It's often said that the big bats of Major League Baseball are found in the American League and the slick pitching in the National League. Nowhere was this clash of cultures on display so prominently than in the last 12 games between the Texas Rangers and the National League.
The past few days have seen the Rangers face formidable pitching opponents such as Atlanta's Tim Hudson and Philadelphia's Jon Lieber, both of whom beat Texas. During interleague play, the Rangers have posted a mediocre 8-7 mark, and as of this afternoon, have actually been outscored 64-68. This stat is particularly eye-opening because Texas leads the league in runs scored with a total of 375.
And with a lineup full of blossoming all-stars, the hottest hitter in the lineup in the past seven days has been none other than the guy they call Shrek. In 23 at-bats, Kevin Mench is batting .478 with 11 hits and an on-base percentage of .538 — even better numbers than Michael Young. While Alfonso Soriano, Mark Teixiera, and Hank Blalock keep the runs coming in, Mench is on base half the time.
Which brings me to my point about Texas' offense. Sure, the cornerstones are in Tex, Young, and Blalock, who piece together the league's best infield. But it's not just these guys doing all the work most of the time. The Rangers have the Menches, the David Delluci's, and the Rod Barajases to provide backup artillery for the heart of the order. Should pitchers somehow get through it without a scratch, those in holes five thru nine are picking up the pieces. The scary thing is, they're young and they're going to get better.
On the flip side of the coin, it's all about pitching. Although Washington may not have it yet, Florida, Atlanta, and Philadelphia do. During the last 12 games, the Rangers are 5-7 against those four teams, losing the first five games against Philadelphia and Florida. Sure, Texas lost to Jon Lieber. But they also lost to John Riedling and Jorge Sosa who are not exactly Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett, both of whom did not even face the Rangers.
But give credit where it's due. Texas has begun to understand the importance of pitching. They share identical numbers with Philadelphia, but still have a way to go. Atlanta and Florida post a .383 earned run average, versus the Texas pitching staff ERA of .456. Florida's Brian Moehler is currently fourth in the National league with a 2.70 ERA.
The point here being, pitching can snuff out an offense. The Rangers have had a history of recognizing a big bat when they see one — just not a strong arm. That is changing. Despite the sudden departure of Ryan Drese, Young pitchers such as Ricardo Rodriguez and Chris Young are on the rise, lending help to an aging but stellar Kenny Rogers. No doubt, the team will take a serious look at further solidifying the pitching staff as the trade deadline looms. But Texas is finally breeding their own pitchers without neglecting their big bats.
This team is already a force to be reckoned with in the American League. Should they become successful in shoring up their pitching, lookout.
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