Official 2014 Texas Rangers Spring Training Thread

[WastinSomeTime]

I'm glad I don't have to make the decision.

Ross and Scheppers has made this very difficult. Ogando may have to go to the pen. Yu, Perez, Tanner, Ross and Saunders/Hanson. Never thought I would be saying Scheps and Ross as starters.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

If any of you guys like reading Sickles.

Texas Rangers Top 20 Prospects for 2014 - Minor League Ball

Thought this was interesting from that article about Guzman:
Ronald Guzman, 1B, Grade B-: Season started late and ended early due to injuries, but one of the few Hickory players with a non-obnoxious strikeout rate. Hasn’t fully tapped his power but that’s not unexpected at age 19. Might develop into a David Ortiz-type, big upside.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Scott Lucas Farm Report email this afternoon ... (if you don't subscribe you need to) ... linked to a Jason Parks report free today on Baseball Prospectus ... Baseball Prospectus | Notes from the Field: Backfield Scouting Notes, 3/21

Since that might disappear ... am cutting and pasting it here. Prime read is on Alfaro along with Bostic and DiPlan by Jason Parks and Gallo by Ryan Parker ...

C Jorge Alfaro: Noticeably stronger; way more athletic than people realize; easy plus runner when underway; arm is 80-grade; popped a 1.73 (on my watch) on a caught stealing early in the game; footwork was quick and coordinated; ball was waiting on the runner; controls the running game; intimidator behind the plate; not afraid to attempt back-pick at second or first; highly confident in throwing ability; best I’ve seen him as a receiver; was letting the ball get to him; wasn’t stabbing or drifting; previously, more balanced at the plate; swing is still torque-heavy but not as all-or-nothing or uncontrollable; bat speed is still well above average; right-center is still power core; can still beat him with spin but he is keeping his hands back better and not selling out for extension on everything thrown near the plate.

I’ve been watching Alfaro since he was 16, and from day one, I’ve been selling the hype created by his massive raw tools. Over the years, I’ve seen the developmental ups and downs, the immaturity and subsequent growth, the physical and emotional maturation from teenager to man. But this is the best I have seen Alfaro, both on the field and in the way he is carrying himself off of it. If he keeps taking steps forward, the Rangers could have a middle-of-the-order hitter who is an impact weapon at a premier spot on the diamond. The profile points to a superstar, a role 7 all-star player; 2014 will be his biggest test. –Jason Parks

2B Chris Bostick: I liked it. Quick hands at the plate; stinging the baseball; runs better than I remember when he was with the A’s; can make plays on all fronts; right-side (2B) profile, but could be a second-division type or utility option someday. –Jason Parks

RHP Marcos Diplan: Short righty with immature build and limited projection; narrow hips; higher butt/waist; some room to fill out/add strength (especially in the lower half) but limited physical projection overall; fast arm from 3/4 slot; high leg lift in the delivery and good balance; created some angle when he stayed over the ball; was overthrowing in one-inning look; worked 90-93 with fastball; lacked big life; upper-70s curveball had some bite and flashed potential, but he failed to find consistency out front and struggled to command the pitch; dropped a mid-80s changeup that was either a true changeup (gripped) that was too firm and flat or a standard fastball he lost the dick on; overall command was rough; arm strength was clear and impressive for age; delivery needs refinement but should end up a strength; curveball could be his pitch; fastball has velocity potential (plus); complex league consistency at present but could push to Northwest League with a strong extended spring training. –Jason Parks

3B Joey Gallo: Gallo was a large human being when he was drafted, and he's even bigger now; he has added somewhere in the neighborhood of one inch and 10 to 15 pounds. It appears to be all muscle as he still cuts a very athletic figure. I doubt there is a future for him at third base, as everything screams right field; he doesn’t have the great reactions or quick hands for third, and he throws like an outfielder, as he requires a long arm path before unleashing cannon-like throws.

