Texas Rangers launch Rebuild 2.0, a plan that could be tough on fans and front office
The World Series will be played at a neutral site this season for the first time in MLB history, and that site is Globe Life Field.
Yes, as many have discovered, the Texas Rangers won’t be one of the two teams in the first World Series at their home ballpark, or the first postseason game.
Globe Life Field will also play host to one National League Division Series and the National League Championship Series.
“It sucks,” manager Chris Woodward said. “I don’t like that part of it. That stinks, to think we wouldn’t be the first team to play a postseason game here. But, listen, we should have played better.”
Because they didn’t, they probably won’t be playing a playoff game at Globe Life Field at least until 2022.
Here’s some Rangers Reaction from Tuesday and a 4-1 loss to the Houston Astros.
Rebuild 2.0
There were three afternoon Zoom calls for the media Tuesday, one to discuss the postseason, the daily pregame call with Woodward and another newsy one with general manager Jon Daniels.
The Rangers are going to be one of the youngest teams in baseball next season, both in terms of average age and MLB service time. There are likely to be some veterans, mainly in the rotation and up the middle, but if there’s a capable young player at a position, it will likely be his.
That’s bad news for Shin-Soo Choo, who is a free agent; Danny Santana, a non-tender candidate; and Jeff Mathis and Jesse Chavez, who are also nearing the end of their careers.
Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus have been told to get their acts together if they want to keep playing regularly. (Yes, that has been said previously in both cases, especially Odor).
A rebuild is tough for many fans. They don’t want to shell out money to see the home team beaten like a drum, though the appeal of Globe Life Field’s air conditioning is going to change that.
A small chunk of fans, though, wants to grow with the team and get excited about young, talented players. Leody Taveras has been as exciting as any Rangers player the past month.
Others who haven’t debuted this season — like Josh Jung, Justin Foscue, Ricky Vanasco and Cole Winn — or who haven’t been at the alternate camp — like Hans Crouse and Maximo Acosta — will get a chance to make an impression during an extended instructional league.
Their success will dictate how quickly the organization moves forward, and potentially the future of multiple members of the front office.
A rebuild is tough on those guys, too.
Cody escapes
When it comes to young starters, Daniels said the rotation might not have a traditional look beyond the established starters already under contract.
As of now, that’s Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles. Daniels said the Rangers have talked with Corey Kluber’s agent about coming back, though for less than the $18 million club option the Rangers hold.
That would make four spots held down and one to fill, which doesn’t seem to fit a rebuilding team. Of course, the Rangers could try to move Lynn or not keep Kluber. Either seems possible.
So, let’s say the Rangers will have three openings. They have several young arms to run through those spots.
Those young arms, though, probably won’t be able to make 30 starts. Kyle Cody, Joe Palumbo, Wes Benjamin, Kolby Allard, Taylor Hearn, John King, Tyler Phillips and Jason Bahr all have had either injuries or limited innings this season. (Benjamin is replacing Allard the next time through the rotation.)
But they offer roster flexibility. They all have options, they could all spend some time in the bullpen, or the Rangers could piggy back starters in one spot.
Cody had to work to allow only one run Tuesday, on a leadoff homer by George Springer, in his three innings. The Astros threatened in the second and third, but didn’t get anything as Cody made pitches in a few big spots.
Houston loaded the bases with no outs in the second for Josh Reddick, but he bounced back to the mound and Cody started a 1-2-3 double play. Cody then got Martin Maldonado to pop out to end the threat.
“I feel like I battled my butt off tonight,” Cody said. “I feel like I made quality pitches when I needed to. I tried to do my best without my best stuff and give our team a chance to win.”
The Astros put runners on the corners with two outs in the third, for Kyle Tucker, who singled in his first at-bat. Cody, though, got him to fly to center field.
“He threw a ton of pitches, but I think it was a good learning experience for him today,” Woodward said. “He had to grind, which is something he hadn’t had to do.”
King entered, pitching in his hometown for the first time since college, and worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Nick Goody, though, loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh, and Jonathan Hernandez couldn’t save him. Alex Bregman’s fly ball on a 100 mph sinker spoiled an outfield shift and fell in to score two and break a 1-1 tie.
Evaluating Guzman
Ronald Guzman delivered the Rangers’ third hit of the fifth inning, which they started with no hits, and plated the only run on a single to right field.
It came with two outs and after he had been behind 0-2 in the count. It was a good piece of hitting, in other words.
The Rangers have seen more of that since recalling him in late August and handing him first base after the trade deadline. He has shown flashes of power to go with his terrific defense.
No one has any questions about the glove. It’s the bat that going to make or break Guzman.
What’s he’s done this season hasn’t been enough for the Rangers to answer if he can be their long-term first baseman.
“I’m of the mindset where we still need to see a lot more going forward to really be able to say if we’ve answered that question or not,” Daniels said. “Obviously, he’s our best defender over there by a long shot, and he’s definitely swung the bat better than the first week. But I think we still need more time.”
Guzman is batting .255 with a .801 OPS. He has cooled off since a hot start and is only 6 for 39 the past 13 games. His two-run homer Saturday snapped on 0-for-10 slump.
Sherten Apostel might emerge as competition for Guzman. Apostel, who made his MLB debut Saturday, plays third base but worked at first base during workouts at the alternate camp.
Woodward said Apostel could get a game at first before the season ends.
