Does everyone really believe Tex and Mike cant hit anymore? I know its been half a year and Tex is looking more and more like he's off of some special apple juice, but Mikes still hitting well over 300.

Granted the team played well in May but they didn't play well in April or June.  If they duplicate that over the rest of the season it would be two good months and four bad months.  Where will they be then?  The answer is .500 and that won't win anything in the AL this year.

Daniels will make changes; it's just a question of what changes he will make.  None of us can be sure what he will do but he seems to have a pattern of doing something.

I hear a lot of trade talk and Kevin Mench's name seems to keep coming up.  I think he's being mentioned because it seems he is not going to be a productive player here.

However, I'm sure every other team is aware of that as well.  They have video and scouts and ultimately you cannot hide the numbers.  Folks seem to think we can package one or two of our unwanted players for a productive player from another team.  That just isn't going to happen.

Getting better this year is going to cost a jewel or two from the organization.  If the club turns out to be a seller then they might net some good return, we can all look to Florida as a model of how that might work out.

But we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking the current roster can be one which wins the division.   The starting pitching is not strong enough which creates too much of a strain on the bullpen.  A strained bullpen cannot be a good bullpen.

People carp about the offense but the Rangers are outhitting the A's by a considerable margin, some 65 points of OPS.

The point being that the Rangers and A's are two different types of teams and it's up to Daniels to address the needs of this team at this time.  

Can he fix the deficiencies as they exist today so that the team will reach the post season?  Maybe he can, but does anyone out there think this team, even with any additions you might imagine, can beat the other division leaders and/or the wildcard team? This team doesn't feel like, for example, how the Mavericks felt at the half-way point.

If they cannot win in the post-season, and I don't think they can with today's roster, then why bother with some half-hearted attempt to make the post season in order to be swept right out?  

I think in order for the Rangers to make the post season this year the farm system will have to sacrifice some top prospects like Danks and Volquez.  

In order to win the division the Rangers will need to out-pitch the A's, not out-hit them.

I mean what type of prospect should we shoot for in reality? Would a Scott Baker type pitching propect be too much to ask for? I know that doesn't make sense for the Twins but I am just saying that type of prospect or a prospect on the same tier as Baker.

Think about how every game day, Adam posts the lineups for the game.  Honestly (although it is an appreciated gesture), it shouldn't have to be that way.  I believe it is hard for players who aren't sure if they are playing each day, or in the proverbial "dog house".

Personally, I enjoyed the Rangers more when I knew who "the guys" were on the team, even if they didn't win all the time.  I don't want to watch the "revolving door" in the lineup, much less the team itself.  I don't get excited about a new guy coming up every other week.  Earn your spot and keep your spot.

Buck has done this stuff forever, and I am not a fan of it.  Anytime a manager has so many self-made options for his lineup, I become disinterested.  I like rooting for "the guys" on 'the team", not just any guy(s) in the uniform of the team.

I said it prior to the season, and I'll say it again (no matter how decent he has done).  Anytime you are finding ways to fit Mark DeRosa into the lineup each day, you are screwed.  He is what he is, no better, no worse.

I said prior to the season what I thought the lineup should be, and not much has changed in my opinion.  However, the ever changing lineup and the STUPID decisions with the pitching staff have turned me off for the past month or so....no matter where they are in the standings.  I find it hard to pull for "the guys", when I don't even know who the guys are.

Its a stupid system and one thing that Buck has been known for in the past....building a team that someone else takes over and runs deep into the playoffs.  THAT IS THE PRIMARY MOVE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE...AND MADE SOON!!

I don't want to be bothered with the stupid Barajas vs. Laird business, when it is clear that Laird should be the starter...not just now, but for the future.  I don't want to be bothered with "fitting" DeRosa into the lineup.  I don't want to be bothered with some "new, young player" brought up for basically nothing.

Get your lineup and stick with it.  I understand why some players may be losing focus, because some do not respond well to not starting everyday, or not knowing how they, or others, fit into the equation.

I haven't really posted a "Bash Buck" comment before, but this dude needs to go....and fast.  For everything he is good at, he is destroying the focus and drive of individual players, which is affecting the team.  Buck's style has put out the fire in many of "the guys".

Honestly, I'd want out of here if I was playing for him.

It is a shame to see this team breaking down defensively and seemingly not having any fire to hustle and make plays.  The summer swoon may be upon us, but the A's are not pulling away yet, so I will keep hoping to see some signs of life from these guys.

The real problem is Hicks and little man JD.  Look at this roster and tell me they are a contender.  $53 Million in payroll is good enough for 25th in the majors.  Granted ejecting Nevin was a step in the right direction but where is the beef?  The Wilkerson/Soriano trade never led to more pitching.  The trade for Eaton was a disaster and will be for years.  The only Free Agent signing (Millwood) was a success.  But this team needs 2-3 or maybe more solid players.  How hard is it to find a corner OF that can hit?  A DH?? Or pay for a rotation that can keep us in the game?  Given where the Rangers are at now they should be able to add $30 million in payroll and still be around average in the majors.

The Farm is still barren of immediate help so why not invest in some FA's this offseason?