Series Thread: Rangers hosting and then traveling to play the LA Dodgers

[darrylgann]

These home games are the key. No Greinke or Kershaw it appears. Hoping for a split in this essentially four game series.

 

[romeo212000]

These home games are the key. No Greinke or Kershaw it appears. Hoping for a split in this essentially four game series.

Really important to win both of these games IMO.

 

[saddles]

LOW-A HICKORY (40-22) had 11 hits in an 8-1 win against Savannah (New York Mets.) LHP Yohander Mendez had three scoreless innings in his first start of the season. In 11 appearances in the South Atlantic League overall, Mendez has allowed only nine hits in 24 1/3 scoreless innings. He has 37 strikeouts for the season.

Texas Rangers minor-league report: Former first rounder stays hot for High Desert | | Dallas Morning News

Mendez has also only walked 7. The 20 year-old lefty seems to be a man among boys in that league.

 

[jta4437]

LOW-A HICKORY (40-22) had 11 hits in an 8-1 win against Savannah (New York Mets.) LHP Yohander Mendez had three scoreless innings in his first start of the season. In 11 appearances in the South Atlantic League overall, Mendez has allowed only nine hits in 24 1/3 scoreless innings. He has 37 strikeouts for the season.

Texas Rangers minor-league report: Former first rounder stays hot for High Desert | | Dallas Morning News

Mendez has also only walked 7. The 20 year-old lefty seems to be a man among boys in that league.

Never been talent with him, injuries have held him back

 

[jta4437]

Never been talent with him, injuries have held him back

Pretty good scouting report on Mendez

Yohander Mendez Scouting Report (2014)

"Mendez threw a four-seam fastball at 88-89 MPH with sneaky, late life... left-handed pitching prospects with a solid fastball/change-up shred hitters in the lower minor leagues. A healthy Mendez will thrive until he reaches the upper levels. At that point, the real test begins."

 

[darrylgann]

@Evan_P_Grant: #Rangers lineup: RF Choo, LF Gallo, DH Fielder, 1B Moreland, SS Andrus, 2B Odor, CF Martin, C Chirinos, 3B Alberto. RHP Gallardo

Gallo in left field? OK

 

[darrylgann]

@JeffWilson_FWST: Delino DeShields to DL, Rougned Odor called up. #Rangers

 

[saddles]

So I guess Gallo is here until both Hamilton and Beltre are ready to play unless Choo goes down to injury or gets traded before both of those guys are ready to come back. In that case he could be here for even longer or for the duration.

 

[darrylgann]

So I guess Gallo is here until both Hamilton and Beltre are ready to play unless Choo goes down to injury or gets traded before both of those guys are ready to come back. In that case he could be here for even longer or for the duration.

Hamilton won't be too far behind Beltre I would think. It's all very interesting, Bennie.

 

[saddles]

Pretty good scouting report on Mendez

Yohander Mendez Scouting Report (2014)

"Mendez threw a four-seam fastball at 88-89 MPH with sneaky, late life... left-handed pitching prospects with a solid fastball/change-up shred hitters in the lower minor leagues. A healthy Mendez will thrive until he reaches the upper levels. At that point, the real test begins."

Here is another report on him from Baseball Prospectus from this spring.

Yohander Mendez, LHP, Texas Rangers
A tall, lean, athletic, projectable lefty, Mendez worked 89-93 with weak command. I liked the changeup much more than his slider. The changeup is a legitimate weapon that Mendez has precocious feel for— typically a great sign in a teenage pitcher. Mendez flashed some feel for spin a couple times with his slider, but he needs to learn to extend and throw it harder. The biggest issue here is the strong need for physical development. Mendez simply needs to add muscle and weight. Getting stronger would help him repeat his delivery more and improve his command. This was a very appealing profile and I saw a lot of attributes in Mendez that could lead to a mid-rotation future. It’s going to be a long path, but Mendez could be worth the wait.

Baseball Prospectus | Notes from the Field: Seven Days and 32 Prospects in the Desert

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Holy shit at tonight's lineup.

I probably would have stuck Martin in the 2 spot. But what do I know.

 

[jta4437]

Hamilton won't be too far behind Beltre I would think. It's all very interesting, Bennie.

Agreed, in fact Hamilton might be ready before Beltre

 

[romeo212000]

@Evan_P_Grant: #Rangers lineup: RF Choo, LF Gallo, DH Fielder, 1B Moreland, SS Andrus, 2B Odor, CF Martin, C Chirinos, 3B Alberto. RHP Gallardo

Gallo in left field? OK

Ugh. Not a fan.

 

[darrylgann]

Ugh. Not a fan.

You'll be a fan of this:

@aandro: Mike Matuella in town getting physical.

 

[darrylgann]

@aandro: Timeline for DeShields is three weeks.

 

[saddles]

I would rather see Smolinski and then Rua in LF until Joey is no longer needed at 3B or until Hamilton comes back whichever comes first.

 

[jta4437]

I would rather see Smolinski and then Rua in LF until Joey is no longer needed at 3B or until Hamilton comes back whichever comes first.

Any scenario where Smolinski is an option at this point is the wrong one to me, even if that means Gallo is in LF

 

[saddles]

Any scenario where Smolinski is an option at this point is the wrong one to me, even if that means Gallo is in LF

My next option would be to see Mazara come up and play until Hamilton is ready.

 

[jta4437]

My next option would be to see Mazara come up and play until Hamilton is ready.

Don't think we'll be seeing Mazara this year unless he goes nuts

 

[DT LUNA]

Any scenario where Smolinski is an option at this point is the wrong one to me, even if that means Gallo is in LF

Anyone not name Gallo and I agree. Don't like the idea of putting undue pressure on the youngster at this point in his career.