The Surprise, Surprise: Hamilton Recovery Progressing, Could Return Soon
By Jared Sandler | @sandlerj
The Leadoff
Check out the latest edition of "Just Hangin'" as I'm joined by Rangers closer, Shawn Tolleson.
Stat of the Day
Only four players in NBA history over the last 50 years have scored 40+ points at age 37 or older: Kareem, Jordan, Malone, and now, Dirk.
Covering the Bases
*Nomar Mazara exited today's game with a bruised right big toe after fouling a ball off that toe in the 6th inning. X-rays were negative and he's considered day-to-day.
*Josh Hamilton might get back on the field as early as next Sunday after "turning a corner" in his recovery from a knee procedure. Hamilton said he's 100% pain free but needs to take it slowly instead of trying to do too much too soon. May 1st is still a likely return date, but for those who believe he can still contribute to this team, myself being one, this is a good sign.
*Jeff Banister said that there is "no real separation" in the competition for the final rotation spot. He did, however, concede that Jeremy Guthrie's track record would play a role in the decision.
*Luke Jackson, who dealt with back trouble earlier camp, threw off of a half-mound today and, so long as all checks out, will throw off of a full mound on Tuesday.
Game Notes RANGERS 1 Angels 5
On the Bump
*Nick Martinez was dealt a rough hand as his defense committed five errors behind him in four innings (one error was his own). Martinez did a nice job wiggling out of jams but there were still a lot of balls hit hard against him. Here's the scoop on Nick: he's an awesome guy, smart pitcher, works hard, tough on the mound, willing to pitch inside, but I'm just not sure he has the stuff to take the next step in his career or in winning a rotation spot.
*Shawn Tolleson pitched in his second Cactus League game, getting just two outs while facing six batters. What's odd about his day is not that he allowed a single hit, but that he walked THREE batters. Tolleson's control is a primary strength of his, but he just didn't have it today.
*Andrew Faulkner with two more scoreless innings of relief. I'm not sure what more he needs to do to make the club.
At the Dish
*Ryan Rua continues his torrid Spring, going the other way for a solo blast in the fourth inning. More significantly, it came versus a LHP. Some believe Rua's best immediate fit is platooning with Mitch at 1B and playing versus LHP.
*Pedro Ciriaco went 1-for-2, so he's now 18-for-36 (.500) in Cactus League play.
In the Field
*Jurickson Profar committed his third error of Cactus League play when he sailed a throw from the whole at short on the first batter of the game. The arm has been strong, but the accuracy hasn't necessarily been there. He then misplayed a short hop in the third inning for his fourth error of the Spring.
*Pedro Ciriaco committed a two-out error that led to a first-inning run on a ground ball. It was his first error of the Spring. He's not better defensively than Alberto, but he doesn't need to be to make the team, he just needs to be good enough. He's been good enough so far.
*Ian Desmond played his second game in centerfield. He looked good again, but was unable to catch what would have been a routine fly out as he lost it in the sun. Arizona makes life tough on outfielders. This isn't something that happened because it is his second game there. That sort of thing has happened to 10 guys (estimation) in Rangers' Cactus League games this month.
Minor League Game
*Cole Hamels pitched in a minor league game versus the Royals (AAA). He went 5.1 innings, allowing 3 runs, all earned, on 5 hits, with 9 strikeouts and no walks. He threw 70 pitches, 48 strikes to 21 batters.
Here's Cole on his progress so far this Spring.
*Off-season minor league free agent acquisition and former first overall pick (as a shortstop), Matt Bush, was clocked at 96-98 mph with the fastball. He's a reclamation project, both as a baseball player and a person after legal trouble, but definitely is someone worth following.
The Walkoff
Here are my five biggest surprises, in no particular order, from Surprise thus far...
- Go Win a Job: The performances this Spring from Pedro Ciriaco and Ryan Rua have been very impressive. Their quests aren't exactly similar. Rua is a young guy with expectations, while Ciriaco is a veteran whose ceiling has likely been discovered.
The numbers tell one story for Rua, but what they don't tell you is how hard he's seemingly hit everything all month. He looks the part of the role he was supposed to play last year: everyday left fielder. This year, that's going to be Ian Desmond on Opening Day, but that doesn't mean Rua is without a place. His versatility will allow him to platoon or get at-bats playing a number of different positions, likely at first base against left-handed pitching most frequently.
