Kins After some thought, it's an idea I can get behind. Although, Joltin' C.J. Wilson might have something to say about that.
Both were stellar last night as the Rangers guaranteed a tie in the battle for the Silver Boot in a 7-3 win in Houston.
Kinsler tallied a home run, triple and two walks. Just that pesky single and double short of the cycle.
Wilson was a single-home run-double short of a cycle as he had his first Major League hit. He also went seven innings of two-run ball.
Kinsler, arguably, has been the most consistent Ranger in the line-up. That might be definied as "consistently bad" but it's consistent nonetheless. Of course, his issue has been his road splits where he was hitting .123 a couple of weeks ago. That average on the road is up to .171 now after a seven-game stretch where he's gone 11-32 with two doubles, two homers and a triple.
Most notably, his presence is felt in the lead-off spot. In 103 games a year ago (his health this year should also be noted), he walked 56 times. In 75 games this year, he's walked 49 times. He's getting on base 36 percent of the time despite hitting .240. He's already matched his totals in stolen bases, homers, triples in 25 less games.
If Kinsler isn't this team's MVP, it's Wilson. When he takes the pill, he brings it. He hasn't gone less than six innings since May. He hasn't allowed a home run in 36 innings. He's not Cliff Lee. He allows some runs. Opponents are hitting .246 off of him. But at the end of this season, I expect the Rangers to do something for Wilson they weren't willing to do for Lee: Do whatever it takes to sign him to a longterm contract.
What I love best about those two guys is that they've gone half the season under the radar. If something's said about them, it's typically negative. Otherwise, they work. Others may get the press, but at the end of this year we might be looking back having underrated C.J. Wilson and Ian Kinsler.
Notes:
1. Neftali Feliz's game-saving pitch: An unhittable slider.
2. I love Yorvit Torrealba. Have I said that already?
3. Darren O'Day pitched again for Round Rock last night: 1.1 IP - 1 hit - 0 runs - 2 Ks.
4. The Rangers bullpen is screwed up or Ron Washington knows either more or less than I do. Why are your only reliable right-handed pitchers getting used in a 7-2 game? I'm no proponent of Dave Bush, but isn't that when you bring a guy like him in? By Thursday, Yoshi Tateyama and Mark Lowe will be unusable and they'll find themselves with Bush in the eighth of a close game. Haven't we seen this movie already?
5. Very satisfying night at the plate. Every Ranger starter got a hit. Twelve total. Two doubles, three homers, two triples mixed with two strikeouts and two walks.
6. Mike Young at 101 hits, on pace for more than 200. Fifty-one short of 2,000 for his career.
7. Josh Hamilton and Mitch Moreland's homers? Opposite field. Torrealba's double? Kinsler's triple? Opposite field.
8. The Houston Astros are fun to play six times a year.
9. There might be a better utility infielder in the league. I wouldn't trade Andres Blanco for that person.
