Newberg Report "In Their Footsteps" Column: Completing the rosters

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 14, 2008 10:15 AM CDT Comment 13 comments

The final installment of my weekly column for MLB.com, "In Their Footsteps," has been posted on the official Rangers website, www.texasrangers.com. This week’s edition completes two 25-man rosters: (1) my all-time squad from Rangers franchise history and (2) a squad comprised of the 25 players from the Rangers farm system who might best project to fill the respective roster spots in the future.

Here’s a direct link to the column:

http://tinyurl.com/6de8zr

Here are the players previously featured:

Backup catcher:………….Bill Haselman……………………..Manny Pina
Long reliever:………………Danny Darwin………..…………...Michael Schlact/Doug Mathis
Fourth outfielder:………….Ruben Sierra………………………Brandon Boggs
Situational lefty:…………..Mike Venafro………………………Ryan Falcon
Utility infielder:……………Mark DeRosa….…………………..German Duran
Middle reliever:…………...Tim Crabtree……………………….Andrew Laughter
Corner OF:………………..Roberto Kelly………………………John Mayberry Jr.
Corner IF:………………….Frank Catalanotto……………….. Joaquin Arias
Fifth starter:……………….Doug Davis…………………………Zach Phillips
DH:………………………...Julio Franco…….…………………..Max Ramirez
Left fielder:………………..Rusty Greer…………………………Cristian Santana
LH set-up reliever:……….Mitch Williams ..……………………Beau Jones
Third baseman:....……….Buddy Bell...............………………Johnny Whittleman
Fourth starter:……………Chris Young…………………………Tommy Hunter
First baseman:…………...Mark Teixeira……………………….Chris Davis
RH set-up reliever:……….Jeff Zimmerman…………………….Fabio Castillo

You’ll have to read the article to see who fills the remaining nine roster spots.

Next Thursday I’ll launch a new weekly column for MLB.com, ranking the Rangers top 20 prospects.

Thanks for reading "In Their Footsteps" this season, and I appreciate all the feedback you’ve given.

-- Jamey

0 recs | Comment 13 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Great piece Jamey

I’ve enjoyed reading it this season. Looking forward to the prospect rankings. Keep up the good work.

Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.

by TheBZA on Aug 14, 2008 10:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Beavan and Kiker

I know the nature of this project allows Jamey to only pick on player at each position, and it could be argued that there are a number of pitchers in the system who could qualify as mid rotation starters down the road.

But i am curious to see what everyone sees in the future for these two former first round draft picks. I have heard Kiker may end up in the bullpen, although that was really only because of Billy Wagner comps (short, power lefties). I know both are still too far away to accurately project, but it was interesting that they didn’t make Jamey’s future roster, if only from a PR perspective.

by clark on Aug 14, 2008 10:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Only because...

…I wasn’t ranking the SP’s, but instead was trying to peg where they project. I like Kiker as a 3 or a closer, but not as much as Main (who I almost pegged as a 2) or Madrigal.

Beavan, also a 3. Maybe a 2.

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 14, 2008 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

great, thanks

by clark on Aug 14, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh.

Somehow the closer paragraph slipped — I’m trying to get the story fixed now.

The missing graf:

“At closer, there are several worthy candidates, but for me the all-time nod goes to John Wetteland, who not only has the most saves in Rangers history but also logged the club’s most important saves. The best closer prospect in the system right now — at least among those who are certain to pitch in relief in the Major Leagues — is Warner Madrigal.”

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 14, 2008 11:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Please tell me you at least considered...

…Steve Foucalt (“Phone call for Foucalt”) and Dale “The Horse” Mohorcic..

OK you shouldn’t have considered them but Foucalt did have great “reliever” facial hair and Mohorcic was a classic “out-of-nowhere” veteran/rookie.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Aug 14, 2008 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Foucault...

…what kind of fool can’t even spell the name of one of his childhood heroes?

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Aug 14, 2008 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of great pitcher facial hair

…there’s none more baseball-rific in the world right now than Frisco pitching coach Terry Clark’s.

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 14, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great series

Any reason you wrapped up the last few positions all in one post?

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 14, 2008 11:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Because...

…I got a request from above to transition to a weekly Top 20, because of significant demand for it.

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 14, 2008 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh

Let’s hope they don’t change their minds again. Looking forward to your top 20. Personally, I’d find it very difficult to rank past the top 5 or so. There seem to be about 25 guys that could fit into those next 15 slots easily, and in many different orderings.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 14, 2008 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too bad you had to wrap it up...

…I would have loved to have read full-length articles about each of the positions.

Looking forward to the prospect pieces though.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Aug 14, 2008 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wondering about that too.

Sometimes I look up and hope the system is this entertaining once it’s turned over from the current suspects. It is maximum awesome to follow Rangers baseball, and we all know that’s little to do with the ML guys.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 14, 2008 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs