For all of the Rangers' well-documented struggles and inconsistencies in 2011, I for one, cannot figure out a unanimous solution. There is no soultion because the Rangers aren't nearly as "bad" as the media and sports writers are painting them out to be. Anybody who follows our beloved Rangers knows that 2011 has been filled with more inconsistency than a blind barber. That being said, we're still leading our division with a 47-41 record. There have been pleasant surprises, led by Alexi Ogando's 9-3 record through 104.2 IP, with a 2.92 ERA. There has been models of consistency: C.J. Wilson and Michael Young. This team has yet to get everything rolling (excluding the 9-1 start). Maybe this sweep of the Orioles is the start of a run but I admit I'm still holding my breath. The Rangers have more to look forward to as the season progresses rather than feel wary about. Josh Hamilton is sure to catch fire eventually, Neftali Feliz appears to improve with every outing lately, Darren O'Day and Tommy Hunter have boosted the bullpen, Ian Kinsler continues to get on-base despite not hitting for a high average so he'll eventually get his stroke back, etc. This team has more going for it rather than against it. I think everybody needs to take their foot off of the gas in complaining about this team and slow down a bit. I know I'm guilty of ripping my Rangers but I have come to realize that throughout every road block along this path to the playoffs, the Rangers have still maintained a first place lead atop the AL West. This team is not as good as everybody speculated before the season began (A trip to the World Series probably bloated everybody's expectations). But I know for a fact that the Rangers can legitimately win a playoff series against any team, and in the end, isn't that all that matters?

Well stated. I'm as guilty as the next. I'm feeling better, because I think
they're on a swing upwards. I can see it in the play, not just the wins.
Hunter has been a nice add to the BP. 4-5 sticks are swinging better too.
That mid-season rest will do all wonders. The All Stars will be loose.
The excitement on how Daniels & staff will work around the minimal
pitching available, in trade, gives me a needed spark. I even feel good
about Holland pitching tonight. Pinch me.

Stop whining, if these guys rip off 8-10 in a row and then 18 or 25 then they will be a great team all of the sudden. You see it all the time as Atlanta was where our team is 3 weeks ago and now they are almost 20 games over...

This team has been blessed by a terrible division. It has the opportunity to take a Mulligan on all of its inconsitency, the hitting coach fiasco, the injuries to Ham, Nellie, Naps, Happy, O'Day, Big Game, and Scooter, and cruise to a playoff spot.

The playoffs are a crapshoot. Always have been, always will be. Odds suggest a "disapointment" if you expect nothing less than what was done last year (WS trip) or better. Only a 25% chance of coming out of the AL, all things being a coin flip, assuming they win the division (which I confidently believe they will, and have believed so every day of this season). This ain't the Bronx- success is measured in how many years you get a ticket to the playoff raffle, not merely how often you win that raffle.

Still, backing up last year's AL Crown with a back-to-back Division Crown, and possibly even an ALCS return trip, would be a successful season for me. It would say "winners" and "team on the come". Following that up with some exciting promotions out of the system and within the team in 2012 (Feliz to the rotation, Scheppers and Ramirez and Leonys Martin to the Big Club) and maybe a big FA signing would only represent a further signal that all is well in Rangerland.

A tweak here and there, maybe a setup RP for the expendable Borbon, maybe a decent MORP possibly for Chris Davis, and that's all there really is to do as far as getting this team ready for the playoffs.

There's no one out there I fear in a 5- or 7-game series, and no one I think this Rangers club can't beat, although there are teams out there that are better than Texas. Win the Division. Punch your ticket for the dance for the second year in a row. Keep signing those hot prospects, filling the pipeline. Never again rebuild. Just keep on reloading. Titles will come in time with that strategy.

I agree 100% with the OP. Outside of the game we blew this past Sunday, I had kept myself off of the ledge and fully submersed in the red, white, and blue koolade. I've been saying all year that there is as much talent on our roster as anyones and it's just a matter of the players getting that fire in their belly every night again before we take off. I seriously think this team knows how good it is and they have been guilty of coasting a bit after the hot start. Hopefully we can build a decent lead this summer then flip the switch in the playoffs again. We have at least 3 legitimate bats that can put the team on their backs and carry it thru a short series...lighting in a bottle. Like I have also said before, I am going to enkoy the ride either way because this inconsistent bunch still beats the hell out of what we had to watch the past decade...

It's Time...again

Here's the deal for me with this team. Despite the cries for a TORP, I'd be hard pressed to name another team that's had 5 starters make the number of starts that the Ranger 5 had. The bullpen's been bad but to me the season came down to a couple of lineup probelms. If

Kinsler was going to hit .230
Cruz was going to hit .220
Murphy was going to hit .230 and drive in two runs a month.
Napoli was going to hit .215 and
Torrealba was going to hit .215 and Beltre was going to hit .250.
If all those things were going to continue then nothing else matters. But they've all raised their averages the last 10 days and things look a little better.