Series Thread: Rangers Host the Twins For Three Games September 23-25

[saddles]

We have made it to the Rangers final series at home this year. The Rangers are 47-31 at home this year. Unfortunately, the Rangers are 14 games under .500 on the road. There are only two teams in the American League with less road wins than the Rangers, and the Twins are one of those two teams. So, maybe the struggling Rangers will win this series.

We will send Corbin, deGrom, and Mahle to the mound. I am not sure if Seager or Semien will play any more games this year, but I kind of doubt it. If the situation was reversed and we ended the season at home, I think they might have played a couple of those games.

Hopefully, Freeman, Osuna, and Helman will play. I would like to see Duran get some playing time, as well. Over the last couple of months he has hit .305, albeit without any homeruns. Still, on this team he has looked like Rod Carew compared to a lot of other guys on the team since the beginning of August.

I will be at the game tonight. Hopefully, I will finally get to witness them win in person this year.

I have been thinking a lot about the future of this team a lot lately. Things look pretty bleak right now. I think we are in for a really bad stretch for most of the rest of this decade. Ray Davis could cut that short if he wanted to. In fact, CY could cut that short if he wanted to.

The Rangers still have a shot at getting a better draft pick next summer, but playing the lowly twins will probably short circuit that goal. Like I said before, I think the Rangers would most likely take the same player at #10 as they would at #18, so moving up three or four spots would most likely not make a difference. That is because their board is always different from others and probably will continue to be that way as long as Kipp Fagg is running the draft.

 

[Kelleyman]

FWIW I was always more a.Carew guy over Gwynn

There is some upside to winning especially for younger players learning what it takes to win games back from adversity

That being said

At the end of the night the Rangers could be officially eliminated

 

[saddles]

There is some upside to winning especially for younger players learning what it takes to win games back from adversity

We might want to keep guys in the minors if they need to learn about winning in these next few years. Lol

 

[saddles]

Who is this team's MVP?

Corey Seager?

Nathan Eovaldi?

Jacob deGrom?

Wyatt Langford?

Shawn Armstrong?

 

[saddles]

MLB Pipeline has released their top international prospects for 2026. They have the player the Rangers have been linked to at #10. He is Elian Rosario.

Baseball America has released its top 30 international prospects for 2026, in order of expected signing bonus. The Rangers are expected to give out the ninth biggest bonus.

9. Elian Rosario, OF, Dominican Republic
Born: Oct. 5, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195.
Team: Rangers

Rosario jumps out for his size, strength and power. It’s a strong build for his age with the look of a player who will continue to get wider and more physical and add to what’s already big raw power for his age, potentially growing into plus or plus-plus raw power when he’s in his prime. Rosario’s power comes with some swing-and-miss that he will have to keep in check, but he does have the patience to draw walks and has the ability to crush mistakes that should lead to a good amount of home runs early on in the lower levels. An outfielder now with experience earlier on at shortstop and third base, Rosario is an average runner with a body type that suggests he could slow down. He’s likely a corner outfielder long term with an above-average arm that would fit in right field.

10
Elian
Rosario
OF/3B

BioStatsNewsVideo

• AGE
  16
• BATS
  R
• DOB
  10/05/2008
• THROWS
  R
• HT
  6' 2"
• WT
  195

Video scouting report »
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
Big league outfielders Victor Robles and Bryan De La Cruz hail from East Santo Domingo, a municipality of the Dominican Republic’s capital city. It’s where Rosario was born before training in North Santo Domingo, where he has emerged as one of the preeminent power-packed bats among his international class. Known as an extremely physical and durable athlete, Rosario is mature beyond his years and gets high marks from clubs for his tenacious work ethic and desire to improve his standing in the finer parts of the game.
Rosario is a physical presence in the right-handed batter’s box, one who routinely rips off triple-digit exit velocities and showcases pop to all fields. He has a good bit of loft to his swing to launch balls, primarily to his pull side, as he’s damage-oriented in favorable counts. But he’s also worked to improve his pitch recognition and all-around hit tool, which when coupled with his significant bat speed, leads to a future middle-of-the-order type bat.
As many of the best amateurs do in the D.R, Rosario primarily saw time at shortstop as a youngster. But as his body has continued to fill out and become well-defined, he’s made the transition to the outfield where he showcases a plus arm. There are evaluators who are so high on the quick feet and actions that they think he could hold down third base with regularity in the pro game. Whether it’s the hot corner or a corner outfield spot, Rosario has the look of a mashing, strong-armed two-way contributor to any lineup.

 

[saddles]

From Texas Rangers PR:

Congratulations to two players from Texas' Double-A Frisco affiliate after earning postseason league honors:

SS Sebastian Walcott (Top MLB Prospect in Texas League)
1B Abimelec Ortiz (Texas League Postseason All-Star)

 

[saddles]

Mitch Bratt was also named as a Texas League All Star.

 

[Duane1952]

MLB is announcing that they will be using the automated ball strike challenge system in 2026. Don’t know how factual this is.

 

[saddles]

Frim Mark Feinsand:

The ABS challenge system will be implemented by MLB beginning in 2026, the league announced.

 

[saddles]

The ABS will be a major improvement.

Now if we can just have that same technology call balls and strikes.

 

[saddles]

Frim Mark Feinsand:

The ABS challenge system will be implemented by MLB beginning in 2026, the league announced.

From Evan Grant

This will be of particular interest to Wyatt Langford who has had 49 called strikes that were out of the zone, 25th most in baseball this year, per Statcast. Only other Ranger in top 100 is Adolis García (34 called strikes, 92nd )

 

[saddles]

From Umpire Auditor:

Umpire Roberto Ortiz missed 25 calls in the Brewers Padres game

From Jeff Passan:

This was last night. There are typically around 1,000 missed calls a week. The ABS challenge system is going to get plenty of use.

 

[Senator_fan]

From Umpire Auditor:

Umpire Roberto Ortiz missed 25 calls in the Brewers Padres game

From Jeff Passan:

This was last night. There are typically around 1,000 missed calls a week. The ABS challenge system is going to get plenty of use.

Ortiz is just another graduate of the Angel Hernandez school of umpiring.

 

[saddles]

With only 2 unsuccessful challenges allowed, I wonder if some managers will want to save them for when their pitcher is pitching. I can see a scenario where some hitters will burn through them by the third inning. Lol

 

[Kelleyman]

With only 2 unsuccessful challenges allowed, I wonder if some managers will want to save them for when their pitcher is pitching. I can see a scenario where some hitters will burn through them by the third inning. Lol

Right. Best judge of plate is Evan and Wyatt
Hope they get the bulk of calls

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

Dustin Harris’ option has been voided and he’s instead going on the 10-day injured list with a wrist sprain.

 

[saddles]

 

[Duane1952]

With only 2 unsuccessful challenges allowed, I wonder if some managers will want to save them for when their pitcher is pitching. I can see a scenario where some hitters will burn through them by the third inning. Lol

With Buckner or Diaz behind the plate, 2 is not nearly enough.

 

[Kelleyman]

Zeke in For Josh Smith due to elbow infection

 

[Kelleyman]

So hears they may take off the strike zone graphics off the TV broadcasts
Bet they are still on the App though

Probably makes for less griping overall