Check out the Outfield

If you put a baseball and other toys in front of a baby, he’ll pick up a baseball in preference to the others.  The American boy starts swinging the bat as soon as he can lift one. – Hall of Fame Tris Speaker

At the beginning of the 2007 season, my biggest concern out of spring training was the outfield.  You can never underestimate the importance of a good defensive outfield to a pitcher.  If anything was accomplished by John Daniels this year, he obviously upgraded the outfield.  We still have holdovers from last year with Catalanotto and Cruz, but the rest are an improvement over the starters from the year before.  Marlon Byrd did not join the Rangers until after the first two months of the season and he quickly became our best defensive outfielder.  With his return this year, he is join by three others that will raise the level of play over last year.  In addition of Byrd during the 2007 season, we were  lucky enough to obtain David Murphy from Boston at the trade deadline.  Off season acquisitions of Milton Bradley and Josh Hamilton have continued the overhaul.  With Byrd, Murphy, Bradley, and Hamilton the Rangers have a solid core of outfielders that can be a defensive plus for our pitchers.  The remaining prospects for outfield give me cause for concern.  Let us take a look at remaining four.  Mench, Cruz, Calalanotto, and Botts.  First of all let us just throw Botts out of the mix.  I hope that Jason can find his swing at the majors and become an everyday DH.  Other than his potential with the bat he should not be allowed to own a glove.  Maybe Washington can do something with him at first base.  Catalanotto is definitely a DH with time in the outfield in emergencies only.  Cat-man is average defensively on a good day and is really limited to left field.  Nelson Cruz is the one that scares me the most.  On the outside he looks like a potentially great corner outfielder especially in right.  He has good range and a powerful arm.  His biggest two problems are poor routes to the ball and mental mistakes on his throws.  That arm of his gets him is more trouble than anything else.  Missed and overthrown cutoff men.  Throws to third and home that allow the hitter to take extra bases on singles and doubles.  The mental side of Cruz’s outfield play needs a lot of improvement.  Finally we have Kevin Mench.  He can mash the ball against left handed pitchers and play a decent left field.  I would keep him out of right.  Of the games when he has started in right for the Rangers in 2006, he look lost and confused.  I don’t know if it was the look of the ball off the bat or the wind.

What I would like to see this year for our outfield is Byrd in left, Hamilton in center, and Bradley in right.  Murphy would be the fourth outfielder.  With those four we have multiple combinations any day since all four can play a competent center.  Catalanotto would be DH and fifth outfielder when needed.  That is the dream lineup for me.  Let us take a look at reality.  Bradley may not be able to start the season defensively and may only DH.  Cruz is out of options and would most likely be snatched up on the waiver wire.  Botts starts spring training playing first and will most likely not even be an option in the outfield any longer.  Botts is also out of options and is a potential waiver wire loss.  A lot can happen during spring training.  Whether it is limited play for Bradley at the start of the season or a spring training trade, the Rangers have sufficiently covered all possibilities.  I hope that David Murphy is not sent to the minors to start the season because of option-less players like Botts and Cruz when he is clearly a better player in my opinion.  I believe that Mench is insurance against a loss of any of the other players due to trades or injury.  Regardless of the outcome this spring, the Rangers have improved the outfield for the 2008 season.  That has got to be a comfort to a starting pitching staff that will hopefully rebound from a poor 2007.  I am looking forward to watching Bradley, Byrd, and Hamilton in the outfield this year.

Go Rangers!

Spring in February

"That’s the true harbinger of spring, not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of a bat on the ball."  Team owner Bill Veeck

What was Branch Rickey thinking when he dragged his lowly St. Louis Browns down to Florida in 1914 for spring training?  A visionary baseball man far ahead of his time, Branch Rickey was obviously going to make the St. Louis Browns a contender.  I can spend hours telling of the greatness of Branch Rickey.  He was one of the most influential men ever to grace our game baseball.  Please take the time to find out more about this great baseball pioneer.  Needless to say he was the father of baseball spring training among other great firsts in baseball.  Let us begin with where we are today, Spring Training.

As far as I am concerned, spring is here today.  Forget about the calendar.  Ignore the rodent in Punxsutawney.  Don’t even pay attention to the snow still covering most of the upper part of the United States.  Spring is here folks and I can prove it.  Pitchers and catchers are pitching and catching.  That’s all the proof I need. 

