Texas Rangers: How does this year’s offense compare to last year’s?

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ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 11: Joey Gallo /

The Texas Rangers have many challenges ahead of them. Though, they should at least have a well-equipped offense in 2018. Will it be an improved offense from last season?

Opening day is only two days away. All of the rumors, projections, opinions, and gut feelings will be tested by reality soon enough. However, since we have a couple of days, why not share one last preseason perspective before MLB takes off from the runway. Specifically, let’s compare this year’s projected Texas Rangers lineup to that of 2017’s.

2017 Opening Day Lineup

Adrian Beltre was absent on opening day due to injury. For accuracy and common sense, he’ll be considered in the comparison between 2017 and 2018. Other than Beltre, all notable lineup pieces were present for the first game of the 2017 season.

2018 Projected Lineup

Delino DeShields
Joey Gallo
Elvis Andrus
Adrian Beltre
Nomar Mazara
Shin-Soo Choo
Rougned Odor
Jurickson Profar (platoon)
Robinson Chirinos

Subtractions: Gomez, Napoli, Lucroy

Texas Rangers failed experiment.

The Jonathan Lucroy experiment failed. After trading away two of their prized prospects for Lucroy in 2016, the Texas Rangers wound up selling the veteran catcher to the Colorado Rockies for the cherished “player to be named later” one season later. Talk about a regrettable series of events.

To sum up the Gomez and Napoli stints, all you have to do is locate the strikeout category. The two combined for 290 strikeouts in 793 at-bats. Executing the basic math, that equates to a strikeout in every three at-bats. Gomez was stellar in the outfield, and he did provide the occasional spark at the plate. Though, an inconsistent leadoff hitter far from suited a lineup with already too many inconsistent hitters.

Napoli, on the other hand, was terrible all throughout. His clubhouse camaraderie and leadership certainly helped with morale; however, the Texas Rangers were expecting much more from Napoli, at least from an offensive standpoint. He’s had an excellent career at the plate, but it appeared 2017 was rock bottom for the then 35-year-old.

Replacements: Delino DeShields and Robinson Chirinos

ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 03: Delino DeShields /

Replacements for the Texas Rangers

These names may not be as well-known around baseball, but they’re household names for Rangers fans. DeShields is a prototypical leadoff hitter. He gets on base, he hits the ball on a line or on the ground, and he steals bases. He is the leadoff hitter that the Texas Rangers need.

They don’t need someone who swings for the fences like Carlos Gomez. They do need someone who can set the table for the big guns in the middle of the lineup. The Rangers have placed their faith in DeShields from the start. As a result, the team should start the season with a confident leadoff man.

Robinson Chirinos deserves more credit than he gets. Despite spending the majority of his career as a backup catcher, Chirinos has played with the confidence of a starting catcher every time he’s taken the field. He’s a selfless teammate that just so happens to fit perfectly into the Texas Rangers’ lineup.

Chirinos set career highs in practically every offensive statistic last season. He hit 17 home runs 88 games. He also slugged .506 and notched an OBP of .360. Chirinos provides excellent pop at the bottom of the lineup and possesses an outstanding understanding of his role. Like DeShields, Robinson Chirinos should benefit significantly from the number of starts he will earn in 2018.

CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 26, 2017: Shortstop Elvis Andrus /

Which lineup is better?

The projected 2018 lineup has a ton of promise. You could have said the same thing at this time last year about the projected 2017 lineup; however, there are three differences between this year’s offense and last year’s that will make this year’s substantially better.

First of all, this years lineup projects balance. It is a well-structured batting order that includes high on-base players such as DeShields, Choo, and Andrus, power threats in Beltre, Gallo, Odor, and Mazara, decent speed throughout (except Beltre), and most importantly, players that understand their roles.

Secondly, the Texas Rangers did not bring in any offensive free agents, at least none that will make the major league roster at the start. Every position player on their roster will have played a big league game in a Rangers uniform before. It doesn’t seem like much but think of all the changes many other teams go through and the time it takes for their offenses to click.

More from Call to the Pen

Some click in a few months, others take an entire year. But you rarely see new-faced offenses click right away. Ultimately, the Rangers are a close-knit group that should be a successful offensive group from game 1 to game 162.

Lastly, we get to see what young stars Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara, and Rougned Odor will do with another year of experience. Odor seems like an established veteran by now, but he just turned 24 years of age. The Texas Rangers are hoping a defined offseason workload will result in a more disciplined, consistent Rougned Odor.

As for Gallo and Mazara…the sky is the limit. Gallo appears every bit capable of becoming one of the MLB’s top power hitters for the next 10 years. Mazara has “face of the franchise” written all over him.

Next: Boston Red Sox Bench Crunch

There are glaring weaknesses to the Texas Rangers squad that will very likely keep them out of the playoffs this year. Unfortunately, they play in a very unforgiving division that will make for an uphill climb starting from game one against the World Series champs. But there is one thing Rangers fans can always rely on…the Texas Rangers should have a very entertaining offense in the upcoming regular season.

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