First 35 Games, my thoughts.

Going into this season I know I had high expectations for this team and other fans, team staff, and people around baseball. However they haven’t played as well as expected. There is plenty of time to turn it around because it is only May.

Certainly the offense has definitely lived up to the expectations, with multiple key players struggling to start the year the Rangers were bottom 5 in the league in most offensive categories. The Rangers acquired Jake Burger and Joc Pederson this offseason to help the offense as well as having other players bounce back after a down season like Marcus Semien who finished 3rd in MVP voting in 2023. Unfortunately, the offense looked similar to its 2024 self. From my observation of the games so far I think the Rangers haven’t had a great approach coming up to the plate, and not being well prepared at the plate. After the 35th game of the season against the Seattle Mariners Offensive Coordinator Donnie Ecker was fired by the Rangers. Let me get this out here I don’t think Donnie Ecker is a bad hitting coach by any means he lead this team to a championship. However, I do think that Ecker might have over complicating things and giving the hitters too much to think about, which definitely isn’t a good combination with how good pitching is nowadays. I think if they simplify things they will hit much better than they have.

The day after the Rangers announced that they dismissed Donnie Ecker they announce the hiring of Bret Boone. Boone a successful 14 year big league career where he was on three all star teams and a two-time silver slugger winner. Boone also comes from a baseball rich family, his brother Aaron Boone also played in the big leagues and is currently the manager for the Yankees. I think this hiring will help the offense because sometimes hearing another voice helps a lot, and Bret will have some other ideas and thoughts that Ecker maybe didn’t have.

Now let’s talk about the surprising part of this team the pitching staff. The starting rotation has been awesome and frankly has kept the Rangers in contention this season. Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Tyler Mahle have been some of the best starters in the game this season. Jack Leiter has also put out some amazing outings, and late signing Patrick Corbin has been good too. The bullpen has been good as well. Hoby Milner, Chris Martin, Robert Garcia, and Shawn Armstrong have been great so far all having ERA’s under 3.50, and the first three having ERA’s under 3. Luke Jackson has been decent, but two blow up outings have inflated his ERA. Jackson is tied for 10th in saves in the MLB. Mike Maddux has definitely worked his magic with this pitching staff.

There are still over 120 games to go left in the season so there is definitely time for them to catch up, but the offense will have to get going if they want to be competitive. I will also say the Rangers have had one of the toughest schedules in the MLB, and the Rangers are 17-18. I have faith that they will get rolling, this team is way too talented to keep playing like this.