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The Houston Astros Will Be Better Than the Texas Rangers in 2015
By Jason Burke
A few days ago on Twitter, I posted an article about Josh Fields. Innocent, right? That’s when our friends at Nolan Writin’ (the Rangers site) chimed in with their two cents.
@astrosCTH @baseballmiamor But how does he feel about the Rangers winning the Lone Star Series? @lmweatherall says the Boot is OURS!
— Nolan Writin' (@NolanWritinFS) February 4, 2015
@NolanWritinFS @astrosCTH @lmweatherall Them sounds like fighting' words. We may have to take this to the internet! Er..our sites
— Jason Burke (@ByJasonB) February 4, 2015
Former editor of Nolan Writin’, David Cash even proclaimed that the Rangers would sweep the season series, to which there was a mic drop from the other baseball site in Texas. While I could just point to the standings from last year, that would be too easy. The Astros have been busy adding pieces and taking chances this offseason, adding the likes of Evan Gattis, Colby Rasmus, Jed Lowrie, Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek, Dan Straily and Luis Valbuena. That’s quite a list, composed of largely veteran players.
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While the Astros have been making moves to acquire all of these players, the biggest name that Texas has added to their 67-win team from a year ago was our backup catcher Carlos Corporan (sorry, Corp!). What a splashy move. CANNONBALL!
Sure they traded for Yovani Gallardo too, but moving from the NL to the AL will inflate his ERA as will playing in the thousand degree heat of the Rangers Ballp–Globe Life Park.
The Rangers are weighed down by some heavy contracts on players with diminishing returns. I’m looking at you Prince Fielder. Shin-Soo Choo, you’re a close second. Of course, we’ll hear the sob story of how their entire team was plagued with injuries for their lacking performance from a year ago, but I’m guessing this year won’t be the return to glory the folks in Arlington are expecting either.
The Rangers have been banking on the promise of their farm system for years, but I promise you that the Houston Astros will have a better 2015 season than the Texas Rangers.