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USA Today's 100 Names You Need to Know: Rangers

3. Chris Davis, 1B, Rangers: Davis' age — he turns 23 next month — his home ballpark and his generally boffo debut in 2008 bode well for what should be a strong first full season. His strikeout total at three levels last year was alarming, but his contact should improve with experience, and Hank Blalock's shift to DH should give him sufficient at-bats to improve his power numbers.

 

7. Taylor Teagarden, C, Rangers: Barring a trade, Teagarden, 25, will complete with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Max Ramirez for at-bats at catcher, with Teagarden being a slight favorite to earn the starting nod. A member of the University of Texas' 2005 national title team, Teagarden might be the most well-rounded of the group, offering a potent bat with above-average receiving and throwing skills. He struggled at two minor league levels last season, but that could be attributed to injuries. After a stint in the Beijing Games, he thrived in September in his second big-league stint.

 

26. Max Ramirez, C, Rangers: There's more to Ramirez than that highlight play where he completed a double play from his knees after being steamrolled at the plate. The 24-year-old Venezuelan also has pop in his bat and a sense of the strike zone. He's not a polished receiver, though, and could become trade bait with the Rangers already having two highly regarded young catchers in Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden.

 

43. Elvis Andrus, SS, Rangers:

SPARKPLUG: Excitement may overcome game's rough spots

 

46. Neftali Feliz, P, Rangers: Feliz is only 20 but moving fast, thanks in large part to his overpowering fastball, which reaches 100 mph. The right-hander was acquired from the Braves in 2007 as part of the Mark Teixeira trade and has emerged as one of the game's top pitching prospects. Team President Nolan Ryan, another guy known for lighting up radar guns, has even gotten involved in Feliz's development. Feliz will probably open the season at Class AAA but could get called up during the first half.

 

66. Matt Harrison, P, Rangers: Given his internal numbers, Harrison, 23, posted perhaps the most improbable 9-3 season in recent memory. But away from hitter-friendly Arlington, Harrison was a respectable 4-1 with a 4.70 ERA. If he can improve at home, Harrison, a lefty acquired in the 2007 Mark Teixeira deal, could fit in nicely at the back of the Texas rotation.

 

86. Joaquin Arias, SS, Rangers: Arias, 24, had shoulder surgery in 2007 that limited his arm strength in 2008, and the emergence (and apparent anointing) of Elvis Andrus as the shortstop of the present and future casts Arias' role in doubt. Assuming Andrus pans out, Arias will have upside, possibly as a super-utility player.


Link
Interesting list of guys that aren't necessarily main stream names yet, but are all capable to bust out into the national spotlight.

1 recs  |  Comment 31 comments

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Welp

We’re legit now, baby. We’ve got USA Today Cred!

But seriously: Joaquin freaking Arias being on that list kind of destroys it’s credibility.

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 lonestarJon on Feb 5, 2009 8:04 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

no joke

arias? there are way better people to mention…ie. Holland, Borbon, Smoak. I’d place Duran over Arias as well. Not to mention Vallejo and Lemon.

Another one bites the dust! And another one, and another one, and another one bites the dust!

by NothinG on Feb 5, 2009 8:44 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

i guess that they think

that being a super utility player is too important to leave off

In reference to how good the Steelers have been in their history: "No one is even close to them."- Steal Home

by hinduplaya on Feb 5, 2009 9:04 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

My guess is that they don't know about the shoulder injury

and look at his ML stats. They’re so awesome with that .300 BA leading the way. BA is so need to know.

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

by Gdawg on Feb 6, 2009 9:49 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No Derek Holland?

Are they for real???

FOR MANLY LOVE BE HERE MARCH 25TH AT 2:15 AM SHARP

by Agreen07 on Feb 5, 2009 8:57 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Arias>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Holland

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

by t ball on Feb 5, 2009 9:41 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Miles Head = Exploded.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

I hate Michael Young.

"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith

by thedirkatron on Feb 5, 2009 9:47 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

My eyes...

They’re bleeding.
:’(

by hiafex on Feb 5, 2009 9:53 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

OT: I love the word "Boffo".

I hope it makes a comeback.

I really, really do.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

I hate Michael Young.

"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith

by thedirkatron on Feb 5, 2009 9:47 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Throw in

gams, hooch, and of course bird(to describe one’s lady).

by scoop16 on Feb 5, 2009 10:08 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

dont forget the term “broad”

ex. “that broad looks mighty fine today”

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Feb 5, 2009 10:40 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

That broad used to be mine,

but I got a new bird with gams that go on forever. She’s the bee’s knees and boffo to boot.

by scoop16 on Feb 5, 2009 11:04 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

'why are you yelling you're a foot from me?'

"This report of my death was an exaggeration"--Mark Twain

by rangerdanger on Feb 6, 2009 1:35 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

hahah nice

FOR MANLY LOVE BE HERE MARCH 25TH AT 2:15 AM SHARP

by Agreen07 on Feb 6, 2009 2:59 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

lol

"...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 6, 2009 8:29 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I've always

enjoyed the term “rib” to describe a man’s wife.

by bioaggie on Feb 6, 2009 8:48 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Bollacks to cuss with...

and “What’s the rumpus?” to ask “what’s going on?”

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Feb 6, 2009 4:40 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

There is no "a" in bollocks

But that is a very fine word, agreed.

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

by Brian Thomas on Feb 9, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Two of my faves:

Rube and clod.

Note to self: work those into daily conversation.

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

by Brian Thomas on Feb 6, 2009 2:19 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Nah, rube.

"...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 6, 2009 2:26 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Heh. Well done...

Well done…

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

by Brian Thomas on Feb 6, 2009 2:35 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

My favorites

jackanape, tomfoolery, madcap, knave.

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

by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 10:30 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Tomfoolery is a good one, but it always comes in second to shennanigans

Tomfoolery: the poor man’s shennanigans.

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

by Brian Thomas on Feb 9, 2009 2:09 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Bollocks

to that, you jackanape. Your father was a knave and your mother a scullery maid.

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

by t ball on Feb 9, 2009 8:55 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

what exactly are the...

“internal numbers” harrison put up? are they like peripherals?

"Anyone that isn't pro-choice never met you" ~Brian Thomas on Seth...

by ivysafety39 on Feb 6, 2009 7:33 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

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