Texas Preview: Hit Them with Their Best Shot
Remember how two years ago, the Rangers traded selfish old Alex Rodriguez for Alfonso Soriano, and then the Rangers didn’t completely stink, and it was because they got rid of selfish old A-Rod? And how last year, they weren’t really good (79 wins), but better than they had been during A-Rod’s selfish days, and that must have been because Soriano was a better player?
We wonder how the A-Rod haters will react this year, with Soriano gone, and the fruits of the A-Rod trade reduced to Brad Wilkerson and Termel Sledge.
Regardless, the Rangers nearly reached the break-even mark last year, and it wasn’t because Rodriguez was a bum or Soriano was the second coming of Eddie Collins. It was because they finally found pitching decent enough to keep the games close enough so the offense could bludgeon the other side.
1. So how ‘bout that offense, eh?
Great googaly moogaly, it was good last year. The Rangers led the league in homers, OPS, and total bases, and finished third in OPS and runs scored. They were a little lax in OBP (.329, 7th in the league), but that was offset by the power hitters.
The good news is that the best hitter in the lineup is back and should be entering his prime. Mark Teixeira is a wonder, and a guy all you fantasy geeks should have high on your draft list. Supporting him in the lineup are Michael Young (gotta love those power-hitting shortstops) and Hank Blalock. Blalock is justifiably taking some heat for his mercurial streaks and his inability to hit lefties, but he’s a serviceable sixth place hitter.
The outfield features three guys who surprised me last year – David Delucci, Kevin Mench, and Gary Matthews Jr. Delucci and Mench were two guys who never seemed to live up to their press clippings, and thus were labeled disappointments. Maybe the nurturing care of Buck Showalter helped, but these two were able to stay productive enough to open some eyes.
Little Sarge isn’t a great offensive force. But he gets on base enough to avoid being a complete void, and he’s still an above-average center-fielder. He’s another guy who has found a niche in Arlington.
2. Will the pitching be decent enough again?
Good question. They are certainly an interesting bunch.
The starting rotation has been gutted since the season ended. Right now, it looks like the only sure bets among the starters are Adam Eaton, Kevin Millwood, and Vincente Padilla, all newcomers.
Milwood is unlikely to repeat his 2005 season, but he should eat innings. Padilla has terrific stuff, but he needs to get it together after pitching himself out of Philadelphia. I like Eaton the best, but he has his own health issues to keep an eye on.
After those three, it’s wide open. Looking at the roster, I’m guessing that Joaquin Benoit, Juan Dominguez, Jon Leicester, R.A. Dickey, John Wasdin, Edison Volquez, and C.J. Wilson might have a chance of getting a rotation spot (some more than others, but a chance nonetheless). And there will probably be a few other non-roster invites getting a look, like Brian Anderson. I can’t even begin to handicap those races.
The bullpen is still a work in progress. Closer Francisco Cordero acquitted himself well in the role, but I wouldn’t count him among the elite just yet. After Cordero, things get a little more iffy.
Perhaps I’m a bit harsh, but when I look at the rest of the relievers I can’t really get excited about any of them. That’s not a knock on them. It’s not a terrible group, but I don’t think it’s a strength yet.
That could change, of course. It’s easy enough to find some guys to help shore up the pen. Two names I’ve heard bandied about are Akinori Otsuko and Fabio Castro, another pair of newbies, who (if they’re as good as the hype) can certainly help.
3. What about the guys the got for Soriano?
Sledge and Wilkerson will give Showalter some choices to make as he fills out the lineup card. Wilkerson can play first and the outfield, but I don’t know if he’s an improvement over Matthews in either defense or OBA. Sledge was a heralded young prospect in Montreal who struggled and fell out of favor (or maybe Frank Robinson just hates young players, too).
Richard Hidalgo’s timely departure opens up an outfield slot. But Laynce Nix says he’s healthy enough to play, too. Add in Mench and Delucci and that leave six players for the three outfield positions and DH. But that’s only if Sledge and Wilkerson can prove to Showalter they deserve the playing time.
Perhaps GM Jon Daniels will look to flip one or more of those guys to bolster another area (pitching, perhaps)? I’ll take the lazy way out again and wait for training camp to sort it all out.
One more new guy to mention – Ian Kinsler. With Soriano gone, the second base gig is his to lose. The team is paying lip service to the idea that he has to win the job. But there’s no one else who’s really any better coming to camp, and Kinsler’s been one of the team’s top prospects for a while now. If Kinsler can’t handle it, second base goes to Mark DeRosa or D’Angelo Jimenez, neither of which gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
For the first time in a few years, I can see the Rangers making some noise in the AL West. And not just from the post-homer fireworks show.
Oh, the offensive pyrotechnics will still be there. But this year, they might be able to put together a respectable rotation. And if Showalter and his staff can find some arms to buttress the three new top-of-the-rotation starters, they could stay in contention all year.
