A busy Sunday at Texas Rangers camp, but biggest news took place elsewhere in MLB
The Texas Rangers clubhouse had been quiet before and after workouts this week, including Sunday morning.
That all changed when Elvis Andrus reported for spring training shortly after 9 a.m.
By noon, when media was given their post-workout access, the clubhouse wasn’t quite as quiet anymore.
Andrus, who by now must have hundreds of sound systems, per usual was pumping tunes out of his latest toy. To his credit, the music wasn’t the loudest he’s ever played it.
It was his first day, after all, but the sense here is that the upper levels of the volume dial will best tested.
Maybe as soon as Monday for the Rangers’ first full-squad workout.
Here’s the Surprise Five from Sunday.
1. Tony Fernandez worked for the Rangers from 2012 to 2014 as a special assistant to general manager Jon Daniels during what turned out to be a critical time for the Rangers’ farm system.
They had in their minor leagues the following players from Latin America: Jurickson Profar, Nomar Mazara, Rougned Odor, Jorge Alfaro, Hanser Alberto, Ronald Guzman, Luis Sardinas and Odubel Herrera.
They’ve all played in the majors.
None of them was older than 21. Most of them were under 20. They needed mentoring. They needed to hear from a successful MLB player who was plucked by an MLB organization as a teenager.
Fernandez, an ordained minister in addition to one of the best players in Toronto Blue Jays history, provided that.
Fernandez died Sunday from complications from kidney disease. He was 57. Daniels and manager Chris Woodward, who played with Fernandez with the Blue Jays in 2000, took time to remember him for the Sunday workout.
“We had all those infielders at that time,” Daniels said. “He had a bigger impact on them in how to handle yourself, how to relate to people, how to discipline yourself. He was such an unbelievable role model in that respect.”
Fernandez spent a lot of time at designated hitter when teammates with Woodward, a utility player, and they had many conversations on the bench watching games.
“I got a lot of time getting to pick his brain and just getting to know him,” Woodward said. “He played in the big leagues a long time. The work ethic, the human quality, he’s one of the most genuine and sincere guys I’ve ever known.”
Fernandez was a five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner.
2. With the exception of Andrus’ arrival, position players had a quiet day. In fact, it was a scheduled day off that many, but not all, observed.
Andrus, Odor, Todd Frazier, and Willie Calhoun were among those present, as was utility player Matt Duffy. He’s in camp on a non-roster contract, but is a strong candidate to make the Opening Day roster.
Third base is his best position, but he needs to be able to play shortstop if he’s going to make the team.
No sweat, even though he has played only 30 games there in five seasons in the majors. Officially played there, that is.
He believes he’s played there far more than in 30 games.
“Anytime there’s a left-handed shift,” Duffy said.
And he’s right. Shortstops now get plenty of work at second base when infields shift. Third basemen play in the spot shortstops have vacated.
“With how much we shift these days, I see myself as an infielder,” Duffy said. “I catch ground balls.”
Woodward has told Duffy that he will play shortstop in Cactus League games. Non-roster invite Yadiel Rivera might be the best shortstop in camp, though Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Eli White have played well there.
Kiner-Falefa also plays third, and would be a capable emergency catcher. He’s also on the 40-man roster, which is always an advantage when it comes to roster decisions. He also has minor-league options remaining, which has a different set of advantages.
3. Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke Sunday in Florida at the Grapefruit League media day. He’ll speak Tuesday in Scottsdale at the Cactus League media day.
The main topic Sunday was the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, and my money is on that being the main topic Tuesday. It remains a topic in clubhouses throughout baseball.
Of note Sunday was Manfred saying he told Grapefruit League teams that beanballs aimed at the Astros will be met with swift and strong action, unlike that taken against Astros players.
Manfred’s edict came a day after Astros manager Dusty Baker said something needed to be done to prevent Astros hitters from becoming targets in the batter’s box for retaliation for their cheating.
What Manfred will need to explain is how the line that will be drawn between pitchers intentionally plunking Astros and a pitch getting away as a pitcher works inside.
Woodward brought that up Saturday. Manfred needs to provide a clear definition of how a beanball will be interpreted. If any hit-by-pitch is deemed intentional, it becomes an advantage for the Astros.
Basically, if a team can’t pitch inside to the Astros, their hitters are going to rake.
No matter how much they have cheated in the past, and it’s clear now that it was a bunch, the Astros have many talented hitters in their lineup.
It would be wrong if they were to receive an advantage from a huge scandal.
Expect teams to seek much more clarification.
4. In case anyone was wondering for a second if the Rangers would not use the new 26th roster spot on a pitcher, as I was, they won’t.
It’s going to be an eighth reliever, which they’ve pretty much carried the past three seasons anyway. A four-man bench will include a backup catcher, a backup shortstop, an extra outfielder and Nick Solak.
Solak, of course, has to show this spring he can play center field adequately and must show something at the plate. The Rangers are confident he will do both, but he probably still makes the team even if center field is a bit of an adventure.
Woodward, though, conceded one way the Rangers might go with seven relievers and five bench players — if the rotation consistently chews up innings.
If Corey Kluber, Mike Minor, Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles are doing seven and eight innings deep, the Rangers won’t need an eighth reliever.
In an era where pitchers just don’t do that much, it seems like a long shot. Minor and Lynn, though, are coming off 200-inning seasons, and Kluber five of those in his career.
So ... ah, forget it. It’ll be an eighth reliever.
5. For those headed to the Surprise Recreation Campus this week, good news: The weather has turned in your favor.
It will still be chilly in the morning, but high temperatures to start the week are forecast to be in the 70s. That’s shorts weather for those who can handle some cool mornings.
The weather was unseasonably cool last week, and it rained Monday and Tuesday. There was frost on my windshield Sunday morning, though the high pushed past 70.
Sunny skies and warm temperatures are what make spring training great, except to players trying to catch fly balls and pitchers trying to keep balls from clearing the fence.
Sunburn stinks, too, so pack some high-SPF suntan lotion, and hydrate, especially if you plan on downing some of those $14 tall boys.
Bring a wallet or two, too.
