Photo from Google Images
The MLB playoff race is narrowing and teams were making big moves to meet the July 31st trade deadline.
The Mets Wilmer Flores tears up in the infield at Citi Field when fans told him he had been traded to Milwaukee only to find out the trade didn’t happen. The raw emotions of player’s reactions to trades are rarely public. To see Flores choked-up was so humbling. Players are just as invested in their teams as the fans are. Flores who is only 23 years old has been a Met since he was 16 years old. Two days later he proved why he needed to stay in a Mets jersey. After an incredible diving catch, Mets fans gave him and a standing ovation. And as if Disney was writing the script Flores goes on to win the game with a walk-off home run against the Nationals.
The Texas Rangers also made a huge trade to acquire Cole Hamels from the Phillies in an eight-man trade. The Rangers also got LHP Jake Diekman and gave up veteran southpaw Matt Harrison, catching prospect Jorge Alfaro, OF Nick Williams, and other minor league pitchers; Jake Thompson, Alec Asher and Jerad Eickhoff. Adding Hamels to the starting rotation was a much-needed addition. The Rangers lead the league with the most number of starting pitchers in one season, 27 and counting.
On Friday, I got a text alert that one of my favorite former Rangers, Mike Napoli, was coming back to Texas. We need his big bat against lefties and that feeling of being reunited with old friends and good memories.
Since going to back-to-back World Series, the Rangers lost the Wild Card game in 2012 and missed the postseason in 2013 and 2014. There are only three active players from the 2010 roster on the current roster and now with the addition of Hamilton and Napoli there are eight players (Andrus, Beltre, Moreland, Martin, and Lewis) from the 2011 roster (including Derek Holland who is on the DL). It’s starting to feel like the band is getting back together! (How can we get Nefitali Feliz, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz back in a Ranger’s jerseys and Nolan Ryan back in Arlington?) Come on, Jon Daniels (GM) bring back the dream team with the Ron! Ha! If only I could make this happen in real life and not just on my fantasy team.
I never thought I’d see Josh Hamilton be welcomed back in a Rangers jersey, but as soon as I saw him on the field I wasn’t mad at him anymore for the way he left. When he left the Rangers for the Angels (2013-2014 seasons) I figured LA was a better fit for him so he could be closer to some the best rehab facilities in country. Hamilton also said that Arlington was not a “baseball town”. Hamilton quickly learned the grass isn’t always greener and his home was in Texas, where he left his baseball game.
While with Angels in 2013, Hamilton played 151 games batting .250 with 21 home runs. In 2014 Hamilton batted .263 with only 10 home runs. He finished 2014 going 0-13 in the ALDS against Kansas City. Angles fans booed him in an Angel’s jersey. (Rangers only booed him when we knew he wanted to leave Texas for the $125 million in LA.)
As of Monday, the Rangers are 55-55 and only 4.5 games behind the division. With 48 games left in the season, this is still anyone’s AL West division to win. And the Texas Rangers are ready to make a run for post-season play. Watch out AL West, the original band is ready to make some noise.