contend.  They also have some pitching talent that could make them very compelling.  However, Oates is just not the guy to maximize the pitching potential and if the hitting doesn't stay healthy, this could be a very long year in Arlington, Texas.  Even if things don't pan out, though, this team should finish somewhere in the neighborhood of .500