The Sunday Read: Rangers return to Texas confident in what lies ahead
(AP photo/Matt York)
Spring training is in the rearview mirror. All that stands between the Rangers and the regular season are two exhibition games Monday and Tuesday against the Royals and an Opening Day Eve off day.
Jacob deGrom will throw the first pitch of the Rangers’ season Thursday afternoon against Philadelphia before sellout crowd at Globe Life Field in his Rangers debut.
Josh Jung will finally be the everyday third baseman. Corey Seager no longer has to worry about infield shifts. Bruce Bochy brings pedigree to the manager’s office.
Not all the pieces are in place, but enough are for the Rangers to drastically improve upon consecutive seasons of 60 and 68 victories. A playoff berth will likely require 87-92 wins.
That’s a mammoth one-year improvement, but one the Rangers are quietly confident they can make after watching things come together in Arizona.
Do you know it’s a sellout on opening day, or are you assuming? Many prior opening day attendances seem to have been much lower than full capacity. Also, regarding Seager, couldn’t he extend it to a 17 game hitting streak? I thought spring training games were “exhibition games,” meaning the other 2 games should count.