Shin-Soo Choo has been performing at a high level all season and is showing exactly why the Texas Rangers gave him a seven-year deal worth well over $100 million to be their leadoff man for the foreseeable future.
Elvis Andrus was hot, then got really, really, really cold in an extended slump that forced Ron Washington to drop him to the bottom of the lineup. Now, he's back in the 2-hole and is picking up steam again.
There you go, this is how the Rangers' offense was supposed to look — two prime table setters to get things rolling for the heart of the Rangers' order — a cold Adrian Beltre, a frigid Prince Fielder and a pretty dang good Alex Rios.
Choo is hitting .328 and leads the league in on-base percentage at a .456 clip. He has seven doubles, a triple and has a team-high four homers with 11 RBIs. He's done it all. Elvis Andrus' numbers don't look nearly as robust (.255/.319) but that happens when you go through a two-week stretch like Andrus just did. Good news is, he's starting to turn things around.
Andrus is in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak, and over his last 11 games he's hitting .318 with five doubles, three walks and two stolen bases.
Now, if the rest of the lineup can get into the same groove, maybe the Rangers can cure their offensive woes all together.
