My Niece is staying over the night with me, so we're up right now. She's playing with her toy frog (more like eating it, actually) as we speak.
So, let's take a look at some Non-Tender Musings
Ben Broussard Now A Ranger
All it really cost the Rangers was Tim "Tug" Hulett Jr., who was eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and wasn't taken. He may make a career as a utility guy, he may not. We'll see.
As for Broussard, right now I'm penciling him in as the starting first baseman. That leaves a likely lineup of the following:
KInsler (2B)
Cat (LF)
Young (SS)
Blalock (3B)
Bradley (DH)
Broussard (1B)
Salty (C)
Murphy (RF)
Byrd (CF)
It's a slightly stronger lineup than before, but it's not going to strike the fear of god in you.
What this does raise questions about is what the future will be for Shelton, Botts and Cruz. If this is the lineup, than something is going to happen soon to get rid of one of these guys. I have a feeling that Cruz may not survive the off-season. Botts could see everyday playing time in Left Field and at DH to give Bradley a break, while Murphy and Byrd could be rotated as needed. Which means that Cruz is likely getting the boot.
God damn it, this team needs better outfield options. This is getting #### ridiculous.
Bye Bye Aki
Akinori Otsuka was non-tendered, bringing the last remnant of the Chris Young/Adrian Gonzalez trade to an end.
Aki was hurt, but there was some progress in his rehab. However, I wonder how long he would have been able to have pitched for the full season. Would he have been ready in time for the season? I'm not sure.
And does any of this have to do with the fact that he recommended San Diego over Texas to Kosuke Fukudome?
If so, that's petty. But I'm taking the high road and choosing injury.
So long Aki. We hardly knew ye.
Other Non-Tenders To Look At
Mark Prior (RHP - Former Cub) - Eh, what the hell. Gabbard's got options left and if Prior can bounce back a bit, he could be something worthwhile. And could even be worth a draft pick or two if he books.
Kiki Calero (RHP - Former A) - Could be a nice, buy low opportunity for the pen.
Dallas McPherson (3B - Former Angel) - Maybe, still has some potential. Is also made out of glass.
Emil Brown (LF - Royals) - Could form a decent platoon with Cat.
Okay, someone's hungry. Time to warm up a bottle...
Taking some tiem out from watching the playoffs to update you all on some Ranger thoughts I had. Let's kick it out the new title text:
The Rangers Report – Offseason Edition
Aki May Need Tommy John Surgery
This isn’t good news.
Reports are coming out that Akinori Otsuka, who hasn’t been seen since the All Star break, may need to undergo Tommy John, costing him all of 2009 and the last year of control under Texas before Free Agency.
Sigh.
Aki was likely going to exit Surprise next season as the closer for the Rangers. If he needs to undergo Tommy John, he’s going to get non-tendered and released by Texas, giving a final and craptastic end to one of the worst Rangers trades of all time.
And, just because I like rubbing salt on my wounds, here is how the trade worked out for Texas:
Adam Eaton – Posted a horrific year and didn’t even merit Free Agent Compensation, then bolted for the big bucks in Philly, where he’s been equally craptastic.
Akinori Otsuka – Did a great job as a closer in 2006, was an excellent setup man in 2007, but would be gone if he has to undergo TJ.
Billy Killian - A young catching prospect, Killian was terrible for Spokane and Clinton and was eventually sold to the White Sox for an undisclosed amount of cash and a cash of Milwaukee’s Best.
Bah.
Top Rangers Moments Of 2007
Michael Young’s 200th Hit – It’s great to see Mikie extend his 200 hit season streak to five.
The Return of Rangers Ballpark – The Rangers take back their ballpark by buying out Ameriquest and renaming the ballpark Rangers Ballpark In Arlington.
The 30-3 Game – This asskicking actually was able to help a lot of fans move on from Teixeira. ..well, expect for the Metroplex media (#### you Randy Galloway!)
Hank Blalock’s Return – And how! A Grand Slam against the Angels that helped ice a win on Sunday Night Baseball.
The 2007 Draft – The fact that Texas was able to add so many quality arms, many of which began to preform right away, is making for a potential farm system Bonanza come 2009.
Da Pick! Da Pick! Where Is Da Pick!
The draft standings are more or less finalized, and Texas will make the 11th pick in next June's amateur draft. It’s not a bad place to pick, really. The Rangers won’t get an elite talent unless he falls, but there should be a solid talent there.
Here’s the last five 11th overall picks.
2007 – Philipe Aumont (Mariners) – Love this guy, should be a solid major leaguer.
2006 – Max Scherzer (Diamondbacks) – Solid arm, potential closer.
2005 – Andrew McCutcheon (Pirates) – Tools city, has probably been rushed.
2004 – Neil Walker (Pirates) – Like the bat, not sure where he’ll play though.
2003 – Robert Aubrey (Indians) – Promising career short-circuited by injury.
The only real problem with this year’s draft is that it may be one of the weakest drafts in years. Still, there should be a decent talent around at 11.
Cat On First?
The more I look at the first base market, in terms of trade and free agency, the more I think it’s going to be likely that Frank Catalanotto will likely be the Rangers’ starting first baseman in 2008.
The reason being is that there are no real attractive options out on the open market, with only glove men like Sean Casey and Mike Lamb available. And the only first baseman that I know of that could wind up here, Todd Helton, would be a far too lengthy commitment for the Rangers, plus he would likely require the Rangers picking up an expensive option to come here.
Actually, hold that thought, there is also Adam Dunn, who could play first base and is reasonably comparable to Ryan Howard, but what would the Reds want in terms of prospects? I don’t think that enough of a deal could be reached for the two sides to swing a deal.
Meanwhile, playing Cat at first would allow the Rangers to use different outfielders, improving the overall defense, as Cat is rather bad in left. It would allow the Rangers to play David Murphy regularly in right field, while allowing Jason Botts, who isn’t great, but is better than Cat in left, while allowing the Rangers to concentrate on obtaining help in centerfield and DH.
Keeping An Eye On Felix Pie And David DeJesus
Two options in centerfield to keep an eye on are Cubs prospect Felix Pie and Royals centerfielder David DeJesus.
I think there was more truth than people realize when rumors surrounded Pie and the Cubbies’ apparent willingness to deal him in the right trade. There was a rumored deal of Gerald Laird for Pie, but the deal was quickly killed and the Cubbies announced they had no real intentions of trading him.
I’m not so sure.
Lou Pinella wasn’t a big fan of Pie’s during his time up with the Cubs and wasn’t enthused about playing him every day.
And, with rumors that the Cubs may go hard after a free agent centerfielder, that would all but block Pie from ever making it to Wrigley.
Which would make trading for Pie much more valuable, as it would allow the Rangers to get something for not as painful of a price. Pie is regarded to be a raw, Carlos Beltran type (then again, so is Rangers prospect Engel Beltre), and if he gets PT, he'll be able to blossom into something special.
Here's hoping the Cubs do so.
The other player is Royals centerfielder David DeJesus, who the Royals are supposedly looking into trading for younger, projectable parts, especially since they now feel that Joey Gathright has figured out how to hit. Gathright has leadoff potential and is faster and can cover more ground than DeJesus.
If the Royals are willing, I'd be ready to call if I were GM. I'm not sure what the price would be, but it wouldn't be real expensive, especially when you consider what the Royals got in exchange for Octavio Dotel (the mighty Kyle Davies).
