28-year old righty swinging 2B Ian Kinsler got off to a late start this year due to a ankle injury but he’s still not looking like himself in the field. He has played in 43 games for the Rangers this season and he is 44 of 160 (.275 avg, .732 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 1 homer, 17 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Kinsler was outstanding last season for the Rangers in which he played in 144 games and was 143 of 566 (.253 avg, .814 OPS) with 101 runs scored, 31 homers, 86 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. The Rangers have played well this season without the real Ian Kinsler. So if the real Kinsler shows up soon look for the Rangers to really get rolling.

23-year old switch hitting 1B Justin Smoak is having a rough time against major league pitching. He came into this season as the Rangers’ #2 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America so they don’t want to damage his confidence. Smoak has played in 33 games for the Rangers this year and he is 18 of 108 (.167 avg, .583 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 4 homers and 12 RBIs. Smoak has whiffed only 22 times so he is hitting the ball but he’s not making enough consistent hard contact. I don’t see the Rangers keeping Smoak around much longer if he can’t hit his own weight so Chris Davis might get another chance soon for the Rangers.

The Rangers have sent 26-year old righty swinging catcher Taylor Teagarden to AAA and he earned the trip. Teagarden played in 10 games for the Rangers this season and he was 1 for 27 (.037 avg, .225 OPS) with 3 runs scored and a amazing 17 whiffs. I don’t see Teagarden getting back to Texas any time soon. The Rangers have recalled 25-year old righty swinging Max Ramirez from AAA to replace Teagarden on the roster. He was the Rangers’ #11 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. The Rangers almost traded Ramirez to the Red Sox over the winter for 3B/1B Mike Lowell but he failed his physical due to a bum thumb. Ramirez played in 14 games in AAA this season to start the year and he was 13 of 49 (.265 avg, .671 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 4 RBIs. I think the Rangers will probably start him a lot more often than Matt Treanor behind the plate. Treanor has played in 11 games for the Rangers so far this year and he is 9 for 36 (.250 avg, .703 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs.

24-year old lefty swinging CF Julio Borbon burst onto the scene last summer for the Rangers. He played in 46 games for the Rangers last season and he was 49 of 157 (.312 avg, .790 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 4 homers, 20 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. That performance last season had the Rangers’ front office excited as they penciled him in as the starting CF and leadoff hitter. But over the winter it appears as if pitchers watched a lot of tape on him as he looks helpless at the plate right now. Borbon has played in 15 games this season and he is 10 for 57 (.175 avg, .414 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 6 RBIs. He only has one extra base hit (a triple) and he has 4 stolen bases. The Rangers gave a quick hook to Chris Davis this season and they might do the same to Borbon if he doesn’t start hitting soon.

26-year old righty swinging catcher Taylor Teagarden moved into the starting lineup due to the injury to Jarrod Saltalamacchia and he has been pathetic at bat looking pretty darn hopeless. Teagarden has played in 7 games for the Rangers this season and he is 0 for 18 (.000 avg, .182 OPS) with 2 runs scored. The more troubling thing about Teagarden other than the factor that he doesn’t have a hit is that he has already whiffed a stunning 13 times this year. The Rangers better hope that Saltalamacchia rehabs quickly because that don’t exactly want to start Matt Treanor behind the plate either.