Monday a.m. things

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 25, 2008 10:46 AM CST in News

Evan Grant says the early spring focus is on defense, with the Rangers' problems last year not just too many errors, but not getting to enough balls. Jon Daniels says that upgrading the outfield defense was a priority this offseason, and if everyone is healthy, a Marlon Byrd/Josh Hamilton/Milton Bradley outfield would be one of the better defensive units around.

Grant also mentions Ian Kinsler's improvement:

While on the disabled list for a month last year, Kinsler worked two-on-one with Washington and infield instructor Art Howe daily on improving his footwork and backhand technique. Before the injury, Kinsler had a .967 fielding percentage and .804 zone rating; after, it jumped to .990 and .839.

I knew Kinsler had improved after returning from the d.l., but those numbers make it clear the improvement was pretty dramatic...an .839 ZR for the year would have ranked Kinsler 5th in the majors among second basemen last season...

T.R. Sullivan talks about Frank Catalanotto's new moustache, and his desire to bounce back from a sub-par 2007. Really, once Cat got back from his early season injury, he hit like you'd expect...he was sunk for the year with a miserable April (much like the team)...

Kevin Millwood? Scratched from his Friday start. Bah.

Anthony Andro talks to the Rangers players who grew up in Texas.

The S-T also has some camp notes that include Ramon Vazquez's 5 favorite clubhouses, and the story behind the Fu Manchus...

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

With a strong defense

combined with decent pitching and a little offense this team has a good shot at suprising many folks around here.

by NYTXFAN on Feb 25, 2008 11:13 AM CST reply actions

Jerry Narron

Grant just posted a note on the DMN blog that Jerry Narron has been hired by the Rangers in a part-time roving instructor role.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Feb 25, 2008 11:22 AM CST reply actions

Laird

"The best thing I've seen in this camp is our young starting pitching: Luis Mendoza, Eric Hurley, Matt Harrison, those guys. Our young starting pitching looks very good." -- Catcher Gerald Laird

To bad your ass wont get to ever catch any games by those pitchers.

Hit Or Die

by SaltyGoesYard on Feb 25, 2008 11:29 AM CST reply actions

+1

"The only thing Gerald Laird can beat me at is number of glazed donuts eaten in 10 minutes" - Miles

by LSJ on Feb 25, 2008 2:37 PM CST up reply actions

Cat...

...is one of the biggest question marks for me this season. My first instinct, after the first 3 months of 2007, was to completely write him off as washed-up and on the decline. August didn't do much to alleviate my fears, considering the lower quality pitching that the non-contenders run out to the bump when rosters expand.

That said, I'm pulling for him...and his fu manchu.

Obama - ??? 2008 : He's not Hillary

by RangerMoto on Feb 25, 2008 11:30 AM CST reply actions

2005 White Sox

That team is the only hope the Rangers have this preseason. Like that team, the Rangers need 4 SP to have career years and pitch like #1 or #2 starters if they are going to be competitive. (Incidentally, it was on that team that Brandon McCarthy had his career year (so far)).

I will gladly shoot down the dimwit stories that would emanate from every national media outlet that report that the team's grit, small ball offense, stodgy defense, and colorful manager are the hallmarks of the club that will carry it forward to future successes, and I will loudly proclaim what that season would be.... unrepeatable... a fluke. I'd be happy to live through a fluke.

So, here's to Spring Training golf, silly moustaches, practicing defense, and anything else that may turn the 2008 Rangers into the 2005 White Sox.

If I owned a lightsaber, the blade color would be black light, so that I could use it to fight evil and to liven-up parties.

by rooster on Feb 25, 2008 11:31 AM CST reply actions

Kinsler

yeah, he's pretty good.

And didn't someone tell Millwood that martial arts does not a better pitcher make?

by SteveP on Feb 25, 2008 12:10 PM CST reply actions

E-mailed Will Carroll about Benoit's arm

Got a very cryptic reply, which I'm not sure quite what to make of.

So, uh, keep an eye on it I guess?

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jamcadbury on Feb 25, 2008 1:41 PM CST reply actions

It's especially worrisome...

...when you remember that Arias and Otsuka were both described by the team as having some minor troubles, and both actually had injuries that kept them out for an entire year.

Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."

by tricer on Feb 25, 2008 5:09 PM CST up reply actions