The Royals have tried for years to acquire prospect Joaquin Arias. I'd be willing to deal Arias, especially since I got an Arias clone in Elvis Andrus. If I were making a deal, and DeJesus were available, I'd call up the Royals and dicker, with Arias being in the deal.
Arias is still very attractive, in that he's got loads of tools and is young. It's becoming obvious that a change of scenery may be necessary for him to reach his potential and he could eventually be better than Tony Pena Jr, who is a backup at best or a starter while he's cheap. The only real issue would be if Arias developed, which would potentially bite the Rangers in the way Hafner did, but really Arias is blocked in Texas by Young and Kinsler, so it would be for the best.
What Does The Future Hold For Loe, Laird, and Tejeda
The Rangers' final loss to the Mariners was likely the last for several Rangers, and the end for some of the Rangers’ current career paths.
Kameron Loe expereinced a odd season, where he seemingly found his mojo as a starter again before his old inconsistencies reached back to nab him again. While Loe has developed better off-speed stuff to go with his sinker, he hasn’t been able to sustain his success long. Overall, Loe has been better as a reliever, as he is 13-19 with a 5.08 ERA in 47 career starts and 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 46 relief appearances, but with the emergence of several young starters, Loe is likely going to be the long man coming into next year, or could be traded in the offseason to a team that could be able to work on him to be an average 5th starter.
The same has gone for Robinson Tejeda. What started out to be a promising season quickly devolved into disaster as Tejeda was shelled more and more as the seaosn went on, finishing 5-9 with a 6.61 ERA in 19 games before being sent down to Triple A, where he eventually had hsis eaosn ended due to injury. Tejeda’s future with the Rangers is also going to be one of uncertainty, as the rotation appears to be set with Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Gabbard and Volquez going into next year. Even worse, Eric Hurley is nearly ready and could challenge for a starting spot next year, leaving Tejeda’s opportunities for a third chance less and less likely.
Gerald Laird is a different story. With his bat going into the ####, Laird’s future as a Ranger likely was doomed once the Mark Teixeira deal brought in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a natural catcher, over in the deal. While Salty projects to be a average first baseman, behind the plate he could be a perrenial All Star and a capable middle to late in the order presence. Laird was almost dealt at the deadline, but the Teixeira deal was swung too late to try and get a decent offer rolling. With the lack of young catchers in the majors all around, Laird, despite his numbers, could be attractive to several teams needing a young catcher with at least three years of control left on him.
On The Block Manana guys. Now, back to snoozing with the girlfriend and my niece...
One final update of the signings and the status of the Rangers’ picks in the first five rounds. There will be a follow up Thrusday once all the signings have drawn.
1st Round – Blake Beaven (RHP) – Very Likely. Beaven and his company have still had a lot of posturing on both sides, but Beaven will sign. He won’t go nearly as high in the draft next year if he re-enters, plus he’ll have developed a reputation for being difficult. Though he’s asking for $2 million, he won’t get it and it’s high time he figures that out. Hopefully, things will work out, though according to a quote attributed to his mother, there has been progress. Beaven has kind of pissed away a year of his development. Instead of possibly joining Michael Main in Clinton next season for full season ball, Beaven will likely be retained in extended until the short season ball clubs start up, where he’ll likely be sent to Spokane.
1st Round – Michael Main (RHP) – Signed.
1st Round (S) – Julio Borbon (CF) – Likely. Borbon has had almost nothing written about him, mostly because Scott Boras likes it that way and because he’s been focused on working on deals for Rick Porcello. Borbon is likely going to get signed, probably for above slot money, but Boras should have gotten a deal done weeks ago.
1st Round (A) – Neil Ramirez (RHP) – Very Likely. Ramirez wants to be a Ranger and has himself said that he’s very close to a deal. The Rangers are going to pay above slot for Ramirez, who is a first round talent that slipped because of some bad showings toward the end of his season.
1st Round (A) – Tommy Hunter (RHP) – Signed.
2nd Round – Matt West (SS) – Signed.
3rd Round – Evan Reed (RHP) – Signed.
4th Round – Garrett Nash (CF) – Won’t Sign. Nash’s reps have told the Rangers that their client will not be signing with the Rangers. Instead Nash will be headed to Oregon State. This was to be expected and realistically, it was a wasted pick.
5th Round – John Gast (LHP) – Doubtful. Gast’s representatives have been back and forth in contact with the Rangers, but it’s looking like Gast won’t be coming to Texas, though I think this has more to do with money than anything else. Gast is regarded to be a solid lefty that could be a solid middle of the rotation horse. But, realistically, Gast and his advisors are probably weighing the difference in money and they probably decided that if Gast sits one year, rehabs, and has a pair of solid seasons at Florida State, it would be much better than what the Rangers could offer him.
Vicente Padilla’s Progress
Vicente Padilla, who hasn't pitched for the Rangers since June 21 because of right triceps irritation, is scheduled to start for Texas tomorrow against Kansas City. He’ll be held on a 80 to 85 pitch count and will be shadowed by one of the long relievers, John Rheinecker, Mike Wood and Jamey Wright. Padilla hasn’t had any problems with his forearm but there are some wonders if he’ll be able to dominate. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow. With the season already gone to hell, there’s not much we can go on.
One Final Teixeira Nugget
One final note on the Teixeira non-trade to the Angels. They apparently never offered 1B Casey Kotchman and LHP Joe Saunders. The offer was Teixeira straight up for Casey Kotchman and RHP Ervin Santana, plus maybe Terry Evans, a right fielder. I like Evans, but come on, Kotchman and Santana. Really?
Rangers Notes (Majors)
Rangers setup man Akinori Otsuka has begun to throw off flat ground and reportedly had no problems. If things work out, Otsuka will return in September, in time for roster expansion.
3B Hank Blalock is still feeling some soreness in the nerves along his side muscle and that has been restricting him from making strong throws to the infield. Once he’s able to do that, he should be able to go on a rehab assignment. I’m beginning to wonder if the Rangers might have to look at Blalock as a first baseman and give someone like Travis Metcalf, who’s rotting down at Triple A, a shot to make himself a legitimate major leaguer. It’s not like there’s a hell of a lot of attractive other options on the Corner Infield market and it would save the Rangers from having to re-sign Wiffy Wilkerson for another year.
Toronto released former Rangers shortstop Royce Clayton. He had a good career, much more than what one with his skill set would normally expect.
Rangers Notes (Minor)
2007 First Round Michael Main has done enough on the mound to earn himself a promotion to Class A Spokane, where he’ll be working in relief for the time being. Main has currently raised his stock well after acclimating himself quickly to the Arizona Rookie League. All this is likely in preparation for him to join the Clinton Lumberkings next season.
Frisco righthander Armando Galarraga was named the Rangers’ minor league pitcher for July after he went 3-1, 1.58 in six starts, including a one-hit shutout and a two-hit shutout.
The Rangers were tied for the lead in the division last season with Oakland at the All-Star Break, but pitching implosions, offensive collapses and general mismanagement by Buck Showalter lead to the Rangers finishing third for the third straight year. Showalter is gone, replaced by Ron Washington and the team has been drastically reshaped, resulting in a team that looks very different from the one that left Safeco Field last October.
Starting Rotation
Kevin Millwood (RHP) – Millwood is the ace of the rotation and proved to be a solid innings eater as well as a role model to guide the younger pitchers in the rotation. Millwood will have to improve his performance at home, but aside from that he should be a solid starter and workhorse at the top of the rotation.
Vicente Padilla (RHP) – There’s some question as to whether Padilla will be as good as he was last season now that he’s locked in with a long term deal. However, I think that Padilla should be fine, as she showed all of the performance that made him an All-Star back in the day. He’s already a favorite of Rangers manager Ron Washington, who wants other Rangers pitchers to have a similar “take no prisoners” type of attitude. That will result in a lot more fights, particularly with the Angels, who are still pretty peeved with him and have some unfinished business with him as a result of that brawl last year.
Brandon McCarthy (RHP) – White Sox GM Kenny Williams wanted John Danks so badly that he was willing to part with McCarthy, a huge kid at 6-foot-7, to do so. McCarthy has spent most of the last two seasons in the majors, but he’s still 23 and has five years of service time left. He’s been pitching mostly out of the bullpen. McCarthy works off a low-90s fastball that can hit the middle 90’s and he’s added on some weight to his frame, so it’s possible he could develop a little more power. His curve and change are solid major league pitches. His biggest problem is that he’s homer prone, but that is mostly because of his home park, U.S. Cellular Field. Ameriquest is a little more forgiving and all in all, he’s been dominant in Spring Training and should be fine.
Robinson Tejeda (RHP) – Based on how stellar he was in his last eight starts, Tejeda has all but locked up the fifth starter spot and will keep the spot unless he somehow loses it. Tejeda has a great arm and his fastball clocks in the low 90’s with a good curveball and changeup, all of which he has great command over. The only problem is that he’s got to adjust his performance at home, as he was awful. Still, he looks good so far in Spring Training and should help improve the depth in the back. On a side note, Tejeda has a lot of respect from the younger Latin players and goes out of his way to take some of the younger ones under his wing. He’s got the potential to be a great leader in the clubhouse in the years that come.
Jamey Wright (RHP) – Wright has been nothing short of spectacular this season and so far appears to be the favorite to be the fifth starter. Wright has decent stuff, but he’s never put it together for some reason. Here’s hoping that he’ll be able to do so in Texas.
Bullpen
Eric Gagne (Closer) – This is a gamble, as the Rangers really don’t know what to expect from him, nor did they really need him, but Gagne looks good so far in workouts and there is hope that he can become a Trevor Hoffman style closer, depending on a solid breaking pitch rather than pure heat. .
Akinori Otsuka (Setup Man) – Otsuka was one of the better closers in baseball last season and really stepped into the role after Francisco Cordero flamed out. The Rangers rewarded him by booting him out of his spot and back into the setup role. So far, the Rangers appear to be using him as a setup man, but it’s also equally possible that Otsuka could be dealt to a contender in exchange for a prospect. At the moment, Otsuka will remain with the team, but it should be interesting to see the market develop if someone gets hurt.
Frank Francisco (RHP) – Francisco was an integral part of the Rangers league-leading bullpen in 2004 when he was 5-1 with a 3.33 ERA and struck out 60 batters in 51 1/3 innings. He then underwent Tommy John surgery, but appears to be completely healthy. Francisco has explosive fastball as well as a excellent splitter that make him an excellent setup man and possible spot closer.
C.J. Wilson (LHP) – Wilson took a big step forward in 2006, turning himself from failed pitching prospect to promising lefty reliever. Wilson was solid out of the bullpen, making some wonder if it would be possible for him to be turned back into a reliever. Wilson himself has said that he prefers to relieve, and has expressed a desire to be a closer in the future. So far, club officials are satisfied with his effort and it’s possible that he could get a shot as soon as next season.
Ron Mahay (LHP) – The always dependable Mahay gives Texas a second lefty reliever to help keep things honest in the later innings.
Wes Littleton (RHP) – Littleton was my sleeper last season, an under the radar prospect that makes good and makes the roster. He was an absolute beast last season. Littleton will help Francisco in the 7th inning duties and could be in the mix for a closer’s role when Gagne inevitably leaves at the end of the season.
Joaquin Benoit (RHP) – Benoit has long had a live arm, but he’s been rather inconsistent. However, he’s been dominating Spring Training this season and looks to be the winner of the last roster spot. All I can say is that he better be this dominant during the regular season.
Starting Lineup
Kenny Lofton (CF) – Lofton may be old, but he can still hit rather well and still can swipe a few bases. He’s a decent defender in center and, while he won’t hit for much power, will be a solid leadoff man unless he totally implodes.
Frank Catalanotto (LF) – The return of the Cat means the return of a solid bat between the leadoff hitter and Young, allowing Young to push Mark Teixeira farther back in the order. Cat is a disciplined hitter that does well against right handed pitching but gets murdered by lefties. Cat likely will play the field, a iffy proposition considering that he’s an average to below average defender. But Sosa looks like he’s got the every day DH job, meaning that’s the only place he’ll be able to play.
Michael Young (SS) – Young returns to the three hole now locked up long term at short and will likely be a Ranger for life. It’s hoped that Young won’t succumb to injuries like Rusty Greer did, but Young has been surprisingly durable and consistent. He’s got some power to his bat and some speed on the bases and his defense continues to improve. He should be a rock in the franchise for years to come.
Mark Teixeira (1B) – Tex returns to hit clean up and hopes to have some protection behind him in the lineup. Tex should be good for 30 to 40 home runs along with driving in over 100 and will continue to be a Gold Glover at first. Whether or not Tex stays in Texas is another question all together, as the Rangers need to win and win now in order to keep him. The Rangers seem to have a good shot this season and the next, but privately, they’re also looking at their internal options, just in case Big Tex leaves.
Sammy Sosa (DH) – Sosamania has hit the metroplex for some reason, so let’s take a look at what Sosa can provide. Sosa may have some power potential and his bat speed is somewhat better than what it was back in Baltimore. Best case scenario is 20 home runs, maybe 80 RBI’s. Worst case scenario? DFA in May.
Hank Blalock (3B) – Blalock, more than any other player, needs to return to his All-Star form. Rudy Jaramillo has stated that Blalock’s problem is that he’s pulling the ball too much, trying too hard for a homer and not concentrating on being satisfied with a double, walk or single. Ron Washington has made it his priority to get Blalock back to his All-Star form and wants to make him a Gold Glover at third. We’ll see what happens, as I firmly believe that Washington’s wish to keep Blalock was the only thing that kept him from being traded this off-season.
Ian Kinsler (2B) – Kinsler had a nice rookie season and showed that he’s got some thunder in his bat. Kinsler will likely benefit from another year of experience and Washington is already working on Kinsler’s defense to help him improve. He also figures to run more, thanks to Washington’s love of base theft.
Nelson Cruz (RF) – Cruz has lots of power potential and can work the count as well as defend. What needs to be key to his success is whether or not he can hit a breaking ball, which has been giving him trouble. If Cruz can read pitches better, he’ll be a dynamite outfielder corner. There is also an experiment about him playing center, where it is believed his bat would translate better.
Gerald Laird (C) – Laird looked like he was the starter in 2005, but he lost the job due to injury to Rod Barajas. However, Laird hit well enough to show that he could be a regular and he’s going to be that chance. Laird has solid glove work and calls a good game, plus he’s got a relatively strong arm. Laird also has untapped power potential in his bat and could be a 20 home run threat.
Bench
Brad Wilkerson (OF) – Wilkerson had a rough year last year, going down with injury again while having loads of strikeouts. Still, Wilkerson could come back, as he’s still got decent power potential and he’s a adequate defender in left. He can also steal a bit as well. Wilkerson will likely be pushed out by Frank Catalanotto and will share playing time in all the outfield positions.
Guillermo Quiroz (C) – I think that Quiroz will likely be the backup, as he’s out of options, but he’s also got the potential to be a neat little project for Rudy Jaramillo. Quiroz has got some power potential in that bat and he’s already a solid defensive catcher. He could be the next Rod Barajas.
Jerry Hairston Jr. (UTIL) – Hairston looks like he’ll make the team. In terms of flexibility, Hairston can play the infield corners plus the outfield. He seems willing to work on his swing to help return him to that of a big league regular instead of a backup. We’ll see. As for the HGH allegations, all I have to say is that if he did take them, they sure didn’t help. And, to his credit, he was quick to denounce the rumors, something former Ranger Gary Matthews Jr. did not.
Jason Botts (1B/LF) – Botts is one of the bigger players on the Rangers, standing at 6-5. A switch hitter, Botts has great power to all fields and works the count well, waiting for the pitch he wants as well as taking a walk. However, Botts doesn’t defend or run well and his long swing will always result in a ton of strikeouts. For some reason, the Rangers have never given Botts a proper shot to prove he can hit and as a result, it’s unknown what his long term future will be with the team.
Down On The Farm…
The Rangers’ farm system is underrated, mostly because a lot of the prospects really no longer qualify for prospect status. I know people are going to think I’m padding the Rangers’ farm, but realistically, with as many pitchers as this team seems to go through, it may be possible to see ALL of these players in Arlington at one point or another.
Eric Hurley (RHP) – Hurley has emerged as the Rangers’ top pitching prospect after he did well in the California League and dominated the Texas League at the end of the season. Hurley is big and his body still offers some projection. He a competitive pitcher with lots of poise and his mechanics are very clean. As far as stuff, Hurley’s fastball hits 92-95 and can touch 97 at ties. He’s got a power slider with great movement and his changeup is starting to develop into a plus pitch. The only real problem with Hurley is that he gets taken deep when he elevates his fastball. Hurley will likely begin back in Double A, but he could be in line for a call up in September. Expect the Rangers to develop him with care, however.
Edinson Volquez (RHP) – Volquez is believed to have the best pure stuff in the organization, starting with a 92-95 mph fastball has touched 98 in the past, and he compliments this with a filthy changeup that features excellent action and fade. His curve isn’t as good, but it’s far enough where he can mix it in from time to time. He was also tinkering with a slider last season, to help give him a fourth pitching. He’s also very aggressive on the mound as well. The problem is that Volquez works high in the zone and his control comes and goes at times. As a result, he gets pounded badly, as see by his last two call ups (though in 2005, the Rangers had no business calling up Volquez from Double A, as he wasn’t even dominating that league.)
John Koronka (LHP) – Koronka was acquired last year when Adam Eaton went on the DL and he had some success before he unraveled. Koronka will likely be one of the regulars on the shuttle between Oklahoma and Dallas as a emergency starter. Koronka has decent stuff with a low 90’s fastball that touches 93 at best and a decent slider and curve.
Bruce Chen (LHP) – Chen was signed to a minor league deal and will likely be sent down to the minors, where he and Koronka will compete for starts whenever someone gets hurt or traded or is sent down as well.
Scott Feldman (RHP) – Last season, Feldman arrived on the scene in a big way, posting a 3.92 ERA in 36 relief appearances for Texas and for throwing a punch at Adam Kennedy. Feldman really projects to be a setup man or a middle reliever in the majors, but he’s the closer here in Frisco. Feldman has a sidearm delivery that goes very well with his height and he throws fairly hard and for strikes. Feldman’s primary weapon is a sinker, which induces a lot of ground balls, but his secondary stuff is good enough that he’s effective.
John Rheinecker (LHP) – Rheinecker was obtained from Oakland last season and was stellar in a few starts before derailing completely, though he was able to return as a excellent middle reliever. It’s likely that that’s what he’ll remain, as his stuff really doesn’t lend itself to error. Rheinecker is a finesse lefty who gets hitters out by mixing a high-80s fastball, a cutter, and a slider. At the very least, he’ll be in the majors as a setup man, but he’s blocked at the moment, thanks to C.J. Wilson and Ron Mahay.
Josh Rupe (RHP) – Rupe made one start for the Rangers in 2005, almost made the rotation out of Spring Training last year before coming down with an elbow injury. When he returned last July, the Rangers used him strictly in relief. That is a waste because Rupe belongs in the rotation, as he’s got four plus pitches that are all very effective. He throws a sinker, slider, a curve and a changeup. All are plus pitches. I expect Rupe will get some starts as he tries to build up his durability to become a starter once again.
Nate Gold (1B) – Gold surprised the Rangers by hitting .292 with 34 home runs and 103 RBIs at Double-A Frisco last year, earning him player of the year honors. The question is whether or not that breakout is legitimate, as he was 26 when he accomplished the feat. He’s earned himself a promotion to Frisco, where he’ll be given every chance to succeed, but he’s got to prove that he’s indeed a legitimate prospect.
Drew Meyer (2B) – One of the biggest draft busts in the Rangers’ history, Meyer was a stretch as a first round pick in 2002, as he simply wasn’t a impact player. When he was drafted, he had a hitch in his swing that, since corrected, really has resulted in his stock dropping. He’s got almost no bat to speak of and he’s since been trained to play the outfield corners as well as center, making his future likely that of a utilityman. At the moment, no one knows what his future holds, as Meyer has been exposed to the Rule V Draft twice already and hasn’t been taken, nor was he claimed when he was dropped from the 40 man roster this season.
Joaquin Arias (SS/CF) – Arias still is a high quality talent, but he’s now permanently road blocked by Michael Young, who will be in Texas for the long haul. Arias can still play shortstop well as he’s an excellent defender, though he’s prone to stupid mistakes and bad throws. As a result, Arias is believed to be getting training to play centerfield and is being worked on with first base coach Gary Pettis. Arias is an outstanding athlete with good tools and has a good feel for contact and he’s got some raw power as well. Arias can be a above average centerfielder, as his bat looks a lot better in center than it does at short. He still does need to learn some more plate discipline, as he walked only 19 times last year, but if he can take to the move like a duck to water, he could have a full time job in 2008 if he does well.
Freddy Guzman (CF) – Guzman is a solid defensive centerfielder that is also one of the fastest players in the minor leagues. He’s got some decent hitting ability, but he projects to be nothing more than a fourth outfielder in the majors.
Victor Diaz (RF) – Diaz has major league experience and, given the chance, could become a solid hitter (not superstar, but one of those lunch pail players that goes to work and hits well enough to merit his own cheering section in Ameriquest.) Diaz' best asset is his bat, and he had consistently produced for power and average throughout his minor league career. He’ll be in Oklahoma at the start of this season, but expect a call up at some point if he starts hitting well.
In Conclusion…
This team has the potential to be very good, should everything hold up. For once, there is a balance of pitching and the offense, though depleted, could surprise many. But this team won’t surpass the Angels and, all in all, this team will season some improvement, but not enough to get into the post-season.
