Wednesday Newsletter time: Texas Rangers doing good things on field after deadline dust has settled
Tuesday wasn't great, but the atmosphere has changed since the trades of Joey Gallo and Kyle Gibson.
Winning cures everything. Maybe not everything — there is no curing Joey Gallo being traded — but a lot of things.
Case in point is the change in atmosphere at Globe Life Field, primarily in the Texas Rangers’ dugout.
The dust has settled from the trade deadline. The distraction it causes is gone. There’s nothing the remaining Rangers can do to undo the deals that were made.
But there is something they can do — play. Those who are left, especially the young players, have a chance to plant their flag in the 2022 roster in the way they play the final two months.
They don’t need to be as good as Adolis Garcia was the first two months. They don’t even need to have eye-popping stats. The Rangers will be looking at how the players go about their business.
Play hard for nine innings. Work hard before games. Be coachable. Be a good teammate. Get better.
Develop, in other words.
Even when the Rangers were 0-0 and 18-18, this season was about player development. Next season is likely to be about that, too.
Might as well get a jump on it now.
Three of the Rangers’ past four games have been close (Jordan Lyles gave up six runs Tuesday in 5 2/3 innings to help put an end to the Rangers’ three-game win streak, 11-3). Two ended on walk-off homers by Jonah Heim. The offense has executed, the defense has been spectacular at times, and the pitching staff has been good.
It’s been, dare I say it, fun. For the most part.
Winning might not cure everything, but it cures a lot of things. So does accepting the reality of what happened at the trade deadline.
Save the date
Do It For Durrett couldn’t hold its annual event last year because of the pandemic, but is gearing up for a big one Oct. 23 at Legal Draft in Arlington. Beer and charity were made for each other.
More good news: Tickets, approximately 200 of them, go on sale Aug. 23. Follow @DoItForDurrett for more details, including some of the auction items that will be available in both live and silent auctions.
The foundation is named for former DFW sports personality Richard Durrett, who passed away suddenly in 2015. The initial event in 2015 raised $200,000 for Richard’s wife, Kelly, and three children, including one who hadn’t been born yet.
Do It For Durrett now provides financial relief for area families who experience a sudden loss, as Richard’s family did. DIFD has raised more than $1 million since 2015 and helped well over 100 families.
You’ll read a lot about DIFD at the Texas Rangers Newsletter. I am a board member, along with Anthony Andro, Kelly Durrett, Ashley Ernisse, Emily Jones and Jon Daniels.
There might be some celebrity guests there this year, too.
Getting social
The Texas Rangers Newsletter can be found on platforms other than just in your email inbox.
The big one is Twitter, which is my personal account, @JeffWilsonTXR. Don’t worry about the word “personal.” I don’t get political. I might delve into others sports from time to time, but nothing too crazy.
Next up is Facebook. If you’re anti-Twitter, and I can’t blame anyone who is, come over to my professional page. All stories, either mine or T.R. Sullivan’s memoirs, land here, too.
Finally, if you hate Twitter and Facebook, there is an Instagram account. I’m still working with my marketing director, Mrs. Wilson, on getting more stuff posted there, but at the very least you can click on the website link in the bio.
Doggy video!
I’m glad to know our dog Lily isn’t the only pooch out there that does this. Enjoy. See you Thursday.
