ESPN MLB analyst Tim Kurkjian recently joined Jean-Jacques Taylor and Will Chambers on 103.3 FM's "J Dub City" to talk about expectations for the Rangers this season. Here are some highlights:

What are some positives for the Rangers?

Tim Kurkjian: "They still have an ace at the top of the rotation in Cole Hamels and if he's right, he can still be really good. Adrian Beltre is still in fabulous shape and even though he's going to try and play third base at an age that few players have played for x-number of games at that age -- he is still very fun to watch. And I think the shortstop keeps getting better. Elvis Andrus has a chance to improve even on last year when he was awfully good. The other way to look at it of course is that [Rougned] Odor has to be, has to be better than last year. Because you can't be much worse than that. Joey Gallo showed people last year that he's not just a 40 home run guy, which came pretty quickly. He's a good athlete. He runs awfully well for a big man. I think he's going to be a great power hitter for a number of years to come.

"So, there are some positives on this team -- I'm just so used to always saying the Rangers will probably make the playoffs. I just don't see that this year."

What if Rougned Odor's improvement is only incremental this season?

TK: "Well that's not good. This has got to change. And this has got to change, by the way, for a whole bunch of major leaguers -- the strikeout thing is so far out of control. The whole "chicks dig the long-ball" swing as hard as I can to go deep as many times as I can gospel is going to wear out -- some of these general managers are already looking at this lack of production and saying 'don't tell me you're productive when you hit 21 homers' -- a 127 guys hit 20 home runs last year. It's not what it used to be. The Odor's of the world are going to have to get way better, put the ball in play more often. They can't hit .210 with 20 homers, they have to do more than that. I think he will, he's a talented guy. But he's got to make the adjustment with his swing. If he doesn't, they'll have to look at options after this year at that position."

Would one of those options be Profar?

TK: "Well I'm not quite sure what to make of him. Really, this is not the beauty of baseball, but it is in a way. This guy we were told at the futures game -- 'Oh my goodness have you seen this kid?" And I did and it was breathtaking to watch. But injuries and everything else have led him to this point. He's still a relatively young man and in baseball, sometimes that light comes on a little bit later than you would like. But eventually it goes on."

Jacques set the Rangers' over/under for wins this season at 67. Where are you?

TK: "Well Jacques is a little down on this team... at all times. I'm not real wild about where the Rangers are right now I must say. For a couple reasons -- No. 1, they didn't do much in the offseason, which we all know... maybe they're just building for the new stadium and be really good when they get in there. Maybe they're going to make a big run for Clayton Kershaw. If he opts out, and if he's available, they'll need every dime they can to lure him. I'm not sure that's going to work either. But, I also don't like the division they're in because the Astros are great, not good, great. The Mariners are a little bit better, the Angels have a chance to be much better. It's a difficult division they're in so I've got the Rangers as non-contenders in their division."