Same Old Rangers: The Nightmare Returns
Texas Rangers: Stuck in a Weird Race Where Everyone Is Losing
The Big Picture: A Division Where "Not Terrible" Is Good Enough
Important Point: The Texas Rangers are tied for first place in their division even though they have a losing record. That’s like being the tallest person in a room where everyone is sitting down.
The American League West (AL West) is having a historically bad year. As of late August 2026:
- Zero teams in the division have a winning record (more wins than losses).
- The Rangers are one game under .500 (that means they’ve lost one more game than they’ve won).
- They are tied for first place anyway.
In fact, the whole American League only has four teams total with winning records—and three of them are in the AL East. So the bar for making the playoffs is extremely low.
How Did We Get Here? The “Easy Schedule” That Wasn’t
After a brutal start to the season, the Rangers got a golden opportunity: six straight series against teams with losing records starting August 3. This was their chance to pull away.
What happened during that stretch:
- Started 2 games under .500, in second place.
- Played the Los Angeles Angels (referred to humorously as the “California Angels of Anaheim”).
- Won the final game of the series, 5-3 at Globe Life Field (nicknamed “Globe Life Mall” by the columnist).
- Ended up 1 game under .500, tied for first.
Important Point: The biggest cheer of the game came when “Blue” won the Dot Race—a between-innings entertainment contest. The columnist says: Don’t judge. You had to see it.
The Rangers Are… Average. Like, Exactly Average.
The team knows it. The stats back it up:
| Stat | MLB Rank (out of 30) | What It Means (ELI5) |
|---|---|---|
| Runs Scored | 29th | They score the second-fewest runs in baseball. |
| Team ERA | 20th | Their pitchers are below average at preventing runs. |
| Run Differential | -46 | They’ve been outscored by 46 runs all season. |
Important Point: A negative run differential usually means a team is worse than their record. The Rangers are “in it” only because the division is so weak.
What the Manager Says: “It’ll Come Down to the Wire”
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker after the game:
“I feel like it’s going to come down to the last week or 10 days. That’s for sure… everybody probably would agree with that just the way how this thing is shaking out.”
- 31 games left in the regular season.
- 5 series vs. winning teams, 5 series vs. losing teams.
- When asked how many games over .500 they need to win the division, Schumaker wouldn’t say.
The Attendance Puzzle: New Stadium, Same Empty Seats
The Rangers moved into Globe Life Field (a retractable-roof, air-conditioned stadium) in 2020. But fans haven’t shown up consistently.
Attendance Rankings Since 2015:
| Year | Rank | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 10th | Won 95 games, won AL West |
| 2021 | 5th | COVID rules let them sell more tickets |
| 2023 | — | Won the World Series |
| 2024 | 12th | Year after World Series win |
| Average (no COVID) | 15th | Middle of the pack |
Important Point: The one winning season in the last 10 years (2023) ended in a World Series title. But fans still don’t come unless the team wins a lot.
The columnist jokes: “AC is a wonderful dictator, but Rangers fans have shown over the years that if they win, they’ll come and sweat it out.”
Translation: Even in the old outdoor stadium with no roof, fans came when the team was good.
The Bigger Problem: The Team Isn’t Building for the Future
Since winning the 2023 World Series, things have gone downhill.
Red Flags:
- Minor league system isn’t developing young talent.
- Top draft picks Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker (both starting pitchers) have disappointed.
- Outfield production is a constant worry.
- Offense is “pathetic” (columnist’s word)—29th in runs scored.
Important Point: The momentum from the 2023 championship has completely faded. The club feels like it did before that magical fall.
What’s Next? A Potential Lockout Looms
There’s a possible lockout starting December 1, 2026 (when the current labor agreement expires).
Last time (2021), the Rangers:
- Spent big money in free agency (Corey Seager, Marcus Semien).
- Had different TV revenue—which helped fund those signings.
This time?
- TV money has changed dramatically.
- The team may not spend until a new deal is done.
- The columnist warns: “What they have shown is that what they are doing is not working.”
Upcoming Schedule (Simplified)
The article includes a massive local sports calendar. Here’s just the Rangers’ next games:
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24 | @ Chicago White Sox | 6:40 PM | RSN |
| Aug 25 | @ Chicago White Sox | 6:40 PM | RSN |
| Aug 26 | @ Chicago White Sox | 6:40 PM | RSN |
| Aug 28 | @ Milwaukee Brewers | 6:40 PM | RSN |
| Aug 29 | @ Milwaukee Brewers | 6:15 PM | Fox |
| Aug 30 | @ Milwaukee Brewers | 1:10 PM | RSN |
(Note: RSN = Regional Sports Network)
Summary
- The Rangers are tied for first in the AL West despite a losing record.
- The division is historically weak—winner might finish under .500 (a first in MLB history).
- The team is statistically average-to-bad: can’t hit, pitch okay, get outscored.
- Manager thinks the race goes down to the final days.
- Fans aren’t coming—even after a World Series win—unless the team dominates.
- No young stars are coming up; top prospects are struggling.
- A lockout in December could freeze offseason moves.
- The magic of 2023 feels gone.
Bottom line: They might make the playoffs with a losing record… but will anyone notice?
FAQ
Q: What does “.500” mean in baseball?
A: It means a team has won exactly half their games (e.g., 81-81). “Over .500” = winning record. “Under .500” = losing record.
Q: What is the AL West?
A: One of six divisions in Major League Baseball. Includes the Rangers, Astros, Angels, Mariners, and Athletics.
Q: What is a “run differential”?
A: Total runs scored minus total runs allowed. Negative means you’ve been outscored. It’s a better predictor of true talent than win-loss record.
Q: What’s a lockout?
A: When team owners lock out players because they can’t agree on a new labor contract (Collective Bargaining Agreement). No games, no signings, no trades—everything stops.
Q: Why do they call it “Globe Life Mall”?
A: It’s a joke by the columnist. The stadium is so climate-controlled and commercialized, it feels more like a shopping mall than a ballpark.
Q: Who are Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker?
A: Two first-round draft picks (highly touted young pitchers) who were supposed to be future stars—but have struggled badly in the minors.
Originally published August 24, 2026 by Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram.