The Rangers Report - Off-Season Edition

Rotation Set

Barring any other moves, the Rotation appears as follows:

• Kevin Millwood (RHP)
• Vicente Padilla (RHP)
• Jason Jennings (RHP)
• Brandon McCarthy (RHP)
• Kason Gabbard (LHP)

That makes for a solid, but unspecacular rotation.  However, if Millwood, Padilla and Jennings improve to their 2006 seasons, rather than their 2007's, that's a potential playoff rotation, especially if McCarthy continues to improve and Gabbard doesn't implode.  However, that's a lot to ask.  If anything, at the very least, Jennings could bring back a draft pick, or pitch well enough that when Texas is out of it by May, they could begin entertaining trade talks and get back a good player or two.

Coco Crisp Deals Are Dead

There's been a lot of rumors tossed around, and a lot of talk from Red Sox fans that the Red Sox should send Coco Crisp over to the Rangers for one of their highly regarded catching prospects.  Peter Gammons, in a recent chat, even had the Rangers (and Oakland) being the likely favorites for Crisp, seeing both teams as needing players.

They are delusional.  It ain't happening.

Back when the off-season first started, there was talk that the Rangers and Red Sox had agreed on a potential Crisp for Gerald Laird swap.  It was understandable, as it was two players who had no future in their respective organizations, had three cheap years of control left each and filled holes for each organization.  The Rangers have no centerfielder and Varitek isn't going to last forever.  It was a classic apples and oranges trade that should have worked.

However, the Red Sox instead decided A) to enter into the Johan Santana sweepstakes and B) change the offer for the Rangers, hoping to net more prospects and get a lot more value for Crisp than he was probably worth.

Texas backed out and instead got Josh Hamilton, who has some risk, but also a lot more of a ceiling than Crisp had and has more service time.

So, as you can see, there isn't room for Texas and Boston is now backed into a corner, as they have a brewing problem on their hand and the number of places they can send Crisp to is drying up fast.

So no, there will be no Coco for Texas.

Sorry.

Bottsy At First...Not A Good Idea

Jason Botts apparently is going to see time at first base and will make the team as the platoon partner for Frank Catalonotto and Ben Broussard in left and at first.

I'm not so sure that first base is a good idea.  Botts was converted to left field after back issues forced him there.  I don't have much experience as far as diamond experience  (I was a catcher in high school), but as far as first base goes, it does involve a lot of bending and leaning.  And if Botts' back is as balky as it sounds, this might not go well.

On the other hand, Texas has a fantastic medical team, so the Rangers might be able to keep him healthy.  Who knows? 

Where To Send Shelton To

With Shelton still passing through waivers, I think it's a fair possibility that he's going to get claimed.  WIth that in mind, the Rangers should look into seeing what they could get for him.

Though streaky, Shelton is a decent player that can play the four corners and he's a young alternative to some of the usual suspects (Sean Casey anyone?)  And, taking a look around the league, there are some places where he'd fit in nicely.

The most immediate fit is San Francisco, unless they want to use Rich Aurillia there.  However, in terms of prospects, I don't see much that San Fran would have to offer, as all their best prospects were either just drafted or are named Angel Villalona.  Sergio Romo, a live arm that is destined for the bullpen, would be the best fit.

Is there anything else I could do?  I don't think so.  I would say Florida, but Shelton might be too expensive for them (and I'm being serious.  Florida and Oakland seem to be racing each other to see who can get the lower payroll.)  The Yankees would be another alternative, but not only do they have too many roster spots taken up by the dead (Giambi), the rude (Duncan) and the Betemiet, but they also seem to be waiting for Mark Teixeira to inevitably hit the market so they can spend the Giambi savings on him.

So, I'd call up Brian Sabean and ask if he's willing to do a Romo for Shelton swap.  Not only would it net the Rangers something, think of the newspaper headlines in Dallas when it's announced that the Rangers have just brought in their own Romo.  It would be classic.

Rangers May Have Waited Too Long To Sell High On Luis Mendoza

I like Luis Mendoza more than most.  However, I think the Rangers may have waited too long to sell on him, as I think his value has peaked.

There's been a lot of talk about Mendoza being a potential back of the rotation starter for the Rangers, and that he could even push one of the vets out of the rotation.

Please.

Mendoza has done nothing to really merit the love he has gotten.  He's been rather inconsistent, has been released by an organization at least once (Boston) and despite a nice run here in Texas, that was only after a late surge.

Honestly, I would have let people know that Mendoza was available, and maybe have made a trade (possibly with Laird.)

