Rangers' Andrus trying to put 2014 behind him
ARLINGTON, Texas â The planned day off for Elvis Andrus Sunday followed by an off day Monday was expected to result in Andrus in the starting lineup Tuesday.
That wasn't the case though as Andrus sat again while the Rangers try and get other players time on the field as the Rangers play out the stretch.
While Andrus, who leads the Rangers in games played at 141, wants to play he understands the move.
He also realizes the off days also get Andrus one day closer to an end of a disappointing 2014 season for the team's starting shortstop since 2009.
"Oh yeah for sure," Andrus said when asked if he's looking forward to the end of 2014. "Not just for me but for the whole organization. Sometimes you have to see yourself and take stock personally. I think it's all about the team and when you're losing it doesn't matter if you're having a good year. It's still bad for everybody."
The year started poorly for Andrus, who was bothered by elbow inflammation that he dealt with all season. Add a couple of nagging injuries like fingers and legs and Andrus was rarely at 100 percent. His offensive numbers dipped too, as he's on pace for his worst season hitting for average and on-base percentage.
While the stats aren't good, the toughest thing for Andrus to deal with has been the losing. Since Andrus started playing he's never experienced a losing season. That's changed this season in a big way as the Rangers are not only losing, but they have the worst record in baseball.
Interim manager Tim Bogar believes that's taken a toll on Andrus.
"If you talk to Elvis about it I think he'd give you the same answer I think he needs to focus on being in the game for nine innings," Bogar said. "At times, if you think about Elvis and what's gone on with him, he's never really been on a losing team has he? This is the first time he's ever had to deal with what we've gone through this year. And for a lot of guys that's difficult."
Bogar said the Andrus he saw when he was a coach for the Boston Red Sox from 2009-20012 was a high-energy player who was engaged in every play. That hasn't been the case this year but Bogar said Andrus needs to be cut some slack and use this season as a learning experience.
Bogar also made it clear that the two games off for Andrus are just that. He wanted to get 31-year-old rookie Guilder Rodriguez in a game and that meant Luis Sardinas was starting at shortstop. He said Andrus would likely play at shortstop or be the designated hitter from here on out as the Rangers try to get Sardinas more playing time.
Andrus understands the thinking.
"It's not like I'll be out of the lineup," Andrus said. "From now on we know our situation so they're probably going to give me a few extra days off the rest of the season. I've been playing the whole year long so it's nothing else you can do. It can help me rest a few parts of my body I've been fighting through this year and be ready for the next one."
Next season is something Andrus is already looking forward too. He plans to change his off-season workout program and have his throwing arm in better shape by the time spring training starts in February in Surprise.
And when next season does come, Andrus isn't going to get down if he has pedestrian numbers again. He's already thinking big picture.
"The only one (number) I'm only going to be concerned with is how many games we lose," he said. "I don't really worry about myself or how many double plays I ground into or how many errors I've got. As long as we're winning the personal stuff isn't what counts."