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Texas Rangers
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| Projected Lineup |
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| DH |
Frank Catalanotto |
| C |
Ivan Rodriguez |
| SS |
Alex Rodriguez |
| RF |
Juan Gonzalez |
| 1B |
Rafael Palmeiro |
| CF |
Carl Everett |
| LF |
Gabe Kapler |
| 3B |
Mike Lamb |
| 2B |
Michael Young |
| Projected Rotation |
|---|
| RHP |
Chan Ho Park |
| LHP |
Kenny Rogers |
| RHP |
Ismael Valdes |
| RHP |
Dave Burba |
| RHP |
Rob Bell |
| CL |
Jeff Zimmerman |
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By John Donovan, CNNSI.com
Pitching, plain and simple, is what the Texas Rangers needed for 2002. So pitching is what owner Tom Hicks and new general manager John Hart went out and bought in the offseason.
It might not be the best pitching around. For sure, it's not even close to the best in the AL West. But considering the ERA of last season's staff was a baseball-worst 5.71 ERA ... hey, it's an upgrade, all right.
If the Rangers aren't immediately ready to challenge Oakland and Seattle for the division title, they're at least not backsliding. Hicks landed the game's best available free-agent starter when he signed Chan Ho Park to a five-year, $65-million deal. Park went 15-11 last year for Los Angeles with a 3.50 ERA and immediately becomes the new ace in town, keeping Kenny Rogers (5-7, 6.19) at No. 2.
It's true, the Rangers also lost their best pitcher, Rick Helling (12-11, 5.17), to Arizona, and Helling was 7-3 after the break. But the Rangers also signed right-hander Dave Burba from the Indians to add to their starting rotation, and have some possibilities with guys like Todd Van Poppel and Jay Powell. Still, each of the Rangers' new pitchers comes with some major ifs.
Park has great stuff but has the reputation of struggling mentally. He had a 4.40 ERA after the break last season and a 4.83 ERA away from Dodgers Stadium, both of which send up big red flags. Burba had a 6.21 ERA and opponents hit .306 off him. Van Poppel had a fine season with the Cubs (4-1, 2.52 in relief), but he's fragile. Powell blew six of his 13 save attempts for Colorado.
The Rangers also added another risk in controversial closer John Rocker, whose brief tenure in Cleveland was a bust but who still has the stuff to be dominating. If his head's on straight.
The certainties for this team are at the plate. The Rangers will hit. They hit more home runs (246) than anyone in 2001, and their .275 average was third in the league. They were also second in hits, third in runs and third in RBIs in the AL.
Add Juan Gonzalez to a mix that already includes super shortstop Alex Rodriguez, ageless first baseman Rafael Palmeiro and catcher Ivan Rodriguez (25 homers and a .308 average) and the Rangers' offense is impressive. And don't forget troublesome outfielder Carl Everett, obtained in a trade with the Red Sox, who has averaged 93 RBIs a year for his career.
The Rangers got off to an awful start last season and finished with only 73 wins, last in the West. With Park and Gonzalez in town, they figure to get better.
Next off-season, though, don't be surprised to see the Rangers shopping for pitching once again.
Up for grabs: Many teams look for a power-hitting third baseman. The Rangers are just looking for somebody to take over. The possibilities are Mike Lamb (.306 in 76 games, but only four homers) or young Hank Blalock, while Herbert Perry (obtained in a trade with the White Sox) and 2001 first-round draft pick Mark Teixeira could also make noise during the spring.
Spring chicken: The lefty-swinging Blalock was the franchise's minor league player of the year. He finished the Arizona Fall League season with a .713 slugging percentage, which included 11 home runs. In his split time in Class A and AA last season, he hit.352 with 28 homers and 108 RBIs.
