ARLINGTON -- All season, the Rangers have felt within their clubhouse that they can succeed. The belief permeates throughout the team, even through multiple losing streaks and while sitting third in the American League West standings.
There’s belief, but these players also aren’t naive. They know how important the next week is, with the Trade Deadline looming on Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT.
“Every game is important,” lefty Andrew Heaney said after Sunday's 3-2 win over the Orioles. “I don't want to sound cliché or like a broken record or whatever, but it really is. It's just got to be one game at a time. We got to go handle business.”
Without even looking at the standings or the numbers, each Rangers player knows they need to win every game possible to avoid forcing the front office's hand before the Deadline.
The Rangers (49-52) are three games behind the Astros (52-49) and the Mariners (53-50), who are tied atop the AL West, and 6 1/2 games behind the Royals (56-46) for the third AL Wild Card spot. Barring movement in the Wild Card standings over the final two months of the regular season, the Rangers will need to win the division in order to reach the postseason and defend their title.
“I’m sure they’re aware,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “We’re not living under a rock here, especially with all the social media out there now. They’re very much aware of it. I think it affects them in different ways, individual ways. Some guys may let it be on their mind more than others.
“Really, it serves no purpose even thinking about it. You really just don't know. There’s always going to be rumors flying out there. All it is is a distraction. You just gotta keep your focus on what you’re supposed to be doing. They’ve been doing that. We’ve done a great job of trying to win ballgames here.”
Bochy said he isn't paying attention to the number right now, though he obviously has a general idea of where the Rangers are in the standings. But none of that really matters if they don't keep focus on what’s in front of them.
The Rangers will wrap up their seven-game homestand on Thursday against the White Sox, and they will then open a six-game road trip against the Blue Jays and Cardinals on Friday in Toronto.
Everything is in front of the Rangers right now. Though they’re still three games under .500, the season is far from over.
“I keep saying this: It doesn’t matter what happens in the standings. We gotta win ballgames,” Bochy said. “It’s pretty simple. We have to take care of our business by doing what we’re supposed to do. … I don’t look at it as awkward, but we gotta win games.”
Kennedi Landry covers the Rangers for MLB.com.
