Rangers-Angels: Weren't We Just Here?

We know the Rangers are better than the crappy Mariners and A's. Now can they put away the AL West's second-best team, the Angels? Fresh off a sweep in Oakland that improved them to 19-7 against the division's two cellar-dwellers, the Rangers tonight can begin winning the West. But, come to...

By Richie Whitt

August 15, 2011

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We know the Rangers are better than the crappy Mariners and A's. Now can they put away the AL West's second-best team, the Angels?

Fresh off a sweep in Oakland that improved them to 19-7 against the division's two cellar-dwellers, the Rangers tonight can begin winning the West. But, come to think of it, didn't we just have this conversation?

Yes.

On July 19 the Rangers headed into Anaheim on a roll. They had just swept an AL West rival. They had a 4-game lead in the West. They had Alexi Ogando on the mound.

Tonight, the Rangers head into Anaheim on a roll. They have just swept an AL West rival. They have a 4-game lead in the West. They have Alexi Ogando on the mound.

Sunday in Oakland it was David Murphy, with a speedy assist from Craig Gentry, who saved Matt Harrison and the Rangers from blowing a 6-0 lead. Now comes a chance to put some significant distance between first and second place.

While the Angels went 2-4 on a road trip -- losing Sunday in Toronto thanks to closer Jordan Walden's Major League Baseball-leading 8th blown save -- the Rangers have won six of seven and are a season-best 17 games over .500.

The Rangers and Angels meet three more times at the end of this month and another three in late September. With their magic number still way up there at 38, it's too early to win the West.

But the time seems ripe for grabbing control of it.

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