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The Texas Rangers are famous for their ability to choke in key moments when they seemingly have the game won, or their division clinched.
From the 2011 World Series to the 2013 AL West showdown with Oakland to Elvis Andrus making three errors in one inning against Toronto last season, Texas fans have been through a lot.
But a re-jigging of their roster and coaching staff and a seemingly new enthusiasm to a Pennant race makes the demons of the past look like exactly that – in the past.
The addition of the young, enthusiastic talents of Rougned Odor and Nomar Mazara, as well as the likes of Cole Hamels, Carlos Beltran, Jonathon Lucroy and Sam Dyson and Ian Desmond over the last two seasons has given the Rangers roster plenty of playoff experience.
Hamels and Beltran are famous for their postseason heroics, while Ian Desmond has served Washington in the playoffs. Rougned Odor showed what he is capable in postseason play last season against Toronto, flashing brilliance with the glove and the bat.
The core of Beltran, Beltre, Desmond, Odor and Lucroy in the middle of the batting order is a ferocious one. They will wear down opposing pitchers, forcing the bullpen into the game earlier than expected.
On the pitching mound, the likely four-man playoff rotation is more than solid. They have all shown the ability to pitch deep into ball games when they do not have their best stuff, and Holland and Perez each brings postseason experience.
Currently sitting 7.5 games up in the AL West, and owning the best record in the American League, Texas will look to continue their momentum in the last month of the season, and solidify home field advantage. With Jonathon Lucroy behind the plate, and loads of playoff experience in the dugout, expect Texas to put their shaky playoff history behind them, and compete for that illusive World Series.
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