Many fans remember that the Texas Rangers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series despite being only one strike away from winning. After losing the World Series in 2010, I took it well because it was the Rangers first time to play in the Fall Classic. However, after losing the St. Louis, there was a feeling of disappointment. This was a series they could have, and should have, won. And they lost.

However, it would be wrong to forget about what the Rangers accomplished in 2011.

Mike Napoli

When the season started, everyone wanted to see where Carl Crawford would end up. Crawford was the number one man on everyone’s free agent list and even Texas wanted them. Crawford finished with a .254 average, the lowest of his career. Over the last six seasons, Crawford eclipsed .300 in five of them but fell apart in Boston. In the last five years, Mike Napoli never broke .300. In his first year in Texas, traded from Toronto after leaving the Angels, Napoli finished 2011 with a .319 average for the year. He also hit 30 home runs and 75 RBIs, also career highs.

Pitcher’s Rotation

The Texas Rangers lost their ace pitcher Cliff Lee at the end of 2010 and I wondered what they were going to do to fix that in 2011. Texas didn’t need to do much since Lee was nothing more than a late season addition when they were hunting for the pennant. They came into 2011 with the same ace they started with in 2010, C.J. Wilson. With Colby Lewis, Matt Hamilton, Derek Holland and Alexi Ogando, the Rangers starting rotation finished the season with a 74-40 record and a 3.65 ERA. All the starters won at least 13 games each, with Wilson and Holland leading the way with 16 each.

Michael Young

The most impressive stories in Texas in 2011 involved Michael Young. When the season started, Young asked for a trade because the Rangers signed Adrian Beltre to replace him at third and then brought in Napoli to share the DH position with Young. The Rangers refused to trade him and he responded by hitting a career-high .338. He also knocked in 11 home runs and 106 RBIs. Young ignored the controversy and just played hard, proving to be the heart and soul of the Rangers.

Author Shawn S. Lealos has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2000) and has been a Texas Rangers fan his entire life, watching the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate play for over 30 years. While Texas has moved their Triple-A team, Shawn still remains a loyal Rangers fan and awaits the year they finally win the big one.

Source: texasrangers.com

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Now that the Texas Rangers have the right to negotiate with Japanese phenom Yu Darvish, the only thing left to do is wait and see if they actually sign the player. Darvish would surely move to the front of the rotation if he comes to Texas and the Rangers would have an ace to replace departed C.J. Wilson.

But what does this mean to the long-term prospects of the Texas Rangers organization.

It took the Rangers many years to climb out of the financial hole that signing Alex Rodriguez put them in, so it is obvious why Texas is not courting super free agents like Albert Pujols. The Rangers hope they can sign Darvish to a reasonable contract, preferably for five years or less. The pitcher is 25 and comes to America with a 1.44 ERA and 276 strikeouts in his last season in Japan. He won’t be cheap.

What happens if Texas signs him and he turns into another Daisuke Matsuzaka? Matsuzaka was decent for two seasons but then the overwork in games took its toll on the player and he has not been the same since, recently undergoing Tommy John surgery. Texas would have to limit innings for Darvish to ease him into the American style of play. Luckily, they have Alexi Ogando and Scott Feldman in the bullpen to offer long inning relief if needed.

Of course, there is the chance Ogando resists the move to the bullpen. This would mean that Texas might need to trade someone, either Ogando or one of the other starters like Colby Lewis. It makes more sense to trade Lewis because of his age but his postseason work has been consistently the best on the staff.

Next up, Darvish’s contract will push the Rangers’ payroll and with Mike Napoli, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and David Murphy all coming up for arbitration, things could get shaky. If the contract with Darvish is too high, Texas might lose some of their hitting talent.

There are good and bad signs that shine about this deal. As a Rangers’ fan, I just have to cross my fingers and hope it all works out in the end.

Author Shawn S. Lealos has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2000) and has been a Texas Rangers fan his entire life, watching the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate play for over 30 years. While Texas has moved their Triple-A team, Shawn still remains a loyal Rangers fan and awaits the year they finally win the big one.

