Texas Rangers Spring Training 2020

[Nightcrawler]

Joke’s on them, then, because Arlington is 100 times nicer of a city than Houston. Houston is a complete toilet. I’d rather be the Arlington Rangers than the Houston Astros any day of the week.

at least we still have our dignity intact. I’m slightly worried tho because a lot of this cheating scandal seems centered around carlos beltran and he was briefly a ranger.

with the way our team has played lately tho, you’d think we would be clean lol.

 

[WilltheThrill]

at least we still have our dignity intact. I’m slightly worried tho because a lot of this cheating scandal seems centered around carlos beltran and he was briefly a ranger.

with the way our team has played lately tho, you’d think we would be clean lol.

He wasn’t a Ranger long enough to get anything like that set up. It’s doubtful they would have let some outsider acquired at the trade deadline come in and change they way they did business with such a risky proposition, either. Furthermore, it was reportedly Cora who was the main instigator of the scheme and Beltran just played a central role in its implementation.

I’m sure that the Rangers, like all other MLB teams, have pulled their share of shady and outside-the-lines stuff over the years. So it wouldn’t surprise me if a report came out in the future that said they helped subvert a steroids test or did some funny financial math with an international signing. But I highly doubt they pulled anything like the Astros did with the cameras and trash cans and cheated for multiple entire seasons.

 

[saddles]

Adam being Adam.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Adam being Adam.

he’s an odor homer / odor lover.

the guy has zero credibility with me. Don’t care what he thinks.

 

[DT LUNA]

he’s an odor homer / odor lover.

the guy has zero credibility with me. Don’t care what he thinks.

The only thing that matters at this point is:
1. A good ST with no major injuries
2. Honest and fair decisions concerning players and positions.
3. Best trades possible going forward improving the team.

 

[Nightcrawler]

The only thing that matters at this point is:
1. A good ST with no major injuries
2. Honest and fair decisions concerning players and positions.
3. Best trades possible going forward improving the team.

I know we’re supposed to be optimistic during the spring, but I feel like only #1 is likely or even possible at this point.

Our front office seems to be the worst in Major League Baseball about switching things up when they’re not working. They tend to rigidly “ stick to the plan” at the detriment of the team and players behind the ones not performing who want their shot.

The last 2 deadlines we have all been hoping for trades, but pretty much gotten zilch. The Astros have seemingly altered the landscape of MLB where many teams think “ if you’re not first, it’s good to be last”.

The wild card expansion has also combined into that and every year you get several big dog teams who expect the teams at the bottom to trade their best players for low level prospects who have little chance of panning out. Teams at the bottom are holding out for players who seem certain to succeed.

long story short, but it seems like the system is totally screwed up right now and the rangers haven’t been able to trade our guys for prospects and we also haven’t had much luck or success developing our guys.

We need the current owners to sell the damn team because they also are reluctant to spend any money to bring a stud ball player in here like Rendon who can shake things up. This team has been like a drugged up zombie wondering aimlessly over the last few years.

 

[Kelleyman]

And the owner of the Hooks is Jim Crane

 

[Nightcrawler]

3 AB’s for Odor so far and no K’s.

could be a good sign for the little turd.

 

[saddles]

https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/sam-huff-power-hitting-rangers-catcher

 

[Kelleyman]

Did listen to some of the broadcast this afternoon. J Sandler does not think Cody Allen has much of a shot to make the team

 

[DT LUNA]

Did listen to some of the broadcast this afternoon. J Sandler does not think Cody Allen has much of a shot to make the team

Bet he said the same about DT and Kelleyman too.

 

[saddles]

Next Piazza? Mauer? Maybe this Texas prospect

“I don’t think there has been any discussions about changing positions,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “Obviously, we know the bat is a huge strength for him, but catching is a huge strength too. He’s got a chance to do what not a lot of catchers can -- that’s hit and do some major things on the offensive side.”

Not only did Huff impress with his bat last year, he also threw out 48% of attempted basestealers between his time at Hickory and Down East. Phillies backstop J.T. Realmuto led the Majors with a 47% rate.

“Sam has the ingredients -- mentality, game awareness, toughness and desire, coupled with his physical attributes -- to be a frontline Major League catcher,” Rangers assistant general manager Mike Daly said. “We will continue to develop him in this manner.”

Huff, who started 14 games at first base over the past two seasons, has no interest in switching positions. He has lofty ambitions as a catcher.

“I love catching,” Huff said. “I love it. I want to be a catcher in the big leagues. I want to do everything I can to work my tail off to become that catcher in the big leagues. Be the next Joe Mauer or the next Matt Wieters or Mike Piazza. Nobody thought they would be catchers.”

But if Huff wants to be a catcher, he must stay on top of his defense and working with pitchers. That’s still paramount, no matter what he does offensively. If Huff can’t handle the demands of catching, he could end up being a designated hitter.

“I need to show them how dedicated I am to catching,” Huff said. “They think I’m a hitter/catcher and I want to be a catcher/hitter. More along the lines of what I need to do as a catcher -- controlling these [pitchers] and letting them know I am here when they need me. I’m not thinking hitting 24/7.”

The Rangers aren’t concerned about having a tall catcher squatting behind the plate. The Royals' Salvador Perez is 6-foot-4 and has won five Gold Glove Awards. Mauer and Sandy Alomar are each 6-foot-5 and also Gold Glove winners.

