ARLINGTON, Texas — As good as rookie left-hander Robbie Ross has been at pitching for the Texas Rangers this season, it's his other on-field antics that have garnered him just as much attention.
Ross is fine with that.
Ross, who became the first pitcher since 1918 to earn four relief wins in his first six appearances, has become a fan favorite at Rangers Ballpark for his walk to the bullpen in cowboy boots, a vest, toy horse and a pink backpack. His stroll to the bullpen is captured by the in-house cameras every night, and Ross takes it in stride. He knows its a baseball tradition, part of a rookie paying his dues.
Last week in Baltimore, he gained national attention when he forgot to change his jersey between games of a doubleheader. His teammates were in blue; he remained in gray. He didn't notice it until he was warming up in the bullpen during the second game.
Although it was an embarrassing gaffe, Ross also took the mistake in stride.
"It's crazy huh?" Ross said of the attention. "Honestly, I don't want to do anything that's going to humiliate me. It's all been kind of funny."
Although the Rangers have no plans to let Ross off his rookie hook any time soon, every other member of the bullpen is pulling for Ross to do well. His attitude this year is one of the big reasons.
"He takes everything well," said Mike Adams, who walks to the bullpen with Ross before each game. "He's taken the dress-up thing in stride. It's become one of those things at home where how can he not wear it. The fans have taken it in, and they love it when he goes out to the bullpen when he wears it. I told him the first couple of days that if he goes with it, the fans will really accept it and good things will happen. Every time he goes out there, he gets a standing O."
Even his uniform gaffe in Baltimore, which ended up on highlight reels all over the country, didn't hurt Ross' credibility with his teammates. His mistake was a simple one as he ate between games and then got with the clubhouse personnel to try and make sure there were drinks and snacks for the veterans in the bullpen.
He wanted to get out on the field in time for the national anthem and didn't think twice about changing jerseys, something players don't do in minor-league doubleheaders.
His teammates came to the rescue by helping him secure the correct jersey. They hold him in such high regard that the uniform blunder won't even cost him a fine in kangaroo court. He's already done his time.
"What can you do?" reliever Mark Lowe said. "He's already been humiliated."
