Mon Jul 7 13:56:35 2008

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Fantastic Four: Handful of Rangers headed to Bronx

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(Sports Network) - As a kid I enjoyed watching the All-Star Game so much that friends and games such as stickball, kick the can, pool hopping and capture the flag took a back seat for the evening.

It was simply awesome watching ballplayers face off against each other with no prior history. I can still remember Roger Clemens mowing down the NL in 1986 or when Bo Jackson took Rick Reuschel deep in the 1989 event. Even John Kruk bailing out of the batter's box like a schoolgirl against a Randy Johnson fastball in 1993 still sits clear in my mind.

I still tune in to the All-Star festivities, but the infatuation and allure of the game from my days of grace are gone. With interleague play taking the sport by storm, unfortunately the Midsummer Classic will never be the same to me unless I was a player.

For four outstanding Texas Rangers players, though, heading to the Big Apple for the 79th All-Star Game is a monumental moment in their careers. Second baseman Ian Kinsler, shortstop Michael Young, and outfielders Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley will represent the ballclub among a sea of talent from around the majors.

"It's cool," Hamilton said of having three of his teammates in tow for Yankee Stadium. "It's definitely a dream come true. To come back and be able to play Major League Baseball again is great, but to be on the All-Star team with three of my teammates means a lot. That says a lot about our team. I was more excited about the other guys going with me."

Hamilton's astronomical numbers so far this season helped him become the first Ranger elected to start an All-Star Game since Mark Teixeira in 2005. Hamilton and Milton Bradley, who will begin the contest as the American League's designated hitter, are the first Texas players to start the event since Alex Rodriguez and Ivan Rodriguez did back in 2001.

This will be Hamilton's first trip to the All-Star Game, the same goes for Kinsler and Bradley. Young will be going for the fifth straight time as a reserve because of two words -- Derek Jeter. As long as that guy is on earth, Young will most likely never start in the Midsummer Classic unless the Yankees' beloved shortstop suffers an injury.

The nod hit home for Bradley, who has had his share of injuries, breakdowns and suspensions at the big league level. But now Bradley is getting the credit he deserves for his work during a solid nine-year career.

"A few months ago, I never imagined this opportunity," Bradley said. "It's about as humbling and fulfilling and as special a feeling as you can get. You think you have a chance, but I never imagined it would happen to me."

A case of knee tendinitis shouldn't keep Bradley from playing on July 15.

KINSLER KEEPS ON RIDING

If he doesn't already, second baseman Ian Kinsler should start teaching hitting instructions to local high school and little league players. Kinsler has been absolutely on fire at the plate since mid-June as he is riding an 18- game hitting streak.

During the recent tear, Kinsley is sporting a .438 batting average with nine doubles, two triples, four homers, 11 RBI and 20 runs scored. His on-base percentage is well over the .500 mark, while Kinsler is among the American League leaders in total bases, hits, runs, multi-hit games and extra-base hits this season.

Kinsler has two or more hits in nine of his last 11 games.

SALTY SITUATION FOR JARROD

Rangers young catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is still listed as day-to-day with a right groin strain suffered in Saturday's win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Saltalamacchia left the win over the Orioles in the sixth inning and missed Sunday's triumph in the series finale at Camden Yards. The switch-hitter is batting .220 with three homers and 17 RBI this season.

Texas is already without catcher Gerald Laird, who is out with a pulled hamstring muscle and is not expected to be back until after the All-Star break.

WHO'S HOT

Rangers starting pitcher Kevin Millwood is 4-1 over his last nine starts, with the Rangers going 7-2 over that stretch.

Millwood won his previous outing on Sunday at Baltimore, allowing three earned runs in five innings of an 11-10 victory.

The right-hander is also unbeaten at home this season, going 4-0 in seven trips to the Arlington mound.

Kinsler is obviously hot, while RBI machine Hamilton has 10 RBI over his last 15 games. Hamilton leads the majors with 84 runs batted in -- the second- highest total before the All-Star break in team history since Gonzalez recorded 101 in 1998.

Hamilton is batting .316 (25-for-79) over his last 22 contests.

WHO'S NOT

Pitching for Texas this season has been tough. The Rangers' 4.98 earned run average is the worst in the American League and the second-highest in the majors behind only Pittsburgh's 5.15 ERA.

Rangers pitchers have allowed 34 earned runs over the past four games.

ON DECK

The Rangers (46-43) will open a seven-game homestand Monday with the first of four straight games versus the LA Angels of Anaheim. Then Texas, which is 21-18 in Arlington this season, will host the Chicago White Sox for three contests.

Texas is 7 1/2 games behind the Angels for the top spot in the AL West, and can gain some major ground in the division standings with a successful set against the mighty Halos.

"It's an opportunity for us to show, going into the second half, that we're going to be a team that's going to be around in the second half," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We're not going anyplace."