Evin Thayer Photography, Houston, Texas
EvinThayer.com

Lance Berkman the prodical son returns to Texas after signing a one year/$10M deal with the Rangers. The deal includes a vesting option for the 2014 season that kicks in at 550 plate appearances as well as a $1M buyout. Berkman gives Texas a designated hitter after Michael Young was dealt to the Phillies. Berkman because of his knees, should see VERY limited time at first base, if any.

Berkman made just 97 plate appearances last season as he battled a recurring knee issue that required two surgeries. He was going to retire, but the promise on another lucrative contract was enough to entice him back into playing in 2013. In 2011, he was fantastic, hitting .301/.412/.547 in 587 plate appearances for the Cardinals. A return to the American League could help the 36 year old slugger stay healthy as he can play DH regularly.

The addition of Berkman helps replace the offense the Rangers have lost this off-season. Josh Hamilton left Texas for the rival Angels earlier this winter and Mike Napoli appears Boston bound, though contract negotiations have stalled as a result of medical issues.

I think the addition now of catcher A.J. Pierzynski, a full season of top prospects, Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar and now Berkman almost, if not, make up for the offense lost with Hamilton, Napoli, and Young. Of course I still think the Rangers make a move, possibly including Olt in a deal for another bat before spring training or in July before the trade deadline.

- Free-agent catcher Mike Napoli is headed to the Boston Red Sox on a 3-year, $39 million deal.

Oddly the Rangers decided not to make a qualifying offer of $13.3 million to Napoli, so they won’t receive any draft-pick compensation in return.

Napoli hit .227 in 2012, but had 24 homers and 56 RBIs with 53 runs. That was a drop-off from his production in 2011, when he had a memorable second half, hitting .383 and performing well in October.

- Also the Rangers agreed to terms with catcher Geovany Soto last night. The deal is for $2.75 million with $250,000 in incentives. So that gives Texas a backstop, but they still need another. It’s a thin free-agent market, though A.J. Pierzynski is still available. Perhaps the Rangers will look at the trade market. The Blue Jays have a surplus of catchers and perhaps would part with John Buck or J.P. Arencibia.

Napoli crushed the ball at Fenway Park in a small sample size. He has a .306 average and a .710 slugging percentage in 19 games with seven homers and 17 RBIs.

Napoli will be missed, he quickly became a fan favorite. But at this cost and the Red Sox needing him more than the Rangers it makes sense for the Red Sox to push and sign him with the hole they had at first base. 

So that leads to this tweet from Ken Rosenthal earlier today:

@Ken_Rosenthal

“The exciting thing for San Antonio is that this is going to be the first time that baseball is going to be played at the Alamodome,” Reid Ryan said. “For the Rangers, to be able to extend the brand in Round Rock and now down in San Antonio is going to be good for baseball and good for the Rangers and their fans.”

And with that quote from Ryan, the people of San Antonio need to get their scorecards ready. America’s pastime is headed to the Alamodome.

As someone who has about 500 baseball books sitting on his shelves, you might imagine it’s very difficult to choose a starting nin,e but I gave it a shot.

I have a friend coming over from Europe in about ten days who’s never been to a baseball game [we're going to two games when he's here], and he will receive a copy of each of these from me to take back.

1. The boys of Summer [1987] Roger Kahn- A combination memoir and profile of the early 1950′s Brooklyn Dodgers is considered one of the greatest sports books ever written– not just about baseball, but all sports. Kahn covered the team as a young newspaper reporter. It’s about the team that broke the color barrier and weaves from the 1930′s to 1970′s, years later after the players have retired.

» Continue reading “Baseball Books: The Starting Nine”

(Photo courtesy of flickr.com user Keith Allison.)

This was the second game in a day/ night split squad day for the team. 

Thusday evening, potential long man/ sixth starter Scott Feldman faced off against the Reds and their big offseason trade acquisition 24-year-old right-handed starter Mat Latos.  (Re: Latos – The price tag was quite daunting as they give up top prospects - infielder Yonder Alonso and catcher Yasmani Grandal, along with starting pitcher Edinson Volquez.)

Feldman gave up back to back to back doubles in the first and SIX of them overall in 4  1/3 innings of work (he was scheduled to go five). He also struck out three, walked one and gave up two runs.

» Continue reading “While You Were Sleeping… Rangers 2, Reds 6″

Oy, more rockiness against the Rockies. Could it be any more ironic? Man, what happened boys? I’m starting to get used to the no pitching during Spring Training, but no hitting either?

No office baseball today people….even though I’m pretty sure I would have looked better with my rubberband ball than the Rangers did today.

