'85 Rangers Quest for Dominance

[majesty95]

The team that had the third-best record in baseball heading into the All-Star break limps into September with only the sixth-best record in the American League. After the break, the Rangers lost 10-of-14 to finish July including a seven-game losing streak comprised of series sweeps by the Yankees and Indians. August did not turn out much better for Texas as they finished at just 14-14 for the month and their once five-game lead in the division has turned into a ½ game deficit to Minnesota.

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[Gambo]

Looks cool and sounds fun.

Are you using the default database? I know you'd hate to restart since your 3years in but for something like this I would recommend my database so you'd have access to all your minor leaguers for 1985 and on going.

[majesty95]

Yeah I was going to use either yours or Spritze's but they were having issues when I was getting ready to start. I tested a couple times after Spritze made some corrections but got frusterated and wanted to start so just went with default db. I may do another one at aonther time with a different team. Since I'm using facegen and have the old unis I'm kinda liking the old Blue Jays.

[majesty95]

Rangers Season Wrap Up: Is A Dynasty Burgeoning?

The 1986 season ended much the same way the '85 season did for the Rangers, by fading down the stretch and ending the season with a series loss to division rival California. The late swoon each of the past two seasons has denied the Rangers of their first ever division championship, although very much within reach the last week of the season. The good new is...the Rangers were close each of the past two seasons. A far cry from the team that finished dead last two years ago and had not finished within 14 games of first place since 1978.

The Rangers improved their overall record by eight games over '85 and also improved in virtually every statistical area. It seems as though the team is headed in the right direction. They just need that key piece to get them over the hump. As we look back at the season that was for the Rangers, we will also look ahead to what we might expect in the off-season and what may be in store for the seasons ahead.

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[majesty95]

November 2, 1986

Major League Baseball held it annual amateur draft yesterday. The Rangers had nine picks, seven of which came in the draft's first two rounds (including three supplemental picks sandwiched between the first and second rounds).

Texas selected left-handed pitcher David Wells out of Point Loma High School in San Diego with its first pick. Wells has a low 90's fastball and a big, slow curve. The 6-4 220lb lefty figures to start out in the bullpen but the Rangers hope to convert him to a starter over the next few seasons.

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[majesty95]

1986 MLB Award Winners

Major League Baseball announced the winners of the various awards over the past week. Since there is no baseball to report this time of year, Rangers Report will provide coverage of the MLB off-season as well as keeping up with Rangers news as usual.

There were a lot of raised eyebrows when Oakland left fielder Kal Daniels took home both the American League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. Daniels became only the second player ever to win both awards in the same season and only the third player to win Rookie of the Year and either the MVP or Cy Young award in the same season. Current Ranger Fred Lynn won both the ROY and MVP awards with the Red Sox in 1971 and reigning AL Cy Young winner Fernando Valenzuela of the Orioles won the ROY and Cy Young awards with the Dodgers in 1981.

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[majesty95]

Rangers Report: Happy New Year! Off-season Deals Aplenty

As with most off-seasons in baseball, the first few months after the season ends are filled with team activity. Players are traded, free agents are signed and some players decide to call it quits and retire. This off-season has been no different. Although the Rangers have not been as active as the past few off-seasons there has been plenty of player movement around the league. Here are some of the notable transaction from the past two months of the season:

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[majesty95]

1987 Season Preview

1986 Record: 90-72 (2nd AL West, 1 GB)
General Manager: Tom Grieve (3rd season, 172-152)
Manager: Tomas Villalobas (3rd season, 172-152)
Key Additions: CL Dave Smith (1986: 3.19 ERA, 41 SV), RP Dale Mohorcic (8-0 W-L, 1.96 ERA), RP Bert Roberge (4-1, 3.40), 3B Vance Law (.256 AVG, 9 HR, 53 RBI)
Key Losses: CL Dan Quisenberry, RP Dave Schmidt, RP Greg Harris
Batting Team Ranks: R, 845 (3rd AL); AVG, .267 (5th); HR, 205 (1st); SB, 107 (7th)
Pitching Team Ranks: ERA, 4.00 (8th); SV, 45 (T-7th); SO, 881 (11th)

View entire story here.

[majesty95]

Rangers Report: Let's Play Ball!

