Last winter, Ian Kinsler had folks worried. The Texas Rangers second baseman couldn’t spare time for a round of golf. Phone and e-mail messages went unanswered for hours at a time.
Kinsler hit .286 with 14 home runs as a rookie, numbers worthy of a relaxing vacation and name-dropping reservations at Metroplex restaurants. Instead, he booked a first-class ticket to the weightroom, reshaping his body, unsatisfied with his first-year statistics.
“After the season was over, I was able to take a step back and evaluate myself. I decided that I needed to get stronger with my legs and with my speed, so I got together with Jose Vazquez, our team’s strength coach, and that’s what we worked on,” Kinsler wrote in an e-mail. “I did more speed drills and worked my legs more than ever before.”
Talk about sprinting out of the blocks. If not for Alex Rodriguez, Kinsler would be baseball’s best story – a 24-year-old kid with seven home runs through three weeks, same as the Rockies’ entire roster. To understand why he’s having the best April this side of H&R Block, you start at his inability to take a hint.
He went to three colleges, starting at Central Arizona, postmark middle of nowhere. He transferred to Arizona State and couldn’t beat out Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. He finished strong enough at the University of Missouri to convince the Rangers to take him in the 17th round.
He was hardly penciled in as a future cornerstone or as a player capable of making Alfonso Soriano expendable.
“I always believed in my ability. I was drafted out of high school, so that helped me in believing that someone other than myself believed I could play at the big-league level,” said Kinsler, who took over for Soriano when the all-star was traded to the Washington Nationals before the 2006 season. “College was tough, but I always had a feeling in my heart that if I could just get a chance, I would make the most of it.”
Kinsler, like a lot of young players, has flaws. He probably pulls the ball too much. But what separates him is that “it” quality – teammates feed off him, he wants to hit with the game hanging in the balance, wants a double-play groundball in the ninth. If that reminds you of Rangers shortstop Michael Young, one of the game’s best clutch players, you’re not alone.
“He models himself after Michael,” Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said. “He believes in himself as much, if not more, than any player that I have gotten to know. I would never bet against Ian.”
Kinsler’s power is bringing people into the tent, but it’s his overall ability that’s going to keep them there. All those hours getting stronger and faster weren’t designed for an April, but a season-long marathon.
“I like to think that I am a complete player,” Kinsler said. “Every night we play, I want to have some kind of impact on the game, whether it be throwing someone out at the plate or drawing a walk and stealing a bag to get into scoring position.”
Choppy water for Mr. Mariner
King Felix Hernandez became the King of Pain last week, leaving his last start after just 24 pitches. He thought he had snapped an elbow ligament. Turns out, he strained the muscles on the inside part of his forearm, meaning he might only miss two or three starts.
Upon returning, he faces a difficult challenge: learning to decipher the difference between an ache and an injury. It’s not easy for young pitchers, particularly those who have never been hurt.
Philly phiasco
Until Alec Baldwin left a voice message for his daughter, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel had the week’s most celebrated meltdown. Manuel is mellow yellow, so for him to be restrained from going after a reporter speaks to the pressure he’s feeling. Hard to blame Manuel for his team’s atrocious hitting with runners in scoring position. Or the lack of relievers, a glaring concern all winter.
Moving Brett Myers from the rotation to a setup role screams of desperation. Even if Myers succeeds, the Phillies are going nowhere if Ryan Howard, bothered by a knee injury, and Chase Utley don’t start raking.
Footnotes
The Rockies were right to acquire starting rotation depth, but couldn’t spin Byung-Hyun Kim and Josh Fogg. One of the two was destined to be replaced by Brian Lawrence, a plan that fell apart for two reasons: first, teams like Kim and Fogg, but not at their salaries; secondly. Lawrence got healthier sooner than anticipated, leaving him uninterested in spending more than the minimum time in Triple-A. … If the Reds fall out of contention, is this the year Ken Griffey Jr. gets traded? He could be an interesting acquisition if inserted into a playoff race. … Jose Capellan’s refusal to pitch in Triple-A is shortsighted. Of course, the reliever, whom the Rockies maintain interest, is upset. But the best way to facilitate a trade is to pitch, not pout. … Greg Maddux may be known as the “Bulldog,” but San Francisco’s Ryan Klesko has bulldogs. His pure bred recently had an eight-puppy litter, which quickly found homes with current and former teammates such as Russ Ortiz and Shawn Estes. … Any doubt the Dodgers are the team to beat in the National League West was erased this month. They are flirting with baseball’s best record despite almost no contribution from ace Jason Schmidt.
