This year’s losses, while mounting up, don’t seem as heavy as last year’s losses. Or the previous five seasons. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. And, it’s not an oncoming train.

Even in the 5-3 loss to Houston, there are things to feel good about. Marcus Semien and Corey Seager once again showed a glimpse into the future. A future with a potent offense led by those two huge free agent acquisitions. It’s a middle infield that’s vying to be the best in baseball.

With his stolen base in the first inning, Semien recorded his twentieth steal of the year. He has twenty home runs to go with that. It’s the first time in his career he has reached that twenty–twenty milestone. That’s the sign of a player who doesn’t just rip it and watch it fly. He gets on base, makes things happen, shakes up the defense.

Seager followed Semien’s steal with his twenty-ninth home run of the season, the most he’s ever hit in one year. 

It took them a long time for both of them to get going, though. Semien batted .157 in April. The guy who hit 45 home runs last year didn’t hit his first until the end of May. Since then he’s made up for it.

Seager jumped out huge the first two weeks, then took an offensive vacation in May and June.

If they can be in synch, they can do great things.

A lot of teams have had that historic one-two punch. Ruth and Gehrig. Mantle and Maris. Mauer and Morneau. Ripken and Murray. Bench and Perez. Manny and Big Papi. Trammell and Whitaker. Bagwell and Biggio. Mays and McCovey. Aaron and Mathews.

Hopefully, for the Rangers, in the years to come, it’s Semien and Seager.

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