What Has Happened to the Texas Rangers?

Arlington, Texas - Just about a month ago, the Texas Rangers held a seven-game lead in the American League West. After tonight, they trail the A's by one game.

Doesn't take much to recognize that it's been an awful month for baseball in North Texas. In fact, the Rangers were at one time 5-12 in the month of June, the worst mark in Major League Baseball. Ouch.

So what the hell happened?

Not much. Put simply, the starting pitching has been horrid and the offense has been nonexistent. I feel like the baseball version of Jim Mora: We couldn't hit the ball. We couldn't throw pitches. We didn't do diddly poo in the month of June.

PODCAST: State of the Texas Rangers Address After 56 Games of 2013 Season

The state of the Texas Rangers 56 games into the 2013 season is rather strong: a 35-21 record (best in the American League); a two-game lead over Oakland in the AL West; a 10.5-game lead over the Angels, who many had in the World Series; and a legitimate ace in Yu Darvish, the kind of guy whose presence is mandatory on a team that has deep postseason aspirations.

For more thoughts on the state of the squad, I recorded a podcast with my old friend Sam, who graduated from Plano West Senior High School with me in 2002. This is the first time I've ever recorded a podcast on the Gametime in Arlington blog. Topics on the first episode include:

• Biggest surprise, disappointment
• Team MVP
• Trade talk 
• Team brass relying on influx of young talent 

Enjoy (you may also download the .mp3 file for the road, as it's 36 minutes total):

How Texas Rangers Have Best Record in American League Despite Depleted Rotation

Three of the five starting pitchers the Texas Rangers hoped would form a robust rotation in 2013 are shelved on the disabled list. This setback would destroy many teams' chances of remaining competitive 25 percent of the way through the season. 

Texas, however, has defied logic in its ability to overcome a depleted rotation that's currently without Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis and Alexi Ogando.

Despite Offseason Criticism, Jon Daniels Building Texas Rangers the Right Way

It's no secret the Texas Rangers took a minor public relations hit this past offseason amidst a winter of inactivity that saw exactly zero big-money free agents sign on the dotted line to play in Arlington.

Media and fans questioned Rangers general manager Jon Daniels for standing pat. After three straight postseason berths - two of which culminated in World Series appearances - fans took a glance at the Rangers' financial flexibility and wanted to reel in a big fish to take the next step and win it all. The mind of the modern-day fan is programmed to think like a Twitter news feed. Give me that instant news, and give me it now.

The Yu Darvish Perfect Game That Wasn't

I was fairly certain that I was going to witness history in the making on Tuesday night, when Rangers ace Yu Darvish took the mound at Houston for his first start of the season. Darvish overmatched everyone in the Astros' anemic lineup, making it appear like he was pitching to a group of little leaguers. This was plain ridiculous, and I was loving every minute of it.

Darvish took a perfect game into the ninth inning, and it was pacing time. This occurs when I'm too riled up to sit down and must remain standing, often times pacing around my apartment in serious fashion as if I'm a college basketball coach during March Madness. I wasn't expecting to pace during the second game of the season. It's so early. But history was in the balance.

Reaction to Rangers Signing Elvis Andrus to 8-Year Extension

I'll be the first to admit Elvis Andrus has been my favorite baseball player for the past three or four years. Therefore, when the news broke early Monday morning that Texas and Andrus agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth $120 million, I was ecstatic. The extension was in addition to the two years that he has left on his current deal, which means Elvis will likely remain in Arlington for the next decade.

Music to my ears.