Welcome To Baseball Season: A Primer For Rangers Fans Returning To The Flock

Posted on May 19th, 2009 9:21am by Evan Grant
Filed under Baseball, Starting rotation, Talkin' baseball, Texas Rangers

First to loyal, Cornerians: We call upon you now to do your duty and help the education of those less fortunate than you, those who haven’t caught the first six weeks of the Rangers season and are only now starting to get a little bit interested in the first place Rangers. Over the course of the day, I hope to make a couple of posts explaining to those folks what they’ve missed and why the club is suceeding this year. First, we hope you will tolerate such posts. Second, we hope you will add to them by helping further along explanations and offering your own reasons why the Rangers are worth watching again.

Maybe you are a Mavs fan, finally done grieving over the playoff loss or just turned off over how that playoff series became more about Dirk Nowitzki’s love interests and Mark Cuban’s potty mouth. Maybe you are a Cowboys fan who doesn’t quite think this draft is going to be the one that breaks that decade-long (and we’re being conservative there) playoff victory hex. Maybe you are, or were, a Stars fan until the hockey lock out a couple of years ago.

Or, maybe, just maybe, you are a baseball fan who had been disenfranchised by a decade of mediocrity combined with a couple of seasons of unexplained arrogance.

For whatever reason, though, you find yourself here. Ready to step on a bandwagon. You’ve heard the Rangers are in first place, that they are playing well, and right now they are the only game in town. So, you figure, your willing to give them another shot. And besides, you do kinda miss those ballpark nachos.

You just wish someone could catch you up a little on what you missed. Hey, that’s why we are here. What good would a city magazine be if it didn’t provide service for the city and community.

Stick around, we’ll give you some reasons (and hopefully our loyal readers will add to the list) about why these Rangers might actually be worth your time this summer and catch you up to date at the same time.

Pitching, pitching, pitching: In the last 10 years, every time I’ve encountered anybody who knows what I do for a living, the first question I get is “Will the pitching be any good.” Usually, I shrug my shoulders and say, “That’s the big question.” Now, my response is “It might be.”
The pitching resurgence began with team president Nolan Ryan (yeah, he’s back; returned last year, in case you missed it) getting noticeably uncomfortable watching Rangers pitchers gasp for air on the mound during the summer heat and watching them try to trick batters into missing pitches. Very publicly, he stated that the Rangers were going to get in shape and they were going to throw strikes. The club management was already hard at work on that.

But that was only first step. The second step involved a career intervention the Rangers staged for “ace” Kevin Millwood last September, in which everybody from strength coach Jose Vazquez to Ryan, challenged the pitcher to get in better shape and lead the staff. Millwood, an honorable man, accepted the challenge.

The next step was to go out and bring in a fresh voice for the pitching staff, one who could basically pass along the same message the pitchers have heard for years, but in a different manner. Enter Mike Maddux, who uses words like “conviction,” but more importantly believes in the words he uses.

Put them all together and you’ve got a Hall of Fame pitcher saying it can be done, a highly-regarded pitching coach saying he believes in the pitchers and the team’s ace actually having success based on the plans laid out for him by the president and pitching coach. It’s made everybody on the staff more willing to accept the idea of a quicker pace on the mound and pitching more to their strengths than batters’ supposed weaknesses.

As they enter a series at Detroit today, the Rangers pitching staff has an ERA of 4.54, sixth of 14 teams in the AL. The AL average is 4.68. That’s right, the Rangers are a better than average pitching staff.

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33 Comments to “Welcome To Baseball Season: A Primer For Rangers Fans Returning To The Flock”
  • Dallas Blog, Daily News, Dallas Politics, Opinion, and Commentary FrontBurner Blog D Magazine » Blog Archive » Welcome To The Bandwagon: A Primer For Rangers Fans Returning To The Flock @ May 19th, 2009 at 9:28 am

    [...] commenters (yes, they can comment over on IC), will hopefully help advance the conversation. The first installment is up and waiting for your perusal.  FrontBurner® has been called the best blog in town [...]

  • Jed E. @ May 19th, 2009 at 9:33 am

    Our own division has been a den of horrors over the past decade it seems. This year we are sending an early message as we are 10-2 against our fellow AL West brethren. This has been the biggest surprise to me thus far.

