News and Notes

Texas re-signed infielder Guilder Rodriguez, 2B/OF Alejandro Selen (a potential six-year minor-league free agent), and RHP Daniel Lopez.

Full-Season Position Players of the Year

1. 3B Mike Olt (Age 24, AA, .288/.398/.579, 46 XBH, 14% BB rate, 4 SB)

Olt led Texas’s minor leaguers with 28 homers in only 95 games, drew a lot of walks, and played excellent defense at third.  He had a brief MLB campaign hampered by plantar fasciitis, Olt barely played down the stretch. But when he played he didn’t hit much. Despite the disappointing conclusion, Olt confirmed his status among baseball’s best prospects during the course of the season.  He’s going to be a solid Major Leaguer. In what should be a busy offseason, Olt’s status is as undefined as anyone in the organization.  In recent years, Texas hasn’t used Spring Training as a tryout camp except for role players, so Olt will probably know his short-term future no later than March 1st. He could be in Texas, Round Rock, or traded to another franchise.

2. SS Jurickson Profar (Age 19, AA, .281/.368/.452, 47 XBH, 12% BB rate, 16 SB) 

Fantastic. Elite. Will be with Rangers in 2013. 

3. CF Leonys Martin (Age 24, AAA, .359/.422/.610, 32 XBH, 9% BB rate, 10 SB)

Statistically, Martin pummeled the opposition.  He only played in 55 games, Martin missed six weeks with a thumb injury after an ill-advised head-first slide but hit as well as ever when he returned. Martin did not affirm his status as Texas’s 2013 CF.  His use of plus running and defensive tools felt short at times.  Like Olt, circumstances and lack of instant production hurt him. Additional AAA seasoning doesn’t serve much purpose. Is a Martin/Gentry platoon in center what the Rangers go with in 2013? 

4. 3B Drew Robinson (Age 20, low-A, .273/.409/.444, 40 XBH, 17% BB rate, 10 SB)

After a highly disappointing 2011 in Spokane, the left-handed Robinson again started slowly then hit 13 homers and spent a fair amount of time at 2B.  His platoon split was huge. Robinson was drafted in 2010 as an uncommonly polished high-school hitter.  The year matched the results. Myrtle Beach, then Frisco in 2013.

5. RF Joey Butler (Age 26, AAA, .290/.392/.473, 49 XBH, 14% BB rate, 6 SB)

Butler in 2012 he improved his walk rate, struck out less and smacked a career-high 20 homers. He’s a corner outfielder who will be 27 next season.  In a lesser organization, or with the Rangers during the early part of the previous decade, he would have already stepped onto a Major League field. Round Rock or another organization in 2013. 

6. 1B Chris McGuiness (Age 24, AA, .268/.366/.474, 48 XBH, 13% BB rate, 0 SB)

After an injury-plagued 2011, McGuiness showed why Texas wanted him in the Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade.  He ranked fourth in the Texas League in homers (23) and walks (69). McGuiness was in the Arizona Fall League’s Rising Stars game, but he doesn’t hit for average, wasn’t young for the level and plays a position that demands hefty offense.  He has to keep producing.  Round Rock in 2013.

7. 2B Leury Garcia (Age 21, AA, .292/.337/.398, 25 XBH, 5% BB rate, 31 SB)

2012: After an impressive AFL, Garcia made incremental gains offensively and eliminated much of the inconsistency from his dazzling defense at second and short. Slowly, steadily, Garcia has improved. Turns 22 in March, will be at Round Rock in 2013.

8. 2B Odubel Herrera (Age 20, high-A, .284/.335/.382, 33 XBH, 6% BB rate, 27 SB)

Steady, solid. Mixed.  Herrera handled the level and will reach AA as a 21-year-old.  On the downside, another tryout at shortstop proceeded poorly.  Assuming he’s done there, his future depends more heavily on his bat. Frisco in 2013.

9. SS Hanser Alberto (Age 19, low-A and high-A, .299/.327/.410, 39 XBH, 4% BB rate, 24 SB)

Contact-oriented shortstop improved greatly from 2011 at Spokane.  Was in Carolina League while still a teenager and was the youngest hitter with at least 200 plate appearances in the league .  At mid-season, he simply stopped taking pitches, drawing only two walks in his last 78 games. Status is up.  Alberto showed fans what Texas sees in him. Frisco in 2013.  But don’t view a repeat of the Carolina League as a setback.

10. CF Engel Beltre (Age 22, AA, .261/.307/.420, 47 XBH, 4% BB rate, 36 SB)

Beltre hit for power and had his best year in stolen bases. He’s a top-notch defender in center. The power surge is nice, and the statistics, Beltre’s plate approach hasn’t changed.  His percentages of pitches taken, swings-and-misses and other categories were unchanged. Including playoffs, Beltre has played 317 Double-A games. Wow. Round Rock in 2013, if he’s still with the organization.

I miss the happy Texas Rangers.

