The Rangers Report – Offseason Edition

Rangers Acquire Chris Shelton

First base seems to have been filled, for now.

The Rangers have acquired Chris Shelton from the Tigers, in exchange for Fast Freddy Guzman.

Shelton likely will figure into the first base/dh equation, though I think he'll more than likely be the Opening Day first baseman.  It makes no sense to sign Sean Casey for $3 million when you can instead pay Shelton more or less the major league minimum for better production.

All in all, it's a solid pickup, and Shelton will be much more useful than whatever Guzman would have provided.

Rule 5 Shennanigans

I'm a little disappointed that Texas didn't participate in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 draft, especially considering that Brian Barton was there to be had.  On the bright side, the Rangers didn't lose anyone, so there's some good news.  Texas was active in the minor league phases of the draft, nabbing several pitchers  

Overall, here's who Texas acquired:

• Levi Romero (RHP) - Not a damn thing can be found right now.
• Dustin Majewski (OF) - A former Longhorn and I believe one of Oakland's moneyball draft guys, Majewski likely is just organizational filler at this point.
• Clayton Hamilton (RHP) - Hamilton has good size and could be a solid bullpen arm in the future.  A lot of his stats from this past year must be taken with a grain of salt, as he was pitching for most of the year with a broken rib, thanks to a misdiagnosis from the Pirates.
• Jaime Trejo (3B) - Potential backup.
• Francisco Cordova.(RHP) - Ick.  Next...

Quick Hits

• Kevin Mench is likely going to be non-tendered by the Brewers.  If the Rangers are interested, they could try and bring back him back.  Mench still has fans here and for the most part would be happy to come back, but salary concerns may get in the way.  Another thing, who would he replace on the 40?

• Texas actually was in on the Andruw Jones deal, but was thwarted when Scott Boras gave Texas the runaround.  Specifically, he told Texas that it would take a longer term deal, seeing as how Jones would be switching leagues and all.  You remember, that kind of ####

• Texas has a one year contract offer with a club option out to LaTroy Hawkins, who is still looking for a two year deal from the Rockies.  Hopefully, something can get resolved soon, though I would prefer to go itnernal on the pen.  Usually, that ends up being a lot more cost effective and allows you to protect yourself in terms of being screwed over in terms of long term deals.

• Eric Gagné is still out there and apparently wouldn't mind coming back to Texas.  I'd do it, as he was a lot of fun to watch and he has his fans here.  He would also be flipped again at the deadline for more prospects, which is always nice.  Knowing the Rangers' luck, Boras will push for a full no-trade clause this time. 

• The acqustion of Andruw Jones means that Andre Ethier and potentially Juan Pierre are available.  Ethier I'm all about, as I think he'd be an above average option in left field.  Pierre is interesting, but the Dodgers would have to eat a lot of the salary for me to consider it.  Pierre isn't a great outfielder and is one of the most overrated players in the sport. 

• Apparently, the Rangers are hot and heavy after...Mark Prior?  Okay, I know that when Prior is healthy, he can easily be one of the best pitchers in baseball.  The problem is, when was the last time we could say that?

• There are some other trade options I'd be looking at, with the Astros being one of the teams I'd look at.  The Rangers need a legitiamate utilityman and Chris Burke is there for the taking.  He's a better option that Ramon Vasquez and can play any position except for catcher.  I'd ask if they'd be interested in a straight up swap for Scott Feldman.

• And, on a side note, the Rangers are debating about moving Chris Davis to right field, where his bat would not only be a good fit, but he has a strong enough arm to handle the change.  My only question about that is whether or not Davis is athletic enough to handle right field.

Top 15 Mariners Prospects up tomorrow!!!

Lots of responses to the Blue Jays and Pavano posts yesterday.  Love it!

Let's see where the hat wants to go today....

Okay cuziffer.  Quit your ####ing.  The hat picked your Brewers.

Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee entered 2006 off of the high of breaking even at 81-81, hoping to parlay that success into a winning record and a possible playoff berth.

That didn’t happen, thanks to a rash of injuries that ran across the Brewers like wildfire, gutting the offense and the pitching staff.

However, the core of that team remains intact, as most of the young Brewers are now a year more experienced and a lot savvier about what lies ahead of them.  Doug Melvin was also able to add further young talent to the team by trades of veterans, plus the addition of a big free agent signing.  Will that translate into wins?  Let’s check it out.

Starting Rotation

1. Ben Sheets (RHP) – When Sheets is healthy, he’s easily one of the top five starters in baseball.  Key word is, healthy.  I think he’ll be fine this year, as he certainly missed enough time last season that he should be healthy.  The Brewers hope I’m right, as a healthy Sheets could be enough to push him right over the top.
2. Chris Capuano (LHP) – Capuano is developing into a solid number two behind Sheets.  Capuano has good stuff, as his fastball, slider and changeup are all solid pitches and he gets good movement off of all of them.  He didn’t get much run support, hence the losing record and he gets killed by right-handed hitters.  Much of this is the result of leaving pitches high in the zone   If he can correct that, he should see his success increase, though some more run support would be nice as well.
3. Jeff Suppan (RHP) – Suppan is a solid innings eater that adds depth to the Brewers’ lineup.  However, the key to Suppan’s success has been and always will be the defense behind him, as he relies on groundballs to help him get outs.  Hence, for Suppan to succeed, he’ll need a little help from his friends, but he’ll also need to help himself by relying a little more on his stuff. 
4. Dave Bush (RHP) – Bush was obtained from the Lyle Overbay deal, and so far he’s looking like the biggest steal of the trade.  Bush’s best pitch is a slow curve, and he also features a low 90s fastball with good movement, plus a changeup that tends to be hit or miss.  The changeup is a big reason why lefties hit .289 against him.  Still, he’s an excellent young starter that should help keep the Brewers in games.
5. Claudio Vargas (RHP) – Acquired in the trade for Doug Davis, Vargas is a flamethrower that can hit 97 and partners that pitch with a hammer curve.  However, Vargas has two major problems: durability and the lack of a breaking pitch.  Vargas needs a third pitch to sustain any success, plus he’s a six-inning pitcher that flames out once he reaches the 7th.  Still, as a fifth starter, should be fine.

Bullpen

• Francisco Cordero (Closer) – Cordero was excellent after coming over to Milwaukee (1.69 ERA and 16 saves).  However, Cordero is very inconsistent at times, which is the reason why he lost the closer’s job in Texas.  I think he’ll be solid enough to go for 30 saves, but expect Milwaukee to be somewhat worried during the times he gets on the mound.
• Derrick Turnbow (Setup Man) – Turnbow pitched well enough in the first half to earn a spot on the All-Star team but then collapsed spectacularly, blowing eight saves in '06 and a 13.06 ERA in his final 27 appearances, leading to the addition of Cordero in the Carlos Lee trade.  Turnbow will still setup and he should be suitable, but the question of whether or not he can handle the rigors of closing will be an issue if Cordero starts to meltdown like he did with Texas.
• Brian Shouse (LHP) – A lefty specialist, Shouse tends to get pounded by right-handers. 
• Edward Campusano (LHP) – Selected from the Cubs in the Rule V Draft, Campusano is a decent lefty reliever that is a strikeout machine, thanks to a good fastball and slider combo.  He’s likely going to be groomed into the successor for Brian Shouse.
• Matt Wise (RHP) – Wise is another capable reliever that can help keep a lead as well as work for multiple innings.
• Greg Aquino (RHP) – Aquino is another solid setup man that also can serve as a emergency closer, as he served in the role back in 2004.
• Jose Capellan (RHP) – Capellan was a fairly reliable option last year, leading the club with 61 appearances.  He did give up far too many homers for the rotation to feel safe (11 in 71.2 IP).

