So everyone is worried about the new potent offense of the Angels. Don’t get me wrong, they are going to have a great offense in 2013 IF everyone stays healthy, and that is a big if. People are already crowning them AL West Champions, and some are crowning them World Series Champions for 2013. I respectfully disagree with those people.
The Texas Rangers have been one of the most potent offenses in baseball for a decade or more, and they have won exactly zero championships during that stretch. The Rangers had Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmero, Juan Gonzalez, Pudge Rodriguez, Josh Hamilton as well as other big name hitters and still won no championships. We all know the cliche that pitching wins championships, and in the Rangers case, pitching ALMOST won a championship in 2011. But we can all admit that it was the pitching. The home runs were great, but it is not like the Rangers won every game in 2010 and 2011 by scoring 10 runs a game. They had to win a lot of 3-2 games to get to Back to Back World Series.
And that is why I say hold off on your predictions that the Angels are the pre-determined AL West Champions. They have a great lineup, no one can deny that, but other than Jarod Weaver, who do they have that scares you on the mound? Ervin Santana? C.J. Wilson? They no longer have Dan Haren or Zack Greinke. I will take Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando and Colby Lewis any day over what the Angels are throwing out there right now. And people seem to be forgetting about Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus, Jurkson Profar and now A. J. Pierzinski. The Rangers are not exactly slouches at the plate. The Rangers are still a better overall team, and they have a much better farm team, which means they can improve during the season. The Angels can’t. They cannot afford to and they don’t have the farm system to compete with the Rangers on acquiring players.
So don’t lose heart Rangers fans. I still feel like the Rangers are one of the best teams in the American League, and I think I am right? Think I am wrong? Tell me why here or on Facebook or on Twitter. Remember, pitching wins championships, and the Angels have almost none of that. When you sacrifice pitching for hitting, it almost never works out in your favor. Ask any long time Ranger fan and they will tell you.