Tomorrow, The First (And Last) Astros Report

The Rangers Report

Record As of May 7

13-18, 4th in the American League West

Wow, a win streak.  I forgot what that felt like.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Of the Week That Was

The Good

• Michael Young - The Franchise is finally starting to show signs of him coming out of his slump.  Good, because the Rangers need him.
• The Young Guns - Kam Loe followed up a very bad outing with a solid outing against the Blue Jays and Brandon McCarthy finally showed those Jack McDowell comparisons against the Jays on Friday.  On a minor note (no pun intended), Eric Hurley is quietly dominating the Texas League.

The Bad

• That God Damn Yankees Series - That was horrific, especially since the Rangers could have won the double header.  But noooo.  Stupid offense.

The Ugly

• Kevin Millwood On The DL - Which means more Mike Wood action in the bullpen.  Whoo!
• Roger Clemens Returns To New York - ####.

The Top 30 Rangers Prospects In The System – Prospects That Fell Short

With Young Guns’ original prospect rankings now gone after the website underwent a makeover, and many of the Rangers’ prospects relatively unknown, I thought it would be good to step in and make a Top 30 Prospect Rankings, not only for the good bloggers here on FoxBlogs, but also online. 

First, the legal stuff.  Information has been gathered from Young Guns, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Baseball Prospectus, ESPN, and Baseball America.

Now, onto the prospects.

First off, here are the guys that didn’t hack it enough or just were buried far down enough that they didn’t make the top 30.

Arlington John “A.J.” Murray (LHP)

• DOB:  3/17/1982
• Drafted:  19th Round, 2000, Salt Lake Community College
• 2007 Club: Oklahoma (Triple A)
• Height/Weight: 6-3/225
• Bats/Throws:  S/L
• The Skinny:  Murray was a fast riser in the Rangers’ system, reaching Frisco back in 2003 and going 10-4 with a 3.63 ERA.  That’s where things went wrong, as Murray would miss about two seasons worth of playing time, thanks to surgery for a torn labrum in his shoulder and another shoulder injury triggered by a faulty delivery.  Murray was average last year, but turned heads in camp.  Murray was optioned to Triple A, where he’s been contributing as a reliever until he can regain his stamina as a starter.
• Assets:  Murray had solid stuff before he was snake bitten and he still has solid stuff now.  Murray throws a high 80’s-low 90’s fastball that he pairs with a pair of solid breaking pitches, a curve and a changeup. 
• Negatives:  Many wonder if Murray will ever be durable enough to last as a starter.
• Projection: Medium, because of the injuries.  Murray hasn’t had the amount of time needed to develop and as a result, he’s still got some projection on him as he works to get back to where he was.
• In A Perfect World, He Is: A solid lefty starter, similar to Kenny Rogers.
• 2007 Course Of Action:  Murray has been contributing as a solid left handed reliever for the Redhawks and is currently posting stellar numbers.

Jesse Ingram (RHP)

• DOB:  4/21/1982
• Drafted:  36th Round, 2003, California
• 2007 Club: Frisco (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 6-1/200
• Bats/Throws:  R/R
• The Skinny:  A closer in college, Ingram was drafted by the Rangers back in 2004 after a breakout season and worked him in slowly.  Ingram would lose 2005 to injury, but came back to post tolerable numbers in 2006 with Bakersfield and Frisco. 
• Assets:  Ingram has excellent command over his pitches and he spots them well.  His fastball tops out at 92-93 and his curve, slider and change are all solid pitches. 
• Negatives:  None of Ingram’s pitches are above average or even explosive, leading many to doubt whether or not he’ll be even an impact middle reliever.  Ingram’s dominance can possibly be placed on the fact that he was older than his age group.  As a result, it’s hard to put much stock into him unless he dominates at a higher level.  Also, when his command is off, Ingram gets into trouble very fast.
• Projection: Low, unless Ingram learns another pitch that he’s able to turn into a filthy out pitch, like Rivera did when he learned that cutter.
• In A Perfect World, He Is: A capable setup man
• 2007 Course Of Action:  Ingram has returned to Frisco, where he's been a mixture of both good and bad in the closers role.  He's going to have to get it together if he expects to earn a promotion to Oklahoma.

Drew Meyer (UTIL)

• DOB:  8/29/1981
• Drafted:  1st Round. 2002, South Carolina
• 2007 Club: Oklahoma (Triple A)
• Height/Weight: 5-10/200
• Bats/Throws:  L/R
• The Skinny:  Meyer is best known as Grady Fuson’s greatest failure, as he was drafted far above where he should have been drafted and has been, well, a huge bust ever since, especially when you consider that Fuson passed on talents such as Nick Swisher, Scott Kazmir and Joe Blanton.  Meyer has never justified his selection and has since rotted in the minors for the past couple of years.  It also doesn’t speak volumes about him that he’s been exposed to the Rule V Draft and Designated For Assignment and wasn’t claimed.
• Assets:  Meyer’s best quality is that he’s able to play shortstop, second base, third base and has even taken some reps in centerfield.  He’s also got some speed on the bases. 
• Negatives:  The bat was never there and Meyer, who had a hitch in his swing in college, has never been able to adjust.
• Projection: Low.  Meyer looks like one of those players that will forever be fighting to be the 25th man on the roster.
• In A Perfect World, He Is: A utlityman.
• 2007 Course Of Action:  Meyer is currently in Oklahoma, where he’s been surprisingly average this year.