| Arrivals |
|---|
| Pos. |
Player |
From |
Via |
| C |
Pat Borders |
Mariners |
Free Agency |
| RHP |
Dave Burba |
Indians |
Free Agency |
| OF |
Carl Everett |
Red Sox |
Trade |
| RHP |
Hideki Irabu |
Expos |
Free Agency |
| OF |
Juan Gonzalez |
Indians |
Free Agency |
| 1B |
Jason Hart |
Athletics |
Trade |
| C |
Gerald Laird |
Athletics |
Trade |
| OF |
Ryan Ludwick |
Athletics |
Trade |
| RHP |
Dan Miceli |
Rockies |
Free Agency |
| RHP |
Chan Ho Park |
Dodgers |
Free Agency |
| INF |
Herbert Perry |
White Sox |
Trade |
| RHP |
Todd Van Poppel |
Cubs |
Free Agency |
| RHP |
Jay Powell |
Rockies |
Free Agency |
| LHP |
Bill Pulsipher |
White Sox |
Free Agency |
| LHP |
Mario Ramos |
Athletics |
Trade |
| LHP |
John Rocker |
Indians |
Trade |
| RHP |
Rudy Seanez |
Braves |
Free Agency |
| 3B |
Ed Sprague |
Mariners |
Free Agency |
| RHP |
Ismael Valdes |
Angels |
Free Agency |
| RHP |
Steve Woodard |
Indians |
Free Agency |
| Departures |
|---|
| Pos. |
Player |
To |
Via |
| RHP |
Tim Crabtree |
TBA |
Free Agency |
| OF |
Chad Curtis |
TBA |
Free Agency |
| RHP |
Dave Elder |
Indians |
Trade |
| RHP |
Rick Helling |
Diamondbacks |
Free Agency |
| OF |
Ricky Ledee |
Phillies |
Free Agency |
| LHP |
Corey Lee |
White Sox |
Trade |
| RHP |
Pat Mahomes |
Cubs |
Free Agency |
| OF |
Craig Monroe |
TBA |
Waivers |
| LHP |
Darren Oliver |
Red Sox |
Trade |
| 1B |
Carlos Pena |
Athletics |
Trade |
| INF |
Scott Sheldon |
TBA |
Released |
| OF |
Ruben Sierra |
Mariners |
Free Agency |
| LHP |
Mike Venafro |
Athletics |
Trade |
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| Texas Rangers Spring Training Schedule |
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Home games at Charlotte County Stadium, Port Charlotte, Fla.
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| Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Site |
| March 1 |
Cincinnati |
1:05 p.m. |
at Sarasota |
| March 2 |
Cincinnati |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 3 |
Minnesota |
1:05 p.m. |
at Lee County |
| March 4 |
Toronto |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 5 |
Tampa Bay (ss) |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 5 |
N.Y. Yankees (ss) |
1:30 p.m. |
at Tampa |
| March 6 |
N.Y. Yankees |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 7 |
Cincinnati |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 7 |
Toronto |
1:05 p.m. |
at Dunedin |
| March 8 |
Tampa Bay |
1:05 p.m. |
at St. Petersburg |
| March 9 |
Baltimore |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 10 |
Philadelphia |
1:05 p.m. |
at Clearwater |
| March 11 |
Boston |
1:05 p.m. |
at Fort Myers |
| March 12 |
Pittsburgh |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 13 |
Minnesota (ss) |
1:05 p.m. |
at Lee County |
| March 13 |
N.Y. Yankees (ss) |
1:30 p.m. |
at Tampa |
| March 14 |
Toronto |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 15 |
Philadelphia |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 16 |
Boston |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 17 |
Baltimore |
1:05 p.m. |
at Fort Lauderdale |
| March 18 |
Pittsburgh |
1:05 p.m. |
at Bradenton |
| March 19 |
Tampa Bay |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 20 |
Cincinnati |
1:05 p.m. |
at Sarasota |
| March 22 |
Minnesota |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 23 |
Pittsburgh |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 24 |
Pittsburgh |
1:05 p.m. |
at Bradenton |
| March 25 |
Tampa Bay |
1:05 p.m. |
at St. Petersburg |
| March 26 |
Boston |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 27 |
Minnesota |
1:05 p.m. |
Port Charlotte |
| March 28 |
Boston |
1:05 p.m. |
at Fort Myers |
| March 29 |
N.Y. Mets |
7:05 p.m. |
Arlington |
| March 30 |
N.Y. Mets |
2:05 p.m. |
Arlington |
| March 31 |
Oklahoma City (AAA) |
1:05 p.m. |
at Oklahoma City |
ss - split squad All times local.
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