There have been moans and groans from Texas Rangers fans all season long about Ian Kinsler hitting in the leadoff spot.
He pops up too many pitches, swings for the fences and is too agressive at the plate.
Those are the general complaints.
But Kinsler is having quite the historic season for the Rangers despite hitting just .249, which admittedly is a pretty terrible batting average for a leadoff man — or anyone, really.
On Wednesday night in the Rangers' comeback victory that Kinsler played a monster part in, he made American League history.
With his eigth-inning, game-tying blast to left field, Kinsler became the first second baseman in the history of the American League to have 30 home runs, 30 doubles, 80 walks and score 100 runs in a season. He also has 26 stolen bases, putting him four away from his second-career 30 home run/30 steals season.
Kinsler is up to 115 runs scored and has an on-base percentage of .348, a far climb up from his batting average. To put it simply, Kinsler gets on base and scores runs, which is all you can ask of your leadoff man. The home run power is an added bonus.
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By now, everyone should be OK with Kinsler in the leadoff role. If not, just take another look at the numbers.
