What Is 2017 Texas Rangers baseball team

Overview

The 2017 Texas Rangers baseball season marked a transitional year for the franchise, ending a streak of competitive seasons that included back-to-back AL West titles in 2015 and 2016. Despite high expectations following strong performances in prior years, the team struggled with consistency and ultimately missed the postseason.

The Rangers were led by manager Jeff Banister and featured veteran leadership from players like Adrian Beltre and Cole Hamels. While the offense showed flashes of power, pitching inconsistencies and injuries contributed to a below-.500 record.

• Final record: The team finished 78–84, their first losing season since 2014, falling 13 games behind the division-winning Houston Astros.
• Division standing: They placed third in the American League West, behind the Astros and the Seattle Mariners, who edged them by four games for second place.
• Home performance: At Globe Life Park in Arlington, the Rangers posted a 43–38 record, showing stronger play in front of their home crowd.
• Road struggles: They went 35–46 on the road, one of the worst away records in the American League, highlighting inconsistency outside their home ballpark.
• Offensive output: The team scored 752 runs, ranking 14th in MLB, with 230 home runs, placing them 8th in the league in long balls.

How It Works

The 2017 season operated under standard Major League Baseball rules and scheduling, with each team playing 162 games across a six-month season. The Rangers competed in the American League West, facing divisional rivals and interleague opponents.

• Regular season: The MLB season ran from April 2 to October 1, with the Rangers opening against the Chicago White Sox and closing in Seattle.
• Division races: The AL West included the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, and Seattle Mariners, with the Astros dominating at 101–61.
• Playoff structure: Only the top two teams in each division and two wild cards per league advanced; the Rangers did not qualify for either.
• Player eligibility: Rosters followed standard MLB rules, with 25 active players and options for injured list placements due to injuries like Mitch Moreland’s early-season absence.
• Interleague play: The Rangers played 20 interleague games, including a home-and-home series with the Texas-based Houston Astros, known as the Lone Star Series.
• Trade deadline: On July 31, the Rangers traded ace pitcher Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking a shift toward rebuilding.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2017 Texas Rangers compared to other AL West teams:

Despite matching the Mariners in wins and losses, the Rangers finished behind Seattle due to a worse head-to-head record. The division was dominated by the Astros, who went on to win the World Series. Texas led the league in home runs among AL West teams but suffered from poor starting pitching depth after trading Darvish.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season was a turning point for the Rangers, signaling the end of a competitive window and the beginning of a rebuild. Key moves and performances had lasting implications for the franchise’s direction.

• Adrian Beltre’s milestone: On April 25, Beltre hit his 3,000th career hit, becoming the 31st MLB player to reach the mark, all while wearing a Rangers uniform.
• Yu Darvish trade: Traded at the deadline, Darvish helped the Dodgers reach the World Series, while the Rangers received prospects, signaling a shift to youth.
• Young talent emergence: Players like Nomar Mazara and rookie pitcher Luis Mendoza saw increased roles, laying groundwork for future seasons.
• Attendance trends: Average attendance dropped to 29,067, down from 31,293 in 2016, reflecting fan fatigue after missing the playoffs.
• Coaching changes: Jeff Banister was fired after the 2018 season, with the 2017 struggles contributing to management’s decision to seek new leadership.
• Rebuild foundation: The season set the stage for a full organizational shift, culminating in a complete roster overhaul by 2020.

The 2017 Texas Rangers season, while not successful on the scoreboard, played a crucial role in reshaping the team’s future through trades, player development, and strategic planning.