Looking strictly by statistics, it's hard to see why Texas has been so successful this season. Middle of the road in team batting average, runs scored and ERA (the stats most commonly associated with a winning ball club), the Rangers are finding a way to make it work, posting the American League's second-best record going into Sunday's game with the Boston Red Sox.
Weak Division
The most logical thing to do is to look at the schedule and it's easy to see that Texas has not had the hardest of runs over the first half of the season so far. The Rangers have the benefit of playing in the AL West, whose other three teams have a combined record of 79-85. In their division, the Rangers have a 13-3 record, including five consecutive wins over the Seattle Mariners.
Soft Schedule
Outside of the AL West, the Rangers' schedule leaves a lot to be desired. A sweep of Cleveland early in the season and taking three of a four-game set with Baltimore in late April certainly boost the winning percentage. A three-game interleague series sweep over Houston was another cakewalk. Against quality opponents, the Rangers have struggled against quality opponents, such as the Tigers, who swept them, the Yankees, who have taken four of six recently.
Interleague Could Keep it Going
The interleague schedule coming up for Texas could benefit them and help them keep a hold of that divisional lead. After taking on the floundering Toronto Blue Jays in AL action, they take on a tough LA Dodgers team that has been surprisingly good without Manny Ramirez. But after that, they take on Houston, San Francisco, Arizona and San Diego. Only one of those teams has a winning record and one of them has already fired its manager.
Will it Catch Up With Them?
It seems like eventually the bubble will have to burst. Other than Kevin Millwood, the Texas starters appear more than shaky. Vicente Padilla (5.57 ERA going into Sunday's start) actually was waived by the team, but came back to them after no one bit. Scott Feldman has shown promise as a starter, going 5-0 and dropping his ERA from 12.15 to 3.79 since taking a spot in the rotation. But he's still a pitcher with a 12-13 record coming off a season with a 5.29 ERA, acting primarily as a starter. Pitching still wins in this league and it just doesn't seem the Rangers have enough of it.