Gallo’s calling card is his light-tower power. It didn’t show up in game action yesterday, but I did get some good looks at the swing that generates those tape-measure shots. He generates little momentum but attempts to compensate for this by creating high amounts of torque. His whole swing is built on loading his hips, then rotating through them, but he still has some mechanical impediments to making this style of swing work. His lower half ends up being a bit late in his firing sequence. In the video below, watch how his back knee actually points back and toward the catcher while his front foot is striding toward the pitcher.

Gallo has a fair amount of pre-swing “noise” with his hands. He starts them close to his body, then raises them up and away from his body during his loading phase and ends up pulling them back in during the gather portion of his swing. It’s a busy process, but he is much smoother with all these movements than he was in the prior looks I’ve had at him.

When the bat does launch, it’s with great bat speed and strength, and there's a different sound off of his bat when he connects with the ball. There is some length in the swing but nothing to be very worried about. He's young, big, and strong like an ox, so a little bit of length is expected. He gets great extension, which only adds to his power potential.

Gallo's strike zone awareness is improving, though he still expands the zone a bit throughout all counts. He is likely to swing at any pitch he sees in the zone rather than exercise some patience and wait for something to seriously crush. This is a hitter who has been pitched around his whole life, so I don’t totally blame him for being so aggressive with anything he can reach. He seems to have cut down on his swinging and missing at stuff in the zone and is tracking the ball better than the last time I saw him.

Don’t expect Gallo to be a quick mover. He may get a taste of Double-A this year, but he still needs tons of at-bats against quality stuff to hone his approach. The wait should be worth it, as this is a player with a legitimate shot to hit 40 home runs in the show. –Ryan Parker

 

[Justinkm83]

Thought this was interesting from that article about Guzman:
Ronald Guzman, 1B, Grade B-: Season started late and ended early due to injuries, but one of the few Hickory players with a non-obnoxious strikeout rate. Hasn’t fully tapped his power but that’s not unexpected at age 19. Might develop into a David Ortiz-type, big upside.

I don't think of David Ortiz when I watch Guzman play but I guess it could be worse. Guzman isn't a liability in the field and has good speed.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Thought this was interesting from that article about Guzman:
Ronald Guzman, 1B, Grade B-: Season started late and ended early due to injuries, but one of the few Hickory players with a non-obnoxious strikeout rate. Hasn’t fully tapped his power but that’s not unexpected at age 19. Might develop into a David Ortiz-type, big upside.

Scott Lucas had some good words about Guzman today too. Get the impression his late start at Hickory last season kept him out of catching the lack of strike zone awareness disease contracted earlier in the season by his teammates.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I don't think of David Ortiz when I watch Guzman play but I guess it could be worse. Guzman isn't a liability in the field and has good speed.

Hopefully he was talking about him offensively. I will take that any day.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Scott Lucas had some good words about Guzman today too. Get the impression his late start at Hickory last season kept him out of catching the lack of strike zone awareness disease contracted earlier in the season by his teammates.

That was ridiculous at Hickory. They definitely had some interesting players to watch as I like Nick Williams. I know a lot is said about Alfaro as well but I would like to see him. I am on the fence about Gallo.

 

[romeo212000]

Man, advertisers scheppers looked good. Wonder what pitches he was throwing. I'm fine with moving ogando to the pen and putting he abd Ross in the rotation if this is what we get from them. I hope jd sees it the same way.

 

[Broseidon]

How about Kenny Rogers, Darren Oliver, Roger Pavlik, Ken Hill, and Aaron Sele?

I just threw up a little in my mouth.

Former All Star Roger Pavlik. As a kid, I thought Sele was gonna be the difference maker we needed.

 

[Broseidon]

Out of the 30,000,000 brackets entered into the billion dollar perfect bracket challenge only 16 remain. And we're not even done with the round of 64 yet.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Man, advertisers scheppers looked good. Wonder what pitches he was throwing. I'm fine with moving ogando to the pen and putting he abd Ross in the rotation if this is what we get from them. I hope jd sees it the same way.

