The Texas Rangers once again had a season to remember in 2011 as they made it to their second World Series appearance in two years and came within a strike of winning it all. It was a special season, but definitely left many fans with a bad taste in their mouth. The bad taste is understandable, but at the same time there was plenty to enjoy from 2011. Now we sit on the first day of 2012 and for the Rangers it is officially “next year.” The moment game 7 ended the focus was on 2012 for the Rangers, but now it is officially here.

The year of 2011 gave fans plenty of good times. There was the season opening six game winning streak to open the season, the 12 game streak in the month of July and month of September when they went 19-7 to close out the Angels and cruise into the postseason. There was the breath of fresh air that Adrian Beltre brought to the hot corner, the brilliance of Ian Kinsler, the dependability of Michael Young and the rise of Mike Napoli. Then the postseason brought the three homerun game for Beltre, the walkoff grand slam for Nelson Cruz and the maturing of Derek Holland.

The year of 2011 was truly a magical season and the only downside was it finished with many people spending the holiday season still talking about Nelson Cruz not coming up with that ball off of the bat of David Freese and Neftali Feliz being so rattled that he couldn’t come back out for the tenth inning. The clutch homerun from Josh Hamilton and brilliant defensive work of Elvis Andrus were long forgotten and many fans spent the months of November and December in a state of sports depression. It is sad, but the words “game 6″ still cause many to feel like they are still stuck in a nightmare.

The good news is that those days can finally be forgotten as 2012 is officially here and we are a month and a half away from spring training. The offseason is not over, but we know that the Rangers should have a “true ace” on the staff and we know that they will now have a veteran closer. We are just a few weeks away from seeing if Neftali Feliz can be as brilliant as a starter as he was during the spring training of 2011 and if Derek Holland and Matt Harrison can once again raise their game to another level. We can look forward to seeing what Napoli has for an encore and what Cruz and Hamilton can do at the plate if they can stay healthy.

This should also be the year of new rivalries. While there has been a rivalry brewing the Angels over previous years, it should finally be there in full force for 2012 with the Angels pulling C.J. Wilson away and also adding Albert Pujols. Napoli sure did his part to get things started last season, but this year it should be even more intense. This will also be the first year for Robin Ventura to be the manager of the White Sox and how that will make the ballpark a little more exciting does not take any explaining for Rangers’ fans. Let’s just say that opening weekend should be a lot of fun.

For baseball fans the months of November and December can be the hardest to get through during a regular year, much less trying to get through them after the way 2011 ended for the Rangers. However, January always brings a bit of fresh air. Spring training seems close enough to touch and the roster comes fully into shape. The New Year is here and once again it should be a special one for Rangers’ fans.

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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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.

Michael Young
Wikimedia Commons

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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With the Texas Rangers looking to sign Japanese import Yu Darvish, everyone is imagining this young, yet unknown, hurler as the new ace in the Rangers’ rotation, replacing C.J. Wilson. I’m not as excited about that prospect.

I mean, sure I’d like to see the Rangers get someone like Darvish if he is as good as advertised. He could be an invaluable addition to the Rangers’ rotation. However, I want to take you back to 2010 and the World Series Rangers’ squad. Cliff Lee was the ace of the lineup and Texas lost him to Philadelphia.

Texas didn’t run out and sign a big name starter to replace him. Texas plugged former closer C.J. Wilson into the ace role. See, Wilson moved up and started the entire 2010 season and was the ace until Lee arrived. Wilson proved himself in 2010 and earned his 2011 ace role through his hard work within the organization.

That is where I am getting at here. He earned it by his work as a Texas Rangers’ pitcher.

Now, Wilson is gone and Texas needs a new ace. Darvish could be that man, but I’d prefer to see someone that I feel has worked hard within the Rangers’ organization and deserves the chance to be the new ace of the lineup.

I’m talking about Derek Holland.

In 2011, Holland finished the year with a 16-5 record and 3.95 ERA. Now, I know that ERA is not at Wilson levels but I think this kid has what it takes to be the Rangers’ ace not only this year, but for years to come. He is currently working on a new five-year contract extension with the Rangers, so it proves they are interested in him as well.

I want to take you back to Game 4 of the 2011 World Series. The Rangers were down two games to one and no starting pitcher was playing well for most of the postseason. That is when Holland took the mound and did the unthinkable. Holland pitched 8.1 innings of two-hit shutout ball. Lance Berkman got the only two hits of the game and no one made it home against him. It was the best pitching performance of the World Series.

And, I think it earned Holland a shot at becoming the Texas Rangers’ ace for 2012.

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

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

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Texas Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba was suspended Monday from Venezuela’s professional baseball league for 66 games for striking an umpire.

Torrealba issued an apology, saying he was embarrassed about his argument with a home plate umpire after striking out Friday. He angrily put a hand on the umpire’s mask and shoved him. He was then ejected.

“I wanted to express my sincere apologies to all parties for my actions,” Torrealba said in his statement. “I have extended an apology to the Rangers organization as well. I am embarrassed for my conduct, and personally relayed that feeling to the umpire after that night’s game.

“On the field, I strive to be an example for children, especially those in my native Venezuela, and I regret my actions,” he said. “I understand the reactions to the incident and will make every effort to set a positive example in the future.”

League President Jose Grasso Vecchio called Torrealba’s behavior unacceptable and a violation of league rules.

Torrealba plays for the Caracas Lions when not playing in the majors.

His agent, Melvin Roman, said Torrealba acknowledged he got carried away in the heat of the moment.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.