The 2013 Major League Baseball Season is officially underway.The first game was the brand new rivalry between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. The Astros are beginning their first season in the American League West after being a National League team for their first 50 years as a franchise.

The Astros opened in style by blasting the Texas Rangers 8-2 at Minute Maid Park in Houston last night. The big questions for Rangers fans is: was that a fluke or a sample of what is to come this baseball season. The Rangers looked a bit lost last night and unable to produce runs.

Texas may have let the heart and soul of their team get away during the off season. No longer in Arlington are stars Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, and Mike Napoli. Besides giving up a lot of offensive fire power, the Rangers gave up their team leaders during the winter.

Sometimes, just as important as what is going on on the field, is what is going in the dugout and clubhouse. Losing three team leaders is bound to hurt the Rangers, not only physically on the field but mentally as well.

Texas got into the World Series two years in a row and lost to the Cardinals in heartbreaking fashion before a collapse late last season that saw the team lose to Baltimore in a special playoff game to determing the final Wild Card berth.

Will that and losing key players signal a long season for the Rangers or do they have enough talent to still contend for a title? Only time will tell, but it was not a very promising start last night.

ladybugbkt/flickr
ladybugbkt/flickr
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