They better find help for the problem fast. The double plays threaten to short-circuit an otherwise productive offense. Of the 10 players who most often ground into double plays in the AL, four play for the Rangers. With two outs in the seventh and Rafael Palmeiro at the plate, Rodriguez tried to go from first to third on a pitch that got by Orioles catcher Charles Johnson. He didn't make it.
Baseball is just like life.
We want to be aggressive, but we want to have some control to that aggression. I was trying to be aggressive. Explaining Rodriguez's mistake was much easier for the Rangers than explaining the team's proficiency for squashing rallies with ill-timed ground balls. Baltimore starter Scott Erickson gave the Rangers eight walks, but they were able to do little with them because of double plays. David Segui, who has hit into nine double plays this season, just beat the relay from second to keep the third inning alive.