OFFICIAL OFF SEASON THREAD ( 2017 )

[saddles]

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Diekman plans on attending Spring Training. Will not contribute.

 

[saddles]

Josh Hamilton Rangers playing time in question

There has been some speculation that Shin-Soo Choo could get a significant number of at-bats at DH. Injuries limited Choo to 48 games last season. But right now he is viewed as the Rangers' right fielder and one of several players who will potentially revolve through the DH position.

"He is an outfielder, right fielder," Banister said. "This is an opportunity for Choo to get back on his legs and into the game. Choo is a huge part of our success. We definitely missed him every day last year. To have sustained success, we have to him on the field and healthy."

Choo said he is not ready to be a full-time DH, although he would be willing to do it one to two times a week. If he re-establishes himself in right field, then the Rangers have a set outfield with Carlos Gomez in center and Nomar Mazara in left.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Diekman plans on attending Spring Training. Will not contribute.

I should have used "participate" instead of contribute.

 

[Kelleyman]

So Profar is going to play some LF.........in WBC

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Not a huge fan of any Rangers playing in the WBC, but I get why they're doing it.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Report: Twins offered Napoli more money than Rangers

 

[True Rangers Fan]

C.J. Wilson retires from baseball to pursue auto racing and auto sales

 

[romeo212000]

C.J. Wilson retires from baseball to pursue auto racing and auto sales

I could see him as a used car salesman.

 

[saddles]

Why?

Minors to test new extra-inning rule, report says

Yahoo! Sports, citing sources, reportedWednesday that MLB will test a rule change in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League and the Arizona League this summer that will automatically place a runner on second base at the start of extra innings.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Why?

From what I've read, players are not a fan of extra innings.

 

[saddles]

From what I've read, players are not a fan of extra innings.

Haha. I bet they're not. That means they need to be a fan of winning it in 9 innings so the game doesn't go extras.

 

[saddles]

This is why it doesn't really matter if they turn a profit on a year-to-year basis. If Loria had lost $20 million every single year he would still have made a huge profit on the team.

 

[saddles]

Rangers top prospects: Andy Ibanez is no challenge to Rougned Odor, but still has some value to Rangers | SportsDay

7. Andy Ibanez, 2B
Opening day age: 23

Bats-throws: R/R


Last year's stats: .285 average, 13 HR, 66 RBI, .804 OPS; split time between Hickory (A) and Frisco (AA)

Accolades: Was the youngest member of the Cuban National Team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Hometown: Havana, Cuba

Height-weight: 5-10, 170

Acquired: Signed as an international free agent for $1.6 million

Notable: The scouts agreed that Ibanez, on Team Cuba for the 2013 World Baseball Classic, is a bat-first player whose defense and athleticism are less than average. Ibanez, 23, is a line-drive hitter who had 36 doubles in 492 combined at-bats at the Low- and Double-A levels last season, his first out of Cuba. As expected, he tore up the Low-A South Atlantic League but had challenges in the Double-A Texas League.

Ibanez has a thick lower body that limits his range in the field and overall speed. He had 15 steals in 25 tries last season.

Ibanez is no challenge to Rougned Odor, the major-league starter at second. Ibanez is more likely to be included in a deal with a team looking for an infield bat or depth at second.

 

[saddles]

Rangers top prospects: Texas must decide whether Connor Sadzeck is still a starter or belongs in bullpen | SportsDay

6. Connor Sadzeck
Opening day age: 25

Bats-throws: R/R

Last year's stats: 10-8, 4.16 ERA, 133 strikeouts, 36 walks

College: Howard (Texas) College

Hometown: Barrington, IL

Height-weight: 6-7, 240

Acquired: Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 11th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft

Notable: The organization has to decide which way to go with Sadzeck. Does he continue to work as a starter, or would both sides be better off if he went into the bullpen?

