Since the 1950 season, just one American League team -- the 1999 Cleveland Indians -- has managed to score 1,000 runs in one season. This year, the Texas Rangers appear positioned to become the second.
What was already a very good offensive team last year got even better in the offseason with the addition of Andres Galarraga, Ken Caminiti and, oh yes, Alex Rodriguez.
|  | | Rafael Palmeiro will be surrounded by some big bats in the Rangers lineup this season. |
Privately, some of the Texas coaches believe this team is fully capable of topping the magical 1,000-run plateau. Playing half their games at The Ballpark in Arlington, where more homers have been hit than any other park in the AL over the last three years, won't hurt that bid a bit.
Manager Johnny Oates is reluctant to make predictions or establish statistical benchmarks. But there's little doubt that the Rangers have almost unlimited offensive potential, even if the manager seeks to downplay expectations.
"If we're healthy," said Oates, "we have a chance to put a lot of pressure on people."
OK, so Oates isn't providing anyone with bulletin-board material. But the manager prefers to have his hitters do his talking -- with their bats.
For starters, there's Rusty Greer, healthy again after missing a third of last season. Greer isn't anyone's idea of a classic leadoff hitter -- he has 29 career steals -- but prior to last year's injury-interrupted season, he had three straight years in which he scored 107 runs or better and twice had on-base percentages over .400.
After Greer, Oates is still experimenting, but it's hard for him to go wrong, with A-Rod, Ivan Rodriguez (career .304 hitter), Galarraga, Rafael Palmeiro, Caminiti, Gabe Kapler and Ruben Mateo.
Any way he chooses, Oates seemingly can't go wrong. He's got lefty thump (Palmeiro), right-handed sock (Galarraga, A-Rod, I-Rod) and a switch-hitter (Caminiti).
Oates noted that there are no plodders on this team, no one to clog up the basepaths. A number of regulars, in fact, have the ability to steal 20 bases, led by Pudge Rodriguez, who is aiming for 30 steals.
"But," noted Oates wryly, "we're not going to be gambling a whole lot with this team."
Why bother running yourself out of innings when the potential is there for plenty of multi-run explosions?
What's more, noted Oates, is that this is not a team of undisciplined free-swingers, taking wild aim at the fences. Pudge Rodriguez has never struck out more than 89 times in a season, and A-Rod had a career-high .420 OBP last year after drawing 100 walks.
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How good can the
Rangers be? That depends on their health, and their bullpen -- questions that can only
be answered over time. |
On paper, the Rangers look like they can almost score at will.
"In the American League," Oates said, "if you want to compete, you'd better not have a whole lot of outs in your lineup."
Red Sox GM Dan Duquette sets the minimum at five runs per game to succeed in the AL. The Rangers appear able to average six, which would translate into 972 runs.
For all the euphoria associated with the Rangers, however, there remains this nagging afterthought: What about the pitching?
Rick Helling has been a reliable workhorse, averaging 16 wins and 217 innings over the last three seasons, and Kenny Rogers gives them a veteran left-handed presence.
Beyond that, however, there's a giant dropoff, as the Rangers hope the likes of Doug Davis and Ryan Glynn can step into the rotation and have success.
The bullpen is every bit the question mark the rotation is, with no proven closer. It would seem inconceivable that a team would make the investment it has and turn the ninth inning over to Tim Crabtree (lifetime 5-for-25 in save opportunities).
More likely, GM Doug Melvin will make a deal, perhaps for Montreal's Ugueth Urbina.
But if the Rangers lack the pitching component, an overlooked strength may be their defense, particularly at key positions like short, catcher and center field.
Randy Velarde, though older, gives them at least adequate defense at second. At the corners, the veteran duo of Caminiti and Palmeiro have been Gold Glove performers in the past.
All three outfielders -- Greer, Mateo and Kapler -- can run and throw. Behind the plate, Pudge Rodriguez, recovered from a broken thumb which cost him half of last season, is unmatched.
Moreover, as Oates points out, they have depth, enough to provide at least occasional rest for veterans like Galarraga, Caminiti and Palmeiro.
How good can the Rangers be? That depends on their health, and their bullpen -- questions that can only be answered over time.
But there's no waiting period necessary when it comes to evaluating their lineup, which looks to be as good -- if not better -- than any team in either league.
Belle, Rice are one in the same
If, as it seems, Albert Belle's career is indeed over, let the Hall of Fame debates begin. And let it begin without consideration of Belle's off-field misadventures and celebrated run-ins with the media.
A look at Belle's numbers show an almost uncanny resemblance to those of Jim Rice, who has yet to get the necessary votes after seven years on the ballot.
Belle played 12 full seasons, while Rice played 15, but the two are almost even in batting average (.295 for Belle, .298 for Rice) and homers (381 for Belle; 373 for Rice).
Belle had 1,239 RBI (an average of 103 per full season), while Rice had 1,451 over 16, an average of almost 91 per season.
Belle had a lifetime slugging percentage of .593, while Rice's was .502, brought down by his final three seasons in which he exhibited little power.
Belle should have been the AL MVP in 1995, but was edged out by Mo Vaughn; Rice was a one-time MVP in 1978.
Belle's best season (1998) included 399 total bases; Rice, in 1978, is the only American Leaguer to top 400 total bases in a single season since 1937.
Like Rice, Belle was remarkably durable, at least until last season when his hip condition limited him to 141 games. Prior to that, Belle averaged nearly 161 games for the the previous four seasons.
Like Rice, Belle played in just one World Series (the Sox made it to the Series in 1975, Rice's rookie season, but Rice was unavailable, thanks to a broken hand suffered in September). Neither player won a championship.
Like Rice, Belle was no friend to the media, but was seldom as surly or temperamental.
And like Rice, Belle will probably eventually get in, but not on his first few tries.
Same old Larry
One veteran in Phillies camp is telling friends that new manager Larry Bowa's spring training has been without structure and too physically demanding, with an emphasis on conditioning.
"I think he's trying to show them that he's in charge," said a scout with another NL team, "but he's pushing them too hard too soon."
Bowa assured the Phils and the media that he had mellowed when he was hired last winter. His first month on the job suggests otherwise.
Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal writes a major-league notebook each week during the baseball season for ESPN.com.
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