Friday, May 20, 2022
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar
Arlington Today Magazine
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Arlington Today Magazine

Paying homage to a Texas Rangers hero

John Rhadigan by John Rhadigan
April 1, 2021
in Commentary, Sports
0 0
0
Paying homage to a Texas Rangers hero

The next time you see Elvis Andrus in a picture of this ilk in a game between the Rangers and the Oakland A’s, he and the catcher will have switched uniforms. (Photo: seattlepi.com)

0
SHARES
97
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Women's Health Services Aug 2020

It is a phrase that has been uttered after nearly every trade in the history of the Major Leagues: “Baseball is a business.” Yet, rarely has it hit so close to home, rarely has it hit so hard. Maybe that is because Elvis Andrus plays the game with the passion, the enthusiasm and the smile of a child. He plays as if he does not know it’s a business.

Of course, he does know. In fact, in July of 2007 the business of baseball was on full display. The Rangers traded Mark Teixeira to Atlanta for five up-and-coming prospects. Among them was an 18-year-old shortstop regarded as the second best prospect in the Braves organization. In August of 2007 Elvis joined the Rangers organization and went about the business of proving he was worthy of that lofty ranking.

Related posts

May 2, 2022

May 1, 2022

By Opening Day of 2009 it was clear that he was. Michael Young had agreed to move to third base, clearing the way for a guy who would occupy the shortstop position for a dozen years.

Omar Vizquel was also on the roster in 2009. The 11-time Gold Glove winner was signed to show Elvis the ropes. Perhaps Omar was a great teacher, or, maybe, Elvis is just a fast learner. He was the second youngest player in the American League that year, and he started 145 games and finished second in balloting for Rookie of the Year.

In 2010 the Rangers sent a message to the rest of the American League: “We mean business!” Elvis was already thriving. He made the All Star Team in his second season, and by the end of the year he was leading off, as well as playing shortstop. You might say he was front and center in the Rangers quest to win their first World Series.

The 2011 team was the best in franchise history. Bolstered by the off-season acquisition of Adrian Beltre, Elvis hit .279 that year – a full 14 points higher than in 2010. He also had more RBIs, more hits and more steals than in the previous season. The end of that year was heartbreaking, but with this version of Elvis there was hope for even better years to come.

There was also a friendship developing between the Rangers third baseman and the shortstop. The business of baseball had become funny business, as Elvis and Adrian had more fun on the field than the law allows. For eight seasons, business as usual for these two was a youthful enthusiasm rarely seen before or since.

Elvis had his ups and downs during the years that he played with Adrain, mostly ups. Like his appearance in the 2012 All Star Game, the second of his career. And before the start of the 2013 season he was rewarded with an eight-year, $120 million contract extension.

There were downs, too, like Game 5 of the ALDS in Toronto in 2015. Elvis had two errors in a three-error inning, as the Jays came from behind to beat the Rangers.

After the game Elvis stood at his locker, took responsibility and proved what a good leader – what a good man – he had become.

His response to that disappointment was the 2016 season when he hit over .300 for the first time in his career. Then 2017 when he hit 20 home runs, more than twice as many as in any previous season.

He hoped to follow up that power surge in 2018, but on April 11 he was hit by a pitch that fractured his elbow. He went on the injured list for the first time in his career. He was back in business by mid-June and played in 97 games but could never regain the form of the previous two seasons.

The past two years have been barely OK by his own lofty standards, but when you look at the last 12 you see something so special. Elvis was always taking care of business off the field. He was loved by this community and he loved it right back, in the form of charity appearances and autograph signings and smiles and hugs and fun.

The Rangers acquired Elvis to help build a championship team. Now they have come full circle, trading him in an attempt to rebuild the organization to a championship level. They traded him within the division. They know this is risky business. They will see him a lot, they will face him a lot. They realize that there is a chance that they will find themselves on the business end of an Elvis Andrus resurgence.

 

Related Posts

  • September Scene Rangers

    Snapshots from the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame Induction ceremony (Photos: Texas Rangers)

  • 2017 Rangers Preview

      One of the great things about this time of year in Texas is the…

  • New Arlington Development: Texas Live!

    Ground will break early this year on the $200 million Texas Live! Entertainment Complex...

Tags: Speaking of Sports
UTA April 2020

Follow Us

  • But first   coffee    The Arlington Dunkin    located at 5801 Office Park Dr  today announced it will help keep the community running with a happy hour celebration offer throughout the remainder of August  Every day beginning now through Monday  August 31  guests can power through the rest of the month and receive a FREE  Medium Hot or Iced Coffee with any purchase from 2-6 PM   On behalf of local Arlington Dunkin    franchisee  Hiren Patel  Dunkin    is proud to keep Arlington running throughout the month of August
  • Nothing soothes the soul like a trip to the Majestic Smoky Mountains  Read all about the Greene family   s    COVID-cation    and travel safety in the link in our bio
  • Read the latest message from UTA   s interim president  Teik C  Lim  by clicking the link in our bio
  • The City of Arlington announces Unity Council  Read all about this positive way for the city in the link in our bio
  • Here   s to the All Stars  Click the link in our bio to find the complete list of Arlington Today   s 2020 All Star businesses in over 160 categories
  • Put DFW Restaurant week on YOUR calendar  Support your favorite Arlington and local DFW restaurants this August 31-September 6 during restaurant week    For more info and participating restaurants  click the link in our bio
  • This Arlington radio station is making movie magic   Read all about Crystal Vasquez and her upcoming documentary about local radio station     The Ticket     by clicking the link in our bio
  • With the school year starting soon  it   s important to know what   s going on  Read all about AISD and MISD   s back to school plans in the link in our bio
  • August is for the All Stars        Click the link in our bio to read our latest edition of Arlington Today and check out your local All  Star businesses
  • 12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Visionary Who Didn’t Give Up

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • In case of emergency: Mansfield Fire Department introduces the ‘Vial of Life’ initiative to keep residents on the ready

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boot-scootin’ Boogie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Arlington AllStars 2020

    39 shares
    Share 39 Tweet 0
Arlington Today Magazine

Arlington Texas Area News and Events Magazine

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • (no title)
  • (no title)
  • (no title)

Category

  • Arlington News
  • Business and Education
  • Commentary
  • Community
  • Design and Interiors
  • Featured
  • People
  • Scene
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness

Recent News

May 11, 2022

May 4, 2022
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar

© 2020 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity - Powered by Metrotechs

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • Community
    • People
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Contact Us

© 2020 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity - Powered by Metrotechs

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add Arlington Today Magazine to your Homescreen!

Add