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Oh shit The record number of shutouts. The total use of seven starters. The five primary starters all reaching at least 13 wins. The consistency and, sometimes, dominance.
It's all we will talk about much like we talk about heat in reference to the summer of 1980.
It was the year for pitching.
What is also happening is hitting. The Rangers shrunk the magic number to four last night in a 7-2 win over the Oakland Athletics. They are 40-36 on the road and a remarkable 33-16 against AL West opponents. That is the reason they are in first place.
What we are seeing in the line-up is bashing of the highest order. We're getting arguable career years from maybe three years, simply great years from two or three others, they've improved production at three positions and that doesn't account for all the timely and much-needed support from guys like Dave Murphy, Endy Chavez, Andres Blanco and other fill-ins.
The damage report:
Mike Napoli
Another pair of hits and walks for Nap last night. Has matched or exceeded totals for every offensive category while only having his third most at-bats in a season. Most remarkable are the walks. He has 56 and his career high was 42 before. A much more well-rounded hitter now and that helps in forcing pitchers to make mistakes, which he punishes with regularity. He's hitting .319 with a .416 OBP. His OPS is 1.034.
Mike Young
Being a whiney baby elongated Young's career and probably severely increased his shot at 3,000 hits. Young's hitting .333, which is nothing really new. What is new is the 201 hits, thanks to three last night. He hadn't each the 200-hit mark since 2007 and could make a run at his career high, 221. Also, the move in the line-up has suited him. He's awesome protection for Josh Hamilton. He's raked in a career-high 104 RBI. He's also probably going to approach 160 games played, which at shortstop and third base was not an option as he was always getting hurt.
Josh Hamilton
Yes, it's a "disappointing" season in only a way Hamilton can be "disappointing" and only on a division-leading ballclub. Despite missing a month, he's bashed 30 doubles, 23 homers and driven in 91. In a league that includes B.J. Upton, I'll live with the "disappointing" Josh Hamilton.
Adrian Beltre
I'm sorry. I'm sorry to Beltre, Jon Daniels and the Texas Rangers. I'm sorry I doubted him. In about 130 less at-bats -- thanks to a series of nicks and dings -- Beltre's matched or darn-near-matched last year's contract-year totals in homers, RBI and runs scored. Meanwhile, plying a salty glove at the hot corner, over-cussing in the dugout and farting.
Yorvit Torrealba
I know his numbers are overshadowed by Nap's, but if you told me you'd get 27 doubles and a .271 average out of Torrealba -- in addition to his value behind the plate -- I would have taken it in a heartbeat.
Ian Kinsler
Ignore the average, appreciate the greatness: 114 runs - 33 doubles - 29 homers - 25 steals - 73 RBI - 84 BBs - 71 Ks. And if he doesn't win a Gold Glove, it'll shock the world.
Oh, and Derek Holland is good too.
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