I kmow NL teams have better benches. Ask the Rangers about playing St Loius in the WS.

With the pitcher batting and the need for pinch hitters and runners they do have deeper benches but I believe also have weaker starting nines not only because of the DH but because they spread about the same money to go a little deeper on the bench.

@Not that Eric: not all benches are created equal. I suppose an NL team has more of an incentive to have better guys coming off their bench, what with pinch hitting and all, but it's not like just because the Rangers are in the AL they should ignore the bench and fill it with Esteban Germans and the like. As you said, the 2011 WS was proof of our lack of depth.

Look at the A's bench last year. I'm not even sure who was a "bench" player and who wasn't, because they all got to play on a fairly regular basis, and none of them were like German at the plate (meaning an all-but-guaranteed out), even if a number of them weren't particularly imposing. But by the end of the season they were all doing respectably. The distinction between "starter" and "bench" was blurred.

That's what I'd like to see from the Rangers this year. I don't think we will, but it's what I'd like to see. Instead, we'll probably have another Gonzalez clone and Snyder or someone like that. As you guys may recall if you think back far enough, though, Snyder wasn't doing that badly when he got to play on a (reasonably) regular basis. I don't remember Gonzalez doing very well, except selling that suicide squeeze, but he might also have done a little better if he'd played more regularly.

But that's not what we'll probably see. Wash seems to have a clear distinction between starters and bench players - I believe he called them stallions and ponies (no, that's not condescending at all) - and it's not easy for the designation to be changed. And I fear that, even if there are not many injuries, will be something that holds the Rangers back this year.

My opinion that 'players in the AL are not as versatile .....' is just the opposite for an obvious reason. The trend because of the DH in the AL is to go with 12 arms and this creates a 4 man bench and thus demands versatility. If the statement was the 'better benches' then I would trend towards the NL for the obvious reasons; 5 players to 4. This has been one of the better threads in a good time, got many involved with a lot of solid thoughts and opinions. THANK YOU, SR.

Benches are overrated.

Yes Eric, until a bench loses you a key game in the playoffs and then that team should have paid greater attention to their bench, but now it is to late.

OR let me give you a reverse what if thought to that: what if Gentry was inserted in the bottom of the 9th for defensive purposes for Nelson Cruz in right field?

What if every pterodactyl was pink? What would happen if elephants started eating people? Have you ever thought about it?

I think Gentry was in center. Word is, Endy thought he was going in, and then he was called back at the last second.

Benches have always been a big asset of the NYY and have won them many championships.
It's basically lost two for the Rangers.

Endy had pinch hit for Mike Adams (RP) in the 9th... Wash and his coaches considered leaving Endy in and having the new pitcher (Feliz) take Cruz' place in the batting order.

Make that change and a lot of angst probably goes away. Of course, there is no guarantee - Endy could have misread the ball and run in or took off for the nearest McDonald's to get a frappe. But, odds are, that one move would have been the Championship move for this franchise.

Les, you're saying the bench cost us a game, but it didn't. Nellie Cruz and a host of others did. "If we had a better bench, we would've won" has just as much merit as "If we had a better RF, we would've won."

Someone, somewhere wished Gentry replaced Cruz for late inning defense. If only Wash . . . .

@DDan- Cruz had no business being out in RF in the 9th. Endy Chavez (who is a better defensive outfielder) had already pinch hit in the top of the 9th, and should have stayed in the game, replacing Cruz, who had strained his groin running to 1st during his 9th inning AB.. It was a boo-boo by Washington. He seemed to learn his lesson though, because begining in 2012 he inserted Gentry after Murphy's 7th inning or later AB.

What about the pitcher? Does any blame get put on him? That was a helluva hit. He crushed it.

If Endy catches it, nobody remembers who threw it...

No blame on any player, they all did their best. I don't blame anyone including Washington. But as far as who should have been in right field, there is no question in my mind that Endy should have been out there. I questioned it as soon as the TV showed Nellie limping around....before heading to RF with a two run lead. I believe Washington knows that too, judging by the fact that to start the 2012 season he started using the bench just that way. I guess that just how baseball go though. Doesn't mean Endy would have the catch either, it was a well hit ball.

* Doesn't mean Endy would have made the catch either*