NewsInbox: Give Jennings a rotation shot?
Reporter T.R. Sullivan answers Rangers fans' questions
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com
06/15/09 2:03 PM ET
Why not move Derek Holland back to the bullpen and let Jason Jennings start?-- Dallas J., Denton, Texas
Texas is seriously thinking about the possibility of moving Jennings to the rotation. The club is not ready to do it immediately and it doesn't mean Holland is in jeopardy right now. But this is definitely something on the Rangers' minds as they figure out what to do with their rotation in the coming weeks. Making Jennings a starter is an option Texas will consider.
I always try to see the positive notes of Vicente Padilla, but it seems the Rangers want to get rid of him because of his attitude and approach to the game.-- Carlos O., Managua, Nicaragua
Funny, when you're a big winner like Roger Clemens or a Hall of Famer like Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson or Early Wynn, you're considered "tough" and "mean" when you have the bravado to throw a baseball at 95 mph toward a hitter's body. Your reputation is admired far and wide. But when you're a 14-game winner with an ERA around five, then you're a troublemaker. The Rangers need Padilla this season to win the division.
Recently in Rangers games they have been awful with runners in scoring position. Does manager Ron Washington address this issue in the clubhouse after the game and what adjustments do they make?-- Jeff R., Richmond, Va.
Hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo talks situational hitting with his players every day. Look, the Rangers really miss Josh Hamilton. All this blather about them winning without him is just that. He is a force and a presence in the lineup, even when he is struggling. He takes a lot of pressure off other hitters just by being in the lineup. Don't be fooled by what's happened so far. The team needs Hamilton.
Why can't the Rangers show replays on the boards at the stadium when the play is close? It is frustrating to not get a second look at close plays when attending the games, and I can't believe that this would be interpreted as showing up the umpires when they miss a call.-- Brian T., Mansfield, Texas
This goes back over 30 years when the Braves first put in a video board. There were a couple of close plays shown, the crowd reacted adversely and the umpiring crew walked off the field. It has been that way ever since. I remember listening to the game back in high school in Alabama.
Now that the Draft is over, do you think the Rangers will sign Ben Sheets and how soon could he help this club?-- Pam P., Fort Worth, Texas
No. He has not begun a throwing program and he is unlikely to help any team at all this year. Sheets is not going to ride to the Rangers' rescue.
I just read a short article on a young prospect named Guillermo Pimentel. It said the Rangers have been the front-runners in the expected signing of this 16-year-old.-- Jake L., Houston, Texas
Pimentel has left-handed power. He does not have speed. He is not a center fielder. The Rangers are not the front-runners by no means. Some of the media reports have been exaggerated as to this kid's ability.
|
Have a question about the Rangers?
 E-mail your query to MLB.com Rangers beat reporter T.R. Sullivan for possible inclusion in a future Inbox column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content.
|
||||||||
All I have heard about Jarrod Saltalamacchia sense he arrived from Atlanta was his proficient offense and sufficient defense. He has worked hard and polished his skills behind the plate, but when will his offense not seem even mediocre at this point?
-- Ben P., Claremont, Calif.
Washington compares him to Ramon Hernandez back in Oakland. Hernandez spent the first couple of years working hard on his defense and handling pitchers. Once he got that part of his game down, that's when he started taking off as a hitter. Saltalamacchia has put an enormous amount of effort into his defense and that certainly has taken some away from his offense.
Will Julio Borbon force his way into the Rangers lineup in center soon, maybe 2010? If so, what would the outfield look like then?-- Dillon C., Abilene, Texas
There is a very real chance of Borbon being the Rangers' center fielder in 2010, flanked by Hamilton and Nelson Cruz. David Murphy might get the majority of his at-bats at designated hitter and Marlon Byrd could be in the mix, too. Two problems: Justin Smoak might be ready and Byrd is a free agent. Texas would like him back, but he could easily get a better offer as far as money and/or playing time.
I just saw that the Braves dropped Tom Glavine. Is there any chance the Rangers would look into signing him?-- Shawn V., Fort Worth
No. Glavine, who has my vote for the Hall of Fame, is 43, he is a National League pitcher and it's not a good sign that the Braves dropped him. He is probably not the impact pitcher the Rangers are looking for at this point. They have looked into the possibility of signing Pedro Martinez, but money appears to be a big issue there.
Why didn't the Rangers get in on Edwin Jackson this offseason?-- Kevin S., Houston
The Rangers showed significant interest. The Rays preferred what the Tigers offered in outfielder Matt Joyce.
With the uncertainty of Tom Hicks' financial situation and his possibly looking to sell the team, will that impact the signing bonuses of the Rangers' Draft picks.-- Chris D., Abilene, Texas
Hicks adamantly says no. It's going to take a while to sign some of these guys though. Major League Baseball is cracking down hard on signing bonuses. Guys like Matthew Purke probably won't get done until August.
What are Michael Young's chances of reaching 3,000 hits in his career and making the Hall of Fame?-- John K., Shreveport, La.
Probably 50-50. He was 24 when he got his first Major League hit. That's a little bit of a late start. He needs to stay healthy, which is a good bet considering his work ethic. Baseball columnist and writer Evan Grant was the first to draw a comparison to Paul Molitor, which is a good observation, although Young probably won't need 1,174 at-bats at designated hitter to get to Cooperstown. He will have approximately 1,700 hits when he turns 33 in October. Molitor had 1,568 hits in nine full seasons after turning 33, including a league-leading 225 hits at age 39 in 1996.
Explain to me why players like Hank Blalock are not on the All-Star ballot and someone like Chris Davis is?-- Marc. H., San Marcos, Texas
The Rangers front office makes that decision before the season. Designated hitters are not on the ballot. That was Blalock's position going into the season.
This may be a dumb question, but how much practice time do the Rangers actually get during the season since they play a game just about every day?-- David W., Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Young or Ian Kinsler could take as much as 40 minutes of batting practice every day, plus they'll field 20-30 grounders before every game. The outfielders do the same as far as fly balls. Bench players get even more work.
Elvis Andrus started playing professionally at the age of 16, which seems almost impossible. What can position players do at such a young age to garner so much attention from Major League scouts?-- Kolter H., Abilene, Texas
Players in Latin America not subject to the Draft are signed at age 16. Scouts start looking at them at age 13-14. American players are subject to the Draft and don't get taken until after their high school careers are over. But many start getting scouted when they are sophomores.
It seems like whenever anyone says someone has a "sweet swing," they're always talking about left-handed batters. Who are some right-handed batters with a sweet swing?-- Brendan S., Carrollton, Texas
Albert Pujols looks pretty sweet to me. The left-handed sweet swing is another one of those stereotypical labels in baseball. For example, take a good look at which players are considered "blue-collar players" and which ones are considered "a natural athlete." Enough said.
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
