Series Thread: Rangers Host the Angels For Three Games May 17-19

[saddles]

Hopefully, the Rangers can at least win 2 of these 3 games, as we have Heaney, Urena, and Lorenzen due to pitch.

 

[saddles]

Jeff Wilson has written that Scherzer has consulted with a doctor who specializes in TOS. Scherzer doesn't think he has that, though. Let's see if the doctor agrees.

 

[Kelleyman]

Wining series and avoiding sweeps keeps
Is in playoff hunt. Of course this is obvious but 2 of 3 from Halos should be considered a success

 

[saddles]

 

[Senator_fan]

Hopefully, the Rangers can at least win 2 of these 3 games, as we have Heaney, Urena, and Lorenzen due to pitch.

I would hope so. No Trout this time or Ohtani launching bombs. They’ve got Wash so he may casts a spell. WS rmanager rematch.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I would hope so. No Trout this time or Ohtani launching bombs. They’ve got Wash so he may casts a spell. WS rmanager rematch.

Didn't think about those two managers meeting each other in the W.S. until you stated it.

 

[saddles]

Having Wash in the other dugout = Advantage Rangers

 

[saddles]

This kid hit the ground running.

 

[saddles]

This kid hit the ground running.

This is what FutureStarSeries.com had to say about Skenes before the draft. Sometimes those guys who project which prospects will do what, actually know what they are talking about. Lol

And just in case the Rangers decide to once again go pitching here us an update on the most likely candidate.

3. Paul Skenes, RHP — LSU

It’s been an unreal year for Paul Skenes. After transferring into Baton Rouge after two years at the Air Force Academy, Skenes saw his stuff explode under the direction of pitching coach Wes Johnson. Now he’s being talked about as the best college pitching prospect in 20 years.

The fastball catches the headlines sitting 97-99 deep into outings and grabbing triple digits with regularity early in his starts. The pitch explodes at the top of the zone and he commands it very well. Skenes throws a slider close to 90 mph, and it’s been a whiffs machine all season. There’s also a low-90s changeup in there, though he’s hardly had to use it. Ironically, scouts liked the changeup more than the slider entering the season.

As for intangibles, Skenes hides the baseball efficiently making for an even more frustrating experience at the plate for hitters. He comfortably has two 70-grade or better offerings and looks like the type of arm who could be pitching on a Major League roster before the 2024 season comes to a close.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[Senator_fan]

This kid hit the ground running.

Saw him pitch his first game on MLB.com TV. He’s more than Major League ready. Fastball with good movement upper 90’s to over 100mph.

 

[Kelleyman]

Saw him pitch his first game on MLB.com TV. He’s more than Major League ready. Fastball with good movement upper 90’s to over 100mph.

Wicked movement. He has incredible stuff

 

[DT LUNA]

We should sweep this series.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Some good things about the pitching for Frisco by Jeff Wilson:

Frisco entered the weekend 23-12. The Riders have talent, especially on the pitching side, but they are also seeing how continuity is helping them win.

"Good team baseball," said manager Carlos Cardoza, in his second season with Frisco and his eighth as a manager in the system. "There's a lot of things, but I think it's been pitching. We've had good pitching from the starting group, but our reliever group has kept us in a lot of games and put us in position to win."

Dane Acker heads the rotation in his second season in Frisco but the first that he entered health after dealing with shoulder and knee ailments last season. The stuff has ticked up, Cardoza said, but the right-hander has harnessed his control.

The starter who brings the wow factor is Emiliano Teodo, who tops 100 mph with his two-seam fastball. While Teodo is impressing on the mound, Cardoza said that what Teodo does between starts is leaving a lasting impression.

"He's pitching," Cardoza said. "We're very proud for him for the steps he's taken. He wants to be challenged. He's handling his routines and everything that goes into his preparation at a very high level."

Another starter who the Rangers like is Josh Stephan, the right-hander from Grand Prairie. He injured his back last season in his Double A debut and didn't pitch again. He joined the rotation last month after the season started but is catching up quickly.

While his back issue might be with him for much of his life, he said he manages what little pain there is. He competes against the other five starters in the rotation, and together they have fun working with each other.

"Teodo, he's a clown, but we're all tremendous competitors and we all get our stuff done," Stephan said. "You want to be better than everyone else, but with this group, at the same time, you just want to piggyback off what they did the day before."

 

[DT LUNA]

Seems we can't score without a home run.