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Monday, July 17
Midseason report: Texas Rangers
By Andrew Ayres
ESPN.com

The Texas Rangers' season has some bright spots. For instance, if they don't pull themselves out of last place fairly soon, there won't be the prospect of a customary postseason loss to the Yankees to think about. It's time to take a look at the good, the bad and everything in between from what's been a rather middling performance.

First-half MVP: Imagine how bad the Rangers would be without Pudge Rodriguez. The catcher, who has a very good chance to be tallied as the best ever at his position, has put up the kind of numbers that continue to amaze (.363, 25 HR, 75 RBI through July 5). But there have been reports that Pudge is considering a position switch. Say it ain't so. The game's top defensive catcher would certainly prolong his career by getting out from under those pads in the Texas heat and play second base. There is precedent: he would follow in the footsteps of Houston's Craig Biggio, who was once a catcher but now patrols second. However, to give up the Tools of Ignorance would be a move that might hurt posterity's view of his career.

Biggest disappointment: Remember Jeff Zimmerman? Wasn't he the guy who started his pro career in France and then went to the Northern League and then, improbably, made the AL All-Star team last year as a rookie. He was unhittable. He set a Rangers' record with 26 straight scoreless appearances between May 25 and August 2. Whatever happened to that guy? The feel-good story of the first half last year has hit the skids. He's 1-4, with a 6.29 ERA (through July 5). He slumped late in the second half of last year and kept on slumping.

Biggest surprise: Luis Alicea began his big-league career in 1988. Since that time, he has never come close to hitting .300. Not even shouting distance. Best he's done is .279 back in 1993 with St. Louis. That makes his .316 mark (through July 5) batting leadoff one of the nice surprises in the team's rather sluggish first-half performance. Alicea, who turns 35 on July 29, will look to continue to make second base his full-time home. He's also on track to play his most games ever in a season, with 132 his high, set with Boston in 1995.

Second-half goals: Ranger fans might be asking themselves, "What's wrong with the standings. They're upside down." Last place. The Rangers? What in the name of Jim Sundberg is going on here? First off, trading Juan Gonzalez in exchange for no contributions from the injured Justin Thompson and limited help from others in the deal has hurt. For that reason, the main goal for Texas in the second half will be making a shrewd determination on when exactly to bail on the season. Perhaps the team can recover. But it might be wise to deal closer John Wetteland while his value is high.

Grade: -- Where have you gone, Todd Zeile?

(Scale: 1 to 4 baseballs; 1 = worst, 4 = best)

We told you what we thought of the Rangers' first-half performance, now you've told us. Here is what you had to say about what the Rangers have to do in the second half. 		 



ALSO SEE
MLB midseason reports

ESPN.com's All-Star Game coverage

Kurkjian: Stories of the first half

Ten second-half questions for the AL

Ten second-half questions for the NL

Midseason Feedback: Rangers