‘It’s tough to give it up’: Rangers prepare for possible future without live in-game video access – The Dallas Morning News

Texas Rangers players (from left) Willie Calhoun, Elvis Andrus, Shin-Soo Choo, Rougned Odor and Joey Gallo run on a conditioning field during a spring training workout at the team's training facility on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in Surprise, Ariz.

MARYVALE, Ariz. In the wake of the fallout from the Houston Astros technology-based cheating scandal, Rangers manager and Chris Woodward has told his team to prepare as if they wont have access to live in-game video this season.

Quite frankly, hes fine with that idea.

Though MLB has yet to hand down an official edict on access to live in-game video, which was at the heart of the Astros scheme, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said he expects for access to video rooms to be drastically restricted. Woodward and the Rangers expect that to mean: No player access to live video in the replay center and the removal of video that would give players a view from the center field cameras.

I know it would be a benefit to have it, but Im not concerned, Woodward said. Actually, Im somewhat happy about it. If nobody [around the league] can use it, it puts more emphasis on prep. And this is one of the better teams Ive ever been around when it comes to preparation. It will be kind of cool. There will be more guys on the bench actually talking about the game.

At Globe Life Park, players would often duck behind the dugout to access video feeds to analyze the strike zone and movement on pitches on the center field camera. The room offered an added benefit: Good air-conditioning to escape the heat. The need to cool off shouldnt be a problem at roofed Globe Life Field.

The players, however, might not share Woodwards feelings on the likely changes.

Weve gotten used to using video, said Joey Gallo. When you are looking at the game sideways, there are things you cant pick up. You cant really see what pitches are doing, where they are going. Since weve already had that, I think its tough to give it up.

Gallo said he has never used the available technology to try to pick up whether a pitcher is tipping, but rather to better identify movement on pitches and to get a feel for how the strike zone will be called against him. Shin-Soo Choo, who takes pride in plate discipline, said he has also come to use the system to get a better feel for the individual strike zone of that days umpire.

My early career, it wasnt available, Choo said. I like being able to see where the umpires call balls and strikes, but if everybody is in same situation, not just us, its OK. I know what I have to. I know how to make my own adjustments.

White hot: Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit his fourth home run of the spring in the fourth inning Saturday in an 11-2 win over Milwaukee. This would not be all that notable if not for the fact that Kiner-Falefa has hit five total homers in his major league career. In short: He is torching baseballs. After going 2-for-3 Saturday, including a run-scoring line-drive single up the middle, Kiner-Falefa has 11 hits in his last 19 at-bats.

Even results aside, hes been our best hitter, manager Chris Woodward said. Its been a huge turn mechanically from where he was. He looks like a freed-up athlete up there. He was a little tight to start the spring, but he looks relaxed up there now. We are seeing an impressive version of him. Every ball is scorched.

Feeling fine: Kyle Gibson took another step Saturday towards demonstrating hes capable of being ready to be part of the opening day rotation with three innings (and a set of 15 extra pitches in the bullpen afterward).

Of note: Gibson, who leads the AL in double play grounders since 2013, got Orlando Arcia to bounced into one on four-seam fastball to end his day. Gibson has been working to use the four-seamer more; his traditional pitches in double play situations are two-seamers and changeups.

Gibson has pushed his weight up to 210 pounds since battling ulcerative colitis last year. The Rangers biggest concern is his durability.

Last year, when I came back from E. coli, I wasnt smart, Gibson said. I want to be smart this time around. Right now, I feel like I know my body well.

Under the lights: In his first night game action in center field, Nick Solak passed another important test. He showed no fear. Solak went hard into the wall chasing a fly ball by San Diegos Wil Myers on Friday. The ball hit off the wall for a triple, but manager Chris Woodward said the ball was not catchable. Solak made two other catches on routine fly balls.

He came back into the dugout and the first thing he said was Ive got to make that catch, outfield instructor Tony Beasley said. He went in there with zero fear and with aggressiveness. You cant get crazy, but I dont think he did. He knew he was going to hit the wall.

Briefly: LHP Joe Palumbo (heel inflammation) threw a light bullpen on Thursday with no issues and is expected to throw a more rigorous one Sunday or Monday. The Rangers have reassigned non-roster OF Henry Ramos to the minor league camp. MLB Players Association officials will be in Surprise Sunday for their annual state-of-the union meeting with the Rangers.

Find more Rangers stories from The Dallas Morning News here.

See the article here:
'It's tough to give it up': Rangers prepare for possible future without live in-game video access - The Dallas Morning News