Rangers notes: Choo ‘good enough’ to be back in lineup

Shin-Soo Choo looked at Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland playing with pain the past few days, and was determined to get on the field as soon as his tight lower back would let him.

That time arrived Thursday, when Choo informed manager Jeff Banister that he was good enough to return to Texas Rangers’ lineup after two games down. Sometimes, actually many times, good enough is how most players in the lineup feel.

As a season drags on, especially through a difficult travel schedule, no player is at peak health. The Rangers aren’t making excuses, but there is still some lag from their overnight flight from Los Angeles to Chicago last week with no day off and a day game following a night game.

“Nobody’s going to feel 100 percent. I don’t know that anybody really feels 100 percent coming out of spring training, either,” Banister said. “Just the collateral damage of the schedule that we’ve had this month, but to get to go where we want to go, we have to be able play through this type of scheduling and these kind of moments.”

Choo said he woke up with a stiff back Monday, and it got so bad Tuesday that he had difficulty walking. Two days of treatment, though, got him to the point where he could start in right field in the finale against Oakland.

“That made me feel a lot better,” Choo said. “In this game, nobody plays healthy, especially Beltre and Moreland. Whenever you can play, I’m playing. I’m good enough to play.”

Moreland, who has labored on the bases this series, said that he has soreness in his legs and back, but the ankle that was reconstructed last year is fine. He is trying to choose the right spots to exert himself without making things worse.

That could mean less effort running at times or taking fewer swings pregame.

“It’s just trying to be smart with it,” Moreland said. “It’s a long season. I’d like to be around for it.”

Banister’s responsibility is to monitor how each player feels each day and pick and choose times to get them rest.

He removed Moreland late from Wednesday’s 8-2 loss, and has done the same in lopsided wins or losses with other regulars.

“I’m taking care of these guys so we do have them as fresh as they can be,” Banister said.

Gallo struggling

The Rangers were expecting to see rookie Joey Gallo struggle in spurts during his first big league stint, and the third baseman/left fielder is struggling.

He is batting only .224 after a 5-for-36 skid in his past 10 games. Included in the funk were 18 strikeouts, three of them Wednesday. He was 1 for 4 Thursday with a double and scored a run, but he struck out twice.

Gallo knows, however, what he needed to do. Pitchers have made adjustments to him, and he needs to adjust back.

“I’m being a little impatient, swinging at too much,” he said. “I’ve got to adjust, too, and keep learning the pitchers. I’m still a little inexperienced in that.

“Maybe my timing is off a little. I’m not seeing the ball too well. The last few games I’ve had pretty good swings, at least. The results just haven’t been there. I’ve just got to keep swinging through it.”

Banister isn’t discouraged by Gallo’s swoon. It’s part of being a big league rookie, but Banister sees Gallo learning and trying to apply adjustments.

For instance, Gallo isn’t chasing pitches out of the strike zone as much as he did earlier this month.

“We knew there would be these kind of ripples during every game,” Banister said. “He’s not chasing. These guys know who Joey Gallo is. Believe it or not, he’s getting pitched like Prince Fielder.”

Briefly

▪ Choo’s availability and the need for a relief arm resulted in a quick return to Triple A Round Rock for outfielder Michael Choice. Right-hander Spencer Patton was recalled from Round Rock to give the bullpen a seventh pitcher.

▪ Delino DeShields (left hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday with Round Rock if he gets through a Friday workout with no setbacks. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf (groin) will pitch one inning for Round Rock on Friday, and left-hander Martin Perez (elbow) will make his next rehab start Saturday for Round Rock.

▪ Nomar Mazara and Nick Williams, outfielders at Double A Frisco, have been selected to participate in the Futures Game on July 12 in Cincinnati. Gallo was the MVP of last year’s game.

This story was originally published June 25, 2015 at 3:46 PM with the headline "Rangers notes: Choo ‘good enough’ to be back in lineup."