Alright, this is becoming a real pain in the neck.
The Rangers suffer an injury. The Rangers lose. Rinse. Repeat. Groan.
I’m not a doctor, but I’m pretty certain that stiff necks aren’t contagious. But don’t tell that to Rangers’ manager Ron Washington, who has now seen three top players miss time with neck injuries.
Yu Darvish missed a start early in the season. Prince Fielder missed his third straight game last night. And before the 6-2 loss to the Mariners, it was center fielder Leonys Martin that walked into the clubhouse with an ice pack on his aching neck.
They’re all – knock on a bat – merely nagging injuries. Darvish is back to his Cy Young form. Fielder is experiencing weakness in his arm after receiving a nerve-root injection to alleviate his stiff neck. And Martin is only day-to-day. With Wednesday’s day game Fielder and Martin may be out of the lineup again, but should be back for the longest road trip of the season that starts Thursday against the best team in the American League – Ian Kinsler and the Detroit Tigers.
In other words, this painful season just may just get worse before – and if – it ever gets better.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
