The collective sigh of relief you heard was the Texas Rangers reaching the much-needed All-Star Break. Injuries and lack of production from key players have hindered the Rangers. In the last ten games leading up to the break, the Rangers were a dismal 3-7. In that span, the Houston Astros managed to cut the Rangers ten-game lead in half. While the first half of the season didn’t end the way the Rangers wanted it too, they did finish in first place of the American League West. Let’s take a look at the Texas Rangers 2016 midseason report.
Rangers 2016 Midseason Report
Biggest Surprise
Simply put: Nomar Mazara. The 21-year-old rookie out of the Dominican Republic has made the most of his season thus far. The rookie got the call early in the season to replace the oft-injured Shin-Soo Choo. He did not hesitate to impress the Rangers coaching staff and front office. Mazara’s first half was so successful that he is now an everyday player for the big league roster. In turn, that has made him a front-runner for the American League Rookie of the Year. Mazara will need to continue on his current pace to win the hardware, but he has proven himself capable of doing it.
Biggest Disappointment
The most glaring flaw with the Rangers, aside from injuries, is their bullpen. The Rangers bullpen finished the first half with a dismal 4.77 ERA, 149 runs given up, and ninety-two walks. The Rangers needed the ‘pen to step up in the first half. Instead, what they got was horrible pitching from some of the staple bullpen guys. It is hard to win ball games when the back end of your pitching staff is the third-worst in the American League. The one silver lining to this is Jon Daniels is the general manager. Fans can count on him to find a way to fix the problem.
Mid-Season MVP
The Rangers have had a few standout players this year, like Cole Hamels, Nomar Mazara, Adrian Beltre, and Rougned Odor. There is one player, however, that showed he was the best on the Texas roster during the first half. Who is that? Ian Desmond. This guy has been an absolute beast in the first half of the season, and Jon Daniels looks like a genius once again.
Desmond was a free agent, and Daniels took a flyer on him. It has paid off huge for the Rangers organization. Desmond leads the team in runs, hits, doubles, RBI, batting average, and on base percentage. You can see were this is going. The numbers he has put up in the first half are remarkable, and without him, this team’s record would be much worse. If Daniels doesn’t lose his mind, Ian Desmond will be a Ranger for a long time.
What to Watch for in the Second Half
So, what should fans look for in the second half? Well, to begin with, the starting rotation is about to get a lot stronger. Yu Darvish and Derek Holland should make their returns after the All-Star Break. Also look for Jon Daniels to find some bullpen help with a trade for a big name. Daniels is a wizard when it comes to steals and deals at the trade deadline. With the lineup putting up runs as often as they do, don’t expect for the Rangers to trade for any position players. Finally, Rangers fans shouldn’t worry. The team is going to be just fine, and, as predicted, will win the West.
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