Time in shortened season could be running out for struggling Texas Rangers players
Whoever assembled the MLB schedule for the abbreviated 2020 season did the Texas Rangers a massive favor.
They play only three games at Oakland Coliseum, where the Oakland A’s have pretty much had their way the past several seasons whenever the Rangers have come to town.
The two American League West rivals opened a three-game series Tuesday night, with the A’s scheduled to send prized rookie left-hander Jesus Luzardo to the mound for his first career start.
The series finale is scheduled for Thursday, when something else of note is scheduled. MLB rosters are to be trimmed from 30 players to 28, though that is being reconsidered in light of the COVID-19 outbreaks with the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals.
If the original plan holds, the Rangers could trim from their nine-man bullpen, seven-man outfield or pare rookie infielder Anderson Tejeda if Rougned Odor (oblique) is deemed well enough to play.
After some required roster changes, some needed changes would seem to be on the horizon.
The Rangers expect to contend for a playoff spot, but can’t reach that goal by continuing to lose series or with multiple hitters mired in slumps.
In a season that has been called a sprint, when it’s been said that players who don’t produce will lose playing time, changes seem like a matter of if, not when.
But who?
“We’re not at that point yet, and also our options are limited,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “We have some guys across the street at Globe Life Park that will get an opportunity here in time. They’re not playing real games. It’s not like you have a guy in Triple A that’s just absolutely dominating the opposition for the last month for the last month or so that is knocking the door down to get in.
“I think change for change sake is not necessarily what we’re looking to do. We’ve got to play better, but I don’t think a week’s worth of games is a reason to run from that.”
The Rangers entered Tuesday with eight players who are considered regulars batting .200 or less. One of them, center fielder Danny Santana at .059, is on the injured list with an arm injury.
Manager Chris Woodward shuffled the batting order often during the first eight games, and did so again Tuesday by loading up with right-handed hitters against Luzardo. That meant lefty hitters Shin-Soo Choo and Willie Calhoun were on the bench, and Joey Gallo was the only lefty in the lineup.
Adolis Garcia, a MLB rookie, and Rob Refsnyder, a part-time player most of his career, replaced Calhoun in left field and Choo at designated hitter.
“One thing I’m expecting out of all of those guys is to have quality at-bats,” Woodward said. “They’ve provided some pretty good quality when needed. We’re looking for those to give us a chance and maybe get that guy out of the game. We can flip the lineup at that point.”
Choo and Calhoun have been told they will see a decrease in their time against lefty pitchers. Calhoun didn’t even bring the helmet he wears against them.
Ordinarily, those two are lineup regulars, and Woodward was hesitant to call them platoon players in this 60-game season. Calhoun is also dealing with the mental after effects of being hit in the jaw by a lefty in spring training.
Both can regain their spots in the everyday lineup should they get hot, something that could happen as the Rangers’ schedule stops seeing so many off days that halt momentum.
“They have to earn those at-bats,” Woodward said.
But time is starting to run out for those who have struggled to open the season. In a season condensed to two months, two weeks might be the limit.
That would be this weekend, when the Rangers return home to face the Los Angeles Angels or next week in a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
Players could see the bench more frequently or slide down the order. Odor, who tested his tight right oblique Tuesday and could play as soon as Thursday, is off to another slow start and would seem to be a hitter whose role is altered.
“I might be more willing to make changes earlier this year,” Woodward said. “It is still early, but we can’t ride this out for a week or two if we’re seeing just not great results, both hitting and pitching.”
