Rangers not panicking over early defensive problems

One of the tenets Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister expressed throughout spring training was having a team that was “extraordinary at the ordinary.”

Through hitting slumps and pitching problems that arise at one time or another during a season, he expected his team to consistently do the little things on a nightly basis. In the long run, that steadiness translates into wins and can make up for struggles in other areas.

So far in 2015, however, the Rangers have mostly been less than ordinary at the ordinary.

They’ve committed 15 errors in their first 15 games, including five in a two-game split with the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

Texas (6-9) opens a three-game series with the Angels (6-9) at 9:05 p.m. Friday in Anaheim.

The miscues in Wednesday’s 8-5 loss to Arizona were particularly vexing. The Rangers were charged with three errors, including one unfairly on first baseman Prince Fielder, who made a stop off the bag but had no one to throw to because pitcher Logan Verrett forgot to cover first.

“Not covering first base by the pitcher is inexcusable,” Banister said. “That can’t happen. The ball goes to the outfield you back up bases. When the ball is hit on that side of the diamond it’s your job to cover first base.”

Others, including Adrian Beltre’s errant throw on a slow roller, are less concerning to Banister. He knows what the Gold Glove future Hall of Famer can do defensively.

Young second baseman Rougned Odor also got the benefit of the doubt on a bunt he had to charge and throw quickly to first. His throw sailed slightly to the right, the throwing arm side of Fielder, who was unable to react fast enough to make the catch.

It would be unfair to characterize a running, sliding attempt by center fielder Leonys Martin on a fly ball that popped out of his glove as “ordinary,” but he appeared to have it in his sights the whole way and the ball bounced out of his glove.

Three of the Diamondbacks’ eight runs Wednesday were unearned. Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo, who was charged with three earned runs in five innings, didn’t pitch a bad game. Only a couple of balls, including a solo homer in the fifth, were hit hard.

“It’s going to happen. Sometimes you’re going to have to battle,” he said. “You have to keep pounding the strike zone and sometimes you have to work a little harder. There’s not much you can do. I know all the guys are giving me all they have behind me.”

Nick Martinez said the same after his sixth inning Tuesday was prolonged by Odor’s two-out error on a grounder to his right. With a runner at first, Odor appeared to rush the grab as if he had to get the force at second. Had he slowed down to make the stop, he likely would’ve had plenty of time to get the out at first.

Martinez was forced to throw 12 more pitches and no longer was an option to return to the mound in the seventh.

None of Wednesday’s plays would be classified as routine, except the failure by Verrett to cover first, Banister said. Even the play in which Odor had to rush his throw to Fielder was tougher than it looks, Banister said.

“That’s a tough play also. It’s a quick throw. It’s a hard reaction. Those aren’t ordinary plays. At this level they get made,” he said. “It wasn’t where [Fielder] expected the throw. He was ready for the throw. It went to his throwing arm side and not on his glove side. It gets caught at the major league level, but it’s a challenging play.”

It’s still early, of course, and Banister sees no real cause for panic.

“This is a group of guys that I know is better. And they will be better. Am I going to go out there and start making things more challenging? No,” he said. “We do need to be better. They know that. They know they need to handle the baseball and make plays.”

A look at the 15 errors the Rangers have committed in their first 15 games of 2015:

This story was originally published April 23, 2015 at 8:55 PM with the headline "Rangers not panicking over early defensive problems."