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Thursday, April 5 Texas Rangers preview ESPN.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2000 record: 71-91 (4th in AL West) Runs scored: 848, 9th in AL Runs allowed: 974, 14th in AL Three key issues for 2001 1. Will they get anything close to respectability from the back of the rotation (Darren Oliver, Ryan Glynn, Doug Davis)? 2. Will old guys Ken Caminiti, Andres Galarraga and Randy Velarde remain healthy and productive? 3. Can Tim Crabtree -- or somebody else -- replace John Wetteland as the closer? Three key facts 1. Last season, the Rangers lost 90 games for the first time since 1988 and became just the fourth team in history to go from first place to last in consecutive seasons. 2. Rafael Palmeiro added a career-high 103 walks to his 39 homers and 120 RBI. 3. Gabe Kapler, acquired in the Juan Gonzalez trade, hit .328 over the last 92 games of the season and put together a club-record 28 game hitting streak.
Best case: Alex Rodriguez has the best season a shortstop has ever had, one of the young pitchers, Ryan Glynn or Doug Davis, becomes a major leaguer, deals are made for a starting pitcher and Expos closer Ugie Urbina, the Rangers win the division. Worst case: Nothing major is done to improve the pitching, which gives up another 900 runs, Johnny Oates is fired by Memorial Day and the Rangers break the record set by the 1930 Phillies for the most losses (nine) in games in which they scored at least 10 runs.
* Position rank, compiled by ESPN.com's baseball staff, compares each AL team's strength at that position, including platoons, based on players' total projected value (offense, defense, durability) for the 2001 season. AL position players and bullpens ranked on a 1-14 basis, with 1 being best. AL starting pitchers ranked on 1-56 basis, with 1 being best. Cumulative rankings of starting pitchers are combined with bullpen and closer for overall pitching index, with more weight given to starters. In both rankings, 1.00 is the best possible score, 14.00 the worst. Click here for AL position-by-position rankings.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | ALSO SEE Complete team previews | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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