Rangers in Remission?

   Right off the bat let me say I am NOT a fan of the Texas Rangers. In the late 1960's I lived in Washington DC and would only attend Washington Senators baseball games to see the opposition teams. During that time I would always see one fan who was a regular in the center field bleachers. At each game he would drape a full size sheet over the wall that read: "Washington, First in Peace, First in War, Last in the American League."
  In 1970 I returned to my home state of Texas and just two years later the Senators followed me and became the Texas Rangers. All through the 1970's, 80's, and 90's they continued to be the doormat of the junior circuit of Major League Baseball. Each owner taking over the team thought he would be the one to put the team into the winner's circle. From Bob Short to Brad Corbett to Eddie Chiles to Norm Green to the current owners, millionaires have gone broke trying to make winners of the Rangers. In the early 2000's the team did seem to make some progress as they contended for the division championship, and in 2010 and 2011 made it to the World Series for the first time, only to settle for second best.

  Now the nucleus of the team seems to be departing for greener pastures. During the recent winter meetings of the Major League Owners, Rangers management was so intent on trying to sign ace pitcher Zach Greinke they neglected to mind their own staff. Not only did they lose out on acquiring Greinke, but Ranger pitcher Ryan Dempster signed with the Boston Red Sox, catcher Mike Napoli also signed on with the Bosox, and fan favorite Michael Young was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies after twelve long years with the Rangers. The management of the Rangers seemed to be asleep at the wheel as former MVP Josh Hamilton inked a deal with the California Angels, giving him 125 million dollars over the next five years. Ranger's management response? "We were waiting to talk to Josh." Evidently they have never heard the phrase, 'You snooze, You loose.'  Hamilton, who drove in 125 runs last year, will now join Angel sluggers Albert Pujols and Mike Trout in the same division with the Rangers. Throw in the fact that former Ranger pitcher C.J. Wilson now calls Anaheim home and suddenly the rivalry has gotten a lot hotter between the two teams. Before Texas can even think about competing for the Western Division title, they need to find some quality players to start the season. Right now it would appear to us outsiders that the rats are deserting a sinking ship.