ARLINGTON — Jake Burger turned as red as Cardinal’s cassock.
Holy humor intended.
How else to describe Burger’s theory for the Rangers’ recent hot streak and his hand signal to the dugout after a two-run double to right center that broke open an 8-3 win over Colorado on Wednesday? Look, the guy slid into second, turned to the dugout and gave a two-handed wave that looked suspiciously like something you might see in the Vatican. And then topped it off with a little blessing sign.
This is gonna get tricky, but Burger, a devout Catholic, had his spirit in the right place. When Robert Prevost, of Chicago, was elected as the new Pope on May 8, Burger was in the doldrums of an unexpected minor league assignment.
Rangers
A Midwesterner, like the new Pope Leo XIV, Burger swelled with pride and saw a little opportunity for motivation.
“Basically, I kind of thought: New Pope, new me,” Burger said Wednesday night. “He’s a Midwestern guy like me. I was proud. And since he’s been elected Pope, we’ve been rather hot.”
Related:Pope Leo XIV brings hope to Chicago sports fans, and the Knicks for their Villanova ties
So, Jake, are you claiming a little extra help?
“I think it would be a disservice to him, not to give him some credit,” said Burger, who broke in with the Chicago White Sox, whom Pope Leo rooted for during the 2005 World Series. “He’s a White Sox fan. I’d like to think he didn’t like the trade and maybe he put in a little blessing for me. So, I told the guys, if I get to second, my new double sign is going to be the wave.”
Maybe there is something to it. After all, Burger was well aware of the viral video clip making the rounds in which Pope Leo greets visitors and pilgrim groups who are visiting the Vatican. In the clip, Pope Leo, speaking in Italian, welcomes a group from “Dallas, Texas.”
And then he smiles.
Who knows: The Papal wave may not catch on like the Claw & Antlers did in 2010 or Evan Carter’s praying hands did in 2023, but if the Rangers can find a little extra help, they’ll gladly take it.
On Twitter/X:@Evan_P_Grant
Patrick Corbin’s outing vs. Rockies the latest in his Texas Rangers renaissance
Corbin threw his second consecutive quality start, striking out a season-best nine hitters.
Maybe Bret Boone’s message for Rangers is starting to sink in. Just look at Josh Jung
Perhaps no hitter has seemed to respond more positively to the coaching change than Jung, and it showed in Wednesday’s win vs. Colorado.
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.