May 2009

The Angel vs. The Devil

Haven't the Rangers been a joy to watch over the last few weeks? We've seen great pitching, good defense, and good enough hitting to give the Rangers the best record in the AL. Maybe it is because I've been a Rangers fan for 35 years but, I'm still cautious. It's like I have this optimistic angel sitting on one of my shoulders telling me that my team has the best record in the AL. However, I also have this pessimistic devil sitting on my other shoulder constantly whispering that the Rangers are only 1-8 against the other two AL division leaders. So I'm left to wonder whether the Rangers success thus far is just the product of a soft schedule...or is this team for real?

Inside the Numbers

I'm a numbers guy. If one knows where to look, numbers can tell a pretty interesting story. So what do the numbers say about the Rangers right now:

Rangers' record: 18-14
Angels' record: 16-14
Yankees' record: 15-17
Ray' record: 15-19

Most wins by AL team in May: 8
Wins by Rangers in May: 8
Rangers' ERA in May: 3.03
Rangers' May ERA rank: 1st

Of the six Rangers with more than 100 ABs, the number with a slugging percentage greater than .500: 4
Number with a slugging percentage greater than .475: 6
Number of Rangers on pace to exceed 200 hits: 2
Number of Rangers on pace to exceed 10 home runs: 10
Number on pace to hit more than 20 home runs: 5
Number on pace to hit more than 30 home runs: 5
Number on pace to hit more than 40 home runs: 3

Chris Davis' BA in May: .288
Davis' slugging percentage in May: .658
David Murphy's BA since starting the season 0-22: .333
Number of Elvis Andrus errors in first 17 games: 6
Number of Elvis Andrus errors in last 15 games:1

It has certainly been a good month of Rangers' baseball.

Hello First Place!

I keep telling myself that it is only May 7. That there are still 4 1/2 months of baseball and 135 games yet to go. Yet it is nice to be in first place.

How long will it last? Who knows. But we do know the Rangers got here with improved pitching. Only once in the last nine games, and only twice in the last thirteen, have the Rangers allowed the other team to score more than five runs. The rotation of Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Harrison, and Feldman looks exceptional. And with the addition of Kris Benson (for Luis Mendoza), there are now six reliable relievers for Ron Washington to call on (still don't trust Guardado's stuff). Elvis Andrus is becoming a web gem regular. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is shutting down the running game.

I know it's only May...but the A's, Angels and Mariners would like to have our record right now. Hello first place!

Seattle Sweep

Ok. So the team goes on the road to face a first-place ballclub, and they have to face Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard. Yet, the team comes away with a pair of wins. This is some fun baseball.

Justin Smoak Update

I wonder how much longer before we begin to hear more chatter about Justin Smoak jumping to the Rangers? With Chris Davis continuing to struggle, the door is opening for Mr. Smoak. So far this season in Frisco he is hitting .358 with a .580 slugging percentage. Over the last ten games he has been even better belting out a .486 average with a .836 slugging percentage. And what I find  the most interesting is that Smoak has 18 walks on the year to only 10 strikeouts. Since Davis continues to lead the world in strikeouts, (and I hate strikeouts) Smoak might find himself in Texas, and Davis might find himself on the trading block come summer.

Back to .500

That was a nice series against the White Sox. Excellent starting pitching, mostly good relief, timely hitting, and if it weren't for one really bad managerial decision the Rangers would have three wins. This was the kind of series that gets you excited again about the season. Next up, the first-place Seattle Mariners:
  • How good is Ian Kinsler? I've said before that I think he is the most exciting Rangers player, and the most important on offense. This year when the Rangers win he is hitting .453. When they lose he is hitting only .208.
  • Andruw Jones is looking pretty good too. I know he has seen sporadic playing time, but in that limited action he has an OBP of .500 and a .750 slugging percentage. Plus, what I like the most is that he is the only Ranger with more walks than strikeouts.
  • Kudos to Scott Feldman, Brandon McCarthy, and Matt Harrison for great starting pitching this weekend.
  • BTW, Darren O'Day was a nice pickup for this ballclub. Kudos Jon Daniels.
  • Unfortunately, Eddie Guardado seems to disappoint every time out. The Rangers cannot put up with his performance for too much longer.
  • For the record, at AAA Oklahoma City Beau Vaughan has a 1.17 ERA in 15.1 IP, while Warner Madrigal is at 1.80 in 10 IP.
  • How much longer before we hear about the Rangers offering either Marlon Byrd or Andruw Jones for some bullpen help?
  • The Mariners head into this upcoming series with a 15-10 record. The two pitchers the Rangers face have a combined 6-1 mark. The rest of the Mariners staff is 9-9. Tough pitching matchups the next two nights.
Still though, the last three games against a playoff caliber team is encouraging. But the next week is even more important.

