Rangers’ Banister: Triple play gives rare lesson on base running errors

Rangers manager Jeff Banister couldn’t avoid it even if he tried.

The triple play turned by the White Sox in the seventh inning Friday night was being replaced every where he looked.

The Today Show, Good Morning America and ESPN, among other outlets, all played the clip, he said. It was even playing in the Rangers clubhouse when he arrived Saturday morning.

“I couldn’t help but see it,” he said. “It doesn’t look good. There’s no feel good for anybody other than the White Sox and the White Sox fans.”

Banister joked that about the only good out of the play is to remind baserunners what not to do with the bases loaded and no outs when a line drive is hit to the outfield. Mitch Moreland’s liner was caught in right field and Ian Desmond and Prince Fielder were both caught off the bag to squelch the Rangers rally. Adrian Beltre, who was on second, initially held properly, but he headed towards third when he thought Fielder had scored.

“It’s three veteran, well-experienced baserunners that read the ball that was hit exactly the same, that it was going to be a base hit,” Banister said. “I’m not going to criticize guys that all read it the same.”

Basically, Banister said, the trio of veterans know what they did wrong.

“We’re an aggressive baserunning ball club,” he said. “Sometimes with being aggressive there is a little pain that goes along with it. Sometimes you get caught.”

Banister said Delino DeShields, who was picked off at first earlier in Friday’s game, his third out on the bases in the past three games, is still learning.

“It’s his sophomore year in the big leagues, he still doesn’t have all the knowledge that he needs to have to be a dynamic, every day player,” he said. “He’s gaining that, he’s assessing that, we’re teaching that. There’s still a lot of learning to do.”

Holland’s repetitions

Derek Holland makes his fourth start in Sunday’s series finale against White Sox right-hander Mat Latos (3-0, 0.49 ERA). Holland (2-0, 2.70) attributes his good start to staying true to his delivery.

“My consistency with the mechanics, repeating my delivery over and over and making sure everything is staying the way it needs to,” he said.

Holland allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings against the Astros in his last start. He walked one and struck out five.

“I was pretty much behind every hitter but the mechanics were still there,” he said.

Banister said Holland is better at noticing when his mechanics are altering.

“That was maybe his biggest challenge, but he’s also be able to make that adjustment and get back into the strike zone, too,” he said. “It’s the mental keys of staying over the rubber and allowing himself to get down the slope so he can get the release point where he needs it to be.”

Hamilton, Gimenez update

Outfielder Josh Hamilton was 1 for 2, with a double to right and two walks Friday in an extended spring game in Arizona. Catcher Chris Gimenez was 2 for 5 with a double. He caught three innings.

This story was originally published April 23, 2016 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Rangers’ Banister: Triple play gives rare lesson on base running errors."