Series Thread: Rangers Host Boston For Four Games to Open the 2025 Season March 27-30

[saddles]

So happy to have baseball back. Won't be going to this, but I'll be seeing the Rangers when they visit Boston. Good luck this year.

Thanks. Same to you guys.

 

[saddles]

Bob Nightengale has the Rangers winning it all against the Phillies.

I put all his picks on the prediction thread.

 

[Kelleyman]

Bennie I do agree that the ends do not always justify the means
Better to be prepared but will say it is hard to fill all the buckets if you have a limited budget
We have a pen that is full and with value guys but with no established closer

Have to think that guy is already in our organization

 

[Kelleyman]

So happy to have baseball back. Won't be going to this, but I'll be seeing the Rangers when they visit Boston. Good luck this year.

Really wanted Bueller as I believe you guys wanted Nate. Looks like some top flight pitching y’all got.
Glad Bregman out of Houston but hate to see him with y’all as he peppers the wall

Maybe this series is a prelude to the ALCS.
That would be exciting

 

[navamind]

Really wanted Bueller as I believe you guys wanted Nate. Looks like some top flight pitching y’all got.
Glad Bregman out of Houston but hate to see him with y’all as he peppers the wall

Maybe this series is a prelude to the ALCS.
That would be exciting

Pretty happy with the Sox off-season. I think they've done a good job in the past year or so of building up pitching depth. Not only could the Sox roll with a rotation of Crochet/Houck/Giolito/Bello/Crawford/Buehler (either go 6 man or use a swingman), but they've also got a plethora of relievers (Winckowski, Criswell) and upper minor league guys who could reasonably fill in (Fitts, Drohan, Priester, Dobbins). Also could see Sandoval later in the year. Also makes me feel really good about the bullpen depth. As for the lineup side of things, I'm very excited for Campbell/Anthony/Mayer (though I don't expect a lot of Mayer in 2025).

Glad Eovaldi has been pitching well in Texas, loved him in Boston.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

This'll be a tough series and a great test for our team. Thinking at least a couple of these games will be high scoring games.
I'm super excited that baseball's finally back.
Think Texas either takes 3/4 or the series ends up being an even split.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

Pretty happy with the Sox off-season. I think they've done a good job in the past year or so of building up pitching depth. Not only could the Sox roll with a rotation of Crochet/Houck/Giolito/Bello/Crawford/Buehler (either go 6 man or use a swingman), but they've also got a plethora of relievers (Winckowski, Criswell) and upper minor league guys who could reasonably fill in (Fitts, Drohan, Priester, Dobbins). Also could see Sandoval later in the year. Also makes me feel really good about the bullpen depth. As for the lineup side of things, I'm very excited for Campbell/Anthony/Mayer (though I don't expect a lot of Mayer in 2025).

Glad Eovaldi has been pitching well in Texas, loved him in Boston.

I'm rooting for you guys to take the AL East.

 

[saddles]

Bennie I do agree that the ends do not always justify the means
Better to be prepared but will say it is hard to fill all the buckets if you have a limited budget
We have a pen that is full and with value guys but with no established closer

Have to think that guy is already in our organization

I think the budget was much more of a worry this year and they did the best job in several years of fixing the pen. I am glad they did.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

I think the budget was much more of a worry this year and they did the best job in several years of fixing the pen. I am glad they did.

And between Martin, Garcia, Jackson & Church, there's a very good chance one of them ends up being an excellent closer.

 

[saddles]

Three of seven NY Post writers have the Rangers winning it all, and two more of them have the Rangers in the WS and losing. Only two of the seven do not have the Rangers in the World Series.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

Three of seven NY Post writers have the Rangers winning it all, and two more of them have the Rangers in the WS and losing. Only two of the seven do not have the Rangers in the World Series.

 

[saddles]

And between Martin, Garcia, Jackson & Church, there's a very good chance one of them ends up being an excellent closer.

I predicted Jackson to get 40 saves this year.

Sborz will be back at some point as well.

Also, don't discount Hales, Ahlstrom and Magdaleno from showing they are ready at some point this year - maybe fairly soon. We have more bullpen depth in the minors than I have ever seen and I am not even including Teodo, who I hope continues to start.

 

[saddles]

I heard Ross Fenstermaker mention that they are already considering Dane Acker as a potential relief pitcher.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

I predicted Jackson to get 40 saves this year.

Sborz will be back at some point as well.

Also, don't discount Hales, Ahlstrom and Magdaleno from showing they are ready at some point this year - maybe fairly soon. We have more bullpen depth in the minors than I have ever seen and I am not even including Teodo, who I hope continues to start.

I saw where you predicted Jackson to lead in saves. He's honestly a guy I hadn't given much thought to until
recently when I actually got to watch him pitch in spring training. He absolutely looks the part of a good closer.
The amount of bullpen depth between the major league roster and the minors is absolutely amazing.
That's one of the biggest reasons I'm high on this team making it back to the WS, along with the fact that they added a ton of beef to the offense
with Burger and Pederson. 250+ HRs is very possible. I'm thinking the offense will be a notch above 2023, and as long as the starting rotation can stay relatively healthy (knock on wood), things should be really exciting going into October.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

I heard Ross Fenstermaker mention that they are already considering Dane Acker as a potential relief pitcher.

I thought Acker was progressing pretty well as a starter?
His stats from AA looked good.

 

[saddles]

I thought Acker was progressing pretty well as a starter?
His stats from AA looked good.

He has been. I don't think they mean to convert him just yet. They are thinking about him being able to in the future, though.

I would like to see him stay a starter all of this year.

 

[Kelleyman]

I heard Ross Fenstermaker mention that they are already considering Dane Acker as a potential relief pitcher.

I expect him to be thr long man interchanged

 

[saddles]

I expect him to be thr long man interchanged

I am not sure that they would trust him in that role any time soon. Maybe later in the year. Of course, he might start off lights out and prove to be ready sooner.

They would probably trust Teodo with that role right away.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[Kelleyman]

HIggy KP and Josh Smith.
Smart