Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Everything in Major League Baseball is not about statistics. They are very important to be sure but they are not always the most important thing. A catcher who is dreadful offensively could still win games defensively and with his ability to call a good game. That’s just one example. Middle infielders and especially good utility infielders are another great example. To that point the Oakland Athletics have their utility man back once again as they have rightly reclaimed Adam Rosales from the Texas Rangers.
Waiver deals in August can be strange at times. The Athletics designated Rosales for assignment recently to make room for waiver deal acquired Alberto Callaspo who they got from the Los Angeles Angels for Grant Green. Still with me? Well, Callaspo suffered a minor injury in a home plate collision and the Rangers had already designated Rosales for assignment again by that time. The A’s probably needed the infield depth so they reclaimed their man as well they should have.
You hate to see a good guy that plays hard be the odd man out in a series of deals like this. I’m not sure if there is any way this could have been planned between any teams but I feel certain the A’s and Rangers weren’t working together. The Rangers didn’t even give Rosales an at-bat during his time there. It’s a shame too because if they did and he hit a home run they would have gotten to see his awesome, full sprint around the bases with a huge smile on his face.
He isn’t going to win an award any time soon but Rosales has heart and he has a good glove for the middle infield. Let us all hope that he isn’t considered the odd man out again even if he is batting .000. If there isn’t a spot for a guy like this on a MLB team, that’s not a team I want to cheer for.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
