What I Know Now About the Rangers
I’m about to head to lunch with Jamie and my three daughters on our day off. I heard about a place that serves Puerto Rican food that we want to try out. This afternoon we’ll unpack the last of the boxes that just arrived from San Francisco. We already feel settled and at home here. In fact, we’re loving it. The place we rented is so close to the ballpark and to restaurants and stores. And everyone has been so nice. The fans are unbelievable. All the players told me that the Rangers have great fans, and they’re right. It’s amazing how often the players here talk about how much they appreciate the fans. They’re so supportive and are always right there with us, no matter what’s happening.
Now that I’ve gotten to know the players on the Rangers I’m even more impressed than I was at the beginning. The feeling here inside the clubhouse is not what people might think. Just because we have a 71/2-game lead nobody’s taking anything for granted. These guys play their hearts out to win every single game. That’s what I love about this team. All they want every day is to win. That’s how you make it to the end. That’s how you make it to the World Series. They’re determined to do everything in their power to win. And of course, that’s what I live for — figuring out how to win against that opponent on that particular day.
When we get beat, as we did Wednesday, it’s, “OK, let’s get out there tomorrow and work even harder.”
A big part of what makes this team special is Ron Washington. He’s all about business and about winning. He’s about working hard in practice and about taking care of his players. He knows the summer heat can take its toll, so he’s careful about giving guys days off so everybody will be fresh to keep playing into the post-season.
As for me, yes, I wish I was hitting better. I don’t feel like I’m having horrible at-bats but nothing’s falling in. My coaches and teammates make sure I know that even with my struggles AT the plate, I help the team BEHIND the plate. I always believe that my most important job is calling a good game and helping the pitchers get the most out of their abilities. Hitting is second.
BUT . . . it sure was fun to go for the cycle. I didn’t write about that in my first post so I’ll do it now.
My first at-bat I was just trying to get in my rhythm. I hit a change-up the middle for a single.
The second at-bat, I figured he wasn’t going to throw me any more change-ups, so I sat on a fastball and hit it over the right-fielder’s head for a double.
My third at-bat, there were two outs with the bases loaded and the score tied at 3. I wanted just to get a hit. But after I saw a couple of pitches – and fell behind in the count 1-2 – I had a better idea of how he was going to work me. The more pitches you see, the more comfortable you get. I knew he was going to throw me a slider. I told myself to stay back, get my timing. And sure enough, he threw a slider and I hit it into the first row of the center field bleachers.
So in the dugout, I’m not thinking about getting a triple but everyone’s telling me that if I hit it into the gap in my next at-bat to just keep running no matter what. I had hit only five triples my entire career. I wasn’t hopeful. But in my fourth at-bat I hit the ball to dead center. I saw the fielder jump and I thought he was going to catch it. The ball hit his glove and bounced off into the perfect spot. I said to myself, “I ain’t stoppin’ for nothin’! This might be your only chance at this!”
NOBODY thought I’d get that triple. I think Jamie, who was watching the game back in the Bay Area, is the only one who thought I could do it. And she told me later she had to leave the room when I came to the plate. She says that every time she really wants something for me it doesn’t happen if she’s watching. Our phones went crazy. I had about 55 text messages waiting for me after the game, some from my old teammates in San Francisco.
I will never forget that moment for the rest of my life.
I know before the season is over, there will be more amazing moments. That’s how this team is.
Thanks for the kind words and comments. Feel free to ask questions and I’ll try to answer them in my next post.
See you at the park!
Behind the Mask 
Hi Bengie, I miss you!! 😦 But I’m so glad Texas is working out great for you. 🙂 Once again, congrats on the cycle, that was amazing! 😀
–Lauren
Bengie, we (Rangers fans) are loving what you are doing. Your one of the best, we know the offense will come. The way you’re handling our pitching staff is AMAZING! The guys look comfortable with you behind the plate! Keep up the great work, glad you like Texas and this team! GO RANGERS!
Garrett
i have absolutly NO idea if you will get this or not, but did you get a chance to see the mess at cinncitanni and yadier molina? what are your thoughts? thts all i really wanted to know. Im a big molina fan so i wanted to hear your take not the media’s take. 🙂
love
–mara h.
I’m glad you are on a team that’s on its way to postseason. Even though it stings to say this as an Angel fan I do wish the Rangers luck. I was wondering how it feels like to be reunited with Vladdy? It was sure fun to have both of you on the team for awhile 🙂
And congrats on the cycle! What a ride!! The triple was amazing!
http://mimi.mlblogs.com
Hi Bengie, so happy for your cycle. When you played the A’s did you see any old Giants team mates? I still wear my Molina shirt. I’ll never get someone else. I miss you a lot. Hope you are adjusting to Texas and that heat. Good Luck and have fun see you in the world series. Go Giants. Ma
Bengie, As a Ranger’s fan all my life, I have always wondered how the Rangers organization stacks up against other organizations. You have been several places now. Can you talk about how the Rangers organization compares with the Angels, Giants and others where you have been? Thanks in advance, and I hope you resign with Texas next year.
Mr Molina I am a jays fan and have a blog I talk about everything jays, sometimes I ask people about jays players. If you would be so kind please go to http://bluejaysblog.myblogsite.com/ and make a comment about what it is like to play against them thanks a lot. ps if you like my blog please show it to you friends thanks
Bengie,
I’m a Cardinal fan, so I had to root for Yadi when you guys played each other. 🙂 But, I really do enjoy watching all you of you Molina brothers play. You’re all very talented behind the plate.
So here’s my question. How did you all end up becoming catchers?
I would think if three boys were growing up together playing baseball, one would pitch, one would catch and the other play 1st baseman or something. In any case, play different position, so I’m just wondering how you all ended up playing the same position.
If you’re able to answer, thanks ahead of time and here’s hoping my Redbirds see you guys in the Series! Good luck.
– Tiffany
http://redbirdfever.mlblogs.com/
Bengie,
I am a diehard Rangers fan, and on behalf of the entire Dallas area, thank you! You’re a class act, and with as many young pitchers as we have, it’s important to have expierience behind the mask. Glad to see you’re settling into the clubhouse. Hope you stick around in Texas for awhile.
Bengie i am a catcher for my community college team and i see that both you and Yadier have a wrist band that connects to your glove so it wont fall off. Where could I get something like that? I was also wondering if you could post an article about the catcher drills you do while you are in the season? I really admire the way you play baseball because I can see the impact you have on the pitching staff wherever you play. I am a Giants fan but I’m still rooting for you at Texas!
Cuanta alegria poder leer tu Blog…. como boricua en los Estados Unidos (Florida) entiendo perfectamente el sentimiento. Y como padre de un pelotero Puertorrique~o y catcher en formacion mas aun, esa mentalidad del juego, la familia, el fanatico es imprecionante de tu parte Bengie. Honestamente no me senti muy comodo con tu cambio de SF a los Rangers, pero al verte jugar contra Tampa en esta semana se nota que eres un gran jugador, y un gran ser humano mi hijo es un gran fanatico tuyo de Yadi y de Jose y bueno el por su parte aun que en ligas infantiles con 13 a~itos esta teniendo una gran temporada, su equipo gano en Puerto Rico el campeonato, el fue seleccionado el catcher del all star game jugado en Vega Alta por la CABA, recien nos mudamos hace 2 meses para la Florida y gana su primer homerun Derby de la USSA ademas de ganar el World Series en su categoria y salir el MVP de esa Serie Mundial que bateo para un promedio de .700 pero mas que por bateo fue seleccionado por su estupenda labor detras del plato de hecho en ese momento precisamente pense en lo grande que se debe sentir el padre de ustedes ( que Dios lo tenga en la gloria) por no solo lo talentoso y por ser jugadores de MLB si no por que siempre honran su memoria y eso es lo lindo. En fin Bengie seguire tu Blog ahora desde mi nuevo hogar Orlando Florida y definitivamente tengo una razon mas en mi corazon para seguir otro equipo de Grandes Ligas como lo son los Vigilantes de Texas, que muchos de los mejores jugadores boricuas han pasado por ahi y ahora te tenemos en la posicion #2 y en casa mi chico y yo lo disfrutamos . Paz para ti y tu familia pa lante hermano y que Dios los bendiga.
hello mr molina this is one of your biggest fan from the san francisco giants.i miss u alot.hope you enjoy texas.lincecum needs hope to see you in the playoffs.please post sume pictures up. did you hear about your brother.
Bengie,
Sorry I was not able to hook up with you and say Hello while you were in St. Petersburg.
Was hoping you might wander over to the RF corner, I still have Grace’s phone number if you wanted to call your old RF friend who used to run the Checker’s Bullpen Cafe.
Glad to see the family is doing great, and enjoyed watching you smack that ball off the top of the green padding between LF and CF.
Be good and eep those Rangers heading north in the win column. They need a veteran like you who has won the big prize to urge them on!
Cliff
Rays Renegade
http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com
Bengie- What’s your reaction to Colin Cowherd saying Cliff Lee “hates Texas” and “mails it in” against bad teams? Lee seems like an awesome teammate to me, and the kind of guy who’d give 110% every night. Another stupid story from ESPN.
The last time I saw you hit a triple was in Cedar Rapids in the 1994. I had to look up your stats to realize that you actaully have 6. If you did a litlle early work with GP mayber Ron Washington will give you the green light. Now, everytime I go out to see a game, you take the night off. You can’t still be tired.
Devo aka Derek
By the way, Simdog, (Mark Simmons) says hello to you and GP
Bengie, great blog. I really like reading your stuff. You write very well and have an interesting perspective. Now you just need to write more often. 😉
My sons and I were at the Rangers-Twins game last Monday. I’m sure you remember it. It was the Hardin-Ogando-Harrison-Feliz near no-hitter. What a game. My kids still can’t stop talking about it.
We’ll be at tomorrow’s game, too (A’s rubber game). We’ll be down on the first base side. So hit us a foul ball. We sure do love you guys.
Go Rangers!!!!