Today, I was supposed to be getting ready to go to a game at RBiA to see the Rangers play. Instead I’m sitting at work and trying to figure out what I’m going to have for dinner tonight.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Over the next few months, I expect to see a lot of changes in the makeup of the Texas Rangers. A few of the key players for this team over the past few years are free agents (i.e. Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli, among others). Along with the possibility of not resigning at least one of those two, I expect a few trades. I think they need some new blood in the clubhouse that isn’t bitter or beaten down about the past couple of postseasons.

This team needs to start over.

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: Let’s Beat A Dead Horse!”

(Image via flickr.com user mikelachance816)

Mariners 6, Rangers 3

The Starter

Martin Perez took Scott Feldman’s start this time through the rotation. Perez went only four innings, allowing six hits, giving up four runs [three earned], two walks and three strike outs. Funny that Scott Feldman relieved Perez going three innings and allowing only one hit, while striking out five. Alexi Ogando pitched the eighth inning, giving up a two out home run to of all people Miguel Olivio and striking out two. Rangers still have to wonder if that forearm stiffness is bothering him. Ogando has given up eight home runs in 60 innings. The staff as a whole combined for two walks and ten strikeouts.

» Continue reading “No Beltre, No Hamilton, Rangers Offense Dives Into Puget Sound”

(Image via Keith Allison.)

The finale of the 4 game series against the Minnesota Twins got underway after a 1 hour and 26 minute rain delay.  Rangers’ starter, Scott Feldman, wasn’t helped much by the defense which put up 2 errors in the 3rd, allowing the Twins to go up 3-2.  Feldman would pitch 5 2/3 innings, gave up 10 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), walked 1 and struck out 4.

Heading into the bottom of the 6th and the Rangers down 6-2, Josh Hamilton did his best to get a comeback going by swatting a home run that would make things 6-4.  A Nelson Cruz BOOMSTICK would get the Rangers a run closer.  Unfortunately, the Rangers couldn’t mount another comeback, failing to complete the sweep of the Twins.

FINAL: Rangers 5, Twins 6

Game Notes:

• Craig Gentry and Ian Kinsler collided on a play that ended the top of the 5th.  Gentry was down for a bit, but remained in the game.  Good thing too, as he saved a potential 2-run home run with a crazy awesome catch in the 9th.  Kitten Face has some ups!
• Josh’s home run in the 6th was his 35th of the year which leads the AL.  He had 4 RBI for the day.  His 111 RBI for the year tops all of baseball.
• Today is Elvis Andrus’ birthday, who didn’t start, but did pinch hit in the 7th and took over at short stop for the remainder of the game.
• The Rangers now have 3 players with 20 or more home runs.  They are Hamilton, Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz.
• Koji Uehara made his first relief appearance for the Rangers since June 9.  Uehara gave up 1 hit in 1 inning of work.

(Image via Keith Allison.)

With the game tied, 1-1 heading into the 5th, it looked like Scott Feldman had a pretty good shot at getting his 7th win of the season.  Unfortunately, with 1 out, things began to unravel.

A triple (on a play that probably could have been made by Gentry if Gentry ever played…) to center field would give the Orioles a 2-1 lead with only 1 out.  The O’s would go on to score 3 more runs that inning on a double and a 2-run home run.  Feldman, who was actually pretty solid until seeing the O’s the 3rd time through, lasted 5 innings, giving up 5 runs (4 earned), striking out 4 and walking only 1.

The Rangers mounted a glimmer of a comeback in the 7th, on a Geovany Soto 2-run home run, but it wouldn’t be enough.

Hopefully, the boys can bounce back in today’s rubber match between Derek Holland and former Rangers Tommy Hunter.  Game starts at 7:05pm CT.

FINAL: Rangers 3, Orioles 5

(Image via Keith Allison)

FINAL: Rangers 10, Yankees 6

The starter and the game 

This game was normal and Derek Holland was fantastic until the bottom of the sixth inning. Staked to a 4-0 lead, Holland gave up 5 runs, 4 earned, on 4 hits and a game tying home run to Andruw Jones. Washington’s mad[dening] genius lineup included Mike Olt making only his fourth start in the outfield and for the first time in the majors.

The ‘pen

Tanner Scheppers relieved Holland, pitching 2/3 of an inning, giving up 2 hits and and a run. Micheal Kirkman pitched an inning, walking one and striking out one. Mike Adams pitched the eighth, walking one and striking out two. Joe Nathan pitched the ninth only allowing a hit.

The bats

Everyone had a hit except Moreland, who drew two intentional walks. The team had 16 hits overall and 6 walks. David Murphy led the way with 3 hits and Andrus, Young, Hamilton, Beltre and Soto all had two each. Beltre and Gentry had three RBI each.

End of the bench notes

- Elvis had two hits today, making it four years in a row where he’s had two hits on the death date of Elvis Presley

- Pitcher wins don’t matter, but Tanner Scheppers got his first

On deck

RH Yu Darvish [12-8, 4.54 ERA, 99 ERA+, 1.46 WHIP] v Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ [8-10, 5.04 ERA, 81 ERA+, 1.44 WHIP]

Welcome back, Josh.

