The Texas Rangers Aren't Losers Anymore

In the minds of baseball writers everywhere, the Texas Rangers were big losers in the past off-season. Failing to acquire the talent they set out for along with losing Josh Hamilton to the Angels, not many people believed they would compete in 2013.

Showing all the of baseball world that you don't have win the off-season to win in the regular season, the Rangers are currently sporting the American League's best record at 31-17.

The Rangers lead the AL West by 5 1/2 games over the Oakland Athletics and by 10 games over the divisions spring training favorite, Los Angeles Angels.

While Josh Hamilton sits in Los Angeles with a .222 batting average and 6 homeruns. Texas is showing the fans that they don't need him to win. Instead they have four players with more homeruns than Hamilton and 12 players with a higher batting average.

The biggest surprise to the Rangers success may be their pitching. Texas set out over the winter in hopes of acquiring a top of the rotation starter in that could help fill in with Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison.

The Rangers came away empty handed in an attempt to acquire James Shields or Zack Greinke from the Rays. But as the stats show, the Rangers are just fine without them.

Texas as a team ranks 1st in the American League in ERA and are 3rd in batting average against. Those numbers coming while Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis, and Neftali Feliz are all on the DL with injuries.

Even with the injuries to his supporting cast, Yu Darvish is having his best season since coming to America. Darvish is leading the league in strikeouts and is 7-2 with a 2.84 ERA.

To think that the Rangers pitching is already surprisingly good and come June they're going to get back the likes of Colby Lewis back as he continues to recover from elbow surgery last July.

The Rangers bullpen will receive a big boost to it when Joakim Soria and Neftali Feliz return sometime in July. Pitching was expected to be a weakness for the Rangers this season and as strong as it's been, it is expected to get better when the help arrives.

Texas has never been known as a team to have an issue scoring runs and they still haven't held that title in 2013. With Mike Napoli, Michael Young, and Josh Hamilton all gone from last years team, the Rangers are still 7th in the league in runs scored.

Ian Kinsler was placed on the DL a couple days ago with rib issues, and he takes his team leading .301 batting average with him. Kinsler has been a player on a slight decline over recent years and he's found his swing once again in 2013.

The Rangers may have missed out of trading for Justin Upton from the D-Backs, who's having a power power season, but they're still getting production from Nelson Cruz, who leads the team in homeruns (11) and RBI's (34).

Letting go of Michael Young was a risk that the Rangers had to take with the looming emergence of Jurickson Profar. Texas also gave Elvis Andrus a big contract extension this year to keep him in Texas for the long haul, as many people thought Andrus could be gone when Profar arrives.

To replace Hamilton the Rangers signed Lance Berkman and brought in A.J. Pierzynski to take the place of Mike Napoli. Both players are having reasonably well seasons in Arlington.

Just look at the Angles, Dodgers, and Blue Jays. They're prime example that show championships aren't won with the things that happen off the field. They're won with what happens on the field. And the Rangers are doing everything right on the diamond.

We always talk about the teams that won or lost the off-season. And like I said, many people would say that the Texas Rangers lost the off-season. But did they really, because last time I checked the Rangers are in 1st place and the Los Angeles Angels under .500.

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