We all understood what you said except for that 'advertisers' thing at the beginning but we ought to chip in and buy you a better spell check app for your phone.

 

[Windingmywatch]

That was ridiculous at Hickory. They definitely had some interesting players to watch as I like Nick Williams. I know a lot is said about Alfaro as well but I would like to see him. I am on the fence about Gallo.

I had all sorts of plans to get to Hickory last season but didn't make it ... now may have to figure out how to get to Myrtle Beach. I better wait before buying a ticket if it was to just see Guzman ... he might end up at Frisco instead. But the rest of cast at Myrtle Beach is going to be very entertaining.

 

[romeo212000]

We all understood what you said except for that 'advertisers' thing at the beginning but we ought to chip in and buy you a better spell check app for your phone.

I gotta pay more attention to what the Swype feature on my phone spits out before clicking post.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I had all sorts of plans to get to Hickory last season but didn't make it ... now may have to figure out how to get to Myrtle Beach. I better wait before buying a ticket if it was to just see Guzman ... he might end up at Frisco instead. But the rest of cast at Myrtle Beach is going to be very entertaining.

Agree and will be interesting in a park not conducive to the long ball.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Agree and will be interesting in a park not conducive to the long ball.

Betting all the Sally League pitchers who graduate to the Carolina League with the Hickory Bash Boys are going to enjoy taking advantage of Myrtle Beach unfriendliness to hitters.

 

[TheRangerDude]

Looks like Ross and Scheppers are making a really good case for making the rotation. I had a feeling about Ross. He was my pick to get the 5 spot even before Harrisons situation came up. I think PDay was the only other person to agree with me on that pick. Of course I had Ogando in there by default like a lot of others too. Looks like Scotty might have been right about him but he still has a shot I suppose.


Just seems like Ross is a really hard worker. Would be great if he could do what CJ did for us in 2010 (minus the playoffs of course). Shep too. Honestly, I would prefer a rotation with both of them in it over the newly signed vets. At least until Harry or Holland are ready.

 

[DT LUNA]

Looks like Ross and Scheppers are making a really good case for making the rotation. I had a feeling about Ross. He was my pick to get the 5 spot even before Harrisons situation came up. I think PDay was the only other person to agree with me on that pick. Of course I had Ogando in there by default like a lot of others too. Looks like Scotty might have been right about him but he still has a shot I suppose.


Just seems like Ross is a really hard worker. Would be great if he could do what CJ did for us in 2010 (minus the playoffs of course). Shep too. Honestly, I would prefer a rotation with both of them in it over the newly signed vets. At least until Harry or Holland are ready.

Agree. Not fond of the newly signed vets either.

 

[jta4437]

Looks like Ross and Scheppers are making a really good case for making the rotation. I had a feeling about Ross. He was my pick to get the 5 spot even before Harrisons situation came up. I think PDay was the only other person to agree with me on that pick. Of course I had Ogando in there by default like a lot of others too. Looks like Scotty might have been right about him but he still has a shot I suppose.


Just seems like Ross is a really hard worker. Would be great if he could do what CJ did for us in 2010 (minus the playoffs of course). Shep too. Honestly, I would prefer a rotation with both of them in it over the newly signed vets. At least until Harry or Holland are ready.

Been pushing for Ross to get a legit shot at the rotation for 2 years now

 

[TheRangerDude]

Agree. Not fond of the newly signed vets either.

Yeah, I think you know we know what we have in the vets and it not all that exciting. At least with the Young guys we know there is potential- makes it a little more intriguing.

 

[TheRangerDude]

Been pushing for Ross to get a legit shot at the rotation for 2 years now

I'm sure you have but didn't you have Tepesch as who you thought would win the 5 spot when I did that survey way back when?