Some things I learned during today’s 10-9 win over the Red Sox:

1.   No run is ever safe at Fenway.  The Rangers were up 3-0 in the 1st, but quickly saw that lead disappear by the 4th.  They would then go up 6-3, but would give back 2 more runs in the bottom of the 5th.  They would then score 3 more runs in the 6th and 7th, but would then let the Red Sox tie it 9-9 in the bottom of the 7th.  Thankfully, the Rangers would score 1 more in the top of the 9th and Joe Nathan would

2.  Roy Oswalt should never ever pitch more than 2 innings.  Despite what he says.  Oswalt came in in the bottom of the 5th and (ignoring a passed ball by Soto, scoring a run) was able to strike out Shoppach.  He then proceeded to pitch a perfect 6th.  Then came the 7th… single, double, walk, home run… And we’re tied 9-9.  Sigh.

3.  I think it may be safe to say that Josh Hamilton has found his swing again.  After a 3-5 day, including a triple and a home run (his 30th), Hamilton has now hit safely in his last 7 games with 11 RBI.

4.  Replay never works in the Rangers favor.  Nelson Cruz hit what looked like a home run from where I sat, but was ruled a foul ball on the field AND after replay.  Sigh.  Thankfully, it didn’t matter.

5.  I don’t think we’re ever going to see Gentry play again.  Gentry has only had 1 start since July 29.  Yet Michael Young hasn’t sat since June 19.

6.  Matt Harrison had his shortest outing since May 2, lasting only 4 2/3 innings.  That said, it was announced that Harry had a stomach virus and was given fluids prior to the game.  So, there’s that…

7.  Alexi Ogando = Bad ass.  2 perfect innings.  2 strike outs.

(Image via Keith Allison.)

While Rangers fans wait to find out what sort of voodoo magic trade Jon Daniels has up his sleeve, the Rangers took the field in the final game of their series against the Red Sox.  Your match up: Derek Holland vs Josh Beckett.

So, who knows what sort of outcome we’ll get…

Well, thankfully Rangers fans were blessed with good Derek Holland. Finally. Yeah, he wasn’t perfect, but he was light years better than that shell of a pitcher we’ve been graced with lately.  Holland, who had a pretty rough outing last time, went 7 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 of which were solo shots).  Holland finally had his off-speed stuff working for him tonight, and as we all know, that usually leads to good things.  Let’s hope he sticks around for a while.  You know, through October…

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: Dutch Oven, Boomstick And A Win”

Today was a very confusing day for me. Maybe it was the fact that I’ve only gotten about 4 hours of sleep in the last 4 days…Maybe it was Ichiro going to the Yankees (yeah I did NOT see that one coming)…Maybe it was Colby going on the DL again (this time for the rest of the season)…Maybe it was looking up and seeing that the Athletics swept the Yanks and are a half a game behind the Angels (what the?)…

After all of this confusing madness that is going on, there is one thing I know for sure. I HEART the Rangers!!!  I especially love them when they get their bats going and put up a butt ton of runs. It makes me happy.

The Rangers were back in the great state of Texas after a long road trip to take on the Boston Red Sox. Oswalt was scratched and Scott Feldman was brought in from the pen to make a spot start. I’m not going to lie, I thought Feldman was going to give up a ton of runs and I was going to bed early.

Good thing I didn’t! Ole Scotty looked good tonight. He went 7 innings, gave up 1 run and struckout 5. Boston got out front in the second when Salty hit a bomb giving the Sox a 1-0 lead. I guess the Rangers were happy to be home…they went crazy with the bats.

The bats….yes, they were the big story tonight. Kinsler went 3-4, Hamilton, Kins, Syder and Beltre all had doubles, Napoli hit a ding dong. It was a good night. Welcome back to Texas Mr. Valentine.

FINAL: Rangers 9, Red Sox 1

photo courtesy of Keith Allison

Mike Napoli welcomed himself back to Los Angeles of Anaheim by sending 2 ding dongs into the stands. Yu Darvish, excited about the offensive support he received, pitched 7 strong innings, giving up 2 runs, and striking out 11. The Rangers would go on to take game 2 of the series by a final score of 9 to 2. Yu Darvish picked up his 11th win and the Rangers hold a 6 game lead.

The Rangers offense finally decided to pulled their heads out of their asses and started hitting. Michael Young led things off in the 1st with an RBI single that scored Andrus. In the 2nd, the Rangers sent a few long ball gifts for the casual Angel fan. First it was Napoli, then Yorvit Torrealba, and finally, Adrian Beltre.

Mixed in the homer action was a Ian Kinsler double to score Craig Gentry.All of the 2nd inning action was enough to end Ervin Santana’s start as he was sent packing with 6 wonderful earned runs.

While still being inspired by his 2nd inning gift, Mike Napoli, the nice guy he is, sent another solo gift into the outfield stands.

The Rangers would add a couple more runs in the 8th off a Ian Kinsler homer, the Angels would score a couple for themselves, but the final score had the Rangers with more runs (9), which is greater than (2)…if my math is correct.

Alexi Ogando relieved Darvish in the 8th and sent the Angels hitters back to the dugout with no damage done. He would finish the 8th with 2 strikeouts. Joe Nathan cartwheeled into the 9th and finished the Angels off completely.

The Rangers and Angels finish their 3 game series tomorrow evening at 7:00 pm on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.