The Rangers + Royals Play Ball

Surprise Stadium is the Spring Training home to the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers. Because they share the same stadium, they play each other frequently, so it makes sense that they should inaugurate their 2012 spring training season together. They promise to be interesting stories and it’s fun to be present for the start.

The window of opportunity for the Rangers is still open. However, the two-time defending American League Champions aren’t getting any younger and have developed a sense of urgency in the quest for their third successive American League crown and hopefully, another chance at a World Series Championship. Any roster good enough to achieve what they have in the recent past doesn’t need major overhauls, but one significant change was made. They made a huge splash in the off-season by signing Japanese import Yu Darvish, a 6′, 5″ right hander who possesses a blistering fastball and a repertoire of other effective pitches. How he adjusts to the major after dominating Japanese hitters for many years remains to be seen. All reports, however, indicate that this is one pitcher who is up to the task. I wanted to get a picture of him in action, but since this was as close as he got to the field, this is the best I could do. That’s him, #11, on the right side of the pack as the players stood for the National Anthem.

The Royals are a team on the rise, with many outstanding position players entering the major leagues in the past two seasons. They would face off today against Rangers starter Colby Lewis, and it didn’t take them long to get things going. In the top of the first Johnny Giavotella walked and moved over to second on an Eric Hosmer infield ground out. That brought up designated hitter Billy Butler who launched a Lewis offering into deep left-center field for a two-run shot, and just like that the Royals had the lead.

Then it was the Rangers turn. They were quiet that inning but it didn’t matter to me. All we needed was for Josh Hamilton to step into the batters box and the cheering, and a few pockets of jeering, started. I was seated among a posse of the team’s fans, some of whom were not smiling. I took the bait and innocently asked what they thought of his comment that after he finishes playing this year, the final one of his current contract, that he didn’t owe the Rangers a thing. After a deafening silence, the responses come:

* A heavy-set, older gentleman offered a “that’s right, he doesn’t. It’s a business.”

* His plump female companion disagreed, with a spirited “like hell, he doesn’t. They stand by him every time he goes off the wagon.”

* Then a pale, older gentleman dressed in blue started talking about the wagon. This the wagon, that the wagon, the other the wagon. Everything about the wagon and nothing else. All this said in between sips of his beer. Clearly this fellow is not on the wagon.

* Some young kid said the team “celebrates with ginger ale when they win pennants and that shows consideration for his addiction”

* My turn. It’s a business and Hamilton needs to do what is best for himself and his family. However, if it were me, I’d give the Rangers every opportunity to state their case. His is not the type of act that will play well in New York or Boston. He’s out of the media glare in Arlington; I think it’s a good fit for him.

The Royals resumed their attack on Rangers pitching in the top of the fifth off Rangers right hander Michael Kirkman. With Lorenzo Cain at second base after a lead off hit, Alex Gordon singled down the left field line, enabling Cain to scurry home. Then Giavotella smacked a double down the left field line, moving Gordon to third. Eric Hosmer then stepped in at a critical moment in the game. He’s a talented player who debuted with the Royals last season to considerable

fanfare. I like the way he looked at the plate and decided to take a picture, which appears here. With one out, and men at second and third, he grounded the ball right past second baseman Ian Kinsler, scoring both runners. The chatter in the stands was that Kinsler should have had it, and a moment later, the official scorer indicated his agreement by posting an error on the score board. That ball should have been a double play and the end of the inning right there.

Instead, Billy Butler came back to the plate. On a play where Hosmer was running with the pitch, Butler slapped a single into left field moving Hosmer to third. Next, Mike Moustakis singled up the middle, scoring Hosmer and moving Butler to second. That was all the action that inning, which ended with the score 6 to 0.

In the bottom of the fifth, Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland clobbered a Shawn O’Sullivan offering way over the right-field fence for their only run of the day. That wrapped up the scoring for the afternoon.

After the fifth inning, all the starters from both squads pulled out, and the minor league players took over. We had a bit of fun by calling them names like gangly shortstop, chunky backstop and towering first baseman. We changed our tune when these guys started making major league plays in the field; we’ll be cheering for a lot of these guys one day.

That’s how it was on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at Surprise Stadium. Lots of scoring, some good defensive play, chatter in the stands and the sun in the sky. All in all, a great day, with many more to come. Baseball. Yahoo!