Texas Rangers get Rougned Odor back, but see Joey Gallo sit with wrist soreness
A sore right wrist took Joey Gallo out of the Texas Rangers’ lineup Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field.
But don’t worry, Rougned Odor said he was healthy enough to return to the lineup.
The second baseman was back, after missing four games with tightness in his right oblique muscle and after waking up Friday and texting manager Chris Woodward he was ready.
He returned to the lineup batting .125 (3 for 24) in eight games, with a home run and two RBIs. He lost touch with the approach that brought him so much success late last season and that he allegedly carried over into spring training and summer camp, and that gave the Rangers so much hope.
However, he isn’t the only Rangers hitter off to a slow start.
The game Friday was their 12th of the season, which equates to 20% of their 60-game schedule. They entered with a 3-8 record, and with plenty of ground to make up.
Rather than looking at the glass as 20% empty, the Rangers are choosing to look at it as 80% full. There is still time to reshape their season, no matter how terrible things looked the first two weeks.
“We’re not where we want to be, but, hey, we’ve got to take this head on,” Woodward said. “We can’t avoid this. We’ve got to stick together and fight through it. If we scratch and claw and get a few wins, then we can get our swagger back and go out with the intent that we can beat anybody.”
The Gallo news rates a blow to an offense that hasn’t produced much this season, even though he was coming off a 1-for-11 series in a three-game sweep at Oakland.
Woodward said that Gallo played through the wrist pain Thursday but couldn’t go Friday. There was no word on how long Gallo would be out, but it wouldn’t come as a surprise if he didn’t play this weekend.
But it wasn’t all bad news. The Rangers activated right-handed reliever Rafael Montero to give the beleaguered bullpen a big arm to pitch in the late innings. He evolved into the primary eighth-inning reliever late last season and was arguably the Rangers’ best in the bullpen.
Also, rookie Anderson Tejeda remained in the lineup after a sizzling MLB debut Thursday in which he singled, homered, stole a base and drove in three runs. He was at second base while Odor was the designated hitter.
Odor is able to play the field, but using Tejeda, who can also play shortstop, at DH would limit the Rangers’ roster flexibility.
Odor was where he has been all season in the batting order, third. Woodward continues to trust that Odor can be a productive player and a more complete hitter than he has been the past three seasons.
After a few good games to start the season, Odor became frustrated by his lack of production, Woodward said, and abandoned the approach that makes him successful. The swing mechanics that clicked last season remain in place.
At some point, presumably soon, Odor will have to turn process into production.
“Listen, it still has to show in your results,” Woodward said Thursday. “I preach about process all the time, but we preach process to get results because we know that’s the best way. The consistency of who he is now is there. Now, hopefully that just relates to the actual production on the field. I do still trust where he’s at. We just need to get him back on the field.”
Now, the Rangers have to get Gallo back.
“Our big gun is out. Somebody has to step up,” first baseman Todd Frazier. “I am here. I don’t know what position I’m hitting, but I told Woody, ‘Put me where you need me.’ I’m feeling good now. Who’s got the guts to look themselves in the mirror and say it’s my turn to step up.”
