Did the Rangers players only meeting work

May 25, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre (29) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers players on May 18, 2014 after losing 15 of their last 21 games decided it was time to hold a players only meeting.  The meeting was lead by several of the veterans that included Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios.

At that time the team was on one of their worst skids in recent years.  Also, it has been a long time since the Rangers were in 4th place.  The last time the Rangers were in 4th place was on April 28, 2010.

Over that 21 game span the Texas Rangers only averaged 3.57 while allowing an average of 5.28 runs.   Also, over that span they lost 6 series and were shutout three times.

After that early Sunday morning’s player meeting the Texas Rangers did manage to spark the offense and won the final game in the Toronto Blue Jays series.   They lost the next game, but since then have looked very good.  Since the players meeting the Rangers have gone 6-2, are 5 games behind the Oakland Athletics and are in third place.  Also, they have managed to flip flop the runs for and runs against averages.  The Rangers over their last 8 games have averaged 6.75 runs while only allow teams to score 3.5 runs on them.

Before this 8 game span, writers, radio broadcasters and others were starting to think trades for the Rangers, and not in a way to improve the team for 2014.  For example, the idea of trading Beltre and Rios has been brought up.  And as ridiculous as it might sound, it does make perfect sense.  Rios is a free-agent after 2015 and Beltre is a free-agent after 2016.

If things to fade again and look more like their 21-game span when they struggled, then it might be a good idea to think about 2015.  But, right now the Rangers are back on track and can still make things happen in October.  Jon Daniels said they are not giving up and the fans shouldn’t either.   I’m not exactly sure what was said in their players only meeting, but right now this team is fired up and playing well.