Sadzeck has the top velocity in the organization, at 98 mph. He got the fastball into triple digits when working as a reliever in the 2015 Arizona Fall League. He is getting more consistent with the slider but has been unable to find the third, off-speed pitch that starters need.

The additional problem for Sadzeck has been repeating his delivery, a difficult task for a 6-foot-7 pitcher. He improved in this area last season with Double-A Frisco but still allowed 3.3 walks per nine innings with a 59.6 percent strike rate.

 

[saddles]

Rangers' spring storylines: Difference between good and a championship rotation may be this pitcher | SportsDay

Martin Perez may well be the difference between the Rangers having a good rotation and a championship rotation. He jumped to 198.2 innings last year in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. The next step: More pitch efficiency, less predictability. Pitching coach Doug Brocail aims to hammer that home while he has Perez, but he could be out of camp for up to two weeks due to the World Baseball Classic.

BIGGEST WEAKNESS
It's not the five-man Opening Day rotation that is most significant, but the 10-12 man pool of starting options to cover injuries & ineffectiveness. The Rangers may be a bit deeper than the recent past with A.J. Griffin, Dillon Gee, Chi Chi Gonzalez and Nick Martinez, but it would be nice to see somebody like Johander Mendez, Connor Sadzeck, Tyler Wagner or Allen Webster post a strong spring to help reinforce confidence in the depth.

GUY TO WATCH
Rule 5 pick Mike Hauschild is a strike-thrower from the Houston organization with whom pitching coach Doug Brocail is very familiar. Hauschild won't overpower hitters, but he won't fall behind or dilly-dally when he has leverage. As a Rule 5 pick who must be kept in the majors or offered back to Houston, he will own a tiebreaker over other guys on close calls. He could be an ideal early-season swing man, capable of an occasional start, but also available in a long-relief role.

MINOR LEAGUER TO SEE
LHP Brett Martin, only 21, had a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk rate at Class A last year in 67 innings. He finished up the season with a 15-strikeout effort in the California League playoffs. He will probably start the year at Class A Down East (N.C.), but should pitch at Frisco before the end of the year. Get to know him. If he stays healthy (he missed time with a hip issue last year), he's going to pitch in the Rangers' rotation in the not-to-distant future. He's in minor league camp, so you'll have to spot him on a back field.


UNDER PRESSURE
If Tyson Ross's convalescence from offseason surgery carries into the season, there will be an opening for a fifth starter, but there is no guarantee A.J. Griffin, the incumbent, will win it. He has competition from veteran Dillon Gee, Allen Webster (returning from Korea) and Rule 5 pick Mike Hauschild. Griffin must get the ball down. He allowed 28 homers in 119 innings last year, 18 of them in his last 59 innings.

MOST LIKELY TO HAVE A BIG SPRING
Everything seems to be aligned for Yu Darvish to have a monster season: Health, stuff, maturity. He seems to have laser focus right now. He will not mess around this spring. Expect him to be sharp right from the start.

 

[saddles]

Mark Hamburger is getting a tryout with the Rangers.

 

[Kelleyman]

Let's reassess at break but how about giving us a shot until then. Baseball happens

 

[DT LUNA]

Let's reassess at break but how about giving us a shot until then. Baseball happens

Agree. Have read that Griffin has been working in the off season and Perez too. If they improve, our rotation will be better and with Ross coming on board later we have a real shot. Also Gomez will be here for the whole season and that should help. Throw in Nap and yes we got a shot. And don't forget the BP. I like our chances as well as any other. Ranger fans are like that. LOL

 

[Nightcrawler]

Agree. Have read that Griffin has been working in the off season and Perez too. If they improve, our rotation will be better and with Ross coming on board later we have a real shot. Also Gomez will be here for the whole season and that should help. Throw in Nap and yes we got a shot. And don't forget the BP. I like our chances as well as any other. Ranger fans are like that. LOL

I'd like to see them get another decent bat. I doubt it will happen tho