Texas Rangers MLB News - Rangers Baseball Blog http://www.rangerslocker.com Texas Rangers Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:17:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.5 en The Texas Rangers release Geoff Geary http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/28/the-texas-rangers-release-geoff-geary/ http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/28/the-texas-rangers-release-geoff-geary/#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:17:34 +0000 chinmusic http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/28/the-texas-rangers-release-geoff-geary/ The Rangers have released 33-year old righty reliever Geoff Geary. Geary pitched in 23 games (6 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he was 4-5 with a 5.37 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. He gave up a stunning 83 hits in only 58 2/3 innings this season in the minors! The Rangers have so many good, young arms that it seemed like a waste of time keeping Geary around. This will allow him to try to find another job this year giving him a better chance to make it back to the majors.

]]> http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/28/the-texas-rangers-release-geoff-geary/feed/ The Texas Rangers place Matt Treanor on the D.L. http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/24/the-texas-rangers-place-matt-treanor-on-the-dl/ http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/24/the-texas-rangers-place-matt-treanor-on-the-dl/#comments Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:05:19 +0000 chinmusic http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/24/the-texas-rangers-place-matt-treanor-on-the-dl/ The Rangers have placed backup catcher Matt Treanor on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right posterior cruciate ligament. Treanor has played in 64 games for the Rangers this year and he is 41 of 182 (.225 avg, .656 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 5 homers and 23 RBIs. I can’t believe I’m actually saying this but the Rangers will probably miss Treanor while he is out of action. That is because they have recalled 26-year old righty swinging Taylor Teagarden to backup Bengie Molina. Teagarden played in 10 games earlier this year for the Rangers and he was 1 of 27 (.037 avg, .225 OPS) with 3 runs scored. He also whiffed a stunning 17 times for the Rangers this year as his bat appeared to have a hole in it that pitchers continually found.

]]> http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/24/the-texas-rangers-place-matt-treanor-on-the-dl/feed/ Tommy Hunter is really stepping up for the Texas Rangers this year http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/23/tommy-hunter-is-really-stepping-up-for-the-texas-rangers-this-year/ http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/23/tommy-hunter-is-really-stepping-up-for-the-texas-rangers-this-year/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:52:12 +0000 chinmusic http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/23/tommy-hunter-is-really-stepping-up-for-the-texas-rangers-this-year/ 24-year old righty starting pitcher Tommy Hunter has come off the D.L. excelling for the Rangers. He has started 9 games for the Rangers this year and he is 7-0 with a 2.09 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Hunter has been attacking the strike zone with his solid array of stuff. With the Rangers’ pen and offense behind him I don’t see Hunter losing any time soon. Hunter has now started 31 games in his three years with the Rangers and he is 16-8 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has only walked 50 batters in 179 innings for the Rangers and that is pretty outstanding control. The sky is the limit for Tommy Hunter as long as he can stay healthy.

]]> http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/23/tommy-hunter-is-really-stepping-up-for-the-texas-rangers-this-year/feed/ The Texas Rangers place Dustin Nippert on the D.L. http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/20/the-texas-rangers-place-dustin-nippert-on-the-dl-2/ http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/20/the-texas-rangers-place-dustin-nippert-on-the-dl-2/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:53:52 +0000 chinmusic http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/20/the-texas-rangers-place-dustin-nippert-on-the-dl-2/ The Rangers have placed righty reliever/starter Dustin Nippert on the 15-day disabled list due to a mild head injury. Nippert was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of Tigers’ outfielder Austin Jackson. Nippert has pitched in 28 games (2 starts) for the Rangers this year and he is 3-4 with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP. The Rangers have called up 27-year old righty reliever Doug Mathis to replace Nippert in the pen. Mathis has pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Rangers this year and he is 1-1 with a 6.98 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP.

]]> http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/20/the-texas-rangers-place-dustin-nippert-on-the-dl-2/feed/ The Texas Rangers have one more player to go get http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/19/the-texas-rangers-have-one-more-player-to-go-get/ http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/19/the-texas-rangers-have-one-more-player-to-go-get/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:54:12 +0000 chinmusic http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/19/the-texas-rangers-have-one-more-player-to-go-get/ The Rangers have added Bengie Molina and Cliff Lee in solid trades the last couple of weeks but they still have one glaring hole and it’s at first base. With that in mind I would be placing a call to the D-Backs with the idea of going after Adam LaRoche. LaRoche is a notorious second half hitter and he would be a outstanding fit in the Rangers’ lineup. I would definitely being willing to deal Chris Davis, Pedro Strop and Taylor Teagarden to the D-Backs for LaRoche. Of course the D-Backs would also have to send cash to cover LaRoche’s paycheck which would be why I would include Davis in the deal. The D-Backs would make that deal in a heartbeat and it would make the offense even better for the Rangers going forward.

