"Open at your own risk" - 2010 Rangers season 3

[Goodson]

First off: my pick for team's 2010 season record:

91-71 -- a four-game improvement over last year's record that should keep 'em in contention for the division title and/or wild card spot 'til the end of the season.

First: a look at the pitching.

The Rangers have 30 (thirty!) hurlers in camp. The talent pool is unquestionably deeper than last year's ... but talk about question marks!

Can Harden stay healthy?

Was Feldman a one-year wonder?

Can McCarthy and Harrison stay healthy?

Does C.J. Wilson make the switch to starter?

And, if so, who takes his role as set-up man to Frankie?

Can Hunter and Holland take a step forward from '09 seasons that saw them wilt in the closing month of the season?

What will we see from Colby Lewis -- the prodigal returning from Japan who many are projecting as the #3 starter?

Does Feilz wind up in the rotation or in the bullpen?

And, if in the bullpen: should he be looked at as the team's closer ... flipping Frankie back to the role he had as set-up man prior to becoming the closer a couple of years back?

Can either of the Dominican hurlers who have been locked out of MLB because of their ill-advised involvement in human trafficing (Dominican players who were enticed by organized crime there to "marry" and bring their "wives" with them to the States to circumvent immigration laws) make a contribution?

And can the pitching hold up well enough that another position player can be carried on the roster (compared to last year, when there were times when only 2 non-pitching reserves were carried)?


And the questions don't stop there. On offense:

Can Hamilton bounce back from a tepid '09 to post numbers as he did through the first 2/3 of '08 when he was "Mr. Everything?"

Can Vlad stay healthy and give us a full season at DH?

Which Chris Davis will we see -- the one who struggled mightily in the first half ... or who seemed to turn a corner in the last third of the season after a stint in the minors?

Will Kinsler ever learn some plate discipline and tap the potential that's there (.300 batting average, 25-30 homers with increased walks and OBP).

Can Cruz hit like a middle-of-the-order hitter in terms of increased RBIs?

Can Borbon prove to be the leadoff hitter that we've been looking for, like, forever?

Can Salty fully recover from his shoulder woes?

If so, can we identify a back-up catcher that will allow Teagarden to go back to AAA and work on his game?

And on defense:

Can Borbon show an acceptable arm in center?

Will Hamilton have a problem adjusting to left field (a position he's played only sparingly in his MLB career).

Can the infield defense maintain its improved level of play that we saw in '09?


And in terms of the intangibles:

Can Clint Hurdle make the Rangers forget -- or at least not lament the departure of -- Rudy Jaramillo?

Can Mike Maddux's magic elixer continue to work wonders on the Rangers' pitching staff?

Will Nolan Ryan actually be given the latitude to add a critical piece in August if it's needed to push the Rangers over the hump?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Goodson]

Starting rotation candidates -- and wondering who will step to the front:

Harden
Feldman
Lewis
Hunter
McCarthy
Holland
Harrison
Wilson
Mendoza
Nippert

[Chainring]

Bloated egos.
Bloated salaries.
Bloated muscles.
Bloated stats.

Major League Baseball - still the bane of fair play and sportsmanlike conduct.
_________________
I do what I can. I'm like a ray of sunshine.

[tc]

Hamilton gets hurt in the first workout. I hope that's not an omen.
_________________
Let us always endeavor to eschew superfluous sesquipedalian obfuscation and circumlocution.

[AgLaw06]

tc,

I sincerely hope you're kidding. Also, I hope, if you're not kidding, that they do the RIGHT thing and let him sit for however long it takes to get 100% again, instead of getting him to 85% and risk the reinjury later.

He's not the whole team though...so this might just give some others the chance to shine in spring training with extra reps. (Trying to remain optimistic.)
_________________
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-George Orwell.

[tc]

I wasn't kidding about Hamilton getting hurt. But it's only a shoulder bruise and they don't think there's any structural damage.

I know the Rangers are hoping for the Hamilton of 2008 instead of the 2009 version.
_________________
Let us always endeavor to eschew superfluous sesquipedalian obfuscation and circumlocution.

[Bobaloo]

Not my favorite Ranger. Stuff is one thing. Results are another. Get somebody out and then pop off...

"It's no secret I don't think I should be limited to the setup role. I have too many weapons. Here is the reality. It is real simple. There are not very many guys that have the stuff that I do that would be willing to sign here if they were free agents. There is no experienced pitcher that has my stuff that would sign here, historically."

—LHP C.J. Wilson, who is auditioning for a spot in the rotation, on his pitching talents.

[Goodson]

Just heard on ESPN radio that Ryan projects 92 wins for this year's team ... and will be "disappointed" if the Rangers don't win the West.

Goodbye, low expectations.

Hello, win column.

[Goodson]

First outing of the year ... but Frankie struggles mightily yesterday.

