MLB All-Star Game: Texas Rangers players praise Bruce Bochy's leadership, Carlos Estevez takes step for Los Angeles Angels, and Spencer Strider dishes on why he keeps it simple with the Atlanta Braves.
SEATTLE —As we get closer to the start of the MLB All-Star Game, let's empty the notebook from media availability prior to the Midsummer Classic here at T-Mobile Park.
Let's start with a look at the Lone Star State where the Texas Rangers have a 2.0-game lead over the Houston Astros at the All-Star break. What's one of the big reasons for the turnaround in the Metroplex after Texas finished last season at 68-94. Two of the Texas All-Stars said it has a lot to do with the man overseeing the team.
MLB All-Star Game: Bruce Bochy making impact in first season as Texas Rangers manager
"He was really well accepted and he's been great from the beginning," Corey Seager said of Bochy's arrival this offseason. "For us, it's just been about getting to know him and gel and move forward."
Texas will need to recapture some of the early season's good vibes after going 3-7 in their last 10 games leading up to the break, but Jonah Heim believes having Bochy overseeing the team positions Texas for success in the second half.
"He's consistent with everything. We could be going good or going bad and he's going to have a consistent attitude each and every day," Heim said. "He's going to come to the ballpark in a good mood and that's always something to feed off of."
MLB All-Star Game: Angels closer Carlos Estevez was battle tested by Coors Field
Although he was a late addition to the American League roster, Angels closer Carlos Estevez is certainly posting some All-Star-worthy numbers so far this season. Logging a 1.80 ERA/3.57 FIP/1.286 WHIP in 35.0 innings over 36 games and recording 21 saves (tied for sixth-highest in MLB), the 30-year-old right-hander absolutely earned his spot at the Midsummer Classic.
It's the first season for Estevez outside of the Colorado Rockies organization, a place where he pitched for the first six years of his career. Estevez says that learning how to pitch at altitude and handling the well-documented Coors Field effect has made him a stronger pitcher.
As he explored free agency this offseason and eventually landed with the Angels, Estevez believes that one thing that wasn't talked about with his resume was how much he pitched in Denver. While people would always ask him about pitching at Coors Field, few would ask him about how he did it for so long.
"I got 300-something outings out there (he pitched 302.0 innings in 321 games for the Rockies). Tell me how many relievers have done out there (he is one of only nine Rockies to pitch in 300 or more games). It's not a coincidence. It's not like, 'Oh you came out of Coors and now you're good.' I have been working the right way to stay healthy and get through some things, and that's one thing that not a lot of people ask me about."
MLB All-Star Game: Spencer Strider keeps it simple with Atlanta Braves
While Strider may not pitch in the All-Star Game, he was very open to talk to reporters about why he believes not only Atlanta has stayed successful with their organizational philosophy, but also how he believes the Braves have helped him keep things simple in his approach on the mound.
"There are a lot of guys who have been able to figure out that simplifying their tools and their skill set is a good way to be successful," Strider said when discussing the crop of stellar young pitchers who will be at this year's All-Star Game. "Speaking personally, there was a time when I thought I needed to do a lot of things to be successful, but it's been cutting things out that's made me really good."
It may sound simple, but Strider believes boiling his pitching skills down to their very essence have been one of the reasons why he has excelled for the Braves.
"You need to have good results, and to do that, you need to focus on what you're good at," Strider said. "If you make that the centerpiece of what you do, then that's what is going to help you move on and be successful."