Rangers contend with a possum and dirty water in the Oakland sewer 05/11 - 05/15

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Been that way but they continue to fail at addressing it....

Gotta think they will make some moves at the trade deadline

 

[saddles]

Been that way but they continue to fail at addressing it....

JD passed on the ailment of failing to address the pen until the trade deadline.

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

Outfielder Aaron Zavala (elbow) should make his 2023 debut within the next two weeks and will likely do so at Frisco, Rangers vice president Ross Fenstermaker said.

Zavala has been doing all baseball activities and playing in games at extended spring training in Arizona. He is still expected to be used only at designated hitter in his first week with Frisco as he acclimates himself with a higher level of baseball.

The way Zavala has attacked his recovery from UCL band surgery in November has impressed the Rangers, Fenstermaker said. Zavala is stronger, and it’s showing at the plate.

“He’s launching baseballs,” Fenstermaker said.

Zavala could have a traveling partner as he heads out of Arizona. Right-hander Ricky Vanasco (knee) is also nearing his debut after a late-spring knee injury that required microscopic surgery.

Zavala and Vanasco aren’t the only players about to escape Arizona.

Right-hander Emiliano Teodo should rejoin High A Hickory next week after missing a month with elbow inflammation. He has one more round of live batting practice to throw this week.

Right-hander Dane Acker is making progress toward his 2023 debut after dealing with biceps inflammation. Acker was pitching so well in February and early March that the Rangers were considering sending Acker to Frisco to open the season even though he barley pitched last season at Hickory.

Not all of the injury news is good news. Round Rock outfielder JP Martinez will miss at least two more week with a strained groin.

The timing couldn’t have been worse for Martinez, who is still seeking his MLB debut and was being considered for a promotion from Round Rock. The Rangers placed Outfielder Travis Jankowski on the injured list Tuesday and recalled catcher Sam Huff.

That decision might have been different had Martinez, who hit the injured list batting .350 with a 1.010 OPS, been available. Martinez, though, is not on the 40-man roster.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Scott Lucas had this to say about Crim just yesterday:

Blaine Crim was 0-3 last night (along with six of his teammates), but let's talk about his season. Crim has a 13% walk rate and more walks than strikeouts, exceptionally rare nowadays. His rate of balls in play over 95 MPH and in what I call the "good zone" (a combination of exit velos and angles that are either very likely to be a base hit or have around a 25%+ chance of leaving the park) are the best on the team. His popup and grounder rates are fine. Yet he's hitting .275 and slugging. 418, not bad but ordinary, and at odds with the statcast data. What gives?

Some of the problem might be bad luck. Crim is batting 1-for-24 (.042) on grounders. The Express and their opponents are batting .157. Crim is 0-for-7 on balls I describe as "unlucky" (better-than-average exit velo but at an angle that tends to get caught). The Express and opponents are hitting .147 on those. Crim isn't going beat out many grounders, but he ought to be able to squeeze a few more into the outfield.

Given his position and the presence of Nathaniel Lowe, Crim has to destroy the ball to draw attention. He's not there yet, but I do think he's been better than his slash stats would suggest.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[Bmurph]

If called up......will he start or pitch out of the BP?

 

[Kelleyman]

Nice DP and bare hand grab by Heaney

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

NOBLETIGER

 

[DT LUNA]

Nice DP and bare hand grab by Heaney

Very unusual to say the least

 

[Bmurph]

Let's go Huff an Taveras gotta do some work here and pad the lead a bit

 

[Bmurph]

Why Miler, let Huff get the AB and see what he can do in that spot. Miller needs to be DFA'd

 

[DT LUNA]

Not enough runs with BP coming up.

 

[saddles]

If called up......will he start or pitch out of the BP?

I can't see a place for him in the rotation, unless there is an injury that they haven't announced.

 

[Bmurph]

Not enough runs with BP coming up.

Top of the lineup needs to get it done here. Only 4 hits and 3 runs from Texas offense and the A's have 3 errors. Gotta capitalize

 

[Bmurph]

Well that was poor

 

[Bmurph]

Knew that was coming......cant let the one guy at the bottom of the order that can beat you, get something to hit.

 

[Kelleyman]

Definite trash pitches by JHern