Okay Rangers fans, let's rub our hands together and get this thing going. It's about to get good.
Since that closed-door meeting in Cleveland, Texas has won six of seven to resurrect baseball season. Thanks to Derek Holland's Sunday gem - he allowed only four singles over eight innings - the Rangers took two of three in Oakland and have sliced their deficit in the AL West from 6 to 2.5 games in a wonderful week.
Ron Washington is now the winningest manager in franchise history (582), the bats are coming alive, tonight they face an Angels team they just swept in Arlington and ...
Whoooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Nellie!
It all comes to a screeching halt without their best power hitter. And today Nelson Cruz is accepting a suspension that will end his regular season.
Now that Major League Baseball has decided its punishment for players connected to the Biogenesis lab in Miami - a story that broke way back during the Super Bowl - all the hype will surround Yankees' slugger Alex Rodriguez.
But the most impactful player on the list wears a Rangers' uniform: Cruz.
(continued from page 1)
While A-Rod could be suspended through the 2014 season (214 games), the loss of Cruz will severely derail Texas' playoff hopes. He is, after all, the Rangers' biggest and best power hitter, leading them in homers (27) and RBI (76) after yesterday's bomb against the A's. How vital is Cruz to the Rangers? Other than Adrian Beltre, they don't have a bat with more than 16 homers or 46 RBI.
Cruz's suspension is 50 games. The Rangers, turns out, have 50 games remaining in the regular season.
The Rangers' slugger has decided to accept the suspension, then rejoin the team for the playoffs if they qualify. He could have appealed and perhaps played another 20 games before a final ruling could've landed him ineligible for the post-season.
Cruz is making the best of a bad situation: Accepting the consequences, then cross his fingers his teammates have enough pop to get into the playoffs.
Without his bat, the Rangers - struggling for runs as is - have minimal options since they didn't acquire a power hitter at the trade deadline. Engel Beltre is left-handed. Manny Ramirez hasn't shown any mash at AAA. Doubtful, but maybe Jurickson Profar goes back to the outfield?
Problem is, the Rangers' offense is homer-dependent. During their 6-1 resurgence they've hit 14 and in games they don't hit one they're only 9-26.
To amplify this quandary, Cruz is a free agent after this season.
Meaning - worst-case scenario - if Texas doesn't make the playoffs, he may have played his last game as a Ranger.
And the 2013 baseball season may just have ended. Just when it was getting good.
The Rangers will lose because they picked up a low-class player like Matt Garza. I am sure he will be real, real popular. Nice twitter feed Matt, real classy. I wonder how often he beats his significant other. Your player, Texas, enjoy his presence on the field. Bill2455
ReplyDeleteBill2455, why bring up Matt Garza on a story about Nelson Cruz? Way to show YOUR class, doofus.
ReplyDeleteI think the Rangers will be just fine without Cruz. Bringing up Joey Butler would be the plan, I think. .290 average, 10 HRS and 44 RBIs at Triple-A Round Rock will be a nice addition.
Not sure about his defense, but surely he won't be as streaky as Cruz is with over-the-shoulder catches close to the wall?
@expataussie The Labels of the story included Texas Rangers, along with Alex Rodriguez, Major League Baseball, Nelson Cruz, steroids. An honorable man would withdraw his doofus comment and just admit he forgot to read the posting. Bill2455 (Beside you should be rooting for the A's and Balfour)
DeleteI don't love Garza's character any more than I love the Rangers' chances without Nellie.
DeleteHe got caught! He will pay with a suspension. Do I want him on my team? I think so. What player is out there to replace him?
ReplyDelete