Starting Lineup

1. Bill Hall (CF) – Hall makes the transition from shortstop to center field, reminding many of when Robin Yount did the move.  Hall does seem to have the speed and range to do the move, and his bat should translate very well there.  He’s got the best chance to succeed at leadoff, so he’ll bat there according to my chart.
2. Rickie Weeks (2B) – Weeks has all the talent in the world to be a masher in the lineup, but injuries cut short a promising Rookie campaign.  Weeks has a powerful, quick bat as well as oodles of speed to make him a threat once he’s on base.  The big problem is that he’s rather poor as far as defense goes at second, though to his credit he’s trying to improve.  He’s likely going to bat second.
3. Prince Fielder (1B) – Fielder has the best power presence in the lineup and put up an excellent rookie campaign last year.  Fielder carried the Brewers through much of the year last year as one player after another went down for the count, which was unfair to him and may have been a cause for all the strikeouts.  Still, he set a franchise rookie record with 28 homers and led the team with 81 RBIs, while showing some growth as a hitter.  He’ll be batting third in the lineup.
4. Corey Hart (RF) – I’m not sure if he wears his sunglasses at night, but he certainly earned a full-time job after hitting eight homers in the final two months of the season.  He should be a little better than average over the course of a season, as the power is there for him to be a 25 home run threat.
5. Corey Koskie (3B) – Koskie has good left handed power and can play well at third. However, he’s far from a lock at this position, as the Brewers may decide to shop him to allow Ryan Braun to take his spot in the lineup.
6. Johnny Estrada (C) - Estrada was sent to the Brewers in a six-player trade that sent Doug Davis to the Diamondbacks.  Oddly enough, this is the second time Estrada has been booted from a team when a younger, equally talented player rose up to take his place.  Weird.  In any case, Estrada brings a solid bat to the Brewers lineup and is a solid defender.  Provided that the rest of the team stays healthy, Estrada will give more depth in the back of the order.
7. Geoff Jenkins (LF) – Jenkins is less than thrilled with the attempt to platoon him.  While there is no doubt that his offense is average to say the least, the fact that lefties murdered him last season makes it hard for him to make an argument against the move.  He may be traded, but at the moment, I have him as the starter.
8. J.J. Hardy (SS) – Hardy is pretty decent at shortstop as far as his defense is concerned.  However, it’s the bat that draws the most questions, making this move seem a lot like a gamble.  The Brewers are hoping that Hardy will translate his minor league successes into production at the majors, or else they’ll be hunting for a shortstop come June.

Bench

• Tony Graffanino (INF) – Graffanino is able to play all four infield positions while providing a solid bat. He isn’t a really major power bat, but he’s got doubles power, works the count and has some of the softest hands in the game.  With J.J. Hardy remaining a injury risk, he’ll get playing time.
• Craig Counsell (INF) – Counsell was also brought in to provide some backup in case the injuries that took out both Hardy and Weeks decide to attack again.  Counsell lost the starting job in Arizona to Stephen Drew after an injury and after it became clear he wouldn’t return, he went back to Milwaukee.  Counsell is another fading player, but he can still hit for average and can play the entire infield as well.
• Kevin Mench (OF) – Mench is a outfielder that can hit for good power and, to be honest, should be hitting in the middle of the order.  However, he’s a very streaky hitter and hasn’t been able to put it together.  He’s recently stated that he refuses to be part of a platoon.  Unfortunately, it looks like he’ll be a part of one whether he likes it or not.  There’s a very real possibility he could be traded.  Or the real possibility that he will be kidnapped by Cuziffer and kept in a secret bunker beneath his house until the end of the 2007 season.
• Damian Miller (C) – Miller is settling back into a backup role, which is good for him at this point in his career.  He should be a very good backup and will play mentor to Estrada.
• Gabe Gross (OF) – Gross has a lot of potential to be a starter, but at the moment he’s buried beneath the outfield logjam.  That could change if the outfield corners open up, but he should be good off the bench.

