Some roster decisions have been made

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 21, 2008 8:11 PM CDT

T.R. Sullivan reports that some roster decisions have been made:

The Rangers met as an organization to discuss their 25-man roster on Friday...

* First baseman Chris Shelton and utility infielders Ryan Roberts were reassigned to the Minor Leagues. Ramon Vazquez is on the team as the utility infielder.

* Kason Gabbard and Luis Mendoza are in the Rangers rotation but manager Ron Washington said they haven't officially decided who will be the No. 4 starter and who will be the No. 5 starter. The No. 5 starter will start the season at Triple A Oklahoma because he won't be needed until April 12.

* No decision on the catching situation. Gerald Laird is expected to be the Opening Day starter but the Rangers haven't decided if Jarrod Saltalamacchia will share time at the big league level or start at Triple A Oklahoma.

* The last spot on the bench remains open, whether it will be Jason Botts or Kevin Mench.

* Five spots in the bullpen are taken: C.J. Wilson, Eddie Guardado, Joaquin Benoit, Kazuo Fukumori and Jamey Wright. Two spots are open.

* Guardado still down with a bug. The Rangers still think he'll be ready for the season but this is worth watching.

Interesting. I'm a little surprised there's still a battle going on on Botts v. Mench, but it sounds like Nelson Cruz is out of the mix.

I'm sure a lot of folks will be glad to know that Sidney Ponson isn't making the team.

And on the bullpen, I'm not going to belabor the issue of the Electrician. I do think Wes Littleton should get one of the two open slots, though, and given that the 5th starter will start the season in the minors, one would expect that someone like Kam Loe or Frankie Francisco, who has options remaining, could start the season on the roster, then be sent down when Gabbard or Mendoza is called up.

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I want to

see Franklyn German make the club. We need someone in the bullpen who can strike out guys when needed.

" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"

by coolaid on Mar 21, 2008 8:17 PM CDT 0 recs

Bullpen

I think littleton just needs to have a couple of good outings in a row and he would lock it down.. im sure hes got the inside track if he would just deliver.

I still am really high on him, I was disappointed with his 07 performance but it wasnt even bad, just average.

Btw since feldman kept getting brought up, you should remember that littleton wasp art of that reason people didnt like feldman. Feldman was getting lit up 3 or 4 callups in a row while littleton for some reason sat in AAA.

p.s. - anyone have a sopcast or whatever for the game going on right now?

at least tomorrow's game is on tv. hurley better still be getting that start, i want to watch him.

by DSheppard on Mar 21, 2008 8:21 PM CDT 0 recs

sopcast

check in the gameday tread

" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"

by coolaid on Mar 21, 2008 8:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

oops, thanks

wanted to ask that in the gameday thread but somehow didnt see the one that was up, thought noone had made one.

cool though, thanks.

by DSheppard on Mar 21, 2008 8:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

go look in the game thread for sopcast link

Airplane Pics

by shroomer on Mar 21, 2008 8:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

Cruz

I am a bit surprised. I would definitely keep him over Botts. Both may be AAAA hitters, but Cruz is an asset defensively whereas Botts...well, he isn't.

Fire Ron Washington

by pblack on Mar 21, 2008 9:04 PM CDT 0 recs

botts/cruz

I think botts's patient approach has a greater likelihood of becoming an acceptable bat, cruz may simply just not be able to ever hit mlb pitching for an acceptable average/obp.

but i do think that defense would make cruz a lot more interesting to NL teams and AL teams in need of a bench player than botts is and think he would definitely get taken on waivers where as I bet botts is under 50% chance. by my near random guessing.

by DSheppard on Mar 21, 2008 9:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Laird Status

I read this at http://bruce.mlblogs.com/:

The Reds think they can contend this summer, but they believe that their catching situation will prove a hindrance to any legitimate pennant hopes. Cincinnati has two veteran catchers—David Ross and Javier Valentin—both of whom are serviceable players, but are best suited to reserve duty. The Reds feel they need a frontline catcher, which explains their recent conversations with the Rangers about Gerald Laird. (Laird, having a terrific spring, has become a hot commodity. The Brewers and Rays have also checked in about his availability.) The Reds are willing to offer one of their young pitchers—perhaps right-hander Matt Belisle as part of a larger package—but the Rangers seem reluctant to part with Laird. The Rangers’ reasoning is a bit hard to figure; they need pitching badly, and have a surplus of catching, with Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a superior player, stuck behind Laird on the depth chart. Having some depth behind the plate is fine, but not at the expense of failing to address Texas’ massive pitching problems…

Why on earth would the Rangers be reluctant to part with Laird?

