Results tagged ‘ Craig Gentry ’
Texas Rangers Caliente y Frio: Week 2
Here’s a wrap-up of the week that was in Texas Rangers baseball. All stats listed are just for the previous week of play.
Rangers Record: 4-3
Overall: 8-5 (2nd Place AL West) (-1)
Jalapeno Caliente (Offense): Lance Berkman .313/.450/.438 3 RBI 4 Walks
Raspa Frio (Offense): David Murphy .143/.143/.179
Jalapeno Caliente (Pitching): Joe Ortiz 2-0 0.00 ERA 5.2 IP 1 H .056 BAA
Raspa Frio (Pitching): Michael Kirkman 5.40 ERA in 3.1 IP
Texas ended their homestand by taking two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays, then travelled to Seattle where they split a 4-game set with the Mariners. Ask most Rangers fans and they’ll probably say they were a little disappointed the Rangers didn’t go 5-2 or even 6-1, as all four games with the Mariners were winnable. Instead, the offense has gone decidedly cold. Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz really haven’t provided the power punch in the early going, which in turn magnifies David Murphy’s typical slow start even more, not to mention the overall low results of Mitch Moreland and the center field combo of Leonys Martin and Craig Gentry. The offense is scraping, which is too bad, considering the pitching has been excellent overall. Only Michael Kirkman had an ERA above 4.50 for the week. Yu Darvish gave up 3 first inning runs then nothing else the rest of the way, but Texas could only manage one run of their own in the game.
Upcoming: Another week of both road and home games- Monday off, followed by three games in Chicago against the Cubs and three at home against the Mariners. Don’t expect to see much of Lance Berkman in Chicago. Texas will have to go by NL rules, which means no DH. Berkman could start one game at first base. Otherwise, he’ll be strictly a pinch hitter, especially with cold conditions expected in the Windy City.
One Last Borbon For The Road
Unless an outfielder gets injured (doubtful) or a certain rookie outfielder is sent down to AAA (even more doubtful), tonight marks the end of Julio Borbon‘s days with the Texas Rangers organization.
Tuesday night, rookie Nick Tepesch takes the mound for the first time as a fifth starter. Tepesch is currently at AAA Round Rock, so a roster move is necessary tomorrow. Borbon was the 25th and last man to make the Rangers team. He is out of options so if, as expected, Borbon is optioned to make room for Tepesch, the only way he’ll stay with the Rangers organization is if he clears waivers. Looking at what the Houston Astros accomplished in the first week of the season, I’m willing to bet they would snap Borbon up in a heartbeat and have him in the starting line-up on Wednesday.
If so, good for Julio. I’m not going to dog on him. I hope he finally gets a good chance to stick with the Astros or whoever might pick him up.
Julio Borbon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There are many Rangers fans who have no use for Borbon and haven’t for awhile, mostly because he was such a revelation when he first came to Arlington and never measured up to those first-year numbers in subsequent seasons. Julio played in 46 games at the end of the 2009 season, the year before the Rangers run of playoff appearances began. He scored 30 runs in those 46 games, stealing 19 bases in 23 attempts, adding 4 home runs and hitting .312 in 179 plate appearances. Julio bunted for singles, he kept the opposition on edge and Rangers fans were looking forward to a full season of mayhem on the basepaths in 2010.
It wasn’t to be. On Opening Day, Borbon was at the top of the batting order. After 9 games, he was just 3 for 36 at the plate with one steal. Julio was dropped to 9th in the order and Elvis Andrus was elevated to first, where both would stay for the remainder of the season. By season’s end, with the playoffs in sight, Borbon became a forgotten man. While he recovered from the bad start and ended at .276 for the season, his lack of power caused Ron Washington to put Josh Hamilton in center field and David Murphy in left for the playoffs. While he appeared in 8 post-season games, he started only one- Game 2 of the ALDS against the Rays. In two other games he was merely a pinch-runner.
In 2011, Borbon was back in the starting line-up in center field and was off to a decent start hitting 9th in the order, hitting .270 in 32 games with six steals when he got injured and placed on the disabled list. He wouldn’t return to the majors until Opening Day this year, a victim of the great play of Craig Gentry and Endy Chavez, his own below par defense and the conviction of his manager that he didn’t have the right approach to the game.