Down On The Farm…

The Brewers have drafted well for the most part since Doug Melvin took over the team.  There is a lack of major league ready talent thanks to the recent graduations, but there are some players that could make an impact, as well as players that will be arriving in the future.  The most frustrating issue of the system is the lack of progress of 2004 first rounder Mark Rogers, who hasn’t gotten beyond the low minors thanks to injuries.

• Ryan Braun (3B) – Braun is the Brewers’ best positional prospect at the moment.  He’s got great pitch recognition and good bat speed that allows him to hit the ball to all fields and has good doubles power as well.  He’s still learning how to play third, however, and his arm is inaccurate.  But the bat is almost ready and Braun may be needed sooner rather than later, as the Brewers need a power bat to hit behind Prince Fielder.  He could knock either Geoff Jenkins and Kevin Mench out at left field or knock Koskie out at third.  I think it’ll be the latter.
• Yovani Gallardo (RHP) – Gallardo isn’t mentioned with the likes of Homer Bailey or Phil Hughes, but he belongs up there.  He dominated High A and Double this season, much as Bailey and Hughes did and his stuff is impeccable.  He’s got a low 90’s fastball plus a hard slider and a plus curve.  He’s got a rather benign changeup, but he’s got enough tools to where he could step in the Brewers rotation if one of the starters implodes or if Ben Sheets decides to make the disabled list a favorite place to visit again this year.  I love Gallardo.  He's a badass.
• Tony Gywnn Jr (OF) – Junior Gywnn isn’t quite the player that his father was, but he’s an excellent player in his own right.  He’s extremely athletic with great instincts in the outfield and has loads of speed to go with a nice left handed swing and an excellent eye at the plate.  He won’t hit for much power, but the Brewers think he has enough doubles power to make him more than a one trick pony.  Though many have him making the team, I seriously doubt that the Brewers will have him in the majors as a bench player, having him accrue service time, when he could get regular playing time in the minors.
• Lanyce Nix (OF) – Nix was given all the chances to try and prove himself to Texas, but he squandered all of them.  He’ll likely spend the early part of the season in the minors, but I’m not sure what his future is going to be now.

In Conclusion

I actually think that the Brewers could win this division.  However, I like the Astros’ offense and their bullpen a little more, which I think will be more than enough to carry their pitching staff into the post-season.  However, Milwaukee will mount a very strong challenge to the Astros and, should their starters implode and the Brewers’ collective health remain steady, they could win the division in an upset.

Final Standings:  Second in the National League Central

The Rangers Report - Spring Training Edition

I'm taking a break from the team previews to bring about the Rangers Report, after it took a two week absence.  By the way, this didn't post yesterday because of the answer to his math equation:

Little Brother + My Computer + 1 Hour Of Internet TIme For Homework = 3 Hours Of Me Removing Trojans and Spyware.

Spring Training Position Battles

• Fifth Starter - This competition appears to be between righthanders Josh Rupe, Kameron Loe, Mike Wood, Edinson Volquez, Jamey Wright, and Francisco Cruceta and lefthanders Bruce Chen, John Koronka, and John Rheinecker.  People will mention Eric Hurley and Thomas Diamond as well, but unless those two really show something in camp, they're likely to go to the minors for more seasoning.  Right now, if I had to pick a winner, I'd go with Rupe, as he's got the best stuff and would have been the fifth starter had he not gotten injured, though Koronka has the most experience and could also move win it as well.
• 7th Man In The Bullpen - The pen appears almost set with Gagne, Otsuka, Littleton, Francisco, Mahay, and Wilson all getting mods for the pen.  Scott Feldman will bo back to Triple A, which leaves Joaquin Benoit, Francisco Cruceta and Rick Bauer, all of whom are out of options and will be lost if they are tried to be sent down.  Two of these three won't be Rangers come Opening Day, though there is a rumor that Boston may be debating about offering LHP Jon Lester for Otsuka, in which I case would be all over that.
• Backup Catcher - This is likely between Guillermo Quiroz and Miguel Ojeda.  If I had to pick a winner, I'd say it's Quiroz because he's got a higher ceiling and because he's out of options.
• Designated Hitter Vs. Right Handed Pitching - Cat will be against lefties, so it's between Sammy Sosa and Jason Botts for this   The favorite for this will likely be Botts.  I'm hoping for him to win it.

