It may be mix 'n' match for Nix, Matthews

04/02/2005
ALBUEQUERQUE, N.M. -- As of Saturday, the Rangers were not ready to name Laynce Nix as the starting center fielder for Tuesday's season opener against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but they were not ready to say he would not be on the field for the first pitch, either.
The same could be said/not said for switch-hitting outfielder Gary Matthews Jr.
"I've got two guys who are capable of doing a good job for us -- really, three," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "I don't know if I came into this looking for somebody to separate themselves as much as to make them continue to think they can do a good job for us. Both of them can play all three positions above average."
"Average" is a good way to describe Nix's spring. Coming into Saturday's action, the left-handed hitting outfielder was 13-for-69 with two home runs and five RBIs. Last season, Nix hit .248 with 20 doubles and 14 home runs in 371 at-bats during 115 regular season games. He hit .176 against left-handed pitchers and .266 against right-handed pitchers.
Nix delivered a two-run double in Saturday's 7-4 victory against the Diamondbacks.
"I have not had great numbers this spring," Nix said. "[Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo] and I have been working on some things and I have not gotten a lot of hits, but I feel like I have put together some good at-bats and I'll just continue to grind on some things I'm working on.
"It's pretty apparent the results are not good for the spring, but at some point you have to look past that a little bit. Even last year, I didn't know what my numbers were. I didn't know what the numbers were this year until yesterday."
Despite the slow spring, Nix remains confident in his ability to hit and play center field on the big league level. Last spring was a bigger challenge because he had to prove he could play defense, he said.
The challenge this spring comes from his good friend Matthews.
"I've tried not to take on any extra challenges," Nix said. "I'm just trying to see the ball and hit it. For whatever reason, I have not had a lot of balls fall. I have hit a lot of balls hard, and I've had some bad at-bats, too. I haven't sweated it. I feel good going into this last week and going into the season."
As for Matthews, he was 23-for-60 coming into Saturday, with four doubles, four triples and two home runs in 60 at-bats. On Saturday, he added a bunt for a single in the fourth inning. On defense, he made spectacular diving catch on a sinking line drive in the second inning.
"I came in here to get ready to play and to get prepared to play 162 games," Matthews said. "I don't think anybody comes in thinking they want to play 80 games. My goal was to be consistent and work on some things with Rudy and build on what we established last year."
Matthews boasted a .275 batting average in 87 games for the Rangers last season, hitting .244 against lefties and .289 against right-handed pitchers, and showed the club he can play multiple positions. Overall, he has a .247 batting average in 1,692 career Major League at-bats with the Cubs, Pirates, Mets, Orioles, Padres and Rangers.
Comfortable in the clubhouse and on the field, Matthews appears to have found a home in the Texas organization.
"I have had that happen with three or four players over the years, like Luis Gonzalez," Showalter said. "Different guys figure it out at different times. Some guys, it's [age] 24; sometimes it's [age] 28 -- especially with Latin players in winter ball, because they play so much. Sometimes, all a guy needs is repetition. Gary got a lot of reps last year, and he got a lot of reps this spring."
Regardless of who starts Tuesday, both will likely see significant playing time in center field. Matthews could spell Nix against left-handed pitchers, and Nix could play against right-handers, but it is not far-fetched to imagine both playing in the outfield at the same time, with one in center field and the other in left or right.
Nix could also see action as a designated hitter with Matthews in the outfield, but Showalter is not fond of that option because it limits his options off the bench.
"[Nix] has done well the last couple of weeks and played a good center field for us. Hopefully, he will build on last year and be better," Showalter said. "He showed a lot of things last year that made us think he can do that job. ... The one constant is that he did play a solid center field for us."
Showalter added that Matthews appears on track to be an everyday player in the future. Whether Matthews accomplishes that feat with the Rangers or another organization is to be determined.
"I came in here to eliminate any doubt about me playing every day," Matthews said. "I came in here to make a statement, because you don't know who is out there watching. A lot of times you create opportunities by the way you play and your approach. I didn't want to leave any questions out there."

Source: http://mlb.mlb.com/