The Texas Rangers scored zero runs but the Anaheim Angels scored seven runs.
I hadn’t thought much about the Rangers all day. I hadn’t even really paid attention to the lineup when I was putting up the GDT. BZZR is finally on Roku (I can finally uninstall Poob!) so I got that working a few minutes before first pitch.
As soon as the game loaded up, Rangers Sports Network was showing a graphic featuring tonight’s lineup. I did a double take as my eyes darted to the bottom of the order and I saw that Nicky Lopez was Texas’ No. 7 hitter.
It dawned on me then that, despite being in the race for a division title in potentially the worst division since the strike of ‘94 seemingly rescued us from Texas’ first ever division title coming with a below .500 record, and coming into the night holding an American League Wild Card spot, the Rangers aren’t even that much better than the Angels.
Not when Nicky Lopez is batting seventh. Not when Austin Wynns is making another start for this club and he isn’t even the No. 9 hitter.
Not when Jacob deGrom can’t even go more than two innings because he’s hurt or really wishing he’d taken that trade to Atlanta. Not when the club can only muster two hits through the first six innings and just five all night, none for extra bases. Not when the team won’t use a challenge on a pitch fully in the strike zone. Not when a bases loaded comebacker to the mound doesn’t turn into an out.
The Rangers went 1-6 against the Angels in Anaheim this season. They’ve gone 3-7 against them in total. They will have a losing record against them this year. There’s only like 40 games left this season and victories against the Rangers have contributed to like 15% of Anaheim’s entire win total.
The Angels are pretty bad — they had the worst record in baseball until winning tonight — but sitting here in mid-August, the Rangers aren’t much better if they are at all.
Player of the Game: The Roku feed was pretty smooth.
Up Next: The Rangers fly up to Sacramento for the next round of shameful beatings beginning in the middle of the night tomorrow night.