On the Brightside

Someone used that term when describing AJM's positive outlook every year.  While I doubt that many who read my posts would accuse me of being a blind homer I do see some very positive steps for the Rangers.  Yes, as shocking as this may be I am going to say something good about the Rangers, Hicks and even JD.
Looking at the roster something really impressive stands out.  I count 21 guys that are 27 or younger.  The great thing about that fact is how talented this group is.  With the exception of a few (Millwood, Padilla, AO, Gagne and Mahay) they all fall into the under 27 bunch.  I count 11 guys that could see time this year at one time or another and there is a lot of talent there.  
I really like the fact that we do not have to completely rebuild our rotation next off season excluding some disaster.  We could have 4 starters together through 2011 I believe.  That accomplishment alone makes me smile. (just a little bit though ;)  
Positionally we have Laird, Kinsler, Cruz and hopefulle Botts establishing themselves in the MLB.  OK Kinsler already did this last year but he is still in just his second year.  Wow!  These guys as a group have as much talent coming up at the same time as any team since at least the 91 team.  For those who don't recall in 91 Juan G. became an everyday player, Pudge and Dean Palmer both made it to the bigs and Kenny Rogers got a chance to start a few games.
I think that JD and even his former boss Mr. Hart have put together a nice and potentially great group of youngsters who can play the great game.

There are no long term horrible contracts hanging over our heads.  OK we still have money owed to AROD.  And yes I have been known to advocate some controversial signings like Sori and Zito (which I would have done.) There is an upside to not signing these two and a bigger upside by not signing some of the other deals that went down this off-season.

Blalock, Wilky and even Teix all can produce better than they did last year in totals if healthy.  Lofton, Kinsler and Cruz can steal a few bases when needed.  MY, Millwood, Gagne and Lofton are solid players who I have a hard time seeing how anyone would not like to have on their team.  In fact do we have a jerk (ala T.O.) on this team?  I don't think so.

Our defense has gotten better the past two years and I see no reason why we don't continue that trend.  All in all we are a solid defensive club.  That is a vast improvement over some recent teams (yes that was a swipe at Sori playing 2B.)

Finally lets go back to the beginning.  The youth mentioned above for the most part have options left.  So we don't have to stick with a struggling player to avoid losing him to a waiver claim (as we did with a rookie named Jose Hernandez in the 91 season.  Yes the same Jose Hernandez that finished the year with the Phils and could have helped the Rangers more than once at SS.)  Not only will OKC be a better team but this also bodes well for the Rangers of 2008 and beyond.  OK the SS comment was a little negative but I still remember our SS problems before ARod and MY.  It is nice to have a solid SS.

All in all I like how this team is positioned.  Perhaps not enough to satisfy my desire to win NOW, but I can certainly see this team being better for the next several years.  For that I salute JD, Hicks, and the entire Ranger team.