Nelson likens the Rangers to ‘01 Mariners – a team that won 116

ARLINGTON, Texas – A lot of eyes rolled in spring training when veteran Jeff Nelson looked around the Texas clubhouse and said the 2004 Rangers reminded him a lot of the 2001 Seattle Mariners.

The Rangers linked to a team the won 116 games? As it turns out, Nelson may not have been as crazy as he sounded in March.

“Have we surprised people this season?” Nelson said in the Texas clubhouse Wednesday. “We’re still surprising people. We lose two, three in a row and everyone thinks, ‘That’s it.’

“We did that last week, and look where we are now.”

Nelson and the Rangers began the night in first place in the American League West, and though their .567 winning percentage doesn’t pencil out to 116 wins, it may be good enough to get to the postseason.

“When I said that about this team, one big reason was that we’d just lost Alex Rodriguez,” Nelson said. “That’s the same situation we had in Seattle in 2001, and guys who had played in Alex’s shadow really elevated their games. I thought that might happen here – and it has.”

Nelson hasn’t pitched since early May and won’t again until after the All-Star break, sidelined by knee and elbow surgery. As he works his way back into the Rangers’ relief plans, he’s watched both the Rangers and Mariners with interest.

“This has always been a tough division, and the Rangers weren’t a big part of it the last two, three years,” Nelson said. “We are now. And the Mariners have really struggled, but they came in here 81/2 games out.

“I think the West is still a four-team race.”

What’s made contenders out of the Rangers?

“Everybody has contributed here, and that’s with a bunch of injuries in the first half,” Nelson said. “If we stay close until the All-Star break, we’re going to get some key guys back – including me.”

Outfielders Brian Jordan and Laynce Nix have missed considerable time, as has pitcher Chan Ho Park. All figure to be back in July.

“This is a team without big names, but guys have big games,” Nelson said of the Rangers.

And the Mariners?

“I see a lot of guys pressing,” Nelson said. “Guys like Edgar (Martinez) and (Bret) Boone, good hitters who have struggled. Everyone goes through it in the course of a year, but when the team struggles, it’s much worse.

“You’ve got guys over there who aren’t just trying to get back to where they should be, they’re trying to carry the team. I saw some of that in the postseason in 2001 – guys trying to strike out the side with one pitch, guys trying to make up for five bad at-bats with one.

“You play like that, it’s hard to get the job done. We didn’t in ‘01, they’re not right now.”

Notes

For those wondering, Clint Nageotte will make his next start as scheduled Sunday in Seattle against the San Diego Padres… . Looking around a quiet clubhouse Wednesday, first baseman John Olerud asked a writer: “What do you ask today? I can’t imagine how you could come up with questions every day. I can go days without asking one.” … Shortstop Rich Aurilia was back in the lineup Wednesday, and Jolbert Cabrera started at third base in place of Scott Spiezio. Spiezio is 2 for 20 on this trip, Cabrera began the night 5 for 17 with a home run and four RBI on the trip.

On tap – Seattle concludes its trip today with an 11:05 a.m. (PDT) game in Texas that will not be televised. Probable starting pitchers: Joel Piñeiro (3-8, 4.60 ERA) vs. Joaquin Benoit (2-2, 5.76).