Why Not This Year?

All the experts say that the Rangers are built for 2010 and beyond, but after watching them win seven games in row this week they may be ahead of schedule. I went to every game this week at The Ballpark and it was well worth my time.

The Rangers showed us everything that is evident of a playoff contender this week. They had great starting pitching, timely hitting and solid bullpen help when they really needed it. Every Rangers' pitcher went at least six innings during this streak including a Matt Harrison complete game against Seattle.

The return of Josh Hamilton showed just how valuable he is to the middle of this lineup.

He had three big home-runs this week including a 460 foot bomb in the right field porch which was measured as the third longest in Ballpark history.

The defense of Elvis Andrus this week proved that the decision to move Young to third base was the right one. Even though Elvis is just 20 years old, he made plays this week that you expect only of a handful of shortstops in the league. Not only did Josh Hamilton hit the cover off the ball, he made one of the greatest catches I've ever seen right in front of our seats against the Angels.

The best part about this week was that we had a chance to show the rest of the American League that we have the players to compete with anybody this year and beyond. Now I give you the five best moments of the Rangers longest win streak of 2005.

5) Matt Harrison tosses a complete game against the Mariners.

Harrison (4-2) threw a five-hitter to win his fourth consecutive start. He retired 16 of the last 18 batters after Seattle scored twice in the fourth to end his scoreless innings streak at 22 in a row. He was completely dominant even though he trailed 2-0 as he left to a standing ovation after the top of the 9th.

4) Hank Blalock's walk-off double in extra innings against the Mariners.

It was one of those games that there was a ton of scoring in the first half of the game and then a drought ensued until the 11th. Seattle took the lead in the top half of the inning but it didn't matter. Young singled, Hamilton walked and one out later, Blalock hit a line shot right beneath our seats in right-center. Ball game.

3) Josh Hamilton's 460 foot homer in the eighth inning that proved to be the game winning run.

I was there for Jose Canseco's 491 foot home run in 1994 to the back of the visitors' bullpen but this one seemed a lot farther.

From our seats in right-center, we knew this ball was out from the second he hit it, but I literally thought it was going to go over the roof and out of the stadium. I was in shock.I've seen thousands of balls hit in that park but never that hard. It went 30 rows up in the upper deck and it was still rising when a lucky fan caught it. And he said after the game he didn't feel like he hit it as good as he could have...wow.

2) Chris Davis's walk-off homer against the Mariners. Matt

Harrison pitched a complete game gem but was slated to be the loser as he walked off the mound behind 2-0 after the top of the 9th inning. But leave it to the Rangers to wait until they absolutely needed it. Blalock homered, Murphy doubled and Davis wins it with a 410 foot walk-off homer. As he flipped his bat in celebration the crowd went nuts and his teammates flooded out of the dugout to mob him at home.

1) Josh Hamilton's game saving catch in the final game versus the

Angels.

I was there three years ago when Gary Matthews, Jr. made the greatest over the wall catch I've ever seen. That catch was more improbable but we were getting killed by the Astros at the time so it didn't really matter. Howie Kendrick hit a ball that carried right to us and it looked like the Angels were staring to rally. But Hamilton came out of nowhere and flew full speed into the wall just below the 407 sign ten feet from us. The irony of this picture is that our sign said"He's Back" and after making this catching he had to come out of the game with a strained groin. But it was completely worth it. Not only did it save the game, but it gave the Rangers a sweep of a team they will have to compete with for the A.L. West title.