Could 2014 Be a Catastrophe for Texas Rangers?

Just about any other year, with five days remaining until Opening Day, I'm so sports giddy that shortly before I fall asleep at night, I recite the Texas Rangers batting order and starting rotation in my mind - maybe twice through for good measure.

Heading into 2014, however, I'm about as comfortable listing the Rangers rotation as I am on the Superman ride at Six Flags. Yeah - eek. The Rangers don't have much of a rotation. They have an infirmary. It led me to thinking on my car ride home from work:

Could this season be a complete disaster? 

As Rangers Enter Spring Training, No One More Important Than Yu Darvish

Photo credit: SI.com

It's a beautiful time of the year, when hope springs eternal for just about every squad in Major League Baseball. Four of the most adrenaline-pumping words in sports - "pitchers and catchers report" - appear on the calendar, just in time to look ahead to warmer weather, green grass, melting snow (at least here in Kansas City) and a brand new season of America's pastime.

It's common for baseball fans to look into their crystal ball and formulate optimistic hypotheses around this time of year.

5 New Year's Resolutions for Texas Rangers

I'm not sure how else to say it: 2013 was one hell of a year.

My work life also took a step forward in 2013, when I accepted a position as Senior Brand Content Specialist at CommunityAmerica Credit Union in Lenexa, Kan. After beginning my professional career in journalism, I've now been in marketing for more than two years.

Rangers Make Another Splash in Acquiring Shin-Soo Choo

General manager Jon Daniels and the Texas Rangers aren't messing around. In their second major move of the offseason on Saturday morning, the Rangers inked free agent Shin-Soo Choo to a seven-year deal worth $130 million. The development took place exactly a month after Texas traded for slugger Prince Fielder.

Talk about bolstering the lineup in a hurry. It's still four days before Christmas, and about two months before Spring Training. Considering how many moving pieces have already factored into the offseason equation, it feels like we're playing a speed game of Checkers.

Reaction to Rangers Trading Ian Kinsler for Prince Fielder

Naturally, when news broke of the Texas Rangers trading Ian Kinsler to the Detroit Tigers for Prince Fielder, I was in the middle of a two-hour advanced movie screening with no access to my phone (if you haven't seen "Book Thief," I recommend it). Shortly after I walked out of the theater, I glanced at my iPhone and noticed eight text messages and a voicemail.

"Big Trade" was the first text I saw from my college buddy Wilson. My mom and brother simply exclaimed "Fielder!" while my other college buddy Brett left a voicemail asking for my thoughts.

Wow. What a rush. Where do I start?

My first thought on the short drive home last night was to evaluate the specifics of the contracts. Fielder (age 29) has seven years and $168 million left on his deal, while Kinsler (age 31) is still owed $62 million over four years. Thankfully, Detroit kicked in $30 million along with Fielder to complete the trade, bringing the price tag on Fielder to $138 million over seven years. Overall, I like that price for Texas.

NBA Podcast: How Good Will the Dallas Mavericks Be in 2013-14?

It figures to be relatively silent in Rangers land for a few weeks with the World Series going on and the winter hot stove still in the preheating stage.

My sports attention is starting to turn to basketball. As a native of Plano, I've been a longtime Dallas Mavericks fan. In 2011, I drove from Lawrence to Dallas the weekend the Mavs won the NBA title. Best weekend road trip ever.

The 2013-14 NBA season is about a week away. So how good will the Mavs be this year? For that answer, I turned to my good friend Sam, who's as well-versed as anyone I know when it comes to Mavs hoops. Check out the podcast below: