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 |
31 comments
Comments
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
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
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
Ah now i get it, had to google it.
I used to be a boffo in the stock mark and now i’m a fucko.
by Coolbean04 on Feb 6, 2009 8:29 AM 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
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
Is that good ol Tug Hulett at #73?
wow..
by Michael Cave on Feb 6, 2009 9:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
so arias only has upside
if andrus pans out?
by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Feb 6, 2009 1:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

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