Texas Rangers Can Win Without Yu Darvish

In Question #1 of our “Five Rangers’ Questions in Five Days” series, we look at the loss of Yu Darvish and the impact on the Texas Rangers

Q: Do the Texas Rangers Have a Chance without Yu Darvish

A: The short answer is, “Yes.” But…the road just got all that more difficult, but the loss of Yu Darvish will not sink the Rangers’ ship. If everything goes as planned, Yu Darvish is scheduled for Tommy John surgery tomorrow. This will keep him out the entirety of the 2015 season and no-doubt have a trickledown effect throughout the starting lineup.

The most difficult factor in assessing the damage of a Yu-less Rangers team, is we really didn’t know how good the Rangers would be with Yu Darvish. Last season was so supremely marred with injury; it was difficult to gauge how good the Rangers could have been. The Rangers resisted over-spending this offseason, so they could finally get a look at what they thought they had last season. Unfortunately, it appears the injury bug (Monster) is hitting the Rangers again and we may never get a good look.

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The loss of Yu Darvish is significant. He’s and ace in every sense of the word, and irreplaceable no matter how many times Derek Holland says he wants to be a true #1. In Yu’s last full season (2013) he pitched over 200 innings with a 2.83 ERA, 5.8 WAR, and a 13-9 record. These types of numbers were expected of Yu this season and will be exceedingly difficult to duplicate.

Even if Derek Holland is able to successfully step into the #1 spot and give us Yu Darvish performance, who’s going to step into Holland’s shoes at #2. Yovani Gallardo? Then who will step into his at #3? You get the point. This speaks to the trickledown effect that a loss at the start of the rotation can lead to.

The bottom of the rotation will be stretched thin, especially with spring training injuries hitting the pitching staff so hard as of late. This season isn’t lost because of Yu but it could still be lost. Projections for the Rangers peaked at around 85 wins and a Wild Card spot, with Yu gone projections are dipping into the 75 win range and last place in the AL West.

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There are so many questions surrounding the Rangers right now, the Rangers could be better than or worse than both of these projections. Will Fielder get 30+ HRs? Will Mooreland get 20+HRs? Will Beltre continue his awesomeness? Will the bullpen hold up? Will Elvis bounce back? Will LF be adequately filled?

There are just so many questions unanswered, pinning anything on Yu this season requires extraordinary clairvoyance.

The Rangers have a chance this season because they could have excellent answers to all of those questions. Chances are they won’t come up big everywhere but you never know. Losing Yu Darvish hurts but it’s far from a lost season.

Next: Elvis Poised to Breakout?

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