Coming off their worst season in almost 30 years — which ironically followed their best four-year stretch in franchise history — the Texas Rangers will be seeking to get back on track as perennial playoff contenders in 2015. Considering the fact that they had more injuries than any other team in baseball a year ago, there’s a good chance the Rangers at least get back to being competitive.
Their quest to accomplish this begins in Surprise, Ariz., at Surprise Stadium, which is their Spring Training home. Of course, compared to regular season games, tickets are much more affordable for these contests, and according to TiqIQ, the highest priced game at the moment is, on average, just $98, for a March 13 affair with the San Francisco Giants in a rematch of their 2010 World Series meeting. The minimum price, meanwhile, is a measly $40.
Fans looking to make the trip can find Arlington flights to Phoenix for less than $200, according to TiqIQ’s friends over at Hipmunk.com. Once you are in Arizona, there are hotels near Surprise Stadium available for only $50 per night, so you could theoretically spend a nice long weekend down in Surprise, AZ for around $300 total. If you include the cheap ticket prices, this is quite a nice bargain for Rangers fans.
Texas was so banged up last year that they actually set the Major League record for most players used in a single season. In fact, they were so ravaged by injuries that they actually accomplished this achievement with almost a full month left in the regular season.
With their main core healthy now, however, there’s no reason the Rangers shouldn’t return as contenders once again. Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo, two of their biggest acquisitions from last offseason, will both be back, and if they churn out their regular numbers, that will be a huge boost to the Texas lineup. Furthermore, they still have future Hall-of-Famer third baseman Adrian Beltre and shortstop Elvis Andrus to comprise one of the game’s best left-sides of the infield. Mitch Moreland will also be returning from injury, providing consistent power from the designated hitter slot.
Starting pitching has generally been a weakness for the Rangers over the course of their franchise history, but the past handful of years have actually seen it turn into a strength for the club. Well, that is until last season when, just like on offense, Texas was decimated by injuries, and their numbers suffered as a result. Derek Holland, for instance, missed all but the final month of 2014, but after a strong September showing for the left-hander, he’ll be poised to pick up where he left off. Yu Darvish, the club’s ace, also battled injury woes but should be fine for Opening Day. And the Rangers went out and acquired a very solid starter to join them in Yovani Gallardo, who has been one of the more consistent starters in baseball over the past several seasons.
Also possessing a rejuvenated bullpen led by terrific closer Neftali Feliz, the Rangers appear to have everything back in place to ultimately make a deep run into the postseason. Whether their top guys can stay healthy this time around remains to be seen, but if they do, this is a group that will undoubtedly be contending once again.
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