Draft Musings And Thoughts

Texas has the 17th and 24th pick in the first round, plus three supplemental picks at 35, 44, and 54.  I've given some thought at what exactly the Rangers will need at the draft.

Grady Fuson's drafts were largely bad with few fruits of that labor coming to fruition.  Combine that with the fact that the Rangers lost so many top picks because of bad free agent signings and you get the point.  This past year's draft has yielded some quality talent that the Rangers will be able to build on.

So what should Texas go after?  Here's how I see it:

• 17th - Pitcher (L)
• 24th - Corner Infielder
• 35 - Pitcher (R)
• 44 - Pitcher (Either)
• 54 - Outfielder

Of course, that's just bascially on a need basis, which is a terrible way to do a draft, but it's how I have it at the moment, based on how the draft looks so far.  As I research more into the prospects, I'll post a mock draft to see where the kids go.

Time To Give Up On Beltre and Ogando

The ongoing drama with right handed pitchers Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando needs to come to an end soon, whether it be Beltre and Ogando finally arriving in the states or with the Rangers just finally stopping to hope for anything of value for the both of them. 

It seems as if Texas has been hoping that both Beltre and Ogando will come riding into camp to contribute, in particular Ogando, who is viewed to be a potential starter.  But it doesn't look like either will ever make any contribution as it doesn't look as if Immigraton will be granting them VISA's. 

Is it unfortunate?  Sure.  But is there anything that can be done?  No.

Former Rangers In The News

• Apparently, Phil Nevin was not pleased when he found out that the Rangers signed Sammy Sosa to be in the mix for the DH job, his old gig last season.  Nevin is still unsigned and was hoping for a second go around with Texas.
• The White Sox are debating about whether or not they should move Nick Masset back to the rotation, as they love his curveball and his changeup.  The problem is, Masset was never able to use his stuff to any sort of success in the rotation and, quite frankly, is really coming into his own as a reliever.
• Kevin Mench, the still very much loved former outfielder for the Rangers (and current bane of the Milwuakee Brewers and Cuziffer's existience) isn't up for being in a platoon role with Geoff Jenkins in left field.  He's called out manager Ned Yost for it and it's even possible that he's hurt his standing enough where it will be he, not Jenkins, that will be heavily shopped.  Texas could possibly be open to bringing him back, especially if the outfield situation implodes. 
• One year after being traded, former Rangers right hander Juan Dominguez is still looking for a job.  As I have said before, Dominguez is still quite talented and I would be tempted to put him in Triple A as the emergency starter.  The only thing that gets me is how immature he is.  He's got great stuff.  But he's pissing time away.
• The main reason why R.A. Dickey signed with the Milwaukee Brewers?  Their Triple A Club, the Nashville Sounds, is close to his home.

See you all next week.

Friday Morning Closer – Special Carlos Lee Edition

Texas Rangers Trade For Carlos Lee

Okay, this is big news, so this week’s Friday Morning Closer will focus on it.

This move doesn’t mean that the Brewers are conceding the Division.  It simply means that the Brewers are trading for positions of need.

Milwaukee Side Of The Trade

Francisco Cordero, a closer with great stuff, lost his job earlier in the season thanks to wildness, but he’s regained his control and will be an upgrade in the bullpen.  Kevin Mench will take Lee’s place in the outfield and has the capacity to be a slugging outfielder.  Plus, he’s got two more years of arbitration left and will be a Brewer for a while.  As for Laynce Nix, he’s an outfielder that has largely been average for the Rangers and could develop into a fourth outfielder for the Brewers.

