Texas Rangers 2013 Season Thread

[Scoobay]

95 wins - AL West champs
Angels finish 3rd behind the A's with Mariners right behind them
Astros cellar dwellers as expected

Go Rangers!

[dalmations202]

If you'll guarantee Berkman's and Beltre's health, I'll agree with you.

[Ninkobei]

So the Ranger's 5th starter is 25 year old Nick Tepesch. No idea where he came from but its nice to see another young guy in there. Perez with a fractured arm, Colby, and hopefully Feliz will all be nice mid-season healthy adds

[Scoobay]

Originally Posted by dalmations202

If you'll guarantee Berkman's and Beltre's health, I'll agree with you.

not as worried about those two as i am about the health of our pitching - we need all our horses to stay healthy and for the bullpen to receive reinforcements quickly and ready to go (soria, feliz, lewis, etc.)

[Kirobaito]

Tepesch will only be needed for 4-5 starts. If we win 2 of those games I'll be happy. Perez should be back by mid-May and then Lewis will follow shortly after that.

The bullpen reinforcements from Soria and Feliz should be much needed. Currently behind Nathan is what - Scheppers, Ross, and Frasor? Yuck.

Also somewhat concerned that we had to take Leury Garcia on the 25 as a utility player. He would really be better off playing every day in Round Rock. What was really so wrong with Andres Blanco?

[jthig32]

I don't think Garcia is thought of as a future every day player anyway, so I don't think anyone's real concerned about it.

I'm very concerned about the bullpen. Soria and Feliz will come back at some point, but pitchers coming off TJ (like Soria) generally aren't real useful the first 6-8 months back.

[Ninkobei]

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

The bullpen reinforcements from Soria and Feliz should be much needed. Currently behind Nathan is what - Scheppers, Ross, and Frasor? Yuck.

Don't forget about Michael Kirkman. Hasn't allowed a walk or run in 9 innings. He'll be behind Ross probably. Also a lefty which is nice to have.

[Kirobaito]

MLB.tv app isn't working with my PS3. (And lots of others'.) I guess since the first game is a national one I'll have a few extra days before I have to worry about it, but really? Some people can't seem get the new version, 4.00, to function properly. I can't even get version 4.00. I have version 3.00 that has last years' games, all of which I can still watch. I can't even update to the new version.

[Ninkobei]

So, Yu is still awesome. That's good news. That damned announcer kept on tempting fate by calling it an 'almost perfect game.' I thought that was against the rules for an announcer? Or is it just bad to say it to the pitcher? Anyway, damned fine outing for Yu. I hope he gets a Perfect Game in his career.

[Kirobaito]

Originally Posted by Ninkobei

So, Yu is still awesome. That's good news. That damned announcer kept on tempting fate by calling it an 'almost perfect game.' I thought that was against the rules for an announcer? Or is it just bad to say it to the pitcher? Anyway, damned fine outing for Yu. I hope he gets a Perfect Game in his career.

Steve Busby, a former pitcher, thankfully enjoys taking a huge dump on superstitions. He'll say 'perfect game' until the cows come home because he knows it doesn't matter. Grieve did no such thing.

[saclare]

Originally Posted by jthig32

I don't think Garcia is thought of as a future every day player anyway, so I don't think anyone's real concerned about it.

I'm very concerned about the bullpen. Soria and Feliz will come back at some point, but pitchers coming off TJ (like Soria) generally aren't real useful the first 6-8 months back.

I like Garcia in the back-up utility role. I agree that he won't be an every day player, at least for us anyway. Plus, Profar is taking up his spot at AAA (for everyday, his best position is SS).

I disagree on the TJ agrument. It definitely takes a longer time for starting pitchers to come back, but for relievers they have a different timetable. For reference, we will be able to track three this year, fortnately or unfortunately, in Lewis, Feliz, and Soria. Time will tell how they handle Feliz, if he continues to be a starter or they work him back into the bullpen, at least for the time being. But I think most recently Joe Nathan had TJ and came back pretty effectively. I remember him being ultimately replaced by Capps but Capps was and still is a pretty strong closer. I think Soria and Feliz can come back and bolster this bullpen. It does look a little unpromising but with Ross and Kirkman, aloong with continued success from Scheppers with Nathan cleaning it up, you just have to hope for Frasor and Lowe can be serviceable.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by saclare

I disagree on the TJ agrument. It definitely takes a longer time for starting pitchers to come back, but for relievers they have a different timetable. For reference, we will be able to track three this year, fortnately or unfortunately, in Lewis, Feliz, and Soria. Time will tell how they handle Feliz, if he continues to be a starter or they work him back into the bullpen, at least for the time being. But I think most recently Joe Nathan had TJ and came back pretty effectively. I remember him being ultimately replaced by Capps but Capps was and still is a pretty strong closer. I think Soria and Feliz can come back and bolster this bullpen. It does look a little unpromising but with Ross and Kirkman, aloong with continued success from Scheppers with Nathan cleaning it up, you just have to hope for Frasor and Lowe can be serviceable.

Nathan is an example on my side. He was pretty bad until the final month or so of the season his last year for Minnesota.

[Kirobaito]

I also think this is Soria's second TJ surgery, which can be a totally different beast.

Feliz will probably be a reliever again. We tried to start him, it didn't work. He's not going to displace any of our five starters (plus Perez, eventually).

[Scoobay]

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_as...XAH4AAxtWS.gif

found this on other ranger sites - hope it works. it's really cool.

[saclare]

Been a while to post here about the Rangers. Too much kneejerking over at the Newberg forums...

Pitching has been great and can only get better. Such a 180 from the Hick's days.

Some updates: Harrison done until around August. Feliz even later. Soria had a non-elbow setback but should be back before the all-star break. Perez is throwing Saturday. And Lewis is set to throw soon (by throw here I mean rehab stints).

[saclare]

Originally Posted by Scoobay

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_as...XAH4AAxtWS.gif

found this on other ranger sites - hope it works. it's really cool.

Darvish has been stellar. Nothing short.

[rabbitproof]

When do you guys Lewis will be back?

[Scoobay]

Originally Posted by rabbitproof

When do you guys Lewis will be back?

http://forum.newbergreport.com/showt...r-Return-Dates

not sure the source, but should be pretty accurate - the poster at Newberg says 6/1

However with Tepesch dealing pretty well, and hopefully Grimm putting in another good performance, I don't think we're in any rush just yet.

[saclare]

Lewis has actually been ahead of schedule. But, with the young guys pitching pretty well (Tepesch and Grimm), I think they take their time with Lewis and shoot for early June.

[jthig32]

The Rangers aren't going to rush Lewis back, but the performance of Grimm is not going to make them more cautious. With Harrison out and Ogando sucking, they need Lewis back asap.

[GermanDunk]

18th Inning. Wow. I switched during the 13th

[saclare]

It was nice to see Wolf do so much for us that game. Sucks it ended the way it did but I think it evened out the next game where their relief was shot.

[Dirkadirkastan]

It's certainly fascinating to watch a train fly off the tracks and explode, but after the first two or three times, even that gets rather old.

[Scoobay]

every game's been a playoff game the last week+ and i've got my eyes closed hoping. exciting but can't stand to watch!

[Murphy3]

I've been locked in..hoping that someone would lose and help out the Rangers.. unbelievable that the Rangers and Indians would close out the season like they did.. fortunately the Rays helped out by losing a couple.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Seriously, who did not see that coming?

[GermanDunk]

Mike has bearded one in !

[alby]

Choo's presser today. Some good quotes.