Not So Hot Of A Month For Vlad, But Rangers Will Survive

Texas has continued to distance itself from the pack in the A.L. West despite Vladimir Guerrero's month-long slump. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Going into the month of July, Rangers' designated hitter (and top free-agent pickup) Vladimir Guererro had a .339 batting average and just finished up a month in which hit hit .356 and knocked in 24 RBI to go along with six homers in 24 games.

Fast forward to today and Guerrero's average has dropped 30 points to .309, and the Rangers' slugger hasn't knocked in a run for a season-long nine straight games.

It doesn't stop there.

Guerrero has a lowly .200 and knocked in only two homers and eight RBI in 20 July games. If he doesn't increase his average by eight points and knock in at least three RBI over the next five games, it will be the lowest totals for RBI and batting average in any month he's played at least 20 games since the 2000 season.

Before the All-Star break, this drop in production really hit the Rangers hard to the tune of eight losses in the first 11 games of July. Guerrero went 7 of 40 from the plate during this time (.175), but did knock in seven of his eight RBI in the month.

Since the break, Guerrero is a bit better with nine hits in his last 40 at-bats (.225), but has only one RBI and has only two hits over his last 18 AB's. Those 18 AB's encompass the last five games for the Rangers and, not surprisingly, Texas has averaged a measly 2.6 runs per game during this time.

What's saved Texas, since the All-Star break at least, has been the pitching. Texas has the fourth best ERA in the Majors since the All-Star break (2.85), which has taken a good-chunk of the pressure off of this lineup.

A slump like this is certainly disconcerting, but Guerrero will rebound - all good hitters do. The only difference between the Rangers falling into a funk as some of the hotter hitters start to cool down late in the season (like in years past) has been the huge improvement in the pitching staff - both the starters and relievers.

This is a good sign for a team with playoff aspirations and even, dare I say, a goal of going deep into the playoffs.