Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers place Kason Gabbard on the D.L.

chinmusic — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:26:16 +0000

The Rangers have placed lefty starting pitcher Kason Gabbard on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation. Gabbard has started 12 games this season for the Rangers and he is 2-3 with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. Gabbard’s main issue has been throwing strikes this season as he has walked 39 batters in only 56 innings. Gabbard will likely be replaced by Luis Mendoza in the starting rotation. The Rangers have recalled 24-year old righty reliever Warner Madrigal up from the minors to replace Gabbard on the pitching staff. He has pitched in 31 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 1-0 with 14 saves, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has good stuff as evidenced by his 43 whiffs in only 36 innings this season.

The Texas Rangers designate Chris Shelton for assignment

chinmusic — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:01:24 +0000

The Rangers have designated 1B Chris Shelton for assignment. Shelton played in 41 games for the Rangers this season and he was 21 for 97 (.216 avg, .663 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 2 homers and 11 RBIs. The Rangers have recalled 22-year old lefty swinging 1B Chris Davis to take over as the starting 1B. Davis played in 77 games in AA+AAA ball this season and he was 99 for 297 (.333 avg, 1.029 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 23 homers, 73 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Davis has also played in 2 games for the Rangers now and he is 2 for 5 (.400 avg) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. This was a move that should have been made a while ago as Davis looks like he is the real deal.

The Texas Rangers place Gerald Laird on the D.L.

chinmusic — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:14:26 +0000

The Rangers have placed catcher Gerald Laird on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled left hamstring. Laird has played in 51 games this season for the Rangers and he is 56 for 183 (.306 avg, .797 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 4 homers and 25 RBIs. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be the starting catcher until Laird is ready to return to action. Saltalamacchia has played in 29 games for the Rangers this year and he is 22 for 100 (.220 avg, .695 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 3 homers and 14 RBIs. 23-year old righty swinging catcher Max Ramirez will be the new backup catcher. He has played in 67 games in AA ball this season and he is 86 for 237 (.363 avg, 1.119 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 17 homers and 50 RBIs.

The Texas Rangers place Doug Mathis on the D.L.

chinmusic — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:10:33 +0000

The Rangers have placed righty starter/reliever Doug Mathis on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder. Mathis has pitched in 8 games (4 starts) for the Rangers this year and he is 2-1 with a 6.85 ERA and a 2.28 WHIP. The Rangers have recalled righty Luis Mendoza to replace Mathis on the roster. Mendoza has pitched in 4 games (3 starts) for the Rangers this season and he is 0-2 with 1 save, a 7.11 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP.

The Texas Rangers designate Robinson Tejada for assignment

chinmusic — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:08:03 +0000

The Rangers have designated Robinson Tejada for assignment. Tejada pitched in 4 games (0 starts) with the Rangers this season and he was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. The Rangers have recalled lefty starting pitcher Kason Gabbard to replace Tejada on the roster. Gabbard will move back into the rotation for the Rangers. He has started 10 games for the Rangers this season and he is 1-3 with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. His biggest problem has been his control as he has walked 32 batters in only 47.1 innings this season.

Nelson Cruz is ripping the cover off the ball in AAA for the Texas Rangers

chinmusic — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:25:37 +0000

The Texas Rangers are loaded in the outfield so they should look to move Cruz for some much needed pitching. The 27-year old righty swinging outfielder has played in 59 games in AAA ball this season and he is 71 for 214 (.332 avg, 1.131 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 20 homers, 51 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. The Rangers should at least be able to get some bullpen help from a team like the Padres, Indians or Royals seeing how none of them can hit.

David Murphy is on fire for the Texas Rangers this season

chinmusic — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:12:56 +0000

When the Rangers acquired outfielder David Murphy in the trade of Eric Gagne last July most experts saw Murphy as nothing more than a nice #4 outfielder. But, he has really played well this season and he’s in line to make a run at the Rookie of the Year Award in the American League this year. Murphy has played in 66 games this season for the Rangers and he is 77 of 263 (.293 avg, .721 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 10 homers, 46 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. If Murphy keeps this up the Rangers are going to continue to be a surprise team in the American League West.

Maybe Milton Bradley will have a complete season for the Texas Rangers in 2008

chinmusic — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:07:26 +0000

It looks like veteran DH/OF might have finally found a home in Texas. The Rangers are very pleased with Bradley’s production as he has played in 59 games this season and he is 70 for 210 (.333 avg, 1.083 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 14 homers, 45 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. But, Bradley needs to be a little bit better of a team player. He should be on the bench instead of watching T.V. when his team is playing the game. That was a problem yesterday as he wanted to go after one of the Royals’ T.V. announcers for essentially telling him to grow up. It seems that Bradley has been a little better in his behavior this season as the Rangers’ have been able to handle him well this season. It’s just that until now Bradley always thought he was way better than he was. If he were performing like Albert Belle of the Indians used to then he might still be with the Expos/Nationals but he never has. After all this is Bradley’s sixth team in 9 years in the majors. He also has never been able to stay healthy as he has only played in more than 101 games 1 time in his major league career. The Rangers have their fingers crossed that Bradley will remain happy and healthy this season as he has been a huge force for them on offense.

The Texas Rangers designate Sidney Ponson for assignment

chinmusic — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:21:41 +0000

This came out of nowhere and it will likely hurt the team on the field as Ponson was pitching pretty well. But, his repeated actions both on and off the field made this a move that had to be made. It will be addition by subraction as the Rangers feel they are better off without him no matter what happens the rest of the season. Ponson started 9 games for the Rangers this season and he was 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He allowed 71 hits in only 55.2 innings this season so you had to figure that his ERA would eventually go up. Still, this move was a shock.

The Texas Rangers let Jason Botts go to Japan

chinmusic — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:51:32 +0000

27-year old switch hitting OF/DH Jason Botts is heading off to the Far East to try his luck in Japan with the Nippon Ham Fighters. Botts played in 15 games for the Rangers this season and he was 6 for 38 (.158 avg, .699 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 2 homers and 5 RBIs. He also whiffed an amazing 18 times this season. The Rangers got tired of waiting for Botts to produce but he might do well in Japan as a lot of players who have failed in the majors have dominated in Japan. Botts played in 93 games in his career with the Rangers and he was 65 for 282 (.230 avg, .669 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 5 homers and 28 RBIs. He also whiffed an astounding 108 times with the Rangers. They won’t miss Botts at all as a lot of players have passed him up in the Rangers system.