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It's hard to believe but the Texas Rangers crossed the quarter point of the season with their series against Boston.
The good news is the Rangers won the series, their second series win of the season. Unfortunately the Rangers are still on pace for around 70 wins. But the Rangers have already won four more games in 20 May outings than they did in 21 games in April.
So how did the first 41 games go? Here's a look at some of the highlights and not-so highlights.
MVP: DH Prince Fielder â He's played in all 41 games, ending any concerns about his neck surgery from last season. Fielder's also produced, hitting for average and leading the team with 23 RBI. While the five homers aren't what people have come to expect from Fielder, he's shown more power in May and he's still second on the club in extra-base hits with 14. His OPS is also higher than it's been since 2012. Fielder also hasn't grumbled about becoming a full-time designated hitter, which has allowed the Rangers to field a better defensive team.
Cy Young: RHP Nick Martinez â Martinez talked in the spring about how his confidence was better heading into this season because of the success he had at the end of last year. That success has carried over as Martinez has three wins and a sparkling 1.88 ERA after eight starts. He's walked just 15 and has allowed only one homer, which helps make up for the fact that he's still not a strikeout pitcher (25 in 48 innings).
Biggest surprise: OF Delino DeShields â He looked overmatched at the plate and out of place in the outfield at times during spring training. But the more playing time he's gotten this season the better he's performed. The speed was a known commodity and he's lived up to the billing with 11 steals in 12 attempts. But he's hit better than expected and he's emerging as a decent outfielder. Not bad for a Rule 5 guy who's just 22.
Biggest disappointment: SS Elvis Andrus â Rougned Odor deserves consideration but a sophomore slump for Odor could have been expected. Andrus doesn't have that excuse. He' supposed to be an above-average defender who creates havoc on the bases. But Andrus is on pace to make 36 errors and finish the season with stolen bases. He's on pace to have career lows in stolen bases and runs scored while obliterating his career high for errors.
On the rise: OF Shin-Soo Choo â He really had nowhere to go but up after hitting .096 in April. But Choo has been the player the Rangers hoped they were getting when they signed him before the 2014 season this month. He's hit over .300 and his five homers this month have moved him to the team lead. Choo's also been a catalyst for the offense since moving to the leadoff spot.
On the slide: RHP Neftali Feliz â For a bullpen that now has no defined roles we know for sure that one role not defined for Feliz is closer. He's been consistently inconsistent and his struggles led the club to revamping the bullpen. While there's a chance Feliz will work his way back into the closer's role, can he be trusted? In nine May appearances Feliz only had three perfect outings.
What's next: The Rangers have been a much better team on the road so far this season than they've been at home. That's a good thing given the schedule for the club leading up to July 3, which is when the wrap up Game No. 81 and hit the halfway point. The club has 24 games on the road before they wrap up the 81st game and the Rangers are 12-10 on the road. That's tied for the second most wins on the road in the American League.
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