Spring training wrapped up today and the Rangers made their final cuts getting down to the Opening Day roster limit of 25. Although the Rangers finished a disappointing 9-15 on the spring, there were some notable performances. As the team travels to Baltimore for its Opening Day game against the Orioles tomorrow, let's take a look at the news and notes from the Rangers' spring.

Read more here.

[majesty95]

Rangers Reports: Team Hopes Dreary April Turns Into Sunny May

Much like last season, the Rangers came out of the gate slowly. However, unlike last season, the Rangers were not able to turn their fortunes around by the end of the month. Texas limped to a 7-13 record this April and are sitting only a half-game out of last place. The Rangers currently rank dead last in the American League in team batting (.223), runs scored (64) and hits (150). The struggles offensively are compounded with a pitching staff that ranks 11th in team ERA (4.76). The bullpen, hoping to be a strength this season after off-season acquisitions of Dave Smith and Dale Mohorcic, is the second worst in the league with a 5.79 ERA.

Read the full story here.

[majesty95]

Struggles Continue...Hope For A Turnaround?

The Rangers continued to struggle in May, finishing the month with a 10-16 record. After a 7-13 record in April, a team that looked poised to contend for a World Series berth now sits precariously close to having to concede the season. That could lead to the team shopping several veterans who will be free agents at the end of the year.

There could be a light at the end of the tunnel, however. The Rangers did put together a four-game winning streak at the end of the month and went 5-4 in their last nine games. Certainly, that is nothing to jump for joy about. However, that does lead to some optimism that the team may be close to turning things around.

Read the full story here.

[majesty95]

June 30, 1987

After a lengthy delay caused by technical difficulties, the virtual Rangers were back on the field this week wrapping up an up-and-down month of June.

Texas started out the month with eight-straight losses and lost 11-of-13. The front office decided a changce was needed and started to retool the team. The players responded, winning nine of their next 13 games and finished the month on a four-game winning streak.

While it is not likely the Rangers can make up the 15.5 game deficit in the American League West, there is hope around the team that they can build up the strong finish in June and use that to spring board them to a playoff contention next season.

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[majesty95]

July 16, 1987

The Rangers shocked the baseball world on Thursday with the announcement that they had fired general manager Tom Grieve. Grieve had laid the foundation of a solid, young team and had helped lead that team to within one game of it's first ever division championship in 1986. However, with the team off to a 31-56 start this season and having lost 11-of-12 games in July, team owner Eddie Chiles decided a change was needed.

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[majesty95]

October 24, 1988

MONTREAL, Quebec --- Former Texas Rangers general manager Tom Grieve was announced today as the fifth general manager in Montreal Expos team hisotry. Grieve replaces Murray Cook, who had been the the Expos' GM since 1985. Grieve spent the 1988 season as a part-time analyst for the sports network ESPN, both on their SportsCenter highlight show and as a fill in color analyst for their boradcasts of Major League Baseball games.

Read more here.

[majesty95]

November 1, 1988

Today was the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, held in Winter Haven, Florida. The draft was the first for the Expos under new general manager Tom Grieve. Grieve and the Expos used their first pick, fourth overall, to select left-handed outfielder David Justice from Thomas Moore College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.

Read more here.

[majesty95]

November 14, 1988

The Expos announced today that former Cleveland Indians player and minor league manager Mike Hargrove has been hired as the ninth manager in team history. Hargrove has spent the past two seasons as a minor league mamanger after a 12-year career as a Major League player.

Read the entire story here.

[majesty95]

January 16, 1989

We sat down with new Expos GM Tom Grieve to discuss what he learned during his time in Texas, what he has planned for the Expos and what we can expect from the team this year.

Read the entire article on the Expos' website.

[majesty95]

I see I have about 300 views from people other than me. Feel free to leave a comment. What do you think about the site? Anything you would like to see added/changed? Thanks for viewing!

[CatKnight]

I usually don't go to secondary sites (like websites) for dynasties. I've stopped by yours now and then and I like what you've done with it - as well as your commitment to continuing after Texas released Tom.

The site itself is nicely done. If anything jars, it's the links to your Texas articles on a 'Montreal' site.

Good luck!

[majesty95]

I have thought about removing the old articles but haven't yet since it is the first season in Montreal and to give people a back story on how we got to where we are. That being said, they are likely to find their way into the archiver before too long.