The strange case of the Texas Rangers offense

It's no secret that the Texas Rangers' offense is a problem in 2024. The ball club's offensive performance is declining sharply compared to last year.

“Look at this offense, how good it was. It's a mystery to us sometimes how we manage to score points across the board. Look at [it] we've had some tough injuries too. What I always talk about when we're trying to make it or have a chance to make it again is you've got to stay healthy. Those lows are two big parts, it all adds up,” Bruce Bochy said.

The obvious conclusion is that the Rangers aren't hitting the ball as well as they did last season, but they are putting the ball in play a little more than they did last year. On average, the Rangers are striking out and running less in 2024. The results have yet to be found, though. As a result, it's an offense that is averaging more than one fewer run per game than it did a year ago.

Why was the offense less productive than a year ago?

“We have a lot of young players out there who have had to find their way in the league,” Rangers hitting coach Tim Hyers told me. “Pitchers put a lot of pressure on hitters these days. [with] Game planning. There are a lot of things that can dictate baseball for a younger player.” Hyers defined younger players as players with two years of experience or less who would fit the mold of Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith, Josh Jung and Evan Carter.

“The first year [and] the second year is still learning [the] curve of this league because of how they handle the different multiple fastballs they create against us,” Hyers said. “With Wyatt [Langford] Navigate the Major Leagues and learn how to succeed [which] They know he's going to be. He's a stud, an incredible player, but he's learning the league. Every night he goes out there, he's going to have to face a new pitcher in a new solution.”

And to return to Bochy's earlier point about injuries, three of those five players have sustained injuries that have kept them out of action for some time, making the adjustment to the league even more difficult.

Hyers added that Josh Smith has adjusted to the league.”[Josh] has had a great year, but he's still navigating his first full year in the major leagues and learning – those ins and outs and how to perform when runners are in scoring position. The same goes for Duran, and we had Evan [Carter] before. It's part of this league, but that's our job, and that's a fun part of being a hitting coach. It's tough for younger players because of the design and shape of the field you see these days.”

LANGFORD EQUALIZES IN THE 9TH! pic.twitter.com/qsn6WlIWct

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) 15 August 2024

Baseball players are creatures of habit, and after a World Series, the shortened time between the end of the season and spring training is a disadvantage. I asked Hyers if that shortened time could be a residual effect of the difficulties in 2024.

“I think it's a little harder for the pitchers because of the demands and we expect so much from them in the playoffs. [But] it takes you out of your routine. Everything will be started later. There are a lot of responsibilities and burdens of the field, and you [have to] “We have to fulfill a lot of requests and then go straight back to spring training,” he said.

Hyers added: “As players, it's human nature. You want to pick up where you left off and if that doesn't happen, it's not going to happen. [and] it's like taking a time out. There are some players who come in without much experience and they're like, 'Why can't I feel the same way?' They start looking for things and make some adjustments and in this league you can have an avalanche effect quickly.”

This could be similar to what is happening to the Rangers right now. The troubles started and because of last year's success, the players could be trying to make up for it quickly, leading to a hunt, a trial and error, a search for success.

In the last eight games, the Rangers scored 40 runs, an average of 5 runs per game, which is slightly below last year's offensive success.

An eraser base hit for Garcia!
@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/nWsi7NOLHy

— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) 17 August 2024

“I think Adolis is coming into his own; he's given us some big hits,” Hyers said. “Corey is Corey, and he's unbelievable at what he does every night. He puts pressure on the other side. [and] on the opposing pitcher. I think we landed some important hits in the crucial spots and stayed a little better on the breaking balls than before.”

“In the past, when we had problems, we were late to the heater and early to the breaking ball. [with] many ground balls. [I] “I feel like we started getting the ball off the ground, staying behind some shots and hitting a little better,” Hyers added.

With less than 40 games left in the season, the Rangers are 10 games out of a postseason spot. Things turned around toward the end of the road trip, but the troubles came back against the Minnesota Twins. Unless the Texas Rangers pull off an incredible turnaround, it will be another year where a Bruce Bochy world champion ballclub misses the playoffs next season because it has too much to overcome.