Talkin' Baseball: The Texas Rangers

Arlington, Texas is damn hot in the summer. When was the last time you saw a day game at the Ballpark in Arlington. Ranger fans will be sweating out another long hot summer in the Metroplex. The Rangers offense will put up runs and their pitching will give up runs.

Texas Rangers

Manager: Ron Washington (3rd season)
2008 Record – 79-83 (runner-up in the AL West)

Ranger fans, say hello to: Omar Vizquel (SS), Andrew Jones (OF), Eddie Guardado

And say so long to: Milton Bradley (OF/DH)

Team President Nolan Ryan should think about coming out of retirement. Yes he’s 60 something but I’m sure he can still bring it. He could only help the Rangers pitching staff that gave up over 5 runs per game or to be exacted, a major league worst 5.37 ERA. Right handed pitcher Kevin Millwood felt the glare of Nolan Ryan when he challenged the injury prone starter to have a full spring training or risk losing his spot in the starting rotation.

What To Like About The Rangers:

Josh Hamilton: The feel good story of 2008 should have another great year and in hard economic times Hamilton is a cost effective. He makes only $300,000 this year.

Farm System: Nolan Ryan and GM Jon Daniels’ plan of building from with is paying dividends. According to Baseball America, the Rangers have the best minor league system in baseball. What out in 2010, 2011 and beyond.

We Are Scratching Our Head Over:

Andrew Jones: He got the big payday from the Los Angeles Dodgers and stunk. Now Jones is in Rangers camp on a minor league deal just trying to make the team as a fourth outfielder. It’s just not looking good for Andrew, in 5 spring training at-bats he has struck out each time. Jones’ career, like the stock market, is falling, falling, falling.

OSG Prediction: The Rangers are hard to figure out. They have the offense to challenge for the American League West title but to put it bluntly, their pitching is not very good. It’s been 20 years since Texas has developed a pitcher (Kevin Brown?) and no one on the farm is ready to contribute. With shaky starting pitching, not much middle relief and no closer ready to step up, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Rangers regress this year to 3rd. 80 wins is about the max.

Photo Courtesy: Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

Talkin' Baseball: The Seattle Mariners

This is the first of our previews of each MLB team. We begin with a team that was beat to hell last season, the Seattle Mariners.

Seattle Mariners

Manager: Don Wakamatsu (1st season)
2008 Record – 61-101 (dead last in the AL West)

Mariner fans, say hello to: Ken Griffey, Jr. (OF), Mike Sweeney (1B/DH), Endy Chavez (OF), Franklin Guiterrez (OF).

And say so long to: Raul Ibanez (OF), J.J. Putz (P)

The Mariners are in total rebuilding mode. Ownership canned everyone from the G.M. to the manager, the coaching staff, most of its scouting department and I’m sure the janitor was pink slipped to. New G.M. Jack Zduriencik has no honeymoon period. Zduriencik task is the get the M’s at least competitive again.

What To Like About The Mariners:

Clean Slate: 2008 is over, 2009 may be painful for Mariner fans but management seems willing to make the effort to put a better product on the field.

Starting Pitching: If the starting rotation of Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, Jarrod Washburn, Carlos Silva & Ryan Rowland-Smith get things going, they could keep Seattle in some ball games. That rotation was very disappointing last season but there is potential.

Ken Griffey, Jr.: Mariner fans, he’s not the same Junior from 10 years ago but he’s the best player in franchise history (yes, I’m including A-Rod) and he was the single reason why Safeco Field was built to save the franchise. Griffey’s value on the field has declined but his value with the fans is still high. 16,000 tickets were sold the day he signed with Seattle. Griffey is older (almost 40), slower and is breaking down, but he can still turn on right handed pitching with some pop in his bat. Griffey will see time at left field and DH.

OSG Prediction: About the same as last year though they may avoid losing a hundred games. It will be a long year so Seattle should be more competitive in 2009 however, we just don’t see avoiding the cellar in the American League West.

Photo Courtesy: KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES