Rangers spring break: Banister picking up the pace in Surprise

The most noticeable difference after two days of spring training under manager Jeff Banister is pace.

Rangers pitchers have been on the move since starting workouts Saturday, from field to field and from one instructional refresher course to the next, such as fielding pop-ups, comebackers and bunts.

It’s not that workouts under former manager Ron Washington were slow, but there’s a football practice-like pace with Banister’s way, a schedule he started using in 2002 with the Pirates.

“Through the years I’ve found what works best, listening to players, watching what’s successful, what’s not,” Banister said.

The goal is to eliminate the lulls and prevent players from standing around watching teammates.

“[It’s about] getting the player out on the field and getting them in baseball shape doing baseball activity. Eliminating the mundane, eliminating the standing around because we want our men to function at a high level in not only low-stress situations but high-stress situations.”

So far, the style is getting positive reviews. Left-hander Derek Holland had only one peeve. He’d prefer to throw with somebody in the box, something pitchers didn’t do the first two days.

“I get to see a visual better that way and see where my ball’s at,” he said. “It kind of stinks in a way, but at the same time I liked [the fast pace]. We got in, got out. Got our work done and there was no sitting around.”

Keeping players engaged at all times is “paramount,” Banister said. The training staff was happy, too, he said, without elaborating on whether the quicker style helps prevent injuries.

Banister said live batting practice will come in time.

“There’s a process to getting to intrasquads, to real games, to nine innings. I’m a process-driven guy,” he said. “I think as soon as you sell out to the production early, right or wrong it’s my opinion, you miss the process. Detail is process-oriented.”

Banister invoked coaching legends John Wooden and Vince Lombardi while describing his process-oriented coaching style.

“That may be old school but when you think about it, really and truly it works out here with these guys, too,” he said.

Quotable

“This is awesome. I’m just glad to be back and for once we’re not talking about the dog. For the record, I live in a one-story [house in Surprise].” — Rangers pitcher Derek Holland on being back in spring training after missing last year with an injury caused by tripping over his dog and falling down a staircase.

This story was originally published February 22, 2015 at 6:27 PM with the headline "Rangers spring break: Banister picking up the pace in Surprise."