Each week at MLBTR, it seems we're covering a development that further tanks the Astros' chances of competing for a playoff spot. We've devoted less attention to their in-state rivals, but the Rangers are in no better a situation. Texas and Houston have identical 33-40 records after the Rangers' five-game losing streak. They're only four games clear of the Angels for fourth place in the AL West.
Texas starting the season slowly isn't a huge surprise in itself (even if the extent of their struggles is). The eye-opener is in the way the team has underperformed. The Rangers opened the season without Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tyler Mahle. They were largely trying to stay afloat for the first couple months before welcoming that trio of starters back throughout the summer. The early-season rotation was the big question -- the main reason the Rangers might find themselves closer to the bottom of the AL West than the top more than halfway into June.
Starting pitching has not been the problem. Texas is middle-of-the-pack in that regard, solid work from a staff without three of its most talented arms. The collapse has been on the other side of the ball. The Ranger offense hasn't performed. An outfield that looked like one of the game's most talented groups has been a disaster. It's not the easiest problem for GM Chris Young to address at the deadline -- if the Rangers find themselves in position to add at all next month.
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These new lock down articles are ridiculous. You can’t have it both ways, Tim. Either you’re going to be supported by ads or you’re going to be supported by subscriptions.
I’m trying to understand … anything speculative that your staff now writes is going to be behind a paywall … while your viewers also have to encounter all the banner ads and additional sponsored posts? Sounds like a way to alienate your reader base.
I’m happy to be inconvenienced by ads. Why? Because I don’t want to pay for a subscription to: MLBTR, Baseball America, the Athletic, the New York Times, Fangraphs, the local newspaper(s) coverage along with all the streaming services one has to purchase just to be able to watch one’s own team: the RSN, Amazon, Apple+, ESPN, etc. It shouldn’t cost several hundred dollars a month just to follow baseball.
It’s out of control and does not appear that MLBTR is looking at things from a consumer viewpoint. Call me cheap … but if you’re not going to provide insightful news and stories that are supported by all the ads we are already seeing … there’s plenty of other Rotoworld style sites that can pass along baseball transactions with similar running commentary.
Umm…these articles have always been subscriber-only. You just didn’t see them because they only went out via email. Now they’re on the site.
Don’t be a cheapskate. It only costs $3 per month. How much do you spend per day on coffee, or beer, or whatever?
Pete – Agreed, it’s well worth the $3 per month!
I think it’s even cheaper if you buy the yearly subscription!
I think the issue also was caused first by Covid, and then Apple making changes to its advertising policies on iPhones that impacted the revenue on sites like MLBTR. They’re looking for ways to keep the lights on.
It shouldn’t cost several hundred dollars a month just to follow baseball.
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It doesn’t. You can spend that much, but I have MLB tv. What’s that, $180? I think I pay a nominal fee for FG, nothing for BR, nothing here. Nothing for Rotoworld. If you don’t want to pay for MLB-R, then do what I do-don’t pay for it.
Still in 2019 it was not this bad, not as many advertisements for premium subscriptions, not as many ads in general
Wonder why stuff seems to cost 50% more than 5 years ago
I don’t remember how many ads there were in 2019, and I don’t really know how many there are now. That’s just part of having a business. The local diner has paper place mats with ads on them. The local hardware store has signs or racks supplied by their suppliers.
At the end of the day, YOU have to pay THEIR salaries. Just like someone pays me and just like someone pays you.
Trog you deserve a refund.
Yes, they can have it both ways. These are extra articles for Front Office subscribers, something MLBTR has been offering probably for the last two or three years. I’m not a subscriber, but I have no issues with them. They’re marked clearly up front.
“It’s out of control and does not appear that MLBTR is looking at things from a consumer viewpoint.”
Lol bro you already said you don’t subscribe you may be “consuming” the free content but you aren’t a consumer. You havent purchased anything.
Feels like extortion.
I love paywalls!
Just here for the free-loader’s whiny comments…thanks for the novel, trog!
I hope you weren’t disappointed by the guy who wrote a novel.
Trog used a lot of words to say “I’m unhappy with the thing I’m getting for free.”
“free-loader” is a bit harsh. I’m a senior and a veteran on a fixed income, thus I can’t afford access to articles like this. I don’t consider myself “cheap” in any way. Maybe you should just be thankful for what you have.
@letitbelowenstein;love your moniker.
I feel ya. Older myself, I watch the wallet too. But also, choosing the ad generated side of this site to enjoy content keeps my credit card out of it which in my thinking minimizeses exposure to my personal identity.
Everyone misses something they cannot afford. I still don’t have my 1995 928 or my 1915 Ruth card.
Don’t be cheap dudes, this site is amazing.
Texas – I totally agree, love this place!!
It is worth $3 per month to get rid of the adds.
If you pay the 3 bucks a month the ads don’t appear on the standard articles or site?
No, they’re ad-free as long as you’re signed in to the site.
Correct. No ads anywhere.
Great read. I think The Rangers will pull out of the Series hangover. Langford is heating up and Jung will be back soon. Good days ahead for Texas baseball.
I sure hope you are right. Offense has been putrid.
The problem is that Heim and Adolis are in a bad spot and Carter has apparently been playing hurt for a long time and now is toast until July. We are in trouble, but honestly Seattle isn’t a particularly good team either, great pitching, but that offense. They are catchable compared to the other division leads.
I’m an Astros fan, but if Seattle was to win the Series this year, that would make 3 consecutive years of world championships from the AL West. I wonder if there’s ever been 3 different champs from the same division in 3 consecutive years.
You really think Seattle is going to the World Series? I would love it personally and I am rooting for them if we can’t slither in. But last I looked they didn’t have a single hitter that was even league average, tough to beat Baltimore with that recipe, or the Yanks.
That would be a stacked division. The only thing I see is from 84-87 Tigers, Royals, and Twins did it in 4 years with The Mets winning in 86. I think this was before the current division setup however.
JL – There has not.
Why would I pay to read something that the Rangers SB Nation site would put out for free and do a better job? Stop writing articles that aren’t transactional analysis and stay in your lane. You’re not Fangraphs and when you try to be them, you fall flat on your face, MLBTR.