Down Time

Apr 28, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) talks with catcher Robinson Chirinos (61) and pitching coach Mike Maddux during the third inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers picked a heck of a time to take some down time. This series against Oakland lined up perfectly with the Texas Rangers best three starters going against the A’s, but so far two of those pitchers, the best two, have been pulled in the fourth inning and the fifth inning and both lost the game. Yu Darvish just threw way too many pitches in four innings Monday night, and Martin Perez just didn’t look like his dominate self last night.

"“Previous, everything he threw he put it where he wanted to,” Washington said. “Tonight, when he missed his spot, it was in the middle of the plate.” texasrangers.com"

But that doesn’t mean that Texas Rangers fans need to panic.

My expectations going into the season was that the Texas Rangers would finish the season in third place behind the Athletics and Angels, and when the season started I would have been happy with a .500 April seeing all of the injuries that the Texas Rangers have. They can finish 16-12 or 15-13, and I will take that. Even if the Texas Rangers get swept by the Athletics in this series, we have to remember that only a week ago the Rangers went into Oakland and swept them. The Texas Rangers are not going to win every series that they play in, and Martin Perez and Yu Darvish are not going to be All-Star caliber in every outing. It was just a bummer that it happened in back to back starts against the A’s.

The Texas Rangers have a chance to take one from the Athletics tonight and finish April with a win. Robbie Ross has a chance to right the rotation again, and I hope he does, but lets not panic just because the Texas Rangers had a few bad starts from the top of the rotation guys. We still have 5 months of baseball to go!