Howdy, Ranger Fans. It's your locally informed reporters, Drake and Jan, bringing you the latest Texas Ranger news from the Spring Training Cactus League in Surprise, Arizona. First, the World Baseball Classic affected the entire Spring Training regime this year. The Rangers had a LOT of front line players whisked away to various teams competing in the WBC. Spring Training was extended for one week to accommodate the tournament. Since the WBC was a two week tournament carved out of Spring Training games we saw a larger number than usual of young players being evaluated for the few positions open on the club.
As a supporter of the concept of the WBC, we were entertained by the games played by many of the best players in the world. These games were like watching play-off games, and they were exciting. The USA is still lagging in terms of top line players wanting the WBC experience, and most top starting pitchers have taken a 'pass' on signing up for any team. On the Rangers, Adrian Beltre, Alex Claudio, Rougned Odor, Robinson Chirinos, Sam Dyson, Jonathan Lucroy, Jurickson Profar, and Martin Perez all participated in the WBC playing for the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, The Netherlands, and the USA. Dyson and Lucroy, playing for the USA came away with World Baseball Championship Gold Medals since the USA won the tournament for the first time. I wonder if they will hang them on their lockers?
The biggest competition on the Rangers in Spring Training was for the 4th and 5th starter positions in the pitching rotation. Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner, both starting pitchers, were the only two significant off season acquisitions. They both had resumes that suggested they would be successful even though they were recovering from off-season surgeries. Both are still currently on the DL (disabled list). Ross is expected to be back in the early part of the season, and Cashner before that. Neither is automatic for any starting job at this point. Bannister, the Ranger's manager, has speculated publicly he will start the season with a four man rotation (Darvish, Hamels, Perez, and Griffin) because of scheduled 'off' days in early April, and then will move to the traditional five man rotation in late April.
Darvish, Hamels and Perez all looked excellent in Spring Training. Darvish and Perez both look completely recovered from their Tommy John surgeries. An interesting twist this year to Spring Training is we didn't get to see any of our top three pitchers routinely. The Rangers were hiding their starters from their American League competition. This is a common strategy for starters who are 'inked into' the starting rotation. A. J. Griffin, sporting shoulder length long blond hair with a full beard, looked competent as our fourth starter.
A surprise during Spring Training was a player who we acquired from the Astros under the Rule 5 draft. (FYI: If you pick a guy off the Rule 5 draft, you have to keep him on your major league roster for the entire year or offer him back to his original club.) Mike Hauschild, 27 years old, pitched quite well during Spring Training, and we speculate he will make the bullpen as the 'long man' with a chance at spot starts as well as the possibility of entering the starting rotation full time if someone falters or is injured.
Delino DeShields, a Rule 5 Draft acquisition two years ago, struggled last year and was 'up and down' between the big club and Triple AAA. This spring he seems to have regained his form from two years ago, and we've seen the jackrabbit on the bases, a spark plug in the lead-off spot of the batting order seemingly getting on base both with hits and walks and then stealing second. Using their body chemistry as a clue, Shin Soo Choo, a veteran outfielder seems to have taken this young player under his wing. Bannister commented DeShields conditioned himself in the off season to drop some weight and 'unmuscle' himself to increase his speed on the bases. It showed in Spring Training. DeShields should start the year at the major league level.
Jurickson Profar is an amazing player. So far, we've watched him play 1st base, short stop, third base, second base, and the outfield with excellent performance at each spot. For example, when he plays first base, you'd think it was the only place he's ever played. He is still switch hitting, and he's shown he can consistently hit major league pitching. Even with the shoulder injury, which took two years to fully resolve and heal, he's still a very, very young player with tremendous potential. His versatility should cement his place on the major league club. It's become obvious why the Texas Rangers have refused to trade this player.
Another player, Ryan Rua, just keeps improving. This spring he has shown he's comfortable hitting major league pitching and is selective in choosing his pitches to hit. He's showing he might become a 20 plus home run hitter. He's become a solid young player with upside potential being able to play both at first base and the outfield. He should also make the major league club.
Mike Napoli, a perennial Ranger fan favorite, returns for his third time. He was signed for two reasons: First, he provides the home run 'pop' which is always a plus on a club, AND he's a competent first basemen to replace Mitch Moreland, who, as a free agent, was signed by Boston. Why didn't Jon Daniels resign Moreland? We think it's because of a young first baseman in the Ranger's farm system. Ronald Guzman is a 6'6" young player who has major leaguer written all over him. He's probably about one year away from ''prime time". He looks supremely comfortable at first base, and he should also be an asset at the plate soon. Napoli is signed for one year, and we think Guzman or Rua are waiting in the wings to be the next long term Ranger first baseman.
Roughned Odor, Elvis Andrus, and Adrian Beltre all look ready. All are proven players who understand how to maximize their talents over the long, long baseball season. Elvis, who had groin surgery in the off season, as well as getting engaged (Google this - it's charming) is expected to regain his speed on the bases, and he looks like he's going to hit even more home runs than he did last year. Beltre, due to being used as the DH in the WBC this year, is still getting into form, but no one is worried about that. He will be 39 years old this year, and he's on the cusp of breaking some milestone records including getting 3000 hits. We think Bannister will be judiciously resting him this year using the DH as a way of getting him some 'resting' time from fielding his demanding position in the dog days of the Texas summer.
As to the outfield: Carlos Gomez could start the season on the DL, but his injury is minor which has dampened his playing time in the spring. If he does, then center field will be open to be played by DeShields. We think the right fielder starter will be Nomar Mazara, a sophomore player, who had an outstanding rookie year. He has specifically been working on hitting off speed pitching during winter ball. His Spring Training plate appearances show he's been successful. Choo, who has been the starting right fielder when he was healthy, is going to be used more as the DH this year. He would like to start at least twice a week, but has publicly stated after a meeting with Bannister, he would do whatever the team needs.
All the outfield positions, back up first baseman, and the DH spots are going to be shared by Gomez, Profar, DeShields, Choo, Rua, Mazara and possibly Drew Robinson. With the career ending injury to Prince Fielder and the departure of Carlos Beltron to the Astros, there will be no 'regular designated hitter' for the Rangers. Instead, the DH will be the place where the veteran starting fielders will be rested from the field.
Drew Robinson is the young 24 year old who has stood out in Spring Training. He's on the 'bubble' to make the club. He also brings versatility being able to play all the infield positions as well as the outfield. His bat has been lively this spring. He's ready for the big leagues, but there are only 25 spots. He's in a crowded competition with Rua, Profar, and DeShields. We think, unless Gomez starts the season on the disabled list, and/or Bannister goes with a four man rotation to begin the season, Robinson will start the year in Triple A waiting in the wings for the inevitable injury.
So, how are the Rangers going to do this year? The pundits are predicting they will finish third behind the Astros and the Mariners. Everyone is picking the Astros to win the division. Then, it's split between the Mariners and Rangers for second place. However, everyone agrees it's a three team race in the American League West because of injuries, lucky breaks, and that undefinable 'chemistry' which seems to affect some teams. The chemistry element is something Jon Daniels, Ranger General Manger, definitely fosters. He believes a certain "team first" attitude in the club house translates into wins. He chooses players who buy into that formula. This can't be measured in terms of 'wins', but we've seen it working as recently as last year.
The Rangers seem to have the balance and the organizational depth to be 'right there' at the end of the season with a shot to win the division. It could possibly be the luck of the schedule, or as stated above, injuries which decide who wins the American League West. The Rangers have the talent to make this a fun season. Go Rangers.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Monday, March 27, 2017
Self Control
We've come to the last fruit of the spirit. So as not to hold you in suspense, it's SELF CONTROL. It's exactly what it sounds like. The gist here is the Holy Spirit helps a believer practice self control. And what value is self control?
Remember how you felt when you ate the entire carton of ice cream, and vowed to start a sensible diet?
The cold dread when you saw the credit card amount after the Christmas holidays, and promised yourself you would stick to the budget.
How about a new appreciation of the porcelain throne after the New Year's Eve party, and as you lay there moaning, you decided no more of this kind of abuse.
And my personal favorite: I'll just buy one more pack of cigarettes, and then I'll quit for good.
Even if only one of the above scenarios resonates with you, then you understand perfectly how being able to practice self control can change your life for the better.
Here's my story about self control of a destructive behavior. Let's just say I'm a stubborn, arrogant, slow learner who is absolutely positive I can manage any situation totally on my own, thank you very much.
It's the summer of 1969, and I had one whole year of college under my belt. My family would be characterized today as 'lower middle class' or 'blue collar'. My Dad, an electrician, collected his two week vacation pay every year, but instead of taking a vacation, he paid a semester of tuition for my college education. My mother got a job for extra money working with the photographers who took those wonderful school photos your mom sent out with her Christmas cards. It paid a pittance, but it helped with books, meals, dormitory fees and so forth. I was the first person in my immediate family to go to college, and this was a family commitment.
