The deflation of the talent pool continues.

In 2010, the Texas Rangers had six players make the All-Star team roster: Josh Hamilton and Vlad Guerrero as starters along with Cliff Lee, Neftali Feliz, Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus

The 2011 All-Star team featured five Rangers: Adrian Beltre and Josh Hamilton started. Alexi Ogando, C.J. Wilson, and Michael Young were reserves.

In 2012, it was pretty much a Texas Rangers game, with the team sending eight players. Mike Napoli, Adrian Beltre, and Josh Hamilton started.  Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, Joe Nathan, Elvis Andrus, and Ian Kinsler rounded out the Rangers contingent.

Then the long, slow decline to being the Padres set in.

2013 saw only two Rangers, no starters. Yu Darvish and Nelson Cruz.

Two again in 2014. Darvish and Beltre. Neither started.

By 2015 the talent level had dried up so that only one Ranger made it: Prince Fielder, as a reserve

Ian Desmond and Cole Hamels made it in 2016.

In 2017 there wasn’t a single qualified Rangers candidate. The rules, however, state that at least one player from every team must be chosen. That was Yu Darvish. He didn’t get into the game.

Which leads to this year. Again, only one Ranger made it. Shin-Soo Choo.

Look at the other lost teams in the American League. The Royals and Orioles, at least, can boast about having a starting position player in Salvador Perez and Manny Machado.

The All-Star game is, of course, not the be all end all in evaluating talent. But it seems to be a darn good barometer.

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TODAY’S GAME:

Game time: 6:30