Source: MLB.COM

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Texas Rangers announced their seasonal awards and named Michael Young(notes) the 2011 Player of the Year and C.J. Wilson(notes) the Pitcher of the Year. Both are deserving choices but also remain interesting because of behind-the-scenes drama.

Starting with C.J. Wilson, no one deserved the award more than him in 2011. The entire pitching rotation was great this year, finishing with one of the lowest ERA totals in decades. However, Wilson tied for the lead in wins (16, shared with Derek Holland(notes)), had the lowest ERA of the starters (2.94) and the most strikeouts (206).

Of course, this brings up the sore subject with Rangers’ fans that Wilson is on his way out of the organization. Wilson is a homegrown talent, brought up through the minors before earning the job as the Texas closer. He then moved into the starting rotation before finally earning his role as the Rangers’ ace pitcher. Now, he is on his way out to a big free agent money deal.

It makes me wonder if this is the same future we will see for Neftali Feliz(notes).

Michael Young was an even bigger deal. When the season started, Texas did everything in their power to make Young feel like he was no longer wanted. They brought in Adrian Beltre(notes), moving Young to the DH position, the umpteenth time they changed his position over his career. Then they signed Mike Napoli(notes) to share the DH role with Young, making it look like Young no longer had a place on the team.

Michael Young asked to be traded, Texas refused when they found no suitable teams to work with, and it looked like the relationship was strained beyond repair.

However, Michael Young responded with a career-high .338 batting average, with 213 hits, 11 homers and 106 RBIs. He made his seventh trip to the All-Star game as well. The Rangers responded by giving him the Player of the Year honor for the fifth time, tying Juan Gonzalez’s team record.

While I love what Mike Napoli did for the team this year and believe Derek Holland is the new face of this pitching staff, both of these players deserve these honors.

The awards will be handed out at the Dr. Pepper Awards Show in the Arlington Convention Center on January 12, 2012.

Author Shawn S. Lealos has been a Texas Rangers fan his entire life, watching the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate play for over 30 years. While Texas has moved their Triple-A team, Shawn still remains a loyal Rangers fan and dreams of the year they finally win the big one.

Source: MLB.COM

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The American League MVP was won by Josh Hamilton(notes) of the Texas Rangers in 2010. Hamilton hit .359 while adding 32 homeruns and 100 RBI’s to help carry the Rangers to their first pennant in team history. Hamilton had a solid season in 2011, but nothing like 2010. However, in 2011 the Rangers had many players have phenomenal seasons. Most likely the Rangers will not have anyone in the top five when the MVP is announced today. However, these are the players who were the MVP’s of the Rangers in 2011.

Michael Young(notes)

Michael Young will most likely be the Rangers’ player with the most votes today and much of that is due to the hype that Ron Washington started when he referred to him as “MVP.” Young had a great season, hitting .338 with 11 homeruns and 106 RBI’s. He was phenomenal at the plate, hitting at different spots in the lineup and carrying the offense for periods when Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz(notes), Adrian Beltre(notes) and Mike Napoli(notes) were on the disabled list. However, it is hard to win an MVP as a one dimensional player these days and at this point in his career that is what Young is. Yes, it was great that he was able to fill in for Beltre at third base when Beltre was on the disabled list and he also played at first and second, but he was still mainly a DH. When Young was on the field, his defense struggled and while the MVP talk may get him into the top 10 in voting this year, it probably stole votes from guys like Ian Kinsler(notes) who should have been considered much more.

Ian Kinsler

Ian Kinsler is one of those players that you really cannot appreciate without watching him play on a regular basis. His defense is top notch and the only reason he did not win a Gold Glove in 2011 was that Dustin Pedroia(notes) was phenomenal as well. Kinsler, however was not just a force defensively, but added 32 homeruns from the leadoff position and 30 stolen bases while compiling a .355 OBP. He walked at a rate of 1.25 to every strikeout and was excellent from the leadoff position. Yes, someone who hits .255 is not going to win an MVP award, but Kinsler was a complete player in 2011 and contributed as much as anyone to the success of the Rangers.