Chavez having a career year was something Borbon could recover from. Being in Wash’s doghouse was not. Despite putting up great numbers at AAA Round Rock in 2012, Borbon got passed over for promotion whenever an extra outfielder was needed, with Leonys Martin getting the shot. Even more telling, when rosters expanded on September 1st, Borbon wasn’t even recalled to help out in the stretch run.
So it was that Borbon came to camp this year pretty much knowing the odds were against him. He played well in Spring Training and got enough of his manager’s respect to make the team as the 25th and final player, at least until the 5th starter was needed.
Julio has appeared in just one game of the first six, entering the game as a pinch runner and scoring a run, then getting one hitless at bat afterwards. It will be interesting to see if Wash gives him one last start in a Rangers uniform tonight.
Texas would still like to get something in return for Borbon instead of putting him on waivers, so there’s also a possibility he’ll be traded before tonight’s game with the Rays even gets underway. Trade or waiver claim, I wish Julio Borbon the best. He deserves a place in the big leagues, but it just isn’t in the cards for it to be with the Texas Rangers.
Related articles
- Julio Borbon takes Rangers’ final roster spot (sportsblogs.star-telegram.com)
- Borbon down to last chance in Rangers’ centerfield derby (sacbee.com)
Rangers’ Spring Training Good Signs
Just 11 days from Opening Day and the Rangers line-up is starting to shape up. The first domino to fall occurred Tuesday when Mike Olt was sent back to the minor league camp. Olt was given a chance to win a job as Mitch Moreland‘s back-up at first base and Nelson Cruz‘ back-up in right field but he just didn’t run with it. Olt struggled at the plate throughout the spring and led the club with 12 strikeouts when he was sent down.
I always figured Olt as a long-shot to make the club out the gate. As the second or third best prospect in the Rangers system, it didn’t make sense to me that he would be a back-up. Olt’s struggles, combined with the way Jeff Baker has been locked in at the plate pretty much sealed his fate.
While he hasn’t been sent down yet, the fact #1 prospect Jurickson Profar decided to join the Netherlands team in the World Baseball Classic after the first round was a pretty good sign he won’t be with the Rangers on Opening Day either. Rangers brass has already said Profar won’t be in Arlington unless he could be assured of 350 or so at bats and that appears unlikely.
With the top three prospects all gone (Martin Perez is out with an injury) from consideration, it’s time to look at who is likely to get the few open positions available. Here are the players who have had outstanding springs and will probably be Rangers on March 31st when they play the Astros in Houston:
Jeff Baker
As mentioned earlier, Baker has just been outstanding with the bat all spring long. In 49 at bats, Baker is hitting .449 with a home run and 7 RBI. Best of all, Baker knows his role is as a back-up. Players who know and accept their role prepare the way they’re supposed to and shouldn’t cause problems in the clubhouse.
In the first part of the spring, anytime someone mentioned Solarte as a possible candidate for the utility infield position, those more in the know would say it wasn’t going to happen because Solarte doesn’t play shortstop. Lo and behold, in the past two weeks, Ron Washington has given Solarte four or five games at shortstop. Whether this results in a roster position remains to be seen, but Solarte, who played in AAA Round Rock in 2012, has some pop in his bat and could be a consideration.
Most folks figured Martin would be on the big league level this year. The question was would it be as part of a platoon with Craig Gentry or would he win the job outright. The competition has been on and neither player is giving an inch. As of this writing, Martin is hitting .350 with 4 extra base hits, 5 walks and 2 steals. Gentry is at .286 but with a surprising 2 HR’s and has 5 steals without being caught. Other teams have been calling about obtaining Gentry, so Martin could still be the guy fulltime but if Gentry stays, center field could be a fun position to watch on the Rangers this year.
Michael Kirkman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Kirkman is anothe rplayer who figured to make the club as he is out of options. What was unexpected was how impressive he would be this spring. The southpaws in camp have been excellent and none more than Kirkman, who has now pitched 9 scoreless innings this spring, allowing only three hits with 0 walks and 8 strikeouts. With the injury to Martin Perez, Kirkman has even put himself into the mix for the #5 starter position.
I wasn’t necessarily a big fan of his signing but now I look at Lowe the same way as I see Jeff Baker. Lowe has been signed specifically for the thankless job of being the Rangers’ long reliever and spot starter. This is the pitcher who is used the least but expected to give multiple innings whenever he appears in the game. Over the past few years, that role has been filled by Dustin Nippert, Scott Feldman and Roy Oswalt. It’s a tough role but one Lowe is willing to take on and, unlike Feldman and Oswalt last year, is unlikely to grouse about the way he’s being used. Since signing, Lowe has twirled five scoreless innings this spring.