]]> http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/19/the-texas-rangers-have-one-more-player-to-go-get/feed/ Clay Rapada is throwing well in the minors for the Texas Rangers http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/19/clay-rapada-is-throwing-well-in-the-minors-for-the-texas-rangers/ http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/19/clay-rapada-is-throwing-well-in-the-minors-for-the-texas-rangers/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:06:40 +0000 chinmusic http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/19/clay-rapada-is-throwing-well-in-the-minors-for-the-texas-rangers/ 29-year old lefty reliever Clay Rapada has been lights out in AAA-ball for the Rangers this year. Rapada has pitched in 35 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 1-0 with 2 saves, a 1.67 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. He has only given up 26 hits this year in 43 innings pitched while whiffing 41 batters in the minors showing that he’s razor sharp right now. If the Rangers need another lefty in the pen look for them to give Rapada a chance.

]]> http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/19/clay-rapada-is-throwing-well-in-the-minors-for-the-texas-rangers/feed/ The Texas Rangers roll into the All-Star Break http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/13/the-texas-rangers-roll-into-the-all-star-break/ http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/13/the-texas-rangers-roll-into-the-all-star-break/#comments Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:42:23 +0000 chinmusic http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/13/the-texas-rangers-roll-into-the-all-star-break/ The Rangers are in first place in the A.L. West with a 50-38 record which has them 4.5 games ahead of the Angels. The Rangers have already added Bengie Molina and Cliff Lee recently and they might add another player or two before the the trade deadline later this month. The Rangers have had a lot of surprises and disappointments so far this season and here’s a close look at them:

Pleasant Surprises: In 2008 Josh Hamilton had a monster first season for the Rangers. But in 2009 Hamilton was dinged up and he had a relapse (using alcohol) last season. In 2010 though Hamilton is coming back with the vengeance! Hamilton has played in 85 games this year and he is 118 of 341 (.346 avg, 1.014 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 22 homers, 64 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. 29-year old lefty relief pitcher came to spring training wanting a chance to start with the Rangers in 2010. They gave him his chance and he ran with it earning a job in the rotation. He has started 18 games for the Rangers this year and he is 7-5 with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He has only allowed 86 hits in 113 innings this season for the Rangers showing he can handle the job. Wilson does need to throw more strikes however as he has walked 55 batters this year. 30-year old righty starting pitcher Colby Lewis was signed over the winter after two years in Japan and he has been solid for the Rangers this year. Lewis has started 17 games for the Rangers this year and he is 8-5 with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He has only given up 86 hits in 110 2/3 innings this year and he has 105 whiffs showing just how nasty he has been. 27-year old righty reliever Darren O’Day was very impressive for the Rangers last season but I seemed to think it was a mirage. That hasn’t been the case as O’Day has been awesome so far this year. O’Day has pitched in 40 games (0 starts) for the Rangers this year and he is 3-2 with a 1.49 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP.

Disappointments: 24-year old lefty swinging 1B Chris Davis was so awful earlier this year that he was sent to AAA. With Justin Smoak now a Seattle Mariner the Rangers will need Davis to step up. Davis has played in 18 games this season for the Rangers and he is 12 of 56 (.214 avg, .589 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 1 stolen base. 25-year old switch hitting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia came into this season as the starting catcher but that didn’t last long. He has played in 2 games for the Rangers this year and he is 1 of 5 (.200 avg, .400 OPS) with 1 RBI. Saltalamacchia has been banished to the minors with no sign of a return to Arlington any time soon. 26-year old righty swinging catcher Taylor Teagarden was truly pathetic this season for the Rangers. He played in 10 games for the Rangers and he was 1 for 27 (.037 avg, .225 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 17 whiffs. Like Saltalamacchia, don’t expect Teagarden back any time soon. 27-year old Scott Feldman had a breakout season in 2009 for the Rangers but he hasn’t followed it up too well. Feldman has started 18 games for the Rangers this year and he is 5-8 with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Feldman has given up 140 hits already this season in 108 1/3 innings and he’s likely in danger of losing his rotation spot if he continues to pitch poorly.

]]> http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/13/the-texas-rangers-roll-into-the-all-star-break/feed/ The Texas Rangers have acquired Cliff Lee from the Mariners http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/09/the-texas-rangers-have-acquired-cliff-lee-from-the-mariners/ http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/09/the-texas-rangers-have-acquired-cliff-lee-from-the-mariners/#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:31:56 +0000 chinmusic http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/09/the-texas-rangers-have-acquired-cliff-lee-from-the-mariners/ The Rangers have acquired 31-year old lefty starting pitcher Cliff Lee, 27-year old righty reliever Mark Lowe and $2.5 million bucks from the Mariners for 23-year old switch hitting 1B Justin Smoak, 21-year old righty starting pitcher Blake Beavan, 25-year old righty reliever Josh Lueke and 24-year old righty swinging 2B Matt Lawson. Cliff Lee instantly gives the Rangers an ace for the rotation. Lee has pitched 9 years in his major league career working in 207 games (203 starts) and he is 98-55 with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Mark Lowe will miss the rest of the season due to back surgery but he will give the Rangers another live arm in the pen in 2011 and beyond. Lowe pitched in 11 games (0 starts) for the Mariners this season and he was 1-3 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He has now pitched in 162 games (0 starts) in his five years in the majors and he is 5-15 with 4 saves, a 3.95 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Lowe was a solid second piece to this deal for the Rangers.