So, I HAD to have a summer job. Without it, I couldn't go back to college. There simply wouldn't have been enough money to cover all the expenses. Now, in 1969 there were almost no fast food restaurants, the mecca for teen jobs. Adults with families were still making a living by working full time in retail box stores. If your Dad was white collar like an accountant or a lawyer, his company would hire the kids of employees for the summer to be gofers. The enterprising boys mowed lawns, or did odd jobs around their neighborhoods. If you were a girl (yes, we were all 'girls' back then), you babysat.
Upon returning home from college, I pounded the pavement. I circled want ads. I didn't have a car, so my mother had to share her car with me while I was looking for summer work. I had been looking constantly for three weeks, and I was getting desperate. In June, I answered a want ad in the Tulsa World posted by the Mayo Hotel, the most famous hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Mayo Hotel was built at the height of the roaring 20's - 1925 - and the zenith of the Oklahoma oil boom. It quickly attracted the oil barons, the socialites, and the famous. It was the first hotel in Oklahoma to have ceiling fans in every room, and ice water on tap. In 1969 it was still a landmark in Tulsa, and their want ad was for a sales clerk at the sundries shop. The sundries shop, in the corner of the lobby, sold toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, combs, aspirin, pepto bismol, gum, candy and cigarettes - about 20 varieties. Young, peppy college girl (me) just fit the bill, and EUREKA, I was hired.
All good, right? Oh, yes with one small fly in the ointment: The job paid $1.00 an hour (stingy even by 1969 girl pay standards). There were two small compensations: I could work as many hours as I wanted, and I could smoke all the cigarettes I wanted.... I can still remember being so very, very angry. College boys (sons of other electricians) home for the summer made $7.00 per hour on my Dad's job site to subsidize their college expenses. Girls of the electricians weren't included in the program.
I cut off my nose to spite my face. I lit up every chance I got. My mother tried to stop me from smoking, but I just went off on a tirade of why couldn't I get a job on my Dad's work site? I can remember screaming I worked seven hours for every one those boys worked and walked away from her. By August I was hooked, and the cigarette monkey perched on my shoulder on and off for the next 30 years. And even worse, I got Drake to start smoking when I returned to college. It took him twenty years to hurl the little simian off his back.
I was able, barely, to not smoke while trying to get pregnant, while I was pregnant, and while I was nursing. Then like a siren calling me, I bought a pack of cigarettes within weeks after Sarah Lynn was weaned. Thus, began about 15 years of furtive smoking. Most people had no idea I smoked. They'd never seen me with a cigarette in my hand. By this time, there was no doubt among health professionals that smoking cigarettes would kill you. I knew they were killing me, and I couldn't stop. Spasmodically over that 15 years I tried everything to quit. I always went back to smoking loathing myself when I caved in and bought a pack. Finally, in utter desperation, I humbly petitioned for help from God. Was it easy to quit this time? No. However, curiously, it was much easier to quit smoking with the help of the Holy Spirit than it was without it. It's been 17 years since I bought a pack of cigarettes.
Here's the final takeaway from this series of blogs: If there's an aspect of your life you just can't manage on your own - well,you can call on this final fruit of the Holy Spirit to help bolster your self control over whatever is defeating you.
I started writing this series of blogs as a Lenten exercise for myself for 2017. I had no expectations at all because I was drowning in pain, self pity, anger, frustration, contempt, and arrogance. Every day I was just going through the motions of living and getting lower and lower. Alarm bells were going off among my closest friends. Working through, thinking about, and writing about the Fruits of the Spirit in the Bible have helped me smooth out and really examine my feelings. Am I all wonderful and every problem is solved? Nope. I'm still in pain, but my entire attitude has turned around 180 degrees. I can feel myself shedding the stress I've wrapped around myself and becoming happier. While my F of the S blogs may not have helped you, they've been lifesavers for me.
Remember how you felt when you ate the entire carton of ice cream, and vowed to start a sensible diet?
The cold dread when you saw the credit card amount after the Christmas holidays, and promised yourself you would stick to the budget.
How about a new appreciation of the porcelain throne after the New Year's Eve party, and as you lay there moaning, you decided no more of this kind of abuse.
And my personal favorite: I'll just buy one more pack of cigarettes, and then I'll quit for good.
Even if only one of the above scenarios resonates with you, then you understand perfectly how being able to practice self control can change your life for the better.
