Texas Rangers Spring Training Notebook: Calling A Vacationing Hall Of Famer, How To Eat A Big Mac

Bruce Bochy hopes Hall of Famer Greg Maddux will visit Texas Rangers spring training camp to help instruct pitchers, as he has done in the past. Also, how to eat McDonald's properly.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is calling the bullpen looking for a certain retired Hall of Famer.

Greg Maddux, the Hall of Fame brother of Rangers' pitching coach Mike Maddux, who is currently vacationing somewhere in the world — Bochy wasn't exactly sure where — probably received Bochy's call already. 

"I'm going to try to touch base with him just to make sure he knows we would love to have him here," Bochy said. "He's more than welcome. He was a tremendous help last spring]. You get a guy who has won 18 Gold Gloves, and he talks about the importance of doing all the little peripherals that you need to do as a pitcher. It's pretty valuable coming from him."

Bochy pointed out that the Rangers pitchers ranked fifth in the league in fielding their position in 2023. He credits Maddux for some of that. 

"No doubt, in my mind, it made a difference," he said. 

Tense Autograph Battle

It got a little tense between autograph seekers when a group of obvious Rangers fans, all wearing team t-shirts and hats, got into a brief verbal back and forth with another fan wearing a Dodgers cap, who appeared to be a memorabilia dealer, but that wasn't clear. The Rangers fans felt like he was crowding their personal space when Evan Carter was signing autographs between drills. Check out the video to see for yourself:

It's getting a little testy between fans and dealers ...#TexasRangers pic.twitter.com/IRYB4vKtR8

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) February 20, 2024

Friday's Cactus League Opener

Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney are scheduled to pitch in the 1 p.m. Friday Cactus League opener against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium. They're likely to throw two innings apiece. Other likely candidates to pitch Friday include Josh Sborz, Jake Latz, and Daniel Robert, based on their schedules this week.

Quotables

"We're talking about it now, to be honest. I don't know exactly where we're going to have him, but I think he showed he gives us a lot of options, so that's to be determined." — Rangers manager Bruce Bochy on Evan Carter's spot in the lineup

"She loved it, that's for sure. I don't show [emotion] like that, so she gets excited when I do." — Rangers shortstop Corey Seager on his wife's reaction to his mic drop shot at the Astros during the World Series championship celebration

Crowding the Plate

I'm not above eating at McDonald's. In fact, when it comes to food, I'm not above anything. 

I'm a fan of McDonald's. Being such a global behometh, it's easy to take shots at the golden arches. I've never been in that camp.

Here's the key to enjoying McDonald's: You have to find a location that has its act together. You also need to be vigilant about your order.

How To Eat A Big Mac :: Stefan Stevenson/FanNation, Inside the Rangers

What do I mean?

If I'm eating McDonald's, I'm ordering their fries — the best fries the world has ever known. They're only the  world's best fries, however, if they're fresh out of the fryer. That's why I tell them every time that I'll wait for fresh fries. Never ever settle for anything less than piping hot McDonald's fries. If you do, you're cheating yourself and gaining weight with no payoff. Make those calories count!

My most common McDonald's order, which I had after Tuesday's spring training workout, was the Bic Mac meal with a diet Dr Pepper. Here's the slight twist: I take off the top sesame seed bun and replace it with the double-sided middle bun.

There's nothing special about the sesame bun, so you're not missing anything. The middle bun is softer and fluffier and you're saving stomach space without that unecessary top bun filling it up. I also add an extra slice of cheese so each of the two beef patties is topped with cheese. Every burger patty needs a slice of cheese. That's just common sense.

Pro tip: Use the McDonald's app to order even if you're in the parking lot. I've used their 20% off any order $5 or more deal every visit for years. I've saved $6,548 in the past six months.

McDonald's fries and Big Mac, Crowding the Plate style :: Stefan Stevenson/FanNation, Inside the Rangers

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