2011 Texas Rangers: 5 Ways for Them to Get Back to the World Series

The Texas Ranger are playing great baseball.

They are currently six games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels for the American League West.

While this is a great place to be in late August, by no means is the season over.

No one should be printing playoff tickets yet.

In fact, here are five areas that need attention if the Rangers are going to return to the 2011 World Series.

5. Help Hamilton Catch Fire

It's hard to say much bad about Josh Hamilton.

Last year's MVP is still a night-in, night-out producer, batting .303 for the season with 16 HRs and 69 RBIs.

The only thing that would be nice is if he could find his HR stroke.

When he gets on fire, he can have a scary streak of long balls.

So far in July and August, Hamilton only has eight HRs in 46 games.

I would rather he be getting solid hits and contributing that way, but having Hamilton hammering going into September would be awesome.

4. Keep Ogando from Hitting the Wall

So far, so good when it comes to Alexi Ogando running out of steam in his transition from bullpen to starter.

At 12-5, Ogando is keeping perfect pace with C.J. Wilson...and that's a good thing.

If Ron Washington can find a way to get Ogando...and heck all the starting pitchers...a little extra rest in the middle of the Texas "blast furnace" summer, then all the arms can be fresh heading down the stretch.

3. Get New Set-Up Men Up to Speed

The Rangers acquired Mike Adams and Koji Uehara at the trade deadline.

Neither has been great or awful, but Jon Daniels didn't send players and prospects packing for pretty good performance.

Adams has given up 10 hits in 10 appearances, including two HRs.

While Uehara has a 10:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his eight appearances, he has also given up three runs.

While the Rangers aren't necessarily hurting for middle relievers and set-ups, it would sure be nice to hit the seventh inning to turn things over to a couple lights-out relievers who then turn it over to Nefti.

2. Get Healthy...Stay Healthy

Adrian Beltre, the Rangers third baseman, has not played since July 23 because of a hamstring injury.

While it is great for him to be able to recover and rest, Texas will surely benefit from him being back in the lineup.

In the 100 games that Beltre played this season, he hit .276 with 20 HRs and 76 RBIs.

1. Cut Down on Errors

The Rangers are tied for dead last in errors, committing 102 errors so far in 126 games.

Elvis Andrus, their young super-shortstop, has 25 of those.

While it hasn't hurt them significantly yet, the margin for mistakes reduces when the postseason begins.