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The Texas Rangers’ 2011 season was the 51st season in the overall history of the franchise and the 40th since the team relocated to Arlington, Texas. At the season outset, the Rangers were the defending American League champions. Despite playing during one of the hottest summers on record in Texas, the Rangers claimed their second consecutive Western division title (fifth overall), and set franchise records for winning (96 wins and a .592 winning percentage, one win better than the previous record set in 1999) and home attendance (2,946,949 fans at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, breaking the old record set in 1997). Another year of improvement from the starting pitching and defense would give the Rangers the most shutouts in the American League, and trailed the Philadelphia Phillies by only 2 for the MLB lead. All 5 members of the opening day starting rotation would stay in the rotation for the entire year. C. J. Wilson tied for the league lead in starts with 34 while Derek Holland for second in shutouts with 4, tied for first in the American League, and each pitcher would have at least 13 wins. The offense, always considered a strong point for the team, would also have another good year with three players getting 30+ home runs, and Ian Kinsler completed his second 30/30 season. They won their second straight AL West title and beat the Tampa Bay Rays in four games and the Detroit Tigers in six to advance to the 2011 World Series. They lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games, their second straight defeat in the Fall Classic becoming the first team to lose back-to-back World Series since the Atlanta Braves in 1991 and 1992. The World Series was notable for the Rangers being one strike away from being World Champions twice in Game 6 with a two-run lead each time before ultimately losing to the Cardinals 10-9 in an 11 inning thriller. They would go on to lose Game 7, 6-2. ==Offseason== The biggest free agent pitcher of the 2011 market was Cliff Lee. According to major media markets,〔http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/12/cliff-lee-rumors-sunday-1.html〕 Lee's most likely destination for 2011 was a return to Texas, or signing with the New York Yankees. Bob Simpson, a lead investor of Rangers Baseball Express which owns the Rangers, told media "We’re going to go after Cliff Lee – hard, and we have the financial firepower to do that." After an extended process which included a flight by principal owner Chuck Greenberg, team investor Ray Davis, and assistant GM Thad Levine to meet with Lee, his wife, and agent following the winter meeting, Lee signed a five-year deal with the Phillies to return to the team which traded him away at the start of the 2010 season. On November 3, 2010, the Rangers declined to exercise their 2011 option on Vladimir Guerrero's contract. Guerrero was a type A free agent but the Rangers would not receive draft pick compensation for Guerrero after he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Scott Feldman underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. The rehab time for the surgery will prevent Feldman from returning to compete for a rotation spot for the start of the season. Feldman was the Texas Rangers' pitcher of the year in 2009 and opening day starter for 2010, but failed to repeat his success in 2010 after signing a three-year extension. For the second year in a row, the Rangers needed to fill the position of hitting coach after Clint Hurdle took the manager position with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Rangers signed Thad Bosley. Bosley was a member of the A's coaching staff during Washington's time with the A's, and was also teammates with first base coach Gary Pettis in the Rangers organization during his final playing year. The Rangers signed two players in November: 34-year-old free agent Japanese pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama, a side-arm throwing relief pitcher, and catcher Yorvit Torrealba from the San Diego Padres. Torrealba was a type B free agent and did not cost the Rangers a draft pick for the signing. Bengie Molina, the Rangers' primary catcher in 2010, elected to retire. On December 26, the Rangers and pitcher Brandon Webb agreed to terms for a one-year contract. Webb, who was recovering from shoulder surgery, had not pitched in the majors since opening day of 2009. The Rangers' biggest free agent move for the 2011 season would be the signing of third baseman Adrián Beltré. The six-year, $96 million deal would force incumbent veteran Michael Young into his fourth position with the Rangers. Although Young was hesitant to make another position move, Young told the Rangers and the media he was willing to switch to designated hitter in order for the Rangers to sign Beltre. With the signing of Beltre and move of Young, the Rangers did not continue to attempt to re-sign Guerrero, who would sign a one-year deal with the Orioles. In late January the Rangers made their biggest trade of the offseason when long-time trade target Mike Napoli was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for relief pitcher Frank Francisco. Napoli became available to the Rangers after being sent to the Blue Jays with Juan Rivera just three days earlier in exchange for Vernon Wells. The weakening of the bullpen from the loss of Francisco would not be the biggest problem from the Napoli trade as DH utility infielder Michael Young would demand his second trade request in three years. After a press conference in which Rangers president Nolan Ryan and GM Jon Daniels acknowledged Young's trade request, indicating Young had a change of heart after initially agreeing to be the primary designated hitter, Young fired back telling the press Although trade rumors concerning Young would continue after his demand, as it did during and after the winter meetings, no trade would be forthcoming and Young reported for Spring Training on time. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「2011 Texas Rangers season」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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