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MLB Standings Update: Angels Look To Extend Win…

wegePyday — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 02:31:18 +0000

Read More: Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels

This past week has not been kind to the Los Angeles Angels (67-59), who sit six games back of the Texas Rangers (73-53) in the AL West. The Rangers increased their lead in the division over the past seven days with six wins in seven contests, including three of four games against the Angels. The Angels, meanwhile, lost five of their seven games.

The Angels, however, have snapped a five-game losing streak and are currently riding a two-game winning streak. This weekend, they play two games against the Baltimore Orioles (47-75), who have lost six of their last eight and three straight overall. The Rangers take on the Chicago White Sox (61-63), who are riding a three-game losing streak of their own.

In tonight’s game against the Orioles, the Angels will put Joel Piniero (5-6) on the mound against Tommy Hunter (2-2). The series will conclude on Sunday when new pitcher Jerome Williams (0-0), who was recently called up from Triple-A Salt Lake, will start against Baltimore’s Brian Matusz (1-5).

The Angels will need to build on their two-game winning streak against the Orioles this weekend in order to keep up with the Rangers. The Angels, however, will get a shot to really make up some ground in the AL West when the two teams meet up again for a three-day series beginning next Friday. Let’s hope that the Angels are riding an even bigger winning streak by the time that the Angels-Rangers series rolls around.

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Rangers shut down White Sox, 4-0

clubpenguinmoneymo — Tue, 24 May 2011 09:53:14 +0000

John Danks is still looking for his first victory this season for Chicago White Sox, even after a complete game against a Texas lineup that got back its two sluggers.

Once again, Danks got no offensive support from his own lineup, and the White Sox lost 4-0 to the Rangers.

Reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz both homered in their return for the defending American League champions to back the first career shutout for Alexi Ogando (5-0), a five-hitter.

“(Danks) threw the ball very well, but he made a couple mistakes to the wrong guys. He did a good job, but Ogando was better,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “We couldn’t do much. We hit a couple balls hard, but we couldn’t do anything with it.”

Danks is the first White Sox pitcher since Neil Allen in 1987 to start a season 0-7. The left-hander is one of only five major league pitchers this season with at least seven starts without a win.

The White Sox have scored only four runs for Danks in his five road starts this season.

“He’s had only one bad game. But we’re not doing anything to help him and that’s the problem,” Guillen said. “You tell him it’s not your fault, keep your head up. He gives us a chance to win every time out except one game.”

Danks, drafted ninth overall by Texas in 2003 and traded to Chicago three years later, struck out three and walked two while 71 of 105 pitches for strikes. It was his third career complete game, and first this season.

“It’s tough to lose. I say the same thing after every start. I felt good,” Danks said. “I just made a couple mistakes and got outpitched.”

Hamilton and Cruz were back in the Rangers lineup together for the first time since April 12, when Hamilton broke a bone in his upper right arm trying to score with a headfirst slide. Cruz had last played May 3 before a strained left quadriceps.

Both wrapped up rehab assignments Sunday at Triple-A Round Rock, and were activated before Monday’s game.

Hamilton pulled an 0-1 pitch over the right-field wall in the first to put Texas ahead to stay. He hit .333 without a homer in 11 games before getting hurt.

Cruz hit a two-run shot to left in the sixth, his eighth, to make it 3-0.

“I made a lousy pitch to a pretty darn good hitter in the first, and I made a good pitch to Cruz that he hit out of the ballpark,” Danks said. “It changes their lineup, no disrespect to their other hitters.”

Ogando (5-0), who was added to the rotation at the end of spring training after Tommy Hunter’s injury, struck out six and walked three while throwing 72 of his 105 pitches for strikes.

It was only the fourth time ever at Rangers Ballpark, which opened in 1994, that both starting pitchers threw complete games. The game was played in 2 hours, 5 minutes, the shortest there since a 2-hour game five years ago.

Chicago was held without a run for the sixth time after being scoreless only five times last season.

It was the second time the White Sox were shut out when Danks started.

