Moreland getting it done

ARLINGTON - On some days he plays. On others, he sits. He could be penciled in at first base one afternoon and stationed on the bench the following evening. This has been the life of Mitch Moreland, Rangers rookie part-timer.

"I walk in and look at the lineup," Moreland said. "If I'm in there, I'm ready to go. If I'm not, I'm still ready to go. I try to come to the ballpark everyday with the same mind-set and try to contribute."

On Saturday, in the Rangers' 7-2 victory in Game 2 of the ALCS, Moreland did just that, smacking two singles, drawing a walk and collecting an RBI in four plate appearances.

His performance, while positioned at the bottom of the batting order, may have forced Rangers manager Ron Washington to re-evaluate the situation at first base, where Moreland shares duties with Jorge Cantu.

In a game that became more consequential for the Rangers after Friday's loss, Moreland produced time and time again.

With two outs and the bases empty, Moreland helped prolong the second inning when he slapped a single to right field. Not long thereafter, he raced home on double by Michael Young.

Later, in the fifth inning, when it appeared reliever Joba Chamberlain had extinguished a Rangers rally with two consecutive strikeouts, Moreland again reinvigorated the Rangers offense. He smacked a single, ushering home Ian Kinsler for Texas's seventh and final run.

"Mitch did an unbelievable job with his at-bats," said Kinsler. "He had a great approach. It's nice to see ... and it's pretty big."

Whether Moreland's output will force Washington to commit to the 25-year-old as the everyday first baseman remains to be seen.

But Moreland, while reluctant to state his case verbally, seems to broach the topic each time he steps to the plate. After all, he has reached base four out of the five times he has climbed into the batter's box during the ALCS, raising his postseason batting average to .316.

In contrast, Cantu, who usually starts when the Rangers face a left-handed pitcher, has yet to produce a hit in the playoffs, clouding a situation that already seemed murky.

"Rookie, platoon, whatever," Moreland said with a smile. "I'm here, and I am getting to enjoy this."

But things can change, Moreland said. And tomorrow is a new day.