Well, this is the first pre-season game for both teams. It seems interesting to me that Hillman, the Royals manager, shifted his rotation to accomidate for the change in starting pitcher. He switched his starter when the Rangers went with Benson instead of Harrison. I do not have a picture of Benson, so I went with a baseball picture.
Actually, since I never cease... I found a picture of the fella...
Scouting Report:Rangers: Kris Benson has a career 4.34 ERA but hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2006. His career numbers are 68-73 with 8 complete games and two shutouts. He has a 1.38 WHIP and hitters have hit him with a .267 career batting average. Benson threw batting practice on Saturday, so he won't be behind the other starters in camp when he takes the mound today. There's plenty of room for an effective Benson to claim a rotation spot with a solid spring, though it's hard to project much value beyond that given his lengthy absence and home park.
Royals: Horacio Ramirez went 1-4 with a 4.34 ERA. Ramirez is penciled in to pitch 30 pitches or two innings. He is expected to open the season in the Royals' rotation after working exclusively out of the bullpen last year. He didn't pitch against the Rangers last season, but had a 1-1 record at the All-Star break with a 1.88 ERA. In 37.1 innings, he gave up only 1 HR.
Royals to Watch:
- Jose Guillen: 3-10 with a double and a RBI.
- Coco Crisp: 4-6 with a double, a HR, and a RBI.
- Mark Teahen: 2-3 with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs.
Rangers to Watch:
- Marlon Byrd: 7-23 (.304 BA) with a double, a HR, and a RBI.
- Ian Kinsler: 3-6 with a HR and 3 RBIs.
- Omar Vizquel: 3-6
This looks like it will be a fun game, even though both starters will only last two innings tops, and that probably means the hitters will be doing the same thing and get pulled five or six innings into things... if that late. Still, welcome to pre-season.
Forecast: Not knowing how and when each player gets work, if they get work in the game at all, and the starters only throwing 30 pitches or so, it is almost impossible to figure out what will take place today. And then there is the question of how effective Benson will be in his 30 pitches or so... I am going to say that the Rangers will take this one, although start off slow and then tapper off once things get started. Score: Rangers win this: 6-4.
Home Plate
2 Random Thoughts:
12-7 Texas. Nice. 20 Hits. Nelson Cruz: 2-3, 1 HR, 2 Runs, 3 RBIs. Blalock with a HR. Hamilton with a HR. Kris Benson: 2 innings, 1 earned runs and the win. Thomas Diamond: one shutout inning. Matt Harrison got lit up with four runs in one inning of work. Corey gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning. AJ Murray had two Ks in 2/3 of an inning of work. Diamond also had two Ks.
yeah, you were a little light on the runs-scored, but otherwise called it quite accurately. i'm sure Vegas has a betting line on any and every game. but goodness, betting on the opening game of Spring Training would be a complete crapshoot.
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