Luis Mendoza (RHP)

• DOB:  10/31/1983
• Signed:  Mexico, 2001 (Red Sox)
• 2007 Club: Frisco (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 6-3/180
• Bats/Throws:  L/R
• The Skinny:  Obtained from Boston for Bryan Corey (remember him), Mendoza is an interesting prospect, though an inconsistent one.  He was god awful in seven starts in Frisco, going 2-4 with a 7.75 ERA.  However, Mendoza had a solid season as the closer for Yaquis De Obregon in the Mexican League, going 4-2 with 4 saves and notching up an ERA of 3.05. 
• Assets:  Mendoza wasn’t exactly dominating as a starter when he was with Boston, but he could be an intriguing bullpen arm in the future, especially with his stuff.  He doesn’t have an overpowering fastball, but he’s got a solid breaking ball and a decent changeup, giving him a good arsenal to work with.  However, his future as the next great Ranger reliever will be on hold, as I don’t think that the Rangers are done with him yet as possibly being a starter.
• Negatives:  As I said, Mendoza struggles with inconsistency and often times follows up exception outings with bad ones.  He also may not have the staimina to remain a starter.
• Projection: Medium.  Mendoza is still young and really, I’m not sure how much work the Red Sox or the Rangers have put into him yet.  I wondering if teaching him a sinker may help keep his career going.  
• In A Perfect World, He Is: A solid setup man
• 2007 Course Of Action:  Mendoza has returned to Double A Frisco as the starter, where he’ll try and finish the year in Oklahoma.  It’s not looking good at the moment, however.

Johan Yan (SS/3B)

• DOB:  9/27/1984
• Signed:  2006, Dominican Republic
• 2007 Club: AZL Rangers
• Height/Weight: 6-3/185
• Bats/Throws:  R/R
• The Skinny:  Signed during the International Signing Period, Yan is an extremely toolsy player that can be a nice player at some point in his career.
• Assets:  Yan has several tools, including great range, a solid glove, speed, as well as the potential for power as he fills out.  He also has the beginnings of some solid plate discipline.
• Negatives:  In spite of those tools, it’s also very possible not to make any use of them.  Look at Joaquin Arias.
• Projection: High.  The Rangers feel that with time, Yan can become a solid major leaguer with experience and the right teaching. 
• In A Perfect World, He Is: A major leaguer
• 2007 Course Of Action:  Yan will begin the season in the Dominican Summer League, with the potential of heading to Arizona, like fellow 2006 signee Fabio Castillo, if he does well.

 Steve Murphy (LF)

• DOB:  4/22/84
• Drafted:  14th Round, 2005, Kansas State University
• 2007 Club: Frisco (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 6-2/210
• Bats/Throws:  L/R
• The Skinny:  Murphy’s looking like he’s a late round gem.  He was great in Bakersfield last year, hitting .283 with 19 home runs and 68 RBI’s.  It’s surprising to see that he fell so far to the Rangers, but he’s making them look like geniuses because of his signing. 
• Assets:  Murphy has some good tools, such as some power and a decent glove in the outfield and he’s a stolid player.  He’#### for some power everywhere he’s been in the minors, but he’s also amassed a lot of strikeouts, which need to improve if he’s to advance. 
• Negatives:  Murphy needs to improve his approach at the plate and get on base more, as he only drew 31 walks as opposed to his  
• Projection: Medium.  Murphy is rising through the ranks and rapidly becoming a legitimate prospect.  
• In A Perfect World, He Is: A later in the order threat.
• 2007 Course Of Action:  Murphy was promoted to Frisco, and thus far it doesn’t look like anything is holding him back.  We’ll see how well he does in the Texas League later in the season.

Jake Blalock (LF)

• DOB:  8/06/1983
• Drafted:  2002, 5th Round, San Diego H.S. (Phillies)
•  2007 Club: Frisco (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 6-3/215
• Bats/Throws:  R/R
• The Skinny:  Hank’s little brother, was originally drafted by the Phillies in 2002, but really he’s not the prospect that his brother was in the minors.  Jake could return to prospect status with a solid year.  He’s not the hitter that Hank was in the minors, and he only .266 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs in 376 games last season at Frisco.  He doesn’t have the power that Hank does either, but if he can at least show some doubles power, get on base, along with working the count, he’s got a shot.
• Assets:  Jakes has some raw power and hes had some nice production down in the lower minors with the Phillies.
• Negatives:  Jake’s bat still needs a lot more improvement before he’s going to be considered a legitimate prospect.  He lacks a strong arm, which limits him to left field, he has average speed and he’s not the greatest defender. 
• Projection: Medium.  Mendoza is still young and really, I’m not sure how much work the Red Sox or the Rangers have put into him yet.  I wondering if teaching him a sinker may help keep his career going.  
• In A Perfect World, He Is: A major league regular, but not a star.
• 2007 Course Of Action:  Blalock the Younger began the year in High A Bakersfield, but has since earned a promotion to Double A Frisco, where he’s not doing so well.

