And just like that, Spring Training begins this week. Rangers pitchers and catchers will report on Feb. 22, with the first workout scheduled for Feb. 23. The first full-squad workout will be on Feb. 26. A handful of players are already in Surprise working out. Derek Holland is there. Cody Eppley is there driving Derek Holland around.
With the beginning of the new season so close, Richard Durrett writes about what kind of grade the Rangers deserve for their offseason. Jim Bowden also gives the Rangers a grade. Bowden's piece is on ESPN Insider.
Jeff Wilson writes that the Rangers' Spring Training goals this year will be to focus on supporting Yu Darvish and Josh Hamilton.
Behind the DMN paywall, Evan Grant writes about the the toughest decisions facing the Rangers as Spring Training nears.
On that same train of thought, Anthony Andro has a piece on the handful or so players who need to have big springs this year.
T.R. Sullivan writes about Mike Adams, who is already in Surprise working out, coming back from hernia surgery.
Wilson has a couple of notes about Adams being cleared to begin throwing and Yu Darvish's parents visiting the Surprise training campus much to the delight of the already present Japanese media.
Finally, Randy Galloway writes about how the Rangers will deal with the ghosts of Game 6.