Borbon getting it done with bat, glove

He did it again. The he in question is Rangers center fielder Julio Borbon while the it is having another huge play that impacts a win over Seattle. On Tuesday night, with the bases loaded with Mariners in the top of the eighth and it being a 3-2 game, Borbon robbed Milton Bradley with a solid diving catch in center to end the inning. The Rangers held on for the win, making them a perfect 5-0 on the season and Borbons play was definitely of the game-saving variety. That grab came just one night after the 25-year-old outfielder had a big two-run triple to break the game open in a 6-4 win over Seattle on Monday night in Arlington. For a guy who honestly might have ranked as one of the Rangers bigger question marks heading into the start of the regular season, after an early miscue in the field against the Red Sox, this University of Tennessee product has silenced many of his critics with his strong play. In four games, he is hitting .273 with two triples and three RBI. But most importantly, his on base percentage sits at .385. Sure its still early but thats a solid improvement from last year, when his OBP was a paltry .309. And after a 2010 where he started the year as the leadoff man and quickly lost that status and moved to the bottom of the order, he still finished the year at .276 with 42 RBI and 15 SB. The young outfielder learned much from his first full season in the show. The biggest lesson is it taught me who I really was and what I was capable of doing. I look over all my offensive numbers and the one area Id like to improve was definitely on base percentage, Borbon said. Overall, I think I had a tremendous year because with the way I started, things werent looking too good but I finished at .280. It said a lot about the kind of hitter and guy that I am as far as trusting myself. Ive been able to bounce back from little things early this year because I know what I can do and have really good confidence. It was that up-and-down season coupled with some defensive issues that arose during spring training that led many to question starting him in center to start 2011. But through it all, he hasnt wavered and knew his issues from Arizona were more of a short-term thing. I knew I wasnt going to be dealing with all those issues from Arizona once the season started-sun, high skies, whatever. It was something that had nothing to do with me being able to run down baseballs and catch the ball, which is something Ive always done, Borbon said. That was my thought process with the season, to start fresh. Luckily I was able to get those over with when it didnt count. I know Ive been able to do a good job in the past and go from there. But if there was one huge positive to come out of his struggles in the field during spring training, it was that his relationship with Ranger skipper Ron Washington is even stronger than ever before. Thats because when many were calling for the club to go in a different direction in center, Wash stood by his young outfielder. It was a decision that didnt go unnoticed.It sure did make us closer, Borbon said. Wash is a guy whos always shown the kind of guy he is by how he goes about the game and how he treats his players. He stands next to us in good and bad. I really have tremendous respect for a guy like him and Im very fortunate to have a manager like Ron. With a pair of triples in his first four games of 2011, he is already halfway toward equaling his triple total from 2010. His three-base knock on Monday epitomized what this guy can do at the dish on a fairly consistent basis. Its a huge part of my game, being able to drive the ball and making the most of my speed to get around the bases and take that extra base that most people cant take, Borbon said. I want to put my teammates in a situation where I can score not just on a base hit but maybe on a sac fly or a ground ball. Those little things is what Im capable of doing and will continue to work on throughout the season. Fair or unfair, some still expect him to post similar numbers to what he had in his 44-game stint back in 2009 when he batted .312 with 4 HR and 20 RBI with 19 SB. Even though he had his share of struggles last year, he wouldnt trade how well he performed as a rookie two years ago for anything because he knows that performance laid the groundwork for where hes at today as the clubs starting center fielder. No, if I wouldnt have done it, I wouldnt have put myself in a position to lead off or be a starter today. Im glad I was able to do it, Borbon said. Im not going to say Im glad to go through rough times but the one thing I can do because of them is learn from them and make myself a better ballplayer in the long run.