  • Dev @ May 19th, 2009 at 9:39 am

    Watching this team reminds me of the 1996 Rangers, the first team that won a division championship in Arlington. They truly *enjoy* playing baseball, and strangely that goes a long way towards changing a clubhouse mentality from negative to positive. This week is the perfect time to hop on the Rangers bandwagon; with four-plus months of regular season remaining, there’ll be a lot of baseball moments you’ll want to remember.

  • Hendu @ May 19th, 2009 at 9:39 am

    Go check out this kid Elvis (he’s pretty good) and see for yourself if he really has a blonde mustache and actually plays defense with those two maracas..

  • Balonpie @ May 19th, 2009 at 9:45 am

    These bunch of kids are just plain fun to watch. Ranger Baseball has always been a stop down for me. This partiuclar season is special for the obvious reason… they are winning; however, the spirit of this organization is different. These players are exciting and leave it all on the field, not just going through the motions of collecting a pay check. I cannot put a finger on the pulse of this thing… is it Nolan, Old School Soul brother, Maddux? I don’t know and I don’t care. The difference is that I continue to watch after the fith, something I could have not said in seasons past.

  • texrex @ May 19th, 2009 at 10:34 am

    Check out what Tim Dierkes at MLB trade rumors has to say about Jones, Jennings and Vizquel. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/05/minor-league-steals.html

  • scooper @ May 19th, 2009 at 10:34 am

    The Texas Rangers will always hit and score runs. For that reason alone they are fun to watch. Now they even do more than hit home runs – they have developed the ability to manufacture runs. They are being smarter on the bases as well as running more (double steals are a thing of beauty!). Situational hitting (sacrifice bunts, hit-and-runs, hitting behind the runner, etc.) has improved dramatically. Then you throw in pitching and defense. What a concept! Evan has explained the changes in pitching, but it must be pointed out that the staff itself is not that much different from last year. Our starting five right now is: Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Harrison and Feldman. The change is buying into the program of Ryan/Maddux and executing the pitches. The commitment to defense is another change. That’s what the move of Michael Young to 3rd base was all about. It stabilized 3rd and allowed the promotion of Elvis Andrus to shortstop. This kid is AMAZING! I already expect to see a “Web Gem” every night! Kinsler is still making the fantastic plays, but he is also making the routine plays. Chris Davis has been fantastic at first. It’s probably been years since you’ve seen a first baseman do the splits, but it is routine for CD. Salty worked his tail off in the off-season. He looks like a hockey goalie blocking balls in the dirt. And he has proven that, given a chance, he will throw out men attempting to steal. This team is a wonder to behold!

  • rfs1962 @ May 19th, 2009 at 10:36 am

    It’s not the pitching. It’s the defense.

  • Greg @ May 19th, 2009 at 10:41 am

    Most importantly to people making it out to the Ballpark for the first time this year now that summer is hear and the bandwagon is filling up:

    STOP DOING THE WAVE!!!

    Thanks.

  • scooper @ May 19th, 2009 at 10:41 am

    I didn’t mean to leave out the outfielders when speaking of defense. The fact is, they were great last year and nothing has changed (check out the catch that Josh Hamilton made yesterday in center field). They also have some of the best arms (strength and accuracy) that you are going to find. It’s a little harder to tell about the pitcher’s defense, but they seem to have improved also.

  • scooper @ May 19th, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Excuse me! The catch was on SUNDAY.

  • Jed E. @ May 19th, 2009 at 10:43 am

    The defense is helped out by the fact that the pitchers are working at a quicker pace and are throwing strikes. Fielders are more alert when the pitchers do those two things.

  • scooper @ May 19th, 2009 at 10:45 am

    @Jed: So true!

  • Steve-0 in Forney @ May 19th, 2009 at 10:51 am

    This team has been a pleasure to watch. Not so much the last 8 years (except 2004). I have enjoyed the defense MUCH more than the home runs. They are fun to watch, but I would really prefer to see a 1-0 game rather than a 15-12 game. That gets old. We want to see lower scoring games that go fast. I always forget to check D-Magazine when I am reading up on the Rangers so I will try to remember it everyday. Thanks Evan for great section!

