As fans of the majority of teams in sports will tell you, it never seems like their particular team gains enough respect from the national media. I hear it all the time about a variety of teams in a variety of sports. It seems to be the number one complaint the majority of the time. The Texas Rangers not only have the largest division lead in all of baseball, they have the second best record as well. You could say they are getting a little love since they are second on the power rankings on most major sites around the web, but what about the All Star voting? Why is one of the best teams in baseball not receiving any love from the voters?
I have said for years here on the site and on The Hague Sports Podcast that I believe that fan voting is a bad idea. Right now, the Boston Red Sox have 4 starters in the game according to the popularity contest that is All-Star Voting. Currently, the only Texas Rangers in the top 5 at their position is Adrian Beltre (4th), Elvis Andrus (4th), and Ian Desmond comes in at 9th for outfielders. Yet they rank much higher as far as stats go. Desmond is having a career year, Beltre is just having another fantastic season, and you could say that Elvis is having a career year. So is it our fault as fans for not voting enough?
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I know that it seems like the Texas Rangers are never really represented in the All-Star game these days, but I submit that it is not a bad thing to be flying under the radar. Think back to 2010, no one nationally knew anything about the Texas Rangers, broadcasters were
mispronouncing names or just using the wrong names, there was genuine shock that this perennial losing team from Texas was in the post season. And all they did was go to back to back World Series. In 2012 and 2013, they were very well known, and both seasons ended badly for the team.
I am not saying lack of respect is the only reason that the Texas Rangers are winning so much this season, but I do think that it plays a factor in the amount of drive that some players have right now. It seems to me, that more than any other sport, baseball players like to be the underdogs. It seems to bring more focus and hard work to a team, and it also seems to build chemistry when the team believes that no one gives them a shot.
Even with all the injuries, this team just continues to win, and they lead the league in come from behind wins as well as wins in one run games. Although I would like to see the Rangers well represented in the All-Star game or talked about more in the national media, I would rather see the Rangers well represented in the World Series, so I’ll take the lack or respect any day if it leads to a championship.