Mark Gubicza: Still Not Playing Angel Baseball

First to third, Scios, Sciosh, Scioscia…is messed up looking.

We often hear the phrase, “playing Angel baseball,” and it has been a given under Sciosh. Fundamentals are stressed and accepted as rule of thumb. That’s still why even as you look up at the standings and see double-digit deficits, you feel the club has a run in them. Mike has tried everything to get the club going. Team meetings, extra hitting and even extra fielding drills. None have clicked in yet. I talked with Scios recently in Seattle, and he says this team is working as hard as they can be. There is no giving up with these guys. That is why it is up to them to look themselves in the mirror and say ” What can I do to help us win a game?” If they can be honest with themselves, and I believe they can, then at the very least they can make the Rangers sweat a bit in the Texas heat.

I’ve tried to figure out what has gone wrong for the club and there are a number of issues. I firmly believe the main reason for the inconsistent play is the injury to Kendry Morales. I’ve resisted blaming an injury because every club has dealt with the injury bug. Playing on teams that have lost key players is something I always dealt with during my playing days. But the facts are facts, Kendry being lost for the year hurt them offensively and defensively. Guys have been forced to play out of position and Scios has to tinker with the lineup on a daily basis. By the way, those questions asked to Scios every day about the different line-ups are not thought out in detail. A different catcher at least 2-3 days a week dictates a different line-up as does the revolving door at first base and outfield positions. You lose your most feared and consistent hitter in your lineup, so you have no choice but to mix and match.

...So to recap, catch the ball, hit the ball, pitch the ball and play ANGEL BASEBALL. Simple enough.