3B Eric Chavez
C Kurt Suzuki
RF Travis Buck
2B Mark Ellis
ROTATION
RHP Justin Duchscherer
LHP Dallas Braden
RHP Sean Gallagher
RHP Dana Eveland
RHP Trevor Cahill
BULLPEN
CL Brad Ziegler
RHP Joey Devine
RHP Michael Wuertz
TEXAS RANGERS (79-83, 2nd)
MANAGER: Ron Washington (3rd season)
PAYROLL: $60 million
X-FACTOR: Jarrod Saltalamacchia seemed destined for stardom out of the 2003 draft but has yet to live up to expectations.
BEST CASE: Team president Nolan Ryan's plan to stretch out the starting pitchers takes pressure off a suspect bullpen. Josh Hamilton puts two halves together and makes a serious run at the MVP. Some of the best young talent in the game begins to arrive and blossom.
WORST CASE: Andruw Jones really is done by the time he turns 33 in April. Lousy defense and hot summer air combine to doom the pitching staff yet again. Their save percentage doesn't improve much from last season's .563.
C Kurt Suzuki
RF Travis Buck
2B Mark Ellis
ROTATION
RHP Justin Duchscherer
LHP Dallas Braden
RHP Sean Gallagher
RHP Dana Eveland
RHP Trevor Cahill
BULLPEN
CL Brad Ziegler
RHP Joey Devine
RHP Michael Wuertz
TEXAS RANGERS (79-83, 2nd)
MANAGER: Ron Washington (3rd season)
PAYROLL: $60 million
X-FACTOR: Jarrod Saltalamacchia seemed destined for stardom out of the 2003 draft but has yet to live up to expectations.
BEST CASE: Team president Nolan Ryan's plan to stretch out the starting pitchers takes pressure off a suspect bullpen. Josh Hamilton puts two halves together and makes a serious run at the MVP. Some of the best young talent in the game begins to arrive and blossom.
WORST CASE: Andruw Jones really is done by the time he turns 33 in April. Lousy defense and hot summer air combine to doom the pitching staff yet again. Their save percentage doesn't improve much from last season's .563.
