For six innings, Martin Perez was perfect.

For six innings, the Texas Rangers couldn’t score a run to support him.

That seems to be the reoccurring theme for 2022. Great in one aspect of the game, struggling in another. The offense just wasn’t there last night, or really any of the last three games in the four-game series against Houston.

The Ranger lost three of the four, and are now 2-8 at home so far this year. They play the World Champion Braves for three now. They just got Ronald Acuña Jr back.

The offense that got out of the gate so promising, and so strong, has now settle down to twentieth best in baseball. In the A.L. West, only Oakland has worse offense. Texas pitching is twenty-seventh in the league.

Wait, but I thought this offense was supposed to be so improved over last year’s dreadful offense?

It is. Last year the Rangers were dead last in offense. So far, they have moved up ten slots. But they still have so many holes.

Add on top of that the fact that Marcus Semien hasn’t started hitting yet, Mitch Garver was in a horrible slump, and even Corey Seager cooled off a bit, and the improvements this team did make haven’t come to fruition yet. Nathanial Lowe has been carrying this team on his shoulders offensively. And there’s only so far one man can carry a team.

Which explains why the Rangers have the worst team in the American League once again.

But Semien will eventually get it going. Garver, too. They have a proven track record. Just a matter of time. Guys like Willie and Kole Calhoun are another story. Adolis Garcia might be what he is. Power but not much else. Well, power and infectious energy. Remember, the Rangers don’t have a third baseman or a DH either.

So, we wait. We wait for the pieces that are here to materialize. We wait for the pieces in the minors to get fully baked. We wait for the offseason when the Rangers can further reload.

We wait.

It’s been five years. What’s a few more, right?

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