Final Standing: Second In The American League West
Fifth Starter = Leader – Jamey Wright. Wright has been helping his cause a lot, pitching 5 perfect innings so far, and striking out 3 in two starts. Chen has played in two games and has pitched 5 innings, allowing no runs and striking out one. The Rangers have been getting a first hand look at why scouts rave about Jamey Wright’s stuff. His career won-loss record is far from impressive and he was destroyed last season. Then again, there is reason to be a bit more optimistic, as he played mostly for the Rockies, who’s park is a lot more offensively friendly than that of Texas. Kameron Loe has done well as well, pitching 5 innings in two games (1 start) while not allowing any runs and striking out two. Mike Wood is looking more and more like a long reliever and John Koronka helped his cause the other day with a solid start, but he’s still far behind. This situation bears some watching.
Long Reliever = Leader – Joaquin Benoit. The battle for the Rangers’ final bullpen slot is going to be interesting, as it’s going to be between RHP’s Joaquin Benoit and Rick Bauer. The thing is, the bullpen is pretty much set with Gagne, Otsuka, Littleton, Wilson, Mahay, and Francisco almost certainly locked in unless one of the combo of Littleton, Wilson and Francisco suddenly begin to flame out and present a case to be sent down. Both Bauer and Benoit are out of minor league options, which mean they would have to pass through waivers to get sent down, which neither pitcher would survive, as there would almost certainly be a claim in on them. Hence, the Rangers need to look hard and decide which one will be the best fit. Both can spot start, though Bauer was the only one who did so last season, going for 5 1/3 innings. Benoit has a immensely talented arm, but he’s never been able to be consistent. Bauer is almost as gifted, but he’s been rather good in the minors and never seemed to get a shot with the Orioles, whom the Rangers signed him from. Both Benoit and Bauer can spot close. Bauer is far better as a 7th inning option than as an eighth inning option, though he won’t be expected to be a setup man with Francisco and Otsuka ahead of him. Hence, it’s a hard choice. So far, Benoit has been asserting himself this Spring Training, pitching for four innings while allowing no runs and striking out five. Rick Bauer has been destroyed, with his ERA at 19.31 and his allowing 5 earned runs in 2.1 innings of work and no strikeouts.
Backup Catcher = Leader – Chris Stewart. Stewart so far appears to be winning the job, batting .600 in 4 games with 2 RBI’s and displaying excellent skills behind the palte. Guillermo Quiroz is second, hitting .333 in 2 games with 1 Home Run and 1 RBI. Miguel Ojeda has played the most of the candidates and his hitting .167 with 1 home run and 2 RBI’s. Kevin Richardson and Solomon Mariquez have played themselves into minor league camp.
Utilityman = Leader – Jerry Hairston Jr. Guess the roids are kicking in. Hairston is hitting .556, but only 1 RBI and with 2 stolen bases. Drew Meyer is close behind, hitting .444 in seven games with a double. Desi Relaford is doing okay, hitting .273, a smaller average than the others, but he’s driven in two and has hit two doubles. Ron Washington has stated that the utilityman role will be decided on the last day of Spring Training.
Designated Hitter = Leader – Sammy Sosa. Sosa so far is hitting .500 in spring training, going 9 for 18 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI’s. Jason Botts isn’t doing badly either, as he’s hitting .375, going 6 for 16 with 5 RBI’s and no home runs. Victor Diaz is also doing well, hitting .308 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI’s, exactly the same as Sosa has produced.
Trades That Never Were – Mark Teixeira For Roy Oswalt
Late during the trade deadline last year, the Orioles, who covet Mark Teixeira, called up Jon Daniels and made an intriguing offer. At the time, the Orioles were in the process of shipping Miguel Tejada over to Houston in exchange for Adam Everett, Brad Lidge, and Roy Oswalt, quite a package. They wanted to know if Texas was interested in perhaps acquiring Oswalt in exchange for Teixeira.
J.D. said no. It turns out that it was for the best, as the trade fell apart shortly afterward.
Still, if the deal had worked out, the Rangers would have a legitimate ace at the head of their rotation, but the problem for the Rangers would have been to replace Teixeira’s offense, which would have been difficult to do. Some combination of Jason Botts and Mark DeRosa would have been used, but in the end, Texas would have been without a legitimate option at the heart of their lineup and would have resulted in overspending in keeping Carlos Lee in Texas.
The Cardinals Are Asking For Otsuka?
Ken Rosenthal has reported that the Cardinals, according to a major league souse, the Cardinals are considering asking the Rangers about the availability of Akinori Otsuka. Here’s my question: what the hell are the Cardinals going to offer? Chris Duncan, maybe? I doubt it, considering that he has a power bat. Can’t see much else in the system that would make sense.
Pronk On The Block?
Apparently, the Cleveland Indians are toying with the idea of seeing how much their DH is worth.
Travis Hafner, who was stupidly traded by the Rangers for journeyman catcher Einar Diaz, has become one of baseball's best hitters. He'll make just over $4 million this year and the Indians hold a club option on him for 2008 worth just over $5 million. The Indians don’t seem inclined to pay him long term deal, likely one between the 4 year, $52 million that David Ortiz got and the 6 year, $100 million that Carlos Lee got.
If the Indians are going to keep Hafner, a deal would likely have to be about 5 years and $80 million, similar to the extension recently given to Michael Young. Hafner would bring in a pretty penny as far as the trade front, but his in ability to play the field makes him limited to the American League.
Would I go for him?
Tough to say.
I would love Pronk back in Texas, where he never should have left, but I’m not sure if the Rangers should trade talent or money to right a mistake from several years ago. It’s like saying it was a wise thing to pay tons of money for Barry Zito over a dispute over a signing bonus, even though there’s no guarantee that Zito would have developed into the player that he is had he become a Ranger.
I’d wait on the sidelines for right now and see how the market develops. If he’s acquirable for a reasonable price, I’d do it. If not, well, then I’ll always have that Rookie Card of him in a Rangers uni, next to the one of Chris Young.
Carlos Zambrano In Texas? Let’s Take A Look
I’ve gotten a lot of email about the possibility of the Rangers making a play for Zambrano, if indeed he does become a free agent. Let’s take a look and see what’s what.
For starters, Zambrano is going to be headed into the same scenario that Barry Zito faced this past year, that of a successful pitcher entering the market in a relatively weak year of pitchers. Unlike Zito, Zambrano is a far more talented pitcher that will also be entering the market at a younger age than Zito did. Plus, he’s a power pitcher, unlike Zito, who is far more of a finesse style of player, though Zito is a bit more durable.
Plus, the writing is on the wall for Zambrano. He wants to get paid and the Cubbies know it. He won’t take their excuse of crying poverty, especially after the Cubs spent over $300 million this offseason on several players, plus on a new manager. Again, when you take into mind Zambrano’s past success, and the fact that he’s accomplished so much by the age of 25, it’s only fair that he would want to demand a large contract, and he deserves it, to a certain extent, though try as clubs may want, he will use the 7 years, $126 million contract given to Zito as a baseline, instead of the 5 years, $73 million contract given to Roy Oswalt.
Yet, there are fans in the Ranger Nation that feel that Texas should pursue Zambrano, as he would be the perfect pitcher to place in front of their rotation.
I can tell you already, it would be a mistake.
Here’s why:
Money – The Rangers have some large commitments coming up. Michael Young has been extended and Milwood and Padilla will each have large money hits coming up in the next few years. Plus, there is also the simple fact that in a year, the Rangers will also have potential arbitration hearings for Gerald Laird, Ian Kinsler, and Nelson Cruz, to name a few.
Needs – Texas also will have several needs in the future, namely centerfield and designated hitter/outfield corner, depending on what they decide to do with Cat.
