The Texas Rangers struck out! Some fans like the Rangers, some don’t! But today there have to be fewer fans of the Rangers than there were yesterday. There are times when current\u00a0events transcend the sports world. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey’s massive\u00a0devastation in southeast Texas, the Rangers missed an opportunity to help the Astros, and the city of Houston. This was a colossal mistake and they will pay\u00a0a heavy price for it.<\/p>\n
Hurricane Harvey has irrefutably left Houston in ruin. However, that doesn’t
\nnecessarily mean you quit playing the games, because the games can
\nprovide a small respite to people in times of crisis. As such, the Astros were
\ntrying to figure out locations to close out what has been an outstanding
\nseason. One of the first steps was an attempt to switch a pair of three-game
\nseries’ with the Rangers, which were scheduled for Houston this week and
\nArlington in late September. But the Rangers couldn’t do the right thing. They
\ndecided, instead, that homestands and season ticket holders are more
\nimportant than this small act of cooperation in the face of utter devastation.<\/p>\n
While many cities in southeast Texas have been devastated by Hurricane Harvey,
\nthe destruction in Houston is already on par with that of New Orleans during
\nHurricane Katrina in 2005. Then, the Saints were left trying to find places to
\nplay their football season, which left them in a perpetual state of road team.
\nBut they played anyway and it did serve a purpose to the people of New
\nOrleans, even though they went 3-13. In this case, the Astros are going to be
\nthe American League West Champions and are expected to make a deep run in the
\nplayoffs (Hurricane Harvey disturbances, notwithstanding). Astros fans, on
\na daily basis, will have something to look forward to as their Astros play on.
\nJust a box score, a game summary, or a highlight on their cell phone app will provide a moment of\u00a0normalcy and happiness.<\/p>\n
We do not know what Houston will look like in late September, but we do know
\nthat a chance for some home games is better than no chance at all. If the
\nRangers had agreed to the switch, there is a good chance there would have been
\nthree more games for Astros fans to enjoy next month. However, the Rangers
\n“graciously” only offered to host all the games, now and in September. This
\nobviously served no purpose for the Astros and the city of Houston (beyond an offer for the Astros to also receive the home team purse). So instead, they\u00a0will play “home games” against the Rangers at Tropicana Field; the Tampa Bay Rays home field.<\/p>\n
The Rangers rationalization was that they had an obligation to fans who bought
\ntickets for those games in September. They also stated that if they changed
\nthe dates, they would have to play four straight series on the road, starting
\nin mid-September. But they failed to mention that they do have a final, four-game
\nhomestand against the Oakland Athletics, following the proposed series date changes.
\nAlthough left undiscussed, the Rangers are also still in the hunt for a Wild
\nCard. One can’t help but feel that there is an element of that included in
\ntheir decision making. But if so, it is ridiculous, in that there is a seven-team
\nrace for the second Wild Card, they are sixth in that race, and still under
\n.500.<\/p>\n
The Rangers can espouse their position, and add any others they choose, but
\nnone of it matters. There is absolutely no way to justify their unwillingness
\nto swap homestands, given the situation in Houston. One must live in a cave
\nnot to see the ongoing rescue operations of families that are on the verge of
\ndrowning or are leaving their flooded homes. Lives have been lost and more
\nwill be. Houston and its citizens will be recovering from this devastation,
\nliterally, for years. And yet, amidst all this, the Rangers felt it was more
\nimportant to protect a three-game home stand late in the season.<\/p>\n
The front office is paid to do everything it can to set the team up for
\nsuccess. But sometimes, you have to look at the big picture and realize that
\nthe circumstances transcend your duties to the team. Honestly, the Rangers would
\nnot have garnered many kudos for agreeing to this small request. No one would
\nview this as any real sacrifice, compared to what Houston is dealing with. But
\nthey will reap a major backlash because they were unwilling to help the
\nAstros, and the city of Houston, in their time of need. Thus, the Rangers will
\nbe another victim in the path of Hurricane Harvey…but it will be of their own
\nmaking!
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>