Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 21, 2008 20:47:58 GMT -5
Last season: 75-87, 4th in A.L. West
Manager: Ron Washington, 2nd season, 75-87 (.463) career record
New faces: OF Milton Bradley (SD), OF Ben Broussard (SEA), RHP Jason Davis (SEA), OF Jason Ellison (CIN), P Kazuo Fukumori (JAPAN), P Eddie Guardado (CIN), OF Josh Hamilton (CIN), P Jason Jennings (HOU), C Adam Melhuse (OAK), OF Kevin Mench (MIL), RHP Sidney Ponson (MIN), IF Ryan Roberts
Left town: LHP Bruce Chen (free agent), OF Victor Diaz (HOU), RHP Willie Eyre (free agent), OF Jerry Hairston (free agent), RHP Akinori Otsuka (free agent), C Guillermo Quiroz (BAL), IF Desi Relaford (free agent), OF Sammy Sosa (free agent), RHP Edison Volquez (CIN), OF Brad Wilkerson (SEA), RHP Mike Wood (free agent)
Overview: Trades since the middle of last season have made the Rangers very solid up the middle. Jarrod Saltalamacchia enters his first full season with the Rangers, while former phenom Josh Hamilton finally harnessed his personal demons with the Reds in 2007 and brings his vast talents to centre field. They know rock solid Michael Young and third-year second baseman Ian Kinsler will be out there every day and that will give the team stability. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the men in the middle of all this, the pitchers. They used 25 different arms - including 15 starters - last year, and 12 pitchers had an ERA over 5.00.
Stat to ponder: This franchise is in a constant state of flux. No number represents that better than the fact that the manager wrote out 139 different line-ups last season over the 162-game schedule. Top prospect: SS Elvis Andrus: While his fielding is ahead of his hitting, this 19-year-old is on target to reach triple-A later this summer. Was the key player acquired from the Braves in the Mark Teixeira last July.
Hitting
2007 AVG: 263 (19th), RUNS/GAME: 5.04 (7th), HR: 179 (8th)
This team has always been able to score, but they suddenly find themselves with only two real home run threats in Josh Hamilton and Hank Blalock. Milton Bradley, despite his vast talent, is a wild card - and a wild child - in all of this. When he keeps his emotions in check and stays healthy, he can play but in eight major league seasons, Bradley has only played 100-plus games twice. Young is still the best pure hitter on the team and drove in over 90 runs for the fourth-straight season. His power numbers have slipped but he's still one of the best all-round shortstops in the game. Injuries are starting to wear down Blalock's effectiveness and his production fell from 110 RBI in 2004 to just 33 last season in a mere 58 games.
Pitching
2007 ERA: 4.75 (24th), OPP AVG: .274 (22nd)
The Rangers greatest weakness has always been its rotation, and 2007 was no different. The starters were a combined 23 games under .500 with an A.L.-worst 5.50 ERA. They are hoping that the addition of 2002 N.L. Rookie of the Year Jason Jennings will help, although his 40-56 record since that magical freshman year makes him look more like a reclamation project than a saviour. Ace Kevin Millwood has twice finished in the top 10 of Cy Young voting but his ERA has jumped almost 2.5 runs since joining the Rangers. Lefty C.J. Wilson is the closer by default after stumbling into the role late last season.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Cemented in fourth place. Unless they magically find some arms, this all-hit, no-pitch franchise is destined to finish in the basement of the West for the sixth time in their last nine seasons.
Manager: Ron Washington, 2nd season, 75-87 (.463) career record
New faces: OF Milton Bradley (SD), OF Ben Broussard (SEA), RHP Jason Davis (SEA), OF Jason Ellison (CIN), P Kazuo Fukumori (JAPAN), P Eddie Guardado (CIN), OF Josh Hamilton (CIN), P Jason Jennings (HOU), C Adam Melhuse (OAK), OF Kevin Mench (MIL), RHP Sidney Ponson (MIN), IF Ryan Roberts
Left town: LHP Bruce Chen (free agent), OF Victor Diaz (HOU), RHP Willie Eyre (free agent), OF Jerry Hairston (free agent), RHP Akinori Otsuka (free agent), C Guillermo Quiroz (BAL), IF Desi Relaford (free agent), OF Sammy Sosa (free agent), RHP Edison Volquez (CIN), OF Brad Wilkerson (SEA), RHP Mike Wood (free agent)
Overview: Trades since the middle of last season have made the Rangers very solid up the middle. Jarrod Saltalamacchia enters his first full season with the Rangers, while former phenom Josh Hamilton finally harnessed his personal demons with the Reds in 2007 and brings his vast talents to centre field. They know rock solid Michael Young and third-year second baseman Ian Kinsler will be out there every day and that will give the team stability. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the men in the middle of all this, the pitchers. They used 25 different arms - including 15 starters - last year, and 12 pitchers had an ERA over 5.00.
Stat to ponder: This franchise is in a constant state of flux. No number represents that better than the fact that the manager wrote out 139 different line-ups last season over the 162-game schedule. Top prospect: SS Elvis Andrus: While his fielding is ahead of his hitting, this 19-year-old is on target to reach triple-A later this summer. Was the key player acquired from the Braves in the Mark Teixeira last July.
Hitting
2007 AVG: 263 (19th), RUNS/GAME: 5.04 (7th), HR: 179 (8th)
This team has always been able to score, but they suddenly find themselves with only two real home run threats in Josh Hamilton and Hank Blalock. Milton Bradley, despite his vast talent, is a wild card - and a wild child - in all of this. When he keeps his emotions in check and stays healthy, he can play but in eight major league seasons, Bradley has only played 100-plus games twice. Young is still the best pure hitter on the team and drove in over 90 runs for the fourth-straight season. His power numbers have slipped but he's still one of the best all-round shortstops in the game. Injuries are starting to wear down Blalock's effectiveness and his production fell from 110 RBI in 2004 to just 33 last season in a mere 58 games.
Pitching
2007 ERA: 4.75 (24th), OPP AVG: .274 (22nd)
The Rangers greatest weakness has always been its rotation, and 2007 was no different. The starters were a combined 23 games under .500 with an A.L.-worst 5.50 ERA. They are hoping that the addition of 2002 N.L. Rookie of the Year Jason Jennings will help, although his 40-56 record since that magical freshman year makes him look more like a reclamation project than a saviour. Ace Kevin Millwood has twice finished in the top 10 of Cy Young voting but his ERA has jumped almost 2.5 runs since joining the Rangers. Lefty C.J. Wilson is the closer by default after stumbling into the role late last season.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Cemented in fourth place. Unless they magically find some arms, this all-hit, no-pitch franchise is destined to finish in the basement of the West for the sixth time in their last nine seasons.
