Royal Caribbean has The Ultimate World Cruise. It’s a four-month excursion that takes you around the globe, to some of the most remote parts of the world. 

Imagine that: four months at sea, visiting eleven natural wonders of the world, more than sixty countries. Far away from the hectic pace of the workaday life. Far away from traffic. From yardwork. From stress. From work and teammates and the ninth inning of a major league mound. 

For four months. Return refreshed, ready for another World Series run.

Instead of putting Jose Leclerc on the IL, or putting him on waivers, they should put him on The Ultimate Cruise. Leave behind his regular season blown saves and crushing losses, only to return again in October when he is somehow magically rejuvenated.

Leclerc has been a train wreck this season. 

Last night it was against a team that has already thrown the white flag on this season, 2025, 2026, and 2027, until they get to Las Vegas and encounter a fan base that also doesn’t like supporting an owner who doesn’t care to field a competitive team.

Opening day, he came in with the scored tied, got the first two batters out in the ninth, then walked two, setting up the Jonah Heim blunder that brought in the tying run that should have never been on base in the first place.

His second outing, he entered a tie game again. He got the first out this time, then walked a batter, gave up a single, walked two more batters, then gave up two more singles. Four runs score and he earned the loss.

His next outing, he entered the ninth with a 4-0 lead. Once again, he got the first out. Then he hit a batter, then gave up to singles. He was able to escape, barely, allowing just one run.

He earned a save in a 7-2 win against Houston, relieving Josh Sborz with a 3-2 lead. Sborz had already gotten two outs and had two strikes on the batter.  Leclerc got that last strike. Then he came out in the ninth and tried hard to give it away. He got the first two Astros out, then gave up a double and a single.

Last night, he fell to 0-2, his ERA ballooned to 14.40, when he gave up a one-out walk, followed by a home run, in the Rangers 4-3 loss the Oakland. 

If the Rangers want to cruise into the playoffs this season, they need to let Leclerc take a nice, long, leisurely four-month cruise. 

Let him have his adventures on the high seas instead of atop a mound.

*****

TODAY’S GAME: