April 02, 2004

2004 Texas Rangers Preview

The Bottom Line:
Realizing the mistake is the first step, and they’ve taken action upon that realization. However, it will take more than one year to get things in order. I don’t understand, at least at this point, how a team can hang on to all those hitters instead of trading one or two of them for pitchers. Anyway, they’ll eventually get things turned around, but in 2004 they’ll be in familiar territory, last in the AL West.



New Page 2

Line Up:


I know the Rangers have been awful the past few years, but
offensively they’re still rather impressive.  That’s saying a lot for a team
that has parted with Ivan Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, Carl Everett, Rafael
Palmeiro, and Alex Rodriguez.  Their core of young hitters might be the best in
baseball.  They only comparison of three up-and-comers I can think of to compare
to Blalock, Teixeira, and Soriano is the Huff/Baldelli/Crawford group in Tampa
Bay.  But in truth, when you throw in Michael Young and Laynce Nix, the Rangers
are even more impressive.


 



  1. Michael Young, SS: For some reason, young just
    hasn’t gotten any respect.  He has a little speed (13 steals, 9 triples), he
    has a little pop (33 doubles, 14 homers, 72 RBI), and he hits for average
    (.304 with 204 hits).  What’s not to like?  And now, from a fantasy
    standpoint, he qualifies and second and short.

  2. Hank Blalock, 3B: His numbers could take a dip
    now that he doesn’t have A-rod batting behind him, but it won’t be long
    before he emerges as the best third baseman in baseball – even with Rolen
    and Chavez considered.

  3. Alfonso Soriano, SS: He’s still going to strike
    out a lot, but his overall numbers should improve from being in a better
    hitter’s park and a better part of the line up.

  4. Brad Fullmer, DH: He’s just keeping this spot
    warm to keep the pressure of Teixeira.  That’s not a slap though.  Fullmer
    was well on his way to a career year before injuries knocked out for the
    year just two and a half months into the season.

  5. Mark Teixeira, 1B: The sky’s the limit.  Right
    now, he’s the poor man’s Richie Sexson, with all the blessings (power) and
    curses (strikeouts).

  6. Brian Jordan, RF: It’s hard to tell if Jordan
    has much left.  This is a make or break year for him, and the Rangers have
    several options to replace him if he falters.

  7. Kevin Mench, LF: Mench has lost his prospect
    label after suffering through injuries last year.  At least he does have an
    enormous head.

  8. Laynce Nix, CF: He’s considered to be a
    top-notch prospect, but that has yet to translate to the major leagues.

  9. Einar Diaz, C: I suppose it could be worse.


 


Pitching:


I know it’s a hitter’s park, but that’s no excuse to have a
team ERA that looks like you play 162 games in Coors Field.  This is again the
area that will keep the Rangers at the bottom of the division.


 



  1. Kenny Rogers, L: If Rogers would just be
    content in Texas he’d be a dark-horse Hall of Fame candidate.  It’s really
    unexplainable.

  2. Chan Ho Park, R: Park and the Rangers have
    suffered enough.  Hope is all that’s left.

  3. Colby Lewis, R: I’m not sure of this, but it
    seems that Lewis’ 7.30 ERA was probably higher than any other pitcher in
    baseball that started ten or more games (Lewis started 26).

  4. Juan Rodriguez, R: The Rangers believe he’s
    their ace of the future.  He went 10 and 0 in stops at three minor league
    levels, but struggled in two starts with the big club.  The best thing they
    can do, if they really believe he’s the arm of the future, is leave him in
    the minors one more year.  Even if he wins the Cy Young award, he can’t make
    the Rangers compete, but he could make all the difference down the road.

  5. R.A. Dickey, R: Another guy that should still
    be in the minors.  


Closer Francisco Cordero, R:
At times he can be lights out, other times he looks like he’s throwing with the
lights out.  Could we have another Jose Mesa on our hands?


 




Remarkably Similar
W L PCT IP ER K BB ERA WHIP
Chan Ho Park (10) 90 65 .581 1359 618 1235 663 4.09 1.36
Jason Schmidt (9) 86 67 .562 1342.2 600 1132 524 4.02 1.35


 


Is baseball a “what have you done for me lately” operation
or what?


 


 


 


 


Fantasy Top 5:



  1. Alfonso Soriano

  2. Hank Blalock

  3. Michael Young

  4. Mark Teixeira

  5. Brad Fullmer

Posted by at April 2, 2004 09:30 AM
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