ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers have an optimistic new manager, a converted middle infielder taking over for a retired star at third base and a rotation filled with starters who have missed significant time following surgery.
First-time manager Chris Woodward is now in charge of a team coming off consecutive losing seasons for the first time in a decade, with a lineup full of 20-something position players and a rotation bearing promise -- if they can all stay healthy.
"I told those guys it doesn't matter what people say on the outside, that eternal belief is there, and they already have it," Woodward said.