Rangers insider suggests radical back-to-basics shift to fix slumping offense

You may have heard the phrase, "There is more than one way to skin a cat." It's become a common saying because it's true. In baseball, there are multiple methods that you can employ to outscore your opponents. Given the way the Texas Rangers have struggled to consistently scratch across runs, investigating all strategies is at least worth a look.

For decades, the Rangers have been a team that is all about slug. From the days of Juan Gonzalez in the early 1990s to Corey Seager today, the organization's offensive philosophy is to hit the ball harder and farther than the other team.

But now that they have moved into the cavernous Globe Life Field, those longballs are getting harder to come by and, ipso facto, so are the runs scored. The ball clearly doesn't carry very well to center field and the deep power alleys - particularly when the roof is closed. In fact, the ballpark in Arlington is the second-worst environment in the league for power.

Dallas Morning News Rangers insider and beat writer Evan Grant is getting tired of watching a team that doesn't hit for a lot of power swing for the fences. He believes the organization should either adjust the dimensions of Globe Life to make it more homer-friendly or make a philosophical paradigm shift to include more of the small-ball that the team has used with some aplomb so far in 2026.

It shouldn't be all small-ball all the time, but continue to mix more fundamentals into the bottom of the Rangers' lineup

Grant correctly notes on the podcast "Foul Territory" that small-ball doesn't necessarily mean bunts and a lineup full of slap hitters. Rather, it's playing fundamentally sound baseball and using the things that you do well to find ways to score.

No one is asking Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Josh Jung, Wyatt Langford, and Jake Burger to start dragging and pushing bunts for hits. Still, for guys toward the bottom of the lineup like Evan Carter, Nicky Lopez, and others at the bottom of the lineup, situational hitting and moving baserunners around the diamond in an old-school way must continue to be emphasized and employed by Skip Schumaker.

Osuna and Freeman were just optioned to make room for Seager and Langford, but they will likely be back before the season is over, and have had great success hitting the ball where it's pitched to facilitate a rally. For Carter, who is struggling badly to find his rhythm, you would be giving him more ways to be successful at the plate and contribute. You can still let your big guns take big cuts, but you should be a threat to beat your opponent with other methods besides slugging in a park that is not yielding many home runs.

In fact, in the two games that Seager and Langford have been back, the club has managed just three runs total after being shut out by eight brilliant innings from Cleveland Guardians starter Tanner Bibee. Finding ways to get ducks on the pond and in scoring position, for the big guns needs to be a priority, and might require thinking differently.

Another way that Chris Young can have an impact on this philosophy is to go out and get a guy like Luis Arraez at the trade deadline. Arraez is the quintessential situational old-school hitter who gets on base at an outrageous clip because he goes up there and battles the opposing pitcher. It has been a big part of why he has won three National League batting titles.

It would fill a position of need at second base and send a message to guys who can handle the bat well to continue to play to their strengths and help this offense be more than a one-trick pony.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow