Morning, everyone. Happy Easter, and Happy Opening Day.
The Rangers played their final exhibition game of the spring yesterday, and Jeff Wilson, in his game story, praises the work Derek Holland did on the mound in yesterday's game.
Sullivan's game story also focuses on the sharp outing from Holland.
Gerry Fraley has a game recap at the DMN Rangers site.
Todd Wills writes that the Rangers will have a very different lineup tomorrow from previous Opening Days, with Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and Mike Napoli all gone, but Ron Washington has confidence in this group nonetheless.
Anthony Andro has a story about Julio Borbon winning the final roster spot, beating out Josh Lindblom and Cory Burns.
Sullivan writes that for the Rangers' bullpen to be a strength this season, Texas is going to need its young relievers to step up and establish themselves.
Wilson has a story about the Rangers expecting to contend this season despite a somewhat disappointing offseason that included Adrian Beltre calling Jon Daniels after the Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton signings, concerned that the team was planning on rebuilding, something Beltre did want to be a part of.
Randy Galloway writes that Ron Washington better win this year, with Nolan Ryan, his #1 backer in the front office, on his way out, and Michael Young, his #1 backer in the clubhouse, gone. Galloway predicts the Rangers win 85 games and lose the Wild Card game.
The DMN summarizes the predictions from their baseball experts, and there are some eye-catching predictions in there...Rick Gosselin predicts the Orioles will win the AL East, the D-Backs will win the NL West, and the Royals will get a Wild Card berth, Gerry Fraley predicts the Rangers will win 101 games, and Tim Cowlishaw thinks the Rangers' big mid-season acquisition will be Kyle Lohse. That's the same Kyle Lohse that they weren't willing to go near 3 years, $33 million to sign this spring, so that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Gosselin is the only one of the DMN writers to predict that Texas will not be in the playoffs at all.
To be fair, Gosselin is a football writer that the DMN is making writing sometimes about baseball, which isn't really fair of them.
Fraley, in very Fraley fashion, wants to make sure you know that, with Josh Lindblom being sent down, the team has nothing to show (in the majors) for the Michael Young trade.
Kevin Sherrington writes that a new look, which the Rangers definitely have this year, might be just what this team needs.
The S-T's notes talk about Julio Borbon making the team's roster, Ron Washington not announcing who is starting in center field on Opening Day, and Leury Garcia getting some time in center field yesterday.
My guess is that Craig Gentry, rather than Leonys Martin, starts in center tonight. Gentry is the veteran and he had a strong spring, so it wouldn't be surprising if Wash rewards him with the start, even though Leonys will likely be the starter the majority of the time.
T.R. Sullivan's notes talk about Borbon, the team's spring record, and Garcia and Mitch Moreland playing yesterday.