I'm depressed
Okay, I might as well admit it. I'm depressed. I figured this would happen sooner or later at some point in the season, but not now. Spring training is supposed to be a time for optimisim, and high expectations, right? Not this year.
This year, following the Rangers spring training camp has been more like watching an episode of "Survivor" than a baseball team (and for the record - I hate Survivor). The spring injuries, mainly those to the pitching staff, have come at a relentless pace - it's almost to the point where it's something I count on like the buzzing of my alarm clock in the morning: "gee, I wonder who it's gonna be this time when I fire up the computer."
Today, it was Frank Catalanotto, removed from todays game after one at-bat today with back spasms. Yesterday, it was Eddie Guardado, straining a tendon in his knee. The day before that, Vicente Padilla was removed from his start against the White Sox with a strained muscle in his posterior.
Fortunately, those injuries are not being termed as serious by the Rangers, but you still have to wonder exactly what is going on. The condition of the Surprise Stadium pitching mound is being blamed for some of the more recent injuries such as Guardado's, while some have perhaps been due to a lack of conditioning during the offseason (like Joaquin Benoit) but it's absolutely dumfounding the amount of bad luck the Rangers have had this spring. Some of the more serious injuries:
On the bright side, however, the injury bug has (so far, at least) steered clear of some of the more important health risks in camp, like Jason Jennings, Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley (hopefully, I haven't jinxed anyone by mentioning that). In fact, the injury to Catalanotto, while not serious, could turn out to be a blessing in disguse if it can get Jason Botts (who is getting absolutely no love right now, despite his red hot spring) a spot on the opening day roster.
But the Rangers need their all guys healthy, particularly their pitchers. With Guardado sidelined for now, the bullpen now lacks a healthy left-handed pitcher, and the starting rotation is still a mess, as TR Sullivan points out in his latest peice. Hopefully, this insane "injury curse" will end here and now, and the Rangers can get on with their actual recovering from it. Because if it doesn't, I may have to consider driving out to Surprise, and dynamiting the stupid pitching mound. Hey, somebody's gotta take some action.
Not sure we can really blame the pitchers' injuries on the mound (though we all appreciate you stepping up to volunteer). I looked up the Royals' page, and the only injured pitcher I found had picked up a cactus thorn in his toe playing golf.
We all knew there was a high probability of injuries given our roster and the past of these players. LRHR may soon become LRNR - low risk, no reward.
Another random thought: Has Ben Broussard proven to RW that he can't hit anybody this spring? Why not give his spot to Botts if we have to keep Mench?
Report any abuse or spam
There's an old song from the 1960's that includes these lyrics: "second verse, same as the fist, a little bit louder and a little bit worse" -- an apt description of Ranger management right now.
Here's what frustrates and makes me depressed about the major league team:
Ron Washington - seems that he got this job on the strength of his job interview - not his actual baseball acumen. All I know is that I'd like him to do teach me the skill of giving a great interview for a job for which you have no knowledge, skill or experience.
Washington said on MLB.com that he's going to play Broussard against lefties "until he proves he can't hit them" - obviously Ron's never read a stat sheet on Ben - he never hit lefites - even in the minors. But according Ron, Broussard is his secret weapon at the bottom of the lineup (that's what he told Eric Nadel).
Let's talk about the Kevin Mench fascination - this is a player Jon Daniels traded away - if he was so valuable why trade him in the first place? Let's remember a few things about Kevin Mench - like the couple of times he wasn't paying attention - and thought there were 3 outs when there were only 2 (didn't that lead to a run or two scoring in a game against Baltimore?) The fact that Buck Showalter benched him a couple of times (granted Buck wasn't the easiest to get along with) but that was not the first he frustrated a manager. When Kevin played in Tulsa, manager Paul Carey purposely waited until Kevin went into the OF at the top of an inning to call him back and send in a defensive replacement - PC was making a point to Mench in front of a stadium full of people. And let's also remember that no other team jumped in with a contract offer in December, January or even the first week of February - what does that say about how other org's value his ablities? And all of the sudden he's the "answer" to the Rangers versatility issues in LF and 1B?
The other thing that bothers me, and I'm not impartial when it comes to Jason Botts, is the fact that he's done everything this organization has asked him to do: play each winter for the past 3 seasons, learn the OF, move back to 1B - you never hear him complain.
It's as if the Rangers are saying "you are not really good enough for our team - but we are afraid to let you go because you might succeed somewhere else and make us look bad" -- shame on JD, shame Ron Washington for treating any player this way. Anyone ever heard of the phrase "courage of your convictions?"
I'm hoping my trip to Surprise to watch the players JD will eventually trade away (becuase he certainly doesn't trust any of the players he develops) will lighten my mood.
Kudos on the blog Jon, keep up the good work.
http://emc.mlblogs.com
Report any abuse or spam
Jason Botts seems to be on his way out the door. It's my feeling that he won't make the bench unless he is the extra player the Rangers carry until they need the 5th starter on April 12th.
Kevin Mench is Ron Washington's new buddy, and David Murphy has been hitting like a madman this spring, so those two seem to be near locks for the bench right now. It certainly won't be the most versatile reserve if they do decide to go that route, but it seems to be the way Ron wants to go anyway - just goes to show you why he's not that great a manager (and that's putting it lightly).
It's sad, because it seems like Jason has finally found his swing this time out of the chute - perhaps he and Nelson Cruz can make it through waivers, but I doubt it.
Report any abuse or spam