Anderson Tejeda makes a splash, but Texas Rangers ready to turn to Rougned Odor
Covering a Texas Rangers game from the Wilson home office is different.
I feel for Rangers fans who stay up late to watch the team when it’s on the West Coast. These 8 p.m. starts are no picnic, but hopefully they are offering some relief and hopefully there will be more of them in future seasons.
That said, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Not traveling because of the threat of COVID-19 has allowed me to spend more time with my kids, which has been mostly great. The exceptions are when the 5-year-old daughter shoots me in the head point blank with a toy gun or when she sprays suntan lotion in my eyes or when the 7-year-old boy is being a 7-year-old boy.
The head shot came in the ninth inning Thursday while on deadline as the Rangers were attempting to a rally. It ended as you might expect.
Here’s some Rangers Reaction from a 6-4 loss and a three-game sweep by the Oakland A’s.
More Tejeda, please?
Rougned Odor could be ready to return to the Rangers’ lineup as soon as Friday, when they open a three-game weekend series at Globe Life Field against the Los Angeles Angels.
Perhaps rookie Anderson Tejeda bought Odor an extra day to rest his right oblique muscle.
Tejeda dazzled in his MLB debut, becoming the first player in Rangers history to register a hit, an RBI and a stolen base in his first game. He had two hits, actually, the second of which was a two-run homer in the seventh inning that brought the Rangers with in a run at 5-4.
Tejeda went 2 for 4 with three RBIs.
“I felt really good,” the 22-year-old said. “I felt really confident going out there. I’m thankful I got the opportunity.”
Tejeda had a chance to give the Rangers a lead in the eighth, as he batted with bases loaded an one out. He popped out to the shortstop, though, and Robinson Chirinos ended the threat with a strikeout.
Manager Chris Woodward wanted to give Tejeda a game to see if he could pump some life into the lineup. It worked, as the Rangers had a season-high 12 hits and nearly came back from a 5-0 deficit.
“That was kind of my intention, spice things up a little bit and get some excitement,” Woodward said. “Everybody loves it when guys make their major-league debut. I knew this kid was going to bring some excitement because he has no fear.
“I know you’re going to see a live bat, was hoping they were going to throw strikes and they did. Obviously it didn’t result in a win, but we definitely put a lot of pressure on them at the end.”
But Tejeda didn’t unseat Odor or Nick Solak, who played second the previous three games.
“If Rougie can’t play tomorrow, then he’ll probably be playing,” Woodward said. “I’ll get [Tejeda] another game in there. He’s going to have to earn that every time out. One game is awesome, I’m happy for him, but he’s still got to earn more playing time.”
Minor’s issue
Mike Minor isn’t hurt. He feels fine. Something, though, is amiss with the All-Star left-hander.
He knows what it is, too. Basically, he is going through a dead-arm phase that many pitchers experience in spring training as they are building up for the regular season.
Minor said his arm has hit a wall at various points in each of his three starts, and on Thursday it came in the fifth inning after the A’s scored four against in him the fourth.
Minor’s fastball velocity dropped from where it was earlier in the game, and it was noticeable enough for pitching coach Julio Rangel to check on him.
Minor allowed five runs in five innings, but says he feels fine physically.
It’s been draining mentally, though.
“It’s embarrassing to be out there and give up runs like that,” Minor said. “For me, it’s three bad games in a row. Yeah, I hate it. I don’t feel like I’m at my best. I’m having to grind out there.
“You get pretty pissed off out there. You want to get your guys in the dugout, you want to get them rolling, and you don’t.”
The Rangers had only three weeks of summer camp to build up for this season instead of the six they usually get during a normal spring training. So, Minor is on track for a 162-game season. The problem is he’s three starts deep into a 60-game season.
About the only thing he can do is to continue pitching. Minor wasn’t keen on the idea of skipping a start to build strength in the shoulder. It’s his intention to pitch his way throughout it.
The Rangers aren’t teeming with starters to replace him. Kolby Allard is already in the rotation as Corey Kluber’s replacement, and Joe Palumbo has only pitched twice out of the bullpen.
The alternate site is thin, too. Wes Benjamin is being stretched out, as is Taylor Hearn, but they aren’t ready to work five, six or seven innings.
(Man, that’s a lot lefties.)
The Rangers traded right-hander Ariel Jurado to the New York Mets after designating him for assignment over the weekend. The Rangers likely want to stay away from Tyler Phillips and Jason Bahr, who have never pitched above Double A.
So, the best option, even an option that is 0-3 with a 6.89 ERA, is Minor.
Kluber hosting gala
Kluber spoke to the media before the game, saying he continues to feel great in everything that he does, except when throwing a baseball.
That’s a problem for a big-league starting pitcher.
The right-hander’s shoulder injury, in the first inning of his first game with the Rangers, could keep him from pitching again this season. If he can return, it would be as a reliever.
He will be returning to Texas after going to his home in Massachusetts for the first four weeks of his recovery. While his status this season and beyond — the Rangers hold a club option on him — is unsettled, he is keeping a commitment to area kids.
He and his wife, Amanda, will host the 2020 Curveball for a Cure Celebrity Gala on Sept. 13 at the Live! by Loews hotel next to Globe Life Field. The event is the first outreach for the Kluber Family Foundation since he was dealt to the Rangers in December.
The foundation is a resource for families who have seriously ill or chronically ill children.
“Whether it was visiting hospitals, kids coming out to the stadium, we always felt the connection,” Kluber said. “There were kids going through a hard time with their families, so we just felt like we had an opportunity when we started the foundation to really focus on that area. We had some ideas that we felt were pretty cool and make their day better as they are going through that.”
Because of MLB protocols during the coronavirus pandemic, Kluber and other players are required to participate virtually. Anyone wishing to attend the gala can do so in person for $400 a ticket or virtually for $250.
Those who attend will have access to a cocktail hour, a multi-course dinner and live entertainment. All social-distancing guidelines will be followed, and hotel vendors will be required to wear masks.
Kluber said it’s not an ideal time to host an event of this magnitude.
“It’s a fun night for everybody involved and a unique opportunity in different circumstances to meet and mingle with players,” he said.
