Texas Rangers: a response to ESPN’s All-Disappointment Team list

As Texas Rangers fans read through ESPN’s list of disappointing players, they’ll likely nod and keep going. But, consider these guys that have all-but disappointed.

David Schoenfield of ESPN issued a pretty dubious list of players Thursday afternoon and three players with Texas Rangers ties made the cut. He issued his 2017 MLB All-Disappointment Team, comprised of guys that fell well short of expectations this season. Considering how rough this season has been in Arlington, the names of Sam Dyson, Jonathan Lucroy and Rougned Odor belong without question. But what about the following guys that have made what I will now call the “All-Achievement Team?”

Shortstop Elvis Andrus

Just one season removed from his first .300 season, Elvis Andrus has responded with the same hot bat that he had in 2016. Although he sits a bit short of .300 right now, his power numbers have jumped. Simply put, Elvis has been an offensive catalyst this season.

His next home run will give him twice as many for the year as he had in 2016 and his slugging percentage sits 35 points above last season’s. His .804 OPS would be a career high if the season ended today and he needs just 10 RBIs to match his career high of 69.

Andrus has also shown consistency in the field with numbers at or higher than his previous bests in RF/G, RF/9 and fielding percentage. He gets to the balls he should and a few that he shouldn’t. His throws have been consistently on the mark and he’s made smart decisions with the ball once he’s fielded it. The guy even came within a run-off vote of making his third All-Star Game this summer. Add in his becoming a father, and it makes sense that this is simply Elvis’s year.

Starting pitcher Andrew Cashner

Many Texas Rangers fans expressed doubts about Andrew Cashner in the offseason. But, we honestly shouldn’t blame those that did. Cashner was moving over from the National League and recovering from an injury.

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That’s why they questioned the decision by General Manager Jon Daniels to give him $10 million this season. But with about a month and a half left in the season, it looks like that was a great decision.

Cashner’s 3.36 earned run average would lead the team if he had enough innings to qualify. His missed start on Tuesday hindered his chances of getting the required 162 innings for the year to make the leader board. But qualifying for the leader board doesn’t matter as much. The point is, he’s exceeded this season’s expectations and exceeded them greatly.

He has dominated left-handed hitters by holding them to a .237 batting average and his home ERA of 2.20 is unbelievable. Not to mention, what he’s done this season in the hottest months is impressive, to say the least. Cashner finished July with a monthly ERA of 2.36 and held hitters to a .194 batting average. His four games in August have been equally good with an ERA of 1.50 and an opposing batting average of .261.

If the Rangers could re-sign Cashner in the offseason and strike a similar (but probably higher-priced) deal with Cole Hamels, they’d have one of the better one-two punches in the American League. Cashner’s a Texan that played his college ball about half an hour away from Globe Life Park. He loves it here and it’s obvious. Why not keep him here?

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Reliever Alex Claudio

Look, Alex Claudio has had some good seasons. But they haven’t been this good. The crafty southpaw has tossed more innings this year than any of his prior three seasons, yet his numbers have improved.

He has a career-low ERA of 2.37 and his 0.973 WHIP blows away anything he did before this year. His hits/9 innings average dropped from a respectable 9.6 last season to a superb 6.8 for 2017. Left-handed hitters have batted just .122 against Claudio and all hitters at Globe Life Park have batted a meager .173 when he’s been on the mound.

If you’re still not sold on his numbers, consider this. Conventional wisdom teaches that most teams put their best overall hitter in the number three slot in the batting order. Would you believe that guys hitting in the three slot have batted a mind-blowing .091 against Claudio this year? He can take down some of the game’s best.

Claudio has shown the makeup this year to be a great late-innings guy. Whether or not that could translate as “closer” material is still yet to be seen. He’s certainly earned consideration for the role, though. Look no further than his five saves out of seven opportunities.

Next: Texas to blame for Beltre's lack of attention?

Now before you say it, yes, this season has been chock-full of disappointments. But sometimes a competitor has to get kicked in the teeth a few times to realize they don’t like it. This franchise can learn from 2017 and can build on the good things that have happened. They’ve shown some signs of promise and ability that are worth building on. That’s why, for me and fans like me, spring of 2018 can’t get here soon enough.