Former Ranger Update

So here's your former Ranger line-up. Big bucks. Worth the moolah?

Wilkerson 0 for 2, hitting .059
(3B)Mike Lamb went 2 for 4 for the Twins and is hitting under .200
(2B)Soriano went 1 for 6 and is at .094
(util)DeRosa is playing well for the Cubs. Good news after his health problems.
Carlos Pena 1 for 4 , .227
(SS)A-Rod 1 for 4, .320
Adrian Gonzalez 4 for 5, scored 4 runs, hit his 2nd HR, .344
Hafner 0 for 2, .240
(LF)Delucci, keeping the bench warm
(CF)GMJ, 1 for 2, .344
(RF)Carlos Lee 2 for 4, .303
(1B) Texiera 0 for 3, .172
(C) Pudge, .174
Loaiza and Chan Ho game up jacks to the D-Backs Mark Reynolds (who?)

...logjam of left over 1st basemen.


Some that the Rangers considered over the off-season:

Carlos Silva had another quality start for the M's.
Kosuke Fukudome stole his 2nd base and is hitting over .450.
Torii Hunter, walk-off grand slam
Andrew Jones 0 for 4, .115


Observations from Monday:

The Pirates put in pitcher Zach Duke to pinch hit in their extra inning game.
Vlaverde, the Astros closer, has and ERA of 11.25 and is tied for the league lead with two wins.
Hanley Ramirez might be the best player in baseball.

24?

But this wasn't Fox's thriller starring Keifer Sutherland. This as the real time debacle of a floundering Ranger's pitching staff against an up and coming Padre team. Yesterday's game starred Millwood, Wilson, and Gagne all getting knocked around. Are there three pitchers we're going to count on more?

On a side note. Terrmel Sledge and Adrain Gonzalex went a combined 6 for 8 with 5 rbi's. I'd love to have Sledge instead of Wilkerson and Gonzalez would give us a Tex replacement (or a current dh) if he decides to leave. Sigh.

Reeves Scattershoots

Jim Reeves of the FWST has a few Ranger's notes in a recent article. Mainly the same stuff about Young's contract meaning Tex's departure and an interesting note about how the No. 2 spot should be swinging away with Lofton on base. So much for manufacturing runs. Link.

The Tex news bothers me though. If signing both would cost too much, why the heck did we get rid of Adrian Gonzalez? He's going to be one of the best bargains in the National League. By 2009, most of the rest of the other position guys will be gone as well. Anyone counting on Lofton, Wilkerson, Cat, Byrd, Sosa, etc. still being here then. Laird may bolt if he turns out to really produce, and if Hank becomes the player we need him to be, how are we going to sign him?