Finally. After a long, cold winter America’s greatest pastime is back!
Sunday night opened the season with ESPN featuring the World Series re-match between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets. But my Texas Rangers make their opening day Monday night against Seattle in Arlington.
Yu Darvish is recovering from Tommy John surgery and remains on the DL and Josh Hamilton is starting off the season on the 15 day DL (shocker, he’s always hurt).
While every clubhouse has their own personality there is no team that has the charisma as my Texas Rangers. Shortstop Elvis Andrus and third baseman Adrian Beltre are the most fun couple to watch in baseball. Best-friends whose fun is usually provoked by Elvis that adds another level of entertainment and excitement to the game. (These two could have their own sitcom.)
Don’t touch Adrian Beltre’s head! It’s a league known rule, but Elvis loves to break rules and get the evil stare from his best friend. Truth be told; Beltre secretly loves the shenanigans with Elvis. The ten year age difference keeps Beltre young and that evil glare he gives reminds everyone that he still lives up to his nickname; angry grandpa.
Here is a picture to summarize their friendship.
What other SS and 3B pair could draw a line in the dirt to separate whose territory is whose and laugh about it?
Here is a link to show just a little bit of the fun Elvis and Beltre have:
From his two-step of dance (he can’t stand still) he does in the batters box to his powerful swing he can round the bases on a bad pitch. But his true god given talent comes from his glove. I’ve never watched a player read a ball off the bat better than AB. Anything hit close to third base is almost guaranteed an automatic out. His ability, still at age 37 this month, is making highlight reel after highlight reel. (He ranks 5th in history with 208.7 fielding runs saved.) The future Hall of Famer is only missing a World Series Ring.
A lot can happen between opening day and the 162 regular season games, but with Elvis and Beltre on the field and solid pitching; the Rangers are playing to put a ring on Beltre’s finger.