More Josh Hamilton trivia.

Josh played for Texas in 6 seasons. '08-12, '15.

The Rangers were above .500 in 5 of those seasons. All but '08.

.359 with 32 HRs, a .411 OBP and an MVP trophy will get you a few Ws.

Are the birds in this park actually this loud? Good god.

Can't wait.

Chris Woodward has announced that RHP Jon Gray will start the season opener on April 8 at Toronto.

— John Blake (@RangerBlake) March 29, 2022

So one should never get too excited about spring ball play, but it's better to be good than bad.

Spencer Howard start yesterday and went 3 innings, one ER, 0 BBs, 3 Ks.

His spring ERA is 1.80. Other potential starters ERAs - once again, justa few innings for each:

Alexy - 0.0
Allard - 0.0
Arihara - 19.64
Dunning - 5.79
Hearn - 1.93
Patton -12.00

Round Rock is likely to be the beneficiary of some significant talent.

Back when we made WS appearances, our minors had success with guys who were prospects. JD was very intentional to not just bring in guys to stock AAA with guys in order to win games.

We're going to put some guys in AAA that are the cusp of making the MLB rotation. That will hopefully push guys that could start at AAA down to AA.

If we go:
Gray, Perez, Dunning, Hearn, Allard

AAA likely gets Alexy, Howard, Burke, Winn, Latz
AA Leiter? Otto?

I could see Howard and Otto in Frisco to shuttle back-and-forth to Arlington. I could see Winn, Alexy, and Leiter in Frisco, just so the Rangers could monitor.

Anything on John King? I know he was a RP. IIRC, near the end of the season they talked about him moving to the rotation, or was I thinking someone else?!

King has only pitched one inning. I'm sure they're bringing him back slowly.

Hearn pitched well today - 4 IP, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB

Best I could do, determining the minor league rotations:

Rotations:
AAA: Latz (25-L), Winn (21-R), Y Rodriguez (23-R), Arihara?
AA: Leiter (21-R), Ragans (23-L), Bradford (23-L), Kent (23-R), Slaten (23-R)
A+: Englert (21-R), Josh Smith, Krauth (21-R), J Matthews (23-R), O White (21-R)
A:

Here are the full break camp minor league rosters. You can also get observations from previous thread: pic.twitter.com/8Ua1ezbfXy

— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) March 31, 2022

Excited to follow the development of Winn, Lieter and Ragans going forward. I think they could form our best SP trio in a long long time

Personally, I wouldn't use Allard as a SP. He's proven his value as a long reliever, and could also be used as a tandem guy. 2nd time through the order and further has been an issue for him.

I'm betting they go with Howard as the 5th starter, and Allard in LR.

Of course WTF do I know.

jtstanley4621 said:

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Excited to follow the development of Winn, Lieter and Ragans going forward. I think they could form our best SP trio in a long long time

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I agree. Looking in the past...

DVD.

Harrison, Holland, and Hunter.

I started following Martin Perez when he was at Spokane (2008). Lots of comparisons of him to Johan Santana. He was the 2nd youngest SP in the NWL since King Felix. I had high hopes and followed him at Hickory in 2010.

I was looking at Perez (18), Pimentel (19), and Font (19) who were at Hickory (2010) with a stacked rotation. Boscan (19) and Ramirez (20). Also Wieland (19)

OHH... the talent we had. Like so many young SPs... most never did much at MLB.

After yesterday's game I'm more convinced that Howard will the the 5th starter. Allard gave up 4 runs in 3 innings (3 earned) and has a 5.40 ERA this spring. Howard has performed better.

Rangers odds to win the west… +1900. Couldn't help but throw a few $$ at it.

I'm not sure how good Semien is but I would think he's at least a top 100-type player. Would surprise me if he were ranked ahead of Seager. Oh well. I could care less about media rankings

I think he will be…Semien is a stud.

jtstanley4621 said:

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investorAg83 said:

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I think he will be…Semien is a stud.

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Wow I somehow didn't realize at all that he finished 3rd in MVP voting…. The Rangers last year really made me not follow baseball as intensely as years past

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He had a phenomenal year last year but is considered to still be under the radar…presumably because of his age (can he keep getting better at this age). But he put together a year that could win MVP in most years…it didn't help that Ohtani had a once in a generation type year (and 100% deserved to win the award) but he also competed with a teammate for votes in Vlad jr. He deserved 3rd but the fact he actually got it when his teammate took 2nd says a lot, IMO.