Mark Teixeira – There’s also the impending issue of Mark Teixeira’s free agency. Signing Zambrano would mean that re-signing Tex is almost impossible.
Competition – There would be too many teams in for Zambrano. While there would be outside interest from Boston, who would be looking to swap Curt Schilling out for another starter, unless they finally willing to commit to Jon Lester and any potential health issues, there’s the Yankees to worry about. Andy Pettitte is only signed for one year, Mike Mussina for two and Carl Pavano looks more and more like he’ll be moved sometime this year to make room for Phil Hughes. Then there’s also the Mets to worry about. The Mets have no real frontline starter. Orlando Hernandez will probably be off the books and with the Mets losing out on Zito and misreading the market for Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver, and others, you really believe that they’ll sit back and let the Yankees, among other players, get away with a certifiable ace? I doubt it.
So, there you have it. No Big Z for the Rangers. But look on the bright side. There will be other options available for Texas to spend their money on, and it will in the end be a lot more effective to let the young pitchers grow. The Rangers farm system as a whole took a collective step back last year, but there is good talent available in the system that, if even half of it recovers for the colossal fall back it did last season, Texas will have a wealth of young pitching to choose from.
Team Previews enter their final week this week. Here's a hint as to who it is: one of these teams wears stripes.
Slow baseball day, especially with the Super Bowl coming soon (by the way, I beat the Dolphins 30-21 in the Super Bowl in my Madden Game, in case anyone is interested.)
D-Rays Would Be Foolish To Deal Young
Apparently B.J. Upton isn't getting the interest that you might think. He's talented, but it's that Upton hasn't been able to find a position. Furthermore, teams are wary of his attitude. Apparently, many scouts are questioning how much desire Upton has for the game. As a result, the Rays have discussed a package of outfielder Delmon Young, he of the enormous talent and the questionable attitude, in order to make teams more willing to take Upton.
Such a trade would be vastly one sided unless the Rays are able to acquire two starting pitchers. And even then, I would be parting with a potential superstar, as Young has the same tool set as a young Barry Bonds. As for Upton, I'd move him to the outfield (swap him out on days where Young would DH), where he'd be able to showcase his skills enough to make a trade. Other than that, I really don't know where else he could be moved, except maybe first, where a wooden Indian can play.
Heir To Rivera? Not A Good Idea.
With the greatest closer in the modern era nearing retirement in New York, the Yankees are looking around for options to succeed him, as it's likely Rivera will only play for another two years, then ride off into the sunset.
They have made sure to hold onto in house options, such as J.B. Cox and Scott Proctor, they are rumored to have heavy interest in Los Angeles' Francisco Rodriguez to be a replacement.
Rodriguez hits Free Agency after the 2008 season. I'm guessing that Rivera at most plays until then. Should he hit free agency, Rodriguez could expect to surpass the record deal given to B.J. Ryan by Toronto, possibly earning four years, maybe $48 million or more, depending on how much the market has corrected by then.
However, I don't think this is a wise investment.
Rodriguez, despite his potential, is possibly the one closer currently in baseball that is headed for a disastrous breakdown.
He's had shoulder and elbow problems bite him when he was a starter, and despite his reasonable durability as a closer, his mechanics, his delivery, and his size all scream potential breakdown. I'm already surprised the Rodriguez hasn't suffered a breakdown.
Is his stuff overpowering? Yes. Is he great? Yes. Do I hate to see him come in from the pen whenever the Rangers and Angels play? Yes. But would I invest money in him? No. I think that sooner or later, much like Pedro Martinez, who also has explosive mechanics and a small frame that have taken their toll on him, I think that K-Rod is time bomb waiting to go off.
Who’s Closing For Boston?
Boston enters 2007 much like they did 2005 and 2006.
No closer. I wouldn't be talking about this topic, but Sleepless got me thinking about it (thanks a lot. I owe you a Hot Pocket.)
Unlike last season, where B.J. Ryan had hit the market, the Red Sox found the 2006 Free Agency class to be without any solid options. Their lone plausible option, Eric Gagne, signed with the Texas Rangers. Their top trade target, Mike Gonzalez, was dealt this season to Atlanta, who seems to be collecting relievers like others do baseball cards. The only other two potential closers that can teams are listening to offers for, Texas’ Akinori Otsuka and Washington’s Chad Cordero, will cost Boston a solid starting pitching prospect, a price that Boston isn’t willing to pay.
Internally, options are few and far between. Theoretically, there are several players that they can use to fill the role:
Jonathan Papelbon – Last year’s closer, Boston planned to use Papelbon as a reliever for at least another year until Schilling left the rotation due to retirement, allowing Papelbon to slide into the rotation. However, at the All-Star break, Papelbon suffered from weakness in the shoulder joint. After a second incident in September, in which he suffered a slight shoulder subluxation, Papelbon was shut down for the remainder of the season. While it’s tempting to think that after some rest, Paps would be as good as new and able to handle the role for another year, Papelbon may be better off becoming a starter now, where his workload would be much more routine, as there is doubt that Papelbon can handle pitching everyday.
Matt Clement – Clement has said that he’s willing to give closing a try, depending on what the team needs him to do. Why Clement may benefit from a move to a closers role, as it would limit his workload and allow him to continue a career in the majors. However, Clement was shaky all of last year and there’s doubt as to whether or not his stuff is still dominating enough to where he can be effective for one inning.
Mike Timlin – Timlin has been an invaluable workhorse for the Sox for the last four seasons, averaging nearly 75 appearances a year. But Timlin will be 41 before the season starts and over the course of his 16-year major league career, has been far more effective as a set-up man than a closer.
Joel Pineiro - Recently signed out of Seattle, Pineiro was decent as a reliever. With him pitching in shorter stints, Pineiro's velocity improved. The question is can he handle the pressure cooker that is Boston and the mental demands of the role.
Craig Hansen - The Sox drafted him to be the closer of the future, but he seems to have regressed over the past few years and has been demoted twice. Unless he sets the world on fire and rediscovers that filthy break on his slider, he's going to be a 7th inning option at best.
I’m Sailinnnnngggggggggg…….
This should get fans in Pittsburgh to the ballpark.
The Pirates have disclosed some of their new promotions for the upcoming season.
We’ve got Jason Bay and Adam LaRoche bobbleheads, a collectable Roberto Clemente statute, fireworks, and a concern after the game on July 4 that will feature Big & Rich. Styx, Smash Mouth and PovertyNeck Hillbillies.
Why do I have visions of Shooter standing on the Pirates dugout, leading the fans in a rendition of “Come Sail Away?”
Note: I don’t know if Shoot likes Styx. Come to think of it, I should grab a beer with Shoot one of thse days. He only lives like 90 miles away, give or take.
Texas Rangers Free Agency Signings – The Best And Worst Ever
With all the signings that have taken place in the past few days, I pondered on how significant some would be compared to the other signings in the history of the Rangers. After some research (and some Jack Daniels) I came up with a Top and Bottom Free Agent Signings.
5 (Bad) – Richie Zisk – Tenure (1978-1980). Zisk was a solid run producer before he came to Texas, signing a 8 year contract, but soon after he arrived, he mysteriously lost his power at the plate. He would play two unremarkable seasons before rebounding enough in year three for the Rangers to trade him to the Mariners for Rick Honeycutt. Zisk would have three unremarkable years with the Mariners before retiring in 1984.
