Saturday Rangers stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 21, 2009 1:14 PM CST

The Rangers have four former major league closers in camp -- Eddie Guardado, Derrick Turnbow, C.J. Wilson, and Frankie Francisco -- but Francisco looks like he'll end up closing. If Turnbow and Brendan Donnelly are healthy -- big ifs, of course -- the Ranger bullpen could be a strength in 2009.

Ron Washington is considering Nelson Cruz, Hank Blalock, and Andruw Jones for the cleanup slot. I'd just as soon see the Rangers roll with Cruz in the cleanup slot, with Blalock hitting 5th. Jones would probably be an asset in center if he hits like he did in 2007, and if he can be an above-average defender out there -- once again, big ifs -- but he'd be better suited to 9th than cleanup in the batting order if he hits like he did in 2007.

Jim Reeves says Ron Washington is a true "players manager."

Kris Benson showed up in the Ranger clubhouse this morning, according to Jeff Wilson's blog notes, and barring injury, the expected Ranger starting rotation will get all the A game starts in spring training.

T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers offense should once again be strong in 2009.

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Comments

It's about freakin' time!

;)

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Feb 21, 2009 1:17 PM CST reply actions

Also, the new format is annoying.

More from Lone Star Ball

and

Around SB Nation

and the duplication of posting times on the main page:

Adam J. Morris on Feb 21, 2009 1:14 PM CST

Doesn’t that just clutter everything up?

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Feb 21, 2009 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

it's awful

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

by rentz on Feb 21, 2009 4:00 PM CST up reply actions

+1

Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.

by LSJ on Feb 21, 2009 5:10 PM CST up reply actions

If they have to have the box there, it should be below the comments section, where nobody will see it after the discussion gets going.

Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.

by LSJ on Feb 21, 2009 5:10 PM CST up reply actions

+2

"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.

by Kinslerhomer on Feb 21, 2009 7:19 PM CST up reply actions

how come they can do that

but they can’t make fanshots show up on every page?

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Feb 21, 2009 6:42 PM CST up reply actions

Rangers?

with a strong offense? never would have imagined….

-Feldman '12

"Bush also yelled "I'm Matt (expletive) Bush," and "(expletive) East County," before driving over a curb in his Mercedes when leaving the campus"

by Martijn1309 on Feb 21, 2009 1:19 PM CST reply actions

Um

he’d be better suited to 9th than cleanup in the batting order if he hits like he did in 2007.

How about he’d be better suited not being a baseball player if he hits like he did in 2007?

by WyoRanger on Feb 21, 2009 1:24 PM CST reply actions

Andruw Jones was not a bad player in 2007.

Not if you believe UZR.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Feb 21, 2009 1:28 PM CST up reply actions

If he hits like he did in 2007...

…and is a plus defender, he’s okay.

If he hits like he did in 2008, he would need to go away.

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 21, 2009 1:32 PM CST up reply actions

If he hit that way and is the same defensive player

Byrd better be injured because that is the only way it is an improvement on what we have

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 21, 2009 2:01 PM CST up reply actions

how do you know they just won't suck now

just cause their healthy doesn’t mean anything

by Mike E on Feb 21, 2009 1:28 PM CST reply actions

they're*

by Mike E on Feb 21, 2009 1:29 PM CST up reply actions

Health is huge

Even a mediocre starting rotation looks pretty good if they make most of their starts. Verducci just had a very good article about the effect a stable rotation has on teams. If the Rangers could get some consistency from Harrison, Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy and Feldman it would go a long way toward improving the franchise.

Fire Ron Washington

by pblack on Feb 21, 2009 1:45 PM CST up reply actions

Adam, please update the schedule section with this years schedule. Thanks.

You watch too many movies Sax.

by oc on Feb 21, 2009 2:02 PM CST reply actions

What's this about?

There have been a few rough spots — his dugout confrontation with catcher Gerald Laird and office showdown with Mark Teixeira come to mind — but if anything, Washington seems to have grown from them.

I don’t remember these things happening, anyone care to give me the stories?

Thanks.

My cool sig.

by Ryin A on Feb 21, 2009 2:26 PM CST reply actions

Laird

Washington, early his first season, rode Laird pretty hard about his handling of the pitching staff, to the point where it came to a head in the dugout in one game where Kevin Millwood jumped in and basically said, “We’re the ones throwing the pitches, not Gerald…blame us, not him.”

Teixeira, supposedly, in 2007, before he got hurt, got jumped on by Washington for ignoring a take sign, and had a confrontation with him in his office after the game. Not entirely clear what happened, but the gist of what has been reported was that Teixeira basically said someone of his stature shouldn’t be told by someone of Wash’s stature when to swing and when to take.

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 21, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions

Gee, how could anyone boo Teixeira.

You watch too many movies Sax.

by oc on Feb 21, 2009 3:59 PM CST up reply actions

OT: Emmitt was "escapegoated"

He out.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Feb 21, 2009 2:43 PM CST reply actions

Poor Emmitt

by Mike E on Feb 21, 2009 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

BaD Radio will cry.

They just lost a staple of fall programming.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Feb 21, 2009 2:48 PM CST up reply actions

They were jealous

of his dancing skills.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Feb 21, 2009 2:47 PM CST up reply actions

And Kinslerhomer gets called out

by Andro:)

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Feb 21, 2009 2:46 PM CST reply actions