Pedro Ciriaco entered camp simply as a depth guy. I'd put his chances to make the Opening Day roster at around 5% when camp opened up, but the guy has been outstanding. Will it carry over into the Spring? Probably not. Is he good enough to serve as the team's utility infielder while Hanser Alberto gets more regular at-bats at Triple-A? Probably. If the Rangers go with a three-man bench to start the year, Ciriaco has the edge because of his ability to play the outfield, specifically center field. Alberto is a better fielder and has more upside at the plate, but the Rangers must decide how important his everyday development is.
- Arms Race: The fact that Jeremy Guthrie might be the odds-on favorite to close out the rotation at this point is maybe as big of an upset as Middle Tennessee State over Michigan State. Well, maybe not, but not too far off. Yeah, Guthrie is a veteran with a successful track record, but he also has an ERA just south of five over the past three seasons.
Chi Chi Gonzalez has not shown the ability to execute his pitches with velocity separation effective enough to miss bats. The results have backed that up.
Nick Martinez hasn't been great either, nor does he have the same type of upside as the other candidates.
Cesar Ramos has actually been pretty good, but I'm not sure if it is clear yet whether he's even best suited for the rotation or if a flex role out of the bullpen is best.
A.J. Griffin has been solid and probably offers the most 2016 upside, but he hasn't pitched in two years and needs to build up the arm stamina that would allow him to be in the rotation from the word go.
Phil Klein has looked OK, but I'm not sure that either he or Nick Tepesch are legitimate contenders for a spot as soon as April 8 (the first date the team would need a fifth starter, in theory).
Anthony Ranaudo, who, like Klein and Tepesch, was a heavy underdog to begin with, is now not even in the kennel as he undergoes a transformation with his mechanics with the Rangers trying to change his arm slot.
Was I sure the Rangers would have an answer at this point? No. But I definitely didn't think Guthrie would be the most likely candidate.
Still holding out hope for A.J. Griffin to be ready by April 8...
- Swiss Army Knifes in the Deep End: Yeah, so I definitely tried to get too fancy with that headline...oh well.
I've raved about this multiple times this Spring, but the Rangers' depth is outstanding. They have a great combination of young guys with upside and guys with Major League experience building out their Major League Spring Training roster. More than half of the near-60 players that started with Big League invites won't make the Opening Day roster, but they've created an environment with plenty of competition and, hopefully as the season goes on, a cupboard full of options in the lower levels as performance and health call upon the services of those who don't make it right way. Depth isn't sexy, but depth is huge.
Not only have I been impressed with the depth, but I've also been impressed with the amount of position players capable of playing multiple positions, especially positions that don't naturally pair with one another. For instance, plenty of second baseman can play short (and vice-versa) and a lot of right fielders can play left, but the Rangers have guys like Rua (1B, 3B, LF, RF, and 2B in an emergency), Ciriaco (2B, SS, 3B, CF, LF, RF), Gimenez (C, 1B, 3B, LF), Alberto (SS, 2B, 3B, 1B, OF in a pinch), and Ian Desmond (LF, CF, SS, 3B, 2B), just to name a few, who have unique versatility.
For whatever reason, the brand of being a "utility" player held such a negative connotation for the longest time. It was tarnished by the stubbornness in belief that playing multiple positions meant you weren't good enough to be an everyday player at just one. Instead, guys like Ben Zobrist and Josh Harrison have proven that you can still be an everyday player--an All-Star even--and not necessarily play in the same spot every day. Being able to play more positions adds to an individual's value as well as the flexibility for the team.
The Rangers are in a good spot here.
- The Young Guns: The Rangers have a wealth of young arms like Luis Ortiz, Dillon Tate, Yohander Mendez and young position players like Ryan Cordell and Drew Robinson as well as Josh Morgan, among others. The real "big three," however, is comprised of Joey Gallo, Lewis Brinson, and Nomar Mazara, and they were very impressive.
First of all, you can't teach size and these guys look like the varsity compared to some of the established Major Leaguers on the Rangers' roster. These guys are big and athletic to say the least.
Size doesn't guarantee anything, though. We all know that. But the production was there. Gallo made adjustments. Mazara smacked the ball around. Brinson did a little bit of everything.
Will all three of these guys become stars? Odds are no. But will these guys be more successful for the Rangers than their last big three (Diamond, Volquez, Danks)? Odds are absolutely.
- The Health: Knock on wood, obviously, but considering 2014 and last March, the Rangers have been very healthy this Spring. They've dealt with the Josh Hamilton stuff, Tanner Scheppers' injury (probably not someone who was making the team anyway), but other than that it's just been a tweaked side, some back stiffness, some stomach bugs, and the ankle or two. If they sustain some injuries, I think they're better prepared to deal with them this year, but the less they have to deal with, the better.
Let's all stay healthy.
Until tomorrow, Peace Be the Journey
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