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It's starting to feel like Spring

I went away for one weekend. In that time, more than half of the snow on my lawn melted and spring training games began. I feel bad admitting this, but I've been unable to watch or listen to a single contest yet.  Does that make me a bad fan?  :-/

I have been keeping an eye on tweets and headlines coming out of Surprise. I'm not getting too worked up about wins, losses or minor injuries yet (i.e. Josh Hamilton's bruised shoulder on day 1 or Ian Kinsler rolling his ankle).  I am excited over a few things though, such as Chris Davis going 8 for 8 (with some singles mixed in with those power hits for which he's known) and Matt Harrison being unimpressed with a strong three-inning outing.  I hope Davis can have a good offensive start this year -- no repeats of 2009, Christopher Lyn.  And I hope Harrison has developed some more mental toughness to go along with the talent he showed in 2009.

Several of my friends are en route to Surprise as I type this. As envious as I am, I'm also looking forward to their reports.  Beat writers provide great information, and I value their knowledge and analysis. AT the same time, I'm anxious to hear how the boys look through the eyes of fellow fans.  No pressure Rachel, Lacy, Melissa, Jen, Angie and Darinda, but I'm hoping you're able to amp up my excitement about the new season.

In the meantime, I should be home Sunday. and I'm hoping I'll be able to tune in to hear Eric Nadel for the first time in 2010. That should get things going in the right direction.

From the back of the bullpen to the front of the class

Pitchers and catchers are a few days into their workouts.  So far, we've learned ...

...Matt Harrison has dropped 30 lbs.  I never thought he needed to lose weight, but according to Anthony Andro, Harrison checked into camp at 235 and says extra conditioning should alleviate shin splints and lower back pain in 2010. 

...the starting catcher's job isn't being handed to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but he is first in line for the job.

...Derek Holland tweaked his knee during an agility drill, but the Rangers don't think it's serious.

...Scott Feldman is emerging as the leader of the pitching staff.

It's been well-documented on here that Feldman is my favorite Rangers starting pitcher.  He won me over with the way he jumped from the bullpen into the rotation in 2008.  His new role was announced in spring training that year, and he was supposed to spend the first few months in the minors working into a front line spot.  Well, injuries pushed his progress along much quicker, and he made his first start on April 13. It ended as a 5-4 loss to the Toronto Bluejays, but Feldman was only responsible for three of the opponents' runs.  In 2009, Feldman was pushed into the bullpen again, and I was disappointed.  I just felt like his strong season as a starter should have given him an automatic rotation spot in 2009.  But, I didn't need to worry. He was a starter again by April 25, and he went on to become the Rangers Pitcher of the Year with a 17-8 record and a 4.08 ERA.

Jamey Newberg refers to Feldman as Most Underrated Ranger in the History of the Franchise (or something along those lines).  I couldn't disagree with his moniker, especially last season when fans still kept posting that Feldman should be in the bullpen even though he was clearly the most reliable starting arm on the staff. You won't convince me that any Rangers pitcher was better than him in 2009, so don't even try. Sure, there's plenty of room for improvement. There always is.  He needs to go deeper in games (more often than not, Feldman hit a wall about the 6th inning last season) and he needs to lower that ERA.  Still, Rangers fans should be ecstatic about a 17-win season from a guy like Feldman. Aren't they always whining about pitching?  Well, it was right there.  Open your eyes.

I'm excited to see Feldman now taking on a leadership role.  In the T.R. Sullivan piece I linked above, Jon Daniels says other pitchers are following Scooter around like they used to follow Kevin Millwood.  What a difference a year makes.  I'm anxious to see how Feldman handles this attention. He doesn't seem like a terribly outspoken guy. Mostly, he just goes to work and gets it done, so I guess he'll be trying to lead by example...much like Michael Young, who is undisputedly the leader among position players.

April 5 cannot arrive soon enough.

C.J. Wilson = Captain Backfire

I wonder if C.J. Wilson has ever met John Mayer.  They both have a propensity for talking without thinking.  John wrote a song about it ("My Stupid Mouth").  Perhaps C.J. should listen to it and see if he can relate. Mayer has been under fire recently for comments he made in a Playboy interview. Today, Wilson was the talk among Rangers fans for a comment he made on the first day of spring training.

"It's no secret I don't think I should be limited to the set-up role. I have too many weapons," Wilson said. "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."

 

It seems Wilson believes he has better stuff than Rich Harden. I guess we'll see.  If Wilson can back his words with physical proof, I'll lay off him.  Otherwise, um, C.J., could you just be quiet and pitch?  Please and thanks.

