Ian Kinsler starting off hot with the Detroit Tigers

Apr 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez (13) misses the throw as Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) steals second base in the seventh inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Former Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is fitting in quite well with the Detroit Tigers.  He is currently batting .313 with 1 double, 3 RBI and 1 home run over 7 games/32 at-bats.  To give him credit, it is not like he’s started off slow while he was with the Rangers.  But, things are being exaggerated right now he’s being compared against the man he was traded for, Prince Fielder.

One question to ask: At this point which player has made the biggest impact on their team, Ian Kinsler or Prince Fielder, easy Kinsler.  First all it didn’t take long to get his first home run as a Tiger, Fielder has yet to record his first home run.

Ian Kinsler’s first home run as a Tiger

Also, Kinsler has been very good on the bases, he recorded 2 stolen bases last night in the first inning.  Kinsler has also given his team 2 walk-off wins.  Even though Kinsler made a remark about the Rangers going 0-162 and some Rangers fans have turned on him, it doesn’t take away the fact he has played very well over the first 7 games and also during his time with the Texas Rangers.  Right now Kinsler is being praised by fans in Detroit while Fielder is being questioned in Texas.

One of Ian Kinsler’s walk-off wins

It’s a matter of record: Right now the Detroit Tigers are sitting in first place in their division with a record of 5-2, while the Rangers are just a tick above the Houston Astros who are last place with a record of 4-5.   Granted, there is only small sample set.  After mid-May to the end of May the stats should start to even out.  By then, Fielder should have found his stride and have numbers he’s used to.  As for Tigers’ fans, they’ll see a few of those popup, base runner errors and pick offs at first that frustrated Rangers fans.

Once Fielder starting to do his thing and the Rangers get back Jurickson Profar the trade should start to seem like a good move again.  Right now it may not, but in my opinion, Jon Daniels still did a good thing with the Kinsler/Fielder trade.  By the end of 162 we’ll know a couple of things for sure, the Rangers won’t go 0-162, Fielder should have more RBI and home runs than Kinsler and the Rangers should beat the Tigers if they meet up in the playoffs.  Sure, I’m optimistic, at this point the Rangers have only played 9 games.  Plenty more baseball ahead of us.