  • rfs1962 @ May 19th, 2009 at 10:52 am

    The pitching is helped out by the better defense. Pitchers are more likely to throw strikes if the defense is really good at turning batted balls into outs. It’s sort of circular.

  • Andrew in Boston @ May 19th, 2009 at 11:16 am

    @Evan: At your old job you used to espouse the fact that to get better pitching, the Rangers needed better pitchers. See: http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/10/the-great-debate.html
    Have you changed your tune? Or do you think that the pitchers are really that much better this year. I’m not being cynical (and I do not claim to have the answer), just curious as to your opinion.

  • Jon @ May 19th, 2009 at 11:20 am

    Evan,

    I sent you an e-mail if either you or Mike could prove the “pitching, pitching, pitching” belief.

    I believe that it is defense, defense, defense. Not only are errors way down from April; fielding percentage is way up.

    Thus pitchers can now actually pitch to contact rather than nibbling around the edges of the strike zone thereby generating large numbers of walks.

  • easyeddie @ May 19th, 2009 at 11:26 am

    It’s great to see a young and improving team playing the game the right way and having fun doing it. You know, like the Mavs USED to be…

  • David C @ May 19th, 2009 at 11:45 am

    I read this morning where the Cowboys open their “OTA” workouts today. Pretty nondescript, generic stuff.

    This evening at 6pm the Rangers take their first place record and 7 game win streak to a ballpark that has been death for them the past few years. A very intriguing storyline.

    What I am wondering is which team will lead the local sportscasts on TV tonight, especially at 10pm.

  • Bob Bland @ May 19th, 2009 at 11:46 am

    First off, this is a GENIUS idea, Evan!

    Secondly, as to why folks should hop on the bandwagon, the main factor to me is the fact that unlike the Rangers teams of the late ’90s, this team is fueled by youth and the future. This bunch isn’t loaded with a bunch of late-career cameos like Will Clark and Kevin Elster.

    The only way I see this team fading as the season moves on is if Wash proves to be in over his head.

  • Little O @ May 19th, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    The whole defense or pitching debate is in my opinion a false dichotomy. They go hand-in-hand for winning teams. You can have a staff of Cy Young winners but if they don’t have good fielders behind them they might lead the league in strikeouts but their win-lose record will be dismal.

    The other factor that plays into improved defense and pitching is a more diversified offense. Before the opposition just feared the Rangers power. Now they see a team that can generate runs when the long ball is absent. Put pressure on the pitcher with steals and sacrifices. Now when the opponent come to bat they feel more pressure and are less selective at the plate – helps your pitching.

  • scooper @ May 19th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    @LittleO: excellent point!

  • jb @ May 19th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    espn has the rangers 3rd in their power rankings: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/powerranking

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 19th, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    Hey, bandwaggoners – first, I know Evan wants the page hits, but please, please, please don’t bring comments about how Hamilton is worthless after an 0-4 night, or how with Frank Frank on the DL we should go get K-Rod from the Mets…and no, everytime Andrus makes an error (more infrequently lately!) it’s not ok to suggest they’d be better with Vizquel at SS.

    If you do any of those things, well, I’ll leave.

    There, now that we can be friends, I’m shocked that it hasn’t been mentioned thus far, but it should be noted that the resurgence can be traced back to the team donning the Ranger Red from the late 90s once again.

    That’s right, the players even went as far as creating a blue jersey, red hat look to start the season.

    Now, 3 things to know re: Your First Place Texas Rangers in order to sound smart at work with others:

    1. Mike Young is healthy, while he’s getting older, attribute last year to finger injuries.

    2. Derrick Holland – he’s a kid who brings heat from the left side. Say you love his potential, and he’ll get in the rotation when the time is right, but his role right now suits him.

    3. Frank Frank – the closer so nice, they named him twice. He’ll be back this week, and once you get the kids to bed, have a drink and are watching the game before bed, when Frank Frank comes in from the pen, you can let your wife turn on Everybody Loves Raymond, cause the game is simiply over. So say “Hello, win column!” and hand her the remote.

