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Get this signed by your parent or guardian and return on Monday They're 10 games over .500. A year ago they were 12 games over, but with one less win. The rotation, even with Cliff Lee, was not nearly as settled. Who knew that at this point the Rangers would have had just six guys (Dave Bush being the sixth) making starts.
When it looked like the Rangers might not ever been altogether healthy, it really feels they've been together forever. Nelson Cruz, Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton both had injuries. Darren O'Day, Tommy Hunter and Scott Feldman have all been mending. Colby Lewis had a baby as did Ian Kinsler.
Overall, there's plenty that could get better, but not a whole lot to really bit about.
A+
C.J. Wilson
I thought he was good a year ago. I think he's been great this year. On pace to snap his career high in innings, he's 9-3, his strikeouts are up, his walks are down, he still doesn't allow a lot of home runs (one allowed in June and two July starts) and he almost guarantees you a quality start every fifth day. At best, he's a second-tier Cliff Lee. Not the prototypical ace, but you can do a hell of a lot worse. Wouldn't trade him for all the tea in China.
Adrian Beltre
I may have thought Beltre's signing was a waste of money, but if you predicted this sort of output then you are a baseball genius. He's remarkable, to say the least. His average is up to .273 and he's knocked 19 homers and 24 doubles. He's driven in a team-high 71. He's not striking out a lot (just 34 in 359 at-bats) and he's providing Gold Glove-caliber defense at the hot corner. This is a guess, but I'd bet 80 percent of those RBI were important.
A
Yorvit Torrealba
Most important pick-up in the off-season for Jon Daniels. Has solidified the backstop and been a proven guide for the pitchers. Love this guy and I don't need stats to back it up.
Endy Chavez
He is not a long-term solution and he's not a guy that you need to pencil in into the line-up and forget about Julio Borbon, Leonys Martin, Engel Beltre or Jake Skole. He is, however, a great fourth outfielder and it took a solid year but he's paid dividends for the Rangers. Contract purchased when Josh Hamilton went down, Chavez provided an above-average glove in the field and a very surprising bat. For what he is and for what he's provided, he's exceeded any and all expectations.
A-
Alexi Ogando
Ogando is 9-3 like Wilson. His ERA (2.92), WHIP (1.01) and BAA (ridiculously, .213) are all better than Wilson. Why is he graded lower? Three June starts in which he allowed 15 earned runs in 9.2 innings. Otherwise, he's been brilliant.
Matt Harrison
Has seemingly gotten better as the season's wore on. Walked more in five April starts (12) than he has in seven June/July starts (10). After his ERA jumped to 4.59 after the May 1 start against Oakland, his ERA has fallen after almost every start until getting it to 3.03 yesterday. Proving he has the brains to be a rotation guy and is finally healthy.
Mike Young
I've got to admit, I think no one turns in more vacant numbers than Young. It feels like for every big hit he gets, there's another five at-bats where he whiffs or registers the final out. It feels like it. The stats don't necessarily back this up, but I prefer my gut (sometimes) over stats. There is little doubt the move to designated hitter has revived his career. He's on pace for near-record numbers in doubles, RBI, hits and more. He will get his 2,000 career hit in August or so.
B+
Ian Kinsler
Drew his 57th walk of the year yesterday against Oakland. This in 335 at-bats. He had 56 walks in 391 at-bats. Granted, Kinsler was placed in a position to hack last year and in the lead-off spot this season he's excelled. He's getting on base 36 percent of the time helped by a rising batting average now up to .251. His swing is looking better by the day. He seems healthy, happy and rearing to go.
Josh Hamilton
If he'd never been sent home by Dave Anderson, there is little doubt he'd be sitting at 25 doubles, 20 homers, 60 RBI and probably a .310 average. As it is, playing just 52 games, he's done pretty freaking good.
Darren Oliver
I love it when Oliver allows a run and his ERA jumps to 2.50 and everyone thinks he's over the hill. He'll be more effective this season with Tommy Hunter and Mark Lowe pitching like they are.
B
Elvis Andrus
When his head's in the game, I don't think there's a smarter baseball player on the team. He is the natural. Twenty-six stolen bases versus three caught stealing. He's only getting better.
Andres Blanco
Utility infielders come and go. Blanco has just been here two years and any time he is called upon. He delivers.
Yoshinori Tateyama
Most times the Rangers dip their toe into the Pacific Rim, they get burned. Tateyama's shown a little something. He's not a guy you want in the eighth inning of a tied game. Maybe one day. As for now, he's a solid bullpen arm with an inflated ERA due to a few bad outings. Has struck out 17 in 19 innings and walked one (1!!!).
B-
Colby Lewis
The No. 2 starter but the fourth most consistent (least consistent?) starter. He'll never post sterling numbers. He's your horse. The home runs (23 in 113 innings ... yikes!) and walks are a tad worrisome. The second half is a new beginning.
Craig Gentry
What I said for Blanco, I say for Gentry: Fifth outfielders will come and go in this game. You CAN have too many Gentrys. But one is perfect. Runs, hits, plays defense and doesn't mind doing most of it part-time. Did you know he already has 10 stolen bases this season?
C+
Mitch Moreland
Nothing wrong with Mitch. Just need to realize that this is his first full season in the Majors. Still a little growing up to do. Turns in the meanest at-bats on the team.
Nelson Cruz
Thirty-six extra-base hits and just 55 RBI might mean he gets a lot of those with the bases empty. Although he's hitting .290 with runners in scoring position, just 14 of those extra-base hits have come with runners on. Twenty-two have come with bases empty. And it's not like guys in front of him aren't getting on. If he ever turns it on with runners on, he'll drive in 120.
C
Mike Napoli
Ten doubles, 12 homers, 28 runs and 33 RBI in 52 games.
Chris Davis
He hit .269 in his two appearances in Arlington. He deserves another shot no matter how much most people want him to secretly fail.
Derek Holland
There's more good than bad here. Now's not the time to throw in the towel.
Neftali Feliz
Five of his 12 earned runs have come in non-save situations. Work for work's sake doesn't make sense.
C-
Mark Lowe
His season's taken a right turn smack into being good. A month ago, he's in the "Ds" or "Fs."
David Murphy
Getting yanked hither and tither for match-ups purposes and injuries probably aren't helping a guy that needs regular at-bats. Still working hard at-bats. Just not turning into hits.
Michael Kirkman
I think he sucks as a long relief guy. If he needs to start, trade him or something.
D
Julio Borbon
Got his job taken away by Endy Chavez. Now hurt in Triple A. Not the greatest of years.
Darren O'Day
Big doubts coming out of Spring Training as to whether the clock chimed midnight on this guy. Coming back from injury.
Arthur Rhodes
Rhodes couldn't get right-handed hitters out before and we're mad now that he can't get them out as a Ranger. Hmm. Sounds like its our problem. Righties are hitting .347 off him and lefties are hitting .212. What's not to get? Also, check out those home-road splits (.318 at the Ballpark, .263 away). I feel confident he can get left-handed batters out. He just needs to face them.
Dave Bush
Thanks for all the memories.
Pedro Strop
I don't know what Strop did to Ron Washington, but the skipper trusts him about as far as he can throw him.
F
Brett Tomko
Sigh.
Incompletes
Tommy Hunter
Cody Eppley
Omar Quintanilla
Mason Tobin
Ryan Tucker
Taylor Teagarden
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