From Cocaine to Champagne

The Rangers may have had the most tumultuous and chaotic run on their way to winning the American League West. The season started when it was revealed Manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine last year and offered his resignation that Ranger management did not accept. Soon afterward it looked like the sale of the club to Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenburg would be finalized but the many banks that prior owner Tom Hicks was in debt to would not finalize the deal. On the field the two Ranger pitchers, Rich Harden and Scott Feldman were struggling and the Rangers had to place their hopes on CJ Wilson who had never been a starting pitcher before and Colby Lewis who had been pitching in Japan for the last three years. Thankfully both pitchers exceeded their expectations as did the acquisition of slugger Vladimir Guerrero and bullpen pitcher Darren Oliver. When outfielder Josh Hamilton was healthy he was the best player in baseball and the late season trade to acquire pitching ace Cliff Lee showed that the Rangers finally had the team to contend for the pennant. When the seemingly endless bankruptcy ordeal finally concluded in court where the Rangers were put on the auction block and the team of Greenburg and Ryan won, a sense of relief was felt everywhere and fans were confident that the Rangers would win the division. In mid September the Rangers won the division and for the first time in a very long time that the Rangers can make a push to make it to the world series. There are so many people to credit but to me General Manager Jon Daniel should be given a special award for bringing in so many key players like Vlad Guererro and Cliff Lee with one hand tied behind his back thanks to the Rangers bankruptcy situation. The Rangers are not quite the best team in baseball right now but if their hitters can get on a hot streak and if Cliff Lee can pitch like he has in the playoffs in the past, the Rangers can make it to the World Series for the first time in their franchise history. Let's all hope for it.