What a difference a year makes.

Last season at this time, the Rangers were on the verge of sending six players to the All-Star Game. Five of them were named to start the game—Semien, Seager, Jung, Garcia, and Heim—along with Eovaldi.

This season?

Well, there certainly won’t be a Ranger in the starting lineup. Which is a shame considering they are playing the game at The Shed.

There will be a Ranger on the team. There has to be. In the ultimate participation-trophy-mentality, every team has to have one player. The rule came about a number of years ago to reward teams who don’t even try to field a competitive team. 

This year’s Rangers team tried to be competitive. They simply aren’t.

Marcus Semien will most likely make the team as a backup second baseman to Jose Altuve. Corey Seager might, even though he has missed a lot of games. Josh Smith is the most deserving to be an All-Star, but he doesn’t have the name-brand marquee value. He deserves it, though.

That’s it. 

Josh Jung won’t make it. He’s played only four games. 

Adolis Garcia has shown up for only about four games. He’s been missing in action most of the rest of the season. 

Jonah Heim is having his usual second half of the season in the first half of this season. Heim is a career .264/.317/.455 first half hitter, and .189/.260/.338 second half hitter. This doesn’t bode well for the rest of the season.

If any Ranger pitcher makes the All-Star team, it will probably be only Kirby Yates. 

The All-Star Game used to be special. It used to be a game to watch. Now, it’s no longer a game, it’s television programming. It’s an event. It’s over produced and underwhelming.

And, unlike in 2013, this year it will not be the property of the Texas Rangers.

*****  
TODAY’S GAME: