Can Rangers make another World Series run without No. 1 starter?

This Texas Rangers team, at least on paper, doesn't always pass the eye test as a World Series contender.

The reason: If the postseason started today, Texas would likely have a playoff rotation that consisted of Matt Harrison, Yu Darvish, Ryan Dempster and Derek Holland.

Harrison owns a stellar 3.04 ERA this season and is 15-7, but has not experienced playoff success. Darvish, despite 172 strikeouts with more than a month left in the regular season, still has major control issues (80 walks, 4.51 ERA, 1.42 WHIP). Giving free passes in the postseason is akin to inviting death himself to your dinner table. Dempster, despite a sterling 2.99 ERA, has been blitzed twice for eight runs since switching to the American League. Holland's ERA remains a shade under 5.00.

Live Observations from Rangers 5-3 win in K.C.

Kansas City, Mo. - I remember attending a Rangers-Royals game at Kauffman Stadium in 2005 as a junior at the University of Kansas. Back in those days, I was probably one of the only fans at the K sporting Rangers gear.

Funny how times have changed.

This past Friday (8/3/12), it felt like Arlington North during a 5-3 Rangers victory over the Royals at the K. I suppose consecutive American League pennants will naturally grow a fan base's numbers, but I felt like holding up a sign that read, "I still have a Hank Blalock shirt-jersey."