Some things to think about:

*What do you do with Hank Blalock if or when he comes back from the DL?

*How many Rangers should be on the All-Star team and who should they be?

*How do you think the Rangers shape up against the Angels next week?

*Should Max Ramirez and Jarrod Saltalamacchia share equal playing time while Gerald Laird is out?

The Rangers return to Baltimore this afternoon where they had a 30-3 victory last Aug. 22 in the first game of a doubleheader.  While I doubt that will happen again, Texas should be looking to take at least two of the three games this weekend.  Pitching matchups are Padilla vs. Guthrie, Hurley vs. Burres, and Millwood vs. Liz.  Both teams have similar records and are looking to continue to close the gap between them and their division leaders.

Some key players in this series for Baltimore:

Brian Roberts- He may be the Oriole representative at the All-Star game.  The leadoff hitter has been a catalyst for the O’s leading the team in hits and runs scored.  He also has 22 steals so look for him to challenge Salty’s arm if he gets on base.

Aubrey Huff- The Dallas native provides the power in this lineup.  Many teams have so called “Ranger killers” in the middle of the order that historically terrorize Texas pitching.  A key for the Rangers in this series is to quiet this guy’s bat.

Jeremy Guthrie- While Padilla needs to bounce back from his rough start, Texas needs to take the disciplined approach to Guthrie that it did in the last series to Yankee pitching.  Try to get his pitch count up early and knock him out of the ballgame.  He has been a lot more effective than his win-loss record indicates, getting  some of the worst run support in the league.

Camden Yards is one of the great places to take in a game in baseball.  Built in 1992, it was the first of its generation of ballparks or the so called “retro” ballparks.  Unfortunately I have only taken a tour and not been able to experience the real thing.  The best part is the way they have constructed the stadium next to the old downtown warehouse behind right field which is a former major rail station.  The street between the stadium and the warehouse is closed to traffic but open to pedestrians so fans outside the park can view the game or visit the shops and restaurants.  A little more triva for the die hards, Babe Ruth’s birthplace was a short walk from Camden Yards.  Coincidentally, Ruth’s father once owned a pub located in what is now center field of the stadium.

Lets continue to watch Chris Davis and his exciting play since being called up.  Loved watching his last game when he changed momentum with the defensive play that saved three runs and the bomb he hit to center field that gave the Rangers the lead back.  I am rooting for him partly to see him challenge Washington’s statement that he gets sent back to OKC when Blalock returns no matter how well he has played.

Lets also hope the Rangers continue to keep their momentum this weekend.  More importantly into next week against the Angels.