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The Texas Truth: Is Astros/Rangers a Rivalry?

Updated: Friday, January 25 2013, 01:03 AM CST
For years, the Astros/Rangers interleague rivalry has been forced on the fans. But now that Houston has not only moved into the American League, but into the Rangers division - could that all change?

Texas, who has played in the World Series two of the past three seasons, sent several representatives to Round Rock Thursday as part of the team's annual Winter Caravan.

Starting this season, the Astros and Rangers will play 18 games against each other now that Houston is a member of the American League West division. In the past, with the teams in opposite leagues, Houston and Texas met just six times each season.

But Rangers designated hitter Lance Berkman, who started his career with the Astros, says Houston needs to become more competitive in order for Houston and Texas to become true rivals.

"It's hard to have a rivalry when one team is far superior to the other," Berkman told reporters Thursday. "I think the Astros are headed in the right direction. I think you will see, at some point, maybe even in the near future - that you get to the stage that a real rivalry will develop."

Texas starting pitcher Derek Holland was hesitant to anoint the Astros a rival. "It seems like we have so many rivals," said Holland. "We've got Anaheim, we've got Oakland, it looks like Seattle is going to be a rival now, too. The West is just one of those things where you have to compete no matter who you put in front of us, you just have to go out there and try to win."

The Rangers and Astros meet in Houston to open the 2013 season March 31.The Texas Truth: Is Astros/Rangers a Rivalry?