Lone Star Ball - All PostsThis blog has a wide variety of talent.. the first place I would go if I need help working on advanced mathematical theory or how to hide a body and anything in between -- laxtontohttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50761/lsb-fav.png2024-03-18T20:32:27-05:00http://www.lonestarball.com/rss/current/2024-03-18T20:32:27-05:002024-03-18T20:32:27-05:00Snell to the Giants, per report
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<img alt="2024 BBWAA Awards Dinner" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gIZNmDrugcc_6k1nEtvW05S2Vwc=/0x0:6924x4616/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216791/1958545528.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Blake Snell is reportedly headed to San Francisco on a two year, $62 million deal</p> <p id="586Jh5">MLB Rumors: Blake Snell and the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> are in agreement on a two year, $62 million deal with an opt out after year one, <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1769896956766388609">per Jon Heyman on Twitter.</a></p>
<p id="B8HAjx">Thus does the offseason saga of the two time Cy Young Award winner come to a close. Well, presumably...this is going to be subject to a physical, I imagine, and we know the Giants have missed out on a significant free agent in the past due to an issue with the physical.</p>
<p id="eZXUIH">The 31 year old Snell gets to go pitch in the National League West again, and then re-enter the market, without a qualifying offer attached, this coming offseason if he does well. If he doesn’t, well, he has $62 million guaranteed and re-enters the market after 2025.</p>
<p id="5gb4sH"><a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/16/24103060/mlb-rumors-blake-snell-houston-astros-jordan-montgomery-texas-rangers">We discussed over the weekend</a> that the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> had been connected to Snell, as well, and looked at what made him such an unusual free agent case, with an extremely high ceiling, but just two seasons of more than 2.1 bWAR, as well as durability concerns.</p>
<p id="YdbCsJ">That leaves Jordan Montgomery as the last big time free agent standing, unless you want to count J.D. Martinez in that category, as well. While Snell had been rumored for a while to be willing to do a short term, high-AAV deal with an opt out, Montgomery is reportedly much less inclined to go that route.</p>
https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/18/24105461/mlb-rumors-blake-snell-san-francisco-giants-free-agentAdam J. Morris2024-03-18T15:00:00-05:002024-03-18T15:00:00-05:00Spring Training Game Thread: Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers
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<img alt="Cincinnati Reds v Texas Rangers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ajrjOuh_QiJjU_5v4HZtOGwGqKA=/0x0:4843x3229/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216213/2092825682.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona</p> <p id="AGlhgQ">The world champion <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> welcome the ringless Seattle Mariners to Arizona for a Cactus League clash as the final week in Arizona gets underway.</p>
<p id="A3oHZV">RHP Adrian Sampson will take the mound this afternoon for Texas opposite RHP Tyson Miller for Seattle.</p>
<p id="sMUrgT">Here are the lineups:</p>
<div id="w2K0Z3"><div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
<div class="lineup">
<table cellspacing="0" class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left">MARINERS</th>
<th align="left">RANGERS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">J.P. Crawford - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Marcus Semien - 2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Josh Rojas - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Evan Carter - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Cal Raleigh - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Wyatt Langford - LF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Dominic Canzone - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Adolis Garcia - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Luke Raley - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Jared Walsh - 1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Seby Zavala - DH</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Matt Duffy - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Cade Marlowe - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Davis Wendzel - 3B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Brian Anderson - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Andrew Knizner - C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Ryan Bliss - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Justin Foscue - DH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name"></td>
<td class="td-first td-name"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Tyson Miller - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Adrian Sampson - RHP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div></div>
<p id="RdL5XD"></p>
<p id="vrjGeC">You can <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-rangers/2024/03/18/747904">follow along on Gameday</a>, listen via a webcast at texasrangers dot com, or watch the game on BS Southwest. First pitch from Surprise Stadium is scheduled for 3:05 pm CT.</p>
<p id="zQFxta"></p>
<p id="29H2a5">Go Rangers!</p>
https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/18/24105045/spring-training-gdt-seattle-mariners-at-texas-rangersghostofErikThompson2024-03-18T12:16:29-05:002024-03-18T12:16:29-05:00The importance of Cody Bradford
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Texas Rangers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-rPLwlxFXxUzLcJ06PS_39auPRs=/0x0:2328x1552/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215606/2055603013.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Rangers decisions in regards to their 2024 rotation have made Cody Bradford a major storyline</p> <p id="vBkiWO">Cody Bradford is, from a certain point of view, already a <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> player development success story.</p>
<p id="wISltv">Bradford was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>. He did get an above-slot bonus of $700,000 — the second highest of any 2019 6th rounder (behind prep catcher Ethan Hearn, who got $950,000 from the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Chicago Cubs</a>) — and coincidentally, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/2019-mlb-draft-pools-and-bonus-values">that almost exactly matched the $699,700 slot value for the Rangers’ 3rd round pick</a>, #86 overall. So if you like, you can view him as a third round pick.</p>
<p id="JuAeGc">Whether you want to treat him as equivalent to a third round pick or a sixth round pick, though, Bradford has done well. He is one of eight players picked in the sixth round in 2019 to make the majors. Only six 2019 third rounders have made the majors, and of that group, only three players (Michael Harris II, Spencer Steer and Ryan Pepiot) have done better than Bradford to this point in their careers.</p>
<p id="vgoGNj">Bradford didn’t have an eye-popping 2023 campaign — he started 8 games and relieved in 12 in the majors, put up a 5.30 ERA, 4.42 xERA and 4.68 FIP in 56 innings, registering a 0.1 bWAR and 0.3 fWAR on the year. He was replacement level, give or take.</p>
<p id="mPblS4">That being said, I think those of us who have rooted for the Texas Rangers for any length of time know better than to scoff at replacement level pitching performances. The Rangers have gone to the well on many an occasion and found their pitching depth options to be sub-replacement-level. To be able to get 56 innings from Bradford last year, in a variety of roles, when the Rangers were desperately scrambling for not-terrible innings, is a win. </p>
<p id="d4cIQc">Bradford also did solid work for the Rangers in the playoffs, logging 7.2 innings of work over five games, and allowing just one run. ALDS Game 2, when Jordan Montgomery was knocked out in the fifth with the Rangers up 10-5? Bradford came in and threw 3.2 scoreless innings, keeping the Orioles from being able to rally until it was too late. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> Game 1? Bradford threw a scoreless inning with the Rangers down two, helping to keep the game close enough that Corey Seager could tie it up in the ninth.</p>
<p id="iEPYSk">So we appreciate Cody Bradford and what he has done. He was a part of the 2023 World Series winning Texas Rangers team, and while he wasn’t one of the core parts of the team, he played a role in getting the Rangers’ their first ever world title.</p>
<p id="hJP0cn">That being said, he’s also not someone I think we were hoping would be in the Opening Day starting rotation for 2024. Ideally, Bradford would have been working out of the bullpen to start the 2024 season, or in Round Rock being stretched out and ready as the first guy to get called up from AAA if and when a starting pitcher was needed. </p>
<p id="M7Xdyk">But between Max Scherzer’s back surgery, the spending constraints ownership placed on the front office, and the inability to find a workable trade for an established starting pitcher, Bradford will be in the starting rotation from Day One for Texas. Its not what we would prefer.</p>
<p id="3fRmL3">But it is also not necessarily a bad thing. If we look at this from a “the glass isn’t broken” point of view, this is an opportunity for Bradford, and the Rangers, to put to rest some concerns about the rotation going forward.</p>
<p id="Y4TbPu">We all know about the long-standing issues the Rangers organization has had in regards to developing pitching — particularly starting pitching — and how that has hamstrung the team in a lot of ways. That failure is part of why the Rangers spent so much on so many starting pitchers after the 2022 season. It is why they we are talking about the possibility of Mike Clevinger or Michael Lorenzen bring brought in at this late date. </p>
<p id="QuXXu9">Having to fill the back end of your rotation with free agent signings is not a great place to be. Having to spend $8-12 million in annual salary on a guy to be your fourth or fifth starter because your farm system can’t produce a functioning start pitcher makes it that much harder to build the rest of the team and keep the good players you want to keep. Being able to plug in a useful pitcher on a league minimum or early arbitration salary to give you 30 starts a year without drowning has value.</p>
<p id="n3Cni8">Which gets us to Cody Bradford, and why he’s such an important storyline for the first part of this season. Bradford has followed up his 2023 performance with a solid, if unspectacular, spring. The front office has announced that Bradford is the #5 starter to start the year — and with the lack of viable options behind him, you have to think he’s going to get some rope. The Rangers need Cody Bradford to be okay — or at least, not terrible — over the first few months of the season.</p>
<p id="bXLzHf">How Bradford does early on will likely color how we view this team, this offseason, this front office. If Bradford goes out and performs acceptably, the decision to roll with him to start the year will look great, not just because of his helping to keep things afloat until the injured starters return, but because of what it means for the future. Being able to pencil Cody Bradford in as the #5 starter for the 2025 Texas Rangers would be a good thing going forward, and allow us to have a greater degree of faith in this organization producing some starting pitchers.</p>
<p id="Fhgk12">If Bradford fails, however...if he flounders, gets knocked around, shows he isn’t ready, there will be (not unjustifiable) recriminations about the organization going cheap, not being serious about the 2024 season, risking being on the fringes of the playoff hunt before reinforcements start arriving. It will mean not necessarily being able to count on any young starting pitchers being able to contribute in the coming seasons. </p>
<p id="BL9olu">It will mean failure, on a number of levels, by this organization.</p>
<p id="lHw67i"></p>
<p id="zC0c2t"></p>
https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/18/24104927/the-importance-of-cody-bradfordAdam J. Morris2024-03-18T11:00:00-05:002024-03-18T11:00:00-05:00Baseball America 2024 Mock Draft is out
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<img alt="COLLEGE BASEBALL: MAR 03 Florida at Miami" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oafFEOudY2tVjbLO-YafnUTAf1Q=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215363/2049064342.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>BA has their first mock draft of 2024 out</p> <p id="kANDsH">Baseball America has their <a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-charlie-condon-jac-caglianone-make-strong-impressions/">first mock draft of 2024 out</a>, and it is worth going and checking out for <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> fans.</p>
<p id="euhHhw">Not, to be clear, because of the mock draft itself — we are still over four months away from the first round starting, the spring amateur season is just cranking up, and lots of stuff can change between now and then. That’s true even at the top of the draft — and in case you are curious, <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/2023/3/16/23643315/bas-first-2023-mock-draft-has-rangers-going-college-pitcher">the first BA mock draft of 2023, from one year and two days ago</a>, had University of Tennessee pitcher Chase Dollander going to Texas at #4. </p>
<p id="Vqe0iL">No, the reason everyone here should check out this mock draft is not because of the toolsy, lots of helium prep shortstop the Rangers are projected in this draft to select. It is because if you look at the mock draft, you have to scroll all the way down to the bottom, to the last pick, #30, to see the Rangers.</p>
<p id="zeML1L">And that is because the Texas Rangers won the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a>, and thus have the last pick of the first round.</p>
<p id="GBjrRP">Pretty cool, huh?</p>
<p id="PKnMYW"></p>
https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/18/24104886/baseball-america-2024-mock-draft-is-outAdam J. Morris2024-03-18T09:43:52-05:002024-03-18T09:43:52-05:00Astros Urquidy to start the year on the injured list
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<img alt="Houston Astros Photo Day" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6pgVACAu0Ffb-jtXfiQ0kGSIDfc=/0x0:2225x1483/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215184/2028114316.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Jose Urquidy of the Houston Astros will be on the injured list to start the year due to a forearm strain</p> <p id="qlEj1x"><a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> starting pitcher Jose Urquidy will start the season on the injured list due to a forearm strain, per Astros manager Joe Espada (<a href="https://twitter.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1769723556252766223">via Astros beat writer Chandler Rome</a>). Rome goes on to say that when Espada was asked about Urquidy’s UCL, “Espada said the only information he has is that it’s a forearm strain.”</p>
<p id="7kbivo">Urquidy left his last start due to elbow soreness, resulting in him undergoing an MRI. A forearm strain is oftentimes a symptom of UCL damage, and it isn’t uncommon for a pitcher whose public diagnosis is initially a forearm strain to end up needing surgery on their UCL. When an MRI shows no structural damage to the ligament, teams usually will come out and say that. The fact that nothing was said about it could be due to the fact that there is damage that they are hoping can be resolved with rest and rehabilitation, or it could just be the Astros being cagey, or it could just be that Espada isn’t in a position to say any more and there will be more forthcoming from someone higher up.</p>
<p id="3lf4oF">We discussed the Urquidy injury a couple of days ago <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/16/24103060/mlb-rumors-blake-snell-houston-astros-jordan-montgomery-texas-rangers">in connection with the Blake Snell to Houston rumors</a>. Justin Verlander is also expected to start the season on the injured list, though he is apparently going to be <a href="https://twitter.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1769728282285551733">facing live batters in the next couple of days</a>, and is expected to return sometime in April. Lance McCullers, Jr., and Luis Garcia will also start the season on the injured list, and aren’t due back before sometime in the second half of the season, if at all.</p>
<p id="DD9ho6">Urquidy had a 5.29 ERA in 10 starts and six relief appearances for the Astros last year, after putting up a 3.81 ERA in 49 games the previous two seasons. He’s not anything great, but he is a serviceable back of the rotation starter, and his absence, together with the other injuries to starting pitchers, puts a strain on Houston’s starting pitching depth. We shall see whether Jim Crane is willing to bite the bullet and pass the third Competitive Balance Tax tier in order to bring in Snell and shore up the rotation.</p>
https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/18/24104794/houston-astros-jose-urquidy-injured-forearm-strainAdam J. Morris2024-03-18T08:00:00-05:002024-03-18T08:00:00-05:00Monday Morning Texas Rangers Update
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<img alt="Cincinnati Reds v Texas Rangers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YB-MkOQzNStAl4BXzcPzmsCMa_g=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73214937/2092787532.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The latest on the World Series champion Texas Rangers</p> <p id="5tyFcQ">Good morning.</p>
<p id="pUCnKH">Evan Grant offers up <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2024/03/17/3-texas-rangers-observations-team-gets-preview-of-opening-day-opponent-in-chicago-cubs/">a few observations</a> from yesterday’s game for the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> in what is now the final week in Arizona.</p>
<p id="C4yWeB">Kennedi Landry projects <a href="https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/rangers-2024-opening-day-roster">the Opening Day roster</a> for the Rangers which could have three rookies in the lineup for the World Champs.</p>
<p id="hPOS8N">Grant writes that the final week in Surprise will be about <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2024/03/17/tying-up-some-texas-rangers-loose-ends-as-team-enters-final-week-of-spring-training/">tying up loose ends</a> as the infield starts to get healthier and the bullpen takes shape.</p>
<p id="6oxY6g">Landry checks out the player who has made the biggest <a href="https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/players-making-big-spring-training-impression">impression at camp</a> for the Rangers and no it wasn’t Matt Duffy.</p>
<p id="ZavBzS">The MLB Pipeline folks named <a href="https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/spring-breakout-standout-prospects-2024">the Spring Breakout standouts</a> with Cameron Cauley turning heads for the Rangers.</p>
<p id="tGqmfu">In a draft of teams, Mike Petriello selects the Rangers as <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/drafting-2024-world-series-contenders">the sixth best bet</a> to win the World Series in 2024.</p>
<p id="jtasHl">And, the Rangers continued <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-UYDMwjjy8&list=PLhJUgWPoqEVRVC9vKzFPdZHhYjJ7NsL8K&index=4">their All-Access series</a> with 13 minutes of hanging out with Josh Jung, Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and the youngsters at camp:</p>
<div id="D3MImj"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aW8PaJzJEgQ?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="ri1rjJ">Have a nice day!</p>
https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/18/24104686/texas-rangers-news-update-march-18ghostofErikThompson2024-03-17T15:00:00-05:002024-03-17T15:00:00-05:00Spring Training Game Thread: Texas Rangers at Chicago Cubs
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<img alt="Cincinnati Reds v Texas Rangers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmhZl60zw34No-kDtX52gi4C1xQ=/0x0:4357x2905/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73213594/2085203647.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Will the Rangers have the luck of the Irish on their side?</p> <p id="DE0Xx8">The world champion <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> will don a green hat for St. Patrick’s Day and then they will face their eventual Opening Day opponent, the Chicago Cubs, in a Cactus League tussle this afternoon.</p>
<p id="ue06yb">RHP Jose Urena will take the mound today for Texas opposite RHP Javier Assad for Chicago.</p>
<p id="vu60EJ">Here are the lineups:</p>
<div id="XpAmLK"><div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
<div class="lineup">
<table cellspacing="0" class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left">RANGERS</th>
<th align="left">CUBS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Marcus Semien - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Ian Happ - DH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Leody Taveras - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Seiya Suzuki - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Evan Carter - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Cody Bellinger - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Wyatt Langford - DH</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Christopher Morel - 3B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Travis Jankowski - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Dansby Swanson - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Jared Walsh - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Michael Busch - 1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Ezequiel Duran - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Nico Hoerner - 2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Josh Smith - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Mike Tauchman - LF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Andrew Knizner - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Miguel Amaya - C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name"></td>
<td class="td-first td-name"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Jose Urena - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Javier Assad - RHP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div></div>
<p id="RxZHpH"></p>
<p id="aHYbja">You can <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-cubs/2024/03/17/747916">follow along on Gameday</a>, listen to the radio broadcast via 105.3 The Fan, or watch the Chicago feed on MLB Network. First pitch from Sloan Park is scheduled for 3:05 pm CT.</p>
<p id="hOLgGf"></p>
<p id="e8X320">Go Rangers!</p>
https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/17/24104156/spring-training-gdt-texas-rangers-at-chicago-cubsghostofErikThompson2024-03-17T14:44:11-05:002024-03-17T14:44:11-05:00Rangers Reacts Results: Langford v. Carter
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3rDsfsXC9kt7ATufg5rElW7sMjs=/0x0:1080x720/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73213561/Texas_1_31324.0.png" />
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<p>When asked who of the Rangers two rookie outfielders they were more excited about, the majority of fans picked Wyatt Langford</p> <p id="WbPssf">Last week,<a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/13/24098810/rangers-reacts-survey-carter-or-langford"> we asked in a Rangers Reacts Survey</a> which of the two Texas Rangers rookie outfielders you were more excited about — Wyatt Langford or Evan Carter.</p>
<p id="B9kEQV">This is one of these votes where there’s not really a right or wrong answer — both Langford and Carter are exciting and look like they’ll be dynamic pieces of a Ranger lineup for years to come — but when forced to choose, 62% of voters picked Langford, compared to 38% for Carter.</p>
<p id="lSgloy">There’s a couple of factors at play here, I think. First, there’s a newness factor about Langford, who was just drafted eight months ago, and who we are getting our first up-close look at. Evan Carter was the new hotness when he came up in September and tore things up to end the regular season and into the playoffs, but we’ve had time to get used to being excited about him. </p>
<p id="WzOXgf">There’s also the fact that Wyatt Langford is, to use the scientific term, wrecking shit in the Cactus League this spring. Despite starting the spring 1 for 10, Langford is currently slashing .375/.462/.781 in 39 spring plate appearances, with 5 walks against 10 Ks, and with four home runs. Carter is having a strong spring as well, slashing .357/.406/.607 in 32 plate appearances, but he’s been somewhat overshadowed by Langford.</p>
<p id="PsIauB">Finally, there’s the fact that Langford’s overall toolset is the type that is going to make you more likely to sit up and take notice. He’s got loud hit and power tools, as well as really good speed — things that grab your attention. Carter’s game is more subtle and well-rounded — he’s going to work counts, draw walks, play really good defense, do a lot of things well while not necessarily putting up the type of offensive numbers Langford will.</p>
<p id="NEliyI">Again, though, you can’t go wrong between the two. And fortunately, as Rangers fans, if asked to choose between Langford and Carter, we can simply say...</p>
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https://www.lonestarball.com/2024/3/17/24104161/rangers-reacts-results-langford-v-carterAdam J. Morris