SEATTLE -- To Texas manager Jeff Banister, the playoff chase remains exciting. That his Rangers are sitting at 75-76 isn't dampening his enthusiasm at all.
More important: The Rangers are just 2 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins in the race for the second American League wild card, so the possibility of the playoffs is still very much alive.
"Ultimately, it's about getting into the playoffs, then how you play in the playoffs," Banister said. "It's not always clean in the record. I don't think you chase a record as much as you play to get into the playoffs.