Readers, I have a hardcore group of baseball fans, specifically Texas Ranger fans, who wait annually for my first hand, eye witness report from Spring Training. The title warns you, but if you didn't read the title before clicking, well, this is going to be about the Texas Rangers.
There's one word which describes all of the Spring Training season this year: WHACK. First, it started a week early, and because we've had the coldest, wettest winter in Arizona in ten year, I wore my long underwear to the games at least three times. For the first time I can remember, there were two games called off because of rain. Normally, in 15 games, there's usually one chilly game (long underwear under the jeans), two long sleeve shirt games, and the rest short sleeve games. This year there were three long underwear games, and only one short sleeve game.
We usually see a preponderance of American League West teams with a couple of National League teams thrown in. Not this year. Why? Ichiro, the first native born Japanese player in the majors who played most of his career with Seattle, brokered some type of deal which sent the Oakland A's and the Seattle Mariners to Japan beginning March 14th for a series of exhibition games with Japanese teams. So, we saw neither the Mariners nor the A's in Spring Training. Instead, we saw the Milwaukee Brewers three times and a slew of National League West teams.
Now, you probably think the major league season starts in Cinncinati. Nope. This year it started March 20th in Japan with a series between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland A's. There will also be two separate series between major league teams in Mexico City as well as one series in London England between the Red Sox and Yankees. These 'international' series will be scattered throughout the year and the games 'count'.
Cinncinati is special this year. It's the 150th anniversary of major league baseball. Most historians count major league ball from the 1869 Cinncinati Red Stockings. The Reds have announced they will showcase 15 'throwback' uniforms throughout the year. Other notable dates: 50th year of the Brewers. It's the last year to play at the Ballpark in Arlington. It's the 50th anniversary of the 'Amazin' Mets' who won the 1969 World Series against all predictions.
Now, to the Rangers. Don't get your hopes up. Sigh. Jon Daniels bought three re-tread pitchers, signed a 4th man in the rotation as a starter for one year, and resigned Mike Minor. We saw Lynn today, and he couldn't get his curve ball over - at least he couldn't today. Of the three re-treads - they are all proven major league pitchers who have had Tommy John surgery. The name you'll recognize is Edinson Volquez. The other two restreads are Shelby Miller and Drew Smyly. These three have shown their 'speed' is back, and they have performed well in Spring Training. Stamina is another matter. Realistically, if only one can manage to pitch the entire year with anything in the positive win column, well, that's probably the best to be hoped for.
Otherwise, we're going to have a hot young team: Guzman (1st - age 24), Odor (2nd - age 25), Andrus (SS - age 30 - fyi his 10th year to start, and he's a new Dad - little girl born in November) Cabrera (3rd - age 33 - he's a place holder, Gallo (LF - age 25), DeShields (Center - age 26), Mazara (RF - age 23)
Elvis hit the snot off the ball in Spring Training. I expect he will have his finest year ever. He's in the prime of his career. We have him locked in through the 2022 season. Odor is showing an increasing tendency to hit to left and beat the extreme 'shift' of all the fielders to the right side of the field. Gallo is striking out less. Mazara has had a slow start at the plate, but I'm not worried about him. Ranger power (number of expected homeruns): Gallo (40+), Odor (25+), Mazara (25+), Andrus (20+), Guzman (15+).
Most improved player? DeShields. He was hitting and running with abandon this spring, and his fielding is noticeably improved. We watched him 'manufacture' several runs by getting on base, stealing second, getting to third, and coming home on the passed ball. You can just see how nervous the fielders are when they handle the ball when he's on base.
The other interesting wrinkle to this team in the signing of Hunter Pence, (age 35) an all-star quality outfielder in his prime, to a one year deal. He adds the much needed right handed bat, and I expect platooning with Choo at the DH. Choo and Pence both looked like consummate professionals this spring. Pence is wildly popular, so expect to hear cheers when he bats. (The Giant fans and the Dodger fans gave him ovations when he came to the plate in Spring Training.) Logan Forsythe, a journeyman utility infielder was also signed. If we could possibly unload Choo, it would free up a spot for one of the talented outfielders languishing in the minors.
Cabrera, a solid player, is definitely at the end of his career. There may be a bit of fielding weakness at third base this year. The Rangers have two strong candidates which will compete for the 3rd base position next year. Patrick Wisdom was acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. He has an insanely strong arm on the throw from third to first. Of course, it's all about, can he hit at the major league level. His competition, Matt Davidson, was acquired from the White Sox. He's a combination third baseman and PITCHER. Yes, there's a possibility he will be converted to a relief pitcher. This coming year, though, the Rangers want him to focus on his hitting. These two players are both 27.
The real problem for the Rangers is pitching. There isn't a genuine #1 or #2 starter in the lot. At best, our opening day guy, Minor, is a solid fourth position starter. Relief pitching looks marginally better. Jose LeClerc, who Daniels signed to a long term contract, looked lights out this spring. Two young pitchers Brett and Chris Martin both pitched well, but we'll have to see how they do facing major leaguers. Jesse Chavez is back with us for a second stint. Jeffrey Springs, a home grown 26 year old leftie made the club. He's on cloud nine. Relief pitching looked solid in Spring Training; however, they can't come in routinely in the 4th inning. Starting pitching is going to doom us this year.
The most disappointed player to leave Spring Training is Willie Calhoun. He's a sparkling young player who sprays hits. He came to camp 25 pounds lighter and he looked faster on the bases and in the outfield as a result of his weight loss. He's worked hard this past year on his fielding, but Pence beat him out for the 4th outfielder spot. Calhoun is very young (age 24), so another year of constant play and seasoning in AAA will help him. He's the first call up if a fielder falters.
That leaves catcher: We signed a veteran catcher, Jeff Mathis, who has the best 'framing' action in the majors - luring umpires to call more strikes. He's going to mentor our young (age 24) talented catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the finer points of the catching game since Isiah has been converted to catching from the infield. Kiner Falefa will compete next year with Alex Trevino to become the Ranger's first string catcher. Trevino has been sent down to AAA and Kiner-Falefa will probably catch at least one-third of this season's games at the big league level.
The best case scenario, and I mean pie in the sky best case, is all three pitching re-treads perform way, way above expectation keeping us late into games. Our young hitters take a 'step up' spraying homers and getting the timely hit. We have minimal injuries, and we get off to a rocket start. Otherwise, expect the Rangers to be bottom lurkers. A solid season would be playing 500 ball perhaps as late as August 1st.
That said, the young fielders honing their craft at the plate and in the field will be fun to watch. Watching 'The Condor' (Guzman) at first base is worth watching this season. It could be a break out season for him at the plate. His play at first base is already a treat. Elvis is always a joy - he loves playing so much. Odor is also a great teammate, and his fielding is still improving.
We open on Thursday at home with the Cubs, then the Astros. We travel to the Angels and then two games with the Diamondbacks. Not an easy opening stretch, so a 'hot start' is going to be difficult. The ray of sunshine is Drake and I have tickets to see the Diamondbacks - a 48th anniversary gift to ourselves. As a sidebar, we will get to see the new artificial turf planned for the new Ranger stadium since it's on the Diamondback field. Supposedly, this is not "Astroturf", but rather a synthetic surface which reacts and plays like real turf. I'm skeptical.
Take heart Ranger fans. We're rebuilding a solid team, and I'm anticipating Jon Daniels will buy two front line starting pitchers for the 2020 season. My feeling is he's been positioning the Rangers to be a play-off team as they open their the new stadium. Then, the sky is really the limit.
