What are their chances of returning to the postseason? Are A-Rod and the other new pickups enough to get them back in the playoffs after a dismal 71-91 record in 2000?

Let's start by examining their numbers in some key statistical categories in the past two seasons.

As you can see, the Rangers fell off in every one of these areas. Their pitching was particularly awful last season, ranking last in the AL in ERA.

A-Rod certainly gives the offense a tremendous boost. He hit 27 more home runs than Royce Clayton a year ago, the Rangers' 2000 shortstop. Added to the team's 2000 figures, that would make 200 home runs and increase the team's slugging percentage significantly. That doesn't take into account additional power from Galarraga and Caminiti. Furthermore, they'll have Ivan Rodriguez back after he missed much of last season.

With these boppers, along with Rafael Palmeiro and Rusty Greer, the new-look offense could certainly return to its 1999 level.

What about the pitching? They probably should get better performances from youngsters like Matt Perisho (7.37 ERA in 2000), Doug Davis (5.38) and Ryan Glynn (5.58). Darren Oliver (2-9, 7.42) can't be any worse.

Aside from signing Mark Petkovsek, they haven't done much to improve in this area. And it's almost certain that John Wetteland won't be back. Of course, there's still plenty more time this offseason to make some moves.

Even if the Rangers do add some mound help, can they bounce back enough to reach the postseason?

Since the 1981 split season, 89 teams have lost 90 or more games. Only seven of them (7.9 percent) made it to the playoffs in the following season.

One encouraging sign for the Rangers is that such turnarounds are becoming more commonplace. The 1997 Giants, 1998 Cubs, and 1999 Diamondbacks all pulled off this feat in consecutive seasons. And each of those teams lost at least 94 games in the previous year!

The Rangers have one advantage over these teams -- at least they have been playoff caliber in recent history. They easily won the AL West with a 95-67 record in 1999.

Though it's been all downhill since they were swept in the Division Series by the Yankees, the Rangers have experienced recent success. None of the teams in the chart was even above .500 two years before their breakthrough season. In fact, they averaged a 74-88 record.

Nobody went from 90 losses to the postseason last season. However, the Cardinals and White Sox came reasonably close. Both teams had gone 75-86 in 1999. They won their divisions by healthy margins in 2000.

There isn't much of a parallel between the White Sox and Rangers. However, the Cardinals' situation is somewhat similar. The 1999 Cards, like the 2000 Rangers, had some key players hurt. They also made several aggressive offseason moves, which certainly paid off.

Furthermore, the Rangers can gain some confidence from the fact that they achieved a similar turnaround only a few years ago. In 1996, they captured the AL West with a 90-72 record. They stumbled to 77-85 the next year, only to bounce back and win the division again in 1998.

Of course, they didn't fall quite as far that time, so the rebound was not as difficult a task. But shortstops that hit 41 home runs, drive in 132 runs, and have slugging percentages over .600 make that task a bit easier. A-Rod alone certainly can't do it. However, this team has a very good chance of bouncing back, especially if they can add another arm or two.