Every team can be optimistic about its chances on the first day of spring training.
Optimistic teams are usually bad ones. You want a winner? Look for the teams that go about the first day of work in a business-like manner, who don’t need to pepper you with contrived reasons why they can contend, who appear single-minded in conversation and approach.
When the Rangers’ first workout was completed Tuesday, you certainly got the feeling this was a team in the latter category. And that is a definite change.
The annual team meeting wasn’t full of rah-rah revelry. There wasn’t a bunch of clowning around on the field. The first day of spring was simply another day at the office. With more than 200 such days from the start of camp until the end of the regular season, the teams that get into the routine quickly and can repeat it most often are the ones that usually get to have more days at the office. They are called playoffs.
The dawning of the 2006 season started matter-of-factly with team owner Tom Hicks announcing that he expects this team to win the AL West.
Nobody raised an eye. The front office, the field management and the players are all on the same page.
It’s not about development or growth right now. This team is beyond that. The Rangers believe they are capable of winning and that they’ve been handed enough tools to do the job.
It’s always a good feeling to share in February. It’s one thing to share that feeling. It’s something else to believe it.
The difference between this Rangers team and those of the recent past is this one seems to truly believe it.
Evan Grant
Optimistic teams are usually bad ones. You want a winner? Look for the teams that go about the first day of work in a business-like manner, who don’t need to pepper you with contrived reasons why they can contend, who appear single-minded in conversation and approach.
When the Rangers’ first workout was completed Tuesday, you certainly got the feeling this was a team in the latter category. And that is a definite change.
The annual team meeting wasn’t full of rah-rah revelry. There wasn’t a bunch of clowning around on the field. The first day of spring was simply another day at the office. With more than 200 such days from the start of camp until the end of the regular season, the teams that get into the routine quickly and can repeat it most often are the ones that usually get to have more days at the office. They are called playoffs.
The dawning of the 2006 season started matter-of-factly with team owner Tom Hicks announcing that he expects this team to win the AL West.
Nobody raised an eye. The front office, the field management and the players are all on the same page.
It’s not about development or growth right now. This team is beyond that. The Rangers believe they are capable of winning and that they’ve been handed enough tools to do the job.
It’s always a good feeling to share in February. It’s one thing to share that feeling. It’s something else to believe it.
The difference between this Rangers team and those of the recent past is this one seems to truly believe it.
Evan Grant
2 Random Thoughts:
well, i hope the optimism is justified. but i don't see our Rangers as much different from last year. we'll score our share of runs. and field the ball adequately. but where oh where will the better pitching come from?
I don't know... Millwood, Eaton, Low, and Padilla make a strong case for a front four... if the bullpen comes back to 2004 form, then playoffs are without a doubt in the books... and really, every teams #5 is pretty much a crapshoot to begin with... some chump filling a spot to give the other four a rest. Sometimes they find a diamond in the rough there (No reference to Thomas Diamond), but for the most part, the #5 guy isn't nearly as important as the other four. In most cases, teams simply hope for a strong 3, and let the other two be filler roles... and if that is the case, the Rangers should be set... even better than most teams.
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