Hamilton Sidelined 6-8 Weeks

I know what you're thinking. Good thing Hamilton wasn't playing center field Tuesday afternoon or this would've happened weeks (err...days) ago! At any rate, this proves that taking someone out of center field not only doesn't reduce the risk of injuries to an all-out player like Hamilton, it may actually make them occur sooner! (I know you think that's ridiculous, but the evidence is in my favor.)

Josh fractured his right shoulder sliding head first into home plate on a good call by third base coach Dave Anderson to send Hamilton. Home plate was vacated with Josh on third when a foul popped up near third base. Josh tried tagging on the play with no one covering home, but was beat in a foot race by Detroit catcher, Victor Martinez.

Hamilton's 6-8 week injury within the first two weeks of opening day is sure to get some frazzled and diving headfirst off the bandwagon before it's too late to jump on with another team. (See Anthony Castrovince's article hosted by MLB.com) But hear me out a minute before you go jumping ship. Pun intended.

The Ranger's replacement outfielder is David Murphy, a left handed hitter with the potential to launch 30-40 homeruns in a season given the proper playing time. As I've said before, Murphy is a starter on 26 or 27 other clubs, but due to the depth the Rangers have, Murphy is a backup here. What you're replacing Josh Hamilton's .333 average, 0 home runs, and 7 rbis with at this point in the season is a guy who has a greater than .280 career average over 6 seasons including a .313, 1 homer, 3 rbi start to 2011 in David Murphy. Murph is a fan favorite, and I expect him to drill the ball in replacement for Hamilton, just like he did last season filling in when Hamilton broke his rib in the outfield.

The other positive to take from this for Ranger's fans is the opportunity for Chris Davis to play in the big leagues after astronomical spring training numbers made solid competition for Mitch Moreland as the starting first baseman. Mitch won the job thanks to even better numbers in the spring, although Davis certainly had the numbers to make the team, and increased his trade value tremendously. I'm looking for Davis to get back to his 2008 form when he slugged 17 home runs in just 80 games, and hit a career best .285 in his rookie campaign.

The Rangers are going to be fine. There is no need to panic. Injuries happen to every team, every season, and one player does not make or break a playoff race.

Rangers @ Baltimore

Tonight the Rangers start a 3 game series against Buck Showalter's new team. Showalter was the manager of the Rangers before Ron Washington took over some 4 years ago. The Orioles are seemingly much improved under the short tenure of Showalter. That combined with some nice additions in the offseason, including the Rangers 2010 Silver Slugging DH, Vladimir Geurerro, and some solid young pitching should make for an exciting match up this weekend.

The Rangers send Colby Lewis to the mound to take on young Oriole, Zach Britton. The Rangers are looking a lot like the best team in baseball through 6 games, and I don't see any reason why that won't carry into Baltimore this weekend. The Rangers have dominated in Camden Yards for the past couple of seasons including a record breaking 30-3 win in 2009.

You have to think the slugging we've seen in Arlington will continue in Baltimore this weekend as well, considering the Rangers big bats will be seeing a lot of young pitchers, and Vladdy won't be looking to disappoint his "shipmates" from last season.

The Rangers will put Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, and Derek Holland on the mound this weekend to face respectively, Britton, Chris Tillman, and Jeremy Guthrie. Here's how I see it breaking down:

Game 1:

Lewis: 7 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Britton: 5 IP, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Rangers win 9-5


Game 2:

Harrison: 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Tillman: 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Rangers first loss of the season: 6-3


Game 3:

Holland: 7 IP, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Guthrie: 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Rangers win 6-5

Thoughts on Last Night's 3-2 win.

1. Alexi Ogando
Ogando pitched 6 shutout innings last night in 90 pitches. Granted, this was against probably the worst offense in baseball, but Ogando showed that he has what it takes to be a starter. His offspeed pitches were a devastating change of his pace from his slowed down 95 mph past ball, and he used them in just the right count, thanks in part to Yorvit Torrealba. It may be a little presumptuous, but I don't see Ogando getting bumped from the rotation for Tommy Hunter or Brandon Webb once either of them are healthy. After Harrison and Holland's first starts, I can't see them getting bumped from the rotation either, but somehow or another, one or two of these guys are going to the bullpen, and 2 guys are going to AAA.

2. I severely underestimated Michael Pineda.
Pineda was the perfect counterpart for Alexi Ogando. Both are big right handers with electric fastballs and good breaking pitches. Pineda went 6 full innings, allowing only 3 earned runs in his debut as the Mariner's 5th starter, and he did it against what I would call the most potent offense in the league at this point.

3. It might be possible that Julio Borbon is a decent centerfielder.
With the bases loaded and two outs last night, Julio made a game-saving, diving catch to end the inning, essentially saving the game. Broadcaster, Tom Grieve, made the observation that Julio's catch was the equivalent of a 2 run home run, but I think it's even better. With a 2 run homerun the Rangers would have only increased their lead, but Julio's catch saved the lead the Rangers already had with his catch. Had that ball dropped, the Rangers would have needed more runs in the late innings that certainly were not guaranteed, (and in fact never showed up.)