Last year, Robbie Ross opened eyes when he just threw strike after strike and earned his way onto the Rangers despite pitching only in Class A the year before. This year, the same can be said of Joe Ortiz. While he played at the AA and AAA level last year, the diminutive 5-7 Ortiz was said to not have much of a chance of getting to the majors strictly because of his lack of stature. All Ortiz has done is what Ross did last year- throw strikes and make batters swing. The lefty has now thrown 9 scoreless innings, striking out 9 and allowing a meager .167 batting average, putting him well into the bullpen mix.
Another lefty, this major league veteran last pitched in the bigs in 2010. Robertson has a career ERA in the 5′s but has been nothing short of outstanding in trying to come back from injuries. Robertson has 10 innings of 3-hit no-run ball so far.
Another minor leaguer to watch out for is Nick Tepesch, who was a combined 11-6 for Hi-A Myrtle Beach and AA Frisco in 2012. Tepesch has opened some eyes in Rangers camp and is still in the mix for the #5 starter job, though I doubt he’ll get it. He could get consideration for an early call-up in case of injury, though.
11 days to Opening Night Easter Sunday.
Related articles
- Why The Rangers Are Going To Win The World Series (dfw.cbslocal.com)
- Olt, Meek among 12 cuts made by Rangers (mlb.mlb.com)
Prospecting
Most Spring Training exhibition games are worth listening to the first four or five innings. The starters are in for a few innings, the pitchers you expect to be on the team are getting their innings in.
By the fifth inning or so, only the diehards tend to stick around, as the line-ups become more of the minor leaguers who have no chance of making the team this year. Some of them you’ve never heard of, even though you tend to glance at minor league box scores on a regular basis. So I’m sorry Johan Yan, I’m not paying much attention to you right now. Same goes for you, Juan Apodaca. I admit I didn’t even know you were a part of the Rangers organization when you came to the plate yesterday.
Today’s exhibition game with the White Sox is a little different, though. There are only two Rangers regulars in the starting offensive line-up today- Nelson Cruz and Geovany Soto. Despite that, this game has my interest and I wish I could be at the game in person to watch.
Mike Olt – Texas – 2012 Batting Practice (Photo credit: BaseballBacks)
Jurickson Profar – Texas – 2012 Road (Photo credit: BaseballBacks)
Why? Because the starting line-up has all four of the players who have a real shot at making the Opening Day roster. Mike Olt at third base, Leonys Martin in center field, Jurickson Profar at shortstop and Leury Garcia at second base. Of the four, Martin is the best bet at sticking and most expect him to platoon with Craig Gentry in centerfield in 2013. Garcia is the second best bet, whose versatility make him a strong possibility for a utility role. Profar and Olt are the two best offensive prospects overall, but unless a trade or an injury occurs (or Nelson Cruz is suspended), it’s becoming unlikely there’ll be enough at bats available to justify putting them on the major league roster. Instead, they will more than likely start 2013 in Round Rock.
Still, having all four in the starting line-up today is exciting. All but Martin have reputations as good defensive players. All but Olt have speed on the basepaths. They’re all scouted to be decent to above average bats.
The best I’ll be able to do today is listen, and my work schedule may not even allow me to do that. If you happen to be able to see this game or listen to it, please do. The first few innings could be a taste of the future of the Texas Rangers franchise.
The Running Game (Or Lack Thereof)
Texas Rangers fan that I am, I cheer my guys on through thick and thin. Many a time, I get my brains twisted all out of sorts when I read fellow Rangers fans who are overly critical of the moves Ron Washington makes, the failures at the plate of Michael Young and the like.
This does not make me immune from criticizing my favorite team. I’ve taken my own shots here in this corner of the Internet universe, including but not necessarily inclusive of: wanting less playing time for Michael Young; the two-month disappearance of Josh Hamilton‘s offense; Scott Feldman‘s pitching; and Ian Kinsler‘s defense.
After splitting the first two games of their four game set with the second-place Oakland A’s, I could easily choose to go after the moribund Rangers offense, which has managed all of two hits with runners in scoring position over the past five games. But I won’t. I will temporarily give credit to the pitching staffs of the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A’s here. Both teams have good pitching and even the best offenses will struggle against good pitching.
