Rangers owner embarrassed by 2020 results: 'I have no explanation'
It was a tough season for the Texas Rangers, and owner Ray Davis isn't pleased with how his team performed.
"I think the Wicked Witch of the North flew over the baseball industry in January of 2020 and cast a spell on us," Davis said Wednesday, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. "For me to try and explain what happened to our team, what happened to players or other teams in this year, I have no explanation."
The Rangers owner admitted feeling let down by a team finishing with the American League's worst record. Going into the campaign, Texas appeared to have a good chance at its first division title since 2016 following the offseason additions of Corey Kluber, Kyle Gibson, and Jordan Lyles to a rotation that already included Lance Lynn and Mike Minor.
Kluber wound up injuring his shoulder and throwing just one inning while Gibson and Lyles were busts. Minor was traded to the Oakland Athletics at the deadline amid a down season.
Texas' rotation wasn't its only problem.
Rangers hitters recorded a negative WAR in 2020, according to FanGraphs, while the bullpen posted the fifth-highest ERA in the AL without closer Jose Leclerc.
"I really don't have any explanation," Davis said. "I don't have any excuses. All I can say for this year is I am embarrassed. I am embarrassed for our team. I am embarrassed for our fans and I wish it had turned out a lot differently. The fact is we have to correct what we didn't do this year and make it better. That's what our plan is over the next one or two years."
Davis added feeling encouraged by a plan for the future outlined by general manager Jon Daniels, who has seen plenty of success architecting winners since becoming GM in 2005.
"I look at us making the playoffs, I think six out of the last (eleven) years," the owner said. "Jon has demonstrated that he and his team can put together winning ball teams. If you thought about going out and replacing him, all you have is a question mark. We have a known entity. We have a group of guys that know how to get it done, and I think they are going to get it done again."