Series Thread: Rangers Host the Royals For Three Games June 21-23

[DT LUNA]

Good ballgame. A team producing win.

 

[fanman8825]

Good ballgame. A team producing win.

Just got to keep winning and put a streak together.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I have gone back and forth on Jankowski but he has zero power and played above his norm last year when we pick him up. I would rather see Duran play multiple positions once we have everyone back.

 

[Kelleyman]

So Lowe pulled the ball o a FB with some high exit velocity. He knows he has been stinking it out and next year contract is on the line.
Hope he figures it out. Garcia got in base too. Good win

 

[fanman8825]

I have gone back and forth on Jankowski but he has zero power and played above his norm last year when we pick him up. I would rather see Duran play multiple positions once we have everyone back.

Same here

 

[Duane1952]

I have gone back and forth on Jankowski but he has zero power and played above his norm last year when we pick him up. I would rather see Duran play multiple positions once we have everyone back.

It’s going to be interesting what they do when Carter gets back.. hopefully they send Grossman packing.

 

[scotsman#1948]

It’s going to be interesting what they do when Carter gets back.. hopefully they send Grossman packing.

it would be good to see Grossman leave but Wendzel will be the odd man out

 

[saddles]

Scherzer says he is starting Sunday. Jung says he will be playing soon.

 

[Senator_fan]

Scherzer says he is starting Sunday. Jung says he will be playing soon.

Not expecting a whole lot out of him (Scherzer) but hope he does well.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Not expecting a whole lot out of him (Scherzer) but hope he does well.

I'm not either so if he does well I will be surprised. Urea better be ready.

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

Sebastian Walcott went 0 for 3 on June 2 to see his batting average dip to .191, and that was actually up substantially from the .176 mark he had May 27.

He entered Friday at .234, still not good by traditional standards but a clear sign that the Rangers’ 18-year-old top prospect has found his groove at High A Hickory.

Walcott was batting .333 this month with a .912 OPS. He has five home runs and leads the team with 11 doubles and 32 walks.

He should have just graduated from high school. Instead, he is the second-youngest player in the South Atlantic League and has teammates who are seven years older than he is.

And he’s been thriving the past six weeks.

Sebastian has really improved his approach,” director of player development Josh Bonifay said. “He’s done a phenomenal job of eliminating swinging at off-speed off the plate. He’s a very talented player. What he needed to do was adjust to the level, and he needed a few weeks to adjust that level.”

“He’s a high school kid playing at High A, and he’s playing extremely well,” Bonifay said.

 

[saddles]

When Bradford and Mahle come back do the Rangers' decision makers have the guts to move Scherzer to the pen if he is not himself?

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

The first half of most minor-league seasons have been completed, and the Rangers are planning to promote several players across several levels Sunday after their current series wrap up.

With Monday an off day across the minors, players will be able to travel to their new teams in time for Tuesday’s games.

Last week’s Friday on the Farm speculated about who could be moved up.

The toughest decisions will be on the Down East pitching staff, where several starting pitchers have ERAs below 2.50. The best bets are players who are dominating while possibly a bit old for the league, like left-hander Kohl Drake and right-hander Alejandro Rosario.

Also, players who are in their second seasons at a level and finally having success are good bets for a promotion. Hickory right-hander Winston Santos, who has a 2.43 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 11 starts/59 1/3 innings, could be headed to Double A Frisco.

 

[DT LUNA]

When Bradford and Mahle come back do the Rangers' decision makers have the guts to move Scherzer to the pen if he is not himself?

Let's hope so.

 

[saddles]

More from Jeff Wilson:

Jack Leiter delivered the best start of his career Tuesday, tossing seven scoreless innings on five hits. He struck out eight, didn’t issue a walk and threw 70 of his 101 pitches for strikes.

That’s good by any measure, including the high standard Leiter has set this season.

Rangers radio broadcaster Jared Sandler found some pretty telling stats about how good Leiter has been in his first season at Triple A Round Rock.

Among Pacific Coast League starters with 40 innings pitched, Leiter ranks first in strikeout percentage, strikeout-to-walk ratio and expected fielding independent pitching (xFIP). His 3.61 ERA after 10 games/47 1/3 innings ranks fifth in the PCL.

No, the first two seasons of his professional career didn’t go well, and neither did the first three big-league starts of his career earlier this season. But Leiter is only 24, and anyone casting him off as a draft bust needs to reconsider.

Players come on their own path, not the ones fans and media set out for them.

 

[saddles]

Jung news from Jeff Wilson:

Josh Jung will take live batting practice Tuesday, manager Bruce Bochy said, and #Rangers will determine then if he's ready for the majors or needs more time on rehab assignment.

 

[fanman8825]

When Bradford and Mahle come back do the Rangers' decision makers have the guts to move Scherzer to the pen if he is not himself?

Probably not unless Scherzer is awful.
I would be happy if we could get 5 innings and 2 or 3 earned runs from Scherzer. That should at least give us a chance to win

 

[saddles]

Probably not unless Scherzer is awful.
I would be happy if we could get 5 innings and 2 or 3 earned runs from Scherzer. That should at least give us a chance to win

The big decision for management will be if Scherzer is sporting a 4.80 ERA when Bradford is ready.

Bradford was our best startering pitcher when he was injured. If Scherzer's ERA was close to 4.80, that would make Max about our 7th or 8th best starting pitcher, and that is not including Mahle or deGrom.

The question becomes, do they want the best starting pitchers in the rotation, or do they simply go by seniority?

 

[saddles]

I guess Gray isn't tipping his pitches today.

 

[Duane1952]

When Bradford and Mahle come back do the Rangers' decision makers have the guts to move Scherzer to the pen if he is not himself?

I doubt it. Seems like they’re are scared of offending players. IE, Taveras and Lowe.