#5 (Good) – Kenny Rogers – Tenure (2004- 2005). This was actually Kenny’s third tour with the Rangers, after wandering from the Yankees, Athletics, and Mets, and it proved to be successful. Kenny gave two great seasons, making the All-Star game in 2005 and giving the Rangers an ace that they needed for a woeful rotation. Aside from the camera incident, Rogers’ return proved to be quite fruitful for the Rangers, who should have brought him back and allowed him to finish his career with the Rangers.
#4 (Bad) – Bert Campaneris – Tenure (1977-1979). A victim of the Athletics fire sale of 1976, Texas signed the shortstop to a five year contract worth $400,000. Campaneris was as advertised in the first year of the contract and would make the 1977 All-Star team. But he floundered badly in 1978, hitting .186, and would be traded the next year.
#4(Good) – Rafael Palmeiro – Tenure (1999- 2003). Palmeiro’s second tour of duty with Texas, Palmeiro was great for al five years of his contract. Palmeiro provided another offensive bat, a steady glove at first base, and served as a good clubhouse presence for the years he was here. Then he went to Baltimore after wanting a huge contract to finish his career. And you know what happened from there.
#3 (Bad) – Juan Gonzalez – Tenure (2002-2003). Texas brought Juan Gone back, hoping that he had recovered enough from his injuries and return to form. However, Gonzalez was a shadow of his former self, contributing little because of injuries and further dropping his market value. Gonzalez would nix a trade that would have sent him to the Expos and would sign with Kansas City for the 2004 season, where he was no better.
#3 (Good) – John Wetteland – Tenure (1997- 2000). Wetteland was one of the few times that the Rangers had stability at the closer position. Though the Rangers were criticized at the time for the signing, Wetteland was well worth it, serving as a lights out closer while as a Ranger, saving 150 games, the most in franchise history. Later, Wetteland would serve as a mentor to many young pitchers in the organization after he retired.
#2 (Bad) – Chan #### Park – Tenure (2002-2005). This contract killed the Rangers for years and only now were the Rangers able to get out from underneath it. In this albatross, The Rangers would allow themselves to get their pockets picked by Scott Boras. While this deal would prevent the Rangers from adding to the pitching staff, it’s most disastrous consequence was that the Rangers were unable to keep the face of the organization, Ivan Rodriguez, who would leave the Rangers to go to Florida. Park would suffer through injury troubles from 2002-2004, and despite a high win total in 2005, Park wasn’t dominant in any way, shape or form. He would be traded to the Padres for another high priced player, Phil Nevin, who would be spun into Jeff Hairston Jr. Nuff said.
#2 (Good) – Will Clark – Tenure (1994-1998). Clark was the catalyst that drove the Rangers to their run of dominance in 1996, 1998-1989. Under his leadership, Clark brought fire to the clubhouse with his competitive nature and his drive to win. Rallying behind Clark, those Ranger teams became the only teams to make the playoffs in the history of the franchise. The only reason why Clark isn’t higher is because of the last guy on this list’s impact on the team.
#1 (Bad) – Alex Rodriguez – Tenure (2001-2003). I rank this as one of the worst signings in Ranger history. Management and media gloated about landing Rodriguez, I didn’t. The Rangers never should have signed Rodriguez in the first place. Despite the fact that Rodriguez was productive, his huge salary killed the Rangers from building around him. Plus, his prima donna personality created rifts within the clubhouse, angering many players. Rodriguez would demand a trade after 2003, not wanting to play with a bunch of kids, as he said. He would be sent to the Yankees in a lopsided trade (Yankees should have taken more of the contract) that brought the defensive terror at second base, Alfonso Soriano, and gifted shortstop Joaquin Arias.
#1 (Good) – Nolan Ryan – Tenure (1989-1993). Nolan Ryan is the most important free agency signing by the Rangers, as his signing alone probably saved the Texas Rangers from being moved elsewhere. Ryan gave the Rangers credibility, financial stability, and ultimately, the Ballpark at Arlington. He gave the Rangers several memorable moments, namely his 6th and 7th No-Hitter, his 300th Win, and his 5,000 strikeout. But most importantly, he also gave the Rangers their first Hall of Fame representative, as he chose to wear the Rangers T in honor of the fans that made him feel so welcome, as he has said before. He currently remains the only player with the Ranger insignia on his cap in Cooperstown.
Jon Daniels Should Take To Aubrey Huff
Jon Daniels has done a reasonable job this off-season in making deals (again, Gagne still makes little sense, but more on that later). However, I do have a recommendation for him
The Rangers lack a power bat in the lineup, which makes things dangerous if your name is Mark Teixeira, as far as getting decent pitches goes. Signing Aubrey Huff, in that regard, makes a lot of sense. Huff has a quick swing and plenty of pop, draws his share of walks and doesn’t strikeout often. That just screams DH. Plus he can fill in from time to time at the corner infield positions and corner outfield positions, in case one of the regulars needs a day off. Adding Huff to the lineup would to the following:
CF – Lofton
SS – Young
1B – Teixeira
DH – Huff
3B – Blalock
2B – Kinsler
LF – Catalanotto
C – Laird
RF – Cruz
The result would be a solid one-two power threat with Teixiera and Huff batting back to back. Huff would also push Blalock to the number five spot, which is a better fit for him, while allowing Kinsler to bat sixth and Catalanotto to play the field and hit seventh. The strikeout numbers would be reduced by dropping Brad Wilkerson into the fourth outfield role and would deepen the lineup greatly.
Aww, Look Who’s Back On The Market!
The Oakland Athletics released Juan Dominguez not too long ago. You all remember Juan Dominguez, right guys? The talented right hander that seemed to have a knack for immaturity and was traded to Oakland in the deal that landed lefties John Koronka and John Rheinnecker. I’d seriously consider bringing him back. Dominguez has talent, just not the head, to become a major league starter. But I wonder if maybe Dominguez is given a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training, maybe he would find a rapport with new manager Ron Washington, and maybe would be able to redeem himself in the eyes of the organization. And if he gets reassigned to Triple A, at the very least Dominguez would give the Rangers an extra arm to bring up in case of an emergency. And serve as trade bait.
We’re Going To DisneyWorld!
Plans have been finalized for the Rangers to play the Tampa Bay Devil Rays next May at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Lake Buena Vista, which is also the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves and a World Baseball Classic site. But this will be the first regular-season games played there in the Orlando area. The Disney ballpark normally seats 9,500 but can be expanded to hold 13,000. While the move will not directly benefit the Rangers financially, because it counts as a Devil Rays home game, Rangers club president Jeff Cogen said Thursday he sees the move as a positive one., as Disney's involvement may draw some fans who are at Disney World and might not otherwise attend a major league game.
D-Backs like Otsuka, But What Can We Get?
Gagne takes his physical today. Depending on how healthy he is and how effective he is in spring training, it will give the Rangers two closers with Akinori Otsuka returning. One could be part of a possible deal to get a starter, or one could become the eighth- inning setup man. With a lack of solid closers on the market, there’s a huge market for Otsuka, with interest coming from Boston and Arizona. Arizona is particularly interesting because of the young talent in the system. The Rangers have inquired about young pitchers Dustin Nippert, Micah Owings and Enrique Gonzalez, whom they hope to stick in the rotation.