I sure wish we'd put Feliz at closer. He could be our Mariano Rivera.

[AgLaw06]

Bobaloo,

I hadn't seen that quote from CJ before, but I couldn't be more in line with your take on him or the quote. What a JACK A$$!

I know it might not have been the norm, but DANG that guy sure seemed to walk the first two batters he faced before throwing his first strike a LOT. And there's no need to give me his stat sheet from last year because I looked at it. But I watched him put the rangers in precarious positions more than once and it was nerve racking when the rangers had an opportunity to make waves in the wildcard race.

Still, since I know he has good stuff...I'd still like to see him throw strikes FOR us rather than AGAINST us.
_________________
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-George Orwell.

[Bobaloo]

Ditto Feliz as the closer. Recall in the mid-90s when the Yankees had Rivera and Whettland (sp) throw the 8th and 9th innings. If the Yankees had a lead after seven innings, the game was over.

[Goodson]

True dat. And I contend that Frankie was actually at his best as a Ranger when he functioned as the 8th inning set-up man to Coco Cordero.

I think a bullpen that consists of Wilson, Francisco with Feliz as the closer would be the best in the West -- and among the very best in all of baseball.

[Goodson]

Hank Blalock inks a minor league deal for under $1M with Tampa Bay.

[TAMU1991]

Good for Hank.

[Goodson]

So ... what will the starting rotation look like -- and how will the bullpen and the rest of the positional players shake out in order to fill out the Opening Day 25-man roster?

Here's my take:

Positional players - infield: 6
Chris Davis
Ian Kinsler
Elvis Andrus
Michael Young
Joaquin Arias
Esteban German

Positional players - outfield and DH: 5
Vlad Guerrero
Nelson Cruz
Julio Bourbon
David Murphy
Josh Hamilton

Positional players - catchers: 2
Salty
Teagarden

Pitchers - 12

Starters
Harden
Feldman
Lewis
Hunter
McCarthy

Long relief:
Harrison
Nippert

Short relief
O'Day
Feliz
Oliver
Wilson
Francisco



JMO.

[TAMU1991]

Uh, you forgot to include Hamilton in the Outfield/DH group.

[tc]

I'm not sure, but I think Ray is out of options. Snyder is a rule 5, so he would go back to the Giants if they can't work a trade with a player going to the Giants. If Ray is out of options, I don't think they could sneak him through waivers.

I was hoping Holland would stick, but it's looking more and more like he'll go back to AAA to get some more seasoning. He would most likely be the first call up if something happens to one of the starters.

Nippert is also out of options, so he is trade bait.
_________________
Let us always endeavor to eschew superfluous sesquipedalian obfuscation and circumlocution.

[Goodson]

Hamilton error fixed.

If the Rangers need to keep another pitcher, maybe we only carry one spare middle infielder.

[Bobaloo]

Breaking news...

Link to Article

[Goodson]

If he was going to be dismissed over this, it should have been immediately ... not at this point after he has successfully completed rehab and has volunteered to undergo even more stringent, additional testing to continue to demonstrate that the usage is behind him.

That said, I'm pretty sure he'll be on a very, very short leash with Ryan and Daniels if the wheels wobble further on the wagon.

[Bobaloo]

I find it hard to believe that a 57 year old started dabbling in cocaine for the first time, but it is impossible to prove. I wish him the best and hopes he kicked the habit and has a great year.

[Goodson]

That's the point that's being hammered here in the Metroplex talk media -- and even mainstream (Hansen Unplugged on WFAA-TV last night) ... i.e., that it seems a tad unusual to consider that a 57 year old would have tried the stuff for the first time at that age.

But, last time I looked, there was no age limit on stupid. So, my guess if that was a lie that it will come to light soon enough.

[AgLaw06]

He'll be caught if he tries it again, so I guess I just figure...let's wait to see if and hopefully not when that happens.

Back to the actual ballclub. I watched some of the spring training game last night and Harrison with the new quick delivery was EN FUEGO!!!!! I think he struck out 7 of 9 batters he faced or something obsurd like that. And I don't know if he'll make it on the team (and apparently you can run out of minor league options...didn't know that) but Arias is a pretty good fielder and super fast. I'd like to see him stick around, but we probably have better prospects out there for a utility guy.
_________________
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-George Orwell.

[Goodson]

Arias needs to stay ahead of Esteban because Esteban flat out cannot fill the backup shortstop role.

Harrison's pathway to a return to the starting rotation just got a bit easier with Hunter's injury.

It's really nice to watch a club trying to figure out who among a number of quality candidates should have the last two spots of the rotation -- rather than trying to figure out who is going to be force fed into the rotation rather than starting the season in the minors where they belong for additional sharpening and development.

[Goodson]

Link to Article

Looks like the rotation may be set:

Harden
Feldman
Lewis
Wilson
Harrison

That would send Holland to AAA to start the year.

[TAMU1991]