The goal for the Texas Rangers in 2024 is simple: Repeat. But once a club scales the ultimate mountain, staying on top to enjoy the view is anything but easy.
The reigning World Series champs have the personnel, on paper, to be the first team since the New York Yankees of previous century to defend their title. Those Yanks won three consecutive championships from 1998-2000.
No team has repeated since.
There are plenty of reasons why the 22 clubs since did not hold a parade for a second year. Injuries, age, luck all factor in. It’s hard to win it all once, let alone go back-to-back.
Just ask Texas manager Bruce Bochy, who skippered the San Francisco Giants to three World Series title between 2010-2014 without a repeat.
MLB.com recently compiled its goals for all 30 teams this upcoming season. The Rangers’ entry is “Avoid the pitfalls of the repeat bid.” Per MLB.com:
Bruce Bochy is back on the mountaintop, and he also knows how temporary the view can be from here. Each of Bochy’s three World Series victories with the Giants were followed by seasons in which San Francisco failed to make the playoffs. The Rangers’ primary challenge in avoiding a similar fate will be keeping the rotation warm for Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and the newly signed Tyler Mahle, none of whom will be available until at least midseason.
The rotation remains the biggest concern. Outside of established starters Nathan Eovaldi and Jon Gray, the Rangers have questions. Short starts and relying on the rebuilt bullpen might be the formula until the pitching cavalry arrives in the season’s second half.
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