What is more unforgivable in my book is the nature of the Rangers’ running game throughout the 2012 season, both offensively and defensively. If Texas doesn’t make it back to the Fall Classic, I will put a lot of the blame on this category.
Defensively, Texas is ahead of only Minnesota in the percentage of runners caught stealing at a mere 20%. Rangers catchers have only nailed 17 runners attempting to steal all season, while allowing 103 to swipe a base successfully. A years ago, that figure was 35% caught stealing and only 85 successful steals. With eight games to go in the regular season, that means the Rangers have already given up 18 bases more in 2012 than a season ago.
As for the offense, the figures are even worse. A year ago, Texas swiped 143 bases on the year and were caught 45 times, a success rate of 76%. This year? Only 90 steals while being caught 44 times, a 67% success rate. Rangers runners have been caught just one time less than a year ago, while stealing 53 less bases! A year ago, Rangers baserunners were picked off base 22 times. This year, 28 pick-offs, including three times in the last two games against the A’s.
David Murphy becomes 1 of the 28 Rangers picked off in 2012.
Elvis Andrus: 5 picks and 37 steals in 2011, 8 pick-offs and only 20 steals in 2012. Ian Kinsler: 30 steals and 7 pick-offs in 2011, 21 and 8 in 2012. Craig Gentry was 18 for 18 in steal attempts and wasn’t picked off once in 2011. This year? Only 13 of 20 stealing while getting picked off three times.
As potent as the Rangers offense has been the past few years, it flat-out hasn’t been as good as it was the past two seasons. Batting average, On Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage are all down from a year ago, but no category is as extreme as the base running statistics.
Is this just a case of a team playing just a little more tired because of playing 33 extra games over the past two seasons? Maybe. I’m more inclined to say it’s more mental fatigue than physical. Texas is making more mental errors than I’ve seen them make in years. As much as I want them to go all the way and claim their first World Championship, my fear is these mental errors are going to catch up with them in the post-season this year.
I sure hope I’m wrong.
Best Game Of The Year
Rangers win! But first, a message to the losing pitcher:
Sometimes you win games you’re supposed to lose. Sometimes you lose games you’re supposed to win. Wade Miley of the Arizona Diamondbacks was most assuredly in the latter statement Wednesday night. Miley stymied the Rangers through seven innings, giving up only two hits over seven innings and with only 72 pitches. Miley was superb, but was unfortunate enough to be squaring off against the Rangers Matt Harrison.
Harry wasn’t nearly as good as Miley, but he didn’t give up any runs either over 7 1/3 innings. Harrison now has a 16 1/3 inning scoreless streak.
It was becoming more and more apparent the game was probably going to be decided by the bullpens, as both pitchers threw goose egg after goose egg. But it was Miley who finally cracked.
The third time through the line-up, it was looking like the Rangers were getting better at bats against the Diamondbacks rookie. Ian Kinsler fouled off a number of pitches before flying out to end the sixth. Josh Hamilton got just the Rangers second hit in the 7th and Michael Young ended the inning with a fly to the warning track in right. Still, Miley didn’t crack.
Finally in the 8th, Mike Napoli coaxed a walk from Miley, the first he had given up since May 26th. Yorvit Torrealba laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to send Napoli to second. Following a Nelson Cruz pinch-hit strikeout (once it got to 0-2, you just knew Cruz would swing and miss at the third pitch and he obliged), Craig Gentry hit a screaming liner to third that glanced off Ryan Roberts’ glove and plated Napoli with the only run of the game.
Joe Nathan was nails in the ninth. Paul Goldschmidt worked an eight-pitch at bat against Nathan, only to strike out swinging. Jason Kubel followed and worked Nathan for another eight pitches before succumbing to a called third strike. A fly ball to center ended it. It was the Rangers’ second 1-0 victory of the season.
I’ve seen games where the Rangers weren’t hitting against pitchers they usually don’t have any problems with and games where they didn’t hit against pitchers they shouldn’t have a problem with. This game they weren’t hitting against a pitcher who was just pitching a superb game. The team I love won the game, but I feel for the losing pitcher. He deserved much more than an “L” in the box score for the game he pitched.
Easily the best game of the season from a drama standpoint.
Week 10 In Review
Here’s a wrap-up of the week that was in Texas Rangers baseball. All stats listed are just for the previous week of play.