Justin Smoak came into this season as the Rangers’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. Smoak has played in 70 games for the Rangers this year and he is 49 of 235 (.209 avg, .670 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 8 homers and 34 RBIs. Smoak has a nice upside but the Rangers will call up Chris Davis to replace him in the starting lineup. Blake Beavan was the Rangers’ #17 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He has started 17 games in AA-ball for the Rangers this year and he is 10-5 with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He has now pitched in 67 games (all starts) in his three years in the minors and he is 29-19 with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Beavan has a nice upside. Josh Lueke has pitched in 32 games (0 starts) in A+AA-ball this season and he is 3-2 with 12 saves, a 2.11 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He has whiffed 62 batters in only 38 1/3 innings in the minors this season showing just how nasty his stuff is. Lueke has now pitched in 101 games (0 starts) in his four years in the minors and he is 6-13 with 22 saves, a 3.47 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Matt Lawson has played in 76 games in AA-ball this year and he is 81 of 292 (.277 avg, .809 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 7 homers and 34 RBIs. He has now played in 363 games in his four years in the minors and he is 378 of 1,356 (.279 avg, .751 OPS) with 206 runs scored, 25 homers, 143 RBIs and 40 stolen bases.

This was an outstanding trade for the Rangers as Cliff Lee will be dominating for them at the top of their starting rotation. Sure the Rangers gave up Justin Smoak but they still have Chris Davis to play 1B. The Angels have to really be worried now with the Rangers pushing a lot of chips to the middle of the table.

]]> http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/09/the-texas-rangers-have-acquired-cliff-lee-from-the-mariners/feed/ The Texas Rangers are likely hunting for starting pitching http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/06/the-texas-rangers-are-likely-hunting-for-starting-pitching/ http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/06/the-texas-rangers-are-likely-hunting-for-starting-pitching/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:33:05 +0000 chinmusic http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/06/the-texas-rangers-are-likely-hunting-for-starting-pitching/ The Rangers are 48-34 on the season which has them in first place in the A.L. West, 3.5 games ahead of the Angels. The Rangers only have one weakness and it seems to be in the starting rotation. The Rangers will likely be after Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee and Dan Haren but so will a lot of other teams. If the Rangers can’t get one of the Big Three they will likely turn to the second tier in an effort to find help. Jeremy Guthrie, Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook, Ben Sheets, Jason Vargas, Ricky Nolasco, Ted Lilly, Brett Myers and Edwin Jackson could all interest the Rangers. The Rangers have the prospects to get any of the pitchers mentioned here but it takes two to tango.

]]> http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/06/the-texas-rangers-are-likely-hunting-for-starting-pitching/feed/ The Texas Rangers send five players to the All-Star Team http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/05/the-texas-rangers-send-five-players-to-the-all-star-team/ http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/05/the-texas-rangers-send-five-players-to-the-all-star-team/#comments Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:47:00 +0000 chinmusic http://www.rangerslocker.com/2010/07/05/the-texas-rangers-send-five-players-to-the-all-star-team/ The Rangers will be sending four position players and a pitcher to the All-Star Game in L.A. Lefty swinging outfielder Josh Hamilton and righty swinging DH Vladimir Guerrero were both voted in by the fans and they were good picks. Hamilton has played in 78 games for the Rangers this year and he is 106 of 313 (.339 avg, 1.001 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 20 homers, 61 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. This will be Hamilton’s 3rd appearance in the All-Star Game. Vladimir Guerrero has played in 77 games this year for the Rangers and he is 98 of 297 (.330 avg, .940 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 18 homers, 70 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. This is Guerrero’s 9th All-Star Game appearance in his outstanding career. 21-year old shortsop Elvis Andrus will be Derek Jeter’s backup in the All-Star Game. Andrus has played in 78 games for the Rangers this season and he is 88 of 305 (.289 avg, .699 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 0 homers, 25 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. This will be Andrus’ first All-Star Game. Ian Kinsler was added to the All-Star Team to replace the injured Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox. Kinsler has played in 58 games for the Rangers this season and he is 64 of 214 (.299 avg, .815 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 3 homers, 26 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. This is the second time Kinsler has made the All-Star Team. Fireballing reliever Neftali Feliz has made his first All-Star Team. He has pitched in 37 games (0 starts) for the Rangers this season and he is 1-2 with 22 saves, a 3.00 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Feliz has only given up 24 hits while whiffing 40 batters in only 36 innings. This is a pretty good contingent of Rangers heading to the All-Star Game.

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