In light of dawning of a new decade on Friday, I thought I would look back at the highs and lows of Ranger baseball including an all-decade team. Here it goes...
Biggest Surprise
Alex Rodriguez signs 10 year, $252 million dollar contract in 2000.
Tom Hicks signing Alex Rodriguez was not so much the surprise, but the size of the contract was a big surprise. At the time, it was the largest contract in sports, and it was suppose to put the Rangers back in the playoffs. The Rangers however during Rodriguez's tenure, were one of the worst in baseball, finishing last in the AL West all three of his season's in Texas. He had record breaking seasons as a Ranger though, hitting 52 HR in his first season in 2001, and 57 HR in 2002. He broke all kinds of records as a short stop, and lead the league in home runs as a short stop. In 2003, he won the AL MVP despite being on the worst team. Although, after the 2003 season, the Rangers looked to dump him and his salary and agreed to trade him to the New York Yankees and also agreed to pay $67 million of what was left in his contract. In 2009 however, there were reports that A-Rod had used anabolic steroids while playing in Texas, and in a TV interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons, Rodriguez admitted to using while playing for the Rangers, putting A-Rod not in a good memories of Ranger fans. Alex Rodriguez was one of the best players to put on a Rangers uniform, but also the most controversial.
Biggest Bust
Chan Ho Park comes to Texas
Chan Ho Park signed a 5 year, $65 million contract in 2001, which was the highest for a pitcher at the time, and was brought in to anchor a pitching staff, that was simply was not very good. Park was suppose to be "the guy" and "the ace" of the Texas Rangers. However, 3 seasons later, Park was an absolute bust. He was plagued by injuries and in 2002 only went 9-8 with a 5.75 ERA and in 2003 he went only 1-3 with a 7.48 ERA. 2004 was an injury plagued season and was simply forgettable. In 2005, the Rangers traded Park to the Padres for Phil Nevin.
Best Game
August 22, 2007- Rangers Score 30 Runs against the Orioles
The Rangers beat the Orioles 30-3 in the first game of a double header in Baltimore in August of 2007. The 30 runs was a MLB modern day record, and an AL record. Ramon Vazquez and Jarrod Saltalamacchia both had 2 homer days, while Marlon Byrd and Travis Metcalf both hit grand slams. The Rangers won both games of the double header outscoring the Orioles 39-10 in the two games. It was simply one of the quirky things that you see in baseball that you might see once in a lifetime.
Worst Game
August 12, 2008- Red Sox beat Rangers 19-17 in a thriler
In the bottom of the 1st inning of this game, Scott Feldman gave up 10 runs to the Red Sox in the one inning, giving up TWO 3-run homers to David Ortiz in the inning. The weird thing is, during the course of the game, the Rangers came back and took a 12-10 LEAD. It was the first time ever for a team giving up 10 runs in one inning to come back and re-gain the lead. After a few innings of back and forth scoring, in the bottom of the 8th, the Red Sox were down 17-16 when Kevin Youkilis hit a three run bomb to put the Red Sox up for good, as they won the game 19-17. It was an absolute heart breaking defeat, and it some minds it caused the collapse of the 2008 season, because at the time, the Rangers were only 1 back in the Wild Card race. After that game, the Ranger fans still to this day has not seen that same offense that the Rangers were synonymous for in 2008, as 2009 the whole team struggled, and it may very well be traced back to this warm August night in Boston, MA.
Best Moment
2008 Home Run Derby with Josh Hamilton
Josh Hamilton bursted onto the baseball scene in 2008 with the Rangers as an emerging super star. He made his case loud and clear in the the 2008 Home Run Derby when he hit 28 homers in the first round of the competition in the old Yankee Stadium. The yelling of "Hamilton!, Hamilton!" out of the mouths of Yankee fans was quite a thing to see and hear. He hit his way into the hearts of many American's that night, after his turmultiotus career. Hamilton was the highest rated prospect when drafted by the Devil Rays earlier in the decade and then got into the trouble with drugs. He spent 3 seasons out of baseball, eventually risking his life with his drug use. In 2007, he got back into the game with the Cincinnati Reds and was traded to the Rangers in 2008 and he exploded. He not only was producing on the field as a super star but he was telling his story to anyone and every one that would listen. How he find the will to fight his way from drugs back into the game was the MLB story of 2008, truly something special.
Ranger of the Decade
Michael Young
Any question? Mr. Consistent was the face of the Ranger franchise, post A-Rod. And after the turmoil surrounding the Ranger organization in the early decade, Michael Young reminded Ranger fans why we love baseball. He played the game the right way, and did it in such a manner that was respectable. He was the ultimate team player too, moving positions twice. After A-Rod departed, Young moved from 2nd to short stop and then before the 2009 season, the Rangers asked Young to move to 3rd to make room for up and coming star, Elvis Andrus. After some resistance to the move to the 3rd base, he ultimately moved with the better of the team in mind. Great teammate, great player, great person.
All-Decade Team
Starting Rotation
Kenny Rogers
Kevin Millwood
Chris Young
Vicente Padilla
Scott Feldman
Catcher
Ivan Rodriguez
First Base
Mark Teixeira
Second Base
Michael Young
Third Base
Hank Blalock
Short Stop
Alex Rodriguez
Left Field
David Dellucci
Center Field
Gary Matthews Jr.
Right Field
Josh Hamilton
Designated Hitter
Milton Bradley
Relief Pitchers
Joaquin Benoit
John Wetteland
Akinori Otsuka
CJ Wilson
Closer
Francisco Cordero
Manager
Ron Washington
Disclaimer: I know these players are very debatable but these are the players that I felt were the best at their positions during the decade for the Rangers.
Have a Happy New Year Ranger fans, maybe this new decade starting with 2010 will be a great one for the Rangers.
