Oh, Rangers, How You Tease Us

Am I falling victim to the same trap all over again? You know, the one where the Texas Rangers keep the AL West race close until mid-to-late August and then begin their fall swoon. But, for some reason, this season feels different. The Rangers aren't just bombing away on teams anymore, they're outpitching them and outdefending them...while also still hitting a ton.

The difference? I'm not sure, to tell you the truth. Health has something to do with it, considering Hank Blalock, Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, and Ian Kinsler all had their problems with the injury bug last year. Of that group, only Hamilton has missed significant time this year. Pitching also has something to do with it. Kevin Millwood has come on strong here lately, but the unknown guys have stepped up as well. Scott Feldman is putting up some very solid numbers, giving Texas a good #2 to back up Millwood. Vicente Padilla was throwing well, but his toxic demeanor and general disposition didn't sit well with the Texas brass, and they jettisoned him. I applaud them for that. Rather than tolerating his outbursts in order to benefit from his production, they decided to get rid of him and show the rest of the team what being a Texas Ranger is supposed to be about.

Let's not credit too many people without crediting manager Ron Washington. Ever since coming over from Oakland, "Wash" hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with management, but the players love playing for him and it shows with the desire and hustle with which they play night in and night out. His old-school ways have rubbed off on his roster, and the Rangers are now doing the little things to win instead of waiting on a three-run homer to put them ahead.

Heading into tonight's action, the Rangers were tied with Boston for the Wild Card lead, and 5.5 games behind the scorching Angels in the AL West. It's unlikely that they'll be able to catch Anaheim, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Rangers gave the Red Sox a run for their money well into September. This team has speed, power, adequate pitching, and a better defense than they get credit for. As long as the pressure of being in a playoff chase doesn't get to them, look for the Texas Rangers to be heard from come October. Whether or not they get all the way up the hill remains to be seen; but this is certainly a different outfit than we're used to seeing in the past.

Or is it?

~~ Lank