Series Thread: Rangers vs. Blue Jays May 2 3 4 5

[Bmurph]

Bound to be a couple of these from time to time, lets hope he's recovered from the injury

May 2, 2016 9:27 am
Rangers' Cole Hamels: Chased early in return from groin injury Sunday
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Cole Hamels (3-0) lasted just five innings in his return from a groin injury Sunday, allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out four, but was able to escape with a no-decision in a 9-6 loss to the Angels.

It was his shortest outing since being acquired by the Texas Rangers at the end of July last season. Hamels still sports a 3.30 ERA, but control issues have left him with a 1.40 WHIP and 27:15 K:BB in 30 innings and he's walked multiple batters in each of his five starts this year. He'll try to sharpen his command in his next start Friday in Detroit.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[Bmurph]

Ill throw this in here too


Yu Darvish's stuff looks great in first rehab start since Tommy John surgery
By Matt Snyder | Baseball Writer

May 2, 2016 1:11 pm ET


Yu Darvish suited up on Sunday. (MiLB.com screengrab)










At 14-11, the defending AL West champion Rangers are off to a good start for the season. In several weeks, they'll be adding some help to their rotation in the form of strikeout-artist Yu Darvish, too.

Darvish missed all of 2015 due to needing Tommy John surgery. On Sunday, he made his first minor-league rehab start since the procedure and looked like his old self.

In two innings for Double-A Frisco, Darvish didn't allow a run or a hit. He struck out two while walking one. He threw 32 pitches, 18 of which were strikes.

This sounds all well and good, but how was his stuff?

Um, pretty ... pretty ... pretty good.

Those on scene reported that Darvish's fastball averaged 94.3 percent and topped out at 97 (MiLB.com). Throughout 2014, Darvish's heater never averaged more than 93.85 mph in a month -- though it needs to be noted that velocity should be up in a shorter outing than a longer one, this is still a good sign that his arm is feeling strong.

How about the curve? Go to the 2:25 mark of the video here:

That'll play.

Darvish's return won't happen for a bit, because he'll need to work his way up the pitch count progressively. Surely he'll need to be able to show he can go at least 90 pitches without tiring and teams usually don't ramp up the workload more than 15-20 pitches per outing.

Still, a return is on the horizon and so far it should be exciting for the Rangers. Thus far in his big-league career, Darvish is 39-25 with a 3.27 ERA (128 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP and 680 strikeouts in 545 1/3 innings. In his last full season (2013), Darvish led the majors with 277 strikeouts and also held the best hit rate (6.2 H/9 allowed) in the AL, finishing second in AL Cy Young voting.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

standard lineup tonight, except Mitch is DH and Prince is 1B. Nicholas catching.

 

[DT LUNA]

standard lineup tonight, except Mitch is DH and Prince is 1B. Nicholas catching.

Guess Prince is batting clean up.

 

[Bmurph]

2B
Rougned Odor (L)
RF
Nomar Mazara (L)
3B
Adrian Beltre (R)
1B
Prince Fielder (L)
LF
Ian Desmond (R)
DH
Mitch Moreland (L)
SS
Elvis Andrus (R)
C
Brett Nicholas (L)
CF
D. DeShields Jr. (R)

Griffin vs. Dickey

 

[RevSader]

He needs to go back to AAA. He's up here too early based on what their plan for him was, and he wouldn't play every day here. Or at least he shouldn't, once Choo is back. Outfield should be Rua/Desmond/Choo, with DDJ on the bench. My two cents, at least.

I don't know if I agree that he's up too early. He sure as hell looks like a major leaguer.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I don't know if I agree that he's up too early. He sure as hell looks like a major leaguer.

Too early based on their plan for him. He's definitely performed, and well, but as far as I know the plan for him was to be a September call up at the earliest, prior to Choo going down.

 

[RevSader]

Too early based on their plan for him. He's definitely performed, and well, but as far as I know the plan for him was to be a September call up at the earliest, prior to Choo going down.

I would update it and keep him plugged in the lineup.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I would update it and keep him plugged in the lineup.

Gotta disagree. The league will catch up to him eventually, and when Choo comes back I don't see how Mazara plays every day (meaning, I don't think Rua and DDJ will both be carried as backup OF's). I think it would be better to have him go back to AAA, feast on that pitching, like Gallo is doing, and then bring him back in September.

 

[DT LUNA]

Gotta disagree. The league will catch up to him eventually, and when Choo comes back I don't see how Mazara plays every day (meaning, I don't think Rua and DDJ will both be carried as backup OF's). I think it would be better to have him go back to AAA, feast on that pitching, like Gallo is doing, and then bring him back in September.

Gotta agree. Not because he is not playing well but for the reasons you outlined.

 

[DT LUNA]

Double check your schedule. Mine shows 6:00 start time.

 

[RevSader]

Gotta disagree. The league will catch up to him eventually, and when Choo comes back I don't see how Mazara plays every day (meaning, I don't think Rua and DDJ will both be carried as backup OF's). I think it would be better to have him go back to AAA, feast on that pitching, like Gallo is doing, and then bring him back in September.

Rua isn't ever going to be a starter for this team. I like him, but if he was left handed the guy wouldn't be on the roster more than likely. DDJ lost his lead off job cause he can't hit. So I don't necessarily buy that they will send him down. And if they do it just to gain a year of control I'll be really annoyed.

 

[RevSader]

Double check your schedule. Mine shows 6:00 start time.

East coast games

 

[jta4437]

Rua isn't ever going to be a starter for this team. I like him, but if he was left handed the guy wouldn't be on the roster more than likely. DDJ lost his lead off job cause he can't hit. So I don't necessarily buy that they will send him down. And if they do it just to gain a year of control I'll be really annoyed.

Deshields has been really bad against LHPs so if that split corrects itself then he should be fine long term, I think he's just trying too hard

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Gotta disagree. The league will catch up to him eventually, and when Choo comes back I don't see how Mazara plays every day (meaning, I don't think Rua and DDJ will both be carried as backup OF's). I think it would be better to have him go back to AAA, feast on that pitching, like Gallo is doing, and then bring him back in September.

My feeling is the league will catch up to him regardless if he goesback to AAA for a few months. Most have to figure it out OJT in the bigs. Plus Rua can play multiple positions. If Maz can help us win games then keep him up. I don't want to do the same stupid thing the Angels did in dragging their feet in bringing Trout back up and it most likely cost them a division title.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

My feeling is the league will catch up to him regardless if he goesback to AAA for a few months. Most have to figure it out OJT in the bigs. Plus Rua can play multiple positions. If Maz can help us win games then keep him up. I don't want to do the same stupid thing the Angels did in dragging their feet in bringing Trout back up and it most likely cost them a division title.

So who's the odd man out when Choo returns?

 

[DT LUNA]

Nomaz has no problem with the knuckle ball.

 

[DT LUNA]

Get it going AJ