Texas Rangers in unusual spot: first place

By Ed Stoddard
ARLINGTON, Texas (Reuters) - The Dallas Cowboys' stunning new football stadium looms just across from the ballpark that the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball (MLB) team calls home.
While the Rangers have long lived in the shadow of NFL side the Cowboys in this football-mad town, baseball fans here finally have something to cheer about: a winning team that is in first place in the MLB's American League West, thanks to huge improvements in defense and pitching.
Their situation is in sharp contrast to the dismal season that the star-studded but underperforming Cowboys had in 2008.
It has been ten years since the Rangers made the play-offs and a lot can happen between now and the end of the season.
They have been on a roll though and have battled this past week during a home series with the Toronto Blue Jays, getting shelled 9-0 on Tuesday. Wednesday's showdown between the two teams was rained out.
For now, they remain on top of the AL West. As of Thursday they were first with a record of 33 and 25 for a winning percentage of 0.569, 3.5 games ahead of second-placed Los Angeles.
DISTANT SECOND
The Rangers have not finished the season with a winning record since 2004 but the strength of the AL West that year meant they finished third despite a respectable 89-73 record.
Last year, they were a distant second, 21 games behind first-placed Los Angeles, with a record of 79-83. In 2007 they finished in the basement of the AL West.
Against this backdrop it is small wonder that the team's performance so far this season has left fans pinching themselves and made the squad the talk of major league baseball.
"Have no fear, Texas fans: after suffering though eight losing seasons in the past nine years, the Rangers are for real. They are good enough to win the AL West," said one baseball writer in Sports Illustrated last month.
Players, management and commentators all agree that the Rangers' new-found status comes down to pitchers who are consistently throwing strikes and fielders who are consistently catching and stopping balls.
"It's pitching and defense. It's just a different feel this year. It's a lot easier when your pitchers are throwing strikes," said the Rangers' second baseman Ian Kinsler.
Last year the Rangers' fielding was catastrophic as the team led all of major league baseball in errors. As of Thursday they had had only 34 errors this season, 18th overall in the MLB and a vast improvement.
HAMILTON OUT Continued...
Source: Reuters