The Texas Rangers are in Command in the A.L. West

Flying well under the radar and at a distance from the top spot for most of the season, the Texas Rangers now stand on the precipice of their first division title since 2011, a season in which they lost a World Series (to the St. Louis Cardinals), they twice were one out from winning.

No team in baseball history was one out from winning the title in two different innings and failed, as was the case for Texas in 2011. That year’s second straight World Series loss (the “odd year’ SF Giants won the first of three titles, ending a 56 year title drought, with a 5 game triumph vs Texas in the 2010 World Series), was followed by an epic collapse by the Rangers in the 2012 A.L. West race, necessitating a play in game, which resulted in a home loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Now this season, after failing miserably in both 2013 and 2014, Texas went and out and acquired Cole Hamels at the trade deadline and led by him ( a record of 5-1) have a 5 game loss column lead, with 9 games to play.

The Rangers almost certainly will be the American League “3” seed and will open the division series in either Toronto or Kansas City on Thursday October 8th.