    There’s other insights that you’ll pick up on around here – like how you’ll want to bench Hank Blalock for 7 innings, then revert to when you compared him to Brett, and you’ll start to understand things like why the blood-thirsty young lady wants Padilla to hit just about everyone he faces.

    Oh – last thing. Read Mike Hindman’s minors column every day, and maybe you’ll fall in love enough to put your seatbelt on the bandwagon so you don’t fall off in September (and don’t get me wrong – Cowboys season is just as important to me, perhaps, I just have less of a life and have more time to follow both).

  • Jon @ May 19th, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    Clearly defense and pitching go hand-in-hand.

    However, most writers and fans tend to forget this. I read a dozen articles such as this one to every one I read about the defense.

    This team turned around because last year JD got the players to solidify the outfield defense which prior to that was an embarrassment.

    However, the infield last year was a joke. How many guys played 1B and 3B?

    Now JD by bringing up Andrus solidified the left side of the infield at both SS and 3B. Davis is down on hitting, but is playing Gold Glove level defense.

    And Salty saved the game a few nights ago with defense. How many wild pitches did CJ throw?

    Now that both the outfield, infield, and catcher are solid – Guess What! – the pitching has suddenly improved and that is what everyone writes about.

  • Terry @ May 19th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    Another factor–this team has character. Just lots of good guys. The fact that they are talented baseball players is great. But there are high quality human beings all over this lineup. If your car didn’t start, the kind of guy that volunteers to come give you a jump start would be someone like Mike Young. . .or Ian Kinsler. . . or Marlon Byrd. . .or Josh Hamilton. . .or Chris Davis. . .or David Murphy. . . well, you get the idea. Good guys + great talent = a fun team to watch.

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 19th, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    @Jon – look at the guys on D who say that with pitchers working fast, and throwing strikes it helps them stay on their toes.

    I think everyone will agree with you that good pitching won’t happen with bad fielding, but good pitching begets good fielding, and bad pitching begets bad fielding.

    And I’ve now begat my way into forgeting what I begat to say. I mean, began.

  • Janette @ May 19th, 2009 at 2:23 pm

    It does not really matter if it is the pitching or the defense, the management or the owner, the team is just playing better than I’ve seen in years, and I’ve been a Rangers fan since the late 1970′s. Welcome new fans, hope you will stick around, because this is a team that is and will continue to be fun to watch!

  • Jim @ May 19th, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    I think Jon has the logical argument that the fielding improvements are key to the improvements in the pitching. If the pitchers cannot rely on the fielding, I believe that the pitchers would not be able to stay “up” pitch after pitch, inning after inning. This creates an energy in both the pitching and fielding positions that is apparent this year in terms of improved numbers for both.

  • cameron @ May 19th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    LotR got it right: It’s the red uniforms again.

    One guy I don’t see mentioned a lot, but who I think was a very good sign this offseason is Omar Vizquel. It seems like he is Andrus’ personal coach, and I think he is providing a lot of assistance and guidance as Andrus is getting his feet wet in the majors. Vizquel seems like a great guy to have in the clubhouse.

  • Dallas Blog, Daily News, Dallas Politics, Opinion, and Commentary FrontBurner Blog D Magazine » Blog Archive » Welcome To The Rangers Bandwagon, Part II @ May 19th, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    [...] you read the first entry and have been salivating for the second, well here it is.  FrontBurner® has been called [...]

  • JRB @ May 19th, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    And now is the best time to hop aboard. This year is a pleasant surprise, as most people thought that it would be next year before our Rangers actually contended for anything. This is because of something nobody has mentioned yet – our Rangers have, according to most, the best farm system in the game. The first wave of the players are impacting the team now, and the remarkable depth in the system will be impacting the big club very consistently over the next 5 to 10 years. The last time you saw that from a Ranger organization was when their were rookies with names like Rodriguez and Gonzalez.

    Stay on the bandwagon long enough and you might see names such as Perez and Font and and Beltre and Bourbon, not to mention names like Smoak and Felix who will have actual Ranger uniforms sometime on September, if not before.

    Fun times!

  • Rangerette @ May 19th, 2009 at 5:03 pm

    Cornerians? I think you need to ask US what we want to be called. I’m a Cornerette!