Texas Rangers

Rangers video: Manager Ron Washington morning briefing

Manager Ron Washington talked about Brandon Snyder on Monday during his daily morning briefing with the media. Take a look.

 

 

 

 

New center field area at #Rangers Ballpark to be called "Budweiser Bowtie at Vandergriff Plaza"

The Texas Rangers and Budweiser reached a naming rights deal for the new center field area at Rangers Ballpark, calling it the "Budweiser Bowtie at Vandergriff Plaza."

The area will have four full-service concession stands, along with seating clusters and picnic tables in the area. There is also a new two-story restaurant/sports bar, and batters' eye club.

-- Drew Davison

Today's lineup: Texas Rangers vs. San Diego Padres

Brandon Snyder is getting the start in leftfield with Robbie Ross starting his second Cactus League game today. Here's how the Rangers will take the field against the San Diego Padres today.

Texas Rangers: 1. Ian Kinsler (2B); 2. Elvis Andrus (SS); 3. Josh Hamilton (CF); 4. Adrian Beltre (3B); 5. Michael Young (DH); 6. Nelson Cruz (RF); 7. Mike Napoli (1B); 8. Brandon Snyder (LF); 9. Luis Martinez (C).

Pitchers -- LHP Robbie Ross, LHP Neal Cotts, RHP Yoshinori Tateyama, LHP Michael Kirkman, RHP Koji Uehara.

San Diego Padres: 1. Chris Denorfia (CF); 2. Jeremy Hermida (RF); 3. Jesus Guzman (LF); 4. Matt Clark (1B); 5. Yasmani Grandal (DH); 6. Jedd Gyroko (3B); 7. John Baker (C); 8. Jonathan Galvez (2B); 9. Andy Parrino (SS).

Pitchers -- LHP Corey Luebke.

-- Drew Davison

Tuesday's morning from Surprise: Rangers tab Robbie Ross for today's start

Robbie Ross will start in today's A game vs. San Diego.

It's Ross's second start of spring training, as he continues to keep himself in the mix for the left-handed reliever opening in the Texas Rangers' bullpen. He allowed four runs (three earned) in his first Cactus League start, a game in which the stats were wiped away because of a rain out.

Neftali Feliz will start in the Double A game tonight, while Colby Lewis will start the Triple A game. Manager Ron Washington said the team prefers the starters going in minor league games so the team can monitor them better.

Here are a few other notes from Tuesday:

* Outfielder Craig Gentry is feeling better today, and is expected to go through the full workout. He isn't scheduled to play in today's game as of yet, but said he would consider backing up if he makes it through the workout well.

* Brandon Snyder is starting in leftfield today. He backed up in left on Monday night. Snyder has been working with Gary Pettis on playing the outfield, and could be a versatile option for the Rangers' bench.

* Yu Darvish will throw a bullpen on Wednesday. He was originally scheduled to throw one today, but the team has decided he only needs to throw one this week.

-- Drew Davison

Ian Kinsler, Scott Feldman lead Rangers past Reds

Ian Kinsler homered and doubled, and the Rangers tagged left-hander Jeff Francis for 10 runs in three-plus innings as beat Cincinnati 12-2 for their first win this spring at Surprise Stadium as the home team.

Nelson Cruz and Mitch Moreland each had three RBIs, and Josh Hamilton drove in two with a double as the final hitter Francis faced. The Rangers expect their offense to pick up the rest of spring as the lineup regulars begin to play more innings.

"We've got to get serious right now," said shortstop Elvis Andrus, who was 1 for 3. "We have a few games left, and you want to get that mental approach. These games are important."

Scott Feldman allowed three hits and struck out nine in six scoreless innings in what could be his final start of the spring before heading to the bullpen. The Reds' lineup was missing most of its regulars, including 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto.

Feldman (1-2) said that special assistant Greg Maddux, the winner of 355 games, told him not to try to strike guys out, but it happened anyway.

"That's a lot of strikeouts for me," Feldman said. "I was talking to Greg Maddux, and he said just try to get groundballs. He said strikeouts kind of happen by accident."

The Rangers had been 1-10 in Surprise with the only victory against Kansas City as the road team. They improved their overall record to 7-16-1.

Brandon Snyder saw his first action of the spring in left field, and made a diving grab in the eighth inning. With the Rangers seeking a right-handed-hitting outfielder, Snyder will get a look even though first and third base are his best positions. He was drafted as a catcher.

"I thought he ran one heck of a zigzag pattern, but he made the catch," manager Ron Washington said. "I don't think an offensive coordinator could have drawn it up better."

-- Jeff Wilson

 

#Rangers video: Scott Feldman talks about his Monday start

Texas Rangers right-hander Scott Feldman looked good on Monday, throwing six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts versus the Cincinnati Reds in a Cactus League game at Surprise Stadium.

 

 

-- Drew Davison

#Rangers video: Ron Washington's media briefing

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington met with the media on Monday afternoon, and talked about the team's recent cuts, including outfielder Conor Jackson.