Leave Feldman In

In game one of the White Sox series Scott Feldman was pitching exceptionally. Through five innings he had allowed only one hit, and that one was not hit very hard. In the sixth the Sox mounted their first scoring threat. After Feldman retired Alexei Ramirez on a 4-3 groundout and struck out Scott Podsednik, it looked like another easy inning. Then weak singles by Chris Getz and Josh Fields, along with a walk to Carlos Quinten, the bases were loaded with Jim Thome coming up.

It was at this point that Ron Washington made the move that cost the Rangers the game, replacing Scott Feldman with Derek Holland. Yes, Feldman was in a jam. But there are a number of reasons why Feldman should have stayed in the game:
  • Feldman had thrown only 77 pitches (51 for strikes). 
  • He had allowed only three hits (all soft singles), 
  • He is a groundball pitcher (10 groundouts to 4 fly outs on the night).
  • Derek Holland is a flyball pitcher (4 groundouts to 10 flyouts on the season)
  • Holland had made only two career appearances
  • Jim Thome had 545 career home runs
  • Thome last year had a higher slugging percentage against lefties than righties
Holland then gave up a deep flyball (no surprise) that bounced off the left-center field wall for a bases clearing double. One inning later Holland gave up the go ahead run and Scott Feldman's masterful performance was wasted.

I can understand believing in your young players, and I can understand trusting in Derek Holland's stuff. But Friday night Scott Feldman was exceptional...and I wish Ron Washington had believed in Scott Feldman's ability in that situation as much as Derek Holland. 

Suggested Roster Move

One month into the season the Rangers are sitting one game below .500. Are there any roster moves you think the Rangers should make? There is one I suggest: release Eddie Guardado and replace him with Beau Vaughan.

Eddie's appearance today against the A's encapsulated his entire season. He faced one batter, threw four pitches, and walked in a run. Earlier this spring I wrote that Eddie's success last year was done mainly with smoke and mirrors, and this year even those have left him. As popular as Eddie is. As good of a guy as he may be, it is time for Eddie to go.

In his place the Rangers should call up Beau Vaughan from Oklahoma City. So far this season Vaughan has been terrific, allowing no runs in 12.1 innings of work, while striking out 13 and walking only 5. He is a big (6'4", 230 pound) reliever, who could develop into the right-handed setup man the Rangers need. And his performance is not just a one-year wonder. Last year he had a 2.33 ERA while splitting time between AA Portland (where he was an All-star) and AAA Pawtucket. He also logged 69 strikeouts in 58 innings. While at 27 he is a little seasoned to be a big league rookie, he has done everything that a minor league reliever should do to earn a shot at the show. 

He is a reliever who is ready for his chance, and the Rangers are a team that needs more quality relievers. It is time for Beau Vaughan to become a Ranger.

Wasted Opportunities

A disappointing loss. A disappointing month.

While the Rangers' April play this year was better than last, no one should be celebrating a 10-11 start, especially the way the team played today.

In the fifth inning the Rangers had runners on second and third with no one out with Young, Jones, Blalock, and Cruz coming up. You have to expect in that situation that the Rangers score at least one, and probably two runs. Yet, Michael Young popped out. Andruw Jones drew an intentional walk. Hank Blalock popped out and Nelson Cruz struck out. Instead of taking a 2-0 lead to the sixth the A's had the momentum.

In the ninth, with already long odds, Michael Young made a huge baserunning error. While getting thrown out at third base when trailing by three in the ninth might not have cost the game, it certainly cost an out. Who knows how the game turns out otherwise.

And I still don't know what to think about Vicente Padilla. In his last start his fastball regularly reached the mid-90s. Today, it barely hit the upper 80s. Fortunately, the A's lack of offense allowed Padilla to still get a quality start. But the Rangers need him to pitch even better.

10-11 is not horrible. But it is not good enough either. For the Rangers this first month was full of wasted opportunities.
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