Rangers Having Historic Defensive Year

With such a glaring flaw in the Texas Rangers' defense this year at second base with an unreal 17 errors from Ian Kinsler, one might thing the Rangers are having a pretty rotten year defensively.

But a look at the stats proves that's not the case.

A story from Drew Davison in the Star-Telegram shows the Rangers, who have just 80 errors this season, are well on pace to finish with under 100 errors for the first time under defensive guru Ron Washington. They currently have a .986 fielding percentage, which is tied for their franchise best set back in 1996.

While the stats say that, Washington said he believes last year's Rangers team was a better defensive one, and he referenced two examples of guys who have looked lost, at times, defensively — Kinsler and right fielder Nelson Cruz.

Kinsler has just been worse this year, stat-wise and eye-test wise. He had 11 errors last season and already has 17 this year. Cruz, on the other hand, has a better fielding percentage this year but has, on numerous occasions, looked lost in the field and has taken bad angles to many of balls hit toward him.

"Numbers-wise it says we're playing better defense, but I thought we were more outstanding last year," Washington told the Star-Telegram.

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