Rangers boast top farm system in baseball

MIAMI -- The Rangers' eight farm teams went into Wednesday with the best overall record of any organization. Including the two Dominican Summer League teams, Texas' eight clubs had a .573 winning percentage. The D-backs were second at .555.

Double-A Frisco has already clinched a spot in the Texas League playoffs, as has Myrtle Beach in the Carolina League. Both won their first-half titles, and they are still in first place in the second half. Myrtle Beach keeps winning, despite having 11 players promoted to Frisco during the course of the season. Class A Spokane won the first half in its division in the Northwest League.

"It all falls within the framework of development," farm director Mike Daly said. "Development is paramount, that's most important. But our players are competitive, and our coaches and managers are competitive. At the end of the day, you want to win the game.

"It also means something when you have to pick up a ground ball when the game is tied rather than seven runs down, or you have to come in and close down a close game."