Nefty had a pretty good start, striking out Young and Tulowitzki and getting Scutaro to fly out in the first. In the second, he gave up back to back doubles and the Rockies were on the board 1-0.

MINI RANT: Is anyone else convinced that Neftali Feliz should NOT be a starter? Don’t get me wrong- I love the guy- I just don’t think he has the mental capacity to be a legit starter. Someone please wake up and get that guy back to the pen STAT!

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: No Fireworks For The Rangers”

Dock Ellis had a pretty colorful MLB career.  He was known for many things long before he showed up in Arlington to pitch for the Rangers.   He was traded here during the early portion of 1977 and traded away early 1979.

• His most famous famous feat occurred on June 12, 1970 when Ellis pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres while on LSD
• On May 5, 1972, a security guard maced him in Cincinnati when Ellis didn’t identify himself and made threatening gestures at him.
• On May 1, 1974, Ellis attempted to hit every batter on the Cincinnati Reds as retaliation for the macing incident in Cincinnati. He faced five batters, hit three and was removed by his manager, Danny Murtaugh.
• Ellis also collaborated with future U.S. Poet Laureate Donald Hall on a book, Dock Ellis in the Country of Baseball, which was published in 1976, the year before he came to the Rangers.

After being traded to the Rangers in early 1977, Ellis was pretty good, going 10-6 with an 2.90 ERA for a team that won 94 games, but finished 8 games out of first. In 1978, he had another pretty good campaign, going 9-7 with an 4.20 ERA. In early 1979, an aging Ellis, 34, struggled, going 1-5 with an 5.98 ERA and was shipped to the Mets, who in turn shipped him back to the Pirates where he started. That would be his last year in the majors.  While with the Rangers the controversy didn’t stop.  Ellis led a player insurrection against manager Billy Hunter’s authoritarian style, declaring that Hunter “may be Hitler, but he ain’t making no lampshade out of me.”

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: Where Have You Been Dock Ellis?”

Pic Courtesy of Laura Schulte!

I always get caught off guard during spring training. It takes me a second to remember that it’s actually spring training and not regular season because I’m so excited baseball is back.

I have to remember the purpose is to ‘groom’ the team, not to crush the competition! It’s so hard though! I also get irritated during spring training because the games I want to watch are never televised and the box scores are almost impossible to read… but thanks to a handy co-worker, MLB radio came through for me…Score for me!

So I scored with MLB radio at work and the Texas Rangers scored, well, with everyone (almost). Final score against the Diamondbacks? 16-3. Yowsers. One thing’s for sure….no one can say our team can’t hit.

The Rangers jumped on the Diamondbacks starting pitcher, Joe Saunders, early and scored in every inning except the 5th and the 9th. They racked up a total of 16 runs, 19 hits, with homeruns from Leonys Martin and Yangervis Solarte.

Matt Harrison looked pretty good for his spring training debut, pitching two innings and only giving up one hit (and one hit batter but shhhhh, if we don’t talk about it no one will know). Hamburger, Ross, Eppley, Brigham, Miller, and Castillo all pitched with the only runs coming off a 3 run jack against Brigham.

For the most part I’m pretty impressed with the new guys. We’ll see what tomorrow brings. Do YU know what tomorrow is? Darvish’s Debut!!!!

The Texas Rangers have officially avoided arbitration on all ends by signing Nelson Cruz to a  two year deal and Mike Napoli to a one year deal.

Nelly ‘Boomstick’ Cruz was signed to a two year, 16 million dollar contract which keeps him out of arbitration this winter and next year. He will be eligible for free agency after the 2013 season. According to Texas Rangers officials, they felt the deal was right for the time being, but it doesn’t exclude anything in the future.

Nelly wants to stay in Texas, which is awesome for fans. He’s productive, he’s a  power hitter (duh, Boomstick anyone?) and he goes all out, all of the time.

The Rangers signed Napoli to a one year deal worth 9.4 million. Compared to the 11.5 million he was asking for, I personally think we got a bargain. Yes, I know…9.4 million is a ton (I wish I had $9) but with the production Dirtbag put out last year I’m happy with keeping him at a reasonable price.

I’m extremely happy Dirtbag is staying….The guy has come light years in his catching abilities in the last season and his bat was on fire. Not to mention he’s a down and dirty player, he does what needs to be done…. he has heart. By the way, has anyone seen his wife? Let’s keep her happy Nap, maybe she’ll keep you in Texas.

All in all these guys are awesome. They love their team, we love them, and that’s the way things go in Texas.

April 28, 1:05 PM CT

Starters

Toronto: #23 Morrow 0-1, 5.06 ERA

Texas: #41 Ogando 3-0, 2.13 ERA

» Continue reading “Gameday: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers”