Lets’ think about this for just a minute. Can we talk? What month are we in? July right? Okay, I’m one for one. So far so good. Over the past 15 years when we reach the scorching hot month of July in Texas, there are several things we expect to see. There are several things we don’t want to see. C’mon, think for minute,  it’s not that difficult to come up with. It’s JULY!

July means school is out, summer has begun and kids are running rampant around the metroplex. July means Wimbledon is down to the men’s and women’s Finals. July means the NBA draft just ended and teams are getting their Summer league rosters set for Vegas. This July means NBA Free Agent Frenzy going on. July means NFL teams are  around the corner from starting training camps in three weeks. (YIPPEE). July means summervacations, swimming with friends, having shaved ice twice a day cause it’s sooo hot. July means kids are home with nothing to do.  Get a job youngster, I did when I was your age. July is so much more I haven’t got the time or space to put it all down. One thing July has never been, or at least for a long, long time in these parts. July has never been with your TEXAS RANGERS in first place? Say it again, your TEXAS RANGERS in first place in JULY! Am I dreaming?

I’m a die hard Houston Astros fan and I’ve gotten used to my team being in the playoff hunt or the postseason for several years. That is, up until 2006 ended and my team has worked it’s way downward. At the same time, I kept my eyes on the Texas Rangers. They’re my second favorite team in baseball. Yes, I remember the brief playoff stint the Rangers had against the Yankees back in the 90′s. Geez, that almost doesn’t count it’s so long ago. Rangers fans have been through some crap over the years.

I’m talking about July and for the last 15-20 years, when it’s mid May, the Rangers season is over and most fans are already counting the days for Cowboys football to begin. It was habitual. You expected the Rangers to be out of the race within the first two months of the season. That’s unheard of, but not for the Texas Rangers. They made it a yearly habit of being a non factor by end of May. No sweat off the fans back, it was expected and gave fans more time to check out Wet n Wild. But now were are in the first week of July and we’re seeing something we haven’t seen in these parts for a long, long time. Our team not only playing well past May, past June, but in FIRST PLACE and its JULY!!

I’m not going to toot my own horn by saying I picked the Rangers to win the West and face the Tigers in the ALCS this year. Oh, guess I just did. I don’t want to give them the “kiss of death” by saying it but it’s quite obvious this team on the field has their act together thus far. The big bad boys of American League baseball has always been the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Tigers, White Sox, and probably the Twins. Today, July 2, 2010, the Texas Rangers are not only in first place by 3 1/2 games over the Angels, but they have the second best record in all of baseball at 47-31, only behind the big bad New York Yankees at 48-31.Can that be right? The Rangers are in first place with the secoind best record in baseball in July?

What’s happening on the field has been terrific as Texas has been getting solid play from all parts. Elvis Andrusis the real deal and becoming a very good leadoff hitter as well as a slick fielder. Micheal Young is the silent leader, Ian Kinsler is healthy and his bat is alive again, Julio Borbon has answered the questions if he can he play center field with a so-called weak arm. Nelson Cruz is an MVP in waiting, Vlad Guerrero has been SENSATIONAL and Josh Hamilton has put the whip cream away for good and is knocking the crap out of the baseball. Not a bad group of guys. Their are others too. Matt Treanor has been golden behind the plate and has had his share of timely hits. Justin Smoak is working out the kinks as a rookie, but the writing is on the wall, he’s a stud. And so on, and so on, and so on. The pitching staff has had it’s moments good and bad. For the most part, with injuries to deal with, they’ve done a nice job. Thank goodness for Neftali Feliz! Oh, has he been special. Oh, such wonderful things happening for the Texas Rangers on the field of play.

If we can only focus on what’s happening on the field instead of the bullshit going on off the field with the “new ownership” trying desperately to get things completed so this team can better themselves even more for the first time in years at a legitimate pennant race. I’m not sure what the hell going to happen with this team. I really don’t. I don’t think anyone else has a clue either.Each time soemthing positive comes forward, their is two things negative to knock it backwards.

I say leave things alone as they are. It’s worked for the first three months of the season under this kind of uncertainty. Let’s keep it as uncertain as it’s been. Nobody knows who owns the team, they don’t seem to let it effect the way they play on the field. Why get a solid ownership now? Leave things alone! The TEXAS RANGERS are in FIRST PLACE and its JULY 2nd! Unless of course Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan can pull a rabbit out of a hat and get this thing finalized. I’d be okay with that. For now, I’m just happy it’s July, the Texas Rangers are still in first place, and the conversation hasn’t started abot the Dallas Cowboys preseason practices…..yet.