Wednesday Newsletter time: Take a bow, Rangers All-Stars. All three did some good in Denver.
Kyle Gibson tossed a scoreless inning, Adolis Garcia legged out a double, and Joey Gallo did what he's done more than anyone this season.
To those who believed the Texas Rangers weren’t worthy enough to place three players on the American League All-Star team, take a hike.
Those three All-Stars acquitted themselves nicely Tuesday night in the All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver. That’s right, Astros fans, the Rangers’ All-Stars actually showed up.
Right-hander Kyle Gibson tossed a scoreless inning in his first career Midsummer Classic, rookie center fielder Adolis Garcia collected the fourth double in Rangers All-Star history, and right fielder Joey Gallo took a walk in his only plate appearance.
“Oh my gosh, man,” Gibson said. “What a time.”
Gibson needed a nice running catch by Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge for the first out of the third inning and then pitching around a single for a scoreless frame.
Garcia struck out in his first at-bat, but then legged out a double in the ninth inning of the AL’s 5-2 win. Gallo, the MLB leader in walks, fell behind Colorado native Mark Melancon 1-2 before laying off three off-speed pitches out of the zone.
The All-Star trio can relax a little Wednesday and Thursday, burn those hideous uniforms, and be ready to go as the Rangers resume their season Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays in Buffalo, N.Y. The Blue Jays are still unable to play in Canada because of that country’s COVID-19 protocols.
Gibson and Gallo will be popular names as the July 31 trade deadline nears, as well as closer Ian Kennedy. The Rangers will place a high price tag on Gibson and Gallo, and don’t be surprised if no team meets the Rangers’ price.
Draft recap
The Rangers have to be thrilled with their draft if for no other reason than landing Jack Leiter with the No. 2 overall pick. Every pick thereafter was important, but the 2021 MLB Draft will be remembered for Leiter.
The final day Tuesday, Rounds 11-20, saw the Rangers select seven pitchers and three position players. Some of the draftees come with commitments to Division I baseball programs and might make the Rangers sweat some before Aug. 1 signing deadline.
That’s where the area scouts come into play. They know how likely a player is to sign after meeting him, talking to his parents and selling both on what the Rangers have to offer.
For some, there is opportunity to move quickly through the system. For those with the letter-of-intent leverage, there is opportunity for a little more bonus money.
As is always the case, the overall quality of the draft won’t be known for up to four years. But in a draft that was all about Leiter, there might be a rush to judgment in two years.
A laugh every day
Not a day goes by that a tweet from Ricky Cobb and the Super 70s Sports account doesn’t make me laugh. Most of them have significant curse words in them, and while I flat out love cussing, Jeff Wilson’s Texas Rangers Newsletter is not yet to the point where I can risk alienating subscribers.
Canadians? Maybe.
This is good, clean humor.
Hey! I really know that guy
A pretty funny moment went down Tuesday on the four-man group text with three of my best friends from high school in Colorado.
Scott Barrows shared a tweet from the account Random College Athletes. It just happened to be of Ron Fines, who is one of the two in the group text.
Ron’s younger brother, Marcus, chimed in that this photo can be found in the basement of their parents’ house over on Tabor Street.
Ron was an All-State player at Arvada West High School just outside of Denver, and he started his college career at Portland before transferring to DU.
Arvada West’s most famous athlete is Roy Halladay, who also played basketball with Scott and Marcus.
Doggy video!
Teamwork! Enjoy. See you Thursday.
