Ranger Rowdy Report - First Half Review

Randy Galloway is fond of saying "watch the d*mn games" - his way of saying that actually observing a player and team tells you much more than just what's in a box score.

Having watched plenty of games this year, I think that definitely applies to the Rangers, especially when referring to their pitching and defense. I don't think it's as bad as the bottom line numbers suggest. And now, irony of ironies, I have numbers of my own to back this up.

Yes, the Rangers' allowing 5.8 runs per game is among the worst in baseball. But upon further review:

They've only allowed 3.8 runs per game in their 50 wins, compared to 7.9 in their 46 losses.

Take away the 16 times they been hit for double digits, and the average goes down to 4.5 runs allowed.

They've allowed less than four runs in a game 27 times so far.

This just quantifies what I've seen with my own eyes through the first half. Their defensive numbers are inflated because when they lose, they usually get hammered. But when they win, they often do keep the opposition in check. They haven't had to outslug their way to wins too many times. And they have won more often than they've lost.

This is what's to be expected when you have young pitchers. The kids who've taken the mound sometimes get knocked around, but they've also shown the ability to pitch in the big leagues. Only by keeping them on the mound can they become consistently better.

Which is why it baffles me that they sent Scott Feldman back down to the minors before the White Sox series. Of all the young guys, Feldman had been the most consistent, mainly because he'd stayed healthy. Somehow, his poor performance against the Angels warranted a demotion, even though he'd won two straight starts before then and had several performances where he should have won?

I hope this franchise isn't pushing the panic button yet again. They can't keep listening to the impatient fans and talk hosts who demand a guy be cut for having an ERA over 5 after only three months in the majors.