Cold-blooded reliever
There have been a few cold days in Arizona as the Rangers go through spring training, but it’s nothing compared to the below-freezing temperatures in West Lafayette, Ind., that felt the effects of a winter storm that blasted the Midwest this week.That’s the hometown of Purdue University and of Rangers reliever Josh Lindblom, who played for the Boilermakers. Lindblom, a 25-year-old right-hander, came to the Rangers this winter as part of the Michael Young trade with Philadelphia. What was it like playing at Purdue? It was great. If you’re talented and have ability, people are going to find you. Everyone always talks about how the southern states are better at baseball, but I’d like to invite some of those southern states up when it’s 20 degrees and snowing and see how they fare in a spring game up there. How is it playing in 20-degree weather? I’ve always had success in it because I’m used to it. It’s a little different for the hitters because it’s not very fun to take a ball off the fists in that weather. But if you get your body warm enough to the point it’d be in warm weather, which takes a little bit longer, nothing really changes. Does the weather make it more difficult to train? I train with Padres pitcher Clayton Richard, who also lives up there, and it’s been good. We run when it’s cold outside and do other things like that. I think there is a mental aspect to it by pushing through because you’re going to have to play in that weather at some point whether you’re in Chicago or Detroit or Minnesota early or late in the season. Going a little bit off-topic now, what do you think of Big Ten basketball this year? It’s awesome. It’s a totally different kind of basketball game compared to the SEC or Big 12. It’s 40 minutes of guys just going at each other, and it’s a grind-it-out style of basketball. At times, it’s not very fun to watch because you get 52-50 games that are defensive battles. But there are good players in the Big Ten. If you look at Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, it doesn’t matter if a team is ranked No. 1, they could still lose. What do you think of Purdue? I follow them pretty closely and they’re in a down year, but it’s always fun to go to games at Mackey Arena. It’s a great place to watch a game.He said it“I don’t think anybody is interested in what Ron Washington has to say.” — Ron Washington on why he won’t be getting a Twitter account. The Rangers held a social media meeting Thursday.Number of the day1,747Hits by Ivan Rodriguez as a Ranger, which is the second-most in franchise historyInjury report DH Lance Berkman (mild right calf strain) listed day to day and could be limited in baseball activities RHP Colby Lewis (flexor tendon surgery last July) throwing out to 135 feet RHP Roman Mendez (surgery for stress fracture in elbow last November) throwing out to 120 feet RHP Neftali Feliz (Tommy John elbow surgery last August) throwing out to 60 feet RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John last April) will throw 30-pitch bullpen session today RHP Justin Miller (Tommy John last April) threw 30-pitch bullpen Thursday RHP Matt West (Tommy John last August) throwing out to 60 feet RHP Wilmer Font (mild shoulder tendinitis) throwing off flat ground today 3B Adrian Beltre (right calf inflammation) cleared for all baseball activities but slow-pacing itVideo of the daySee Ron Washington talk about social media on the Foul Territory blog at star-telegram.com/rangers.Drew Davison, 817-390-7760 Twitter: @drewdavison
