Last weekend, there was a kids’ birthday party at the local park. There were a dozen five-year-olds. They had a piñata in the shape of a large baseball. One by one, the blindfolded kids swung the stick, which has an actual name—a piñata buster.

One by one the kids missed. Swinging. Flailing. Whiffing. It was sad. They desperately wanted to hit that pinãta. They wanted the candy. Alas, try as they might, they just couldn’t connect.

It reminded me of the Rangers facing a left-handed pitcher. 

Swinging. Flailing. Whiffing. It’s sad. They desperately want to hit. They wanted the candy. Try as they might, they just can’t connect.

Last night, they faced a southpaw, which was futile enough. They faced one of the best, the Yankees Max Fried. All he did was shut them down for six innings, striking out five while allowing four hits, all singles.

This has been a trend for a couple seasons now, this team’s inability to hit lefties. It’s going to continue being a problem that they’re not going to suddenly figure out. This doesn’t bode well for the team if they were to somehow make it into the playoffs. All a team would have to do is throw a lefty at them. Any lefty. It doesn’t even have to be a player. Could be a peanut vendor. A fan. A 103-year-old grandmother. 

If they can toss it up with a left hand, they will beat the Rangers.

*****