Series Preview: Texas Rangers

by Eric Stephen on Jun 12, 2009 9:57 AM PDT in Opponents Comment 14 comments

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Sure, they may have one of the best records in the league, but a lot of their damage has been done against the weak Western Division. With their star outfielder set to miss two months, surely the team can't stay in first place.

Sound familiar? The sentiment above has been used to describe the 2009 Dodgers, but could just as easily be used to paint the picture of the 2009 Rangers. The Rangers have the second-best record in the American League, but are 13-3 against their AL West foes, and 21-22 against everybody else. Media darling Josh Hamilton was put on the disabled list last week after surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle, and may very well miss two months of action.

The Rangers on offense have been led by Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, and Michael Young:

Player	Pos	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	wOBA	VORP
Nelson Cruz	RF	236	.288	.352	.594	.408	21.6
Ian Kinsler	2B	272	.265	.347	.525	.381	20.0
Michael Young	3B	250	.318	.360	.511	.380	19.7

Like the Dodgers, the Rangers are a good offense struggling a bit in June, having scored only 29 runs in nine games this month.

For all the early season talk of an Andruw Jones renaissance, he has nine hits in 54 AB since May 9, hitting .167/.242/.333 over that span.

Their pitching is led by Kevin Millwood, but his 2.72 ERA is belied by a .256 batting average on balls in play (BABIP), and his FIP is 4.71. Closer Frank Francisco (one of the coolest baseball names) has a gaudy 0.46 ERA, but he hasn't been that good -- his FIP is 2.63. Good, but not Broxton good. Francisco has been nursing a strained right shoulder recently, and C.J. Wilson has filled in for him at closer.

Vicente Padilla, who was placed on waivers last week to "send a message," gets the start for the Rangers tonight.

The Dodgers are 5-3 all-time at The Ballpark at Arlington, but haven't played there since 2000.

2009 Rangers
Record	34-25, 1st AL West
Runs Scored	5.08/gm (5th in AL)
wOBA	.346 (5th in AL)
Runs Allowed	4.80/gm (T-9th in AL)
FIP	5.02 (14th in NL)

Pitching Probables:

Friday, 5:05pm: Hiroki Kuroda (1-1, 2.78 FIP) vs. Vicente Padilla (4-3, 4.88 FIP)

Saturday, 5:05pm: Randy Wolf (3-2, 4.16 FIP) vs.Scott Feldman (5-1, 4.85 FIP)

Sunday, 12:05pm: Chad Billingsley (8-3, 2.79 FIP) vs. Derek Holland (1-3, 5.39 FIP)

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Kinsler & Cruz

might tie for most under appreciated player in the AL. Cruz is understandable because he just got going but when Kinsler hasn’t been hurt, he’s been the Utley of the AL.

And how ridiculous is this Ibanez for MVP when Utley is on the same team?

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Jun 12, 2009 10:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s crazy that the Phillies could end up with 3 different non-Utley MVPs in a 4-year span, when Utley has always been their best player.

by Eric Stephen on Jun 12, 2009 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just pisses me off to no end

that the Bruin gets no respect:)

I can see the HOF debate 15 years from now. He never won a MVP someone will say who never saw him play.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Jun 12, 2009 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cruz is one of the best on defense in MLB, and Kinsler and Andrus are fine defenders too. Should be a difficult series, especially in near 100 degree heat.
vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Jun 12, 2009 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You dont' see Nelson Cruz used much as an example of Billy Bean's genius

I had even gotten to the point as a roto player that he wasn’t going to pan but he got one more chance and ran with it last year.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Jun 12, 2009 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Keith Ginter was awesome, man! :)

by Eric Stephen on Jun 12, 2009 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rotation

Nice to see the Big Three all pitching in this series. Torre’s already getting his playoff rotation set up ;)

by kinbote on Jun 12, 2009 10:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Angels broadcasters were talking about Longoria

last night. How much money do you think he left on the table by signing that bargain contract last year? Has to be the most owner friendly contract ever signed since free agency started. Just struck me as interesting as the the day that Strassberg starts playing hard ass, maybe the best young player in the AL signed a deal like that. I expect the MLB players union and agents were not to fond of that deal.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Jun 12, 2009 10:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He left a TON on the table

First, let’s see Longoria’s deal. Delaying his callup for two weeks last year bought TB an extra year of FA since Longoria accumulated 170 days service time last year (172 is a full season):

2008: $500k
2009: $550k
2010: $950k
2011 (Super Two): $2m
2012 (arb): $4.5m
2013 (arb): $6m
2014 (arb): $7.5m club option ($3m buyout)
2015 (FA): $11m club option
2016 (FA): $11.5m club option

Look at Ryan Braun’s deal, another team-friendly deal:

2008: $455k
2009: $745k
2010: $1m
2011 (arb): $4m
2012 (arb): $6m
2013 (arb): $8.5m
2014 (FA): $10m
2015 (FA): $12.5m

Longoria through his normal 3 arb years and 2 FA years can earn $40.5m. Braun can earn $41m.

For a comparison, let’s look at some players and just their 3 arb years:

Holliday (2007-2009): $27.4m
Markakis (2009-2011): $20m
Braun (2011-2013): $18.5m
Youkilis (2008-2010): $18.175m
Longoria (2012-2014): $18m
Pedroia (2010-2012): $17m

Look at someone like Garrett Atkins…he has earned $11.4375m through his first two arb years, and will surely pass the $18m mark with next year’s contract.

There have been a lot of super team friendly deals recently. The worst one was probably Sizemore, who will only earn $13.2m in his arb years of 2008-2010.

by Eric Stephen on Jun 12, 2009 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is one great answer

Some remarkable young talent out there looking more for stability then riches.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Jun 12, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think 45 million still counts as riches

But your point holds.

by Brendan Scolari on Jun 12, 2009 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right

worst case scenario (Longoria gets permanently disabled tomorrow) he’s guaranteed $17.5m.

The jump from zero to $17.5m is life-changing. It’s the jump in rent to the 3rd house in Monopoly.

The jump from $17.5m to $44.5m is huge, but its simply a matter of degree.

by Eric Stephen on Jun 12, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Johnny Roseboro

hit his first home run of the year on June 2nd, 1965. I believe that Martin has now gone the longest time for a starting catcher in LA Dodger history to not homer at the start of the year. Is he trying to make Jeff Torborg feel good about his home run prowess?

WIth three games in Arlington this might be his best chance outside of a series in Coors. Who is this guy? What have they done with my MVP Martin?

I want answers, line up the usual suspects.
1. Ped
2. Girls
3. Injury
3a. Don Mattingly becoming hitting coach

and things that are different this year then last

4. Changing the letter on the back of his jersey
5. Eric Stephen joining True Blue
6. Andrew Grant leaving True Blue
7. Electing Barack Obama
8. Allowing bloggers access to the press box
9. Jon Weisman moving to the LA Times
10. The end of the Toaster
11. Phil writing a story about how Martin was the next great Dodger catcher about 11 months ago

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Jun 12, 2009 2:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs