Rangers Notebook: Mike Napoli Contributes; The Importance Of The Prince-Beltre Combination
*The Prince-Beltre or Beltre-Prince combination is so vital to the Rangers. With the way Choo and, to a lesser extent, DeShields have gotten on base, the Rangers need guys behind them to produce runs. For stretches this season, Beltre and Prince have not and the offense has suffered. They've been "on" of late and how well-oiled this offense is when they are is so apparent. They don't need them both on at all times, but they also can't both be absent. When they each drive in at least one run, the Rangers have won five straight and are 12-4 overall.
*Nap-O-Li
*Mike Napoli's contributions on the field have unequivocally helped the Rangers. As good as he's been on the field, there's a strong chance he's been more important in the clubhouse. Based on my observations and conversations with his teammates, it appears that Napoli has picked up right where he left off with the Rangers as a integral member of the team's leadership core. It's not a surprise that he's been on several winning teams, including a World Series Champion in Boston.
*I think the manager of the AL West-winning team deserves the A.L. Manager of the Year Award. With that said, regardless of how it plays out the rest of the way, Jeff Banister out-managed A.J. Hinch this series and it isn't even close. Some people complained about Napoli in left field, but don't you want a manager who is creative and proactive about curing one of the most unproductive left fields, based on offensive production (or, lack thereof) in baseball? I do. And that really scratches the surface of Banister's impact.
*Maybe I just want this to be true, but I really think we'll look back at Rougned Odor and talk about his penchant for coming up in the clutch and in big spots.
*AMAZING: Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers four-game sweep of the Astros this week was the first in modern MLB history in which a second place tam swept a first place team in September or October, which put them in first place.
*Am I a little concerned about Derek Holland? Ehh. Let's just say I'll feel waaaaay better if we see the top-of-the-rotation Derek Holland next time he takes the mound.
Quote of the Week: "He's the best professional I've ever been around."
-Rangers manager, Jeff Banister, on Adrian Beltre.
Stat of the Week: 25%...the percentage of balls Shin-Soo Choo has pulled this homestand. Let's try and fill in the blanks on that number's significance...
First, remember that most teams have employed a three-infielder shift against Choo.
In Choo's best season, his 2013 campaign with the Reds, he pulled the ball just 42% of the time.
During his 2014 struggles, Choo pulled the ball 49% of the time and he pulled the ball 50% of the time prior to the All-Star Break this year.
Since the All-Star Break? He's pulled the ball just 38% of the time, including the 25% figure up above.
Stock Up/Stock Down
Here's a weekly look at performances of Rangers players
UP: (Other than Shin-Soo Choo) Adrian Beltre, .500 (13-for-26), 4 2B, 7 RBI, 1.235 OPS
DOWN: Derek Holland, 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 17.0 IP, 26 H, 9 K, 9 BB (last 3 starts)
Good Read
*Giants infielder, Matt Duffy, writing a piece for The Players' Tribune on his first-year experience.
