Oh boy, the Texas Rangers have been through a lot this season. Injuries, tough pitching outings, and hitting that hasn't always delivered in the clutch. Their postseason dreams are just that at this point.
What's happened to the team in the latest MLB Power Rankings, according to The Athletic? They have dropped four spots to No. 16 among the MLB teams. Their efforts have not been for naught, though, because Texas has discovered a bevy of young players for a great future.
But The Athletic pointed out that Corey Seager should get serious consideration for the team's Most Valuable Player honor.
Andy McCullough of The Athletic talks about what makes Seager special.
"What a strange, aggravating season for the Rangers," McCullough wrote. "The team stumbled out of the starting blocks. The offense struggled to ignite. The injuries piled up.
"In late August, as the club was trying to re-insert itself into the postseason race, Seager required an appendectomy, from which he has not returned," McCullough wrote. "The ailment likely ended a typical season for Seager, who has dealt with injuries throughout his career.
"When he’s on the field, though, few players are better. Across the past three seasons, he has appeared in an average of 115 games while posting a 159 OPS+ and generating 18.1 bWAR."
Seager has proven to be a stellar player for Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.
He will be back next season and, hopefully, can come back even stronger. The Rangers have a chance to put together a stronger team during the offseason. There are enough pieces of the puzzle there to fix some things.
Sure, players like Joc Pederson might be dealt or sent to another team via a trade. Rangers fans, though, should be somewhat satisfied that the "Little Rascals" collection of young players can form a core for the future.
Their recent losing ways have put the brakes on a postseason run for this season. Take heart, Rangers faithful, that your team will deliver a stronger collection of players on the field next season.