Series Thread: Rangers Travel to Chicago For Three Games With the Cubs April 7-9

[saddles]

The Rangers are on a 5 game winning streak. The offense isn't hitting very well, but we have hit some very timely home runs. Oir current 8-2 record has been built by those timely home runs and mostly by very good pitching.

This series will see yet another change in the members of our starting pitching staff as Patrick Corbin will take Jack Leiter's spot. That is a shame because Leiter was pitching extremely well before being felled by a blister. Corbin, on the other hand, has put up disappointing numbers over the last 5 seasons. Our offense really needs to be ready to score a lot of runs when he the mound. mound.

Eovaldi goes to the mound in the first game and Corbin and Mahle will follow him in the next two games. Hopefully, we get the Tyler Mahle from his last start. Eovaldi is Eovaldi.

We really need to get guys like Semien, Pederson, Garcia, Burger and Seager to get hot and stay that way for awhile. Jonah Heim and Josh Smith can't do it all.

While this series is going on, hopefully Jack Leiter's blister heals up good, and Evan Carter builds on that very good game he had yesterday. We need those two guys back soon. We need Cody Bradford and Jon Gray back as well, but getting Leiter and Carter back over the next few days in Leiter's case, and in the next few weeks in Evan's case, can help us much sooner.

Speaking of getting a player back to help, that is exactly what should be happening Tuesday when Josh Jung is due back. It will be great to be able to have him anchor 3B and allow Smith to fill in for the rest of the team, and maybe even more so for Leody Taveras.

The media was very quick to praise Leody for his big two-strike-hit yesterday, but overall he has struggled once again this season. The more we can have Leody on the bench the better off we will be.

Let's go out and win another series.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

We won 3 of 4 from a good Boston team who is on a roll and swept 3 from a solid Tampa Bay team. Now on to another hot team in the Cubs.

 

[saddles]

Baseball America ranks the 20 hottest prospects.

17. Blaine Crim, 1B, Rangers

• Team: Triple-A Round Rock (International)
• Age: 27
• Why He’s Here: .459/.524/.730 (17-for-37), 7 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 5 BB, 7 SO

The Scoop: Crim has been in the system since being drafted in the 19th round by the Rangers in 2019, and for the past two seasons, he’s been stuck in Triple-A. He’s produced everywhere he has played and has shown the power to back up his hit tool by slugging 42 homers over the past two seasons. As a first base-only player, Crim’s path to the majors is blocked by Jake Burger transitioning to first base.

 

[Duane1952]

Baseball America ranks the 20 hottest prospects.

17. Blaine Crim, 1B, Rangers

• Team: Triple-A Round Rock (International)
• Age: 27
• Why He’s Here: .459/.524/.730 (17-for-37), 7 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 5 BB, 7 SO

The Scoop: Crim has been in the system since being drafted in the 19th round by the Rangers in 2019, and for the past two seasons, he’s been stuck in Triple-A. He’s produced everywhere he has played and has shown the power to back up his hit tool by slugging 42 homers over the past two seasons. As a first base-only player, Crim’s path to the majors is blocked by Jake Burger transitioning to first base.

Can he play anywhere but 1B.

 

[Duane1952]

We won 3 of 4 from a good Boston team who is on a roll and swept 3 from a solid Tampa Bay team. Now on to another hot team in the Cubs.

I was worried about Tampa Bay. Because they have really good pitching and the Rangers offense wasn’t doing much.

 

[saddles]

Can he play anywhere but 1B.

I think he has played a handful of games at 3B. I would love to see him get some time in the OF.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I was worried about Tampa Bay. Because they have really good pitching and the Rangers offense wasn’t doing much.

So was I. We had good pitching and the HR ball along with timely hitting.

 

[saddles]

There is a chance the game tonight could be postponed due to bad weather. It was snowing there earlier today.

 

[saddles]

From Evan Grant:

Rangers-Cubs slated to start at 6:40 pm. Snow seems to have stopped. Skies clear. Temp at 7 pm slated to be 33 with wind chill of 23. Rangers haven't played a game that started below 35 degrees since 1997. My first road game with this team. A pipe burst in Milwaukee on opening day & fans showered field with baseballs. Fun times.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

From Evan Grant:

Rangers-Cubs slated to start at 6:40 pm. Snow seems to have stopped. Skies clear. Temp at 7 pm slated to be 33 with wind chill of 23. Rangers haven't played a game that started below 35 degrees since 1997. My first road game with this team. A pipe burst in Milwaukee on opening day & fans showered field with baseballs. Fun times.

I really hope they don't play in temps that low. It's not comfortable for any player and I would be concerned for the pitchers.

 

[saddles]

I really hope they don't play in temps that low. It's not comfortable for any player and I would be concerned for the pitchers.

From what I heard, Eovaldi does great in cold weather.

 

[saddles]

From Jared Sandler:

Nathan Eovaldi has made two career starts with a game time temperature under 40 degrees

4/2/21 vs BAL
L, 5.1IP, 1ER, 4H, 4K, 1 BB

4/14/21 vs MIN
W, 5.0IP, 2ER, 5H, 3K, 0BB

 

[Duane1952]

I really hope they don't play in temps that low. It's not comfortable for any player and I would be concerned for the pitchers.

I sure wouldn’t want to hit a baseball with a wooden bat in 33 degree weather.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Finally a lefty pitching against us so we can have Taveras and Pederson take a seat.

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

Even utility man Josh Smith wants Jung back from the injured list. Of course, Jung’s return from a neck ailment will make it much more difficult for Smith to get regular at-bats, or so it would appear.

“I don’t think it’s going to make it tough, really,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Guys are going to need days off. It may be tough for him, because he could be playing somewhere different four or five times a week, but it could be good for everybody to give them a break.”
The Rangers entered Monday with the worst batting average (.192) in the American League despite having the AL’s best record at 8-2. Smith was batting .333 and had reached base in six consecutive games.
He was in the starting lineup for the series opener against the Cubs because Jung is still unavailable. Tuesday might be tricky, though Bochy said he is intent on getting regulars off their feet throughout the season.

The first name out of his mouth was shortstop Corey Seager, who played three straight games in the field over the weekend on his sore calf after two days off. The Cubs are starting two left-handers in the series, likely leading to lefty-hitting designated hitter Joc Pederson being on the bench as he was Monday.
Bochy could give Seager a DH day Wednesday and drop Smith in at shortstop. When the Rangers head to Seattle this weekend to face three right-handers, Smith could pop into the lineup for any infielder and even all three outfielders.

 

[Duane1952]

It’s not suppose to get above 40 till Thursday in Chicago.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Like I said I wish Eovaldi wasn't having to pitch in this weather.

 

[fanman8825]

As usual the bats are quiet.

 

[Duane1952]

Semien is still terrible. Doesn’t matter what the temp is.