My Top 21 Texas Rangers in the History of Ever

C.J. Wilson was superb in last night's much-needed win over Seattle. Pedro Strop is gone. Mark Lowe is back (uh-oh). Tommy Hunter and Nefali Feliz are getting close. And dazzling Cuban defector Leonys Martin is fast-tracking our way.

In the middle of a very transitory Rangers season I was asked by a certain TV station to list my all-time best players from 21 -- get it? -- to 1.

And away we go ...

21. Alex Rodriguez -- If he wasn't a 'roided-up asshole he'd be much higher

20. Cliff Lee -- Pitched Rangers to Game 5 win in Tampa for first playoff series

19. Jeff Burroughs -- '74 AL MVP

18. Julio Franco -- '91 batting champ with .341 average

17. Frank Howard -- Hit first homer at Arlington Stadium, then 245 as Ranger

16. Will Clark -- Grinding first baseman on Texas' first two division champs

15. Buddy Bell -- Best defensive infielder in history of franchise

14. Rusty Greer -- Did he ever catch a fly ball without diving?

13. Nolan Ryan -- Seventh no-hitter and 5,000th strikeout be damned, 51 wins rank only 11th

12. Fergie Jenkins -- 90 complete games, 17 shutouts and 25 wins in '74

11. John Wetteland -- All-time saves leader

10. Toby Harrah -- Original shorstop is sixth all-time in games played; second in stolen bases

9. Kenny Rogers -- Best lefty pitcher, by a mile

8. Jim Sundberg -- Third in games played, six consecutive Gold Gloves at catcher

7. Ruben Sierra -- Second in triples and one of the best OF arms in team history

6. Charlie Hough -- Chain-smoking knuckleballer holds every important pitching record

5. Rafael Palmeiro -- Steroids or not, he's third in hits and second in franchise homers

4. Josh Hamilton -- AL batting champ and MVP on franchise's first World Series team

3. Michael Young -- By year's end he'll hold mark for games, at-bats, runs and hits

2. Juan Gonzalez -- Texas' only two-time MVP 

1. Pudge Rodriguez -- Team's all-time best defensive player also among Top 10 in every offensive stat and won MVP in '99