For the rabid baseball fan spring brings one thing.  The arrangement of life’s priorities.

"There are three things in my life which I really love.  God, my family, and baseball.  The only problem, once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." – Infielder Al Gallagher

Never have truer words been spoken.  Lucky for me, my wife and kids share in this life of a baseball fan.  For me family and baseball are one.  I hope God is a baseball fan and will understand.

The 2008 season has a lot to offer the Rangers fan.  There is great possibility for a successful and contending team here.

Check out what Joey Matschulat has to say about our 2008 Rangers.  Joey covers the Texas Rangers on his blog, Baseball Time in Arlington.

"With the fine job of under-the-radar talent acquisition performed by Jon Daniels over the past two seasons, the Texas Rangers find themselves in a rare position. Not only do they have several fine, young Major League players worthy of building their future around in second baseman Ian Kinsler, Hamilton, Wilson and Saltalamacchia, but they also possess one of the game’s deepest and most talented farm systems.

And believe it or not, enough potential exists on this 2008 squad for the Rangers to contend for the AL West title. Injury avoidance and a little help from some overachievers could propel this team beyond the 90-win threshold; conversely, an ACL tear here or some lingering elbow tendinitis there, or a return to the underachieving ways that derailed the Rangers 2007 campaign before it really had an opportunity to get started, might send Texas tumbling back into last place for a second consecutive season.

But no matter the outcome, it promises to be an exciting ride."

Well spoken Joey.  Take it from me, this is one wild ride I am not going to miss.

Go Rangers!

FANS OF THE YEAR!!

This has been a fabulous night!  Kam’s Snake Pit has been reconized as Texas Rangers Fans of the Year.  We cannot be more honored.  We love our Texas Rangers and love going to all the games.  We love our friend and hero Kameron Loe as well as all the players on the team.  It is great to have them notice the crazy, loud, and devoted fans in the upper deck.  We were given a new official Kam’s Snake Pit banner to hang from the railing.  Better yet it tells all who look up to the upper deck that we are Rangers Fans of the Year!  As always you will find us up in section 323, so come on up and say hey.  We welcome all.  Come a cheer for our Rangers in the Pit.

Again this year we will be baby sitting Kameron’s snake while he is away to Spring Training.  It will be nice to have Angel come and visit again this year while Kam is off in Arizona. 

We had a great time at the Texas Rangers Sluggers of the West Banquet tonight.  A good time was had by all.  It was great to see all of our old Friends from the ball park there.  We would like to thank all of our friends in the Rangers organization for the nomination and support as Fans of the Year.  Big thanks to Andrew Silverman, Ken Troupe, J Willms, and Jason Fortune.  Thank you as well to Nick and Chad.  Thank you to all I may have forgotten.  I cannot forget our friend Mike Ogulnick of KRLD Sports Central and Rangers Reply.  He has been a big supporter of ours.  We love his show and welcome him a  member of The Snake Pit.   

We look forward to another great season of Rangers baseball and cannot wait for the season to begin.  In the mean time we will be planning for our trip to spring training.

We hope to see you at Rangers Ball Park in Arlington.  Come by and help us cheer on our Texas Rangers.

Go Rangers!

The Snake Pit Lives On!

It has been way too long since I have taken the time to post anything Rangers.  My goodness, it has been since Halloween.  Well do not despair, The Snake Pit is alive and well.  Needless to say, we have not been idle during the off-season.  We have been doing many a thing Rangers this off-season.  Let me begin:

First and foremost, We went on a Cruise.  Oh my goodness was that fun!  My lovely bride and I as well as Snake Pit member Vikki took a little vacation in November.  Jim Sunberg and the Rangers Alumni was sponsoring a little Texas Rangers Legacy Cruise to Mexico.  It was more fun and any human being should be allowed to have.  We had the company of Jim Sunberg, Pete O’Brien, Curtis Wilkerson, Mark McLemore, John Rheinecker, and Kameron Loe. Of course they brought thier lovely wives, including Kameron’s date Justin.  Taht’s an inside joke there. In all there were about 46 cabins full of Ranger Fans, Staff, Players, and Alumni.  If you want 4 days of up close Ranger contact, this is the ticket.  Obviously there is going to be another one next year and we will definitely be on it.  In fact I have a few more Ranger fans that are going to jump on board with us.  If you are looking for a good time and help support Ranger Charities, this is the way to go.

