Tuesday Wrapup

• The Texas Rangers entered the week with an outside shot at a playoff berth, but have effectively dashed any hope by dropping two straight to the Devil Rays. The Rangers wasted a decent outing from Vicente Padilla tonight, failing to plate a single run against an atrocious Tampa Bay bullpen. Padilla, true to form, hit two D-Rays with pitches and allowed 10 hits but kept Texas in the game and headed for the showers with the score a three-all tie. Ron Mahay gave up a solo shot to Travis Lee to begin the 8th, putting the game out of the Rangers' reach. One thing that occurred to me in looking over this box score is the divide between good, young players and bottom of the barrel veterans that populate the Tampa Bay roster. Some of the more exciting young players in the AL reside in Tampa, with speedsters Rocco Baldelli (.289/.331/.452) and Carl Crawford (.313/.360/.495), prospects B.J. Upton and Ben Zobrist, and the hugely underrated Scott Kazmir. In several weeks the D-Rays could also bring the always psychotic Delmon Young into the fold. These youngsters are juxtaposed with some of the trashiest of the trashy. The bottom of the Tampa Bay lineup features Travis Lee, Russell Branyan, Damon Hollins, and Tomas Perez. Throw Johnny Gomes into the mix, and you've got yourself five regulars on the same team who are all struggling to stay above the mendoza line. In late August.

• The Twins and White Sox both shot themselves in the foot tonight with weak offensive showings. The White Sox were stymied by Kenny Rogers and Fernando Rodney, while the Twins had the displeasure of facing rookie Adam Loewen at his best. The Tigers don't look to be in any danger of coughing up their division lead, so Detroit and Chicago are going to battle it out for the Wild Card. Who will take the prize is anyone's guess at this point.

• I'm watching Jeff Karstens' debut, and I'm impressed. The 23 year-old Yankee isn't exactly a top-flite prospect, coming from the 19th round of the draft and posting fairly pedestrian numbers at every stop on the farm. Karstens really needs to work on making sure he keeps his fastball down in the zone, because when elevated, its a pretty easy pitch to hit, as Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre can attest. However, his curveball is excellent and he doesn't seem to have any trouble throwing it for a strike. Karstens' track record says #4 or #5 starter, but his stuff projects favorably.