“I just have to keep plugging along. I feel like it’s a broken record. It’s tough, don’t get me wrong. I just have to get ready for my next start in Toronto,” he said. “It’s getting harder and harder (to stay positive). That’s the blunt truth. But it doesn’t do me any good to dwell on it and feel sorry for myself.”

Notes: When Pierzynski reached into the stands to try to catch a foul ball by Beltre in the sixth inning, he found himself face-to-face with former President George W. Bush. The ball didn’t hit anyone when it fell into the owner’s box where Bush and his wife, Laura, sat with Rangers president Nolan Ryan and his wife, Ruth. … The White Sox are 7-4 after 11 of 20 games in 20 days. … PGA Tour player Vijay Singh attended the game. He missed the cut at the Colonial in Fort Worth last week and is a former champion in this week’s Byron Nelson Championship in Irving.

Ogando (5-0) struck out six and walked three while throwing 72 of his 105 pitches for strikes.

It was the fifth shutout for the Rangers this season, and the sixth time Chicago was held without a run.

Danks, who was drafted ninth overall by Texas in 2003 and traded to Chicago three years later, had his third career complete game, first this season. The left-hander again got no run support, with the White Sox scoring only four runs for him in his five road starts this season.

Danks struck out three and walked two.

The game was played in 2 hours, 5 minutes — the shortest game at Rangers Ballpark since a 2-hour game on May 29, 2006.

Hamilton and Cruz wrapped up rehab assignments Sunday at Triple-A Round Rock, and were activated before Monday’s game.

The return for Hamilton came one day short of six weeks since he broke a bone in his upper right arm trying to score with a headfirst slide April 12 at Detroit. Cruz had been out since leaving a game early May 3 at Seattle because of a strained left quadriceps.

Ogando was a setup reliever for the Rangers last season, and though he was stretched in spring training, it had been anticipated that he would pitch out of the bullpen. The Rangers had already named their rotation without Ogando the final week of spring training before Tommy Hunter got hurt.

Now Ogando has pitched at least six innings in nine consecutive starts to open the season, matching Kevin Millwood (2009) as the only Rangers pitchers in opening-day rotations to accomplish that over the past 10 seasons.

Hamilton, who was the designated hitter batting third, got a standing ovation when he was introduced in the first. He responded with his first homer of the season.

Cruz got a similar response when he led off in the second, when he grounded out.

After Adrian Beltre drew a two-out walk in the sixth, Cruz homered to left. Beltre added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Notes: When White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski reached into the stands to try to catch a foul ball by Beltre in the sixth inning, he found himself face-to-face with former President George W. Bush. The ball didn’t hit anyone when it fell into the owner’s box where Bush and his wife, Laura, sat with Rangers president Nolan Ryan and his wife, Ruth. … PGA Tour player Vijay Singh attended the game. He missed the cut at the Colonial in Fort Worth last week and is a former champion in this week’s Byron Nelson Championship in Irving.

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Rangers starter Hunter out six weeks with groin strain

JJL — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:33:36 +0000

PHOENIX (Reuters) â€“ Texas Rangers starting pitcher Tommy Hunter faces at least six weeks out and will miss the start of the season after straining his right groin muscle.

The news of Hunter’s injury came just hours after the Rangers had announced he would be in its starting rotation and comes just days before Texas opened its season against the Boston Red Sox on April 1.

Hunter, 25, will return to Arlington for an injection of his own blood platelets as part of the recovery process.

“That’s a fair range,” assistant general manager Thad Levine said of the anticipated recovery period. “We’ll have to update that as he responds to treatment and the injection.”

Hunter, who was out for 10 weeks in 2009 with a groin injury, said he was optimistic the healing time would not be so long.

“I don’t think it’s as bad (as 2009). You don’t know how bad it is until you’re able to start doing things.”

Hunter was 13-4 in 22 starts with the Rangers last season.

(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario. Editing by Patrick Johnston)

There is the quick update of the day.

Texas will keep Feliz closing instead of starting

OZBrian — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 05:03:22 +0000

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP)â€”Neftali Feliz(notes) will keep closing games instead of starting them for the AL champion Texas Rangers.

As for the Texas rotation, what seemed set Thursday morning was in flux within hours.

Feliz, who set a major league rookie record with 40 saves last season, had been stretched out this spring in case the Rangers decided to use the hard-throwing righty as a starter. Instead, he will remain in his familiar role.

Feliz pitched a scoreless eighth inning Thursday as a split squad of Rangers lost to San Diego 7-4.

â€œRight now, for our organization, heâ€™s better in the bullpen,â€ Texas manager Ron Washington said. â€œWe havenâ€™t closed the door on him being a starter. Itâ€™s just not now. We wanted to make sure that we continue to be strong in every area. With Feliz being at the closing end, weâ€™re certainly strong.â€

Feliz took over the closerâ€™s role during last year and went 40 for 43 on save tries, going 4-3 with a 2.73 ERA.

Texas opened spring training knowing left-hander C.J. Wilson(notes) and Colby Lewis(notes) would be its top two starters after Cliff Leeâ€™s(notes) departure. The rest of the rotation announced Thursday included Tommy Hunter(notes) and left-handers Matt Harrison(notes) and Derek Holland(notes).

At least that was the plan until Hunter strained his right groin in the Rangersâ€™ 15-13 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday afternoon.

It marked the third straight year Hunter has been hurt at the end of camp. In 2009 he sustained a groin injury and didnâ€™t arrive in the majors until May. Last year, an oblique strain put him on the disabled list.

â€œI think Iâ€™ll be all right,â€ said Hunter, who has a 10.97 ERA in his three spring starts. â€œThree days â€¦ I had three days to go. Itâ€™s all right. Weâ€™ll get back together and go throw.â€

Michael Kirkman(notes), who was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock earlier in the day, could replace Hunter if the right-hander isnâ€™t ready for his first start.

Wilson will start the season opener April 1 at home against Boston.

That’s all the news for today.

Texas Rangers to keep Neftali Feliz as closer

info — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:31:58 +0000

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Neftali Feliz will keep closing games instead of starting them for the AL champion Texas Rangers.

The Rangers have settled on their starting rotation and Feliz, who set a major league rookie record with 40 saves last season, will remain the closer. Feliz had been stretched out this spring in case they decided to use the hard-throwing right-hander as a starter.

Texas opened spring training knowing left-hander C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis would be their top two starters after Cliff Lee’s departure.

The rest of the rotation announced Thursday includes Tommy Hunter, and left-handers Matt Harrison and Derek Holland.

Wilson will start the season opener April 1 at home against Boston.

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Neftali Feliz To Remain Texas’ Closer

Steexonehealo — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:55:50 +0000

By JP Starkey – Associate Editor

Read More: Neftali Feliz (P – TEX), Texas Rangers

The reigning American League Rookie of the Year award winner will remain in Texas’ bullpen in 2011.

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Mar 24, 2011 - It’s official: Neftali Feliz will remain in the bullpen for the Texas Rangers in 2011. Per Anthony Andro, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year award winner will not be in the starting rotation for the Rangers this year, something that Texas manager Ron Washington confirmed on Thursday.

Feliz was scheduled to start tonight for the Rangers, but with Washington’s recent decision, Feliz will not start. Tonight’s starter for Texas is TBD.

With Feliz headed to the bullpen, Tommy Hunter, Derek Holland and Matt Harrison will round out Texas’ rotation to open the 2011 season. Brandon Webb, who was signed over the winter, is still recovering from his shoulder injuries.

Feliz’ role as closer also defines roles for other members of the Rangers’ pitching staff. Alexi Ogando, who was a candidate both for Texas’ rotation and closer should Feliz have earned a starting spot, will remain a setup man for the Rangers.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

Rangers agree to terms with seven players

typeKamyroato — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:02:41 +0000

The Texas Rangers have agreed to terms with pitcher Tommy Hunter on a one-year contract.

Surprise, AZ (Sports Network) – The Texas Rangers have agreed to terms with pitcher Tommy Hunter on a one-year contract.

