Tuesday Newsletter time: 'Little things' turn into big issue for Texas Rangers in opening loss to Yankees
The Rangers needed a grounder to second and a flyball to the outfield in the first inning. Instead, they struck out three times.
A team has to score — has to — in the scenario in which the Texas Rangers found themselves Monday night in the first inning at Yankee Stadium.
They had runners at second and third with no outs for the heart of their order. Two right-handed hitters and a left-hander hitter against New York lefty Nestor Cortes Jr.
It wouldn’t have even taken an hit. A grounder up the middle, preferably to second base, would have done the trick. A flyball to the outfield, too.
Instead, the Rangers went strikeout, strikeout, strikeout and didn’t score in route to a 4-3 loss. There were a few other gaffes on “the little things” managers often lament their team didn’t do, but the inability in three tries to get a run home from third was the primary little thing that turned into a big thing.
Inexperience can’t be an excuse. Getting a man in from third isn’t some radical new concept players didn’t encounter in the minor leagues. Playing in Yankee Stadium for the first time shouldn’t be an excuse.
Not getting it done, at this point in the season, seems inexcusable.
“It’s a missed opportunity that you hope doesn’t come back to bite you,” manager Chris Woodward said. “Clearly, in a 4-3 loss it came back to bite us because we easily could have hit a weak ground ball to second and a flyball and we end up winning 5-4.
“We go through periods where we play really well. Today’s game, we should have won. The lack of consistency is one of the things these guys should take this year. How do we be consistent every day? That’s the only way we’re going to be in a situation where we can win consistently.”
The inability to score there helped move the Rangers one step closer to a 100-loss season. Rookie right-hander A.J. Alexy struggled with his command, walking six and allowing four runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Alexy has 15 walks in the first 18 innings of his career.
“You can’t stay in this league if you’re going to walk guys like that,” Woodward said.
Center fielder Leody Taveras made a mental mistake he shouldn’t have on a throw home that allowed runners to move up a base. That turned into a run that shouldn’t have scored.
Those are the little things. They can be really big things.
At this point in the season, though, the Rangers shouldn’t be making them.
Gallo speaks
Joey Gallo said he didn’t want to leave Globe Life Field on July 29, the day he was traded to the New York Yankees, and he shed many tears before he finally packed his bags to head to his new team.
Gallo spoke Monday to Rangers reporters covering the team this week in New York. He said he has moved on, holds no animosity toward the Rangers and tries to use as motivation the chorus of boos he has heard while struggling since the trade.
“That was my home for 10 years, I think about it a lot,” Gallo said told reporters, including Kennedi Landry from mlb.com. “I'm still getting used to just living here, being with a new organization and whatnot. The Yankees have made the transition as easy as possible for me. I'm really appreciative of that. But, like I said, I've spent my whole life in Texas since I was 18. It wasn't an easy thing for me to do.”
Gallo returned to the field Monday after leaving Saturday’s game early because of a stiff neck. He went 0 for 3 with a walk, dropping his season average to .203. He’s batting only .162 with the Yankees.
The Rangers decided to trade Gallo after talks on a contract extension with agent Scott Boras went nowhere. Gallo wanted to remain with the Rangers, saying so publicly many times the past two years.
He seemed to know Yankees fans would lose patience with his style of hitting, and was concerned the media would, too.
Maybe everything works out for Gallo and he ends up with a $200 million contract in free agency after next season. Maybe this is a case where the agent needed to do what was best for the player and not the player’s wallet.
Gallo would have been just fine with, say, $90 million or $100 million from the Rangers.
Trouble in San Diego
The curtain has been pulled back in San Diego, where the Padres are free falling through the National League wild-card standings and their top two players were arguing in the dugout over the weekend.
But the Fernando Tatis Jr.-Manny Machado dust-up, for which Machado of all people is being hailed for doing the right thing, is just the tip of the iceberg.
Sources told the San Diego Union Tribune that manager Jayce Tingler, the former Rangers assistant, doesn’t have the respect of the players and that players are miffed at general manager A.J. Preller, the former Rangers assistant GM, for attempting to trade popular first baseman Eric Hosmer.
The conclusion: Preller might have to fire Tingler, his longtime pal from their Rangers days, even if the Padres manage to squeak into the playoffs.
Tingler was the choice over former Rangers manager Ron Washington, who Padres ownership favored but didn’t press upon Preller. Washington, the third-base coach for the Atlanta Braves, would like to manage again.
There might be an opening again in San Diego.
Doggy video!
Ireland’s top diplomat. Also pictured: Ireland’s president. Enjoy. See you Wednesday.
Would love to have him back. What's Dave Parker worth in today's game? That's the impact this player (as he comes into his prime) can have on this team. I realize some will scoff at the comparison but, batting average aside (such is the game today), there's a case for a comp there. My opinion anyway.
Good Stuff, Jeff. That Gallo presser seemed to be pretty emotional. I like how he's so open and unguarded. He's looking more comfortable, too. But I fear NYC might not be the best place for him. Really enjoying the Newsletter!