Rangers trek to the Windy City for a weekend set against the Pale Hose: TEX @ CWS 6/10-12

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

After an off-day yesterday, the boys from Texas visit the southside of Chi-town hoping to get closer to .500. The White Sox come into the series at 26-29, just a tick above the Rangers who sit at 26-30. This should be another series that the Rangers should take, but have recently had some issues actually taking them. Semiem looks to continue his recent stretch of production, and hopefully his buddy Seager tags along.

Occupying the pile of dirt and chucking baseballs will be Otto, Perez, and Gray. All 3 are coming off less than stellar previous starts, although for Perez that was still a quality start and he remains a bona fide All-Star and a legit Cy Young candidate.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Cy Young poll sees shakeup at No. 1

5) Martín Pérez, Rangers (3 first-place votes)
Voters have been slow to buy in on Pérez’s hot start, but some have started to come around. In his past nine starts, he's allowed six earned runs in 61 1/3 innings, good for a 0.88 ERA. Pérez, who entered 2022 with a lifetime 4.71 ERA over 10 MLB seasons, now leads the Majors in that department with a 1.56 mark.

 

[Kelleyman]

Weekend approaches

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Weekend approaches

I am excited to see how this kid develops. He sounded very promising when we signed him.

 

[Kelleyman]

Have not read this yet but this baseball merry go round on ball changes is just weird
And they use those humidors too now. Seems like a lot of manipulation to me at a glance

 

[scotsman1948]

Have not read this yet but this baseball merry go round on ball changes is just weird
And they use those humidors too now. Seems like a lot of manipulation to me at a glance

and it is hurting the game

 

[Kelleyman]

I am excited to see how this kid develops. He sounded very promising when we signed him.

Yes he is now on the radar. Glad getting some national attention

 

[Kelleyman]

and it is hurting the game

And they worry about the integrity of the game. I am game with that but it is a two way street.

Homers were down and now it it rumored they retweaked the balls and now homers are back up All in the shroud of secrecy.

Guess my conspiracy side is kicking in

 

[DT LUNA]

Why can't baseball be left alone? It once was good enough for everyone. Make one change and here they come.

 

[scotsman1948]

Why can't baseball be left alone? It once was good enough for everyone. Make one change and here they come.

well, (1) Pitchers complained about the game being tilted toward the hitters

and then (2) the hitters started complaining about the game being tilted toward the pitchers

and then back to #1

and then back to #2

and now Baseball has decided to screw both

 

[saddles]

Have not read this yet but this baseball merry go round on ball changes is just weird
And they use those humidors too now. Seems like a lot of manipulation to me at a glance

They need to just pick a ball and the substances that can be used on it and go with that for a few years. Use those same balls at every level and in ST.

 

[saddles]

From Scott Lucas:

Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs published his updated prospects list for the Rangers. Longenhagen's rankings are typically among the quirkiest (not a criticism, just an observation), but his top ten seems very conventional: Jung, Leiter, Winn, Duran, Smith, Carter, Huff, Foscue, Harris. Some quick impressions:

He's very down on Justin Foscue's defense (30 grade).

He's much higher on March Church (#13) than anyone. Church doesn't appear in the top 30 at either Baseball America or MLB.com. That's understandable, because 1) Church is almost certainly a reliever, and even the best relievers provide limited value, and 2) Church hasn't even reached AA. Longenhagen loves his stuff and sees late-inning potential.

#18 Jonathan Ornelas, and #30 OF Yosy Galan. Ornelas has drawn attention this spring, and Longenhagen has bought in. Galan was a personal fave from my NC trip.

Down at #39, Ricky Vanasco. So much depends on when you witnessed him. Keith Law of The Athletic saw a fastball that dipped into the upper 80s, Longenhagen reported 90-93, I saw 90-96 centered at 93-95. Nobody sees much command, but we'll revisit that later in the season.

Davis Wendzel, #45. Another polarizing prospect, with Jamey Newberg placing him 12th, MLB.com 17th, and Baseball America outside the top 30. Wendzel has actually played fewer pro games than the oft-injuted Josh Jung, and his 2022 bat data has lagged so far.

Outside the top 50, Bubba Thompson. I feel I've been the low man on Thompson for much of his career, but I've warmed to him despite the issues (lack of walks, lots of swing-and-miss, defense leaning heavily on athleticism). The wheels are game-changing, and I'm hopeful that more power is coming.

 

[Kelleyman]

@saddles yes I read the fangraphs one it seems yesterday. Surely we can get a Foscue or Crim at least at DH. Of course I am all for an elite CF to cover defense some in LF if the bat is great

Still much development to go regardless. I am hoping some promotions come soon to ouch things along

 

[Kelleyman]

Covid IL

 

[Kelleyman]

Garver on IL too due to Covid

Miller off IL

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

 

[DT LUNA]

Good move on Andy

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[saddles]