Boy after that we just did not slow down.  Group sales party on December 1st was fun as well.  It was a great opportunity for myself to score some great prices on seats in the Snake Pit for my company for the second game of the 2008 season.  Look up into the Snake Pit on April 9Th against Baltimore.  Yep that’s right, Snake Pit will be 200+ strong on that night.  A great time was had going about the stadium throwing pitches in the bullpen, hitting balls in the batting cages, and a great Chalk talk with former Rangers.  Another great can’t miss time was had by all.

We had to show up for kick off party at the new Rangers sales office in Dallas.  Very nice place on McKinney Street.  By then Andy Silverman was getting tired of seeing us.  Yes Andy, we do have to show up for everything.

The Christmas Spirit was strong during Ian Kinsler’s Toys for Tots drive with the Marine Corp as well.  There were carolers and cold weather.  It was great to have the kids give up a little of their Christmas for the Marines and Toys for Tots. 

Let’s not forget the Baseball as America exhibit at the Dallas Museum.  We were Lucky enough to take part in Tim Kurkjain’s question and answer session.  Lots of Baseball goodies from days gone by was there to be seen.  I have got to make it to Cooperstown!

Jamie Newberg’s book signing was also on the agenda for December.  We made that one just in time due to busy schedules, but is was a pleasure to be there again at the Rangers new sales office in Dallas.

During all of this time, there were plenty of old friends and new friends to be seen.  All I can say is that the baseball season never ends around here.  You want to have a good baseball time?  Just hang with us.  But wait, there is more.  We are not done yet.

We are slated to have lunch with Ranger front office personnel on the 16Th for a town hall meeting.  That should be enjoyable.  The end of January is rolling around and we have more to do.  January 25Th is the Sluggers of the West awards Banquet.  This will be our third year to attend this great party.  The Snake Pit has to have a table of its own.  We also have Rangers Fan Fest the following day on January 26Th.   I’m sure we will hit a date or two on the Rangers Caravan tour as well.  Don’t forget spring training is coming and we are making plans for a little trip to Arizona.  Whew!  I have to stop now, I’m tired.

Hope to see you all around the Ball Park.  Gate open April 8, 2008

Go Rangers!

Is The Season Really Over?

OK First of all, I did not die and drop off the face of the earth.  I feel bad for not posting anything since the beginning of September.  I just got really busy and stuff the last two months.  Believe me, I took in all the Baseball a sane human being can stand over the last two months. 

Topic 1:  The Playoffs and World Series.  I did not have any dispute about who made the postseason this year.  How can you?  After 162 game season, if your in, no one can dispute the fact that you deserve to be there.  The Wild Card format is the final equalizer.  Gone are the days of a 102 win season shut out of the playoffs.  I can fondly remember an Atlanta, San Francisco division that saw a team win 100 games and not make the playoffs.  Now that is sad.  Thus I regress.  I have to tell you that this post season has got to have been the biggest bore of recent memory.  5 sweeps out of 7 series.  You have got to be kidding me.  It was great for the teams that did the sweeping, but a total bore for all of Major League Baseball.  There has not been a decent World Series since 2002.  The Angels – Giants contest was great.  Everything after that has been bad.  I know that a certain amount of timing is needed to make it through the playoffs to the big enchilada.  In the end I feel the better balanced team won it all.  It was just so anti-climatic of a finish.  You knew the storming Rockies was going to come back to earth, it was just a matter of when.  I know that every series cannot go the distance, but it just seems to me that the past five years of competition has been so one sided.  Here’s hoping that 2008 playoffs will provide bigger thrills and chills for the October playoffs.

Thank you A-Rod.  You proved your sliminess with the announcement of your contract option during game four of the World Series.  It may have been your agent, but he works for you and that makes you ultimately responsible.  Just another example of a great player with questionable character.  Some of them get what they want and other never do, but in the end they are remembered for their character.  You are destined for greatness in the grand ole game, just not at our expense any more.

Finally, the Rangers and the off season.  Whew, what a can of worms this is going to be.  I’m going to have to save this one for a separate post.  Let me just say that I am going into the 2008 season with great anticipation as to how J.D. and the gang are going to solve this riddle.  What ever their solution, look for 2009 as the earliest the Rangers pull out a winning season with 2010 for playoffs.  That means 2008 is going to take a lot of patience.  It will still be a fun season, they always are.

Go Rangers!