All in all, not bad for the Brewers, who have filled some needs by the deal.  Still, Lee will be missed for the thunder that he gave the lineup.

Brewer Grade:  A

Texas Side Of The Deal

With the lack of pitching on the market (unless the Rangers are going to make a run at Justin Verlander ARGG, I SCREWED UP Jake Westbrook) the Rangers could do the only thing they could do: upgrade the lineup.  And Lee was the best option available. 

The Rangers will receive Lee along with outfielder Nelson Cruz and a Player To Be Named, who will most likely be a pitcher, judging by Ranger trade history.  The Rangers had no use for Nix and Mench had lost his starting job weeks ago.  Cordero will be missed as far as a setup man, but the Rangers have options in the pen that they can plug in.  Still, Mench was popular and there will be some fan backlash for a little bit.  

However, Lee will be embraced for the fact that his bat will be well suited for the Rangers’ ballpark.  The Rangers will try to sign him to an extension, but if they do lose him, it would not be the end of the world.  For starters, they would gain a pair of high draft picks in return, which is not too shabby.   Plus, Cruz is a talented corner outfielder prospect with solid defense and some power, so the offense won't suffer too badly as people may think. 

Great trade by John Daniels.

Ranger Grade: A+

What This Does For The Market Now

What this now does is that now Alfonso Soriano is the best option available now for teams in need of a bat.  Many teams expected Lee to be on the market, and thus many of the offers were below what the Nats wanted.  But no one anticipated Texas jumping into the fray as quickly as they did to acquire Lee.  With no other contingency plan available, it’s almost certain that the Nationals will now be bombarded with calls to acquire the slugger.  Detroit is going to have to up the offer to upgrade the offense and the White Sox are going to have to decided quickly if they are going to attempt to block the Tigers by making a counteroffer.  I don't think the Angels are going to make a move simply because that's GM Bill Stoneman's style.  But even then, wth several teams now on the fringe of the post-season, Soriano is a potential differance maker for many teams.  The Nationals will find themselves with several teams willing to overpay in order to take him off the market.

Royals Taking Chances In Rebuilding Their Farm System

Royals GM Dayton Moore is wasting no time in restocking the Royals’ farm system with pitching prospects.

With the Royals bungling many of the No. 1 draft picks that they have had, the system is fairly lacking in quality arms.  And those that have had a chance to becoming something special were rushed through the system, damaging them beyond salvation (J.P. Howell is the most notable example.) 

So far, Moore has been aggressively moving parts of the organization that have no part in his rebuilding plan for arms.  Thus far, he’s done the following:

·          Traded closer Mike MacDougal to the Chicago White Sox for minor-league pitchers Tyler Lumsden and Daniel Cortes.

·          Traded reliever Elmer Dessens to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Odalis Perez and took minor league pitchers Blake Johnson and Julio Pimentel, both of whom still have some projection.

·          Traded utilityman Tony Graffanino to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jorge De La Rosa, a talented pitcher that hasn’t been able to translate that talent into results.

That’s five pitchers for the price of a pair of middle relievers that wouldn’t be with the team next year and a utilityman that really didn’t have much use for the Royals considering the fact that their team is essentially made up of “utilitymen.”

Will the trades work out?  Some will.  There’s a good chance that at least one of the players will turn out to be a reasonably good player.  Perez was given away by the Dodgers just to get him out of there.  Because the Royals are unlikely to contender for another few years, Perez is simply there to take up roster space and give the Royals someone to send out on the mound in the meantime.

Still, it’s got to be refreshing for Royals fans to see a GM that’s actually has a plan to make the club better.

