The Rangers thought they’d hired a nice “transitional” manager in Chris Woodward. They may have stumbled into the real deal.
Texas improved to nine games above .500 with a 3-1 win over the Tigers on Thursday and have moved to within 4 1/2 games of the Astros. This has suddenly become a thing. What was supposed to be the worst team in the AL West is threatening to stick around this summer. The final season at Globe Life Park has become must-see TV, in part because fans aren’t flocking to these games.
What I like about Woodward is he’s somehow managed the ego of one of the most enigmatic players in baseball, Rougned Odor. My colleague and boss Gil LeBreton called for Odor to be sent down to Nashville recently, but I think Woodward has struck the right note.
He’s giving Odor some occasional days off to make way for the remarkable Danny Santana, who has been a revelation this season. If Odor wants to pout, Woodward can simply point to his awful numbers. I believe these occasional “benchings” may achieve exactly what Woodward needs from Odor. The Rangers are in contention for a playoff spot because veteran players like Santana and Hunter Pence are having remarkable seasons. And when All-Star starter Pence returns from the IL soon, Woodward will have to be even more creative.
As Gil was the first to note, Woodward screwed up early by sitting Shin-Soo Choo on opening day. It didn’t take Woodward long to admit his mistake and I think that early accountability helped him in the clubhouse. Joey Gallo has returned from the IL and resumed his pursuit of the AL MVP. This is a player who is having a career breakthrough, and that’s the biggest reason the Rangers are in the playoff race. Everyone who lobbied for trading Gallo has gone into hiding. This is the modern-day Juan Gonzalez, and it’s a sight to see.
My Pittsburgh Pirates (long story) destroyed Astros pitching the past two days, which has helped the Rangers get back in the division race. I believe the Astros will recover from this lull and win the division, but the Rangers are a legitimate threat in the wildcard race.
Jon Daniels has been given his marching orders over the last few days. He has to fortify the starting pitching via trade. The Rangers have 2 1/2 solid starters. They are surviving the other starts, which makes their record even more remarkable. I assure you Daniels is more surprised than anyone of where the Rangers sit. And he’s joined by the Ryan family of Houston. (I just bumped into Reid at a birthday party).
The Rangers experienced something like this early in the Jeff Banister era, but this feels different. It finally feels like this team is building toward something more sustainable. Daniels helped deplete the pitching in this organization by constantly going for it at the trade deadline. Now he’s being asked to do it again. How do you help the big-league club when the organization is just now recovering from all those trades?
It’s something Daniels has to figure out in a hurry. This Rangers team has earned the right to make a run at the postseason. That it happened two seasons early isn’t something that should be held against them.
It turns out the Rangers have more than an indoor ballpark to sell the fans. Daniels must close this “old” yard out the right way. Go get a starter.