The Texas Rangers finished the first half of the 2012 season in first place in the A.L. West with a 51-34 record, 4 games ahead of the Angels. They will have to keep to the grindstone in the second half as the Angels are going to put up a fight with them. Here is a look at the players who made the biggest impacts for the Rangers in 2012, in my opinion:

Team MVP: Josh Hamilton - 31-year old lefty swinging outfielder Josh Hamilton turned in a very impressive first half in 2012. He played in 79 games for the Rangers in 2012 and he was 92 of 299 (.308 avg, 1.016 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 27 homers, 75 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. The only thing that could possibly slow down Hamilton would be an injury.

Biggest Surprise: Robbie Ross - 23-year old rookie lefty reliever Robbie Ross burst onto the scene for the Rangers in the first half of the 2012 season. He pitched in 34 games (0 starts) for the Rangers in the first half and he was 6-0 with a 0.95 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. He only gave up 33 hits in his first 47 1/3 innnings in the majors and that is pretty darn impressive.

Biggest Disappointment: Michael Young - 35-year old righty swinging DH/1B Michael Young has really been a disappointment at the plate so far this year for the Rangers. He played in 83 games for the Rangers in the first half of the 2012 season and he was 91 for 337 (.270 avg, .656 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 3 homers, 25 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Rangers need Young to pick up the pace with the bat in the second half of the 2012 season.

The Rangers had a good weekend despite not hitting like they can as they only hit .234 with a .689 OPS. They won with pitching as they had a 2.00 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP over the weekend. Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison and Derek Holland combined to go 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Six Rangers’ relievers combined to go 0-1 with 1 save, a 1.00 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP. The only reliever to give up a run was new closer Joe Nathan and it was in the only game the Rangers lost. He pitched in 2 games for the Rangers over the weekend and he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 4.50 ERA and a 0.50 WHIP. David Murphy was on fire with the stick in his first weekend as he was 5 for 9 (.556 avg, 1.711 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. Josh Hamilton was solid as well, as he was 5 for 11 (.455 avg, 1.144 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. Ian Kinsler also hit the ball well as he was 4 for 11 (.364 avg, 1.371 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. The Rangers might get a challenge from the visiting 3-1 Mariners the next couple days.

The Texas Rangers ended the first half of the 2011 season on a 7-game winning streak. They are in first place in the A.L. West with a 51-41 record which has them 1 game ahead of the Angels. The Rangers are also 4 games behind the Yankees for the A.L. Wild Card. The Rangers have had a lot of injuries to position players this year which has hurt them at times. But the starting rotation has really stepped up and made up for the injuries. The Rangers will likely be busy at the trade deadline looking for bullpen help. Here is a look at the players who made the biggest impact for the Rangers in the first half:

Team MVP: The Rangers signed 32-year old righty swinging 3B Adrian Beltre over the winter and he has been just what the doctor ordered at the hot corner. Beltre has played in 92 games for the Rangers so far this year and he is 98 for 359 (.273 avg, .813 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 19 homers and 71 RBIs. He has been very consistent both in the field and with the bat.

Biggest Surprise: This is a tie between 27-year old righty starting pitcher Alexi Ogando and 25-year old lefty starting pitcher Matt Harrison. When the Rangers were thinking about moving Neftali Feliz to the starting rotation, the idea was to use Ogando as the closer. However, the Rangers decided not to change Feliz late in spring training and Ogando switched gears and won a job in the starting rotation. Ogando has pitched in 17 games (all starts) for the Rangers so far this year and he is 9-3 with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Matt Harrison is further proof that sometimes it takes lefty starting pitchers a little longer to develop. Harrison struggled in his first three years with the Rangers but it’s all coming together for him this year. Harrison has started 17 games for the Rangers so far this year and he is 7-7 with a 3.04 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. The Rangers hope that both Ogando and Harrison finish the 2011 season strongly.

Biggest Disappointment: This is a very easy one. It’s 25-year old lefty swinging CF Julio Borbon. Borbon seemed lost in both the field and at the plate earlier this year and that’s why he’s playing in AAA right now. Borbon has played in 32 games for the Rangers so far this year and he is 24 for 89 (.270 avg, .654 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 0 homers, 11 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. He is likely to be prime trade bait for the Rangers later this month.

The Texas Rangers destroyed the Red Sox last weekend as they swept them in Arlington. They outscored the Red Sox 26-11 over the weekend as they hit the heck out of the ball while also getting solid pitching. The Rangers hit .333 as a team with a 1.183 OPS as they cranked 11 homers (6 different players) against the Red Sox. The Rangers proved over the weekend that they are the real deal and here to stay.

