Texas Rangers 2018-2019 Offseason Thread

[Kelleyman]

PreSpring Training fodder

 

[Kelleyman]

Might get a few Amens on this

 

[jta4437]

I guess it could be argued that they purposely designed a stadium so that it is difficult to grow grass so that they would have an excise to go the cheaper route.

Now they also have a reason for top free agents to not sign here which will give them a cheaper payroll as well.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

I think most stadiums that have a roof use the same material we will use

 

[Duane1952]

Might get a few Amens on this

Especially with Gallo. Maybe they can get his average above .210.

 

[saddles]

Well we can count on you to relay the terrible downside. Cheers

lol

It jumped out at me when I read that he wrote that Odor finished the season good, because I had already posted on here a couple of times about Odor and Choo finishing terribly.

 

[saddles]

I now a lot re wanting to put this offseason behind us so I am starting a ST thread.

On a telling note, this offseason's thread was 68 pages shorter than last offseason's thread.

 

[DT LUNA]

I now a lot re wanting to put this offseason behind us so I am starting a ST thread.

On a telling note, this offseason's thread was 68 pages shorter than last offseason's thread.

And probably short close to 25 posters that I brought attention some time ago.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Might get a few Amens on this

They also need to emphasize getting the runner home from 3rd with less than 2 outs.

 

[DT LUNA]

They also need to emphasize getting the runner home from 3rd with less than 2 outs.

I suspect they will and what a difference it would make.

 

[saddles]

I hope they emphasize how to hit better overall.

 

[Kelleyman]

I hope they emphasize how to hit better overall.

Yes and situational hitting. Perhaps Joey will get a few more Sac flies

 

[Kelleyman]

And probably short close to 25 posters that I brought attention some time ago.

From last year?

 

[DT LUNA]

Evan's condescending take:

Sources: Turf is coming to new Rangers stadium; why the club is making unpopular, but informed, choice to go artificia

@Romeo here is a little info on the turf if you missed seeing it.

 

[Duane1952]

RIP Frank Robinson.

 

[saddles]

The report on the Hickory Crawdafs from Scott Lucas:

LOW-A HICKORY
South Atlantic (Sally) League
L.P. Frans Stadium (1993)
Park Factor: 1.01
Park-Adjusted Average Scoring: 4.3 runs per game
Home-Grown Players: 24

Rotation (maybe):
Hans Crouse (#1 MLB, #1 BA, #5 Fangraphs)
Scott Engler
John King
Jake Latz
Yerry Rodriguez (#14 Fangraphs)
Tai Tiedemann

Texas’s almost-indisputably #1 prospect (Fangraphs likes Cole Winn more) will head the rotation. Concerns about Crouse’s changeup have ebbed, and his fastball and slider will slay big game. The larger concern is his command, which is on the rough side right now, and his delivery, which… look, I’m no scout, and I’ve read reports of how it’s cleaner than it appears and isn’t an issue, but I still can’t help but wince slightly when I watch him.

Yerry Rodriguez took the short-season leagues by storm last summer, fanning 82 against just eight strikeouts in 63 innings. I don’t think I saw him at his best in Surprise; the fastball was arrow-straight and the curve ineffective.

King and Latz are college picks who’ve missed substantial time to injuries.

Relievers:
Grant Anderson
Dylan Bice
Hever Bueno
Jean Casanova
Sean Chandler
Abdiel Mendoza
Wes Robertson
Nick Snyder
Cole Uvila
Grant Wolfram

Most of the bullpen is here for the first time. I mentioned Hever Bueno last week. He couldn’t offer velocity or control in 2018 but ranged 93-96 with several missed bats when I saw him in March. Last year’s last pick, righty Cole Uvila out of Georgia Gwinnett, was 93-95 with a slider during Spokane’s playoff run last September.

Catchers:
Sam Huff (#21 MLB, #30 BA)
Isaiah Quiroz
Matt Whatley

Huff arguably deserved high-A on the merits, but then he would be stuck in the same three-player position-share that he, Pozo and Novoa endured last April. He could lead the organization in homers.

Whatley’s (2017, 3rd round) 2018 was a mess. An injury delayed his arrival, and following a solid first week he couldn’t touch pitchers in the Carolina League (admittedly an aggressive assignment). He’ll reboot in Hickory.

Infielders:
Sherten Apostel (#22 MLB, #13 Fangraphs)
Frainyer Chavez
Jonathan Ornelas (#18 MLB, #16 BA, #11 Fangraphs)
Chris Seise (#12 MLB, #19 BA, #12 Fangraphs)
Curtis Terry

I certainly haven’t seen him enough to know for sure, but Seise (2017, 1st round) seemed untroubled by the shoulder injury that ruined his 2018. He was fun to watch in Surprise, delivering some hard shots to the outfield fence and making several highlight-reel defensive plays.

The 20-year-old Apostel has the most advanced approach of any youngster I saw in Surprise, calmly drawing walks while waiting for a favorable pitch to attack.

Terry was the faintest of blips on the radar last April but resurrected his career with startlingly improved contact and patience to augment his power. In his fifth year, he’s drawing his first full-season assignment.

Chavez (2018, 22nd round) packs a quick bat, patience and multiple positions into a small package. He drew the assignment over 5th-rounder Jayce Easley, who will either wait for short-season Spokane or replace an injured infielder here.

Outfielders:
Jose Almonte
Miguel Aparicio
Pedro Gonzalez (#18 Fangraphs)
Julio P. Martinez (#2 MLB, #2 BA, #10 Fangraphs)

Martinez didn’t take the short-season Northwest League by storm but drew solid reviews in the Arizona Fall League. At 23, he’s the second-oldest hitter on the roster. While the Rangers aren’t going to rush him, I don’t think they’ll hesitate to bump him up if low-A isn’t providing the proper challenge.

Gonzalez himself received strong reviews at instructionals in 2017 but couldn’t transform that into a solid season last year, so he’ll repeat low-A for the time being. Likewise, the athletic Aparicio, once a top-thirty guy and still just 20 years old, is getting a third shot at the Sally League.

Hope springs eternal for Jose Almonte, an expensive signing from 2013 beset by injuries the past three years.

Youngest: Ornelas (18 years / 11 months), Chavez (19 / 11), Aparicio (20 / 1), Apostel (20 / 1), Seise (20 / 3)