Jeff Banister navigates the slings and arrows that come with being a major league manager on a team where the wounds of Game 6 were just re-opened.

There is nothing more to say about yesterday’s game that hasn’t already been said. Blame has been duly levied. Responsibility has been deftly deflected. Fingers have been defiantly pointed and re-pointed. Rationale has been irrationally explained.

Was it the right move? Was there a way to prevent it?

It doesn’t really matter now. The crushing collapse of Game 161 is done. The Rangers blew a four-run lead in the top of the ninth to lose 11-10.

All the Rangers can do now is see if they can get past it. The manager said they can. The shortstop said they can. The announcers said they can, that this was no big deal, these things happen (once every two-thousand games, maybe, but they happen).

So, let’s see if they actually can put this past them.

Really, the Rangers have three more chances to win the division. Today on their own. Today with help from Arizona. Tomorrow on their own.

If they cannot get it done, they aren’t the American League West champions in so many more ways than just won-lost record.

Yes, yesterday’s stunning loss was damaging. But it was only one loss. No more or less damaging than games they let slip away in April, in May, in June, in July, in August. Every loss matters. Yesterday’s was simply more monumental.

So now it comes down to Cole Hamels, then who knows who else out of the bullpen.

But this is the reason the Rangers traded for Hamels. He is their big game pitcher. He is their ace. The Rangers have won the last eight games he has pitched. If they ever needed nine in a row, it’s today.

—

From ESPN.com, Angels batters vs Cole Hamel:

*****

IT’S TIME TO BREAK OUT THE RANGERS GOOD LUCK CHARM.

I didn’t want to have to do this, but the Rangers forced me to bring it back out. The Rangers were in dead last before the official RR3 t-shirt was created. After the t-shirt? First place. Co-incidence? Not at all.

Here is your chance to wear the shirt that turned the Rangers season around.

Available for the unbelievable low price of $15,* they are available in men’s S, M, L, and XL, in one color (a sort of periwinkle blue).

Wear your RR3 pride proudly. Because without the RR3 t-shirt, the Rangers would still be in last place, instead of hanging onto first by their fingernails.

To order, go to: cash.me/$ourkevinlyfather

(This is a secure site, created by the makers of Square. I never see your credit card info.)

In the box for “Optional Note,” type in your name, address, phone number and shirt size (if you want to add your RR3 name, that would be nice, too, but you don’t have to).  Example: Adrian Beltre, 1000 Baseball God Drive, Halloffame, TX 00000, Size: XL, For: dearmidol.