Rangers Piling Up Losses, Rookies

As the Rangers headed west this week for their last road trip of the season, they engaged their rookies in an annual rite of baseball: Initiation.

For years they, ahem, persuade their newcomers to dress up on the flight. And this year the scene was particularly scary.

But no, it wasn’t the player dressed as a nurse. Or the guy in the diaper. Or the French maid’s costume. Not the Leprechaun. Or even all the garish wigs. Nope, it’s not the quality of outfits worn by Rangers’ rookies.

It’s the quantity.

In a normal season Major League Baseball teams will have 5-10 rookies, even after September call-ups. But the Rangers? Would you believe 18? The injuries have taken a toll on the Rangers’ success, but also opened a lot of doors of opportunity for young players.

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In case you haven’t been paying attention to this nightmarish season, that’s a third as many rookies as they have wins. In Oakland this week they could start a lineup of all rookies tonight, and do it with a totally separate rookie lineup tomorrow.

Yikes.

The bad news: The Rangers almost ran out of costume ideas.

The good news: Even in a disaster of a season, they’re still managing to smile.

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

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