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Texas Rangers: The franchise all-time bracket

By Bill Felber

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 24: A Texas Rangers batting helmet in the dugout before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 24, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Rangers defeated the Yankees 8-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 24: A Texas Rangers batting helmet in the dugout before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 24, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Rangers defeated the Yankees 8-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Texas Rangers: The All-Time Bracket

No. 1 vs. 8 seed

The 2011 Rangers should have been world champs. They certainly had the offense, which focused around third baseman Adrian Beltre and outfielder Josh Hamilton. Beltre batted .296 with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs, and Hamilton hit .298 with 25 homers and 94 RBIs.

Veteran DH Michael Young contributed a .338 batting average with 106 RBIs on just 11 home runs. Second baseman Ian Kinsler and outfielder Nelson Cruz hit 32 and 29  home runs respectively.

The pitching staff lacked an intimidating name presence. But C.J. Wilson and Derek Holland both stepped up to pitch like leaders. Wilson was 16-7 with a  2.94 ERA, Holland 16-5, 3.95. Neftali Feliz saved 32 games.

The 2015 Rangers beat  Houston by two games to win the AL West but lost a five-game division series to Toronto. Beltre remained the team force, batting .287 with 18 home runs. Hamilton had a so-so season, but first baseman Mitch Moreland and DH Prince Fielder both picked up the slack. Each hit 23 home runs, Moreland driving in 85 runs and Fielder 98. Fielder also batted .305.

Colby Lewis won 17 of his 26 decisions in 33 starts. Cole Hamels, who came over from Philadelphia in a mid-season trade, won seven times in 12 late-season starts against just one defeat.

light. Related Story. Washington Nationals: The franchise all-time bracket

Game 1: The 2011 team had a 96-66 regular-season record, a .593 percentage. The 2015  Rangers played 88-74 .543 ball, eight games off the 2011 club’s pace.

Game 2: The 2011 Rangers had a .588 post-season record, beating Tampa Bay in four games and Detroit in six before losing in seven to the Cardinals. The 2015 team played .400 post-season ball.

Game 3: The 2011 Rangers had a 110 OPS+, 12 points superior to 2015’s  98.

Game 4: The 2015 Rangers recorded a league-average 100 ERA+. But the 2011 Rangers were well above average as their 117 ERA+ illustrates.

Result: 2011 in four games

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