The 2023 Texas Rangers Spring Training Thread

[True Rangers Fan]

First ST game of the season. Baseball is back!

 

[saddles]

I was trying to come up with a grade to give the "Rebuild." There are some questions to answer before giving out a grade though.

Is the rebuild officially over?

When did it actually start?

Should it have started earlier and if it should have, should the timing be a part of the grade?

What are the parts of the rebuild that should be looked at to come up with a grade?

I think with the acquisition of four starting pitchers and plans to play veterans in LF does signal that the Rangers believe the rebuild is over.

I do believe the rebuild started several years too late, but I understand the thinking that didn't want to start it after the 2013 season like I personally wanted to happen. Even still it should have definitely started before it did. I think when the Rangers pursued Rendon that that showed they were not in rebuild mode at that time. When they couldn't land Rendon I think they finally realized they needed to rebuild. So, using that reasoning it seems the rebuild started in early 2020.

I think the draft, trades made, the development in the minors, and the use of young players are the most important things to consider in giving the rebuild a grade.

The draft has been a mixed bag for me. The 2021 draft netted us 2 good prospects from the top 4 picks. I think Cauley and Moller were terrible picks.

I liked getting Porter and Leiter last year, but I would have liked getting Termarr Johnson and the best guy available in the 4th round a lot better. I also would have liked to have traded for a comp pick. The fact that we signed two SS the year before when we were loaded with MIF prospects, and that keeping us from having a third round pick, is a negative factor as well.

The Gallo trade was an excellent one, but even that was lessened by signing two expensive free agents who blocked the two biggest prizes we got from that trade. The Gibson trade was just awful and needs no further explanation. There were some other lesser trades that helped. It remains to be seen what will be the long term effect of the Nate Lowe trade.

I do think the rebuild ended a year too early. We still have young guys to find out about and we will not be able to get a conclusive answer. Those include, but are not limited to, Dunning, Otto, Ragans, Smith, Duran, and Thompson.

The overuse of Calhoun and Miller last year kept us from finding out about some guys last year as well.

The development of some of our prospects over the last couple of years has been poor.

Those are the things I am thinking about when trying to come up with a grade. What am I missing?

 

[Duane1952]

I’m afraid that you’re going to have the overuse of Grossman and Miller this year.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

The heavy lifting is over I think. Still need to have the prospects develop and add 1 or 2 offensive pieces, but the significant signings have been taken care of.

 

[Kelleyman]

Bet they think this minus catcher is the projected
Lineup

 

[saddles]

Bet they think this minus catcher is the projected
Lineup

I wonder why no Heim or Huff?

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I wonder why no Heim or Huff?

very rare to see a complete lineup at this point in ST. if anything, it's somewhat surprising there are as many regulars in today's lineup as is.

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

I wonder why no Heim or Huff?

Especially Huff

 

[saddles]

very rare to see a complete lineup at this point in ST. if anything, it's somewhat surprising there are as many regulars in today's lineup as is.

That would make Huff a great candidate to start then, as he will most likely begin the season in Round Rock. Huff did end the season starting in place of Heim, so maybe they thought starting Huff today with all of the regulars might send the wrong message to Heim.

 

[saddles]

Especially Huff

Leon is not a threat to Heim; Huff might be seen that way. That's the only thing that makes much sense unless Huff is dinged up.

 

[saddles]

Huff most likely will be subbed in for Leon fairly early.

 

[saddles]

 

[True Rangers Fan]

That would make Huff a great candidate to start then, as he will most likely begin the season in Round Rock. Huff did end the season starting in place of Heim, so maybe they thought starting Huff today with all of the regulars might send the wrong message to Heim.

personally, I don't think there is any major methodical, logistical, or procedural reason to it. I think it's the first game of ST, and everyone will be rotated in and out of lineups for the next two weeks. I imagine the bulk of today's starting lineup is out of tomorrow's lineup full stop.

there is literally nothing to be read into or inferred from with Leon being the starting catcher today.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

A few words to remember from Jeff Wilson:

The Rangers graduate Friday from the monotony of practices to Cactus League games, which can get monotonous.

They will open the Cactus League schedule against Kansas City at Surprise Stadium and will face the Royals again Saturday.

Glenn Otto and Nathan Eovaldi are the scheduled starters. Jon Gray and Martin Perez will pitch Sunday and Monday.

They might pitch well. They might get lit up. The offense might score 20 runs or might struggle to get a hit.

No one should worry or do cartwheels about any of it.

Spring training is a process. Performance doesn’t really matter for established guys, and stats can be wildly misleading. Wins and losses don’t mean much, as games are often decided well after the regulars have exited the game.

The No. 1 goal is staying healthy and continuing to make the right kind of progress toward the regular season.

Things will start to get a little hairy for those in competition for a spot in the bullpen, in left field and on the bench. Those who can opt out of their non-roster deals will be trying to impress scouts in case they don’t make the team.

There will be stuff to watch throughout, even though sometimes it will be hard to watch.

But don’t fret — or wildly celebrate — the results. Not yet.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

3 games today... 2 televised.

why does MLB hate the Rangers?

 

[Kelleyman]

I was trying to come up with a grade to give the "Rebuild." There are some questions to answer before giving out a grade though.

Is the rebuild officially over?

When did it actually start?

Should it have started earlier and if it should have, should the timing be a part of the grade?

What are the parts of the rebuild that should be looked at to come up with a grade?

I think with the acquisition of four starting pitchers and plans to play veterans in LF does signal that the Rangers believe the rebuild is over.

I do believe the rebuild started several years too late, but I understand the thinking that didn't want to start it after the 2013 season like I personally wanted to happen. Even still it should have definitely started before it did. I think when the Rangers pursued Rendon that that showed they were not in rebuild mode at that time. When they couldn't land Rendon I think they finally realized they needed to rebuild. So, using that reasoning it seems the rebuild started in early 2020.

I think the draft, trades made, the development in the minors, and the use of young players are the most important things to consider in giving the rebuild a grade.

The draft has been a mixed bag for me. The 2021 draft netted us 2 good prospects from the top 4 picks. I think Cauley and Moller were terrible picks.

I liked getting Porter and Leiter last year, but I would have liked getting Termarr Johnson and the best guy available in the 4th round a lot better. I also would have liked to have traded for a comp pick. The fact that we signed two SS the year before when we were loaded with MIF prospects, and that keeping us from having a third round pick, is a negative factor as well.

The Gallo trade was an excellent one, but even that was lessened by signing two expensive free agents who blocked the two biggest prizes we got from that trade. The Gibson trade was just awful and needs no further explanation. There were some other lesser trades that helped. It remains to be seen what will be the long term effect of the Nate Lowe trade.

I do think the rebuild ended a year too early. We still have young guys to find out about and we will not be able to get a conclusive answer. Those include, but are not limited to, Dunning, Otto, Ragans, Smith, Duran, and Thompson.

The overuse of Calhoun and Miller last year kept us from finding out about some guys last year as well.

The development of some of our prospects over the last couple of years has been poor.

Those are the things I am thinking about when trying to come up with a grade. What am I missing?

I changed my Hoolpla postscript and pic therefore the rebuild is over. But yes more building is needed.
Some can be done at the AAA level though. Lol

 

[saddles]

I changed my Hoolpla postscript and pic therefore the rebuild is over. But yes more building is needed.
Some can be done at the AAA level though. Lol

Yes, but some building in the minors is always taking place. I do think the rebuild is over, maybe a year prematurely.