The All-Star Game rosters were announced. Once again, no Rangers position player will be in the starting lineup.

Just like in 2021.

And 2019. 

And 2018.

And 2017.

And 2016.

And 2015.

And 2014.

And 2013.

In 2019, Hunter Pence was named the starting DH but he had to bow out due to injury. Other than that, you have to go all the way back to 2012, ten years ago, to find a Ranger named to start an All-Star Game. That year, there were three: Mike Napoli at catcher, Adrian Beltre at third, and Josh Hamilton in left. Hamilton started in 2011 and 2010 as well, along with Vlad Guerrero who started at DH in 2010.

Yes, it’s a vote. But mostly the fans get it right. It’s been a while since the Rangers have had a player who was among the best of the best.

Of course, they’ve had players make the team every year. That is mandatory. It’s a blinding glimpse of the obvious to state that the Rangers talent has dwindled as the Rangers plunge into irrelevance happened.

This year, the only Ranger to make the All-Star game is Martín Pérez. He is deserving. But imagine if he wasn’t. Who else would have been named? Remember, there has to be at least one player per team. Yes, Semien is playing well now but you don’t give a guy an All-Star berth based on a few weeks. Maybe Nathaniel Lowe? But he has the misfortune of playing at a position loaded with talent.

This entire season has been sold as a rebuild to something better. And it is. Marcus Semien and Corey Seager are All-Star-caliber players despite their down years. But after that? Mitch Garver never got to show what he could really do. An arm injury kept him from catching and really limited his offense. He played his last game of the season yesterday.

Yes, getting to .500 will be a significant milestone. But that is just a target of mediocrity. The more important achievement will be staying above .500. The Rangers are a long way from being good enough to be an over-.500 team, let alone a legitimate playoff dominating team. With the extra wild card, just making the playoffs is fine but you want to make a difference once you make it in.

The All-Star selection proves the Rangers are at ground floor of the rebuild. Their stadium has a roof. Their roster is just the slab, with no walls or ceilings yet.

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