Yu Making My Dreams Come True

Two years ago this October, I will never forget leaning against the bar at the Aardvark awaiting what I thought would be the final out of the 2011 World Series. After a somewhat embarrassing performance against the Giants the year before, this series victory was going to feel extra triumphant. So with a blue Rangers hat on, a stiff drink in hand, and surrounded by my best buds...life couldn't be any better

Then David Frees happened. And all hell broke lose.

Going to TCU football games, I've seen shit get destroyed after a loss. But nothing will ever compare to what I saw after the Rangers blew that World Series. Chairs and bottles flew through the air as if they were weightless, then the crushing sound of anger, broken glass, and hard metal hit the concrete floor. People (yes women too) were being thrown out left and right, cursing, spitting, and fighting the Cardinals fans that were in the bar.

The Rangers didn't lose the series that day, but the majority of fans knew it was over. Just like Sox fans knew it was over when Buckner missed that ball in game 6.

So after an even more disappointing meltdown this past season, an extremely talented AL West, and our 'best' players gone, some 'Gers fans felt our best chances for a World Championship were behind us. And we blew both of them.

But are we in fact better without the ego of Josh Hamilton? Has the loss of Napoli, Hamilton, and Michael Young opened up new and exciting doors for the likes of Craig Gentry and Lance Berkman?

Sure, Berkman isn't a long term solution, but with one of the best farm systems in the MLB, the Rangers have little to worry about for the future which has thus allowed them to successfully focus on the present.

Then there's something the Rangers haven't had in quite some time....that something being an ace. That ace being Yu Darvish.

There have been the uber hyped Japanese pitchers since the 1990s and names like Nomo and Dice K come to mind. But Yu is something special. Yu is looking to break the chains of a one year phenom as he is following up a brilliant rookie season with an even better sophomore one.

Had Mike Trout been in the National League, the Japanese wunderkind might've been your Rookie of the Year winner. But that stuff doesn't concern Yu.

Despite his dominance, the always smiling strikeout machine hardly shows a shred of cockiness. Even when his perfect game was frustratingly ended by the Lastros over a month ago, all Yu could do was smile and wave his hat.

But it's not just Yu. In fact, the Rangers have the best staff in all of baseball in terms of numbers with a 3.36 era. The pesky Cardinals may in fact be the only team with better pitching right now. But with a great rotation, solid bullpen, and a lights out closer in Joe Nathan...the Rangers aren't too far behind.

The Rangers having good pitching may be as unheard of as Kiefer Sutherland behaving himself at a bar or Amanda Bynes not sex-tweeting Drake. But hey, one had to happen sooner or later. So let's enjoy it while it lasts.

Even with outlaw AJP (aka Jack Parkman from Major League II), the Texas Rangers are more likeable than ever. In the face of adversity, the Rangers have risen to the occasion. With the a Cy Young fronterunner, great chemistry, the best bromance (Wash and Maddox), and some of the best fans (sorry...Josh), this may be the year for the Rangers to take it all.

Baseball town or not.