The Surprise, Surprise: Perez Impresses In Debut, Gallo Homers
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The Leadoff
Former Rangers player and current Rangers Bench Coach, Steve Buechele, joined the boys of the GBag Nation yesterday. Here's their conversation.
Stat of the Day
12: the amount of games in Cactus League play the Rangers have collected 10+ hits out of the 14 they've played.
Quote of the Day
"The fifth starter spot is our toughest decision right now. This game is built around starting pitching." -Jeff Banister
Covering the Bases
*Despite Rougned Odor's right oblique strain that's kept him out of game action for a week, Jeff Banister said he expects him to be just fine for Opening Day.
*Jeff Banister also acknowledged for the first time something I've suggested might be an option in the future and that's that Ian Desmond could receive work as a centerfielder, but not until he has a firm grasp in left field.
Game Notes RANGERS 5 Indians 3
On the Bump
*Martin Perez looked really strong in his Cactus League debut, going four innings, allowing just one run. He struck out four and walked none, inducing two double play balls. He needed just 48 pitches in his outing. I thought he did a nice job of injecting the curveball, something he's working on, as a show-me pitch just to give hitters something extra to consider.
*Nick Martinez has struggled this Spring but looked good today...
At the Dish
*Joey Gallo hit his longest home run of the Spring and neither of his previous two were cheapies, either. Unreal. This one came on the first pitch but he continues to have high quality at-bats. In his next at-bat, he worked the count in his favor, 2-1, and line a single to right. I've been really impressed with him and I haven't necessarily captained the Joey Gallo bandwagon.
*Prince Fielder hit two balls really hard off of one of the AL's best starters, Carlos Carrasco, including a line drive home run just right of center. He's now 6-for-his-last-12, which is a good sign.
*Elvis Andrus gets criticized a lot, understandably so, but he's always been a pretty good bat control guy on action plays. He had a great hit-and-run today, a part of a 2-for-3 day.
*Ian Desmond went 1-for-2 with a walk. Both balls he put in play went the other way and were hit well. That's a great sign for a guy whose struggles, some say, have been to a pull-happy approach.
*Ryan Rua added three hits...he's not doing that well, just 12-for-24 in Cactus League play and everything he hits is hit hard.
In the Field
*Oh, no big deal...Adrian Beltre just made a barehanded catch and throw on a chopper look like it was no big deal...
*Pedro Ciriaco made a great play on an eventual double play. He ranged towards the middle from second, received the bouncer and stepped on the bag at the same time, and then threw across his body to first with momentum taking him the other way.
Minor League Games
*Cole Hamels had a rough go of things, failing to retiring any one of the five batters he faced in the first inning against the Royals minor league squad.
*Jeremy Guthrie went 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six without walking any.
*Shawn Tolleson allowed a solo home run in his first Spring Training inning of any kind. No big deal. He also struck out two.
*For the second straight minor league outing, Tom Wilhelmsen retired the side in order on exactly seven pitches. He's going to be a big addition to this pen.
*Keone Kela sat 94-97 mph while retiring the side in order, collecting two strikeouts.
Minor League Player of the Day
Bracketology: ROUND 2
Brett Nicholas over Yu Darvish
Shawn Tolleson over Martin Perez
Drew Robinson over Cesar Ramos
Sam Freeman over Lewis Brinson
Drew Stubbs over Patrick Kivlehan
*Yu Darvish threw on a Yao Ming jersey after missing his first three and made one, standing at the elbow because of the extreme fade in his awkward shot.
*Shawn Tolleson "entered" by riding his motorized bicycle onto the court and parking it in the middle of the key.
*They played mariachi music for Cesar Ramos
*Stubbs advanced by forfeit with Kivlehan already having been sent to minor league camp. Elvis Andrus arranged a brief moment of silence for Kivlehan.
The Walkoff
After yesterday's game, Jeff Banister suggested that the team might open the season with a three-man bench and an eight-man bullpen, providing the team with an extra arm and one less bat/glove. The Opening Day lineup and roster is always a fun discussion, but we spend more time talking about it than that actual personnel grouping stays intact. Whatever template upon which the Rangers decide is not a full-season commitment. A Major League team's roster is merely a day-to-day commitment.
If the Rangers start with a three/eight setup, my guess is that the 14-game stretch to open the season without an off-day has something to do with it. This allows them to better protect their valuable bullpen arms early, especially as pitchers might not be as prepared to go deep into ballgames. If that is in fact the Opening Day setup, my guess is that the two relievers who win jobs are Andrew Faulkner and Cesar Ramos.
The position player collection is trickier to predict because almost every combination leaves them vulnerable somewhere. My guess is that it is Chris Gimenez, Hanser Alberto, and Ryan Rua, whose bat and ability to play all four corner spots is a boon. That, however, leaves them vulnerable in centerfield. So maybe they go with Ciriaco instead of Alberto, providing some centerfield protection, albeit protection without a lot of experience. Perhaps it is Stubbs or Jones instead of Rua, which leaves them without a platoon for Mitch, if in fact they want to sit him versus lefties. Maybe this actually benefits Justin Ruggiano, who, unlike Rua, can provide you depth in all three outfield spots and, pending his development, first base, too. Who knows?
Despite all of this conjecture, they'll probably end up going with a four-man bench to start the season, anyway. My guess is that the four-man bench is most common construction when 162 is all said and done and the Rangers are gearing up for the playoffs.
Until tomorrow, Peace Be the Journey
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