*under the radar isn't the right phrase but he's definitely slept on given his skill and production compared to Seager

The Rangers have acquired RHP Albert Abreu and LHP Robby Ahlstrom from the New York Yankees for C Jose Trevino. Abreu goes on the 40-man roster, which is currently at the limit.

— John Blake (@RangerBlake) April 2, 2022

Quote:

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Abreu, 26, went 2-0 with a 5.15 ERA (21 ER/36.2 IP), one save, and 35 strikeouts across 28 relief appearances over multiple stints with the Yankees in 2021, his first extended big league action after making his Major League debut in 2020.

Though he has pitched exclusively as a reliever in the Majors, the right-hander has worked primarily in a starting role over seven seasons in the minors, where he owns a career 20-30 record, 3.77 ERA (191 ER/455.2 IP), and 9.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings figure in 115 games/87 starts.

Ahlstrom, 22, was selected by the Yankees in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Oregon. The left-hander has yet to make his professional debut after posting a 16-11 record, 3.51 ERA (73 ER/187.0 IP), and 171 strikeouts over three seasons with the Ducks (2018-2021). He was a First-Team All-Pac-12 Conference selection as a junior in 2021, going 9-3 with a 2.50 ERA (25 ER/90.0 IP), 92 SO/16 BB and a .231 opp. BA. A Eugene native, Ahlstrom was the second University of Oregon product taken in the 2021 MLB Draft behind outfielder Aaron Zavala, who the Rangers selected in the second round (38th overall).

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Spencer Howard has made the rotation.

Abreu will start the season with the Rangers - he's out of options.

Going to be interesting to see what his HR numbers end up being this year in the Rangers' stadium. Could be wrong but I thought I remembered hearing the Blue Jays' stadium is hitter friendly

Adolis Garcia just annihilates a ball last night.

https://www.mlb.com/video/adolis-garcia-s-two-run-home-run-x3014?t=spring-training

BryanAggie2013 said:

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We are getting closer to No. 1. 👀 #Top100RightNow pic.twitter.com/EgReVRDKYT

— MLB (@MLB) April 1, 2022

Seager coming in at #21. I believe he is our only entry thus far.

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Altuve only #28 Behind bogaerts and devers. That's silly.

Tucker is currently batting .125 for my stratomatic team.... **** that dude

Tons of talent in spots 20-11 in the #Top100RightNow. 😤 pic.twitter.com/llgDxgoiE1

— MLB (@MLB) April 2, 2022

Semien came in at 20.

Absolute superstars. 🌟

The 10 best players in the game today. #Top100RightNow pic.twitter.com/kkg5ZYKU8X

— MLB (@MLB) April 2, 2022

And the top 10 just to close it out.

Aaron Judge way too high. Jose Ramirez too low. Guerrero and Soto are both better than Tatis.

Carpenter confirmed just now that he’ll go to Triple-A Round Rock to get consistent at-bats with his reworked swing

— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) April 3, 2022

jtstanley4621 said:

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Pretty absurd to think according to that list the Angels had the top two players in baseball and finished with only 17 more wins than we did. They are on a trajectory to waste every single bit of Mike Trout's prime

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Trout is on a trajectory to totally waste his ability.

More news:

Hearn to start home opener:

Woody said that Taylor said his mom might cry, can you confirm or deny?

— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) April 2, 2022

Spencer Howard 5th SP.

https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/taylor-hearn-rangers-2022-home-opener-starter

Quote:

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Woodward also informed pitchers Brock Burke, Spencer Howard, Kolby Allard and Matt Bush that they would break camp with the big league club.

Burke, Allard and Bush are expected to be in the bullpen, while Howard has won the competition for the fifth starter spot.

That is in addition to other relief pieces Joe Barlow, John King, Josh Sborz, Dennis Santana and Albert Abreu. Garrett Richards is expected to also pitch in a multi-inning role out of the bullpen.

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Getting excited.

I wanted to follow today's game, but Sundays get crazy.

Gray: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
Howard: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO