Rangers’ Beltre admits thumb hasn’t improved
Adrian Beltre has played more games at third base than everyone in major league history except for Brooks Robinson.
“Ever? I’m second-most?” Beltre said Monday before passing Graig Nettles with his 2,413th game at third. “That means that I’m old and have been playing for a long time. It’s surprising to me, but it’s something cool.”
The quick media session before the Texas Rangers opened a three-game series at Coors Field then turned in another direction. Should Beltre, who is 36, even be playing with a sprained left thumb?
“That’s a good question. I don’t know the answer,” Beltre said. “It’s a good question with many answers, but I don’t have one.”
Beltre entered the series against the Colorado Rockies batting .250 (21 for 84) in 21 games since coming off the disabled list and has homered only once. He said that he is continuing to search for a way to be more productive, though manager Jeff Banister quickly pointed to the number of hard outs Beltre has made recently.
He was batting .357 (10 for 28) in his past seven games.
“When he’s going good he wants more,” Banister said. “Any competitive players, they’re never satisfied.”
Banister said that Beltre will play as long as he says he can play because he knows how to manage injuries.
But even Beltre said he is stumped by this one, which hasn’t gotten any better and wasn’t helped by the All-Star break.
“I just don’t think that if I had waited as long as I could wait that it was going to make a difference,” he said. “I took those four days off the other day. I assumed it would be better those days. It didn’t happen, so I’m confused and I’m not exactly sure what the best thing to do is.”
Beltre said that surgery after the season has not yet been discussed.
Harrison at the bat
Left-hander Matt Harrison is scheduled to make his second start since coming off the disabled list after major back surgery, and will do so at a National League ballpark where the designated hitter isn’t used.
Swinging a bat probably isn’t the best thing for his back, and Banister wouldn’t say what orders Harrison is under for his at-bats. Asked if he had any concerns, Banister said only, “No.”
But Harrison has to pitch, and the need for him to get on a routine was more of a factor for his start against the Rockies than the need for him to not bat.
“This is a guy that needs to be on a regular routine to get going,” Banister said. “You need to understand that first. To keep him on a regular routine, this is how it fell.”
There were other factors, like the Rangers wanting to get lefty Martin Perez off the DL and going after Tommy John surgery and their desire to keep Colby Lewis and his repaired hip out of the batter’s box.
Fielder at first
With the DH not permitted at Colorado, Prince Fielder was the Rangers’ starting first baseman in the series opener and Mitch Moreland, one of the Rangers’ top hitters this season, was relegated to the bench.
Banister didn’t say if Moreland, who is also a better defender, will play in either of the final two games, but if he does, it won’t be in the outfield as Moreland copes with some general soreness.
It seems likely, though, that he will get one game.
“With Prince playing in the All-Star Game and going through the home-run contest, he probably does need a day somewhere, also,” Banister said. “We’ll look at that, but we’ll take each day as it goes.”
Ranaudo sent down
The Rangers optioned Anthony Ranaudo to Triple A Round Rock to clear a roster spot for fellow right-hander Nick Martinez, who was recalled from Round Rock to start Monday.
Ranaudo allowed seven runs in seven innings over two relief appearances during his third stint with the Rangers this season.
Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7760
This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 9:05 PM with the headline "Rangers’ Beltre admits thumb hasn’t improved."