The Rangers Report

Team Record as of June 19, 2006

(38-32), Second in the American League West

State of the Rangers

A decent showing by the Rangers, but the series against the White Sox killed them, putting them into second.  Meanwhile, Oakland beat up on the Mariners and the Dodgers to take first.  The Rangers get some help by playing the Padres in Dallas, allowing them to use their superior offense to their advantage while going to Denver to beat up on the Rockies (hopefully.)  Meanwhile, Oakland will continue to coast, drawing the reeling San Francisco Giants and the Padres.  All Texas has to do in the meantime is tread water until League Play begins again, where hopefully, they can spot some kinks in the armor of the Athletics and the Angels, both of which are flawed clubs despite the hype they get.

All-Star Help From WHO!?!?!?

At the moment, Michael Young is ranked third in the All-Star voting for shortstops, and probably won’t get enough votes to pass Miguel Tejada for the backup gig.  But he could get help from a very unlikely source.

White Sox Manger Ozzie Guillen.

Despite the recent flare-ups in this possible new rivalry between the Rangers and the White Sox, Guillen loves the way Michael Young plays and could name him to the team after the mandatory representatives from struggling teams (Mark Grudzielanek for the Royals, Ichiro for the Mariners, and Scott Kazmir for the Devil Rays respectively).

####r Signed And Ready To Go

The Rangers have signed their number one draft pick, left-handed pitcher Kasey ####r.  ####r received a $1.6 million signing bonus.  He made a brief public appearance at last Wednesday’s game against the White Sox before heading to Short Season Single A Spokane.  Normally, players head to Surprise for Rookie Ball, but ####r, who pitched in a summer league against college players, was thought to be ready to make the jump.

####r also said he wants to be in the majors within 3 ½ years, a pretty reasonable timetable that should have him joining future rotation pitchers John Danks and Thomas Diamond in Ameriquest Field.

The Return Of Fabio Castro

The Rangers recalled left-hander Fabio Castro, who they acquired in the Rule V draft in December, on Friday.  Castro’s rehab assignment would have reached 30 days on Sunday, and if he was healthy – which he is – the Rangers would have to either recall him or offer him back to the Chicago White Sox on that date.  To make room for him, the Rangers sent right-hander John Wasdin to the disabled list.  Wasdin was hit on the hand by a line drive on last Sunday’s in Boston, and slightly sprained a ligament along the thumb.

Castro had not pitched above Class A before this season. Now, he has had stints at Double A, Triple A and the major leagues.   The extra time appears to have helped, as Castro has displayed a better breaking ball in the past few weeks than he did earlier in the year.  In five games and 13 2/3 innings at Double-A Frisco, Castro had a 1.98 earned-run average. In one game at Triple-A Oklahoma, he had a 4.91 ERA.

As far as the role of lefty specialist is concerned, the Rangers should give Castro the job for the time being, just to give him some time to grow and improve.  Castro would get some work in, mostly in one out situations, while allowing Feldman and Mahay to continue to be long relievers.  However, the Rangers need to leave C.J. Wilson at Triple A until the rosters expand in September.  He needs a lot more growing up to do and if he can manage to start throwing more consistently, I think he’ll be better for it.

Kevin Mench May Be Available

Kevin Mench seems to have shifted into a utility role for the Rangers, one that doesn't guarantee him a spot in the lineup every night.   Mench was out of the lineup on Friday, the fourth time in the last 14 games he did not start. And when he does start, it's rarely in right field.  His playing time has been sapped by Mark DeRosa and Jeff Hariston Jr, though DeRosa’s bat has seemed to have justified him being a regular.  Mench, meanwhile, has started three times in left field and five times at designated hitter. 

Part of the lack of playing time is that Mench is just such a streaky hitter.  Earlier in the season, Mench hit a home run in seven straight games from April 21-28, one short of a Major League record.  But, going into Friday's game, he was hitting just .270 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 33 games and 122 at-bats.

