Game 7: Rangers (4-2) vs. Mariners (4-3)

The final game of the series and homestand.

Vargas has started nine games against the Rangers over the past three years, going 3-4 with a 4.53 ERA, which means he gives up a run every other inning. Not good for the mariners. Vargas has a 1-0 record right now and has already started two games. He has a 2.31 ERA but a career 4.49 ERA... so I'm going to go with his career on this one and say that he did a good job against the A's in both of his starts.

Rangers vs. Vargas:

• Nelson Cruz hits .313 (5-16) with 3 homeruns and 4 RBIs
• Ian Kinsler hits .400 (8-20) with 4 doubles, a homerun, and 3 RBIs
• Michael Young hits .417 (10-24) with a double and 3 RBIs
• Mike Napoli hits .348 (8-23) with 2 doubles, 2 homeruns, and 2 RBIs

The Rangers see the ball well when Vargas pitches, batting .275 (current roster) with 9 homeruns and 18 RBIs (which really should be higher, but I think Vargas is holding a lot of solo homeruns in this mix).

Holland has a 4.50 ERA right now after one start, but I believe that this year he will finish with an ERA under 4.00, as last year he tossed a 3.95 ERA, I think this year will be better than that. Over the last three years, he has a 5-1 record against Seattle with a 3.17 ERA and has held the M's to a .226 batting average during that time.

Mariners vs. Holland:

• Chone Figgins bats .313 (5-16) with a double and 2 RBIs
• Frankling Gutierrez bats .286 (4-14) with a double
• Justin Smoak bats .364 (4-11) with a double and RBI
• Ichiro Suzuki bats .240 (6-25) with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs

Forecast: I like the Rangers in this one. I have to admit, Joe Nathan is starting to make me nervous, but I will try to keep the faith in our closer to do his job. Rangers take this one, 6-2.

Game 6: Rangers (4-1) vs. Mariners (3-3)

A familiar face comes to visit... hopefully we will make sure it isn't a pleasant visit.

Millwood's first start of the season for the Mariners. Is there a team that Millwood hasn't pitched for in his career? He's on his seventh team and fourth in his last four seasons. I'd list them, but I need to conserve space, so what I'll do is just list the important ones: Texas Rangers.

Millwood has some history against the Rangers, whose current roster bats .289 with 6 HRs and 14 RBIs. His last start against the Rangers, he gave up six runs in six innings in a loss. The Rangers clocked two homeruns, one by Vlad and one by Josh and they both were three run shots. That game was back on 8/22/10.

Colby Lewis has done well against the Mariners the past couple of seasons, going 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA in seven starts. He's also averaged 7.1 innings per start on the M's and fanned more than one per inning in the process.

Mariners vs Lewis:

• Ichiro Suzuki bats .375 (18-48) with a double, triple, and 5 RBIs.
• Franklin Gutierrez bats .375 (6-16) with a double, 2 homeruns, and 5 RBIs.
• Chone Figgins hits .313 (5-16) with a double and an RBI.
• Justin Smoak hits .750 (3-4) with a double, HR, and an RBI.

The current Mariner roster is batting .275 (41-149) on Lewis with 7 doubles, a triple, 4 homeruns, and 16 RBIs.

Forecast: Another close game? Maybe so. But my gut is telling me the Mariners take this one... not sure why. This is probably be something like 5-3, Mariners, but obviously that is not what I want to happen. Maybe I'm wrong this time? One can hope.

Game 5: Rangers (3-1) vs. Mariners (3-2)

This game features an interesting set of pitchers...

I would still love for Beavan to be in the Rangers organization, but trades... they happen. And getting Cliff Lee at the time was a smart decision, because Lee turned not just CJ Wilson into a great pitcher, but really turned everyone else up a notch or two. And that is what sent the Rangers into a second straight World Series.

Beavan started 15 games last year for the Mariners and went 5-6 while putting up a respectable 4.27 ERA. He game up 13 HRs in 15 games, on pace for 28 during a full Major League season, which isn't horrible... still, Beavan is only 23 years of age. He'll develop into an ace quality pitcher in no time and be giving the Rangers headaches for years to come.

As it is, Beavan has already pitched twice against the Rangers and done respectable both times. He took a win in a 4-0 shutout of the Rangers on 9/16/11 and the loss in a 3-1 game on 7/17/11. Mitch Moreland is the only Ranger to homer against him last year. The Rangers are batting .176 against him (current roster), which really screams to me that Feliz needs to have a great night for the Rangers to have a chance.

