Anaheim, CA - Among the elements that make up the Texas Rangers, who are running, still warm, perhaps the most critical of them to be more modest.
Less fuel, unless provoked.
And most professionals, no doubt.
It would be Michael Young (Notes) - 34 years, the offseason trade bait, and while their most reliable player.
Now the Rangers did not arrive on the scene as one man.
They now play an accumulation of time and events, how an organization takes a decade or five more suffering. They play as an organization that recently discovered the value of tone, and the means to acquire and develop.
And they play in the glow of the World Series team, all of them - men who built it, and pushed, and lived, so they marched towards the road of Nolan Ryan.
There is a standard now, when Young today around the clubhouse, where he was the conscience of the decade.
For years, were what was missing something. Now the leader of the AL West, winning seven games and three games in three nights in Los Angeles against the Angels, are what they are, which is something much better.
In addition, there is something that seems sustainable.
"We played well in games," Young said Wednesday night after another match three touchdowns. "We won big games. And we know how to win big games."
Once expected to whimsical, the Rangers took a team that will implement the inaccuracy off the court as did the first two games of the series against the 21 years Tyler Chatwood (notes) and 23 years, Garrett Richards (notes ) (combined major league victories: six), so two entries and changes newbie in many ways against the bullpen.
And they are doing together to find a way against one of the best in the league, finding a central location for Ervin Santana won (notes) Wednesday 4-3 in a game the Angels used to win.
"The World Series is what they carry with them," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "You play as a defense of the Champions League of America, and that's what they do. And they're not pretentious about it. They just know they're good."
It still seems to be present in young, too. After a winter in which it was sold very close to having become so upset and offended, finally insisted on this point, young people sits in his familiar place. Batting cleanup. He plays third base. They are four points behind the plate, and 10 RBIs behind the championship leader.
He is the Rangers quiet day after accumulating good morning good and four good at-bats in them.
After the offseason probably the most challenging of his career, he could set career highs in batting average and RBI, and summer 2000, he spent hits. Is no coincidence that the Rangers again frameworks that support a pitching staff that lacks Cliff Lee (notes), but topped the Bullpen at trade deadline.
Asked how the season was different than one might expect, young people do not understand the question. They lined the fields, they sang the hymn, the bell rang.
"Once I got to spring training, did exactly what I thought, to be honest with you," he said. "It's just been around baseball, that was a load of my mind. I was tired of everything that happens in the offseason. I am a baseball player. That's what I do."
He hit in April 0342 and 0340 in May. He was the primary third baseman again three weeks in July, when Adrian Beltre (notes) strained a thigh, and in 24 games since he is about 0400. The Rangers have won 15 of them, and in the last 10 days have increased their lead over the Angels six games.
"If we are lucky enough to hold the" Washington said they shared, "I'm sure it will be one of those who consider MVP".
As for the young ball player of the loan, Washington said: "It is the same as all the superstars, all the good players. They all show up. And they never let go.
"I want one more this year because we had to rely on it more this year."
It 'a fun thing Young, reaches its mid-'30s. He is not afraid of it. Never. He looked at Paul Molitor, especially to rebuild his career 34, 2000 Hits 34 to reach and push the '(and 3000 visits) 40 Long-term bat speed, and accumulated wisdom.
At the age of Young, Molitor had over 1200 strikes again in him, and nearly 1,000 games.
"The thing I'm most proud of, I went and played," said Young. "I can still show up and play. I think my teammates can count on me. It means a lot."
No, the Rangers do not happen to a man.
But if they had to choose one ...
0 comments:
Post a Comment