ARLINGTON -- Center fielder Julio Borbon broke one of baseball's on-field cardinal rules Sunday against New York. In the bottom of the sixth with the game tied, Borbon was on first before advancing to second following a fly ball. With two outs, Borbon was caught stealing third -- a Cardinal Sin in a close game.
"He's learning," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "Also I feel like I've got to start stepping in in those situations, because I never thought that would happen and it did. So I'll take the blame for not stepping in and making sure he wasn't going anywhere."
Borbon is among the fastest Rangers and has contributed a lot on the basepaths in the last two years. In 2009, Borbon stole 19 bases and was caught stealing four times. In 2010, he stole 15 and was caught seven times. So far in 2011, he's stolen six and been caught twice.
Washington said he wouldn't prevent Borbon from attempting to steal from second, or in baseball terminology give him a "red light," but depending on the situation there will be times he tells Borbon not to steal.
"I will put a stop sign on him when I don't think he should be [stealing,]" Washington said.
Borbon has been aggressive lately in the field as well. Saturday night he ran into shortstop Elvis Andrus while making a catch in left field. Washington said he thought that particular mistake came about because Borbon and Andrus couldn't hear each other over the sell-out crowd.
After the game Saturday, Borbon his carefree play in the field was due to the center fielder taking a more aggressive approach.
Washington doesn't want that to go away.
"The last thing I want to do is take his aggressiveness away from him, because now we've got him playing the baseball we know he can play," Washington said. "Now we've just got to get him thinking along with that."
Borbon has been batting .409 in the last week with four RBIs. Washington said he didn't mind Borbon stealing to get into scoring position at second base, because with his speed the center fielder could score on any base hit. His problem was specifically with Borbon trying to take third.
He compared Borbon's progress to that of Andrus on the bases.
"[Borbon] has been running and ripping bags and feeling good," Washington said. "It's like Elvis was last year before he matured a little bit. He thought he was Superman -- thought everything he did was going to work."
Beltre gets a day off:
Third baseman Adrian Beltre will be out of the Rangers' starting lineup tonight for the first time all year tonight as Washington wanted to give the Rangers' biggest off season acquisition a day off.
That doesn't mean Beltre wanted to take it.
"I don't like it, but what am I going to do?" Beltre said. "I don't write the lineup."
Washington told Beltre he wouldn't be starting today, as he was afraid if he told him yesterday the third baseman would try to talk him out of it. Beltre still tried to talk his way into the lineup before the game Monday, but Washington wasn't having it.
"This has nothing to do with where he is and what he's doing, I just think at some point we needed to get him a day [of rest,]" Washington said.
Beltre is batting .154 in the last week with one extra base hit. But Washington said the 2010 Silver Slugger Award winner and 13-year veteran would start producing soon.
Beltre agreed.
"I feel good, but I'm not where I want to be offensively," Beltre said. "It's nothing to be concerned about. You go through highs and lows in a season."
Injuries round-up:
The Rangers updated the progress of several injured players today. The team announced that if 2010 AL MVP Josh Hamilton continues to progress in his healing as expected from his shoulder injury, he'll take batting practice on Friday.
Tommy Hunter pitched a rehab outing today for Triple-A Round Rock and performed well until he "tweaked" his groin or hamstring today on his 79th and final pitch. Hunter will be re-evaluated by team doctors in Arlington this week.
Reliever Brandon Webb pitched a bullpen session today in Surprise, Arizona, and is expected to pitch an extended spring game later this week.
Scott Feldman pitched an extended spring game Monday. He will throw a bullpen session in Arlington this week, and will likely make his first rehab start on Saturday.