Adrian Beltre

Adrian Beltre was well on his way to being in consideration for the MVP when he went down with his hamstring injury and ultimately lost six weeks of the season. Beltre won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger at third base in 2011 and hit .296 with 32 homeruns and 105 RBI’s. His homerun and RBI totals would have been significantly higher if he had not lost six weeks of the season and his play at third base was the best in the league. Just like Kinsler, Beltre was unbelievable at the plate and in the field.

Mike Napoli

If a pitcher like Justin Verlander(notes) can be considered for MVP, then a catcher who only played 113 games should be able to be considered as well. Napoli was huge for the Rangers in 2011 and while he did not play in as many games as guys like Young or Kinsler, what he did in the games he was involved in more than made up for it. Napoli hit .320 with 30 homeruns and had a ridiculous 1.046 OPS. After the all-star break Napoli hit .383 with 18 homeruns and 42 RBI’s. However, in my opinion what was most important about Napoli was what he did behind the plate in 2011. In 2011, Napoli had a 42-15 record when catching, which translates to a .737 winning percentage. He was essential to the success of the Rangers’ young pitchers. If you consider that Verlander was involved in 34 games this season and Napoli was involved in 113, then Napoli should be in consideration as well. Unfortunately, that will not be the case.

John Bowman is a lifelong baseball and Texas Rangers fan that loves to ponder the deeper aspects of the game. Some of his first baseball memories involve Arlington Stadium nachos, Charlie Hough’s knuckeball, dirt on Pete Incaviglia’s uniform and the voices of Mark Holtz and Eric Nadel as he fell asleep. Follow him on Twitter @TexasWinColumn.

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ARLINGTON (November 1, 2011) –Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre has been selected the winner of the 2011 Rawlings Gold Glove Award at his position, as announced late this evening by the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company. It is his third career Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

The Rawlings Gold Gloves are presented for defensive excellence in voting conducted by American League managers and coaches. Staff members may not vote for players on their own teams.

Beltre is the first Ranger to earn a Gold Glove since Michael Young won his lone career honor as a shortstop in 2008. Beltre becomes just the second Texas player ever to win a Gold Glove Award at third base, joining Rangers Hall of Famer Buddy Bell, who took the honors in six consecutive seasons from 1979-84. He is just the 11th different player to win a Gold Glove Award with Texas, joining Bell and current first base coach Gary Pettis as the only players to take the honors in their first season with the Rangers.

Beltre has now won the American League Gold Glove at third base in three of the last five years (also 2007 and 2008 with Seattle), and ends the two-year reign of Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria at the position. Beltre is the 16th third baseman (both leagues) to win the award at least three times in a career, one of seven players to do it in the American League.

Beltre ranked second among A.L. qualifiers with a .965 (11 E/208 TC) fielding percentage, the fourth-best figure of his career, as he posted the second-lowest error total in his career (10 errors in 2004). He ranked third in the league with 2.86 total chances per 9 innings and did not commit an error in his final 41 regular season games.

Texas has now had a Gold Glove winner in two of the last five seasons (2007-11), this after a Rangers player was on the Gold Glove Team for 16 consecutive years from 1992-2006. Ian Kinsler was a finalist in this year’s Gold Glove balloting, but the Rangers have still never had a second baseman win the award.

RANGERS TO WIN GOLD GLOVE AWARD (11)

No. Player/Position Year(s)

10 Ivan Rodriguez, C 1992-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-2000-01

6 Jim Sundberg, C 1976-77-78-79-80-81

6 Buddy Bell, 3B 1979-80-81-82-83-84

4 Kenny Rogers, P 2000-02-04-05

2 Alex Rodriguez, SS 2002-03

2 Mark Teixeira, 1B 2005-06

1 Juan Beniquez, OF 1977

1 Gary Pettis, OF 1990

1 Rafael Palmeiro, 1B 1999

1 Michael Young, SS 2008

1 Adrian Beltre, 3B 2011