What has happened to Taylor Teagarden?

From my dad last night:

Well last night I saw something I have never seen before...well at least not in baseball. Padilla scored by going 5-hole against Taylor Teagarden. Unfortunately they're on the same team and they weren't playing hockey. Yes, that's right, Taylor missed a fastball right between his legs. At least it wasn't in a crucial situation...that is unless you think that having the bases-loaded constitutes a crucial situation.

Later that inning, on a play at the plate, Teagarden is inexplicably two feet in front of the baseline instead of near homeplate. As usual, Cruz's throw comes in like a heat-seeking missile, but Teagarden is so far in front of the plate that he can't apply the tag. If he just sets up the way any average catcher would, the ball still reaches him in the air and he's in position to make the tag. Once again, at least it wasn't in a crucial situation...that is unless you think keeping the other team from scoring is somehow important to the final outcome.

This kid has gone from being a top-rated prospect to barely being a usable backup. He has been totally over matched all year at the plate (see Chris Davis) and now his defense is so unreliable that I can't remember a time when the Rangers have had such a poor backup behind the plate. I actually felt sorry for Padilla last night - and it takes a lot for that to happen.

Aside from the Teagarden issue, last night Texas implemented another brilliant 9th inning strategy. Marlon Byrd was on first-base and, while the team trailed by 2, he decided to steal second. Though the replay showed that he was thrown out, the umpire called him safe. Despite successfully stealing the bag, this is just another example verifying that this team simply doesn’t understand baseball fundamentals. When you are trailing by 2 in the 9th – and you aren’t even the tying run – you do not risk getting thrown out trying to steal. That’s baseball 101.

At some point, these mental errors are going to cost this team. It’s one thing to play “stupid” baseball when you aren’t a very good team. But when you are in first place and in the middle of a pennant race, a couple stupid mistakes could be the difference between winning the pennant and watching the playoffs from your couch. Hopefully Texas realizes that sooner rather than later.