Rangers Roundup – Nuggets Around The Leagues

• Jamey Wright, on the DL since April 13, could also throw off a mound sometime soon.  Earlier, I was hoping that Loe would be able to hold his own as the fifth starter, long enough to where the Rangers could cut Wright.  Instead, Wright may get another shot, but one shot is all he’s probably going to get to prove that he’d be a slightly better option.
• Hall of famer Nolan Ryan was in town last week to accept his DHL Hometown Hero Award.  Ranger fans voted Ryan as the Rangers’ hometown hero for his contributions in the early 90’s to the club.  As I have said earlier, Ryan is the reason why the Rangers did not relocate and why Rangers Ballpark In Arlington was built.
• Two players obtained off of waivers, Ezequel Astacio (Astros) and Francisco Cruceta (Mariners), are doing fairly well down in Triple A Oklahoma.  Astacio has not allowed a run in 13.2 innings and is currently sporting a perfect ERA with 17 strikeouts to 1 walk.  Cruceta is currently a starter and is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA.  He’s got 22 strikeouts and 15 walks in 4 starters.  Do I expect both kids to stay with the Rangers?  No.  Personally, I’d trade them both for something with more upside, as both   Astacio is due to be moved into the rotation at some point, however, and it could be soon.
• Joaquin Arias has returned to play DH in extended spring training, but he has still not been able to play the field.  Arias hoped to make the team as a utilityman and was due to learn centerfield with instruction from first base coach Gary Pettis.  The Rangers hope that Arias can get on the field at the end of the week.
• An MRI exam on Taylor Teagarden, the Rangers’ top catching prospect who is currently on the DL at Class A Bakersfield, showed no tear or structural damage to his right elbow.  That’s great news, as the Rangers feared that Teagarden may have re-injured the elbow he underwent Tommy John surgery on.  Still, the Rangers are planning to rest and rehab and have not set a timetable for when he’ll return to action.

That's it for now.  See you all soon.

Well, originally meant for Friday Morning Closer (obviously that didn't happen) I thought I'd share some of the stuff I came up with.  Afterall, it would just go to waste if no one checked it out.

A Retrospective

With all of the options that are being picked up, inlcuding those that come to the chargin of the athlete (I'm talking to you, Gary Sheffield), you have got to look back at 2005's free agency and admit, those deals are pretty great now.

How stupid do the Red Sox look now that they thought that Johnny Damon wasn't worth 4 years, $52 million, especially when they'll likely have to enter the Gary Matthews Jr. Sweepstakes and have to overpay for the Rangers' centerfielder.  The Texas Rangers were thought to have been nuts in signing Kevin Millwood for 5 years, $60 million.  Now Millwood is going to be a bargain now, especially at a time the Rangers are going to have to jump into the free agent market again.  

 As is the Toronto Blue Jays "overpaying" for closer B.J. Ryan.  Now it's viewed to be one of the most important signings in the off-season, especially in a season where the closers market is viewed to be extremely weak, with the names of Eric Gage and Kerry Wood being the most marquee names on the roster.

The point I'm making is that several teams last season took the initiative to gamble on free agent prices rising.  WIth the luxury tax rising and revenue doing the same, we may look at the free agent class of 2005 with envy in a few years, as these teams enjoy the services of these cheaper players for years to come.

Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano left the team's facility in Fort Myers, Florida, apparently frustrated with his lack of progress in his attempt to get healthy enough to be able to pitch in winter ball.  Liriano, 23, went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA during the season and was considered a frontrunner for the AL Rookie of the Year award before the injury.  After struggling through an Aug. 7 start against Detroit, he left the game because of elbow soreness.  A brief stint in rehab followed, and Liriano returned to the mound Sept. 13 against the A's.  He cruised through the first two innings and appeared to be back to form before once again leaving the game early with elbow pain and was shut down for the season.  He was diagnosed with a mild sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament, an injury team doctors had hoped would clear itself up through rest and rehabilitation. 

