But maybe more importantly, what about Walker, Texas Ranger?
I guess I probably suspected that the Rangers were in trouble when Derek Holland went down with injury in January, but the moment I felt in my heart that this wasn't going to be the year was when Prince Fielder grounded into this weird, dumb double play in Spring Training. I'm convinced that that was the baseball gods giving us a heads up.
*Jon Daniels' phone buzzes, Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb' plays* *A 619 area code shows up on the phone's display* JD: "Hello?" *The voice on the other end whispers only, "Profar."* JD: "Huh?" "Alfaro." JD: "Who is this?" "Mazara." JD: "Now hang on a damn minu..." *An old man's stifled laughter can be heard in the background, "Tell 'im you want Chi Chi, too" he can be heard saying* *Former Rangers' Assistant GM A.J. Preller chokes back a laugh, "Shhh, shh you'll blow it..." as he tries to quiet the laughing scout* JD: "Wait a minute... Is that Don Welke? Preller, is that you?" *Preller and Welke let loose the laughter they were holding in* JD: "What the hell, Preller?" AJ: "You didn't think we'd just go to baseball Siberia and leave our boys, did you? JD: "Well, congratulations on Wil Myers and all but you know too well that the names you're throwing around are a part of the future here in Texas." DW: "Oh, he hasn't heard." JD: "Heard what?" AJ: "Upton." *Daniels sucks air through his teeth* JD: "...you didn't..." AJ: "I did." JD: "What do you want?" AJ: "You know what I want." JD: "Ronald Guzman! He's one of your kids, right?" AJ: "You have my new number. Give it a call when you're ready to start talking Gallo." *click* *Daniels glances at the framed photo of Justin Upton that he keeps on his desk.* *He picks up a folder that reads: Profar, Jurickson - Medicals* *He silently strokes his chin as he opens the folder*
You may think new Texas Rangers Rule 5 pickup Delino DeShields Jr. is most known for being the son of a former big leaguer, a first round pick, or a top prospect. But no, he is most known for this getting hit in the face by a Phil Klein fastball. That's going to make for an awkward locker room meeting.