“For a big guy, he moves around good. His hands, from what I’ve seen in the drills, are good,” said Rangers catcher Jeff Mathis, a 15-year veteran. “I have been impressed with him.”

Mathis, who mentored Jose Trevino and Isiah Kiner-Falefa last season, is part of Huff’s support group. Huff is not on the 40-man roster, but the Rangers wanted him in big league camp so he could work closely with Mathis, who was primarily brought in last year for his veteran presence and above-average defense. Their lockers are next to each other in the Rangers' clubhouse.

“He has been good,” Mathis said. “He’s a good dude. He wants to get better. He works hard. It's nice to have somebody young like that -- eager, wants to learn. He’s a pretty offensive guy from what it sounds like. I just want him to understand the importance of the defensive side and what that means, too.”

Nothing is set, but there is a good chance that Huff will be playing at Double-A Frisco in 2020. His manager there would be former catcher Bobby Wilson, who spent 10 years in the Majors, including the first five with the Angels, where Mathis was his teammate and former All-Star catcher Mike Scioscia was his manager.

Huff will get the same advance catching education that Wilson received.

“We have started doing some gameplanning stuff,” Wilson said.”Speed up that learning curve, so when he gets to the big leagues, he won’t be punched in the face with information. Make it easier for him to understand the numbers and what’s important. He’s getting a lot right now, but it’s good for him.”

 

[saddles]

Stamina, strength: Palumbo adds 20 pounds

 

[Nightcrawler]

“I don’t think there has been any discussions about changing positions,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “Obviously, we know the bat is a huge strength for him, but catching is a huge strength too. He’s got a chance to do what not a lot of catchers can -- that’s hit and do some major things on the offensive side.”

Not only did Huff impress with his bat last year, he also threw out 48% of attempted basestealers between his time at Hickory and Down East. Phillies backstop J.T. Realmuto led the Majors with a 47% rate.

“Sam has the ingredients -- mentality, game awareness, toughness and desire, coupled with his physical attributes -- to be a frontline Major League catcher,” Rangers assistant general manager Mike Daly said. “We will continue to develop him in this manner.”

Huff, who started 14 games at first base over the past two seasons, has no interest in switching positions. He has lofty ambitions as a catcher.

“I love catching,” Huff said. “I love it. I want to be a catcher in the big leagues. I want to do everything I can to work my tail off to become that catcher in the big leagues. Be the next Joe Mauer or the next Matt Wieters or Mike Piazza. Nobody thought they would be catchers.”

But if Huff wants to be a catcher, he must stay on top of his defense and working with pitchers. That’s still paramount, no matter what he does offensively. If Huff can’t handle the demands of catching, he could end up being a designated hitter.

“I need to show them how dedicated I am to catching,” Huff said. “They think I’m a hitter/catcher and I want to be a catcher/hitter. More along the lines of what I need to do as a catcher -- controlling these [pitchers] and letting them know I am here when they need me. I’m not thinking hitting 24/7.”

The Rangers aren’t concerned about having a tall catcher squatting behind the plate. The Royals' Salvador Perez is 6-foot-4 and has won five Gold Glove Awards. Mauer and Sandy Alomar are each 6-foot-5 and also Gold Glove winners.

“For a big guy, he moves around good. His hands, from what I’ve seen in the drills, are good,” said Rangers catcher Jeff Mathis, a 15-year veteran. “I have been impressed with him.”

Mathis, who mentored Jose Trevino and Isiah Kiner-Falefa last season, is part of Huff’s support group. Huff is not on the 40-man roster, but the Rangers wanted him in big league camp so he could work closely with Mathis, who was primarily brought in last year for his veteran presence and above-average defense. Their lockers are next to each other in the Rangers' clubhouse.

“He has been good,” Mathis said. “He’s a good dude. He wants to get better. He works hard. It's nice to have somebody young like that -- eager, wants to learn. He’s a pretty offensive guy from what it sounds like. I just want him to understand the importance of the defensive side and what that means, too.”

Nothing is set, but there is a good chance that Huff will be playing at Double-A Frisco in 2020. His manager there would be former catcher Bobby Wilson, who spent 10 years in the Majors, including the first five with the Angels, where Mathis was his teammate and former All-Star catcher Mike Scioscia was his manager.

Huff will get the same advance catching education that Wilson received.

“We have started doing some gameplanning stuff,” Wilson said.”Speed up that learning curve, so when he gets to the big leagues, he won’t be punched in the face with information. Make it easier for him to understand the numbers and what’s important. He’s getting a lot right now, but it’s good for him.”

I have a good feeling from huff. I think he will pan out.

 

[Kelleyman]

Bet he said the same about DT and Kelleyman too.

Yeah I got released a long time ago, just small time AAA fluff

 

[saddles]

I have a good feeling from huff. I think he will pan out.

I haven't been as impressed, as I am with him, with a Rangers position player, since Gallo. If he does really well this season, he may even surpass Gallo in that category for me.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Being the centerpiece of the Profar trade, it is ironic that Burke has developed long term shoulder problems.

 

[Nightcrawler]

seems like this happens every single offseason / spring training where 5 different pitchers in the system go down.

It’s definitely a trend now and I think someone’s head needs to roll for it.

 

[DT LUNA]

seems like this happens every single offseason / spring training where 5 different pitchers in the system go down.

It’s definitely a trend now and I think someone’s head needs to roll for it.

Who's head is it needing rolling?