Series Thread: Rangers Host the Angels For Three Games September 20-22

[scotsman1948]

Well he hasn't had TOS or TJ with us yet, so we might have those to look forward to over the next 3 years.

think that if he's good next year we could seriously consider trading him especial if we re-sign Perez and add a free agent SP this season plus if we trade for a young Starter, it is almost guaranteed that Gray gets trade after next season

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Oddibee McDowell once cut his hand at the annual Welcome Home Luncheon just before the season started. He was buttering a roll when he cut his hand. Maybe we should hire someone to butter Gray's bread.

sounds more like we need to hire a voodoo priestess to lift the curse

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[DT LUNA]

The great Maury Wills dies at 89. RIP
One of baseball's best base stealers.

 

[scotsman1948]

The great Maury Wills dies at 89. RIP
One of baseball's best base stealers.

RIP Maury you were a favorite of mine

 

[saddles]

The great Maury Wills dies at 89. RIP
One of baseball's best base stealers.

And father of former Ranger, Bump Wills.

 

[saddles]

MLB Pipeline picks a most improved prospect for each team.

Rangers: Evan Carter, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 59)
Carter hasn't so much made a leap this year as he has enjoyed his first fully healthy pro season and shown that he's a potential five-tool talent. A surprise second-round pick as a Tennessee high schooler in 2020, he has rebounded from a stress fracture in his back last year to hit .287/.388/.476 with 39 extra-base hits and 26 steals in High-A at age 19 before getting promoted to Double-A on Tuesday.

 

[saddles]

 

[True Rangers Fan]

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

can’t make it out this evening. Starts too early

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

can’t make it out this evening. Starts too early

That's too bad.

 

[saddles]

Excerpts from the Frisco playoff preview from Scott Lucas:

Top 30 Prospects on Active Roster per MLB.com / Baseball America
Frisco:
2 / 4. RHP Jack Leiter
3 / 1. OF Evan Carter
5 / 9. IF Justin Foscue
7 / 6. IF Luisangel Acuna
11 / 12. OF Aaron Zavala
14 / 14. LHP Antoine Kelly
17 / nr. RHP Ricky Vanasco
20 / nr. IF Thomas Saggese
22 / nr. IF Jonathan Ornelas
24 / nr. LHP Avery Weems
29 / 29. RHP Marc Church (on development list)
30 / nr. RHP Mason Englert

San Antonio:
11 / 14. LHP Noel Vela
13 / 23. LHP Jackson Wolf
14 / 18. OF Joshua Mears
18 / 24. OF Tirso Ornelas
23 / 28. RHP Kevin Kopps
24 / 20. RHP Alek Jacob

An embarrassment of riches for Frisco. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that many ranked prospects on one playoff roster.

Offense / Position Players
Frisco Offense: +4% runs scored, .265/.350/.439, 107 OPS+, 102 wRC+
San Antonio Offense: +4% runs scored, .266/.356/.397, 103 OPS+, 103 wRC+

Frisco:
C Scott Kapers / David Garcia
1B Trevor Hauver
2B Justin Foscue
3B Jonathan Ornelas
SS Luisangel Acuna
LF Kellen Strahm
CF Evan Carter
RF Aaron Zavala
Also IF Thomas Saggese, OF Josh Stowers, IF Frainyer Chavez

Several of Frisco’s best hitters have departed (Duran, Crim, Harris, Martinez), but Frisco’s offense is perhaps in its best shape all season. The Riders bashed their way to a division title by averaging 8.6 runs per game in the final three weeks. For the season, Frisco rated well above average in power but didn’t walk much. The current bunch has improved patience (mainly in the form of Zavala and Hauver) and slightly diminished power.

Catcher is the only weak spot, but Kapers can get a hold of a pitch, too. Other than that position and Luisangel Acuna (.224/.302/.349), who’s quieted since advancing from Hickory, the “worst” hitter statistically is Jonathan Ornelas at .299/.360/.425. That’s mighty impressive. One might have expected newcomers Evan Carter and Thomas Saggese to struggle, but they both had tremendous debut weeks.

Hauver didn’t start playing first until very recently, but I’d be inclined to keep him there under these circumstances. He’s the weakest defender, and Frisco lacks a natural 1B after Crim’s promotion.


Pitching / Possible Rotation
Frisco: 6% better than avg. in runs allowed, .247/.337/.400 oppo line, 93 OPS+, 12% BB/HBP, 24% SO)
San Antonio: 2% below avg. in runs allowed, .259/.351/.405, 103 OPS+, 13% BB/HBP, 22% SO)

Frisco:
1: Jack Leiter (5.54 ERA, .247/.359/.381 opposing line, 13% BB/HBP rate, 26% SO rate)
2: Cody Bradford (5.01 ERA, .248/.304/.427, 7% BB/HBP, 25% SO)
3: Mason Englert (4.11 ERA, .237/.308/.356, 8% BB/HBP, 31% SO)

For the season, Frisco’s pitching and defense graded out slightly higher than the offense, but the current situation is reversed. How offense-dependent were the Riders? In their 10-7 stretch to clinch the division, they allowed an average of 6.6 runs per game overall and 5.0 when they won.

Jack Leiter’s a great prospect, but he wasn’t a great pitcher in 2022. Odds of him running into a bad inning are high; the key will be stranding those excess baserunners. Bradford pitched much better down the stretch and is the ideal choice for what will be an elimination game for either Frisco or San Antonio. Englert has only three AA starts but acquitted himself nicely and seems up to the task.

The bullpen… ah, the bullpen. Gone are Grant Anderson, Lucas Jacobsen, Chase Lee, and Fern Ozuna (plus Tim Brennan, a potentially crucial absence, Zak Kent, Cole Ragans, and Owen White). Closer Nick Starr has a modest 20% K rate but has pitched comfortably and successfully in the role. Likewise, Nordlin has been competent as a swingman, and since he’s not starting, I’m hopeful he can pitch in Games 1 and 3 (if needed). Avery Weems can be as good as anyone (and might draw an early start if Frisco advances), but he’s worryingly homer-prone. The rest have a combined 5.96 ERA and 15% BB/HBP rate. Everybody has an issue, be it walks, homers, or not many strikeouts.

 

[saddles]

Same Leiter. He gives up a hit and two walks in the first and Frisco is already down by a run.

 

[DT LUNA]

Same Leiter. He gives up a hit and two walks in the first and Frisco is already down by a run.

Does Frisco have any legit pitching instructors? Seems like to many quality prospects never reach their potential. Probably my imagination.

 

[Kelleyman]

Does Frisco have any legit pitching instructors? Seems like to many quality prospects never reach their potential. Probably my imagination.

It is the same guy who had been in our system for 19 years. Jeff Andrews

 

[saddles]

Same Leiter. He gives up a hit and two walks in the first and Frisco is already down by a run.

Then he retires the side in order in the second inning on just 9 pitches. Two strikeouts so far, one in each inning.

 

[saddles]

Does Frisco have any legit pitching instructors? Seems like to many quality prospects never reach their potential. Probably my imagination.

The other pitching prospects have done fairly well there this year.