Triple-a change means communication key
TEMPE, Ariz — With the Rangers’ youth and the plethora of position competitions happening across the diamond this spring, there’s a good chance that, for some players, Triple-a and the majors will be frequently interchangeable.
For the first month of the season, how the Rangers navigate their roster will look a lot different. MLB announced that the Triple-a season will be delayed at least one month and will be replaced with an alternate training site in teams’ home cities.
“It’s a tough one for us,” manager Chris Woodward said. “It will be (a decision) from an individual basis on each guy. Do we want this guy to be ready? Will he be ready in that first month?”
Woodward didn’t go into specifics of which players could theoretically be impacted by this change. But it would make sense for the team to have to make some decisions on if the team wants to populate the alternate site with more Mlb-ready veteran players or use it for top prospects.
Then, there’s the consideration of how call-ups will work. Calling up a player from the spring training site in Arizona will take three to four days with intake testing.
“It’s going to be a lot of communication and a lot of conversation to figure out what’s the best way,” Woodward said.
Issues with testing are likely why the league is forgoing a month of minor league seasons, so the protocols can be better enforced and centralized.
The manager was complimentary of how the club used the alternate site last season, even if he acknowledged it “got old after a while.” The alternate site is basically a place for players to practice and continue development in the absence of games.
And now the Rangers have to decide how they’ll use it — as a developmental camp or as a place for Mlb-ready players, the makeup of what a regular Triple-a roster would look like.
Said Woodward, with a chuckle: “It’s a lot different than we’re used to in the industry.”
Odor plays third
Rougned Odor was scheduled to play second base Wednesday. But he asked Woodward before the game if he could play third base, the position he seems most likely to play in 2021 but had seemed hesitant to embrace.
“He felt it was important to get out there as soon as possible, which was music to my ears,” Woodward said. “I thought it was great, it was good for the team. … Getting him over there is going to be important for him.”
First base open
In that same spirit, Ronald Guzman, normally a first baseman, started his first game in left field. Over the span of the last week, his stock has risen by showing in drills he’s capable of playing the position well. Woodward said he moves better in the outfield than he does on the bases, and said “it’s a lot more impressive than I thought.”
Nate Lowe was acquired over the offseason to play first base and create competition for the position. But much like Guzman’s ability in left field could help him make the team, Lowe’s limited experience at third base could be important as he fights for a roster spot.
Lowe has played just six of his 36 career MLB games at third base, and he did so without an error.
“Versatility is never a bad option,” Lowe said. “So it’s something we’ll keep on the back burner and if it’s something that will help the team win, then we’ll work more at it. But I’ve got to work on my craft at first.”