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By the hammer of ThorThe Rangers won again, 6-3, sweeping a two-game set in Boston running their record to 10-2 and win streak to six games.
The Rangers have 150 games of grind left and by all appearances it doesn't look like the pace of winning is going to wan very much. This team is terribly good, well put together. They are going to win a lot of games. They are probably the best team in professional baseball.
Yes, the Texas Rangers.
Find me a weakness and I'll point to three strengths. Unlike the previous two pennant-winning seasons, the Rangers are, so far, not finding different ways of beating you. They beat you the same way night after night.
The pitching remains spectacular. Derek Holland won his second game going seven strong allowing just two runs, four hits and striking out seven. Opponents are hitting .164 against him. Righties are hitting .140. If you don't think Holland takes things seriously, look at the nastiness he threw to Nick Punto with a runner on second, two outs in the seventh.
Although I don't understand why Joe Nathan is pitching with four-run leads, the bullpen was still good. Alexi Ogando is just magnificent.
Then the offense. Mike Napoli's in a zone like no other. Like, if you had to compare "zones," Napoli's could be more destructive than anyone else's "zone." For one, he's at the bottom of the order, so you're getting production there. And he just obliterates the ball. Four homers, 10 RBI and his average has jumped from .077 to .273 in a matter of games.
Josh Hamilton might cause a civil war in North Texas. He's hitting .440 with 11 hits and nine RBI in last four games. Everyday, in theory, the price tag on his free agency goes up. The more he hits, the more folks want to lock him up. Truth of the matter is that this streak from Hamilton should no more change your mind or fuel any momentum toward locking him up more than a slump would have made you want to designate him for assignment.
Emotions can't drive this thing. None of it really matters outside of what the Rangers value Hamilton as a baseball player. We saw it with Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson. Right now, he's terrific. He's here. Let's not drag money into it.
The Rangers are playing a boy's game in easy fashion. Tonight, in Detroit, it will not be easy for them or for the starting pitcher.
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