John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
The surge of the Oakland Athletics has mirrored the slow and steady slide of the Texas Rangers. The result wasn’t exactly a mystery. When one team continuously plays a little worse and losses games they should win, they eventually lose their standing in the division. The Rangers have done just that and with the loss in the 18 inning affair on Saturday remain in second place behind the Athletics. What is the problem?
It isn’t really like the Rangers have struggled all that badly. In fact it is still surprising that they have lost three in a row now and four of their last five games. What has been a slow decline has turned this week into a steep fall out of first place in the American League West. The A’s have only managed a half game lead so far however and the Rangers really should give themselves a swift kick in the rear before the A’s get things together, reel off a five game winning streak again and put the Rangers two games back.
You better bet it can happen very easily. No disrespect to the Toronto Blue Jays but if the Rangers are the class of the AL West or the American League, as they were thought to be for a while, they should win the series with the Jays. Instead they have lost two games in a row to the Jays and find themselves ever so close in second place. They can see the A’s but just haven’t won the games to get to them. Sunday is a big game for the Rangers as they need to end their slide now.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