The problem is that this injury is starting to resemble the early symptoms of a possible ligament tear, and would require Tommy John Surgery.  The Twins were hoping that it would not come to that, as seen from a rotation that fielded two rookies, one retiring pitcher, and one inconsistent one behind Johan Santana.  But maybe in the long run it would be the best.  Paul Byrd of the Cleveland Indians said that he suffered a similar condition for years until he finally decided to undergo the procedure, which he credits for reviving his career.  Maybe it’s time that Liriano sat down with the team, tell them of his intentions to have the procedure done, and explain that this way would be the easiest way for both parties.  Liriano would get his career back on track and the Twins would benefit from a healthy Liriano the next year, rather than see him waste another year and have to have the surgery later.

Seattle Is Under The Gun

With All-Star center fielder Ichiro Suzuki entering the final season of his contract in 2007, questions abound concerning his long-term prospects with the team.  Suzuki has said that he would not seek a contract extension, though he would listen if the Mariners offered one.  However, reports have been coming out of Seattle that Suzuki is becoming increasingly frustrated with the Mariners’ lack of competitiveness and will take this year to evaluate how close the Mariners are to competing.  If he thinks they are on the verge of returning to their winning ways, Ichiro will stick around.  If no, Suzuki will test the market, where as a centerfielder and a leadoff man, he’ll earn a king’s ransom.

Seattle has the makings o####ood bullpen and the infield is set with Johjima, Sexton, Lopez, Betancourt and Beltre and some promise on the outfield corners.  The problem is pitching and the DH, and neither will come cheap for the Mariners.  Which leaves the Mariners in an odd position.  They could try and splurge, but free agency is a crapshoot and the market is going to be nuts this off-season, with lots of teams expected to splurge on a pitching class that is dubious at best.  Seattle looks like their attempting to build a young team that can contend for the long haul, and not just the near future.  And keep in mind that Ichiro is now 33 and has maybe three years of elite play before he hits his decline stage.  At the very least, the Mariners are two years from becoming serious contenders in the division (sorry sleepless, if you’re reading this, but it’s true).

To be blunt, the Mariners need to sit down and discuss where Ichiro fits into the grand scheme of things.  If they feel that Ichiro can contribute something in the grand scheme of things, then by all means, make every effort to re-sign him.  But if the Mariners feel that Suzuki would have more value leaving Seattle, then they should make every effort to trade him in a market that, without a clear cut star defensive centerfielder, would give them the most #### for their buck.

Free Agency Rumblings And Grumblings

·          If the Mets lose the bidding for Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt and Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Mets are expected to be heavy players for Mark Mulder and Ted Lilly, two former Oakland teammates that could benefit from being reunited with former Oakland and Current Mets Pitching Coach Rick Peterson.  Many blame Mulder’s injuries and inconsistency that have hampered Mulder since he was traded to St. Louis to the fact that he was no longer being tutored by Peterson.  Lilly has fared better, but wasn’t nearly what he was with Oakland. 

·          Despite the fact that Julio Lugo is coveting the Mets second base job, the Mets are internally discussing Giants 2nd Baseman Ray Durham instead.  He won't come cheap, as the Mets would have to bid against the Dodgers and the Giants for his services, but many in the Mets love Durham’s skills as well as his work ethic, plus the fact that he has none of the baggage of Julio Lugo, who was less than thrilled with his time with the Dodgers and has a history of spousal abuse.

·          Don’t believe the hype that the Cubs will center a trade with the Yankees around Mark Prior and Alex Rodriguez.  Though Prior was a former Number One pick for the Yankees that they failed to sign, this deal would be a certified bust for the Yankees as Prior can’t be relied on to stay healthy.  Any deal with the Yankees for Rodriguez would have to be centered around Carlos Zambrano or no deal at all.

·          Texas Rangers Utility Starter Mark DeRosa could remain in Texas and still play alongside Hank Blalock in the lineup.  There has been some talk that maybe DeRosa could become the regular starting third baseman with Blalock being moved to the Designated Hitter role permanently.

The Rangers Report

Team Record as of May 15, 2006

(19-17), First in the American League West

State Of The Rangers

The Rangers hold onto the divison lead, but mostly due to the fact that the Games with Boston were rained out and that Oakland was destroyed a few times by the Yankees. 

The Benefit of a Nor'Easter

One benefit about the Rainouts is that it allows the Rangers to improve their rotation that is going to be against the Yankees.  So, here's how it will shake out.

Monday - Kevin Millwood vs. Mike Mussina.  Millwood should be better after his shellacking against the Twins (more on that later.)  However, I still think Moose will get the win against Texas.

Tueday - John Koronka Vs. Shawn Chacon.  Lefties do well at Yankee Stadium.  Despite Chacon being a solid pitcher, I gotta go with Koronka on this one.

Wednesday - Kameron Loe Vs. Chein Ming Wang.  Tough call.  Both are brilliant pitchers when they're on, god awful when they're off.  Won't make a decision on this one.  It's too close to call.