The Rangers are in first place in the A.L. West with a 50-38 record which has them 4.5 games ahead of the Angels. The Rangers have already added Bengie Molina and Cliff Lee recently and they might add another player or two before the the trade deadline later this month. The Rangers have had a lot of surprises and disappointments so far this season and here’s a close look at them:

Pleasant Surprises: In 2008 Josh Hamilton had a monster first season for the Rangers. But in 2009 Hamilton was dinged up and he had a relapse (using alcohol) last season. In 2010 though Hamilton is coming back with the vengeance! Hamilton has played in 85 games this year and he is 118 of 341 (.346 avg, 1.014 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 22 homers, 64 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. 29-year old lefty relief pitcher came to spring training wanting a chance to start with the Rangers in 2010. They gave him his chance and he ran with it earning a job in the rotation. He has started 18 games for the Rangers this year and he is 7-5 with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He has only allowed 86 hits in 113 innings this season for the Rangers showing he can handle the job. Wilson does need to throw more strikes however as he has walked 55 batters this year. 30-year old righty starting pitcher Colby Lewis was signed over the winter after two years in Japan and he has been solid for the Rangers this year. Lewis has started 17 games for the Rangers this year and he is 8-5 with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He has only given up 86 hits in 110 2/3 innings this year and he has 105 whiffs showing just how nasty he has been. 27-year old righty reliever Darren O’Day was very impressive for the Rangers last season but I seemed to think it was a mirage. That hasn’t been the case as O’Day has been awesome so far this year. O’Day has pitched in 40 games (0 starts) for the Rangers this year and he is 3-2 with a 1.49 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP.

Disappointments: 24-year old lefty swinging 1B Chris Davis was so awful earlier this year that he was sent to AAA. With Justin Smoak now a Seattle Mariner the Rangers will need Davis to step up. Davis has played in 18 games this season for the Rangers and he is 12 of 56 (.214 avg, .589 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 1 stolen base. 25-year old switch hitting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia came into this season as the starting catcher but that didn’t last long. He has played in 2 games for the Rangers this year and he is 1 of 5 (.200 avg, .400 OPS) with 1 RBI. Saltalamacchia has been banished to the minors with no sign of a return to Arlington any time soon. 26-year old righty swinging catcher Taylor Teagarden was truly pathetic this season for the Rangers. He played in 10 games for the Rangers and he was 1 for 27 (.037 avg, .225 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 17 whiffs. Like Saltalamacchia, don’t expect Teagarden back any time soon. 27-year old Scott Feldman had a breakout season in 2009 for the Rangers but he hasn’t followed it up too well. Feldman has started 18 games for the Rangers this year and he is 5-8 with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Feldman has given up 140 hits already this season in 108 1/3 innings and he’s likely in danger of losing his rotation spot if he continues to pitch poorly.

The Rangers have lost 4 games in a row and they are not 5-7 which has them in last place in the A.L. West, 3 games behind the A’s. The Rangers have scored 46 runs and they have given up 46 runs this season. They are wasting solid pitching because they just aren’t hitting the ball and that shouldn’t be a problem for the Rangers looking at their batting order. The Rangers are heading to Boston to play three games against the struggling Red Sox and then they return home to play 3 games against the Tigers.

The Rangers are 3-3 on the season which has them in 2nd place in the A.L. West, 1.5 games behind the A’s. The Rangers have outscored their opponents 28-22 so far this season. They have been getting solid work out of the starting rotation but the pen (Frank Francisco) has cost them a couple of games that they should have won. The Rangers will play three games against the Indians in Cleveland and then they will travel to New York for a three game set against the Yankees. Hopefully the Rangers get into a groove this week.

The Rangers got ambushed by the Blue Jays to start the season as they are 1-2 going into the weekend. The Rangers only hit .168 as a team against the Blue Jays and the bullpen was downright awful dooming them. The Rangers’ bullpen was 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA and a 2.14 WHIP in the three games against the Jays. They even blew C.J. Wilson’s dominating performance yesterday when he worked the first 7 innings allowing only 5 hits and walking two batters. Wilson didn’t give up any runs while whiffing 9 batters but got nothing to show for it as Frank Francisco blew the game in the 9th innings. The Rangers can’t afford to waste great pitched games like the one Wilson gave them yesterday. The Mariners come in for a visit starting tonight and they are also off to a rough start going 1-3 against the A’s to start the season.

The Rangers were almost ready to give up on Joaquin Benoit before this season.  They are glad they have held onto him as he has emerged as a part time closer for the Rangers after the trade of Eric Gagne to the Red Sox.  Benoit has worked in 66 games this season for the Rangers and he is 7-4 with 5 saves, a 2.65 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.  In 78 innings this season he has allowed 62 hits, walked 24 batters and whiffed 84.  Before this season, Benoit had pitched in 159 games for the Rangers and he was 20-20 with 1 save and a 5.12 ERA.  The Rangers are now 70-81 on the season which has them in last place in the American League West, 19 games behind the Angels but only 3 behind the A’s.

It seems as if the players are finally buying into manger Ron Washington’s style of baseball.  The Rangers are now 69-75 which has them 16 games behind the Angels in the American League West.  The Rangers are only 1 game behind the A’s and they have established a goal of finishing .500 which would mean they need to go 12-6 the rest of the way and it’s possible that they can get there based on their play of late.