Here's my story about self control of a destructive behavior. Let's just say I'm a stubborn, arrogant, slow learner who is absolutely positive I can manage any situation totally on my own, thank you very much.
It's the summer of 1969, and I had one whole year of college under my belt. My family would be characterized today as 'lower middle class' or 'blue collar'. My Dad, an electrician, collected his two week vacation pay every year, but instead of taking a vacation, he paid a semester of tuition for my college education. My mother got a job for extra money working with the photographers who took those wonderful school photos your mom sent out with her Christmas cards. It paid a pittance, but it helped with books, meals, dormitory fees and so forth. I was the first person in my immediate family to go to college, and this was a family commitment.
So, I HAD to have a summer job. Without it, I couldn't go back to college. There simply wouldn't have been enough money to cover all the expenses. Now, in 1969 there were almost no fast food restaurants, the mecca for teen jobs. Adults with families were still making a living by working full time in retail box stores. If your Dad was white collar like an accountant or a lawyer, his company would hire the kids of employees for the summer to be gofers. The enterprising boys mowed lawns, or did odd jobs around their neighborhoods. If you were a girl (yes, we were all 'girls' back then), you babysat.
Upon returning home from college, I pounded the pavement. I circled want ads. I didn't have a car, so my mother had to share her car with me while I was looking for summer work. I had been looking constantly for three weeks, and I was getting desperate. In June, I answered a want ad in the Tulsa World posted by the Mayo Hotel, the most famous hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Mayo Hotel was built at the height of the roaring 20's - 1925 - and the zenith of the Oklahoma oil boom. It quickly attracted the oil barons, the socialites, and the famous. It was the first hotel in Oklahoma to have ceiling fans in every room, and ice water on tap. In 1969 it was still a landmark in Tulsa, and their want ad was for a sales clerk at the sundries shop. The sundries shop, in the corner of the lobby, sold toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, combs, aspirin, pepto bismol, gum, candy and cigarettes - about 20 varieties. Young, peppy college girl (me) just fit the bill, and EUREKA, I was hired.
All good, right? Oh, yes with one small fly in the ointment: The job paid $1.00 an hour (stingy even by 1969 girl pay standards). There were two small compensations: I could work as many hours as I wanted, and I could smoke all the cigarettes I wanted.... I can still remember being so very, very angry. College boys (sons of other electricians) home for the summer made $7.00 per hour on my Dad's job site to subsidize their college expenses. Girls of the electricians weren't included in the program.
I cut off my nose to spite my face. I lit up every chance I got. My mother tried to stop me from smoking, but I just went off on a tirade of why couldn't I get a job on my Dad's work site? I can remember screaming I worked seven hours for every one those boys worked and walked away from her. By August I was hooked, and the cigarette monkey perched on my shoulder on and off for the next 30 years. And even worse, I got Drake to start smoking when I returned to college. It took him twenty years to hurl the little simian off his back.
I was able, barely, to not smoke while trying to get pregnant, while I was pregnant, and while I was nursing. Then like a siren calling me, I bought a pack of cigarettes within weeks after Sarah Lynn was weaned. Thus, began about 15 years of furtive smoking. Most people had no idea I smoked. They'd never seen me with a cigarette in my hand. By this time, there was no doubt among health professionals that smoking cigarettes would kill you. I knew they were killing me, and I couldn't stop. Spasmodically over that 15 years I tried everything to quit. I always went back to smoking loathing myself when I caved in and bought a pack. Finally, in utter desperation, I humbly petitioned for help from God. Was it easy to quit this time? No. However, curiously, it was much easier to quit smoking with the help of the Holy Spirit than it was without it. It's been 17 years since I bought a pack of cigarettes.
Here's the final takeaway from this series of blogs: If there's an aspect of your life you just can't manage on your own - well,you can call on this final fruit of the Holy Spirit to help bolster your self control over whatever is defeating you.
I started writing this series of blogs as a Lenten exercise for myself for 2017. I had no expectations at all because I was drowning in pain, self pity, anger, frustration, contempt, and arrogance. Every day I was just going through the motions of living and getting lower and lower. Alarm bells were going off among my closest friends. Working through, thinking about, and writing about the Fruits of the Spirit in the Bible have helped me smooth out and really examine my feelings. Am I all wonderful and every problem is solved? Nope. I'm still in pain, but my entire attitude has turned around 180 degrees. I can feel myself shedding the stress I've wrapped around myself and becoming happier. While my F of the S blogs may not have helped you, they've been lifesavers for me.
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