Rangers Record: 3-4
Overall: 35-26 (1st Place AL West) (+3)
Jalapeno Hot (Offense): Craig Gentry .571/.625/.714 2 2B, 2 RBI
Raspa Cold (Offense): Elvis Andrus .172/.226/.241
Adrian Beltre .200/.226/.233 6 Strikeouts
Nelson Cruz .158/.273/.263 5 Strikeouts
Josh Hamilton .222/.323/.481 9 Strikeouts
Jalapeno Hot (Pitching): Matt Harrison 1-0 0.00 ERA 0.56 WHIP
Robbie Ross 3 Games 1-0 0.00 ERA 0.57 WHIP in 7 IP
Raspa Cold (Pitching): Scott Feldman 0-2 12.86 ERA 1.86 WHIP
Week 7 In Review
Here’s a wrap-up of the week that was in Texas Rangers baseball. All stats listed are just for the previous week of play.
Rangers Record: 3-4
Overall: 26-16 (1st Place AL West)
Jalapeno Hot (Offense): Adrian Beltre .321/.333/.571 2 HR 5 RBI
Craig Gentry .333/.412/.400
Raspa Cold (Offense): Mike Napoli .150/.227/.150 10 Strikeouts
Jalapeno Hot (Pitching): Joe Nathan 4 IP, 6 K, 2 Saves 0.50 WHIP
Raspa Cold (Pitching): Derek Holland 0-1, 7.50 ERA, 3 HR
19-Year-Ranger-Fan & Yu
I am ceding my space today to 19-Year-Ranger-Fan, who makes me jealous every day that he now lives in Arlington, Texas, allowing him to attend Rangers games on a regular basis, while his loving father, who gave him life, suffers in silence watching yet another game on Fox Sports Southwest instead of in person with the season tickets his son should have been happy to give him as a gift, not to mention the daily airfare to get there to see them. Ah well. At least I raised him right enough to be a Rangers fan. And I only had to beat him occasionally to get him to be one. Just kidding. Really, I am.
Ok, so I have been to 6 Rangers games this year, so you would think I would have made a special guest appearance sooner than this, but alas I keep going with friends and end up just being a fan and having fun (Note from Dad: Having fun??? This is a serious game. Stop doing that!!! Not really.). However, I did get to go my second Yu Darvish outing last night and I must say…I found him much more impressive than I did in his debut.
Due to traffic and GPS issues, I missed the first batter, which ended up accounting for the A’s only run, but didn’t leave my seat for the rest of the game. I won’t go on and on about how Yu has control of the strike zone. Every sportswriter from here to Frisco is writing about that (Note from Dad: Arlington to Frisco is 47 Miles. We need to improve that.) What I will say is how impressed I am with Darvish in not letting the pressure get to him.
In the first inning he gave up a lead-off hit that bounced off the wall in such a way that Josh Hamilton wasn’t able to field it cleanly, resulting in a double. Darvish then retired the next 3 batters he faced. Unfortunately the 1st two hit the ball well enough to advance the runner, one with a grounder, the other with a sac fly.
The rest of the night Yu was nearly untouchable, giving up only 3 more hits and striking out 7. I have seen pitchers in this league (and even on this team) who would have let that unfortunate bounce get into their head and end up ruining their night, maybe citing that they were unlucky, but Yu makes his own luck and he went after the A’s. Even after allowing a 2nd runner in the 8th, you could tell he thought he could finish the inning.
The Rangers didn’t provide Yu with a ton of run support, all of it coming exclusively in the 4th. It could have actually been a 2-1 game, but 2 runs scored when, instead of tagging Nelson Cruz, Josh Donaldson attempted to throw out a speedy Craig Gentry. He didn’t succeed, allowing Gentry to net an RBI single instead of being the 3rd out of the inning. And while Josh Hamilton hasn’t hit a homerun this week, he is still being effective in this lineup, getting an absolutely perfectly placed infield grounder to 2nd Baseman Jemile Weeks to set up Adrian Beltre’s 2-run shot.
All in all this was a great night to be at the ballpark, and I was fortunate to be able to spend it with an old friend who I hadn’t seen since I was 8 year old Ranger Fan. If Darvish keeps improving every time I see him start, then this is one fan who thinks he was definitely worth the money (Note from Dad: I concur. Wholeheartedly.).
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