Rangers’ Offense Struggles Continue

The Texas Rangers have tried various approaches to fix their struggling offense, but so far, none have been successful. They have experimented with different lineups, and the results have been disappointing. The team’s hitters met for 45 minutes before the start of the Athletics series, and the entire team participated in a mandatory batting practice session on Tuesday.

Chris Young, the president of baseball operations, is now prepared to make more drastic changes to address the team’s offensive struggles. “I’m edgy and rightfully so,” Young said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. “We play this game to win. This team is built to win. And when we’re not performing our best, we should all have an edge about us that allows us to get back to the best version of ourselves.”

The Current State of the Rangers’ Offense

The Rangers began the 30th game of the season with dismal statistics, ranking last in the majors in runs per game, 29th in OBP, 27th in batting average, and 26th in OPS. The team’s inability to hit fastballs led to a reshaped lineup that is more fastball-forward. However, the Rangers are now swinging at everything, with Adolis García leading the major leagues in percentages of swings on pitches outside the zone.

Leody Taveras has also seen a significant increase in his chase rate, with a 30% increase over this point in 2024. Jake Burger is chasing at a 36% rate, while first baseman Nathaniel Lowe was chasing 24% of the time last year, making it an increase of 50% at the position. “It’s one of our major issues,” Young said. “Swing decisions. Chase rates. Lack of walks. There is no doubt we’re not putting enough pressure on opposing pitchers and not creating opportunities to score.”

Young’s Plan to Address the Struggles

Young emphasized the need for the team to turn things around, citing the fact that since the DH Era began in the AL in 1973, 66 clubs have had team slash lines that included an OBP of less than .300 and a slugging percentage of less than .400 after 29 games, and 14 of them went on to have winning records. However, Young is not willing to wait as long as he did last year to make changes.

At his insistence, the full squad took batting practice together and stressed situational hitting on Tuesday. Young also hinted at personnel changes, noting that the team appears to have moved on from Leody Taveras in center field. Evan Carter is playing well at Triple-A and is expected to play more regularly, while the Rangers are also watching Alejandro Osuna at Double-A.

(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

Young emphasized that the game is performance-based, and players who perform will get playing time. He also noted that García’s WAR since the start of 2024 is the third-lowest of 124 qualifiers, and his wOBA is 112th. Both García and Marcus Semien have been dropped from their customary spots in the lineup.

Conclusion

The Texas Rangers’ offense is struggling, and Chris Young is prepared to make changes to address the issue. The team’s inability to hit fastballs and their high chase rates are major concerns. Young has hinted at personnel changes, including potentially moving on from Leody Taveras in center field. The team’s performance will be crucial in determining the fate of the players and the coaching staff.

Young believes in the team’s ability to turn things around, but he also recognizes that changes need to be made. The Rangers have a long season ahead of them, and it will be interesting to see how they respond to the challenges they are facing. One thing is certain, however: the team cannot continue to perform at its current level and expect to be a winning team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the current state of the Texas Rangers’ offense?

A: The Rangers’ offense is struggling, ranking last in the majors in runs per game, 29th in OBP, 27th in batting average, and 26th in OPS.

Q: What changes is Chris Young considering to address the team’s offensive struggles?

A: Young is considering personnel changes, including potentially moving on from Leody Taveras in center field, and is also looking at players performing well in the minor leagues, such as Evan Carter and Alejandro Osuna.

Q: What is Young’s philosophy on player performance and playing time?

A: Young believes that the game is performance-based, and players who perform will get playing time. He has emphasized that the team is built to win, and players who are not performing will not get playing time.

Q: Can the Rangers turn their season around?

A: Yes, the Rangers can turn their season around. Since the DH Era began in the AL in 1973, 66 clubs have had team slash lines that included an OBP of less than .300 and a slugging percentage of less than .400 after 29 games, and 14 of them went on to have winning records. However, the team needs to make changes and start performing better to achieve this goal.