The opening day roster has been finalized. It was announced that Joey Gallo will be the Rangers starting third baseman. While I am happy for him, I have to admit I am surprised and saddened that Adrian Beltre didn’t make the team.

I know he’s old but I was rooting for him.

Truth be told, he simply didn’t have a good spring. And spring training numbers mean everything.

His spring training numbers weren’t just bad, they were pitiful. He went 0-for-Spring.

Sorry, but you just can’t carry a guy who will bat .000. A team should have the right to expect a hit every now and then. Joey Gallo may have batted only .040 last season, but that’s forty points higher than .000.

I am just hoping that Beltre doesn’t get discouraged and quit baseball. That he uses this failure as motivation. That he tries out for the team again next year.

Who knows, with a little grit and determination and hard work, Adrian Beltre may win a spot on the Rangers in 2018. Stranger things have happened.

2017 OPENING DAY ROSTER:

Rotation (4):
Yu Darvish
A.J. Griffin
Cole Hamels
Martin Perez

Bullpen (8):
Dario Alvarez
Tony Barnette
Matt Bush
Alex Claudio
Sam Dyson
Mike Hauschild
Jeremy Jeffress
Jose Leclerc

Catchers (2):
Robinson Chirinos
Jonathan Lucroy

Infield (4):
Elvis Andrus
Joey Gallo
Mike Napoli
Rougned Odor

Outfield (4)
Delino DeShields
Carlos Gomez
Nomar Mazara
Ryan Rua

DH (1):
Shin-Soo Choo

Utility (2):
Jurickson Profar
Drew Robinson