If Rangers, why not Angels?

“The road is short that never bends.”

– Anonymous

The bend in the road for the Texas Rangers took a while to arrive, but arrive it did … after 12 years. But that’s nothing … the Los Angeles Angels haven’t made it to a World Series in 21 years; our misery is old enough to drive. 

If you’re like the millions of fans who didn’t pay much attention to the Fall Classic – lowest TV ratings for the concluding game, ever – all you may know is that the two teams who couldn’t win their divisions ended up playing for the whole panini.

But for us in Orange County who haven’t seen even a winning season in Anaheim since 2015, there’s a lesson here in the potential for a rebound.

The Rangers, similarly, last were “winners” in 2016. And more recently, they have stunk more than the Halos. Before this year’s 90-72 mark, they were 68-94 in 2022, 60-102 in 2021. For the 2000’s the  Rangers won 240 games and lost 306 (.440 win percentage). That’s worse than the Angels at .458.

Just how does a team go from 68 wins to 90 (not counting 13 playoff victories)? It’s hard to put a batting glove finger on just one factor, but two things (i.e., people) stand out. 

First is Cory Seager, who brought his 2020 World Series winner swagger – and more –to Texas, and the next is Bruce Bochy, the 68-year-old retired manager who came out of retirement to lead the Rangers to their first World Series (and get his fourth World Series ring).

“I was sitting in a recliner there in Nashville, just enjoying myself,” said Bochy. “I was along for the ride, trust me,” he said.

There are many intangibles in life and sport. A lot of it may be luck. I’m just saying that the Angels would be lucky if they had people like Seager and Bochy bringing their winning attitudes to  the Diamond of Disappointment that is The Big A. That would be a fun road to travel.