MATTHEWS TO STAY WHERE HE CAN PLAY TEXAS IS LATEST STOP FOR OUTFIELDER.Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer As Gary Matthews
For the son, see Gary Matthews Jr. The elder Matthews, who played in the majors for 16 years, responded by telling his son that if he truly believed those words, a lot would have to change. A lot has changed for Matthews. The Granada Hills High graduate has gone from being released by the Braves to being a pleasant surprise for the Texas Rangers Texas Rangers, mounted fighting force organized (1835) during the Texas Revolution. During the republic they became established as the guardians of the Texas frontier, particularly against Native Americans. , who are contending for the American League West The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. title. Matthews, who spent nearly the first two months of the season in the minors, entered the weekend batting .271 with eight home runs and 27 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in in 66 games. The switch-hitting outfielder, who for most of his career has been known primarily for his defense, has been a regular in the Rangers lineup since the All-Star break. ``To be a part of a team like, being in a race, it's awesome,'' Matthews said. ``I like to think about the team more than myself, but I guess things are going OK for me. ... It's a lot different than the way the year started.'' If any player is used to change, it is Matthews. He is with his seventh organization - including two stints with the San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. Padres
Not to be confused with San Diego Padres. - since making his major league debut in 1999. He played with the Padres and Baltimore Orioles This article is about the contemporary American major league baseball team. For other uses, see Baltimore Oriole (disambiguation). The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. last season, then went to spring training with the Braves this year before signing with the Rangers. ``I've been all over the place,'' said Matthews, who turns 30 on Aug. 25. ``By now I'm used to it. ... You learn to pack light, only take what you need, and take care of your clubhouse guys. They basically take care of everything for you.'' Now that he owns a house in Houston. where he can keep most of his belongings, moving has become easier. But he spent more time than he wanted in the house this spring after he was released. ``It was a little odd being at my house the beginning of April,'' Matthews said. ``But I went home and talked with my agent and my dad, took a couple days off and decided to analyze some different things. ``I had to figure out which team would give me the best opportunity. I made my decision not based on money, but based on the opportunity to play.'' Matthews' opportunity to return to the major leagues did not occur until Rangers outfielder Brian Jordan ``I looked at it not as an opportunity not really to prove myself but to play and improve my game,'' Matthews said of his time in the minors. ``I didn't feel like I had anything to prove to anyone. I just went out and played my game and made adjustments. ``It sucks getting released, but it didn't have as much to do with my talent as much as it did my salary. So that's the way I looked at it. (The Braves) were just cutting their losses.'' Matthews has continued to work on his game under the tutelage TUTELAGE. State of guardianship; the condition of one who is subject to the control of a guardian. of Texas hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo Rudolpho Jaramillo [ha-rah-MEE-yoh] (born September 20, 1950 in Beeville, Texas) is currently the hitting coach for the Texas Rangers. Jaramillo has the longest tenure as a hitting coach in Major League Baseball since he was hired in 1994, and also is the first individual in . Jaramillo made a few adjustments in Matthews' swing, which has Matthews feeling more comfortable from both sides of the plate. No matter how well he seems to fit in Texas, Matthews won't allow himself to think about how long he will be with the Rangers. ``I just want to play well and continue to improve,'' he said. ``The way you play doesn't always mean that you're going to stay there. So I'm really not concerned with where I'm going to be next year because you don't always have control over it. You just don't. ``I know that by now. I just go out and do my thing, which is play baseball.'' Heather Gripp, (818)713-3607 heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Gary Matthews Jr., a Granada Hills High grad, will take one for the team as long as he gets a chance to play. Linda Kaye/Associated Press |
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