Taylor Teagarden is off to a poor start to the 2009 season for the Texas Rangers. Teagarden has played in 8 games for the Rangers this season and he is 4 for 25 (.160 avg, .410 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs. He has also whiffed a stunning 12 times already this season. The Rangers have recalled 24-year old righty swinging Max Ramirez to replace the injured Josh Hamilton on the roster and he will push Teagarden for his job as the backup catcher. Ramirez has played in 16 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 15 for 64 (.234 avg, .603 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer and 8 RBIs. He has also had a problem with whiffs as he has went down 25 times already this year. Teagarden better shape up soon or he will wind up back in AAA-ball.

Frank Catalanotto and Gerald Laird have been the most disappointing players to the Rangers this season.  Laird was given the starting catcher job and he hasn’t rewarded their faith in him.  Laird is only hitting .230 with 26 runs scored, 5 homers and 27 RBIs so far this season.  It would be different if Laird had done a good job of working with the pitching staff but that hasn’t been the case this season.  Frank Catalanotto has had a career based on his high average bat but he hasn’t been hitting that well this season.  Catalanotto is only hitting .230 with 26 runs scored, 6 homers and 22 RBIs this season.  Look for Catalanotto to rebound in the 2nd half of the season with the bat.

Frank Catalanotto has been awful so far this season for the Rangers.  He missed a little bit of time due to injury but that’s no excuse for a career .293 hitter to be hitting as poorly as he is right now.  In 36 games this season, Catalanotto is 21 for 114 (.184 avg, .539 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 4 homers and 16 RBIs.  Look for Catalanotto to get hot soon because he’s too good of a hitter to keep hitting like he has been.

Sammy Sosa has not swung the bat well as of late.  In his last 5 games, Sosa is only 4 for 24 (.167 avg, .500 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer, 5 RBIs and 9 whiffs.  Sosa better get his act back together soon because the Rangers are getting some hitters back and they could cut into Sosa’s playing time, because if he’s not hitting….he’s not helping the Rangers.

Shortstop Michael Young and catcher Gerald Laird are both off to terrible starts to the 2007 season.  Michael Young has played in 19 games this season and he’s only 13 for 79 (.165, .456 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 2 homers and 13 RBIs.  Both of Young’s homers came in the same game and he’s not really hitting the ball hard.  He says that he will get things straightened out as he proclaims to be doing the same things he did last year.  The Rangers need him to get going soon because he’s hurting the lineup so far this season.  Gerald Laird was given the starting job when the Rangers let Rod Barajas walk as a free-agent in the off-season and he’s Laird is proving that to be a big mistake so far this season.  In 16 games this year, Laird is 5 for 51 (.098 avg, .327 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs.  The Rangers might have to make a trade if Laird doesn’t swing the bat better soon because the Rangers are weak at the catcher spot in their organization.