So, Feliz needs to have a good game, I say? Well, check these numbers out: The Mariners are 0-28 against Feliz (current roster) with four walks. of those 28 outs, 13 have come by way of strike out. This could end up being a pitching duel. And if that is the case, well, I take the Rangers, as they have a better bullpen and better hitters.

Forecast: Rangers over Mariners 3-2.

Game 3: Rangers (1-1) vs. White Sox (1-1)

Rangers drop one in the ninth... gggrrrrr.

So, we have the third and final game of this three game series. The Sox send out Gavin Floyd, while the Rangers send out Matt Harrison to the mound.

Over the past three seasons, Floyd has a 5.06 ERA in April, but throws well against the Rangers with a 3.04 ERA and a 2-2 record... in his career six starts, he is 2-3 with a 4.73 ERA. His ERA has gone up in each of his last three seasons, and has a losing season in last two.

Rangers vs. Floyd:

• Adrian Beltre: .238 (5-21) with a double and 2 RBIs
• Nelson Cruz: .111 (1-9) with 3 strikeouts.
• Josh Hamilton: .600 (6-10) with 2 doubles and 4 RBIs
• Ian Kinsler: .231 (3-13) with a homerun and 2 RBIs.
• Michael Young: .267 (4-15) with two doubles and a RBI.

The current Rangers roster bats .265 (30-113) with 8 doubles, a triple (Julio Borbon), 3 homeruns (Kinsler, Murphy, and Napoli) and 13 RBIs.

The Rangers offense is struggling coming out of the gate, Cruz is 1-6, Napoli 1-7, Andrus 1-8 and Beltre 0-7... for a combined 3-28 or a .107 batting average. 

So, considering the current trend vs. historical trend... Cruz will continue to struggle tonight. And it doesn't look great for Beltre, Andrus, and Napoli. 

Harrison is a career 2-0 against the Sox in five starts. He has a 3.54 ERA against Chicago and is coming off a 3.39 ERA season where he pulled down a 14-9 record. 

Sox vs. Harrison:

• Paul Konerko: .091 (1-11) with a double and a RBI
• Brent Lillibridge: .300 (3-10) with a RBI
• Brent Morel: .500 (2-4) with a triple and a homerun. 3 RBIs.
• Alexi Ramirez: .333 (3-9) with a RBI
• Alex Rios: .429 (3-7) with a RBI

Forecast: Harrison is going to have to pitch one heck of a game to keep these Rangers in this one. He's the right pitcher for this job, but the main concern is will our hitting show up? I can't see those four staying in this opening slump for terribly long, but today is not going to be the day they break out of it. Look for a low scoring game, with the White Sox taking it away from the Rangers once again. Score 3-2.

Game 2: Rangers vs. White Sox

Rangers won the opener 3-2, just like I didn't predict ;) but I did predict the win, so that should count for something.

This time it is Chicago's Jake Peavy against the Rangers Derek Holland.

Peavy went 1-2 with an 8.78 ERA in the preseason. Good for the Rangers. Peavy hasn't done well when pitching in April over the past several seasons, which is another good thing for the Rangers. In fact, the previous three seasons, Peavy is 0-2 with an 8.80 ERA... I'm not sure this is good coaching, putting Peavy up against the Rangers to open his season.

Rangers vs. Peavy

• Adrian Beltre is batting .235 (8-34) with 2 doubles, 2 homeruns, and 5 RBIs. He's fanned more times than hit, with 9 strikeouts.
• Yorvit Torrealba is batting .241 (7-29) with a double, 2 homeruns, and 3 RBIs.
• Josh Hamilton is batting .500 (6-12) with 2 homeruns and 4 RBIs.
• Mitch Moreland is batting .750 (3-4) with 2 homeruns and 5 RBIs.
• Mike Napoli is batting 1.000 (1-1) with 3 walks. I just thought that was interesting, so I had to share it.

As a team, the current roster is batting .289 (33-114) with 6 doubles, 8 homeruns, and 20 RBIs. There shouldn't be any problem with the Ranger's offense in this game.

Derek Holland is a career 27-22 with a 4.73 ERA. When he goes the distance, he shuts them down. He has 5 complete games in 63 starts, all five are shutouts. He doesn't have much success with the White Sox (11.05 ERA; 0-1 record in two starts). The Sox hit him good with a .364 batting average and have gone yard 3 times in 7.1 innings. The Ranger fan in me says this will change. Those numbers are from last year. Hum.