If the Dbacks are willing to give up any of the three, I’d jump on it. Gonzalez looks pretty good, but looking at his history, I’d be worried about him getting blown up at Ameriquest. He’s a tweener, a player that’s on the verge of a breakthrough, provided that the right environment be found. Nippert is a big righty, very much like Chris Young. Like Young, he’s got an average fastball and solid command, but lacks a sufficient third pitch to become a proper starter. Owings looks to be the best of the bunch asked for, and has the potential to be a solid Number 2, but I doubt that the DBacks would trade him.
If I could get Nippert, I'd be sold. If I could get Owings, I'd be stoked.
The Rangers were able to exact some revenge on the Angels, who have long displayed an ownership of the Rangers, by knocking them out of the playoffs. The Rangers need to at least go .500 to show that the season isn't a wash.
Top Five Rangers Outfield Prospects
Jason Botts (Triple A–Oklahoma). Botts has displayed power potential, if not plate discipline, in his two brief callups with the Rangers. However, Botts really can’t play defense, despite his status as a corner outfielder. Botts will be given a chance to serve as the Rangers’ DH next season.
Ben Harrison (Double A - Frisco). Harrison, a centerfielder, has hit .282 with 8 Dingers and 27 RBI's in 43 Games after tearing up the California League earlier in the year. Harrison has greatly improved his walk totals while cutting down his strikeout totals and should begin the year in Frisco, with a promotion to Oklahoma should he continue to do well.
Stephen Murphy (Class A – Bakersfield). Texas' 2005 14th Rounder, Murphy has already reached the Bakersfield in less than a year. Murphy hit .283 with 19 Home Runs and 68 RBI's. The Rangers do have some concern, as he struck out 103 times and declined steadily in August and September, but he's still young enough (22) where he could be fixed. Murphy could be a very good centerfield prospect in a few years if he just cuts down on the strikeouts and keeps working the field.
John Mayberry Jr. (Class A–Clifton). The Rangers drafted Mayberry last year in hopes of making him a power hitting outfielder. While Maybertty is still adjusting to the field (he use played First Base at Stanford), Mayberry's bat has begun to bloom. He hit .276 with 21 Dingers and 77 RBI's. While he still has some developing to do, Mayberry is beginning to catch on.
Chris Davis (Short Season Spokane). Fifth round pick Chris Davis was certainly the biggest surprise for the Rangers. Davis, who also plays some first base, hit .277/.343/.534 in an impressive professional debut that included one monster stretch. In July, Davis hit at a .343 clip with 11 doubles and 10 home runs. Davis has the chance to develop into a legitimate power prospect as early as next season. The only question is whether or not Davis will remain in the outfield or be converted to first.
Littleton Goes Old School
Wes Littleton earned his first career save yesterday, going two innings to earn it. Very old school, as it’s a throwback to the days when a closer used to go two or three innings to earn the save. I think we could wind up seeing a competition in spring training to see who gets the job, Littleton or Masset, to setup for Otsuka.
Wilson & Rupe May Be Converted To Rotation Again
With all the success that C.J. WIlson and Josh Rupe have had in the bullpen, it's only natural that the Rangers would think about shifting these guys to the rotation.
Of the two, the one that has the most promise would be Rupe, who has four plus pitches and is often compared to a more skilled version of Jake Westbrook. However, Rupe had problems with his shoulder this off-season, resulting in his promotion to the bullpen. As for Wilson, he's got more value to the Rangers as a lefty reliever, as he's got a history of arm problems, including a Tommy John operation, plus he's never shown durability when he has started.
Next Week..On The Final Rangers Report
We go over a list of players the Rangers should keep and who should be let go, along with a plan to fix the Rangers during the off-season. Plus, a grade for First Year GM John Daniels.
So far so good for Texas.The Offense still needs to come back a little bit, as Michael Young, Phil Nevin, and Kevin Mench have been carrying the team.As far as the record, it would have been better if not for the blown saves against Oakland.Still, this is nitpicking.
Kevin Mench is the leader!!
First off, Kevin Mench's homer streak ended on Saturday. Even though Mench finished 1 homer short of tying Don Mattingley and Ken Griffey Jr. for consecutive games with a home run. And all of this after changing a shoe size?! This should be a yearly occurence!
We’ve got pitching?!
Surprisingly, the Ranger pitching staff has been pretty good so far.Padilla, Koronka, and Bauer are all pitching well, and Millwood has appeared to have overcome his rough start.Loe has been inconsistent, but in his defense he’s been sick.As far as the bullpen, the bullpen appears to be shaping up pretty nice.Alfonseca, Castro, Benoit are all doing well and Otsuka appears to be good as a stand in closer.The only weaknesses are with Cordero and Wilson, who struggling.Still, it’s early and there is the possibility that both could turn it around.
The reason for this rant is that the Rangers, unlike most years, have pitching available just in case.John Rheinecker, who was called up for a start in April did well, going 4 innings, allowing two runs and three strikeouts.Not great, but not bad for a pitcher’s first start.Plus, the Rangers also have Robinson Tejeda and Edinson Volquez down in Triple A Oklahoma, both of whom should be major league ready by mid to late season.Also, Adam Eaton should be back in time to try and give the Rangers a playoff push.For once in Texas, the rotation appears stable.Let’s hope I didn’t jinx it.
Koronka Trade Paying Off Big
I will admit, when I heard that the Rangers had acquired lefty John Koronka in a three team trade, I wasn’t sure what to make of it.Koronka hadn’t made much noise when he was called up for the Cubbies last season.However, Koronka is doing well, drawing comparisons to former Rangers lefty Kenny Rogers.
Koronka has several similarities to Rogers.He’s able to change speeds on his fastball.He also commands the inner half of the plate with his fastball.However, he’s got more velocity than Rogers and has more command than Rogers did when he first began his career in Texas.
However, one of the parts that’s sold me is that Koronka is able to deal with the wind currents in the Ballpark of Arlington that have given so many pitchers problems.The best part is that he’s a rookie and will be with the Rangers for years to come.
The Future of the Lone Star Closer
Francisco Cordero is out of a job for now.
On Thursday, Showalter made the difficult decision to switch closers, using setup man and former Team Japan closer Akinori Otsuka as the temporary replacement, at least until Cordero is able to recover from his recent streak of difficulties.Otsuka show the brass what he’s got during a five game road trip to Cleveland and Tampa Bay.Francisco Cordero was an All-Star in 2004, has blown five of his first eight save opportunities.Cordero is 3-2, but with an 11.70 ERA, and he has set a Major League record for most blown saves in the month of April.
It’s really too bad, as Cordero isn’t a bad guy.He loves Texas, loves the fans, and understands why the move was made.It doesn’t look like something is physically wrong with him, as he’s still throwing in the high nineties with his fastball and his slider is still effective.But lately, he’s had problems with pitch location and control.
There may also be another reason why Texas is making this move.
Cordero is in the last year of his contract.The Rangers have a $7 million option on him for next year, $8 million if he’s the closer.But beyond that, would he stick around in Texas?Odds are pointing to no, as Cordero is still enormously talented would likely bolt Texas to become a setup man for one of the big name contenders in the American League East.
The Rangers could be checking their options at this point at who could succeed Cordero as a closer.Otsuka appears to be a stopgap solution and Antonio Alfonseca hasn’t closed in ages.Hence, Texas could be experimenting with the closer role in the next few weeks with other pitchers.Here’s who they’ve got:
CJ Wilson – Has the tools, but is so damn inconsistent.His flashes of brilliance are far outnumbered by his flashes of incompetence.