Props to Julio, and Alexi Ogando. The Rangers send CJ Wilson to the mound this afternoon to face Cy Young winner, Felix Henandez. This should be a good game. We know Felix can go 8 or 9 innings, and I'd like to see CJ do the same. The thing I liked about Cliff Lee was his efficiency, which was why you get at least 7, sometimes 8 or 9, innings out of Cliff every time he starts. An ace needs to be relied upon to save innings from the bullpen, and take control of the game every time out. This pitching staff has a lot of solid pitchers who can go late into games, so CJ's going to have to earn that reputation. He has a chance to show how he stacks up against the league's best pitcher this afternoon.

Rangers - Mariners Preview

Tonight, the Seattle Mariners travel from Oakland to face the Texas Rangers in Arlington. Derek Holland is moved up to 4th in the rotation to face Seattle's Erik Bedard. Each pitcher is making their first start of the season. Bedard is coming off a 2010 season in which he didn't sat out the entire season due to a torn labrum. Holland makes his first start since the regular season, although he pitched in relief in the playoffs, putting together particularly good innings against the Yankees in the ALCS.

In game two on Tuesday, Alexi Ogando makes his first start after replacing Tommy Hunter who is on the disabled list. He'll go up against Michael Pineda, who has made the Mariners rotation as the 5th starter. Wednesday's game provides the best pitching matchup of the series when CJ Wilson goes head-to-head with reigning Cy Young winner, Felix Hernandez. Expect a pitcher's dual in this one to the late innings.

The Mariners have one of the least productive offenses in baseball, as compared to the Texas Rangers, although they are a team of big league hitters, and can certainly score some runs if not respected from the mound.

My predictions for the series:

Derek Holland: 6 IP, 2 ER, W
Erik Bedard: 4 2/3 IP, 6 ER, L
Rangers Win 8-3

Alexi Ogando: 6 IP, 4 ER, No Decision
Michael Pineda: 5 IP, 5 ER, No Deicision
Rangers Win 7-6

CJ Wilson: 7 IP, 3 ER, L
Felix Hernandez: 8 IP, 1 ER, W
Rangers Lose 3-1

Home runs in the series: Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Michael Young, Mitch Moreland
Adam Kennedy, Justin Smoak

Miscellaneous: Ichiro gets on base 10 times in the series, and makes some crazy spiderman catch up a wall in right field.

Opening Series Sweep!

The Rangers were as impressive as ever, dominating the series by winning all three games by a combined score of 26-11 against a team that essentially everyone expects to win the American League Championship this season. Ranger's pitching got better after each of the 1st three games of the season which surprisingly makes Matt Harrison the surprise best opening pitching performance. CJ Wilson seemed like he didn't have his best stuff, but still managed to leave with a no decision and a Ranger's win. Colby Lewis faired a little better Saturday night, earning a victory with excellent run support, but still didn't compare to Harrison who pitched 7 full innings walking 2, striking out 8, and only allowing 1 earned run. Harrison has had some impressive starts before, 2 complete game shutouts in fact, and this opening start was very reminiscent of the form seen in those games.

The Ranger's averaged almost 9 runs per game in the opening series, with record setting hitting. Ian Kinsler homered in each of his first two leadoff at bats, three if you figure he walked in his first at bat on Sunday before cranking his 3rd home run in as many games in 2011. Kinsler will surely be an all-star this summer. Nelson Cruz also homered in each of the first 3 games, making it only the 4th time in history that two teammates each homered in the first 3 games to start a season. Others who homered include Adrian Beltre, who belted a majestic grand slam after the Red Sox intentionally walked Hamilton in front of him on Saturday. Torrealba, David Murphy, and Mike Napoli also hit home runs.

These two teams don't meet again until August when the Red Sox revisit Arlington for 4 more games, and the Rangers travel to Fenway for 3 games in September. By then, these two teams will have established their presence at the top of their respective divisions, and will be competing in an exciting playoff preview. You can pretty much count on the atmosphere in each of those series to be electric. I predict a near Rangers sweep at home making it 6-1, and some close, exciting games in Fenway, Boston wins the series 2-1.

Rangers - Red Sox Part Deux

Tonight Ranger's number 2 pitcher, Colby Lewis takes on former Los Angeles Angel, John Lackey, for the 2nd game in the first series of the 2011 season. Lewis, a veritable ace for many staffs, went 12-13 with a 3.72 ERA in 2010, and as I've documented before, an astronomical number of the 13 losses came when the Ranger's offense failed to provide at least 3 runs. It's also worth mentioning that Lewis, along with Cliff Lee, dominated in the playoffs last year, going 3-0 in 4 starts with a 1.71 ERA.

