What a difference a year makes! Last October was possibly the best month in Arlington sports history. It was like a surprise party, a holiday, a vacation, and the birth of a child all rolled into one. Every happy emotion that human beings can feel was shared by all Rangers fans and everyone in Arlington. After all, the Rangers have called this city home for more than fifty years and they did it, they won the World Series!
The collection of experienced veterans and young players that made up the team had most thinking that this was the first of many World Series titles to come. Then came this year and reality hit, baseball is hard. Repeating has become almost impossible, especially in Major League Baseball. The last repeat champions were the New York Yankees who won in 1998, 99 and 2000. That said, the Rangers do not believe they are done winning World Series Titles. They have no intention of being one and done.
Last month Chris Young was promoted from General Manager to President of Baseball Operations. At the time his contract was about one month from expiring. It was surprising that the owners let it go that long. Often a GM is rewarded with a new contract immediately after leading a team to the top. Young, who grew up in the area, wanted a new contract and wanted to stay here for the long term. Finally, they worked it and in typical CY fashion, he said exactly the right thing.
”I said it when I took the job originally,” Young said. “Nothing would be more fulfilling for me than coming back here and helping this franchise win a World Series. I feel the same way about the next World Series, and that is the goal.”
Remember it was Young who talked Bruce Bochy out of retirement thus bringing a future Hall of Fame manager to town. If ownership had not come to terms with Young, Bochy may have been inclined to go back to the rocking chair and the grandkids. As it is, Bochy will be here for at least one more year.
If we let history be our guide, the Rangers have a good chance of winning the World Series again next year. Bochy’s San Francisco Giants won titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014. In 2011, 2013, and 2015 the Giants did not make the playoffs. Obviously, there is no guarantee that history will repeat itself, but I’m saying there’s a chance.
It is a chance enhanced by the fact that the organization is in the midst of a pitching renaissance. With Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter both pitching at the major league level, the Rangers are on the verge of developing two pitchers who were selected in back-to-back drafts. This type of drafting/developmental success has never happened in the history of the franchise. Still Young cautions that neither one is a finished product yet.
”I’m very happy with the progress we have made,” Young said, “but really until we have major league results for a sustained period of time, by no means are we done. We need to keep improving.”
So this October won’t be as fun as last October was. On the bright side, the weather will be great and the holiday season is nigh upon us. Also with Chris Young and Bruce Bochy hanging around for a while, you can rest assured that the Texas Rangers are doing everything in their power to bring that joy back to Rangers fans. To bring that World Series trophy back to Arlington.
Sports columnist John Rhadigan is an anchor for the Bally Sports Southwest television network.
