Saturday a.m. Rangers things

Hi everyone.

So we had a game yesterday. It was spring training, so it didn't count, and it ended in a tie, so it really didn't count, but hey, it was a game.

Jeff Wilson's game story focuses on the struggles of Alexi Ogando, who gave up three runs in a pair of innings.

T.R. Sullivan's game story also hones in on Ogando's rocky first spring outing.

Evan Grant has his game report at the DMN blog.

Richard Durrett has his Rapid Reaction to the game at the ESPN Dallas blog.

Derek Holland, who pitched yesterday, says he wants to do a better job of finishing off hitters.

T.R. Sullivan has a lengthy piece on Ian Kinsler, who says that his ankle is back to 100% for the first time since the spring of 2010. Kinsler also says his disappointing 2012 season was not due to his ankle, and that he's ready to bounce back and have a strong 2013.

Tracy Ringolsby has a lengthy piece in which he talks to Nolan Ryan and offers a variation of the "when are the Rangers gonna get some pitchin' in here???" column that's been written about the team for the last twenty years, saying that the Rangers will score runs and play good defense but have big questions surrounding their rotation.

Personally, I'm not worried about the rotation. I think you have a pretty good idea what you will get from Darvish, Harrison and Holland, and Colby Lewis is due back in May, which means that the big issue is whether Ogando can hold down the fifth spot.

Anthony Andro writes about Kyle McClellan, a minor league NRI with five years of major league experience who is competing with Martin Perez, Justin Grimm and the cast of thousands for the fifth starter job, but is more realistically in the mix for a bullpen job.

In the S-T, Drew Davison talks to Engel Beltre.

Durrett writes about Cory Burns, who is competing for a spot in the Rangers' bullpen, and who is from nearby Glendale.

Nolan Ryan says the Rangers will be a contender. Or else, I guess, is the unspoken message.

Nolan Ryan also says that Jurickson Profar would need to get 350 at bats in order to justify keeping him on the roster all season. Profar isn't going to get 350 at bats unless one of the starting infielders is hurt, so he'll presumably start the season in AAA.

Grant has a story where he says Nolan Ryan "laughs" at the idea that the offseason was a disaster for the Rangers.

The S-T's notes include Ron Washington saying he hasn't formulated a plan for how much he's going to play his regulars this year, stuff on Robbie Ross and Kyle McClellan, Leury Garcia playing in the WBC, and when Yu Darvish will debut.

Sullivan's notes talk about McClellan, Garcia, Darvish, Randy Wells, and Ryan's thoughts on Josh Hamilton.