Joe Christensen's Sunday Insider: Rangers are riding high

Rob Carr, Associated Press - Ap

Former Twins infielder Ron Washington, left, almost lost his job as Rangers manager last year but is now guiding a first-place team, thanks in large part to infielder Michael Young, right.

Texas has continued to remain in first place in the AL West, as the team no longer has a void in pitching.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: June 21, 2009 - 12:14 PM

After the All-Star break, the Twins play 10 of their final 73 games against the Texas Rangers, a thought that sounded a whole lot better when the schedule came out than it does now.

The Rangers have been one of baseball's biggest surprises this season, holding the lead in the American League West for almost 50 days.

All-Star center fielder Josh Hamilton hopes to return from his abdominal injury by mid-July, and closer Frank Francisco, who has a 0.46 ERA, was activated from the disabled list (shoulder tendinitis) Saturday.

The Rangers always seem to wear down by late season in the Texas heat. But just last year, it seemed as if team president Nolan Ryan was ready to fire manager Ron Washington, when the team started 7-16, and after that, the Rangers went 72-67.

General Manager Jon Daniels, who was hired shortly after his 28th birthday in 2005, is often criticized for the four starting pitchers he let get away. Imagine if these Rangers had Edinson Volquez (now with the Reds), Armando Galarraga (Tigers), John Danks (White Sox) and Chris Young (Padres).

Yes, the Rangers could use another starter. They have been monitoring Ben Sheets' progress as he rehabs from elbow surgery, and they recently signed the ancient Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez.

But these aren't the same pitching-starved Rangers of recent years. Kevin Millwood, who is 7-4 with a 2.62 ERA, anchors a rotation that has been pretty solid. Scott Feldman (5-2) has been terrific since he replaced the injured Kris Benson, and Vicente Padilla looks motivated again in year three of his $33.75 million deal.

The Rangers' biggest move of the offseason wasn't a trade or free agent signing. It was the decision to move Gold Glove shortstop Michael Young to third base, to make room for 20-year-old shortstop Elvis Andrus.

Young bristled at first, but there's no doubt this made the team better. Andrus has shown above-average range defensively, and he entered Saturday batting .265.

Meanwhile, Young and second baseman Ian Kinsler, a fellow All-Star, remain offensive forces, and Nelson Cruz quietly entered Saturday with 18 home runs.

The Rangers' depth also is interesting. They have 11-time Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel on the bench, as a constant reminder that Andrus better pay attention to defensive fundamentals. Andruw Jones also is contributing after a disastrous 2008 with the Dodgers.

Scouts who follow the AL West joke that the Rangers' emergence means that the Angels might only win the division by 10 games instead of 20. But the Angels have had just enough pitching injuries to hold them back, and the Rangers show no signs of going away.

Texas is 13-3 against division foes, including 3-0 against the Angels and 5-0 against the Mariners. The Rangers also are 27-11 against teams with below .500 records. In other words, they are the ones beating the teams they're supposed to beat.

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