Does Ian miss Hurdle more than anyone? He is Mr Pop Up again. As much as i like Ian some days I think the place for MY is back at 2nd .

I don't know why anyone is surprised. When Ian is "on" he is seeing the ball well and pretty much jacking everything into the left field corner with an uppercut swing. When he is not "on" he hits a lot of foul balls and pops up. It's the swing - it's always been the swing.

If Neftali Feliz's attitude is going to be called into question, I submit to everyone Ian Kinsler. I watch a lot of baseball, and I haven't seen anyone around the league who acts more like a little imp than Kins does, at times. From the way he takes grounders at second and makes a dramatic pause, then fires to first (often barely getting the runner) to the way he looks like he doesn't have a care in the world when he pops up a belt high fastball. He stares down umps on throws down to second when the runner is safe, and while I liked his little skipping routine after the home run in the ALDS at the time, it's just another example of him being like the rich kid coach's son on your little league team. His attitude and professional demeanor seem to be regressing, and diminished performance seems like a logical result. Just one fan's opinion.

meh - poof

Get off of Kinsler, he was saying a lot of good things when the year started. He wants to be a better hitter, he wants to get away from the upper cut. I absolutely disagree that his attitude has digressed as I think his attitude is much better than last year and years before. Obviously he is frustrated with his slump, and who wouldn't be.

I find it pretty funny that this post comes on the same day Kinsler got three htis. He has also been heating up for the last 5 or 6 games I believe.

Fans always want to bash on players who aren't performing in the moment. Baseball is a long season, its a strange sport, and you just have to wait it out.

that should have been 4 hits and not three

I'm not saying he is not a good player... he could very well hit .300 this year with 30 HR and 30 SB (I hope he does, in fact), same as Feliz might be the best closer in baseball this year... It just seems like a lot of folks were quick to jump on Feliz for not being available the other day, and calling his attitude or commitment or whatever into question, and I personally think Kins gets away with a lot of juvenile crap out there. Again, just my opinion, I'm not trying to tell you what to think of the guy.

For the past 3 years I have said to all of my close friends who are Ian fans, that he has the lowest baseball IQ out of anyone on the Rangers, and probably top 5 in the league. He makes dumb play after dumb play, and for some reason it gets over looked. Think about all the times you have watched the Rangers, especially late last season into the playoffs and seen a Kinsler brain malfunction. Oh and don't think I don't see him coming up with a lame injury in the near future if he keeps hitting below .250 once June starts....

He'll probably always be a feast or famine guy. It's not fun to watch when he's in famine mode. As for the field, his D is a lot better and consistent than it was a few years ago.

I think Kinsler has turned the corner, seems to be having much better at-bats again

@Tre ... as witness by tonight performance @ CHW ... I'd wait a few more games for announcing that he's "having much better at bats again".

I think the whole team misses Hurdle, except for Mike Young. Young was never a patient hitter and he's thriving under the Bosley "drive-a-pitch" method. But I'm not down on Kinsler. He's seeing pitches and taking walks. He's put some bad swings on pitches out of the zone. He'll go an a tear soon.

There are a lot of streaky hitters in this lineup. There is a good chance that they will all get healthy and hot at the same time. When that happens, we can all go back to talking about the pitching.

Would start Blanco tonight and first game in KC and give Kinsler both nights off ... then put him back in the lineup for the second game in KC to ready him for PHL.

KInsler is struggling and needs the break so his futility every 2+ innings does not reinforce his frustration.

I honestly think everything with Kinsler has been mental. I think he tries to hard... (in a bad way) going back to his AZ state days living in pedroia's shadow jacked with his head. I think he just tries way to hard to be something he's not, and doesnt play his game. Last year was the first time it appeared that he was just playing his game, and ironically i think it was bc he was hampered by the ankle injury. Its hard to over emphasize on your swing, make bad steal attempts, etc when youre hampered by injury. just seems like every at bat he's trying to hit a homer insead of just trying to get on base. sometimes its so frustrating, cuz he could very well be our best all around player besides hambone. There's just something blocking him from taking that step. and I think its himself. just my opinion.

@DCAggie... "Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical." Yogi Berra

I stand by my assessment. Kinsler is passed the bad and nearing an upswing. Thanks for putting me in my place though, keep up the declaration moderating!

well. I take that back. sigh

The thing with Kins is in my opinion the coaching staffs fault. As much as I hate to admit it they need to use some negative reinforcement because positive is not working. They need to sit Kins for a series or maybe option him (not sure if they can) but they need to drastically get something though his head because the pop ups and the lack of hustle are driving most of us nuts.

@mhilgtx

He needs to sit a game or two, and i do believe i heard Wash say he planned on giving Kins a few days off during the KC series. We'll see

I think a little bit of Blanco always helps with middle infield problems. Once you remember there's a guy behind you who can play, a player's natural competitive streak kicks in.

I think Kinsler gets a tougher time because of the pouting and stupid mistakes that he seems to make more frequently than others. But so far this year he's been our 2nd most valuable non-pitcher: a +1.2 WAR, 2nd only to Beltre (+1.6).

No protection. Kinsler needs to be sandwiched between two big hitters. He'll get pitches to hit.

Right now, the pop-up isn't Ian's problem. It seems like 2 out of 10 times, he rips a double down the LF line. 4 times out of 10 he hits a weak GB to short, and the other 4 times is a mixture of other put outs. He needs to stop trying to hit a damn homerun and just get a base-hit. Anybody who has been around the game for a while knows that you typically don't hit a homer unless you aren't trying to. When you establish a steady swing path and make good contact then balls start to leave the park. Every major league hitter knows that, but when they go up to the plate they get caught up in the moment and can't help but swing for the fences. Okay, maybe Jose Bautista can crank one out when he tries to, but that guy is just sick.

I think Kinsler will benefit from Josh and Nelly's return more than anyone else in the lineup. He looks like he has been pressing a bit and not playing relaxed and having fun. Seemed like last night was a step in the right direction and he looked a little looser. Having Superman back in the lineup gives everyone more confidence and lets them get back to their supporting role instead of pressing to carry too much of a load. You could see the energy back in the dugout after both homers. I wouldn't be suprised to see this team go on a tear the next few weeks.

I also think that if Kins hit 2 or 6 he would fare better than leadoff but that's just a gut feeling. right now I think I would roll this lineup out there

Elvis ss
Young DH
Hamilton LF
Beltre RF
Cruz 3B
Kinsler 2B
Moreland 1B
Napoli C
Gentry CF