When the Texas Rangers signed Lance Berkman to a one-year contract, talking the veteran out of retirement, they did so with the idea he could help replace the production that departed via free agency, most notably Josh Hamilton as he'd be hitting third in the lineup — Hamilton's old spot.
Well, he's pretty much duplicated what Hamilton has done this year with his new team, but hasn't come anywhere close to what Hamilton did for the Rangers offensively last year.
Berkman was in a long, extended slump after getting off to a hot start in April and through most of May as he was just 16 for his last 87 at-bats heading into Yankee Stadium.
Prior to the Yankees series, Berkman got an extended break as he didn't play a second in St. Louis over the weekend since he could not DH in a National League park, but he was back in the Rangers' lineup on Tuesday and recorded a single, hitting sixth in the lineup.
The Rangers need more from Berkman than they've gotten recently. He's pretty much become a singles hitter and a guy who likes to take walks but has instead been striking out after showing some flashes of power early in the season.
The Rangers are still confident Berkman can help the team though, even if it might not be as an everyday player.
"I think that he’s managing it, and I think Wash is doing a good job managing it,” general manager Jon Daniels told the Star-Telegram. “When we signed him we knew it wasn’t going to be a 162-game marathon for him. I think he can be productive.”