 

I'm not shocked by Wilson's words. He was a starter in 2005 under the Buck Showalter regime.  It wasn't a pretty time, but perhaps Wilson wasn't given a fair run at a starter role. Showalter wasn't exactly known for his patience with pitchers.  Because of this, I'm all for Wilson auditioning for the rotation again, especially with Mike Maddux in his corner.

 

Anyone who's been a Rangers fan for the length of Wilson's pro career knows how his mouth can get him in trouble.  Still, everyone was all worked up over it today.  Apparently, he received a lot of Twitter messages, because minutes ago, he tweeted this:

 

The point was that I'm already here, working hard 2 improve, willing 2 try- might as well use me!

 

I get what he's saying.  He is committed to the Rangers.  He has worked hard to improve throughout his career.  He's tried a variety of roles.  He thinks he has what it takes to be an effective starter, and he wants the front office to know he's ready to go.  His choice of words probably wasn't the best, but I get it. I hope his words don't come back to haunt him. 

Happy Pitchers & Catchers Report Day!!

Outside my window, there is a thick blanket of snow about four feet deep and temperatures are well below freezing. Spring is on the way though. I know it. Today, the battery mates from all levels of my favorite team report to Surprise, Ariz. to begin gearing up for the 2010 season.

I've been following Ryan Tatusko (rtusk40), Michael Schlact (michael_schlact), C.J. Wilson (str8edgeracer) and Tim Steggall (tgstegall3) on Twitter. It's been exciting to read their updates during the off-season as they prepare to head back to "work." Schlact has been in Arizona for awhile, recovering from surgery.  He seems very excited about the progress he's made.  Steggall is moving to the mound this season after spending much of his pro career as an infielder, so this is undoubtedly going to be a very different spring training for him.  Tatusko has been saying farewell to friends and family in Indiana. Wilson has been in Vancouver for the Olympics.  Each one of them has been preparing differently, but 24 hours from now, they'll all be in the same place and working side-by-side.  I can't wait to begin reading reports from Surprise...well, even more than I've been reading already

Needless to say, I'm excited, although I certainly have a lot of questions regarding the pitching and catching situations in Arlington. Here are a few...

- How will C.J. Wilson fare as he competes for a starting role?

- Will Neftali Feliz become a starter or remain in the 'pen?

- How well has Jarrod Saltalamacchia recovered from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome?

- What about Matt Harrison?  Has he bounced back from his surgery?

- Will Derek Holland be able to block out his bad 2009 outings and have more quality ones?

- I'm assuming Frank Francisco is the closer once again. Who is the set-up man?

- Where will Taylor Teagarden start the season? If it's at AAA, what will it take for him to be back with the big club?

- Where will some of my favorite pitching prospects - Ryan Tatusko, Blake Beavan and Kasey Kiker - begin the season? (Naturally, I wonder about Schlact and Stegall too.)

- Where is Eric Hurley?

- Will Rich Harden stay healthy? If so, is he the ace?

Like I said, I have a lot of questions. I'm hoping a few answers emerge over the next few weeks.

Can Cupid throw a strike?

Love is in the air. Or at least it's supposed to be.  It's Valentine's weekend afterall.  I don't actually celebrate the day, but if other people want to, they can have at it.  I'm reserving my celebration for Feb. 18.  Pitchers and Catchers Report Day, baby.  I am taking treats to work.  That's MY February holiday.

But I can't ignore the lovey dovey feeling all around this weekend. I have the nausea to prove it. I just got back from seeing "Valentine's Day" (a pretty cute flick...and my favorite storyline was actually probably the Julia Roberts one), and I've entertained conversations with friends all day about their Feb. 14 plans. By the way, mine are to sleep in, go to work (no choice there), eat pancakes and watch three baseball movies, which I haven't yet chosen. Oh yeah, and I'll be watching "The Amazing Race" for the first time ever and cheering for Jeff and Jordan (from "Big Brother"). Ironically, there is a baseball (and Rangers) connection to "The Amazing Race" this year too.  Former Rangers 3B coach, Steve Smith, is a contestant.  Ha!  Too funny!

Anyway, with Cupid out there flying around, I thought about what a person's choice of MLB teams says about their love persona. Now, my theory isn't scientific (I barely managed a D in physical science in college). Here are my thoughts on the baseball fan I could see myself with in the future.

Naturally, I would love to find a Rangers fan as my love, but I live in Iowa, so that won't be an easy task. I don't plan on leaving anytime soon, so I'll either have to create a Rangers fan in my lover, or I will have to accept a fan from another franchise. I think I have room to do that...within reason.

Growing up in Iowa, naturally, I encounter a lot of Cubs fans.  I actually wouldn't mind falling in love with a Cubs fan. He's been through some miserable seasons and near-misses and stayed true to his team anyway.  It's true the Rangers have NEVER been to a World Series.  But the Texas franchise is a toddler compared to the lineage of the Chicago Cubs, who have endured more than a century without a run at a ring. A Cubs fan has patience like no other team's fan can claim.

