Sandler: Rangers Complete Weekend Sweep Of Astros - Again!
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Two series against the Astros. Two sweeps. Two great showings versus Dallas Keuchel. So sweet. So sweet.
Here's Jon Daniels providing some great audio on with Chris Russo earlier in the week discussing the Odor-Bautista incident, and more.
Stats of the Week
*The Rangers lead MLB with with 10 innings scoring 5+ runs.
*Opposing batters are 0-for-9 (5 strikeouts) against Cesar Ramos when the at-bat ends on one of his sub-70 MPH curveballs.
*Elvis Andrus hit his first HR of the season Saturday. The ball exited the bat at 92 MPH. Only seven home runs hit in the league this year have exited the bat with a slower exit velocity than 92 MPH.
*Cole Hamels vs. HOU with Texas: 2-0/2.08 ERA/21.2 IP/17 H (.207/.301/.341/.643)/22 K:6 BB
*Keuchel's last 4 starts vs. TEX: 1-3/8.75 ERA/23.2 IP/35 H (.343/.368/.549/.917)/26 K:3 BB
Quotes of the Week
"People call Rougned Odor a dirty player. That's utterly ridiculous in my opinion. And irresponsible. He's a complete team player." -Jeff Banister
"[It's] better for the fans. We can eliminate the threat of inclement weather and fans know our game will always be played on schedule...[and] attracting free agent." -Ray Davis, on some of the reasons the Rangers feel a retractable roof is necessary.
Minor League Spotlight
*Pedro Payano, a 21-year old righty from New York, has dazzled for Low-A Hickory so far this year. Used as a starting pitcher, Payano is 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA, having given up just 19 hits in 38.0 innings for an opposing average of .147. He's allowing less than a baserunner/inning (0.95 WHIP), despite having issued 17 walks. Control is not considered to be an issue for him, however. Payano has demonstrated the ability to miss bats, notching 40 strikeouts so far. This is Payano's second season stateside after three years with the Dominican Summer League team. Payano entered the season as the organization's 29th best prospect according to MLB.com. Scouts believe he has an advanced changeup and a strong ability to command his fastball to both sides of the plate. Not having a plus pitch is a knock, but some people feel like having three effective pitches--a curveball in addition to the fastball and changeup--will allow him some leeway.
Covering the Bases
*Yu Darvish. Looking forward to seeing you this week!
*Here's to hoping Shin-Soo Choo doesn't need another DL stint. I can't wait for a lineup with Mazara and Choo in it for more than just three innings...
*Cole Hamels doesn't possess the same dominance or electric stuff as some aces do, but to me, he's got plenty of other ace tendencies. He's had some uncharacteristic control issues of late and it was nice to see those forget to show up on Sunday.
*The Rangers promoted two of their top pitching prospects, LHP Yohander Mendez and RHP Luis Ortiz, from High-A High Desert to Double-A Frisco. Both are starting pitchers who have had great success in the hitter-friendly California League. Check out their stats here.
*One of the reasons Sam Dyson had so much value before the ninth inning was his perceived ability to throw a second relief inning if needed. For whatever reason, the Rangers, as indicated by Jeff Banister on the GBag Nation last week, determined that Dyson is best fit for a single inning and not multiple innings. That's one added reason why moving him to the ninth inning makes sense. Matt Bush, on the other hand, appears highly capable of throwing multiple innings, having done it five times with Double-A Frisco.
*Rangers catchers have been outstanding offensively. It was a perceived hole that simply hasn't caused problems, but I still want the Rangers to pursue Jonathan Lucroy prior to the deadline. I don't think they need to part ways with one of their top five prospects despite Milwaukee's off-season asking price because, in the end, Milwaukee doesn't really have the leverage. They are a rebuilding team that can receive far greater value for an aging catcher if their trade partner gets him for a year-plus as opposed to just a few months.
*One conversation we'll entertain at greater length is the possibility of keeping Ian Desmond beyond this year. There are reasons why it makes little sense like the cost, the organizational outfield depth, and his age, among other things, but there are also a lot of reasons why it makes great sense. He's more of a known commodity than a prospect, he's a huge addition in the clubhouse from a leadership standpoint, he presents great versatility and could slide basically anywhere on the diamond (except catcher) during the duration of his contract, and more. With that said, my guess is it doesn't happen. Again, more on this down the road...
The Walkoff
First and foremost, consider me among the crowd who absolutely prefers baseball outside. But you can also count me among the group who recognizes that the Rangers need a ballpark with a retractable roof. It's a sacrifice, but one I'm okay with making.
I hope the Rangers' new park will play with an outdoor feel and an open roof as much as possible, but the roof was inevitable. Too many fans stayed away during the summer months because of the weather and those who came often complained about the dampened experience because of the heat. And if the team is able to sign one additional impact free agent because of the more controlled climate assuages their Texas summer fears, than that's a big win right there.
You might read this and think, I don't mind the heat!
Well, you might not, but the majority of folks do. Let's say you and a group of friends are going to dinner and deciding on where to go. You suggest some good Indian food, but no one else is in the mood for it. You're probably not getting Indian food with that group because you realize that, even though that's what you want, there's no reason for the minority opinion's desire to overrule the heavy majority. So, while you might not mind the heat, plenty of people do and there's no reason to alienate them.
Maybe you read this and thing, Real fans still come! Toughen up!
Well, that's not fair, either. I know plenty of fans--"real" Rangers fans--who have been very vocal about their desire to stay at home instead of deal with the heat or for their preference to watch from a controlled climate park in the future.
Frankly, as Rangers fans, we are a community. Yeah, we'll obviously disagree on things, but there's no reason to take stances to create distance from one another and pick fights about real fans and whatever the alternative is. We all help fill the park and make noise and we all want the same thing: A World Series.
Speaking of which...
The roof addition will absolutely aid in attracting players to the Rangers. I've spoken to players who have said Texas wasn't as strong of a consideration for them because of the prospect of playing, or, for some, pitching, in the Texas heat throughout the course of a season. It isn't everyone who feels that way, but why limit yourself to those who don't?
The reality is that the Rangers have still never really signed a big name free agent starting pitcher, or haven't done it since Kevin Millwood if you consider him of that ilk.
They secured the right to sign Yu Darvish through the posting fee system and not in an all out free market competition for his services. Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee were trade acquisitions. Yes, they approved deals and signed off on coming here, but that's way different than choosing Texas in free agency, which Lee did not end up doing.
So, again, if it helps the Rangers attract one player who they otherwise wouldn't, as far as the on-field product is concerned, is a win.
What I'm excited about is the development around the new ballpark with the Texas Live project and whatever else is in the works. The ballpark atmosphere has lacked anything exciting within walking distance for fans after games. That's going to change in the coming years and I'm excited for how that all comes together.
I love outdoor baseball as much as anyone. Now, about that public transportation...
Until tomorrow, Peace Be the Journey
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