If you’re just tuning into our playoff run what do you need to know about this team?
The Texas Rangers will face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series, just two years removed from both teams losing over 100 games. This is the first time the Rangers have been in the World Series since 2011 where they were one strike away from winning it all. The Rangers beat the Houston Astros in seven games in the ALCS and swept the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Leading to the postseason
Coming into the postseason, the Rangers played streaky and lost far more games than expected. With hope starting to run low on the season and All-Star outfielder Adolis Garcia getting hurt for a couple of games, 21-year-old phenom Evan Carter was called up to the major leagues. After the call-up, the Rangers went 14-9 in the season’s final month. Carter quickly made a name for himself with his incredible eye at the plate. This doesn’t mean that he can see far away or anything which we’re sure he can because the kid can do just about anything, but it means that he can see if a pitch is going to be a ball or strike better than the average hitter can. With this turn around the Rangers were able to sneak past the Mariners to make it into the postseason.
PITCHING
To make it this far, the Rangers have relied on their star-studded offense and quality starting rotation. If you aren’t familiar with baseball, and you’re just joined the bandwagon because everyone else is, a starting rotation is a mix of five pitchers who start games throughout the season. Our two best starters right now are Nathan Eovaldi and trade deadline acquisition, Jordan Montgomery.
Nathan Eovaldi
Nathan Eovaldi has absolutely shoved (pitched well) In all of his starts in the playoffs so far. He has recorded four quality starts which describes a starter pitching six or more innings while giving up three runs or less. Eovaldi joined the team last season and has been worth every penny of that contract being our best pitcher all year long. Be on the lookout for his devastating splitter that he throws. If you don’t know what a splitter is, the broadcast will pop up a graphic on what pitch is what and the splitter is typically thrown by Eovaldi when he’s looking to get a strikeout or groundball.
Jordan Montgomery
Jordan Montgomery has recorded three quality starts alongside Eovaldi. Montgomery started in game one of the first series against the rays, where he only gave up one run through seven innings and then game one against the Astros, not allowing a single run in another great performance. Monty’s best pitch is his curveball which he uses to get batters to strike out as it looks like it’s going to be a strike then it dives out of the zone, making hitters swing and miss. Shoutout to the Yankees for not considering him a quality postseason pitcher. We’ll gladly take him to the World Series.
BULLPEN (for non baseball people-pitchers who don’t start)
Our bullpen on the other hand is a glass cannon. Some nights they will give quality innings then other nights it’s like a nightmare watching WILL SMITH TROT OUT OF THE BULLPEN. No not the “keep my wife’s name out your mouth,” Will Smith, but Will Smith our left-handed pitcher who has had a rough season. Jose Leclerc has been our best reliever though and you should feel more comfortable when he comes out of the bullpen compared to the rest.
PLAYERS TO KNOW
Adolis Garcia
Adolis Garcia plays right field and bats fourth a.k.a. our clean up batter (get runners home). Garcia or el Bombi has been absolutely mashing at the plate (hitting very well, especially home runs). Garcia hit five home runs against the Trashtros, I mean Astros, and pimped every single one of them leading him to be our ALCS MVP. Adolis plays the game with so much swag and passion which made him one of our favorite players. If you want to be fired up, watch Adolis Garcia play baseball. Get out of your seat everytime he’s up.
Evan Carter
We talked about him earlier, but Evan Carter has raked in too (getting lots of hits and bringing runs in). Carter plays like a seasoned veteran and as we mentioned he is only 21 YEARS OLD, barley legal enough to drink the champagne they celebrate with in the locker room. He catches everything in left field, gets on base, and can even hit for power.
Marcus Semien
Despite his current struggles in the postseason Marcus Semien is a player we think will really break out in the World Series. He’s a talented player and too good to not get it going at some point. He played all 162 games for the Rangers this year and put up great stats that just haven’t carried over to the postseason quite yet. Look for a good series out of our star second baseman.
Corey Seager
Our best player this year has been our 325 million-dollar man, Corey Seager. Seager tearing it up this year in his season as the Texas Ranger shortstop. He’s also been raking in the playoffs, solidifying himself as a feared hitter to face. Corey had a .373 batting average in the regular season. For reference the average is .250 and combining that with the 33 homeruns hit, he is by far our best player this year. Seager has also played in two World Series before and even won it with the Dodgers in 2020. Every player in the lineup is quite good, but you should pay extra attention to these guys.
BOCHY
This year, future Hall of Fame manager (coach) Bruce Bochy came out of retirement to take the role of manger of the Texas Rangers. Bochy won three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants, one of those coming against the Rangers in 2010. Bochy has led the team well, and after the losing streaks to end the season, for the Rangers to come out guns blazing in the postseason, go to show the veteran leadership Bochy brings to the team.
OUR OPPONENT
The Arizona Diamondbacks faced the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS (National Leauge Championship series) and won in game seven to move them to the World Series against the Rangers. The Diamonbacks are similar to the Rangers story and were not supposed to make it to the World Series this year. They fight hard and will make this a hard fought series with a steller pitching staff led by Cy Young Canidate (best pitcher of the year) Zac Gallen. Their offense is also quite good with their star rookie, Corbin Carroll, having one of the best all around games in baseball. Ketel Marte is also one of the leaders of that offense as he won NLCS MVP for the D-Backs.
Are We Going To Win
This will be a hard fought series, as the Diamondbacks are no pushover team, but we believe in the Rangers to win their first ever World Series. The Rangers were projected to finish fourth in our division and completely miss the playoffs according to CbsSports and Sporting News, so getting this far in itself is an accomplishment, but you might as well win it if you’re hear. Through all the mediocrite and bad years in the past decade its finally time. To #GoAndTakeIt
