Official 2014 Texas Rangers Spring Training Thread

[Bmurph]

Win you a job big boy

 

[RevSader]

lolololol dumbest way to win a game ever.

 

[RevSader]

Win you a job big boy

babip'd that one to a win it giveth and taketh

 

[Bmurph]

babip'd that one to a win it giveth and taketh

Yeah that one and the profar one even out, I'll take the W

 

[donaldson79]

This is from Grant at the DMN:

Starting rotation (5): RHP Yu Darvish, LHP Martin Perez, RHP Alexi Ogando, LHP Joe Saunders, RHP Tanner Scheppers. Changes from version 2.0: Subtract Tommy Hanson; add Tanner Scheppers The skinny: It was about this time last year that Tanner Scheppers hit his stride and put himself in position to make a significant contribution to the bullpen. He’s doing the same thing again this spring with a spot in the rotation at stake. He starts on Friday with a chance to all but lock up a rotation spot. When/if Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis and Derek Holland return to the rotation, Scheppers and Ogando could slide back to the bullpen to further reinforce it.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

This is from Grant at the DMN:

Starting rotation (5): RHP Yu Darvish, LHP Martin Perez, RHP Alexi Ogando, LHP Joe Saunders, RHP Tanner Scheppers. Changes from version 2.0: Subtract Tommy Hanson; add Tanner Scheppers The skinny: It was about this time last year that Tanner Scheppers hit his stride and put himself in position to make a significant contribution to the bullpen. He’s doing the same thing again this spring with a spot in the rotation at stake. He starts on Friday with a chance to all but lock up a rotation spot. When/if Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis and Derek Holland return to the rotation, Scheppers and Ogando could slide back to the bullpen to further reinforce it.

I could not disagree more based on performance so far. And mainly because Hanson is left out. You leave a guy who has started in the past who has done very well this spring and subtract from our BP at the same time. And to be honest I am not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling from many of our starters and our BP may be taxed early on. Now I agree that Scheppers and Ross have looked good.

 

[romeo212000]

Way, way to early to rule Hanson out.

 

[DT LUNA]

Way, way to early to rule Hanson out.

Absolutely agree. How can he be ruled out when we can't positively rule anyone in except #1/#2?

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Appears he listed Hanson as the long man in the BP. (in his roster prediction v3.0)

Texas Rangers roster prediction Version 3.0: Time to think boldly | Dallas Morning News

 

[ESPN Refugee]

Way, way to early to rule Hanson out.

My good buddy who is a Braves die hard is convinced Texas signing Hanson was a mistake and he has absolutely nothing left in him and will suck beyond belief for us. But I still say you can't rule the fact that he's still young.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

My good buddy who is a Braves die hard is convinced Texas signing Hanson was a mistake and he has absolutely nothing left in him and will suck beyond belief for us. But I still say you can't rule the fact that he's still young.

Not only young but he did go through mental issues last year and physical the year before and admits such. He seems to be much more focused. We may see the good Hanson. The jury is still out but so far so good.

 

[romeo212000]

The fact that he's been clocked at 94 tells me otherwise.

 

[Justinkm83]

My good buddy who is a Braves die hard is convinced Texas signing Hanson was a mistake and he has absolutely nothing left in him and will suck beyond belief for us. But I still say you can't rule the fact that he's still young.

A die hard Braves is going to give you a biased opinion on a former player. He's probably hoping he can't get back to where he was. Maybe a little butt hurt.

 

[Justinkm83]

PHOENIX -- Two players out of options did not help their chances of breaking camp on the 25-man roster during the Rangers' 9-3 loss to the Brewers on Tuesday afternoon.
Left-hander Michael Kirkman walked four and gave up a grand slam home run to Mark Reynolds in one inning of work and outfielder Engel Beltre had two key mistakes, one on the bases and the other in the field. For either player, this was not a good time to have a game like that.
"No it's not, that's fair to say," Kirkman said.
Kirkman, taking over for Martin Perez in the sixth, was supposed to pitch 3-4 innings but only could get through one. He walked the bases loaded with one out before Reynolds took him deep. Kirkman said he couldn't get his sinker over the plate.
"They were around the strike zone but not in it," Kirkman said. "A couple got away but for the most part they were right there but not in it."
Kirkman was officially being considered for a spot in the rotation but the best he can hope for right now is long man in the bullpen. The Rangers have spent four years waiting patiently for Kirkman be good for an extended period but it hasn't happened. Dealing with skin cancer twice in the past two years has not helped.
Now he has to pitch his way onto this team and it hasn't happened.
"We haven't made any decisions," manager Ron Washington said. "I know he feels bad. He had 3-4 innings to give us and he had a rough first inning. We couldn't send him back out there."
Beltre reached on a one-out bunt single in the second and Leonys Martin followed with a single to right. Beltre started to try for third, but after rounding the base, decided otherwise. The throw to third was cut off by shortstop Jean Segura and Beltre was thrown out trying to scramble back to second. In the fifth inning, Beltre lost Reynolds' fly ball in the sun and it prolonged the inning for Perez. The Brewers ended up scoring five runs that inning.
"He lost a fly ball," Washington said. "That happens."
Michael Choice has clearly out-distanced Beltre for the fourth outfield spot. Washington said the Rangers aren't going to carry a player just because he is out of options.
"We're going to take the 25 best players," Washington said. "We're not worried about that. We'll do what we have to do."

 

[Justinkm83]

Greg Maddux to toss first pitch for Texas Rangers' opener - ESPN Dallas

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I was ticked off last year when when we kept Kirkman around. I hope we cut him loose this year.

 

[BrockForBroglio]

This is from Grant at the DMN:

Starting rotation (5): RHP Yu Darvish, LHP Martin Perez, RHP Alexi Ogando, LHP Joe Saunders, RHP Tanner Scheppers. Changes from version 2.0: Subtract Tommy Hanson; add Tanner Scheppers The skinny: It was about this time last year that Tanner Scheppers hit his stride and put himself in position to make a significant contribution to the bullpen. He’s doing the same thing again this spring with a spot in the rotation at stake. He starts on Friday with a chance to all but lock up a rotation spot. When/if Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis and Derek Holland return to the rotation, Scheppers and Ogando could slide back to the bullpen to further reinforce it.

I read where Ogando has been less than convincing his last two Spring starts. I wonder if he is in fear of losing the starting gig. I drafted him, but am keeping my eye on Scheppners.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I was ticked off last year when when we kept Kirkman around. I hope we cut him loose this year.

Kirkman has haunted ranger fans for way too long

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I read where Ogando has been less than convincing his last two Spring starts. I wonder if he is in fear of losing the starting gig. I drafted him, but am keeping my eye on Scheppners.

Lou Brock and Bob Gibson were my favorite players as a kid. Like the avatar.

 

[donaldson79]

Every organization reaches a point where they just have to move on from the potential, out-of-options, he's young, etc. If the guy shines somewhere else, he shines somewhere else.

Beltre and Kirkman have had more opportunities than their production would dictate for our organization, yet have hung around burning up time and eating roster spots from other players IMO.