Rangers fans learned a lot about this team this opening weekend. Much of it very predictable, but there are some surprises. We do know that the Astros are very good, and are the defending champions until someone can prove differently. This weekend the Rangers were not up to the challenge.
Cole Hamels made it through 5 2/3 innings, Doug Fister completed 5 and the other two starters were less than that. The pitching was far below what the Astros offered. The bullpen looked good at times but after just four games is already overworked. The team ERA is ranked 25th in the league after 4 games, but again this was the defending champions.
The hitting was awful, outside of Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre, nobody offered any help. Joey Gallo managed to hit one home run to the opposite field despite the ridiculous shift the Astros used against him. Gallo could bunt down the third base line and get a double almost every time. There were several opportunities for the Rangers to take advantage of that, but failed to take advantage. Team hitting again ranks 25th in the league, but against arguably the best pitching staff in baseball.
Overall the Astros were just way too good for this Rangers team on this weekend.
Strikeouts are a huge problem and the bottom part of the other collectively had 1 hit a game on average. 11 of the 25 hits the team managed over 4 games came from Elvis and Adrian. Meanwhile, the strikeouts mounted, as they average 10 strikeouts per game.
So where does the team go from here?
- Step 1: The coaching staff needs to get busy and actually coach.
- Step 2: Someone has to teach Gallo and Odor to hit the baseball to left field. A bunt or two would do wonders against that crazy shift the Astros used. If I were them, I would get angry and find a way to beat that shift.
- Step 3: Perhaps if the team scored some runs, the pitchers could relax and work hitters. No run support forces them to try to be perfect.
- Step 4: Starting pitching must go deeper into the game. Someone must have a quality start soon!
- Step 5: Others players not named Elvis or Beltre must contribute
The Rangers are no match for the Astros, and winning one game is almost a miracle. The good news is that the rest of the teams that they play are not as good as the Astros are at this point. It is a long season and as the team makes their way to Oakland, that big ballpark might help them.
If you added a step 6 it would have to be make 4 foul balls and you are out. It seems every team in the league is loaded with players who can work counts and force pitchers to pile up pitches. All except the Rangers that is, the team averaged 10 strikeouts a game. At this pace the team will finish the season with 1,620 strikeouts. At least they would set a record.
Oakland has a 1-3 record, and is 24th in pitching and 16th in hitting. The Rangers have a real shot at winning this series even with Bartolo Colon leading off as the starting pitcher in game one.