Lackey went 14-11 in 2010 with a 4.40 ERA. I'll give the advantage to the Rangers tonight, although I think Colby could give up a few runs with the humid conditions in Texas tonight.

My predictions:
Colby Lewis: 7 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 7 K, 2 BB
John Lackey: 6 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 4 K, 2 BB

Homeruns: Nelson Cruz, Mitch Moreland, Dustin Pedroia, & Adrian Gonzales

Opening Day Victory (and an omen?)

Opening day was a huge success at Ranger's Ballpark Friday afternoon, as the Rangers decidedly beat the Red Sox before over 50,000 fans. The first Ranger to bat in 2011 was Ian Kinsler and he did it with a home run to left field off starter Jon Lester, and while that may be an omen, it's not the omen the title of this post is referring to.

Nelson Cruz also fisted a solo home run to left before Mike Napoli made Ron Washington feel very good about his decision to start Napoli instead of the regular first baseman, Moreland, on opening day. Napoli's 3 run home run put the Rangers up 5-4, but that lead was soon erased after CJ Wilson left the game in the 6th inning, having given up 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings. The Red Sox tied it up when David Ortiz blasted a homerun off Wacoan reliever, Arthur Rhodes.

The score stayed tied at 5-5 until David Murphy, pinch hitting for error-prone centerfielder, Julio Borbon, hit a rope down the left field line that kicked up chalk and went for a 2 RBI double, putting the Rangers up 7-5. (The omen) Borbon is Ron Washington's guy in centerfield, but after he made 5 errors in center during spring training, people really started to notice the great injustice that is sitting David Murphy on the bench, behind this guy. Murphy can play outfield, he can run, he can throw, he can hit, and he's earned it. Borbon is sort of like the coach's son that gets to play quarterback even though he obviously sucks. Maybe Borbon's got some dirt on Nolan Ryan, and he's blackmailing him for the playing time...

Anyways, as expected, Julio ran into Nelson Cruz in right field on a routine fly ball that was obviously Nelly's the whole way, in the 1st inning of the 2011 opening day. See for yourself:

So, to recap, in very omen-like fashion, Kinsler shows that he still has pop in his bat from the leadoff spot that was conspicuously absent from the middle part of the lineup, where Kinsler hit in 2010, Julio Borbon proves the nay-sayers right when he muffs up the defense with a rookie mistake, and David Murphy shows once and for all the he's the deserved starter by getting a clutch, 2 RBI hit in Julio Borbon's spot in the lineup late in the game.

What more could you ask from Opening Day? With the Stars failing to make the playoffs for the 3rd straight season, opening day came just in the nick of time.

Opening Day! Rangers - Red Sox Preview

It's finally here! The Rangers are playing baseball games again that actually count for something, and I don't think I've ever anticipated opening day more than I have this year. (Of course, the Stars collapse after the all-star break has a lot to do with that.)

CJ Wilson is the Ranger's opening day, starting pitcher and he earned that spot last season by leading the Ranger's pitching staff all season in 2010 to an American League Championship. CJ pitched 204 innings in 2010, with 15 wins and a 3.35 era. This season, I expect CJ to pitch at least 230 innings and win 17 or 18 ballgames. This afternoon, Wilson faces off against the Red Sox ace, Jon Lester, who pitched about the same number of innings as CJ in 2010 also won 19 games and had an era of 3.25. I'd expect Lester to win 20 games this season with the Red Sox new and improved offense.

The Red Sox are far and away the most improved team coming into the 2011 season, having just missed the playoffs in 2010. Boston picked up MVP caliber center-fielder Carl Crawford, who won the gold glove in 2010 with the Rays. They also signed Adrian Gonzales from the Padres, who I expect astronomical numbers from in 2011, playing his home games at Fenway Park rather than pitcher-friendly SafeCo Field. These two sluggers combine with Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz to make the 2nd best offense in the league behind the Texas Rangers.

The Red Sox also have the best starting rotation in the American League with Clay Buckholtz, John Lackey and Josh Beckett behind Lester. I, like everyone else, expect Boston to win the AL East this year, as the Yankees look very similar to their 2010 version, except they're all one year older, and the Rays lost several of their best players in the offseason.

The Rangers have, in my opinion, the most potent offense in the American League. I expect Ian Kinsler to repeat his 30-30 2009 season, hitting leadoff in 2011 as he did in 2009. Elvis Andrus is a Derek Jeter potential number 2 hitter, and Josh Hamilton hitting cleanup is the envy of every team in the big leagues. Adrian Beltre, the Rangers newly acquired third baseman from the Red Sox hits 4th, and behind Beltre are Michael Young and Nelson Cruz. Cruz batting 6th is what makes this lineup the best in baseball, as the Rangers 4,5, and 6 are better than mosts' 1,2, and 3s.

My prediction's for the game today:

CJ Wilson - 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 K, 3 BB
Jon Lester - 6 IP, 3 ER, 7 K, 2 BB
Homeruns: Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Gonzales