Rangers know AL West race far from over

September, 14, 2012
9/14/12
9:00
AM CT
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The conversation -- at least for now -- is silly.

The American League West race is not over. If you think it is, you're fooling yourself.

The offensively-challenged Oakland Athletics have won 21 of 27 games and 39 of 57 since the All-Star break. They should've earned your respect by now.

Sure, the Rangers still have a 3.0-game lead over the Athletics after their 5-4 loss to Cleveland on Thursday night, and they've had the American League's best record for more than three weeks.

All it takes is one bad weekend and that lead will be gone.

The Athletics are playing free and easy. They have no pressure. They're not supposed to be here.

Read the full story here.
Jean-Jacques Taylor joined ESPNDallas.com in August 2011. A native of Dallas, Taylor spent the past 20 years writing for The Dallas Morning News, where he covered high schools sports, the Texas Rangers and spent 11 seasons covering the Dallas Cowboys before becoming a general columnist in 2006.

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TEAM LEADERS

BA LEADER
Ian Kinsler
BA HR RBI R
.302 7 20 24
OTHER LEADERS
HRN. Cruz 11
RBIN. Cruz 34
RE. Andrus 30
OPSM. Moreland .908
WY. Darvish 7
ERAY. Darvish 2.84
SOY. Darvish 91

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