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Some players sent down

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  • P Michael Kirkman optioned to AAA
  • C Luis Martinez optioned to AAA
  • C Dusty Brown assigned to minor league camp (with AAA)
  • P Greg Reynolds assigned to minor league camp (with AAA)
  • P Tanner Scheppers assigned to minor league camp (with AAA) [ Link ]

Remarks: First off, I was wondering when we were going to start making some roster moves, as we’re now under a week to go until opening day, and we haven’t seen a ton of movement on the roster.

The two catcher moves were no surprise.  Neither of these guys was breaking camp.   Same with Greg Reynolds.

Tanner Scheppers will probably be here at some point this year, but not the opening day 25.

I am a bit surprised that Kirkman was optioned out.  Not shocked, but a little surprised.  I think this might tip their hand regarding Robbie Ross.  Kirkman was widely expected to have a spot, because he was the only left hander in the pen possibilities that has major league experience with the Rangers.  I know that’s how I felt anyway.  But he hasn’t exactly grabbed hold of the opportunity, and Robbie Ross has for the most part.

We’re getting close – with the Japan series, and the Rangers opening a day after half the teams do, I don’t know what day we have to submit our final 25 man roster.  I asked Jamey about it.  :)

Starting Rotation Named – My Thoughts

Posted by on at http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120329&content_id=27742440&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex>MLB.com Recap

Ron Washington named his starting rotation for the beginning of the 2012 season on Thursday.  It pretty much isn’t a big surprise, although there was one minor surprise to me.   Here’s the five:

  1. Colby Lewis
  2. Derek Holland
  3. Matt Harrison
  4. Yu Darvish
  5. Neftali Feliz

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Brad Hawpe Released

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  • 1B/OF Brad Hawpe released [ Link ]

Remarks: I liked Hawpe.  As I said before, he’s helped me out in fantasy leagues in the past.  However, that’s the past, and the “now” version of Brad isn’t that old one anymore.  He’s coming off surgery, has issues throwing, and hasn’t hit a ton.  Shame, as I would have liked to have had him stick around, but he’s not exactly going to make the club like that.  Read something about him possibly coming back on a minor league deal too if he doesn’t find any takers.

ST27: Rangers shut down by Giants, 6-2

Posted by on at http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120329&content_id=27744692&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex>MLB.com Recap

Matt Harrison started this game, and pitched quite well.   Six innings, six hits, one run, one walk, struck out seven.   91 pitches, so he had a good outing.

Problem is Matt Cain and the Giants were a bit better.  Cain’s line was seven innings, just three hits and two earned runs, struck out six.  However, two of the three hits were back to back solo home runs by Mitch Moreland & Mike Napoli in the second inning.  That was it other than a double by Josh Hamilton which didn’t amount to anything.   We did get a few more hits off of their bullpen guys, but no more runs.

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ST26: Rangers beat Royals, 7-6

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Skipping commentary on this one, although I will say that Derek Holland didn’t have a very good outing.

ST25: Rangers survive wild one, beat SD, 9-8

Posted by on at http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120327&content_id=27662184&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex>MLB.com Recap

When the game winning play is a walk off wild pitch, you know it’s some kind of game.  :)

The Rangers scored in six of the nine innings played, and the Padres in four, but they had one larger crooked number than we did.  Was definitely an all over the place game.  As I’ve said numerous times, when you have a game with 19 runs and 14 hits, there’s not a lot of great pitching to be found.

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ST24: Rangers bomb Reds with 12-2 win

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Monday night, the offense broke out in a big away against the Reds.   We did it in a compressed amount of innings, as we scored all our runs in the second (5), third (3), and fourth (4).  Didn’t score anything else after the fourth inning.  Oddly enough, eleven of the twelve runs all game against the starter, Jeff Francis, who certainly didn’t help himself with an outing like THAT this late in the spring.   It was a pretty horrible line for him..

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ST23: Rangers lose walkoff to Angels, 6-5

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I’ll make this short, because walkoff losses annoy me.   My daughter was annoyed at this loss.  She was bummed out.  My daughter is starting to get old enough to be bummed when her team loses.   I’m raising a baseball fan, I think.  :)

Robert Ross looked great!  He’s doing quite well this spring, and my gut says he’s a realistic shot to make the team.  Two innings, one hit, one walk, struck out two.  Kept Pujols at bay.   I really liked him.

THe rest of the game, especially Michael Kirkman – not so much.

Grumble Grumble.

ST22: Rangers drop close one to Halos, 3-2

Posted by on at http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120324&content_id=27578014&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex>MLB.com Recap

There’s a lot of stuff I could write about this game, but the only thing I really WANT to say is this.

Joe Nathan better get better in a bloody hurry.  He’ starting to legitimately scare me.  When latter Darren O’Day gives me more confidence, that’s not a good thing.

ST21: Rangers finally win; 4-1 over Giants

Posted by on at http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120323&content_id=27536178&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex>MLB.com Recap

This was a game that I got to watch on TV.  I sat down with my iPad to score the game, grabbed a beer, I was ready to enjoy this.  And then I fell asleep on the sofa.  I was wiped for some reason.  It wasn’t super late, started at 8PM, but due to family concerns, I had to wait till around 10PM to start it, so I couldn’t make it through the whole game.  What I did see though was a great pitching matchup.

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