Orange County Register

A funny thing happened on the way to the big showdown in Texas this weekend — the Rangers fell apart.

Rangers MGR Ron Washington

With seven meetings between the two teams in the final 2 1/2 weeks of the regular season and the Rangers’ edge head-to-head (9-3 this season), there was reason to think these games would go a long way towards deciding the A.L. West.

Not so much anymore. The Angels’ latest division title now has the air of inevitability thanks to a four-game losing streak by the Rangers during which they were shut out three times and have one run in 37 innings.

The Angels’ magic number to clinch the division is now down to 11 and their lead up to 6 1/2 games (matching their biggest) as the series begins. We checked in with Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to get some answers about the fading Rangers. Check out the Star-Telegram’s Foul Territory blog.

1) Where has all the Rangers’ offense gone?

What we’re seeing now is historic ineptitude from the Rangers. They have never had a stretch of four games with only on run scored.

Hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo called a meeting for the offense before Wednesday’s game and they responded with one hit. They don’t work pitchers at all and they really miss Josh Hamilton and Michael Young.

2) What do you make of the Rangers’ 9-3 record head-to-head against the Angels this season?

For some reason, it’s a good matchup. Sometimes a team just has another team’s number.

Before their recent slide, the Rangers had done well against all the teams in the West. The Rangers have always hit Lackey and Santana pretty well, so that also helps.

(Santana won’t pitch in this series. Lackey will take his 6.12 career ERA in Arlington to the mound Sunday.)

3) What is the status of Michael Young and Josh Hamilton and how have the Rangers gotten along without them?

I don’t think we’ll see Hamilton this weekend. He’s now got tightness in his right glute, which has become a pain in the butt for the offense. You like that?

Josh Hamilton -- done for year?

Young expects to test things again Friday, and he’s more likely to play this weekend than Hamilton. If he does, he’ll probably DH because of his strained left hammy.

(Hamilton is telling reporters now that he might not be able to play again this season.)

4) Who gets the most credit for the improvement of the Rangers’ pitching
staff — team president Nolan Ryan, pitching coach Mike Maddux or simply
the pitchers themselves?

Nolan and Maddux have done a great job. Maddux really works well with the pitchers and there’s no doubt Ryan’s edict that the staff get in better shape has paid off.

LHP Derek Holland -- 7-11, 6.01 ERA

But it’s the young pitchers like Tommy Hunter, Derek Holland and Scott Feldman that deserve most of the credit. They have talent, and the Angels will see all three this weekend.

(The Rangers are scheduled to start Hunter Friday against Scott Kazmir, Feldman against Jered Weaver on Saturday and Holland against Lackey on Sunday.)

5) Do the Rangers really have a chance to rally and make the playoffs,
either by catching the Angels in the division or the Red Sox in the
wild-card race?

No. They’re timing is awful. The Angels lose three straight and the Rangers one up them by losing four in a row.

They’ll tell you they have a chance but with 17 games to go, they’d have to flip the switch on an offense that’s in a tailspin and have the Angels play about .333 ball. It’s doubtful either of those things are going to happen, even if the Rangers win their final two series against L.A.

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