"C'mon You Guys Play Ball"

Next week, MLB will be in full swing. It’s a great time of year. Every team, except for the Nationals, is full of optimism. The beginning of the baseball season sparks life into every fan. How will the team do? What about the rookies and second year players? The free agents? Will they stay healthy? Hope is prevalent on Opening Day.

I’ve been thinking about memorable Ranger seasons. Two come to mind. The 1996 Rangers, the first team to go to the post-season, began the year 7-0. Will Clark, Kevin Elster, Rusty Greer, Pudge, Juan Gonzalez, Ken Hill, Roger Pavlik, Darren Oliver. The late, great Johnny Oates as manager. This was a good team – lacking a closer – which won Game 1 in the playoffs, thanks to the commanding performance of the professional bowler John Burkett, and then lost the next three to the dreaded Yankees. I still remember the gem Darren Oliver threw in Game 3, which ended in a 2-1 loss. Even with the disappointment in the post-season, which saw Mike Henneman blow saves, the 1996 Rangers remain my favorite bunch.

The other memorable Ranger team for me was the 1989 group. This was Nolan Ryan’s first year, as well as W’s first as owner, I believe. The team began 10-1. Finished the first month 17-6. (I remember this from the win-loss calendar I kept that year in my room, faithfully marking the team’s record after each game.) This was going to be the year. Ryan was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The team was on fire. So much so, that after the initial start, Y95’s morning show created a Ranger song, which will forever be in my memory:

Verse 1:
The Rangers are ready
It’s George instead of Eddie
And Tom and Bobby have a team that’s hot.

Nolan Ryan’s quite a lad
He makes the hitters mad
Three up, thee down, we go to bat and we’re really glad

Chorus:
We’re talking baseball
Bring on the boys of summer
Talking baseball
Let’s have some hits and runners
And when we see a homer clear the wall
We’ll know the boys have come to play some ball
Ranger baseball, c’mon you guys play ball.

Verse 2:
There’s Inky and Sierra
Don’t forget Toby Harrah
Along with Rafael and Buddy Bell

There’s Scooter and the Bue
Bobby Witt and Franco too
Charlie Hough’s on the hill and Cecil’s in centerfield.

Chorus:
We’re talking baseball
Bring on the boys of summer
Talking baseball
Let’s have some hits and runners
And when we see a homer clear the wall
We’ll know the boys have come to play some ball
Ranger baseball, c’mon you guys play ball.

Why that has stuck in my head all these years I’ll never know. But at the beginning of every season, it is on continuous loop in the recesses of my brain. This 1989 team which began 17-6, ended the season 83-79, well out of the playoffs. But still, a memorable season.

So will the 2010 team be a memorable one? Will they win the division? Will they start fast or slow? Will Ron Washington make it through the season? I’ll blog about all of that tomorrow.