It does sound like Kinsler may not be 100% for the rest of the year, but jesus Alex Cora is not the answer.

The Kinsler injury plus Cruz's shaky health has me concerned about this team in the postseason. Without those two guys, the offense is punting 4 spots with replacement level hitters. This team is way too dependent on heroics from Josh Hamilton, and now he's nursing an achy knee.

I do too. I've gone from being optimistic about this teams chances to really just thinking that they'll need small sample size to be on their side to do damage.

The top 3/4 of the rotation, and top level guys in the bullpen I'm happy with.

But Vlad and Young have struggled lately, though Vlad has been better in the last couple of weeks. Cruz is hurt, and now Hamilton's hurt. They've got a 9.5 game lead. I'm fine with them resting for the next few weeks, and trying to get guys - especially Hamilton - healthy.

Because a lineup of:

C: Dreck
1B: Moreland
2B: Kinsler
SS: Andrus
3B: Young
LF: Murphy
CF: Hamilton
RF: Cruz
DH: Guerrero

is still pretty damn good. Trouble is that hasn't been the lineup most of the year, and I don't have any great confidence it will be when the postseason starts either. But they need all their guns to beat the other teams if those other teams are playing well.

Good commentary, Spivey. The dispiriting thing is not really that the team has weakened – injuries and slumps happen, that's life. The non-fun aspect of it is watching them bring in every bedraggled veteran known to man. (I'm expecting John F. Mabry any minute now.) Surely any random assortment of guys from the minors could have done just as well and been more fun to root for. Mitch Moreland has been fun to watch.

I'll exempt Cliff Lee from my "bedraggled veteran" comment, since it seems like he's just hit one of his periodic rough patches. It was pretty much bound to happen, but you can't blame the Rangers for hoping it would happen next April instead.

Because a lineup of:

C: Dreck
1B: Moreland
2B: Kinsler
SS: Andrus
3B: Young
LF: Murphy
CF: Hamilton
RF: Cruz
DH: Guerrero

is still pretty damn good. Trouble is that hasn't been the lineup most of the year, and I don't have any great confidence it will be when the postseason starts either. But they need all their guns to beat the other teams if those other teams are playing well.

Oh absolutely. I'm just hoping we don't see a lineup more along the lines of:

C: Dreck
1B: Dreck
2B: Dreck
SS: Andrus
3B: Young
LF: Murphy
CF: Dreck
RF: Hamilton
DH: Guerrero

It's almost difficult to comprehend just how incredibly awful the Rangers dreck-worthy players have been. They've been running out 4+ replacement level stiffs in their lineup every night for the past month.

It's almost difficult to comprehend just how incredibly awful the Rangers dreck-worthy players have been. They've been running out 4+ replacement level stiffs in their lineup every night for the past month.

Just in time to play the Rays - not the Sox when they were on fire - just our luck this season I guess.

Nice article Spivey - hope they turn it around

Actually, given the quantity of suction the Rangers seem to be exerting recently, it's heartening to look at the standings this morning and see that they've been 6-4 over their last ten games. Sure, that includes winning only 2 of 3 in Kansas City, but it's better than losing a series in Kansas City.

The silver lining: Ian Kinsler said he wouldn't be 100% until next year, but I'll be damned if he's not playing like it on offense and defense since he's been back. And Cruz seems to be playing well. Vlad has been solid, though not great, since his huge slump. And Holland was dealing last night, even with a bad strike zone.

The shitty players are just that, ####. Molina seems line a double play waiting to happen every time he comes up with a guy on first.

But if Hamilton and Lee come back healthy I still like our chances in the playoffs, recent crapitude not withstanding.

I agree, Spivey. I hope everyone gets some rest and tuning-up down the stretch and they don't kill themselves in pursuit of the elusive (and possibly illusory) home-field advantage.

Fear the claw.

Did they sign Kevin Von Erich?