Texas Rangers Rival Murderers' Row Yankees as Best Offense Ever

Manager Bruce Bochy believes the Texas Rangers offense can be historic.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Bruce Bochy came to the Texas Rangers to win championships.

But he probably didn’t expect to be managing the best offense he’s possibly ever seen.

That’s saying something for the first-year Rangers skipper who is 10th all-time in MLB wins and has piloted three World Series champions.

Bochy acknowledged that Texas lineup is performing as good as any team he’s managed, with a quick reminder. 

“It’s been a great third of the season, but that’s what it is,” he said.

These Rangers are putting up numbers in terms of run differential and double-figure scoring games not seen since the New York Yankees of the Murderers’ Row era.

“That’s going to be tough to sustain, let’s be honest here,” Bochy said.

The Rangers have scored in double digits in two consecutive games after Sunday’s 12-3 blowout over the Seattle Mariners and 16 times this season. That ties the 1936 Yankees for most games of at least 10 runs in the first 58 games of the season (beg. 1901). The five games with at least 15 runs is already tied for the most in a single-season in Rangers franchise history.

Texas leads MLB with 376 runs, the most at this point of the season in club annals and the most by any team since the 2001 Colorado Rockies (also 376).

The Rangers have outscored their opponents 376-224 (+152) this season, which is the sixth-highest run differential through 58 games by any team in baseball’s modern era and the best mark by any club since the 1939 Yankees (+169).

“It’s relentless,” Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski said of the offense. “No matter the score, no matter the opponent, early in the game, late in the game, quality at-bats on the offensive side.”

The Yankees of Murderers’ Row fame featured players such as Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig. 

With a lineup powered by Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Adolis García and Josh Jung – just for starters –the Rangers could set their own collection of records.

“That would be historic,” Bochy added, “not to say this team doesn’t have a chance to do something like that.”

Bochy came out of retirement because he thought the Rangers would be in position to contend. The offseason moves made by general manager Chris Young, such as bringing in Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, gave the players that same belief.

“I really felt the confidence in Spring Training from these guys,” Bochy said. “CY went out and signed the starters that he did to bolster the rotation. I sensed the confidence in the clubhouse.”

Did he tell the Rangers they were capable of winning a World Series for the first time in franchise history in Spring Training?

“I didn’t say it like that, but that’s certainly what I expected them to do,” he said. “I didn’t come here to not get in the postseason and go for a championship. That’s why you play the game.”

The message from Bochy was simple.

“He was like, if we’re going to be a championship team, act like it,” catcher Jonah Heim said.

The Rangers open a three-game series Monday night against the St. Louis Cardinals with Martín Pérez (6-1, 4.43) on the mound. The Redbirds counter with Adam Wainwright (2-1, 6.15) for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch at Globe Life Field.

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