Want to know who leads the American League West standings after Day 1? As you know, it's certainly not your Texas Rangers, who several Rangers fans booed on several occasions in Monday's 14-10 loss.
It's not the Oakland A's, either. They allowed six runs in the ninth inning and saw their new high-priced closer blow a save as boos rained down at O.Co. Coliseum. It's certainly not Josh Hamilton, C.J. Wilson & Co. because the Angels blew a lead late to King Felix and your first-place Seattle Mariners.
Want to know how much any of that matters? Not a bit.
Consider the gut-punch that was the Rangers' inability to have a shutdown inning on Monday, and then compare it to what it must've felt like for A's fans. I think you win.
Relax, people.
Yes, the Rangers' roster, especially its pitching staff is a complete mess right now. But Yu Darvish will be back this weekend. Colby Lewis will be back shortly thereafter, and Matt Harrison should be back by the end of the month. If you get anything out of Lewis or Harrison, that's great. One is expected. If you get something out of both, that's huge.
If the Rangers can find a way to get Joe Saunders to the bullpen as their long man instead of Pedro "Bag of Nothing" Figueroa, that's a win. And that's almost certainly happening soon. If the Rangers could find a way to get Tanner Scheppers or Robbie Ross back to the bullpen, then look out.
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There's still 161 games left to play, and judging by Monday's performance, the Rangers' offense will be much better than it was last year, as evidenced by their eight-run outburst against one of the game's best starters.
Just chill.
