New night, same story.


What exasperation looks like.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Rangers thought they could add Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Mitch Garver and that would move them toward contention.

Seager plays shortstop. Semien, second. Garver, catcher.

Not one of those guys pitches. Which is something that can be said about the pitchers on the Rangers roster as well.

The Rangers are back where they are familiar. Last.

Thirtieth out of thirty in overall team ERA at 6.08.

Thirtieth out of thirty in starter ERA at 6.99.

Thirtieth out of thirty in reliever ERA at 5.48.

Last in the American League West standings.

This is supposed to be a year of optimism and building blocks for the future. So far, after eight games, the only thing the Rangers are building toward is another low draft pick. And that’s not assured because of the new anti-tanking measures that were agreed upon in the recently completed Collective Bargaining Agreement.

You almost have to feel sorry for Chris Woodward. He has absolutely nobody to go to in any situation. He had a reliable if not spectacular Jon Gray. That lasted four innings. Everybody else in the rotation is either a work in progress or an impediment to progress. The bullpen is equally a mess.

So far, the only arm he can count on has been Brock Burke. It will just be a matter of time before he is overworked.

But at least Woodward gets to write Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Mitch Garver onto his lineup card every day.

If they could just generate seven runs per game, the Rangers will have a chance to win.

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