Blessing in Disguise

The Rangers just lost 2 of 3 at home to the lowly Padres and last night began a 3 game series with the Division leading Angels with a loss. The Rangers have 12 games left before the All Star break including 5 against the Angels (2 at home and 3 on the road) 3 against the hottest team (and maybe most talented) team in the AL, the Tampa Bay Rays, and 4 on the road against the resurrected Mariners. There is a better than good chance that the Rangers come out of this stretch with a 4-8 record. This could, and probably will, end most thoughts that the Rangers will contend for a Division title this year. The Rangers were at least a year ahead of schedule anyway but it's unfortunate because you simply never know when you might be back in a position to contend.

The good news: this should force the Rangers to become sellers at the deadline. Padilla might have damaged his value by giving up 5 straight hits in the 6^th last night (all of them shots including 2 homers) but he might have some value in the marketplace...assuming that Texas would pick up a significant piece of his salary. Texas also has an array of average major-leaguers on the bench that can be had for a bus ticket. Hopefully someone sees value in the left-handed bat of Blalock. Regrettably, that last statement includes his strongest attribute. The fact that he hits (in Ranger vocabulary meaning swings) from the left side of the plate is his biggest attribute. I think even Ranger management finally had seen enough of the all or nothing (most often nothing) swing of Blalock as Triple A call-up Julio Borbon took over DH duties last night.

The Rangers are also rich at the catcher position and there is always value there. Maybe a little overexposure this year has tarnished Teagarden's star somewhat, but just take a look around the league; there aren’t that many serviceable catchers that have the upside that he does. I’m not sure that they can get today what they could have last year, but he should have some worth out there.

I know the knee-jerk Ranger fans are always looking to move CJ (inexplicably after a 315 ft home run…CJ how could you) but this is one player that management should say hands off. He has wicked stuff and has shown he can close games, a rare commodity. He has the makeup and the stuff to be a top line closer anywhere in the league and he is just 29. This is fairly young by bullpen standards.

All things considered, the lack of offense and the swoon in June has been disappointing, but in the end it may serve the Rangers and Ranger fans well. The temptation to sacrifice a prospect or two for another bat or a starting pitcher has to be diminished by the play on the field of late. In reality, this team is more than one and probably two above average major leaguers from catching the Angels. Let’s stand pat and let the kids grow. Just wait till next year...oh yeah I think I’ve said that before.