A more likely scenario is another year around the .500 mark. But with that offense, even some incremental improvement in the pitching staff can give the Rangers a lift into the post-season.
We wonder how the A-Rod haters will react this year, with Soriano gone, and the fruits of the A-Rod trade reduced to Brad Wilkerson and Termel Sledge.
Regardless, the Rangers nearly reached the break-even mark last year, and it wasn’t because Rodriguez was a bum or Soriano was the second coming of Eddie Collins. It was because they finally found pitching decent enough to keep the games close enough so the offense could bludgeon the other side.
1. So how ‘bout that offense, eh?
Great googaly moogaly, it was good last year. The Rangers led the league in homers, OPS, and total bases, and finished third in OPS and runs scored. They were a little lax in OBP (.329, 7th in the league), but that was offset by the power hitters.
The good news is that the best hitter in the lineup is back and should be entering his prime. Mark Teixeira is a wonder, and a guy all you fantasy geeks should have high on your draft list. Supporting him in the lineup are Michael Young (gotta love those power-hitting shortstops) and Hank Blalock. Blalock is justifiably taking some heat for his mercurial streaks and his inability to hit lefties, but he’s a serviceable sixth place hitter.
The outfield features three guys who surprised me last year – David Delucci, Kevin Mench, and Gary Matthews Jr. Delucci and Mench were two guys who never seemed to live up to their press clippings, and thus were labeled disappointments. Maybe the nurturing care of Buck Showalter helped, but these two were able to stay productive enough to open some eyes.
Little Sarge isn’t a great offensive force. But he gets on base enough to avoid being a complete void, and he’s still an above-average center-fielder. He’s another guy who has found a niche in Arlington.
2. Will the pitching be decent enough again?
Good question. They are certainly an interesting bunch.
The starting rotation has been gutted since the season ended. Right now, it looks like the only sure bets among the starters are Adam Eaton, Kevin Millwood, and Vincente Padilla, all newcomers.
Milwood is unlikely to repeat his 2005 season, but he should eat innings. Padilla has terrific stuff, but he needs to get it together after pitching himself out of Philadelphia. I like Eaton the best, but he has his own health issues to keep an eye on.
After those three, it’s wide open. Looking at the roster, I’m guessing that Joaquin Benoit, Juan Dominguez, Jon Leicester, R.A. Dickey, John Wasdin, Edison Volquez, and C.J. Wilson might have a chance of getting a rotation spot (some more than others, but a chance nonetheless). And there will probably be a few other non-roster invites getting a look, like Brian Anderson. I can’t even begin to handicap those races.
The bullpen is still a work in progress. Closer Francisco Cordero acquitted himself well in the role, but I wouldn’t count him among the elite just yet. After Cordero, things get a little more iffy.
Perhaps I’m a bit harsh, but when I look at the rest of the relievers I can’t really get excited about any of them. That’s not a knock on them. It’s not a terrible group, but I don’t think it’s a strength yet.
That could change, of course. It’s easy enough to find some guys to help shore up the pen. Two names I’ve heard bandied about are Akinori Otsuko and Fabio Castro, another pair of newbies, who (if they’re as good as the hype) can certainly help.
3. What about the guys the got for Soriano?
Sledge and Wilkerson will give Showalter some choices to make as he fills out the lineup card. Wilkerson can play first and the outfield, but I don’t know if he’s an improvement over Matthews in either defense or OBA. Sledge was a heralded young prospect in Montreal who struggled and fell out of favor (or maybe Frank Robinson just hates young players, too).
Richard Hidalgo’s timely departure opens up an outfield slot. But Laynce Nix says he’s healthy enough to play, too. Add in Mench and Delucci and that leave six players for the three outfield positions and DH. But that’s only if Sledge and Wilkerson can prove to Showalter they deserve the playing time.
Perhaps GM Jon Daniels will look to flip one or more of those guys to bolster another area (pitching, perhaps)? I’ll take the lazy way out again and wait for training camp to sort it all out.
One more new guy to mention – Ian Kinsler. With Soriano gone, the second base gig is his to lose. The team is paying lip service to the idea that he has to win the job. But there’s no one else who’s really any better coming to camp, and Kinsler’s been one of the team’s top prospects for a while now. If Kinsler can’t handle it, second base goes to Mark DeRosa or D’Angelo Jimenez, neither of which gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
For the first time in a few years, I can see the Rangers making some noise in the AL West. And not just from the post-homer fireworks show.
Oh, the offensive pyrotechnics will still be there. But this year, they might be able to put together a respectable rotation. And if Showalter and his staff can find some arms to buttress the three new top-of-the-rotation starters, they could stay in contention all year.
A more likely scenario is another year around the .500 mark. But with that offense, even some incremental improvement in the pitching staff can give the Rangers a lift into the post-season.
posted by Bob at
9:33 PM
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