Rafael Devers circus adds insult to injury in gutting Rangers series loss

That the Texas Rangers couldn’t win the series against the Boston Red Sox was already annoying, especially because two strengths of the team in the starting pitching and bullpen came back down to earth a bit. 

But what makes the the two straight losses (more than the 0-17 with RISP the final two games) was that the Red Sox are an absolute circus right now. They’re a total mess. And it’s because Rafael Devers refuses to handle internal business internally.

Texas Rangers' missed chances against Red Sox spotlight RISP struggles

It’s frustrating that the Rangers couldn’t beat a team where one of the stars keeps continually complaining about what his team asks him to do. This time it was moving over to first base from his DH spot due to injury.

Consider that while the Rangers have their own problems, that even led to the firing of a coach and the release of a World Series hero, things are still relatively quiet. Boston, meanwhile won two of three while Rafael Devers was putting the front office on blast.

"I know I'm a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can't expect me to play every single position out there. In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove. I wasn't going to play another position other than DH. Right now, I don't think it would be an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position."

By most accounts, Red Sox teammates who were in the locker room when Devers made those comments, were not happy about it. Nor should they be. A team is asking one of its highest paid stars to help out, and he’s refusing, not for the first time.

And yet, the Rangers couldn’t find a way to gather themselves and win another game at least in their Boston series. In an early season with lost of frustrations, not being able to take advantage of the Rafael Devers circus is up there.