Roy Oswalt

OK, so let's talk about Roy Oswalt. The Rangers are going to sign him and he would fit in the rotation just right. And should the Rangers (actually, they will) sign him, that is a message that the Rangers want to get back to the World Series for a third straight year.

Can you imagine a lineup with Hamilton, Cruz, Beltre, Kinsler, Young, and Fielder? Can you imagine a rotation with Darvish, Feliz, Lewis, and Oswalt?

And then there is Joe Nathan closing the door. Of course, Feliz could be doing that, with Nathan being a set up guy for him. Or the other way around, Feliz setting up for Nathan. But if Nathan is closing, look for Feliz to start, as I don't see Feliz being a set-up guy. I'm sure he would if he was told to, I just don't see it happening on a everyday or two basis.

The Lineup as I see it right now:

C     Mike Napoli
1B   Mitch Moreland
(Prince Fielder would take his spot)
2B   Ian Kinsler
SS   Elvis Andrus
3B   Adrian Beltre
OF  Josh Hamilton
OF  Nelson Cruz
OF  Julio Borbon
(although Leonys Martin, could take his spot in the lineup somewhere along the way)
DH  Michael Young

Pitching Rotation:

SP  Yu Darvish
SP  Colby Lewis
SP  Neftali Feliz
SP  Derek Holland
SP  Alexi Ogando/Matt Harrison/Scott Feldman
CP  Joe Nathan

I think Ogando should be the #5 guy and when Oswalt signs, the Rotation would drop Holland into a competition with Ogando and Harrison and Feldman would essentially be given the long relief role instead of any real chance of a starting spot, which is probably best for the team anyway. I like Harrison and Feldman in the relief roles, personally, and Ogando can go either way for me. He flourished last season in the starting spot and I would like to see him given the opportunity to do that again.

Free Agents Worthy of Note

Jon Garland is still available and could make for an interesting argument for a starting spot. He did well with the White Sox, however, hasn't done terribly awesome since. His last full year, he did manage a 14-12 record, which would be nice for a #5 guy (hint, hint), but he could be a project as he only started 9 games last season. Still some say he is mediocre at this point in his career and maybe he is, but as a #5 guy in the rotation, he could be a good buy. Does he fit the Rangers needs? I don't think so. The Rangers have too much talent and depth to call for a Garland signing. Prince Fielder is a possible for first base with the Rangers. Concerns do range that the Rangers wouldn't be able to sign both Darvish and Fielder and another concern is keeping both Hamilton and Fielder. Losing Hamilton in place of Fielder would be a mistake, but that is my opinion. I see Hamilton as a better fielder (no pun intended, OK, maybe a little) and has just as good a bat, if not better. What intrigues me is what Fielder could do with his bat at Arlington. He collected 38 homeruns this last season, and that number would be sure to go up in a Ranger uniform. Does he fit? Yes. Does it make financial sense? Yes and no. Yes, he would be worth the money, but not if it dictates Hamilton being sent away. Francisco Cordero is a free agent right now. It would be nice to see him back in a Rangers uniform, maybe as a set-up guy to whomever we have closing games. Likely? No. Pipe dream? Most definitely. Luis Ayala is a free agent from the Yankees organization and what a good pick he would be... he posted a 2.09 ERA during the regular season and got some postseason action. He's been in five organizations over the past four seasons, so he has seen some travel time. Would he fit? I don't know. He's been shaky over the previous two seasons of work Jamey Wright and Chris Young are also free agents this off-season. Wright is a relief guy that has good stuff. I wouldn't call him a bust if the Rangers sign him, but there are other guys out there with better numbers than Wright currently available. Chris Young, well, a good starter with good numbers and he's a hometown guy. This would definitely be a good nod by ownership should the Rangers sign this guy. Concerns would be that Young only started four games last season... heck, he only played in four games, all of them starts. Shortly after the start of the season, Young sustained an arm injury which forced him to miss the remainder of the 2011 season.

Yu Darvish

I like Yu Darvish. I also like that we got him for six years averaging 10 a year. I'll take that. I also like that we have the possible $$$ to still go after Fielder. It's unlikely to get both Darvish and Fielder, but I like having pipe dreams. And if anyone would have told me five years ago that we would have been to the series TWO years straight, I would've called them partly crazy and would have hugged them all at the same time. I like that kind of thinking. I believe that we can get back there again, and win, especially should we sign Fielder to a contract for some first base action. Can you think what his boom-stick would do for the Rangers lineup? Hamilton, Beltre, and Fielder? Wow.

Darvish had thrown for a sub 2.00 ERA for his last five seasons, despite not grabbing 20 wins in any of those years. He did go 18-6 this last year and gives the Rangers a real chance at a Cy Young winner, for several reasons.

• #1: No major leaguer has faced him, with a small exception of Japanese players
• #2: He's good.
• #3: He has success backing him up.
• #4: He's young, to boot.

It all spells out that this should be fun to watch.

CJ Wilson

OK, I have to say something about the Angels. They signed CJ Wilson. And to be honest, I am not surprised by it. CJ wanted to go there. Even a blind man could have seen that coming. It is sad to see him go. It really is, but with all that being said, the contract they gave him was too much. It was more than what the market really called for Wilson, whom in my mind, still hasn't proved himself to be a solid #1 pitcher in a rotation. It hurts to say it, but it is true.

Anyway, I am back to posting here again. I will make an effort to post several times a week, not daily, although I will more than likely do that during the baseball season with some spurts of not posting, as that has been my habit. I will probably not post so many pictures, as they take a lot of time to do and my other activities have been taking precedence over the lagging period since my last post.

Getcha Some

Let's finish this thing :-)