As a result, Mench has been the subject of phone calls from other teams, under the su####ion that Mench may be on his way out of Texas.  The Dodgers have been the most aggressive, with the Twins following (though their interest is lower thanks to the fact that Mench is now in his arbitration years.) 

Even with all of that taken into mind, I doubt Mench would get traded.  For one, he’s too popular.  The fan outcry would be severe (though fan support did not help Chris Young, who loved playing for the Rangers.)  Second, Mench is still valuable and Buck, who has been known to play mind games with his players, could see this as a way to motivate Mench into becoming a more consistent hitter.  For all of Mench’s streakiness, when he’s on, he’s one of the best sluggers in the league.  When he’s off, Mench is a hole in the lineup.  If a happy medium could be reached, then I think things would work out for the best.

John Wetteland Fired As National’s Bullpen Coach

After Thursday's loss to the Rockies, the Nationals dismissed bullpen coach and former Texas Rangers closer John Wetteland because of philosophical differences with manager Frank Robinson.  Problems between Wetteland and manager Frank Robinson have been ongoing since spring training. The club contemplated sacking Wetteland a month ago but had hoped it could reach the All-Star break before making the move. When asked for comment, Robinson said “He just didn't conform to the way I wanted things done out there in the bullpen.  I talked to him on a number of occasions. I've never talked to a bullpen coach as much as I talked to him about that situation. It started in spring training and it's carried over right into yesterday. I had enough, to the point where he was kinda saying, 'I hear ya, but I'm going to do things my way out there."

when he was with Texas and when he was with the organization, was not going to mesh well with him. 

Robinson felt Wetteland changed the personalities of the relievers, especially Chad Cordero and Gary Majewski.  As far as I can tell, Cordero is having another solid year and Majewski , while not as good as he was last season, is doing fairly well.

To be honest, I didn’t have much hope that Wetteland would do well with the Nationals.  Robinson is notoriously picky and is very much an old school manager.  I think that Wetteland’s easy going manner clashed with Robinson’s sensibilities, until Robinson finally just couldn’t take it anymore.

The Nationals said they’re going to try to give Wetteland a job in the organization.  I hope that he says no and returns to Texas, where he remains very much beloved by many fans and could easily swing a job in the minors, most likely Triple A Frisco until he could eventually take over the bullpen job for the Rangers.

The Rangers Report

Team Record as of May 1, 2006

(13-12), First in the American League West

State of the Rangers

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. 

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.

Joaquin Benoit – A decent starting pitcher, an even better reliever, Benoit could give closing a shot if Otsuka does poorly.

Fabio Castro – Talented, young, and under the Rangers’ control for several years if he stays.  With more experience and a couple of chances to close, I think he’d do quite well.

Robinson Tejeda, take center stage please!

Pitcher Robinson Tejeda, who was obtained April 1^st in the trade that send outfielder David Dellucci to the Phillies, will make his debut tomorrow.  Tejeda is a highly regarded pitching prospect who the Phillies weren’t eager to give up.  Tejeda has been inconsistent so far in Triple A – Oklahoma, but has begun to find his groove.  He’ll start in the place of Rick Bauer, the current swingman of the Rangers rotation.  So far, most of the

Rusty Greer, Always A Ranger

Rusty Greer, the enormously popular former Rangers outfielder whose 10-year career was cut short by injuries, signed a personal-services contract with the club last week.  Greer will assist former Rangers catcher Jim Sundberg in directing the Rangers Alumni Legacy Camps and Clinics, Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation programs, the Rangers Alumni/Hall of Fame weekend, and other player-community events.  Greer, who many Ranger fans knew from his gutsy play and his offense, became one of the best left fielders in the history of the organization.  However, Greer’s style of play took a heavy toll on his body, resulting in numerous surgeries on his back, arms, legs, and a lot of rehabilitation.  As a result, Greer was never seen again on the active roster and tried hard to work his way back, finally throwing in the towel in Spring Training of last year.  He’ll always be remembered in the hearts of Ranger fans everywhere.