Thursday - Who The #### Knows Vs. Jaret Wright.  Vicente Padilla is the tentative starter, but he's currently battling tendinatis and might not be ready for Thursday.  If this happens, Texas could recall John Rheinecker or Robinson Tejada from Triple A Oklahoma to pitch.  I'd go with Rheinecker, the lefty, on this one.  The Rangers would probably get the win on this one, depending on how bad Wright is.

All in all, some great matchups this week.

Ouch

Kevin Millwood gave up nine earned runs in 1 1/3 innings in the Rangers' 15-5 loss to the Twins last Tuesday.  He would go in at 3-2 with a 3.52 ERA.  He would leave at 3-3 with a 5.13 ERA.  Though Millwood has always had trouble with the Twins (who were batting .354 off Millwood entering the game), there is still no excuse for being that bad.  Millwood had control issues the whole night, throwing his pitches dead center, right for the Twins to take advantage of him. 

The Ranger offense did it’s job, putting in 13 hits and five runs scored.  The pitching just betrayed them that night, as relievers Scott Feldman, Antonio Alfonseca and C.J. Wilson gave up five runs (three earned) in the last three innings, killing any chance of a rally.

The long term damage is that this kills any confidence in Millwood the fans have.  Now whenever Millwood is on the mound, we’re going to expect disaster to be just a step away, much as we do CJ Wilson whenever he’s on the mound.

I guess I shouldn’t feel too badly, as Randy Johnson got destroyed in Yankee Stadium that same night.

Bad night for aces, May 9^th was.

Jim Reeves Actually Wrote Something of Value…

Normally, I take whatever Jim Reeves writes up with a grain of salt.  But his recent article about the situation of the Rangers’ pitching kinda hit home for me a point that I had made several weeks ago about the Rangers finally having pitching.

He pointed out that with all the shifting of roster spots to several different starters, such as Rob Tejeda, Rick Bauer, and John Rheinecker, that we have virtually forgotten about the supposed saviors of the Rangers’ future rotation, Edinson Volquez, John Danks, and Thomas Diamond.

He had a point.  I hadn’t thought about them in weeks.

I’ve also forgotten about other players in the Texas system.

Adam Eaton – We’ve been so enamored with the job that John Koronka has done that we have forgotten the man responsible for his trade, Adam Eaton.  Eaton was slotted to be the second starter and was supposed to be fine here (not great).  He’ll be back in July, but I’m not sure he’ll stay with the Rangers long, as I think he’s going to be trade bait at the waiver wire deadline.

Josh Rupe – A great pitcher who wowed people when he came up last season in September, Rupe went down with an injury in Spring Training.  He’s been doing great in working to come back and he could be a option soon.

Brian Anderson – a veteran lefty, coming back from Tommy John surgery.  He should be available come September or so.  Maybe sooner.

All in all, this not only gives the Rangers depth, but valuable trade options, something Texas has not had in ages.  With such depth, the Rangers could also have the option of further restocking the farm system with more talented players, or maybe make a play to trade for a solid veteran pitcher or outfielder.

I can hear the Barry Zito trade talk start again.  Marvelous.

Plus, this takes the pressure off of Volquez, Danks, and Diamond, granting them the most vital ingredient necessary in player development:  Time.

Next week, we’ll take a look at how the 2007 Ranger Rotation may shape up.

A Casualty of Pitching Depth

Brian Shouse was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend for Enrique Cruz and a player to be named.  Though Shouse was one of the league's most effective situational left-handers in 2004, Shouse apparently no longer fits in with the Rangers’ plans.  It’s likely that the team is going to begin grooming another situation lefty, likely C.J. Wilson, Fabio Castro or Ron Mahay, though Mahay may be groomed into a starting pitcher and Castro as a long reliever, setup man or closer.  Combine that with starting pitchers John Danks and John Rheinecker in the system and you can see that there really was no reason to keep Shouse. 

San Diego Padres Rapidly Become Texas Rangers Pacific

Do we deal with any teams other than the Padres anymore? 

The Rangers traded for outfielder Freddy Guzman and pitcher Cesar Rojas from the San Diego Padres.  Guzman is a 25-year-old switch-hitter who is hitting .274 with a .348 on-base percentage in 30 games for Triple-A Portland, with 15 runs scored and 11 stolen bases.  He's had Tommy John surgery, but could still become something great.  As it was mentioned, he's got great speed and could challenge Adrian Brown for his bench job in the near future.  Rojas is a 19-year-old right-hander who was 2-4 with a 6.75 ERA for the Padres' Arizona Rookie League team.  In 49 1/3 innings, he gave up 48 hits and 32 walks while striking out 33.  He'll probably get sent to Class A Clinton for more work.  If he does well there, it's possible he could wind up at High Class A Bakersfield by the end of the year.