On a good note, Holland is going to be better than those numbers indicate. The current roster is batting .286 (10-35) against him (still, not much better than the Rangers vs. Peavy) with a double and a homerun. Holland's stock is going up, and I don't think Peavy's stock is going up, but going down. Looking at strickly the numbers I have seen, I like the Rangers in this one.

Forecast: Rangers over the Sox, 7-4. Holland goes six plus innings, Nathan gets another save.

Opening Day Roster 2012

RH Pitchers: 

• Mike Adams
• Yu Darvish (SP)
• Scott Feldman
• Neftali Feliz (SP)
• Colby Lewis (SP)
• Mark Lowe
• Joe Nathan (CP)
• Alexi Ogando
• Koji Uehara

LH Pitchers: 

• Matt Harrison (SP)
• Derek Holland (SP)
• Robbie Ross

Catchers: 

• Mike Napoli
• Yorvit Torrealba

Infielders: 

• Elvis Andrus (SS)
• Adrian Beltre (3B)
• Alberto Gonzalez
• Ian Kinsler (2B)
• Mitch Moreland (1B)
• Brandon Snyder
• Michael Young (DH)

Outfielders: 

• Nelson Cruz 
• Craig Gentry
• Josh Hamilton 
• David Murphy

Game 1: Rangers vs. White Sox

The season opener, Rangers Colby Lewis takes on a former Rangers prospect John Danks. Both are making their first career season opener starts, so NO PRESSURE! HA!

Danks is 1-4 with a 3.81 ERA in his career against the Rangers. He went 8-12 last season with a 4.33 ERA and has a career 54-56 mark with a 4.03 ERA.

Rangers against Danks:

• Ian Kinsler is batting .360 (9-25) with 2 doubles, 3 homeruns, and 4 RBIs. 
• Elvis Andrus is batting .455 (5-11) with a double and 2 RBIs.
• Adrian Beltre is batting .231 (6-26) with a double, 2 homeruns, and 5 RBIs.
• Josh Hamilton is batting .357 (5-14) with a double, a homerun, and 3 RBIs.
• Nelson Cruz is batting .353 (6-17) with 2 doubles, a homerun, and 2 RBIs.

In April of last year, Lewis didn't do so hot. he threw 30 innings of work and pitched a 5.70 ERA, so YUCK! I don't know if that will carry over to this season, but the last two years, he has a 4.16 ERA and a 5-3 record.  Against the White Sox, he has a 1-1 record and a 2.95 ERA over the last two years, so let's hope that is what continues and his weak April last year become what it already is: HISTORY.

Last season, Lewis tossed a 14-10 record while posting a 4.40 ERA. The current roster of the White Sox against Lewis bat .214 off him, and have only one homerun (Alex Rios) and five RBIs (led by Paul Konerko's 3, Rios has the other 2) in 70 at bats.

Forecast: I like the Rangers in this one. Lewis has the overall numbers I like to see. I think that he should continue his dominance over the ChiSox with the Rangers winning 6-3.

Rangers vs. Diablos

Rolando Valdez is the slated starter for the Red Devils. He's got good numbers in his earlier minor league career, but has been getting hammered in the last few seasons, particularly in the last four. His has two starts this season, with an even 9.00 ERA...

I don't think that is Valdez up in the picture. It may be, it may not. That is definitely Harrison.

Harrison is 1-0 in four starts with a 1.69 ERA.

This is just an exhibition, no wagering please. In other words, it doesn't count, but it will be nice to be back in the Rangers Ballpark with my son.

Forecast: Rangers win this one 14-4.

Spring Training

I am so stoked the Rangers are back to work. I'll try to be on top of it this season. Rumors have it that some National Magazines pick the Rangers to win the World Series this year. And if a magazine says it, well that is good enough for me.

Rangers Agree to Terms with Nelson Cruz

The Rangers have signed outfielder Nelson Cruz to a two-year contract, covering the final two seasons of his arbitration eligibility.  Various reports indicate it’s a $16 million deal, with added incentives that could pay another $500,000. The 31-year-old will be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2013 season. 

The Rangers have one remaining arbitration case, catcher Mike Napoli.

The Royals agree to terms with Alex Gordon.

Rangers Sign Andrus to 3-Year Deal

Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus has avoided arbitration by signing a new three-year contract, the team said Wednesday.

