Monday Newsletter time: Locked out of Globe Life Field, group of Texas Rangers have banded together for offseason workouts
Monday Newsletter time: Locked out of Globe Life Field, group of Texas Rangers have banded together for offseason workouts
Left-hander Taylor Hearn and catcher Sam Huff are two of at least eight members of the 40-man roster who have prepared in the Metroplex for 2022.
Monday Newsletter time: Locked out of Globe Life Field, group of Texas Rangers have banded together for offseason workouts
Players who are on the Texas Rangers’ 40-man roster aren’t permitted to workout at Globe Life Field this offseason.
That’s life in a lockout.
A large group of players, though, stayed in the Metroplex and have been working out together, left-hander Taylor Hearn said last week on the Texas Rangers Baseball Podcast.
He mentioned by named infielder Nick Solak, catcher Jonah Heim and right-handers A.J. Alexy, Spencer Howard and Josh Sborz. Sam Huff said earlier this offseason that he had caught left-hander John King.
“A lot of us were working out at the stadium before the lockout happened,” Hearn said. “We just kept in touch with each other and said, ‘Hey we found a place.’ We jump around and try to throw on certain fields. It’s been fun.”
Most of their outside work has taken place at L.D. Bell High in Bedford and also at Southlake Carroll.
So long, Joe
Five umpires officially announced their retirement Friday, all names you know: Fieldin Culberth, Kerwin Danley, Gerry Davis, Brian Gorman and, last but never least, Joe West.
Davis will forever live in infamy with Rangers fans as the umprie who ejected third baseman Adrian Beltre after Beltre moved the on-deck circle rather than stand in it. Davis umpired 38 years in the majors.
That’s nothing compared to West, who became known for his quick trigger as much as his accuracy behind the plate. Players knew not to screw with him, though. That’s not necessarily a good thing.
West umpired more game (5,460) than anyone in history. His career started late in the 1976 season, so West was an MLB umpire for nine U.S. Presidents. He also umpired in front of Queen Elizabeth and her attempted assassination by Reggie Jackson.
Here’s guessing we haven’t heard the last of “Cowboy” Joe, who seemed to have a fondness for the spotlight. Here’s betting MLB Network or Fox or ESPN finds a role for him, and that he quickly accepts.
Five umpires were promoted to full-time duty: Ryan Additon, Sean Barber, John Libka, Ben May and Roberto Ortiz, who makes history as the first Puerto Rican-born umpire to work on a crew.
ICYMI …
Last week was a busy one at the Newsletter, from T.R.’s Memoirs to the Recliner Nerd chiming in, to a prospect countdown. Our theory is to work your way through an ice storm. Here’s the latest, in case you missed it.
The Sunday Read: Looking ahead at the starting rotation
T.R.’s Memoirs: The two most underrated Rangers — Part I. Part II
Friday on the Farm: Rangers prospects Nos. 31-40
Doggy video!
Some dogs just know. Enjoy. See you Tuesday.
Loved Fergie Jenkins' response to Joe West's retirement: "I tried to phone Joe to congratulate him, but he missed that call, too."