The Padres will get first baseman/outfielder Vincent Sinisi and pitcher John Hudgins.  Sinisi was the Rangers' second-round pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, an All-American out of Rice University whose career was set back by a severe broken arm suffered while playing at Class A Stockton in 2004. He is batting .271 in 32 combined games for Double-A Frisco and Oklahoma with no home runs and 16 RBIs.  The Rangers signed him for $2 million.  The Rangers hoped he would be a top offensive prospect, but he hit just 10 home runs and drove in just 51 runs in 383 combined at-bats between Class A Bakersfield and Frisco last year.  Hudgins was a third-round pick in the 2003 draft out of Stanford and is 1-1 with a 6.38 ERA at Oklahoma.  He was thought to be a great future rotation but, but he was 3-7 with a 5.87 ERA at Oklahoma in 19 starts last season and has fallen behind many of the Rangers' other top Minor League pitching prospects, most notably Edinson Volquez, John Danks, Thomas Diamond and Josh Rupe.

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.

On The Block:  Miguel Tejada

I started this week with a shortstop, so it’s only fitting that I end the week with one. 

Why He’s On The Block: Tejada is getting frustrated at the lack of moves that the Orioles have made.  When he signed with the Orioles, he was convinced that ownership was committed to building a winner.  Since then, the Orioles have had a late season collapse, their lights-out closer signing with a division rival, a steroid scandal, and the starter that was supposed to carry them flaming out into a drunken mess.  He’s also used to being in the post-season, as he was an integral part of those dominating Athletics teams that had a stranglehold over the American League West in the early part of the decade.  Also, the Orioles aren’t going to contend anytime soon.  By the time they are, Tejada will be in his decline phase and will have served no purpose for Baltimore.

Negotiable:  Yes.  The Orioles are under no obligation to trade him.  They can name their price.

What He Offers:  Tejada is still young and can help any team in need of a shortstop.  With that in mind, let’s see who could use Tejada:

·          Plus:  Good defender

·          Plus:  Provides power to a lineup. 

·          Plus:  Makes contact.

·          Plus:  Usually manages to get extra bases.

·          Plus:  Hits both left and right handers well.

·          Minus:  Can be terrible on the field.  Had more errors than Soriano last year.

·          Minus: Expensive player.

·          Minus:  Low on base percentage.

·          Minus:  Wasn’t all that much better on the diamond than Edgar Renteria.

He Stay Or Will He Go:  50%-%50% on him going, but to where?  Lots of teams can use a good offensive shortstop.  So let’s see where he could end up.

·          Boston Red Sox – 25%.   Boston still needs a shortstop, as Alex Gonzalez isn’t the long-term answer.  Tejada is still young enough where he could contribute to Boston for years.  Plus, he’s right handed, a plus when playing in Fenway.  Tejada would also benefit from playing with his buddies in the Boston clubhouse, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.  However, Boston would be forced to mortgage the farm for Tejada, and I’m not sure they’re willing to give up Jon Lester, Craig Hansen, and Dustin Pedroia for Tejada.  Still, this is the best fit for him.

·          Houston Astros – 22%.   The Astros almost landed Tejada in the off-season for a pack of Brandon Backe, Adam Everett, and Brad Lidge.  While their interest has almost certainly cooled a bit, they could make a run at Tejada for a package that includes Ezequiel Astacio, Adam Everett, and Chad Qualls, plus pitching prospects Juan Gutierrez and Brian Bogusevic.  It wouldn’t compromise the farm too much, as they would still hold on to their top pitchers in Jason Hirsh, Troy Patton, and Fernando Nieve.  Tejada would protect Lance Berkman in the lineup and provide the Astros with far more punch in their lineup.  Plus, Tejada would be able to take advantage of the left field porch in Minute Maid Park.  He’d do well with the Astros.  And with Leo Mazzone in Baltimore, he’d make be able to help Astacio refine his talent while helping the prospects along.  Everett would do well at shortstop and Qualls would make a fine closer. 

·          Chicago Cubs – 20%.   The Cubs have publicly said that they are backing Ronny Cedeno as their starting shortstop.  But rumor has it that the Cubs aren’t too confident in him and are looking for other options.  Tejada would add an added boost to the Cubbies lineup that they haven’t had since Moises Alou left.  The Cubs reportedly made an offer of Mark Prior and prospects during the off-season.  While Prior is a prime candidate of a person who could use Leo Mazzone’s tutelage, they would have to tack on much more than just prior, like one of their prized young starting pitchers.  That alone would probably scare off the Cubs.

·          Minnesota Twins – 15%.  Minnesota could use Tejada in order to give them that final offensive push that they need.  He would easily be the third or fourth hitter.  But Minnesota has long been shy about giving big contracts.  They would probably shy away from Tejada.

·          Chicago White Sox – 10%.   Tejada would be a upgrade over Juan Uribe.  He would bat fifth after Thome and Konerko, and in the hitters park that is US Cellular, he’d be great.  Again, there is also the matter of what Chicago would have to give up.  In this case, it would have to be their young starter Brandon McCarthy, plus other talent.  Too steep of a price here. 

