Texas Rangers New Year's resolutions

It's 2012 and that means it's time to make New Year's resolutions. Why don't we do the same for the Rangers? We did this last year and many of those resolutions came true. Please add your own at the bottom of this post. Here goes:

* Move on from Game 6. That's No. 1 on this list. It was a crushing defeat, in case any of you forgot. But it's in the past now. We've turned the calendar to 2012 and the Rangers must do so as well. I think they will, in large part because manager Ron Washington will make sure they do. They need to let it drive them, but not let the loss consume them.

* Get Yu Darvish signed by the Jan. 18 deadline (4 p.m. Dallas time). The Rangers made a nearly $52 million posting bid to negotiate with him and have just under three weeks to get him signed. That shouldn't be a problem. Darvish has said he wants to play in the big leagues, wants to play for a winner (Texas is certainly that) and don't you think his Japan team wants that money? But like most deals, this one probably comes down to the wire. Still, the Rangers need to get this done and get Darvish in that rotation.

* Stay patient with Neftali Feliz. He's going into the rotation and that means some growing pains. But it's time to find out what he can do as a starter. So don't let every inning of every spring training game worry you. He must refine his secondary pitches and increase his training regimen to be able to handle the additional workload. It will certainly be interesting to see how he does.

* Find more production from first base. Right now, that position belongs to Mitch Moreland. But he's coming off wrist surgery and an inconsistent season. He'll get some help from Mike Napoli and Michael Young too. Looming out in the horizon, of course, is Prince Fielder. Should the Rangers jump into that sweepstakes (and we've learned never to count the Rangers out of a sweepstakes, haven't we?), that would alter the position considerably. But if Fielder isn't a Ranger, this club still needs more from that corner spot.

* Watch Derek Holland continue to grow. The Game 4 start in the World Series was a huge one for Holland. But whether it's a big step forward in his maturation as a starter for the future won't be known until 2012. I think it was and that he'll be solid. But he has to prove it. And it's time to do that. Holland has the stuff to become a consistent, top-half starter for this club. If he's going to do that, it needs to be now.

* Keep Josh Hamilton healthy. We made this resolution last year too, and Hamilton missed nearly six weeks after getting injured on that homeplate slide the second week of the season. The same resolution is in effect now. He's the 2010 MVP and an incredible talent when he is on the field. That's where the Rangers need him in 2012. He's rehabbing from surgery to repair a sports hernia and should be completely ready to go next month in Surprise. The club also has to decide what to do about Hamilton long term? Do they wait until after 2012 to see if they want to get a long-term deal done or do they go ahead and figure out something now?

* Get more "core" players signed long term. The Rangers traditionally like to do this around spring training. And they've got a gaggle of candidates. Get some of those done now so that it isn't hanging over the team at the end of the season.

* Figure out center field. The club wants Hamilton in left to help manage the wear and tear on his body. So who steps up in his place? Is it Craig Gentry? Is Leonys Martin ready to step up or does he need another year in the minors? What about Julio Borbon? Is there someone else on the market -- trade or free agent -- that might make sense for Texas?

* Get the back end of the bullpen lined up. With Feliz moving to the rotation, the closer's job falls to Joe Nathan. The Rangers must mix and match to make things work down there and have some candidates in Mike Adams, Koji Uehara, Mark Lowe and others. What they don't have is a left-handed reliever. Darren Oliver's departure to Toronto means that's something the club must get figured out before 2012 begins.

* Find a split at catcher that works. Mike Napoli clearly has to be this club's No.1 catcher. But in Texas, what does that mean? We've seen how the heat can really impact a catcher, meaning it's important that time is split properly to keep everyone fresh. Yorvit Torrealba will have to relieve Napoli when needed and it's up to Washington, bench coach Jackie Moore and the staff to be sure Napoli is given some chances to rest and not be behind the plate constantly in the heat.

* Make more smart deadline deals. The Rangers are likely to be in position -- again -- at the trade deadline to make a deal to improve the club. They acquired Cliff Lee in 2010 and added to the bullpen with Adams and Uehara in 2011. What will happen in 2012?

* Fans must stay supportive. The Rangers fans were tremendous in 2011, filling the ballpark and helping drive attendance up. They need to do so again. Just ask the players how much it helps to play in front of lively crowds. It gives the Rangers a real homefield advantage.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers/post/_/id/4876890/texas-rangers-new-years-resolutions

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