Frisco Rotation/Lineup

by peachygbc_1 on Dec 28, 2008 1:43 PM CST

Getting ready to get my Frisco tickets for 2009 and just wanting to know what the Lone Star nation thought the Rotation and Lineup would look like for the Roughriders.

I'm guessing these are locks. 3B - Whittleman, C - Pena

What does the rest of the rotation/lineup look like?

Does Feliz and Holland spend another month in AA?

Can Smoak start in Frisco?

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There is still a lot to be determined

and there is not a consensus on this blog among posters when it comes to some guys. However, I think you are right about Whittleman and Pina, and I’d add Lemon to that. I expect Chad Tracy to be on the team as well, and I think that there is a good chance that Vallejo starts back there, since I’m not sure that both Arias and Duran will make the major league team. We’ll have to see on him. As far as the outfield, I think that you will see more of the types that they had this previous year, fringe prospects who are good hitters but old for the level. I do not think that they will start Smoak there, but I do think that he will see Frisco in 2009.

My opinion/guess is that Holland will start in AAA and that Feliz will start back in AA. And I have Poveda, Diamond, Kiker and Moscoso behind him. We’ll have to see how ST plays out, though. Schlact will probably be a factor, though I’d personally have him behind all of those guys. And hopefully we’ll see guys like Main, Gomez, Murphy and Beavan make AA impacts before the season is over.

In the pen, I think Beau Jones will be there, and once Strop is ready and up to full speed he should be a AA player.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 28, 2008 10:20 PM CST reply actions

How about guys like

Renny Osuna, Ian Gac, Jared Hyatt, John Bannister, Chris Gradoville, Grant Gerrard, Ryan Falcon, and Dan Sattler. What level will each of them start at? Out of all these players, which do you think will make it to the majors someday? I know Mitch Moreland will get to AA at some point next year. Tim Smith and Jonathan Greene are possibilities as well.

by coolrangersfan on Dec 29, 2008 12:30 AM CST up reply actions

I'm not sure what they do about Osuna

I guess it depends on the trickle-down. If Vallejo makes Oklahoma, then there would be a starting spot open in AA. If not, with Whittleman at 3B, I don’t know if they want to make Osuna a bench player to get him a promotion. At any rate I’m thinking it’s Vallejo/Osuna for one of the IF spots.

I’ve got Hyatt in AAA, though I know there was some disagreement on that. Bannister was pretty crappy at AA last year, so I would think that he’d go back, but who knows. While Falcon was good but not dominant in the pen at Bakersfield, I’d guess he’d get a promotion. I don’t know anything about Sattler from a talent perspective, but as far as I know, the only reason to be concerned over those other guys’ (Gac, Gradoville, Gerrard, Sattler) assignments is the human interest angle.

If any of those last three turns out to be a prospect, you’re probably right, they’ll make AA by the end of the year. It’s not like there will be highly rated guys standing in Smith’s way, or Moreland’s if you consider him an OF/DH possibility for next year.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 29, 2008 1:33 AM CST up reply actions

Thank you for your answer.

I’m guessing it will look like this at the beginning of the year:

C Manuel Pina
1B Chad Tracy
2B Renny Osuna (If Vallejo starts at AAA)
SS Marcus Lemon
3B John Whittleman
LF Steve Murphy? (It would be his third time starting at this level if he does)
CF Greg Golson? (Not sure about this one, it could be Borbon but I think he will start at AAA)
RF Dustin Majewski? (If not him then Grant Gerrard)
DH Ian Gac? (Not considered a prospect, but he did hit 32 HR with 109 RBI at age 22 last year)

by coolrangersfan on Dec 29, 2008 3:13 AM CST up reply actions

My guess for the rotation is:

SP Neftali Feliz
SP Kasey Kiker
SP Omar Poveda
SP Guillermo Moscoso
SP Michael Schlact

JD said that Thomas Diamond will start at AAA if he does not win a spot in the Rangers bullpen. I think Derek Holland is more advanced than Feliz right now so he will start at AAA. Jared Hyatt should start at AAA as well.

by coolrangersfan on Dec 29, 2008 3:35 AM CST up reply actions

The pen will feature

RP Pedro Stop
RP Beau Jones
RP John Bannister
RP Ryan Falcon
RP Daniel Sattler
RP Josh Leuke
RP Tanner Roark or Josh Giles

I think Andrew Laughter and Brennan Garr will both open the season at AAA.

by coolrangersfan on Dec 29, 2008 4:02 AM CST up reply actions

I mean Josh Lueke

by coolrangersfan on Dec 29, 2008 4:04 AM CST up reply actions

I doubt roark starts in AA

he was drafted last year and while it was out of college, he was only eligible because he was dismissed from the team if memory serves. He might make it at some point, but I don’t think he starts there this year. The rest looks about right.

How bout a Smoak and a pancake?

by rchawk12 on Dec 29, 2008 5:25 AM CST up reply actions

Zach Phillips

needs to be shoe horned into the Frisco staff somewhere, maybe he gets shuffled to the bullpen, but I don’t see any need for a lefty with some promise to have to repeat the Cal League.

"I see their [Angels] rotation as John Lackey and a bunch of decent starters." - AJM

by tricer on Dec 29, 2008 8:52 AM CST up reply actions

JD thinks highly of Michael Schlact.

Personally I don’t mind replacing Schlact in the AA rotation with Phillips or Reed. Schlact is too hittable, rarely strikes anyone out, and doesn’t even have good stuff or control. Also, unlike Phillips or Reed, he has not yet dominated any level in the minors. The only thing he has going for him is his age and average HR/9 rates, but to me that’s not enough for him to earn a rotation spot in AA. I am guessing he will repeat AA but I really prefer someone else there.

by coolrangersfan on Dec 29, 2008 8:50 PM CST up reply actions

I think Reed and Phillips belong in Frisco

They’ve served their sentences in Bakersfield and might have a lot more success in AA. Reed in fact, had a 6-inning shutout in AA early in the year.,

I propose a 5-year moratorium on trading any young Ranger pitchers who throw over 90 mph.

by Ajax68 on Dec 29, 2008 8:59 AM CST up reply actions

Vallejo assignment

I assumed he would be in Frisco because we’ve heard that they want him to get significant time at SS, and I think that position is pretty much spoken for in OKC.

I guess it’s possible that the org might have Andrus repeat the first few months in AA, but I’m pretty sure that Andrus and Vallejo will be the starting shortstops at OKC and Frisco.

"I see their [Angels] rotation as John Lackey and a bunch of decent starters." - AJM

by tricer on Dec 29, 2008 8:49 AM CST up reply actions

andrus

the only reason to keep him at AA is to work on hitting, but it might challenge him to face guys who are either closer to the majors or are AAAA pitchers.

I see lemon and vallejo splitting time between ss and 2b.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Dec 29, 2008 9:02 AM CST up reply actions

I really don't know

zywica, hindman, and Jamey might have something.

But, I do know I’ll end up going to quite a bit of games at Dr Pepper Ballpark. I always do.

by thetudors on Dec 29, 2008 11:50 PM CST reply actions

i should clarify

I do have a idea what;s up with the rotation. I’m just not all that happy right now with JD.
I’m still mad he got rid of John Danks. I’ve been so disgusted with the facr we traded away Danks for McCarthy I’ve been having nightmares. I’m serious. I had bad dreams about the Chris Young trade. I’m just now getting over that. But the Danks trade I feel might have scared me for life.

by thetudors on Dec 29, 2008 11:58 PM CST up reply actions