If reluctant means "looking for the right package" I can understand but there has to be a limit to his upside and with a depth at the position, the Rangers should seek to capitalize on it now instead of waiting for the uncertainty of mid-season when who knows what the market will bring.

We've already made a positive trade with Cincinnati so lets strike while the iron is hot.

Let's hope Daniel's can work the market to get the maximum value for Gerald.

by dugout19 on Mar 21, 2008 9:17 PM CDT 0 recs

beslisle seems about the right value, but I dont know if id want him

We have enough 5th starter types, id rather get another pitching prospect that could possibly be a 3rd starter or so then someone who has a good chance to be a 5th starter but not much more.

i know the reds have some nice top guys in cueto, bailey and eddy v but those guys wouldnt be in a laird discussion... anyone know of a bit lesser prospect that might be in range for laird?

by DSheppard on Mar 21, 2008 9:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

If the best we can get for Laird...

...is Matt Belisle, I'd just as soon keep him as a backup.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 21, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ignoring what different teams need and such, what do you think laird's

straight up value is?

by DSheppard on Mar 21, 2008 9:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

But that's just it

As long as he's on the team, Texas will continue to start him. They refuse to make him a backup, for some strange reason.

I'm all for trading him for whatever we can get, even if it is Matt Belisle, just to free up the developmental situation - after all this is a developmental year, so why not?

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 21, 2008 11:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's ridiculous.

By that logic, we should trade Kinsler because he's retarding the development of Duran, or Millwood because he's blocking Hurley.

by brettgardner on Mar 22, 2008 12:30 AM CDT up 0 recs

It's not rediculous

Because Laird sucks, and even if he is servicable this year, he'll still have no place on this team in a year or two, when Salty and TayTea are ready.

Kinsler and Millwood do not suck (well, Kinsler doesn't, anyway) however, so the same logic doesn't apply to them.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 22, 2008 12:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

Relax

Laird will be gone in a few months unless they get a startling package offered for Salty. It's stupid to trade Laird right now just to clear a spot for a 22-year old. We have several Belisles on the team already, better to wait a bit and see if they can get something more.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 22, 2008 6:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

If he sucks

That's one thing. You said you'd trade him for anything just to free up the developmental situation, which is not a good idea at all.

by brettgardner on Mar 22, 2008 9:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

Littleton

I would really hope Littleton gets to stay over guys like German (who has shown time and time again that he has the velocity but not enough control). I would also like Francisco to get the other spot and go down to AAA when Mendoza gets called up.

Rangeressary

"the poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." - G.K. Chesterton

by rangeressary on Mar 21, 2008 9:24 PM CDT 0 recs

from Nadel and Rojas

Feldman and Davis were sent to the minors. Feldman will be converted to a starter and will go to either OKC or Frisco. It will depend upon where there is a rotation spot available. They also believe that German and Tejeda are the favorites for the last 2 (really 3) bullpen spots.

My take is that Feldman will be DFAd to make a spot for German. Littleton, Loe and Francisco are trying to get the 3rd (5th starter) spot.

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by RangerMad on Mar 21, 2008 9:35 PM CDT 0 recs

Failedman

should have a spot available to him in Frisco's rotation.

Next track for OC, et al:

Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One

by Chase Irwin on Mar 21, 2008 10:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

Electrician

He was kind of lucky out of the pen last year: BABIP .233, and a 19-11 K/BB ratio. It's too bad Loe hasn't pitched all that well this spring, I'd like to have seen him get that role.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 21, 2008 9:45 PM CDT 1 recs

Loe's had some luck as well

His only really good season was 2005, where he was average at home 4.47 ERA, but stellar on the road 2.16 ERA. What was the difference? Luck. He had a .297 Babip at home and .236 on the road. The rest of his career has been right around a 5.40 ERA in just about every split with a BABIP right around .300. He has a career 8-6 K/BB, and has already had 300 IP in the majors. At his age (26-27 this season), I think we have seen what he has to offer and whereas I probably would have also liked to have seen him win out the long reliever role over Wright, I don't think there's much of a difference between the two in terms of my expectations for the year. If either of them pitch around league average I'll be ecstatic.

Rangeressary

"the poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." - G.K. Chesterton

by rangeressary on Mar 21, 2008 11:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'd prefer Loe and Frankie

Am I the only one still bullish on the Frankinator?

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Mar 21, 2008 11:01 PM CDT 0 recs

You want Loe?

Seriously? Loe has been pitching batting practice this spring. He's given up 4 home runs, counting tonight, maybe 5 if I'm forgetting one. I really don't see how the guy got to be so popular - he may be a nice guy, but he's got one pitch, the sinker, and if that don't work, he's useless.

I can see keeping Frankie, he has at least pitched well enough to bear consideration... but Loe?

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 21, 2008 11:05 PM CDT up 0 recs