3 key areas to consider as Texas Rangers put potential Opening Day lineup on display
Chris Woodward apparently believes in jinxes.
The Texas Rangers manager, fearful of an injury befalling refusing one of his regulars, stopped short of saying that the batting order he constructed Tuesday for an exhibition against the Colorado Rockies would be the Opening Day lineup Friday against the Rockies.
But that’s the plan.
“As long as everybody is healthy that could be it,” Woodward said.
Only a things could alter the plan, the primary one being if left fielder Willie Calhoun’s right hip muscle is declared healed. The Rangers aren’t expecting that, but it won’t be many games until it is.
Even when Calhoun is ready, the changes to the lineup will be minimal. At least against right-handed pitchers.
The Rockies have scheduled righty German Marquez for the season opener at Globe Life Field and righty Jon Gray for Saturday before left-hander Kyle Freeman pitches Sunday.
So, the lineup Tuesday should/might be used for the first two games of the 60-game 2020 season.
Got that?
Here’s the lineup:
Shin-Soo Choo, left field; Elvis Andrus, shortstop; Danny Santana, center field; Joey Gallo, right field; Rougned Odor, second base; Todd Frazier, third base; Robinson Chirinos, catcher; Nick Solak, designated hitter; and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, third base.
Here’s a look at three key spots:
Can Andrus produce?
Woodward likes Andrus batting second because he has speed that would be useful ahead of the middle of the lineup. That speed has also turned many singles into doubles.
But the Rangers need Andrus to hit like he did at the end of 2016, all of 2017 and the first two weeks of 2018 before his arm was broken. He needs to be on base more often, and early on.
Otherwise, the Rangers will have to consider a change. Woodward has said multiple times since camp resumed that he can’t afford to let a struggling player find his rhythm.
Andrus won’t be benched, but he would likely slide significantly down the order.
“In a 60-game season, there may be some guys who get hot,” Woodward said. “If a guy’s hot we’re going to play, but it’s also enticing to not play a guy if he gets off to a bad start. The consistency is what I’m looking for.”
Gallo then Odor
Gallo doesn’t discriminate when it comes to hitting homers. He makes righties and lefties pay when they make a mistake.
He is most comfortable batting fourth, and Woodward wants his best hitter in his happy place.
Makes sense.
But putting Odor, another lefty hitter, behind Gallo might raise some eyebrows. Woodward, though, points to Odor’s better numbers against lefties and likes Odor fifth instead of righty-hitting veteran Frazier.
There’s the three-batter minimum for relievers to consider, too, and Gallo, Odor, Frazier might make the Rangers easier to pitch to in late-game situations.
“I know they could be susceptible to a really nasty lefty, but both guys have no fear of lefties,” Woodward said. “And Rougie is so good with runners in scoring position, as is Todd Frazier, and Joey gets on base at such a high clip, both of those guys could have multiple guys on base multiple at-bats in a game. I don’t really care if they bring in the lefty with Joey and Rougie back to back.”
Righty heavy at the bottom
Only a season ago the Rangers were concerned about having too many lefty hitters. Now, they have too many righties.
The inability of either Ronald Guzman or Greg Bird to seize the job at first base has cost the Rangers one lefty bat. The return of Calhoun will alleviate the issue, but if he bats seventh behind Frazier, that would leave the Rangers with two righties in the eighth and ninth spots.
For now, and maybe only for the initial weekend or week of the season, the Rangers could run into issues against righty pitchers at the bottom of the lineup. However, Kiner-Falefa has earned his spot.
That’s why Frazier is at first base.
“If I didn’t feel so good about Kiner, obviously Frazier would be playing third and we would be mixing guys around,” Woodward said. “I want to give Kiner the opportunity and moving Frazier over to first, I wanted to get his bat in the lineup as well. Both those guys should be in there.”
