Its Time

It is TIME!!

I have been hearing that all year, but never really believed it. I knew the 2010 Texas Rangers were gonna be good, but I never had any idea they would be this good.

In the 1970s and 80s, this team was a laughing stock. They were the doormats. They had some good players, and occasionally did ok in the standings, but no one ever thought this team would compete.

In the 1990s, this team was developing some great players. They developed 2 time MVP Juan Gonzalez, and 1999 MVP Ivan Rodriguez. They signed Will Clark and then Rafeal Palmeiro as free agents. This team could hit. They hit so well that they made the playoffs in 1996, 98, and 99. They ran into the New York Yankees every time, and the result was the same. In 10 games, New York won 9. The Rangers never had pitching.

In the 2000s, Tom Hicks tried to buy players. He outbid himself for Alex Rodriguez and Chan Ho Park. He over payed for roll players like Todd Van Poppel and Jay Powell. Eventually, it caught up with him, and the team dismantled.

The team started on a plan in 2007. At the trade deadline, they traded Mark Texeira and Ron Mahay to Atlanta for Neftali Feliz, Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, Jarrod Saltalamachia and Beau Jones. They also hired Ron Washington as manager.

Jon Daniels then set a precedent by signing players that had something to prove. He signed them cheap, one because he had no money and because the player wanted to prove himself. He got Eric Gange and turned him into David Murphy and 2 minor leaguers. Kenny Lofton became Max Ramirez. He did this over and over, and slowly built up the farm system.

Again, the team finished 3rd, but it was an improving third. They were doing it with young players rather that overpaid veterans.

2008, the Rangers decide to take a chance. They traded one of their top pitching prospects, Edinison Volquez to Cincinnati for Josh Hamilton. Nobody knew what to expect from Hamilton. He was coming off a season in which he hit 19 homers and drove in 49 runs. But the Rangers saw something.

This team lacked pitching. It had Kevin Millwood and then a bunch of guys trying to prove themselves. But behind Hamilton and Michael Young, they moved to 2nd place.

2009, Hamilton was injured on and off, and the team finished 2nd again, tied with Oakland.

Now 2010. The team had an interesting off season. They were up for sale. Hamilton was coming off and injury. They had signed Darren Oliver and Vladamir Guerrero away from Anaheim. They resigned Colby Lewis, who had pitched in Japan the last 2 years. The moved CJ Wilson into the starting rotation. They signed Rich Harden, and gave Scot Feldman a new deal.

But you felt something with this team.

Harden, Feldman and Saltalamachia were all ineffective, yet this team fought on. Derek Holland and Tommy Hunter stepped into their roles and were solid. Matt Treanor was unbelievable at catcher. You expected nothing from him, but he stabilized the pitching staff, and he contributed some offense.

Hamilton, Guerrero and Nelson Cruz carried the team. Ian Kinsler got hurt, and Joaquin Arias stepped in.

The team was plugging along in 1st place, but were still not being taken seriously. Rightfully so. The division was weak.

But Daniels didn't rest.

Before the deadline got close, he first added Jorge Cantu and Bengie Molina. A little veteran leadership, but the team still lacked a bona fide ace. Battling the Yankees again, New York thought they had a deal in place with Seattle. Seattle called Texas, and Daniels said, "ALL IN!!"

The Texas Rangers acquired Cliff Lee. There is your ace.

Down the stretch, the Rangers were getting some national whispers. The swept the Yankees in a series in Arlington and slowly pulled away in the West.

With the division sewn up, the started playing the big bad AL East. 3 wins in Boston, 2 in Tampa and 1 in New York. Not bad against the big boys.

Playoffs roll around. CLIFF LEE!! Nelson Cruz was a beast at the plate, and the pitching staff was awesome. Cliff Lee pitched a brilliant game to clinch the division.

American League Championship Series started awful. A 5-1 lead in the 8th inning of game one, and they eventually lose 6-5.

Heartbreak. The Yankees again.

But this wasn't the same Texas Rangers. They fought back and took game 2 in Texas to head to New York tied 1-1. In New York, the pitching took over again. Cliff Lee pitched an amazing game 3, and the bullpen was phenomenal in game 4. The Yanks got one in game 5, so it is back to Texas, with the Rangers having a 3-2 lead. Game 6. Colby Lewis was on. He gave up 3 hits in 8 innings. He was unhittable. Rangers win 6-1 and take the series 4-2 to head to their first ever World Series.

As a fan of the team for over 20 years, I got a little emotional. I teared up a tad, I yelled, I ran outside and high fived my neighbors. I didn't care how I looked. My team is in the World Series.

Let me say that again...The Texas Rangers are in the World Series.

This team has shown more resiliency than any team I have ever seen. I am proud to call this my team. I don't care who they play in the Series and either do they. This is AWESOME.

And yes, I will scoot over and give you a spot on the bandwagon.

I love this for Nolan, Chuck, Ron and the whole team.

With this team, anything is possible.

Let me hear from you. john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com

Peace, John Conner