-- Drew Davison

Monday afternoon from Surprise: Craig Gentry out of #Rangers lineup

Craig Gentry doesn't know what is bothering him, but it is enough to keep him out of tonight's lineup. He is scheduled to go see a doctor today or Tuesday to find out the diagnosis.

"Just tired, I don't know what it is," Gentry said. "The past few days I feel like I'm going to faint."

Gentry left Sunday's game with what the team called "dehydration," but Gentry doesn't believe that is the problem.

It's been a disappointing spring for Gentry, who had minor setbacks with hamstring and wrist injuries earlier.

Here are a few other notes from Monday:

* Brad Hawpe said he would not be willing to take an assignment to Triple A Round Rock at this point. "Not right now," Hawpe said. "I want to play in the big leagues. If I can't play in the big leagues right now, I've got to re-evaluate it." Hawpe, who had Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery in Aug. 2011, has not played in the outfield yet, although he believes he will be able to by mid-April

* Conor Jackson, on the other hand, understands that he could be a candidate to go to Triple A. He knows he hasn't had the best spring training, and is focused on making an impression the final week of spring training. "I just want to play baseball, and get everyday at-bats," Jackson said.

* Neftali Feliz will start in a Double A game on Tuesday instead of a major league game. Colby Lewis is scheduled to throw in the Triple A game. The team has not announced who will start the A game.

-- Drew Davison

Left-handed relievers at forefront of Rangers' 6-5 loss to Angels

TEMPE, Ariz. – Robbie Ross is keeping himself in the mix to become the left-handed reliever in the Texas Rangers’ bullpen, while Michael Kirkman continues to have an inconsistent spring.

Both pitchers had vastly different days vs. the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, a game that the Rangers lost 6-5 at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Ross threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with one walk and two strikeouts. In the fourth inning, Ross retired Albert Pujols on a fly out and later induced an inning-ending double play by Bobby Abreu.

Kirkman, meanwhile, couldn’t hold two leads in the eighth or ninth. He gave up a two-run home run to Jorge Cantu in the eighth that tied the game at 4-4. Then, after the Rangers had regained a 5-4 lead, Kirkman gave up RBI singles to Angels’ prospects Kole Calhoun and Randal Grichuk.

“Today he just wasn’t very good,” manager Ron Washington said. “He left too many balls up. … He’s been on-and-off [in spring training]. He’s had some good days out there, and then he has not-so-good days.”

Ross has been consistent throughout the spring, and will throw on consecutive days with the rest of the relievers this week. He has not allowed a run in six official Cactus League appearances, although he did give up four runs (three earned) in a start on March 18 that was rained out.

Ross is projected as a starter, and has started 68 of 69 professional games with his lone relief outing coming on a scheduled bullpen day early last season. There will be a discussion of what’s best for the Rangers and Ross, but Washington didn’t make his feelings public Sunday.

“We just haven’t made a decision on that yet,” Washington said. “It’s obvious the kid is doing well.”

The 22-year-old Ross is enjoying it, making the most of his first big league camp with a smile on his face every day.

“Just enjoy it, smiling is all I do,” Ross said. “It was awesome to face well-known hitters, and get out there and do it.”

Neal Cotts has also put himself in the conversation, and he threw a scoreless inning Sunday.

“He’s still here,” Washington said.

-- Drew Davison

Left-handed relievers at forefront of Rangers' 6-5 loss to Angels

TEMPE, Ariz. – Robbie Ross is keeping himself in the mix to become the left-handed reliever in the Texas Rangers’ bullpen, while Michael Kirkman continues to have an inconsistent spring.

Both pitchers had vastly different days vs. the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, a game that the Rangers lost 6-5 at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Ross threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with one walk and two strikeouts. In the fourth inning, Ross retired Albert Pujols on a fly out and later induced an inning-ending double play by Bobby Abreu.

Kirkman, meanwhile, couldn’t hold two leads in the eighth or ninth. He gave up a two-run home run to Jorge Cantu in the eighth that tied the game at 4-4. Then, after the Rangers had regained a 5-4 lead, Kirkman gave up RBI singles to Angels’ prospects Kole Calhoun and Randal Grichuk.

“Today he just wasn’t very good,” manager Ron Washington said. “He left too many balls up. … He’s been on-and-off [in spring training]. He’s had some good days out there, and then he has not-so-good days.”

Ross has been consistent throughout the spring, and will throw on consecutive days with the rest of the relievers this week. He has not allowed a run in six official Cactus League appearances, although he did give up four runs (three earned) in a start on March 18 that was rained out.

Ross is projected as a starter, and has started 68 of 69 professional games with his lone relief outing coming on a scheduled bullpen day early last season. There will be a discussion of what’s best for the Rangers and Ross, but Washington didn’t make his feelings public Sunday.

“We just haven’t made a decision on that yet,” Washington said. “It’s obvious the kid is doing well.”

The 22-year-old Ross is enjoying it, making the most of his first big league camp with a smile on his face every day.

“Just enjoy it, smiling is all I do,” Ross said. “It was awesome to face well-known hitters, and get out there and do it.”

Neal Cotts has also put himself in the conversation, and he threw a scoreless inning Sunday.

“He’s still here,” Washington said.

-- Drew Davison