Fourteen runs in eight games. Just when you think it couldn’t get worse, it can. In fact, it has. Ten years ago, to be exact.
In a five-game span the week of September 13, 2009, the Rangers scored a total of one run.
They lost to Seattle 5-0 that Sunday the 13th. Six hits, 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
They lost to Oakland 9-0 that Monday. Five hits, 0-for-1 with RISP.
They lost to Oakland 6-1 that Tuesday. Five hits, 0-for-11 with RISP.
They lost to Oakland 4-0 that Wednesday. One hit, 0-for-3 with RISP.
They lost to Los Angeles 2-0 that Friday. Eight hits, 0-for-5 with RISP.
Forty-five innings. One run. (It came off a David Murphy home run.) 0-for-27 with runners in scoring position. And this was a team that featured Michael Young, Pudge Rodriguez, Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis, Marlin Byrd, Omar Vizquel, Andruw Jones, David Murphy, and a rookie Elvis Andrus.
These were bona fide offensive threats. Actual hitters. And they went through what this current team is going through. Only worse.
So, don’t be discouraged. They eventually came out of it. The following year they went to the World Series.
Then again, that 2010 team had Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis, David Murphy, and Elvis Andrus.
Oh, that 2009 team led the American League in strikeouts. The 2010 team? Eleventh out of fourteen.
Correlation? Yes.
*****
TODAY’S GAME:
Kolby Allard (0-0, 4.15) vs. Sean Reid-Foley (2-2, 2.36)
Game time: 11:37