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but The Dallas Morning News reported it was worth $14.4 million, with an average annual value of $4.8 million.

Andrus hit .279 with five homers, 60 RBI, 96 runs scored and 37 stolen bases for the two-time American League champions last season, his third in the major leagues.

The 23-year-old Venezuela native has been a mainstay at the top of Rangers' order, racking up a .271 average with 14 triples, 11 home runs and 135 RBI over his career with the team.

"I keep learning every day. I'm still learning so many things, especially with the mental part of the game," Andrus said on a conference call. "And I think ... my best years are coming."

"Elvis represents everything we want the Texas Rangers to be," Assistant General Manager Thad Levine added. "He's a young upside player with a ton of energy and a ton of ability.

"He's the engine for our whole team. He sets the table for the big boppers in the middle of our lineup."

Another Roy Oswalt Posting

Roy Oswalt turned down money from Detroit so that he could pitch for either the Cardinals or the Rangers. But the thing is, he turned down $10 million from Detroit, who, now has Prince Fielder, looks to be a real player. Oswalt has back problems and for a pitcher to have back problems and be offered the money Detroit threw at him, well, it seems foolish for Oswalt to have done so in saying a big fat no. What's more intriguing in all of this is that he wants to only start. The Cardinals would be willing to take him, but as a relief pitcher. AND for less cash than that of Detroit. Half the cash, for that matter. The Rangers are being shy and may not even offer the money that was originally rumored to be $7.5 million to most recently a $5 million deal to no deal at all. The Rangers are hinting at them bringing in farm talent that is ready and itching to come up.

So, do the Rangers sign Oswalt? I don't know anymore. It looked good at a glancing view, but now, not so much anymore. I agree with the comment of Fielder for ten to the Rangers as being a bad deal. It would handcuff us much like the A-Roid deal twelve or so years ago. If Detroit wants to handcuff itself, be my guest. We've played that game and all that did was help us lose. The Yankees can play the money game. I don't know if the Tigers can, but they sure do seem to be throwing a lot of money around right now. If the Rangers did that, that would only prove to be foolish financing.

Josh Hamilton Relapse

Just to let you know, it isn't as big a deal as the media has made it out to be. He had only a few drinks, which violates his conscience and sobriety, but it should be left at that. As a recovering addict myself, I understand how this can happen. I don't understand why the media makes a circus out of it, but I guess they see Hamilton's personal setback as something to exploit.

Personally, I feel for the guy. I certainly don't think that there should be any repercussions from the team. If anything, they should rally around the guy and that is what I expect they will do.

The Super Bowl XLVI

In case you aren't aware, the Cowboys aren't in the game, so it makes me struggle some to care. It is especially hard to care when you find that the Giants are there instead.

The match up is the NY Giants and the New England Patriots, or as some would like to say, Eli Manning vs. Tom Brady, although you won't find Tom Brady sacking Eli Manning. That would be entertaining considering they are both the quarterbacks. That would make for a great commercial. Anyway. Moving on. 

I like the Patriots for this. I'll just come right out and say it. Between these two teams, that's who I'll be rooting for in this game. Come tomorrow, I'll be rooting for the Cowboys. My heart just isn't in this game. Eli Manning is probably the luckiest quarterback right now, and I just wonder if his luck is going to continue today or are we actually going to see some skill this fine Super Bowl Sunday.

Sticking to tradition, I'll throw down some points. Let's say: Patriots over Giants, 27-16. 

Prince Fielder and Roy Oswalt

I guess besides the money, Prince wanted to go where his father played. I think it is a good fit for the Tigers, not really sure for Fielder. I say this because he could hit more homeruns in other stadiums. But money is money and baseball is a business, too. I think if players were REALLY about the jewelry, they would bundle up to teams with particular players. Maybe that is how New York gets so much in talented free agents,

Roy Oswalt:
"It's enticing when you have a veteran starter who wants to pitch for you," general manager Jon Daniels said Thursday, the paper reports. "The reality is we have a lot of starting pitchers that all have high upsides, and we want to give them the ball."

It doesn't look like Roy is coming to Texas after all. I don't know if I like that idea. From a fan's standing point, we have let Cliff Lee slip from our grasp, and followed that up the next year with CJ Wilson going to a divisional rival. It's tough to see.

Yes, we get Yu Darvish and Adrian Beltre... does that make up for the loses? Bittersweet, I guess.

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 :-)