Friday Newsletter time: A good day at the ballpark for Texas Rangers, and a big relief for Adolis Garcia
The right fielder's 31st homer was a club record for a rookie, and it helped the Rangers rally from 5-0 down to a 7-6 victory.
The Texas Rangers needed the two-run homer Adolis Garcia launched Thursday in the fifth inning.
It brought them within a run of the Los Angeles Angels, who scored five runs in the first inning, in a game they eventually won by a run, 7-6.
Garcia needed it, too. He was running out of games to pass Pete Incaviglia in two significant single-season offensive records in Rangers history, home runs and RBIs by a rookie.
Garcia’s opposite-field shot gave him both. It was his 31st homer and 89th and 90th RBIs, breaking both marks Incaviglia set in 1986. Garcia toppled the records with only a few games to spare.
“It was a really special moment for me,” Garcia said. “I believe I wasn’t pressured to get it done. I was anxious to get it down, and I’m thankful I got it done.”
The Newsletter is already on record saying Garcia should be the American League Rookie of the Year even though his bat has cooled in the second half. The defense and the overall production will be difficult for voters to ignore.
When asked Tuesday what he wanted to see in the final week of the season, manager Chris Woodward said a Garcia homer for the rookie record. Woodward also said he didn’t want to see the Rangers quit.
Thursday was a good day for him, too.
The Rangers chipped away at the 5-0 deficit they faced in the first inning. DJ Peters hit a three-run homer in the third, Garcia moved them within 6-5 in the fifth, and Brock Holt sent a two-run double into the right-field corner in the eighth.
Joe Barlow survived a scare in the ninth, when Shohei Ohtani’s slicing drive was caught at the wall by Peters. He had been shifted by Woodward from center field to left field in place of Willie Calhoun for a defensive upgarde.
Kudos to the manager for that one, who hasn’t had to make many strategic late-inning moves this season.
But the biggest kudos go to Garcia.
Another tough outing
Right-hander Glenn Otto made his final start of the season Thursday, finishing with 119 innings between the minors (95 2/3) and with the Rangers even though he lasted only two innings against the Angels.
His ERA after surrendering five runs is 9.26. It was 0.00 after his sparkling debut last month.
That 9.26 is an ugly stat to take into the offseason, and the numbers would suggest that he isn’t ready for the majors.
He might not be, but here’s something else to keep in mind: Otto didn’t pitch last season because of COVID-19, and he threw only 61 1/3 innings in 2019. Fatigue has a lot do with his performance down the stretch.
“He’s pitched a lot this year, which is great,” Woodward said. “He’s just out of gas.”
So, while many of you might be ready to judge Otto on the first six starts of his career, the Rangers aren’t. They will judge him for now on what they see off the field, a player who fits the culture and has an open mind when it comes to making changes for the better.
“He’s had a couple good outings, and he’s had a couple like he’s had today,” Woodward said. “It’s unfair for us to evaluate him based on some numbers. Early on, being in the big leagues for a few times probably pushed through that fatigue. The adrenaline wore off after the first few outings.”
Card of the Week
It wasn’t all that long ago when the Rangers were thought to have interest in third baseman Nolan Arenado, who was not a happy camper with the Colorado Rockies.
The Rangers had missed out on signing free agent Anthony Rendon at the 2019 winter meetings, but rebounded by acquiring right-hander Corey Kluber and adding him to a rotation that included Lance Lynn, Mike Minor and Kyle Gibson.
Nothing happened on the Arenado front, and he was traded to St. Louis before the 2021 season. He’s now going to the playoffs for the first time in his career with the Cardinals, who clinched the second-wild card spot thanks to a 17-game winning streak that was snapped Wednesday.
Arenado also has no plans to opt out of his contract. He’s happy and productive (34 homers, 105 RBIs).
To honor that streak, the Card of the Week is the 2013 Topps Update Nolan Arenado rookie card, graded at 9.5 by Beckett Grading Services.
The card not pictured is the 1987 Donruss Mike Maddux rookie. Maddux is the Cardinals’ pitching coach, and he always seems to be in the postseason. He went to the playoffs with four Rangers teams in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
He is also a proud paid subscriber to the Texas Rangers Newsletter. So, be like Mike for either $5.99 a month or $60 a year.
Doggy video!
Me after returning home from two weeks at spring training. Happy wife, happy life. Enjoy. See you Monday.
Thanks, Jeff, for the good, positive perspective. Thursday's win was a tremendously satisfying result. It must have been super rewarding for Woodward. This team hasn't quit. Garcia has been a wonderful story. I hope it continues. There are going to be some interesting stories this offseason and during spring training. The Rangers indeed might be among the most interesting stories over the next few months.
Podcast was great today. The 40 man roster spots are going to be tricky for sure.
And TR telling it like it is gives the perfect perspective since he’s now retired. I’ve enjoyed his posts for sure.