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      The Dugout

      Read the latest baseball satire from the warped minds of
      The Dugout.

      Finding Pitching Still Key for Rangers

      AOL
      Posted: 2008-02-27 02:44:24
      Filed Under: MLB

      Photo Gallery

      Jamie Squire, Getty Images

      Four Storylines
      To Watch in 2008

      1 of 4    

      1. Comeback Continues: Josh Hamilton was the feel-good story in baseball last year, starring for the Reds after battling drug addiction for years. The Rangers are hoping he'll stay healthy and happy because he's as gifted as they come.


      Projected Lineup

      1. Michael Young, SS
      2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
      3. Josh Hamilton, CF
      4. Milton Bradley, RF
      5. Hank Blalock, 3B
      6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
      7. Ben Broussard, 1B
      8. Marlon Byrd, LF
      9. Frank Catalanotto, DH

      Projected Rotation

      1. Kevin Millwood, R
      2. Vicente Padilla, R
      3. Brandon McCarthy, R
      4. Kason Gabbard, L
      5. Jason Jennings, R

      Top Bullpen Arms

      • C.J. Wilson, CL
      • Eddie Guardado, SU
      • Joaquin Benoit, SU

      Word of Justice

      The Rangers are one of four teams to never make it to the World Series, and this won't be the year they break that streak. They're reconstructing their offense around Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley and are hoping Jarrod Saltalamacchia can win the catching job from Gerald Laird. They're also looking for left-hander C.J. Wilson to win the closer's job.

      GM Jon Daniels made a series of under-the-radar deals to get Ben Broussard, Eddie Guardado and Kazuo Fukumori. If right-handers Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla and Jason Jennings all bounce back from the worst years of their careers, the Rangers might be in contention for a while.

      -- Richard Justice

      Numbers Game

      5 - Consecutive 200-hit seasons by Michael Young. The Texas shortstop is one of seven players in major league history to accomplish the feat. Five of the other six are currently enshrined in Cooperstown.

      37-37 - Texas' record after the All-Star break last year, which looks even more impressive considering the fact that they dealt Mark Teixeira and Eric Gagne before the July 31 trading deadline. With more consistent performances from their pitching staff, the Rangers could be even better.

      0 - Pitchers who threw more than 200 innings for the Rangers last season. Jamey Wright is the only hurler who started a game for Texas last year and finished with an ERA below 4.00. Finding reliable pitching has been a constant struggle for the Rangers during this decade. Only two Texas pitchers -- Vicente Padilla and Kevin Millwood -- have had a 200-inning campaign in the last three seasons.

      -- Andrew Johnson

      Fantasy Spin

      If you're looking for a stud pitcher to anchor your fantasy staff, Arlington is not the place for you. But if you're in search of offense, there are a few players who will welcome you with open arms.

      Let's be honest here. Unless you're looking for pitching help in AL-only leagues, you can ignore the Rangers' pitching staff. Four out of the five hurlers in their rotation had ERAs north of 5.00 last season. But their ballpark is a hitter's dream, and the four wish-list players that can make the most of it are Ian Kinsler, Hank Blalock, Josh Hamilton and Michael Young. I've already mentioned my love for Kinsler as a top-five second baseman here. A season of 25 homers and 25 steals is the optimistic expectation. Hamilton should be good for 25-30 bombs and around 80 RBI as long as he stays healthy. And Blalock could be a great value pick this year, capable of rebounding to the 20-25 HR range. His post-injury performance last September was very encouraging. And while Young took a step backward in the power department last year, I fully expect him to rebound a bit. He's still right inside the top 10 at shortstop.

      As far as burgeoning youngsters are concerned, keep a very close eye on Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who will become a top-10 fantasy catcher as soon as Gerald Laird steps aside, or if they opt to play Salty at first base or DH.

      -- Tom Herrera

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      -- Jon Bois, FanHouse

      Preview Poetry

      Achy breaky arms
      If they hold together, wins
      If not, then fourth place

      -- Tom Fornelli/Adam Morris FanHouse

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      (Record in 2007)



      2008 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.
      2008-02-25 19:57:25


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      Recent Comments

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      1 - 5 of 5
      5 comments

      bessieja238 08:59:51 PM Feb 27 2008

      Report This!

      I Think It's A Case Of Jealousy...
      Evidently...Money Means More To Those Critics...

      --------------------------
      My boyfriend also agrees with me. He is 10 years older than me lol. I met him at Agelessfriends.com, a free place for Younger Women and Older Men, or Younger Men and Older Women, to interact with each other. It's fabulous! Maybe you wanna check out!

      browsers7 07:28:48 AM Feb 27 2008

      Report This!

      Watchtheherdgo, he can't go into the hall of fame until he is retired for 5 years...It would be nice to see them get rid of some young minor league talent to bring in some star pitching power. By the way, DVDSYM, pitching cannot win ball games unless you have offense. It is the 3 major elements of baseball, pitching, defense and offense ALL TOGETHER win ball games....sometimes you can have 2 of the 3 but more than most, you must have all 3 to succeed.

      watchtheherdgo 10:31:37 PM Feb 26 2008

      Report This!

      Ichiro Suziki has had 200 hits for 7 straight seasons and he's not in the hall of fame.

      dvdsym 10:15:32 PM Feb 26 2008

      Report This!

      Being a Ranger fan and getting to go see at least 10 games a season, the thing that I can never understand is the pitching. It seems like when the Rangers go out and add a player, it's always a hitter or offensive/defensive player. They never go after pitching. Pitching is what wins games and it seems the Rangers organization does not understand that. Instead of paying ARod that much money years ago, they could have used that money a two or three quality starting pitchers and a closer. That's why they always finish third or fourth behind the A's and Angel's.

      browsers7 08:41:21 PM Feb 26 2008

      Report This!

      Milton Bradley is NOT a #4 hitter, nor will he ever be such, no matter how juiced they get him to be. I think Blalock is 4 and Salta is 5, then Broussard at 6 and Bradley 7. But more importantly, why is it that Texas ALWAYS has the stinkiest pitching??? The last time they had any type of good pitching over the last 20 years was Nolan Ryan, Kevin Brown, Bobby Witt, Rick Helling, Aaron Sele and John Burkett. Since those times I do not recall seeing a pitcher in Texas or go to Texas that has been anything but a blunderful mystery.

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