There have been two Texas Ranger teams this season. One that absolutely demolishes the competition and one that plays like a cellar dweller. That team leave many runners in scoring position and it’s pitching staff can’t hold a lead. A lot like the Rangers of the 70’s and 80’s. The bad version of the Rangers was around mostly in July. I think had the good Rangers been around more in July, the bad Rangers who are here for the home stretch wouldn’t be that big of a deal because we would have a pretty large lead.
So now, which team will show up in Oakland? They both were at the ballpark yesterday. Bad Rangers in game one, good Rangers in game two. It’s not like the bad Rangers can only lose. All teams can be lucky and scrape by. Or play a team that is worse than they are. That will not be the case in Oakland. The good Rangers need to play all three games. Not just to win the division, but to have home field through the playoffs.
But first the matter of starting pitching. Tonight Martin Perez will be on the hill for Texas. He has pitched fairly well, but you can tell he isn’t ready yet. This is a trial by fire that I am sure neither he, not the Ranger brass, wanted him to have. The A’s have been not only the good A’s, but the great A’s since July. They went from the worst hitting team in baseball, to one of the best. The only difference between the other times we played them in the last month and a half and now, is that Mike Napoli appears to have finally shown up. Michael Young and Adrian Beltre left the nightcap last night with injuries. Not sure if they play tonight or not. I won’t even talk about Josh Hamilton, who has gone missing again.
Don’t misunderstand. While the Rangers clinched at least a playoff spot, this three game set with the A’s is the first round for us. We have to win two of three.