Thursday Newsletter time: Marcus Semien’s slow start is nothing compared to a 2016 Rangers All-Star

Jeff Wilson April 14, 2022

(The Canadian Press photo)

ARLINGTON — Marcus Semien wasn’t feeling well in Toronto, manager Chris Woodward said, but posted for all three games.

The second baseman was feeling better Monday and Tuesday in the Texas Rangers’ first two home games of the season, Woodward said, but on Tuesday might have been pressing to break out of an early funk that is being magnified because it’s at the very start of the season.

Semien will enter Thursday’s game vs. the Angels batting .091 (2 for 22). He has walked once and struck out five times.

He’s a veteran who has finished third in American League MVP voting in the past two full seasons (2019, 2021). The Rangers aren’t remotely worried about him, and Woodward has told Semien he doesn’t need to do anything extra in light of his seven-year, $175 million contract.

The circumstances with Semien and Ian Desmond in 2016 are somewhat different. Desmond was unable to sign a multi-year contract because of the draft-pick compensation it would have cost a team to sign him, so he signed with the Rangers on a one-year, $8 million deal after spring training had started.

Desmond had something to prove — that he was worthy of a bigger deal — and he promptly opened the season 5 for 46 (.109) with 15 strikeouts. After a few days off, he blossomed into one of the Rangers’ best players and was selected to the AL All-Star team.

What’s the point? Don’t worry about a veteran who knows what he’s doing. Once he gets out of his own way, he’ll be fine.

Semien will be fine.

False start

Wednesday was a big day personally on a couple levels.

First and foremost was the launch of this website, which those who have navigated it will confirm is filled with the same great stories and info but not with a sharp design. The other big news was that the Texas Rangers Baseball Podcast was filmed for the first time in a studio.

Jon Daniels was the guest. You will be able to watch it soon on the podcast YouTube channel and listen to it on the usual podcast platforms. (I also was a guest on the Diamond Pod podcast with Sean Bass and Michael Tepid, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Give it a listen, too.)

The day wasn’t without its hiccups, though. Many subscribers encountered an error page when attempting to register for a password. As of roughly 8 p.m. Wednesday, however, the problem had been solved and passwords were being created.

So, if you ran into trouble, you shouldn’t now. If you do, and I’m mostly talking to Randy Galloway here, let me know.

Thanks for your understanding and patience.

ICYMI …

Because of those technical errors, there is a decent chance you missed some of the content at Rangers Today. No problem. It’s all at the links below in case you missed it. And while you’re there, check out the website and give me some feedback. It would be appreciated.

T.R.’s Memoirs: Jim Sundberg, Rangers/MLB catching great

What’s up with the Globe Life Field crowds?

Three up, three down from Tuesday’s game

Wednesday Newsletter: Robbery puts stress on bullpen

Mitch Garver discusses his illegal slide