AT ISSUE
THE NO-HITTER: MARK OF GREATNESS, OR MLB’S HOLE-IN-ONE?
What: White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle threw baseball’s 260th no-hitter Wednesday. He celebrated with mixed drinks and a frozen pizza. Buehrle is considered an elite pitcher, one who figures to command $50 million this offseason as a free agent. However, the list of no-hitters is littered with pitchers who never were stars or, in some cases, even posted marginal careers. Does that diminish the feat? “Anyone who thinks that hasn’t played the game or isn’t in the game,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle argued.
Background: What is impressive, if not puzzling about the no-hitter list, is who’s not on it. Pedro Martinez has never thrown one, though his brother Ramon did. Roger Clemens? Nada on the no-nos. Greg Maddux sits at zilch, with one fewer than former St. Louis Cardinal Bud Smith, who had a cup of espresso in the big leagues.
Renck’s take: OK, there is a novelty about no-hitters, which occur about twice annually on average. Still, the frequency and less-than-stellar authors don’t dilute the achievement. Problem is, the no-hitter is confused with greatness. It defines a moment, not a career, same as a hole-in-one. The sheer difficulty makes it worthy of the attention it gets. Remember, four franchises have never thrown a no-hitter: the Rockies, Padres, Devil Rays and, remarkably, the Mets. That alone speaks to the accomplishment’s significance.
THE RISE AND FALL: A-ROD OF LIGHTNING STRIKES FOR YANKS
THREE UP
1. Yankees: Joe Torre won’t have Alex Rodriguez hitting eighth again.
2. Dodgers: Won 10 of their first 13 games against NL West.
3. Brewers: Could be year they advance to playoffs for first time since 1982.
THREE DOWN
1. Phillies: Given the “Misery” of first month, you’d think Kathy Bates was manager.
2. Angels: Their lineup without Vladimir Guerrero is like the Rolling Stones sans Mick Jagger.
3. Cardinals: No mystery: Albert Pujols isn’t hitting and ace Chris Carpenter is hurting.
EYE ON … ALEX RODRIGUEZ, THIRD BASEMAN, YANKEES
Background: With a lighter body and uncluttered mind, Rodriguez is reinventing himself as a clutch player. He has delivered two walk-off home runs this month and stands alone as baseball’s hottest hitter.
What’s up: Through the Yankees’ first 15 games, Rodriguez clubbed 12 home runs. No American League player has done that previously. He had 30 RBIs, or three more than World Series MVP David Eckstein accumulated last season. When the Cleveland Indians chose to pitch to the third baseman with a base open Thursday, Rodriguez drove a fastball 420 feet over the center-field fence. Yankees broadcaster John Sterling, ever subtle and objective, described it this way: “An A-bomb from AAAAA-Rod! Alex Rodriguez is having the greatest month of his or any other life.” Ben Franklin had a pretty good run, too, if memory serves. As did Einstein and George Washington. But why squabble.
What’s next: Rodriguez can opt out of the final three years and $81 million on his contract and become a free agent at season’s end. That appears a foregone conclusion.
Renck’s take: A-Rod was a mental wreck in the playoffs. Dropping 20 pounds and the charade of a strong friendship with Derek Jeter have given Rodriguez freedom. When he becomes a free agent, the bidding will start at $140 million. He has a chance to reach $200 million, easy. Why? The team that signs him is also buying the pursuit of Hank Aaron or Barry Bonds’ all-time home run record. Rodriguez is 31 and 24 shy of 500 home runs. If he plays eight more years, the likely length of his next contract, 800 home runs will be within reach. He would be forever celebrated if he claims the home run honor from the scandal-smeared Bonds.
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
