April 4-5-6-7 Rangers at the Halos

[DT LUNA]

How about another series

 

[Bmurph]

2 late starts followed by 2 day games, let's take 3 of 4.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Thanks to woodward and the players for giving us a much better than expected and very enjoyable first week of baseball. I doubt we would have a winning record right now if we still had the prior manager in place.

I don’t know much about the Angels this year, but their record stinks. Hopefully, we can go in there and kick them while they’re down.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I know it is only week 1 but the start of the Rangers, Mariners, Astros, Rays, Orioles, Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and so on is rather surprising.

 

[romeo212000]

I think our hitting may hold up but no way do I see the pitching holding up once hitters get settled in and opposing teams get a look at our guys.

 

[DT LUNA]

I think our hitting may hold up but no way do I see the pitching holding up once hitters get settled in and opposing teams get a look at our guys.

I think you're right on target about the pitching. Minor is really all that can be relied upon as far as the rotation goes. The BP has one or two bright spots but probably will be called on too often. And we can't expect the hitters to keep bailing us out every game. But ain't it been fun so far.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[saddles]

The report on the Hickory Crawdads from Scott Lucas:

LOW-A HICKORY
South Atlantic (Sally) League
L.P. Frans Stadium (1993)
Park Factor: 1.01
Park-Adjusted Average Scoring: 4.3 runs per game
Home-Grown Players: 24

Rotation (maybe):
Hans Crouse (#1 MLB, #1 BA, #5 Fangraphs)
Scott Engler
John King
Jake Latz
Yerry Rodriguez (#14 Fangraphs)
Tai Tiedemann

Texas’s almost-indisputably #1 prospect (Fangraphs likes Cole Winn more) will head the rotation. Concerns about Crouse’s changeup have ebbed, and his fastball and slider will slay big game. The larger concern is his command, which is on the rough side right now, and his delivery, which… look, I’m no scout, and I’ve read reports of how it’s cleaner than it appears and isn’t an issue, but I still can’t help but wince slightly when I watch him.

Yerry Rodriguez took the short-season leagues by storm last summer, fanning 82 against just eight strikeouts in 63 innings. I don’t think I saw him at his best in Surprise; the fastball was arrow-straight and the curve ineffective.

King and Latz are college picks who’ve missed substantial time to injuries.

Relievers:
Grant Anderson
Dylan Bice
Hever Bueno
Jean Casanova
Sean Chandler
Abdiel Mendoza
Wes Robertson
Nick Snyder
Cole Uvila
Grant Wolfram

Most of the bullpen is here for the first time. I mentioned Hever Bueno last week. He couldn’t offer velocity or control in 2018 but ranged 93-96 with several missed bats when I saw him in March. Last year’s last pick, righty Cole Uvila out of Georgia Gwinnett, was 93-95 with a slider during Spokane’s playoff run last September.

Catchers:
Sam Huff (#21 MLB, #30 BA)
Isaiah Quiroz
Matt Whatley

Huff arguably deserved high-A on the merits, but then he would be stuck in the same three-player position-share that he, Pozo and Novoa endured last April. He could lead the organization in homers.

Whatley’s (2017, 3rd round) 2018 was a mess. An injury delayed his arrival, and following a solid first week he couldn’t touch pitchers in the Carolina League (admittedly an aggressive assignment). He’ll reboot in Hickory.

Infielders:
Sherten Apostel (#22 MLB, #13 Fangraphs)
Frainyer Chavez
Jonathan Ornelas (#18 MLB, #16 BA, #11 Fangraphs)
Chris Seise (#12 MLB, #19 BA, #12 Fangraphs)
Curtis Terry

I certainly haven’t seen him enough to know for sure, but Seise (2017, 1st round) seemed untroubled by the shoulder injury that ruined his 2018. He was fun to watch in Surprise, delivering some hard shots to the outfield fence and making several highlight-reel defensive plays.

The 20-year-old Apostel has the most advanced approach of any youngster I saw in Surprise, calmly drawing walks while waiting for a favorable pitch to attack.

Terry was the faintest of blips on the radar last April but resurrected his career with startlingly improved contact and patience to augment his power. In his fifth year, he’s drawing his first full-season assignment.

Chavez (2018, 22nd round) packs a quick bat, patience and multiple positions into a small package. He drew the assignment over 5th-rounder Jayce Easley, who will either wait for short-season Spokane or replace an injured infielder here.

Outfielders:
Jose Almonte
Miguel Aparicio
Pedro Gonzalez (#18 Fangraphs)
Julio P. Martinez (#2 MLB, #2 BA, #10 Fangraphs)

Martinez didn’t take the short-season Northwest League by storm but drew solid reviews in the Arizona Fall League. At 23, he’s the second-oldest hitter on the roster. While the Rangers aren’t going to rush him, I don’t think they’ll hesitate to bump him up if low-A isn’t providing the proper challenge.

Gonzalez himself received strong reviews at instructionals in 2017 but couldn’t transform that into a solid season last year, so he’ll repeat low-A for the time being. Likewise, the athletic Aparicio, once a top-thirty guy and still just 20 years old, is getting a third shot at the Sally League.

Hope springs eternal for Jose Almonte, an expensive signing from 2013 beset by injuries the past three years.

Youngest: Ornelas (18 years / 11 months), Chavez (19 / 11), Aparicio (20 / 1), Apostel (20 / 1), Seise (20 / 3)

 

[Kelleyman]

I will be curious how our SP and pen do with getting swing and misses. This might give us a clue if they can hold up. I am excited to get the ASB call ups though

 

[DT LUNA]

Anyone staying up for the hated west coast starts?

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[Bmurph]

Anyone staying up for the hated west coast starts?

Yes sir

 

[DT LUNA]

Yes sir

See ya there. Buy ya a beer.

 

[Bmurph]

See ya there. Buy ya a beer.

I will drink it and return the favor

 

[DT LUNA]

At times Volquez has shown some pretty good stuff. I'm thinking he can pitch well enough to win with help from our offense.

 

[saddles]

After his first three AB of the season, Leody taveras only needs a HR for the cycle.

 

[saddles]

Crouse with a shortened outing due to a somewhat high pitch count, which was due to two errors and two hit batsmen. He gave up one unearned run in 2.2 innings.

 

[Kelleyman]

After his first three AB of the season, Leody taveras only needs a HR for the cycle.

Your guy Seise has two doubles. Welcome MILB opening day