Rangers continue torrid pace in April

So much for that difficult schedule the Rangers were supposed to run into early in the season.

In the last nine games against elite American League teams (Detroit, Boston, New York), the Rangers are 7-2. Texas played six of those games on the road.

The Rangers now sit at 15-4 (tied for best start to a season in franchise history), far and away the best record in the AL. No other team has more than 11 victories right now.

This team is very, very good.

5 Rangers opening week observations

Many baseball prognosticators did not choose the Texas Rangers to make a third straight World Series appearance this season.

They saw what Anaheim did by adding Albert Pujols; they loved what Detroit shelled out for Prince Fielder; the Yankees are the Yankees; the Rays have arguably the best starting pitching in the majors; the Red Sox have a potent lineup.

Yet, after 11 games to start the 2012 season, it's the Rangers who flaunt the best record in the AL at 9-2.

The time is now: Time for Opening Day

The opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday and Friday signifies complete sports-watching mayhem and gets the adrenaline pumping pretty quickly. Similarly, the first Sunday of the NFL season riles everyone up with excitement after a seven-month football layoff.

For the past few years, however, my preference is Major League Baseball's Opening Day. No other sports opening day can match the excitement I experience when the first pitch is thrown to jump start another baseball season.