Wednesday Newsletter time: September roster rules are new this season, and Texas Rangers' call-ups have already arrived
Only two players can be added to the active roster beginning today, and Glenn Otto and A.J. Alexy have already been promoted.
Sept. 1 is upon us, and for that decades had beckoned the expansion of MLB active rosters to as many as 40 players.
Minor-leaguers could get valuable experience from just simply being in the big leagues, let alone getting their feet wet on the field for future seasons. Contending teams could stockpile enough relievers to navigate just about any jam.
As a result, games would take forever. There was also the perception that changing the rules for the final month of the season could unfairly shake up the playoff picture.
Not anymore.
Beginning today, teams can add only two players to the active roster. That’s right. Two.
The Rangers have already added theirs.
The COVID-19 outbreak led to the promotions of, among others, right-hander Glenn Otto and A.J. Alexy. They combined for 10 scoreless innings on three hits in their MLB debuts and will start again on the Rangers’ upcoming road trip.
The players returning from the COVID-related injured list will be de facto September call-ups, beginning today with infielder Charlie Culberson.
That doesn’t mean that more players won’t be coming from the minors. The minor-league seasons run through Sept. 19, so players can shuttle up and down without much disruption in their playing time.
It’s a little different for starting pitchers, which is part of the reason why Otto and Alexy are sticking.
Who might come up? Players on the 40-man roster are candidates, as are players who are eligible for the Rule 5 draft in the offseason and need a 40-man spot to be protected. Jake Latz is one in that situation.
And, of course, there are those holding out hope for a Josh Jung promotion. He went 4 for 5 on Tuesday with three doubles and a home run, and is hitting .294 after his first 34 Triple A at-bats.
The new September rule stinks for teams in the same spot as the last-place Rangers, who would likely recall several players if not for the new rules. Rebuilding teams or those headed that way want as much developmental time as possible.
Manager Chris Woodward’s solution is one that has been suggested — call up multiple players but choose each game the two who will be active.
Baseball has been open to changes in recent years. That seems like a reasonable compromise to consider for next season.
Going batty
Consecutive games with four runs apiece, both 4-3 victories, is not earth-shattering offense, though it might seem that way to the 2021 Rangers. The 13 runs they scored Sunday were earth-shattering.
It’s not necessarily that they have scored more runs, but how they have scored them and the players who have done the heavy lifting.
Pretty much everyone has been producing.
Nathaniel Lowe and Leody Taveras connected for home runs Tuesday. Taveras, DJ Peters and Nick Solak connected Monday. Adolis Garcia and Peters went deep Sunday.
The Rangers have stolen bases and taken extra bases when available. They have moved up runners, either with a bunt or by hitting the ball to the right side of the infield or with a sacrifice fly.
It’s been good, complete offense up and down the lineup.
The Rangers are hitting better than .300 the past 10 games with 56 runs. They have 10 or more hits in 6 of 10. They finally hit a grand slam (Garcia on Sunday), becoming the last MLB team to do so this season.
How is this happening? Players are making adjustments. Everything they’ve been working on is sinking in. They’re starting to know pitchers around the game.
Is it going to last? Probably not. Enough players haven’t been around long enough for the league to adjust to them yet, and the league will be doing that soon enough. Those who have been around long enough are still young.
Is it OK to get excited? Feel more optimistic that development appears to be taking place, finally in some cases, but keep expectations low. The current players are still going to be young in 2022, and a new crop of young players with less experience will be joining them.
Just enjoy this offensive uptick while it lasts.
Tribute to soldiers
The Rangers on Monday honored the 13 fallen service members from an attack last week in Afghanistan by draping U.S. flags over 13 seats in three rows in left field’s second deck.
A moment of silence was held before the National Anthem for the military members, who were killed by a suicide bomber near Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
Some 170 civilians were also killed as they tried to escape Afghanistan after Kabul had fallen to the Taliban following the withdrawal of U.S. forces there and the collapse of the Afghan army.
Doggy video!
It’s Wednesday, and we could all use a little help getting over the hump. Enjoy. See you Thursday.
