Running Up The White Flag
Texas is officially out of the WIld Card Race.
I think that may have been the case all along, which is why Daniels and Co. didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline. It may have been one final shot to see just what this roster could do.
And as it turns out, it’s not much different than what the Rangers had been seeing.
A big problem has been the implosion of the rotation, which has seen five rookies starting on it this season, and has three-fifths of the Opening Day rotation hurt. This in turn has severely taxed the bullpen, resulting in it’s own implosion.
THe offense appears to be rolling on all cylinders, though a replacement for production at third base needs to be addressed this off-season. The Rangers will have to make a move at catcher and moving Gerald Laird and possibly one of the Saltalamacchia-Ramirez combo would do wonders at improving the starting rotation.
I do expect the Rangers to also cut some dead weight at the roster. Everyone that needed to be added to the 40 Man roster already has been, with the exception of John Mayberry Jr, who could wind up starting in left or right field come next year. The cutting of dead roster spots not only makes it easier to claim talent off of waivers or exploit the Rule 5 Draft, it also makes signing free agents easier and not have to deal with designating a talent for assignment for someone else.
Overall, it’s a better season than most expected. I’m hoping that a .500 record, and maybe a second place finish, would be a great way to finish off the year. At the very least, it builds momentum for 2009.
Draft Picks Down To The Wire
The General consensus is that the Rangers are going to sign Justin Smoak and Robbie Ross, their first and second round pick.
If so, they need to hurry it up a bit.
THe deadline is Friday and there has been virtually no news on Smoak and only a random quote from Ross, who feels optimistic on a deal being struck.
Smoak, a first baseman, and Ross, a left handed pitcher, both are highly regarded talents and both would go a long way towards helping the Ranger organization.
One complicated bit of business is that of Harold Martinez, who seems gung ho about the Rangers giving him first round money or him going to the University of Miami. I think Texas shoudl go ahead and pony up, as Boston and New York have done the exact same things.
In the prsopects race, you can’t afford to fall behind.
Powerful One-Two Punch Developing At Frisco
The Rangers have a powerful one-two pitching punch at Frisco with Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland now pitching in the same rotation.
Feliz you all know. Holland, however, is a left handed pitcher that can throw in the mid 90’s and compliments it well with two breaking pitches and clean mechanics.
2011 is their projected date. By then, a Major League ready staff should also have Eric Hurley, Matt Harrison, and Brandon McCarthy all ready for them to join in.
Making A Play For A Milwaukee Ace?
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggested that Rangers president Nolan Ryan will convince club owner Tom Hicks to spend this winter. It’s likely that Ryan will target either C.C. Sabathia or Ben SHeets.
I’m not against it, as the Rangers will have Padilla’s and Millwood’s contracts potentially leaving the books after 2009. However, a lot of the politics in signing one or the other depends on the draft pick we get in 2009, as anything from 16 on can be lost in compensation. Texas currently has the 18trh Pick in the 2009 Draft. That could change, depending on whether or not Milton Bradley and Eddie Gaurdado stay, as both currently merit Draft Pick Compensation. Either that or we do the Boston approach, meaning we pick off the top talent falling into the later rounds.