Shin-Soo Choo changed up his swing going into this season with a modified leg kick. Maybe more significant was a return to some of the
mental focus he had lost along the way.
”Every pitch
Tyrone Crawford Jersey , each pitch, is the last pitch of my baseball career … I think that way,” Choo said.
After a slow start to this season, Choo realized he had gotten away from what he refers to as the ”sniper focus” he wants to have every time he goes to the
plate for the Texas Rangers.
Choo now has a 38-game on-base streak. It is the longest of his 14-year big league career, and the second-longest this season behind a 40-gamer by
Philadelphia’s Odubel Herrera.
”The physical side of it is a byproduct of him making a conscious effort to get back to who he is, what his foundation has been as a hitter, an on-base guy
first,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. ”When he’s doing that and he’s
seeing pitches, he’s focused in more on driving the ball, that he gets to hit
his pitch. He’s really good at it.”
With three singles on Monday night, including the tiebreaking RBI hit in a 7-4 win over San Diego, Choo has the longest on-base streak for Texas since Otis
Nixon’s 44 games in a row in 1995. Julio Franco’s 46-gamer in 1993 is the
franchise record.
Choo was hitting .239 after going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts May 12 at Houston
JK Scott Jersey , along with a .316 on-base percentage.
Since then, the outfielder and designated hitter has 48 hits and 37 walks in 38 games – reaching base an average of 2.2 times each game during his streak.
That has raised his batting average to .285 and increased his on-base percentage
79 points.
”He sticks to his approach more than anything. He doesn’t really care who is on the mound,” said Delino DeShields, the young center fielder whose locker is
next to Choo’s. ”He knows himself, he’s done it for a long time. He knows when
he’s getting away from that and it’s an easy adjustment for him to make.”
DeShields said Choo keeps things ”really simple” and sticks to his routine.
For Choo, that includes almost always being the first player in the clubhouse – whether before sunrise at spring training or around lunchtime before night
games during the season.
Banister remembers showing up at the team’s complex around 5 a.m. one day early during the manager’s first spring with the team in 2015. Choo was already
there.
”Next few days we got there at the same time and then one day I got up earlier for some reason and beat him to the ballpark,” Banister said. ”I didn’t
beat him to the ballpark the next day.”
Choo, in his fifth season with Texas after playing for Seattle, Cleveland and Cincinnati, is also tidy. The two stalls he occupies in the home clubhouse are
organized, including the array of batting gloves stacked neatly and organized by
color. He knows where everything is because it all has a specific spot – and
says it’s the same at his house.
”He’s real particular,” DeShields said. ”He packs his own bag. … He always looks nice. It’s just how he is. He’s a professional. Whatever you define a
professional to be
Eddie Yarbrough Jersey , that’s him.”
Choo will turn 36 on July 13, four days before the All-Star Game. He has never been an All-Star before but is a strong candidate to represent the Rangers
as a first-timer.
Banister said Choo certainly has played to a level to be considered for the American League squad in Washington next month.
”This is a great teammate. He really is. This is a guy who cares about every player in that locker room. He cares about the game. A lot,” Banister said. ”The
respect for the game of baseball, how it’s played, the look of it, the players,
the style of play, the way you should play the game.”
—
Rhys Hoskins has worn a two-sided flap helmet ever since he broke his jaw by fouling a pitch off his face.
Any chance the Philadelphia Phillies slugger keeps it on all season?
You bet, Hoskins says. His numbers have been jaw-dropping in the three weeks since he returned, and he’s superstitious enough not to mess with a good
thing.
”I was able to step back, simplify things, and it’s going well
Troy Apke Jersey ,” Hoskins said.
Aaron Nola pitched into the eighth inning to win his 10th game of the season, Hoskins homered again and the Philadelphia Phillies started a pivotal division
series by beating the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Thursday night.
Hoskins hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning for his 13th home run of the year and a 4-1 lead that propelled the Phillies within two games of idle Atlanta
for first place the NL East. The Phillies took two of three last weekend in
Washington, and both teams entered this four-game set within striking distance
of the Braves.
”We keep inching closer to the Braves, and it’s a good division,” Nola said. ”I think it’s going to be a battle to the end.”
Nola, who beat the Nationals in his last outing, pitched again like an All-Star and hasn’t lost in six turns since May 26. Nola (10-2) struck out eight
and walked only two over 114 pitches and 7 2/3 sensational innings. He has won
seven straight decisions at home dating to last season.
”I think it’s everything. The fans, the mound,” Nola said. ”It just feels good.”
Nola got Bryce Harper swinging to open the game and fanned Trea Turner with runners on the corners to end the sixth. Washington pinch-hitter Brian Goodwin
went down looking to end the seventh, Nola’s seventh strikeout of the game.
Harper struck out swinging again in the eighth.
Adam Morgan relieved Nola and retired the last batter in the eighth. Tommy Hunter allowed two runs in the ninth on an RBI single by Turner and an RBI
double by Michael A. Taylor, before Seranthony Dominguez got the final two outs
for his sixth save.
JUNE SWOON
Pedro Severino had an RBI double in the second for a 1-0 lead and the first run for the Nationals since Sunday. They were outscored 12-0 in a two-game set
at Toronto earlier this week.
”We’re going to snap out of this. We really are,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. ”We had a couple of chances to score some runs. We couldn’t do
it.”
The Phillies tied the game in the second when the center fielder Taylor overran Jorge Alfaro’s single up the middle. That allowed Maikel Franco to
score
Corey Linsley Jersey , and Scott Kingery made it 2-1 on a sacrifice fly off Nationals starter Tanner Roark (3-9) in the third.
Roark struck out five while allowing only one earned run over six innings for the Nationals, who fell to 4-12 since June 9.
HUNGRY HOSKINS
Franco had two doubles and Hoskins hit one for a Phillies team that followed two straight losses to the New York Yankees with its second straight
victory.
Hoskins, who became the fastest Phillie on Wednesday to reach 30 career homers, in 119 games played, continued his leadership of the lineup since he was
reinstated from the disabled list on June 9. The Phillies have won 11 of 17
since he returned and are 41-29 overall in games Hoskins has played.
Hoskins ate a burger this week for the first time since he was hurt in late May. He’s feasted on the opposition all month.
”The thing that stands out the most to be will always be how he manages an at-bat for a young player,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. ”The home runs
are impressive. There’s no question about it. The power production is
impressive.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (shoulder) could throw a bullpen session over the weekend. He played catch before Thursday’s game. … 3B Ryan Zimmerman
(back) could begin a rehab assignment next week.
Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (nerve) threw a bullpen session and will head to Florida for live batting practice. … RHP Pat Neshek (shoulder), who has not
pitched yet this season, will make a rehab outing Friday at Double-A
Reading.
UP NEXT
Nationals: RHP Erick Fedde (0-3, 5.32 ERA) makes his second straight start against the Phillies.
Phillies: RHP Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.06 ERA) goes for his first career win against the Nationals in three career starts.
—
Kevin Hervey Jersey