As with anywhere in the nation, there are a smattering of Yankees and Red Sox fans around. My best friend is actually a fan of the former.  No, I don't hold it against her.  The fans from the Northeast are known for being rowdy, and sometimes bandwagon jumpers. That's not always the case though.  If I were to meet a handsome guy wearing a Yankees cap, I'd need to discover the origins of his fandom.  If his parents (and maybe grandparents) are/were Yankees fan, I would admire his sense of tradition. 

I think my ideal match would be a Royals fan.  For one thing, the Rangers and Royals share a spring training complex, so my dream of honeymooning in Surprise, Ariz., could come true without conflict.  Beyond that, I believe Royals fans are very loyal.  They have seen their GM draft and build talent, only to trade it away before the paychecks got too large.  They don't get too upset; they simply accept it for what it is. This doesn't mean they are not passionate about their team.  Quite the opposite, actually.  They know their team isn't perfect, but they love them anyway. Unconditionally.  That's what I want to find.

There's no guarantee I'll end up with a baseball fan. Honestly, at this point in my life, I wouldn't be surprised if I never found anyone.  The important thing is knowing my heart and being careful about the people with whom I entrust it. Right now, the only love that's true for me is Rangers baseball.  We will reunite for a new season in just a few weeks, and that, my friends, gives me butterflies.

By the way, you can now follow me on Twitter.  I will likely be live tweeting many games there and offering other random thoughts.  If you are up for it, add me - http://www.twitter.com/baseballismyBF

SOLD!

T.R. Sullivan is reporting that the Texas Rangers have officially been sold to the Greenberg group. 

Rangers fans have been waiting for months (and, in a lot of cases longer) to give Tom Hicks the boot. But an owner can't exactly be fired.  Hicks' financial troubles paved the way for this sale, and although this is only one step, it's a step in the right direction.

Chuck Greenberg is the head of the proposed new ownership group, and I've been impressed with the things written about him since the Rangers announced him as a finalist in the sale.  One of the most exciting things he's promising -- a new video board for centerfield.  I bet Chuck Morgan is drooling already.

Nolan Ryan is also part of this group and is expected to remain in his current role as team president.

I like it a lot. 

What a great Saturday night news flash :)

By the way, in case you're not counting, I am.  There are just 26 days until pitchers and catchers report and 72 days until Opening Day. 

2009 Rangers Highlights: August

The trade deadline passed, and Rangers fans breathed a sigh of relief that Derek Holland and Justin Smoak were still in the Texas organization.  Rumors had spread about Toronto's interest in the pair in exchange for Roy Halladay. As badly as Texas needs starting pitching, the front office wasn't willing to risk the future.  It was a good move, although the Rangers continued to trail the Halos and Red Sox in the division and wild card races, respectively.  There were other bumps too -- the release of Vicente Padilla, Josh Hamilton's photo scandal and injuries to Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler. Despite all of this, somehow there was still plenty to smile about, including the arrivals of Pudge Rodriguez, Neftali Feliz and Julio Borbon.

Aug. 3 - Feliz fans four in debut

Neftali Feliz only pitched two innings of the game against Oakland, but he was probably the biggest story of the night.  Rangers fans (and other baseball fans) got to see that 100+mph fastball with their own eyes.  He struck out the side in his first inning of work and added another K in the next inning.  The general consensus was simply, "wow."

Aug. 9 - Holland's gem

9 innings. 96 pitches. 73 strikes. 8 Ks. 3 hits. 1 walk. 0 runs.

That's a lot of numbers. But aren't they beautiful?  And they belong to Derek Holland in a win over the Angels. Two starts earlier, against Seattle, Holland took a two-hit shutout into the 9th, but couldn't quite get the final out.  The next start in Oakland was a struggle...and a loss.  But on this day, Holland returned to the form he had in that Seattle start...and took it that next step for his first complete game shutout.  Further punctuating the magnificence of the moment is the fact that it happened against the first place Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and it ended with a strikeout of perennial Ranger-killer Vlad Guerrero (who actually struck out twice today). Well done, young one.

Aug. 11 - Nippert fans 10

If you'd have asked me before the season which pitchers had the best chance of double-digit strikeouts, Nippert would not have been at the top of that list.  He was a pretty pleasant surprise this season.

Aug. 15 - Rangers steal eight

Jason Varitek is probably still having nightmares about this game when the Rangers stole eight bases on him.  Julio Borbon had four, Elvis Andrus had three and Ian Kinsler had one.

Aug. 27 - Davis and Grilli get the out

This play was named the premier play at 1B by MLB Network during their 2009 highlight show, so there's no way it didn't make my list as well.

Greene, Guerrero join roster

While I was waiting for the official final word on Guerrero, the Rangers front office delivered a surprise -- Khalil Greene.  I had no idea that was even in the works.  But I'm happy with both acquisitions.

Guerrero's deal is for one year with a second-year option.  The base salary for the first year is $6 million, but there are some incentives.  The Rangers have a $1 million buyout if they decide not to continue the agreement into the second year. I think this is a great deal for the club.  Vlad isn't the hitter he was a few years ago, but he's still quite formidable at the plate, especially the one in Arlington. In 50 games at Rangers Ballpark, Guerrero is a .394 hitter with 14 homers and 33 RBI.

While I was out with family and friends Saturday night, I was stunned to receive a text regarding Khalil Greene's arrival. Pending a physical, the Rangers will sign Greene to a one-year $750K deal to be the utility infielder.  According to Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas,

"Greene played in 77 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009 and hit .200 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 193 at-bats. He had eight errors. His season was hampered by two stays on the disabled list for social anxiety disorder. Greene's 2008 season was limited by a broken left hand, suffered when he punched a wall near a dugout while with the San Diego Padres.

Before the social anxiety issues surfaced, Greene was a solid shortstop with the Padres. He was a guy that played well in the field and batted around .250. His best season was 2007, when he played in 153 games and hit .254 with 27 homers and 97 RBIs."

 

Vlad the impaler coming to Arlington?

Well, that's a stupid question.  I'm sure Vlad will make his way to Arlington at some point, but the question is, which uniform will he be wearing?

Reportedly, Texas has offered perennial Ranger-killer Vladimir Guerrero a one-year $7MM offer.  I can't lie. I like that offer.  Vlad hit .295/.334/.460 last year for the Angels and made $15MM. He's not great defensively, which is why Texas' offer is so low.  I'm not confident Vlad will take the deal.  He'll probably try to hold out for more.  But if he takes it, I might just express giddiness.  And I never thought I'd think that about an Angel. :)

Speaking of holding out, I failed to comment on Marlon Byrd's move to Chicago.  Good for him.  The Cubs are getting a decent player for $5MM a year (and three years).  I'm not sure why the Rangers didn't hold onto him for that price, although I suspect it was the length of the contract and not the amount that they were not willing to take on. 

Mark DeRosa is a Giant now.  So excited for him.  He remains one of my favorite ex-Rangers, and now I have reason to pay attention to what San Francisco does during the season. 

There's a bit of debate over Neftali Feliz' real age.  His facebook profile lists his birthday as May 2, 1985.  Everywhere else, he's it's listed as May 2, 1988.  So which one is true?  Three years may not seem like a huge deal, but in baseball, there is a REAL difference between a 24-year-old pitcher and one who is 21. 

Rangers Highlights will return on Sunday.  Sorry for the hiatus.  The holidays got me all jumbled up.  August and September are on my radar, fear not.  :)

The 12 Days of Rangers Christmas

The 12 Days of Rangers Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, a lefty in number forty.

On the second day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

On the third day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, three Andrus web gems, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

On the fourth day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, four Frankie saves, three Andrus web gems, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

On the fifth day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, five Kinsler grins… four Frankie saves, three Andrus web gems, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

On the sixth day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, six Youngs a-diving, five Kinsler grins… four Frankie saves, three Andrus web gems, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

On the seventh day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, seven Hunter strikeouts, six Youngs a-diving, five Kinsler grins…four Frankie saves, three Andrus web gems, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

On the eighth day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, eight Feliz fireballs, seven Hunter no-nos, six Youngs a-diving, five Kinsler grins…four Frankie saves, three Andrus web gems, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

On the ninth day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, nine C.J. leg kicks, eight Feliz fireballs, seven Hunter no-nos, six Youngs a-diving, five Kinsler grins…four Frankie saves, three Andrus web gems, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

On the tenth day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, ten CD splits, nine C.J. leg kicks, eight Feliz fireballs, seven Hunter no-nos, six Youngs a-diving, five Kinsler grins…four Frankie saves, three Andrus web gems, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, eleven Feldman strikeouts, ten CD splits, nine C.J. leg kicks, eight Feliz fireballs, seven Hunter no-nos, six Youngs a-diving, five Kinsler grins… four Frankie saves, three Andrus web gems, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my GM gave to me, twelve Hammy moon shots, eleven Feldman strikeouts, ten CD splits, nine C.J. leg kicks, eight Feliz fireballs, seven Hunter no-nos, six Youngs a-diving, five Kinsler grins…four Frankie saves, three Andrus web gems, two Cruz catches and a lefty in number forty.

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed my Rangers-centric (if cheesy) take on a classic holiday tune.  Merry Christmas, everyone!