The Adventures of C.J. Wilson

Watching C.J. try to close a game is kind of like watching an old Batman episode as a kid...BIFF, BAM, BOOM! C.J. Watches base hits whizz by his head. POW!!! C.J. gives up more runs. Then something clicks in Batman's head and everything makes sense...BIFF, BAM, BOOM...this time C.J. strikes out the DH that has been killing pitchers. ZOOM!!! the next batter watches a slider bend into the strike zone and all he can do is stare.

Thank God I don't have a heart condition, cause if I did I would have had a heart attack by now and C.J. Wilson's name would have been written all over it. After the last game before the All-Star break C.J. has 22 saves and a 5.01 ERA...no that's not a miss print, a 5.01 ERA. How does a closing pitcher get 22 saves with a 5.01 ERA at the halfway mark you ask? By having the most scoring offense behind him.

The Rangers put on an impressive hitting display without the help of Josh Hamilton, who went 0 for 4. Ian Kinsler and Max Ramirez led the way with three RBI's a piece and along with the rest of the Rangers combined for 12 runs in 8 innings against an intimidating White Sox pitching staff...well intimidating to other teams. Then C.J. walked into the 9th inning with a 12-8 lead and the bottom of the order. C.J. being true to a dominant closer's form, came out and commanded his presence with a strike ou...well actually it was four singles and a run. C.J. proceeded to get one out...then give up two more runs, but with men in scoring position and The DH that has been crushing Rangers' pitchers all day long, he does what barely any pitcher has been able to do...get Thome to strike out looking and just when people think its a fluke, he gets Konerko to do the exact same.

Only time will tell what fate has in store for these Texas Rangers, led by the ERA killing bats of Kinsler, Young, Hamilton, and Bradley followed by the up and coming hitters Boggs, Murphy, Ramirez and Davis. And if the ERA collecting pitching staff can make some improvements then Texas just might be able to enter the playoffs being feared by pitchers and make a run for ground never reached...but, lets first focus on the A's and the Angels and getting a chance to fight for a playoff spot.