Spring Training Report for the Texas Rangers from the Smith Fanatics

If you don't think modern major league baseball is all about pitching, witness the 2014 Texas Ranger's season.  By the beginning of the season two of our five starting pitchers were gone. Within a few weeks another was lost to Tommy John surgery, and those still standing were stressed and inconsistent.  Paired with other injuries, which set an all time major league baseball record for disabled list games missed, (See http://grantland.com/the-triangle/texas-rangers-historic-injury-woes/) the Rangers were 67 and 95 and finished last in the division.  Almost a complete turnaround from the 2013 season.

So, the good news about the 2015 Rangers is they won't be THAT bad this upcoming season, but the loss of Darvish for the entire season, and based on what I've seen of Tommy John recovery, part of the next, is making the 2015 season a disappointment in the making.  In my opinion, because of the still stressed starting pitching staff, (missing Darvish, Harrison, and Perez), lack of left handed relief pitching, and a repaired Feliz untested closing for an entire season, this is not a play-off team without a significant amount of good luck, or as baseball people say, we need 'lightening in a bottle'.

This Spring Training has actually been much more fun for us than the "set clubs" we have witnessed in the past.  There's not much joking and kidding around in the dugout because so many of the players are grinding constantly trying to win one of the open roster spots on the team.  Also, the new manager, Banister, is stoic compared to Ron Washington's exuberant attitude and that's being reflected in the dugout.  Keep in mind Jon Daniel's said in last night's interview contractual obligations may affect any of the team's personnel decisions, and Drake and I are not privy to all those nuances.  However, that said, Let's start with the outfield:  There are three outfield spots open, one starting position and two reserve (backup) positions.

Young 25 year old Ryan Rua, a homegrown prospect, with some successful Ranger performance last fall, is the front runner for making the team.  He's been fun to watch, and he's been constantly improving this Spring.  Following him, are four other candidates, Jake Smokinski, 26, signed before last year after being released by the Nationals also had fall success with the Rangers.  Then, there's Nate Schierholtz, a retread, who is 31 and has bounced around a variety of National League clubs.  He was the last Spring Training invitee signed by the Rangers.  Two younger long shots are Carlos Peguero, a 27 year old who looks eerily like a young Nelson Cruz.  He hits for power and has a similar trajectory of being a late bloomer.  Finally, there's Delino DeShields, Jr., yes, he's the major leaguerer's son, who is only 22.  He's a Rule 5 draftee from the Houston Astos.  If he doesn't make our major league roster, we have to offer him back to the Astros.

Drake's prediction is the final two slots will go to Shierholtz and Smolinski - with Peguero being sent to Triple A to continue working on this strikeout problem.  DeShields will be sent back to the Astros.  Drake feels DeShields is not ready for prime time, and the Rangers don't have the luxury of developing him into a big leaguer while part of the major league roster.  My prediction is Smolinski and DeShields will make the club with Shierholtz released and Peguero sent down.  I think Daniels will not let DeShields get away.  Since, the season is already compromised, we do have the luxury of developing DeShields.

Some last thoughts about the outfield.  Martin looks healthy and is getting himself ready for the season.   Drake's analysis is he's ready to be the lead off hitter.  He's showing much more plate discipline than he has in the past.  We all know he can bunt, and he's fast.   Chin Soo Choo, or Jon Daniel's brain fart as I like to term him, has shown nothing this Spring.   Or, as Drake puts it, he's shown the continuing tendency to be fragile with nagging injuries.  That's why we both think Peguero will be in Triple A to start the season, so he can fine tune his game.  He'll be ready for the call-up if Choo goes down.  Why Daniels ever thought this loser was worth a 7 year multi-million dollar contract is beyond either of us.

Let's talk about the infield.  The starting positions are set here.  (Fielder, Odor, Andrus, and Beltre).  Fielder looks like Fielder - showing power, a great presence at the plate, even beating the extreme shift teams like to play against him.  With his plate threat we also have to accept a mediocre glove at first base, and not so hot speed on the base paths.  However, he puts butts in the seats which we will need to hold the fan base while we hang on during this rough patch.  Beltre looks very good, but he is 36 on April 7th, and his age is going to start working against him over the long, long season.  Andrus looks in the best shape ever, and he's had a sparkling Spring Training.  (The club is so serious this Spring even the irrepressible Elvis can't lighten the mood.)  The best news for the future is Mr. Odor has also had a great Spring and isn't showing any signs of sophomore slump.

The real news for the Ranger infield is who will be the utility players on the team.  There are four candidates left standing for two spots.   One roster spot is for a middle infielder, and one roster spot is for a corner infielder.  Defensive skills are the paramount factor for these team slots.  The four candidates are:  Adam Rosales, a familiar name to Ranger fans, seems to have the corner infielder spot locked.  That leaves three players competing for the middle infielder spot:  Elliot Johnson, Ed Lucas and Thomas Field.  These are all new names to the Rangers.  It's a toss up as to which one will get it at this point.  Drake would lean toward Thomas Field because of his combination of offense/defense, but the other two can also play the corner positions.  This may be a good example where the contractual obligations will call the shots.  All I know is these are the type of players who hang onto the edge of major league baseball, and each Spring Training finds them desperately grinding away to grab that $500,000 salary, the major league minimum.

Turning to the pitching, it's not all bad news.  The starting rotation is almost set - four out of the five will be - Lewis, Holland, Gallardo, and Detwiler with Nick Martinez having the inside line over Nick Tepesch on the fifth slot after his fabulous performance last night against the Rockies.  Both Gallardo and Lewis are veterans fine tuning their wares, but both will be solid during the season.  Holland is being brought along slowly in terms of stamina, but he will be ready for prime time.  Detwiler is a retread from the National's who could return to top form or be a disappointment - time will tell.  Martinez looks to be an up and coming starter who Drake thinks is poised for a break out season.

Our bullpen is a muddle.   The 7th and 8th inning set up men and the closer are set:  Tolleson, Scheppers, and Feliz.  After that, well, there's only one left handed reliever in the bullpen - an interesting side armer called Claudio who has a 65 mph change up he can throw for a first pitch strike. Oh, he's got a lock on the left handed specialist role.  Don't be surprised to see a late trade for another left handed reliever.  (Drake thinks Bryan Matusz from the Orioles.)  The other two or three spots are hard to call.  They can come from any combination of relief specialists, or candidates who fail to make the starting rotation.  Young rotation prospects are usually sent to Triple A.  Management wants them to continue to work as starters.  Basically, the last two or three spots are up for grabs.

Finally, let's talk catchers.  That's pretty set with Chirinos being the everyday catcher and veteran Corporan being the back up.  One really exciting young catcher we saw this spring was Alfaro - sent back this week to AA - a tremendous young player with all five tools.

That's the report from Spring Training.  The fun this year will be watching the young pitchers as well as seeing Odor play his second season.  Hopefully, Fielder will deliver the home runs he's famous for since Mitch Moreland, who's looked great this spring, will be protecting his back as the DH, the fifth hitter, and the first base reliever.  Drake's overall assessment is the starting line up will be good, but the Ranger's final place in the division will be based on the success of the starting pitching.  He predicts a third place finish, and I agree, because of a shaky starting rotation.  If all three veterans are solid and we get good performances from the youngsters Detwiler, Martinez and Tepesch, we could rise in the division.  Keep in  mind 'magic' (lightening in a bottle) happens for some team.  The Rangers need some of that lightening to be contenders.