·          St. Louis Cardinals – 5%.  Tejada would bring some serious thunder into the Cardinals lineup, batting cleanup behind Pujols.  He’d bring the extra offensive push that the Cards lost when they lost Edgar Renteria, plus be in a competitive division, year in and year old, something that Tejada yearns for.  The problem is that this would result in St. Louis having to take on more salary, and with payroll already near $100 million, this is not something they want to do.

·          Colorado Rockies – 3%.  The Rockies could use some power to protect Todd Helton.  However, they neither have the payroll, nor the farm system flexibility that other clubs have, which is a shame, as Tejada would be a monster in the National League, especially at Coors Field

·          Philadelphia Phillies - .0000000000000000000000000000000005%.  No reason, I just.felt like tossing this in to amuse a certain Philly fan that reads the blog.

End Result – Traded to the Boston Red Sox after the 2006 Season.

Adam Eaton went down early this week.  He’s going to be out three months.  At first, I was righteously pissed.  We traded for this guy, and now we aren’t going to see him till June?  (Yankee Fans!!!!  I Feel Your Pain!!!!!)   Then I realized that I really didn’t think Eaton would do well in Texas, and I thought that he’d be traded at the deadline. 

In reality, the Ranger rotation gets stronger without Eaton.  Millwood will be Millwood, no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.  Padilla strikes me as a good pitcher that will do well in Texas for years to come.  (He’s already said he wants to be a Ranger long term.)  But move Eaton out and put in Kameron Loe as the third starter and what results is a stronger starting three  rotation.  R.A. Dickey, a knuckleballer, is now the fourth starter, of which I am not to thrilled about having him there for a long period of time.  Do I think he’ll give us his best.  Yes.  Will it work?  Who knows?  At the very least, this means that Ranger fans will see many of the stars of the future in the fifth spot.  Very Houston Astros-esque.

I can understand why Randy Johnson is pissed off.  He still should be shot.  The mother of his love child sounds a little shady wanting money up front instead of directly accepting the actual needs of the daughter in question, Heather.  But still, the girl wants to meet her father and have a relationship.  Like it or not, she is your flesh and blood.  Do the right thing Randy.  Meet the girl.  No matter what excuse you can come up with, She’s still your daughter.

On Friday, March 24, Hee Seop Choi was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox.  It’s a decent, low risk pickup by Beantown and will give them more depth at first base if Lowell continues to flounder.  Choi has a good hitters eye and pretty good plate discipline.  He draws walks and hit surprisingly well at Dodger Stadium.  Still, he’s vulnerable against lefty pitching and is rather slow on the bases.  He’s a great defender and is pretty accurate when making the play.  I like it.

It isn’t officially baseball season until we see the following headline:  Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are on the DL.

Anna Benson is on the market.  Anna, we hardly knew ye...

CLOSER

SALARY RANGE: $5 Million - $7 Million USD per year

OPEN PERIOD: Monday, March 6, 2006 to Monday, March 3, 2006

POSITION INFORMATION: Full Time Term appt NTE 3 yrs

DUTY LOCATIONS:   1 vacancy – Atlanta, Georgia

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:  Anyone that can hold a lead in the 9^th.

JOB SUMMARY:

Atlanta Braves
Owning the National League East since 1995

In this position you will serve as the closer for the Atlanta Braves.  You will be involved in keeping the lead long enough to earn the save, or if necessary, be able to work to earn the win.  We are looking for someone with the ability to work under pressure and provide a consistent performance over the course of 162 games, plus playoffs.  Must be able to work consecutive nights if necessary. 

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

·          Must be able to throw 93-95 mph, plus a reasonable breaking ball.

·          Must be able to deal with early playoff exits. 

To say that the Atlanta Braves need a closer is an understatement.  While the Braves have done just fine without a solid closer (look at their past performance.  15 Playoff Appearances and 1 World Series Title), a solid closer helps solidify the bullpen and gives you something to build around.  And last I checked, the only time the Braves had a solid option at closer was 2003-2004, when John Smoltz took over the job.  Look at the Mets, who were without a reliable closer all season last year.  While they did go a respectable 83-79, take a look closer at Braden Looper’s record.  8 Blown Saves.  7 Losses.  They finished 6 games behind the Astros for the Wild Card.  Things don’t get any better when you look with Chris Reitsma now out with injury, leaving Oscar Villarreal and Joey Devine as the only other options.  Will Atlanta magically come up with some solution, like aways.  Probably.  They're still going to win that division.  And they'll still bow out in the Divison Series.

Joe Thiesman has got to be the worst football analyst out there.  Monday Night Football is going to be a disaster.

This has got to be the greatest picture I've seen this week: