Countdown to Opening Day: #8 Texas Rangers

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect

PROJECTED LINEUP

SS Elvis Andrus

DH Michael Young

LF Josh Hamilton

RF Nelson Cruz

3B Adrian Beltre

2B Ian Kinsler

C Mike Napoli

1B Mitch Moreland

CF Julio Borbon

PROJECTED ROTATION

CJ Wilson

Colby Lewis

Brandon Webb

Derek Holland

Tommy Hunter

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Neftali Feliz
Set-up - Arthur Rhodes

Top Prospect - Martin Perez (LHP)

Breakout

Derek Holland - I've been on the bandwagon for years and when he has been given a chance to throw on a five day schedule he has been efficient on the big leagues. He will have his chance to keep a rotation spot for an entire year and show that he can be an above average major leaguer.

Bust

Adrian Beltre - The year after hitting 48 homers and .334 with the Dodgers the third basemen moved to Seattle hit a whopping .255 and 19 homers. The Reason? I say it's because he got paid and lost focus. I see his first year with the Rangers being a very similar situation.

Biggest Spring Training Question

Replacing Lee -The Rangers brought in Rich Harden and Brandon Webb, they are giving Alexei Ogando and Neftali Feliz a chance to move out of the bullpen. They will also see if youngsters that spent most of 2010 in the big leagues in the minors. All the different arms are in hope the can return to the post season despite not having a bonafide ace, like Cliff Lee.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 90-72

Can Hamilton lead the Rangers back to the WS?

PROJECTED FINISH: 2nd in American League West

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for the Atlanta Braves