Rangers being patient with Gallo — for now
Ex-Round Rock star looks to emerge from prolonged struggles.
Joey Gallo, who starred for the Round Rock Express in 2015 and 2016, may be a critical component of the Rangers’ planned long-term rebuild, but nothing is guaranteed.
Not even unlimited opportunity in a season that is about nothing but opportunities.
At some point, the Rangers need to see progress in the process or the performance — preferably both — or they could seek alternatives. General manager Jon Daniels admitted as much Tuesday when asked if Gallo’s spot in the majors was guaranteed through the rest of the season.
“There is an element (of any decision) that is performance-based and a part that is process-based,” Daniels said. “And there is context to both of them.”
In whatever manner the Rangers choose to evaluate, Tuesday’s 8-4 loss to Boston marked a potentially large step in the right direction for Gallo.
Start with the performance: He reached base three times on a pair of walks and a two-out, tworun double.
The context: All three came with two strikes in the count, which is when he has been dreadful. During both walks, he laid off breaking pitches against which he’s been whatever is worse than dreadful. Just for good measure, the double was to left center, where the Rangers want him to be able to drive the ball.
“I know it’s time to get going,” Gallo said. “It’s always time to get going. My numbers could be a lot better, but they aren’t. I’m trying to learn from both success and failure. I was being patient, and I haven’t done that I feel like in