The team has also agreed with pitchers Matt Harrison, Fabio Castillo and Wilmer Font, catcher Taylor Teagarden, infielder Chris Davis and first baseman Mitch Moreland on one-year deals.

Hunter went 13-4 with a 3.73 earned run average over a career-high 22 starts and one relief outing last season with the Rangers. He opened the season on the disabled list with a left oblique strain and was also sidelined by a hip flexor injury during the 2010 campaign.

The 24-year-old right-hander was 0-2 with a 5.56 ERA in three playoff turns.

Harrison went 3-2 with a 4.71 ERA last season in six starts and 31 appearances in relief.

Moreland hit .255 with nine home runs and 25 runs batted in over 47 regular season games last year, his first in the big leagues. He batted .348 with a long ball and seven RBI in 46 post-season at-bats.

Davis struggled to a .192 average with a homer and four RBI while Teagarden hit four home runs and drove in six, while hitting .155, in 28 games last year.

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2011 Fantasy outlooks: Texas Rangers

frauenpotenzmittel — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:35:50 +0000

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After finishing right behind the Los Angeles Angels for two straight seasons, the Texas Rangers finally got the better of their AL West rivals in 2010. In fact, they surged past all AL teams on their way to their first-ever World Series berth. Unfortunately, the Giants were there to cool them off in five games.

The Rangers are technically the team to beat in the AL after winning their first league pennant, but many would consider the Boston Red Sox the favorite on the Junior Circuit heading into 2011 after they loaded up in the offseason. Regardless, the expectations are certainly elevated deep in the heart of Texas.

Gone is midseason acquisition Cliff Lee, All-Star Vladimir Guerrero and reliable setup man Frank Francisco. Arriving are Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli and Brandon Webb, who could be a key for Texas after missing nearly two full seasons because of a right shoulder injury.

Keeping reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton healthy is going to be crucial for the Rangers. The good news is that Beltre is just another bat to protect Hamilton. Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz and the disgruntled Michael Young, who is unhappy about a move to designated hitter with Beltre’s arrival, are a great supporting cast. They are also quality Fantasy options.

The rotation could be the key to Texas repeating as AL West champs. Despite losing Lee, the Rangers return three pitchers — C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter — that won 10-plus games for the club last year. The rotation could also receive a real boost if closer Neftali Feliz makes a seamless transition to a starter this spring. Otherwise, Texas will keep his 40-save presence at the back end of the bullpen.

The Rangers spent a good deal of the early 2000s trying to get out of the AL West cellar. They finally popped the champagne last year, and despite losing All-Stars like Lee and Guerrero, the Rangers aren’t ready to take the bubbly off the ice just yet.

Late-round flier … Tommy Hunter, SP

Hunter is turning into quite a little winning machine for the Rangers. He has a .647 winning percentage in less than 50 starts with the Rangers, this coming after he posted a .571 winning percentage in the minors. Hunter could be just scratching the surface with his potential. It’s unlikely he is going to be an elite strikeout pitcher, but his ERA, WHIP and hits per nine innings has dwindled each year he has been in the majors. He also doesn’t walk a ton of batters and knows how to pitch in the hitter-friendly Ballpark at Arlington. Hunter has a .765 winning percentage, 3.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 24 home outings (23 starts). Hunter went 13-4 last season after starting the year 8-0. He hasn’t even reached 30-plus starts in a season yet, but if he keeps on his current path, he could easily be a threat for 15 wins. With little investment needed, Hunter could be a great return for Fantasy owners.

Bust … Adrian Beltre, 3B

Look, do I feel Beltre will perform as a No. 1 Fantasy third baseman? Yes. However, he will not repeat as the third-best Fantasy scoring third baseman like he was last year and I don’t think he is going to put up the same numbers he did with Boston. Beltre is going to a hitter-friendly ballpark and will likely bat behind one of the best hitters in baseball — Hamilton. However, it is worth pointing out that Beltre got paid this offseason and his best numbers have come in contract years. Case in point, Beltre totaled a career-high 48 homers, 121 RBI and .334 average in 2004 — his first free-agent year. His second free-agent year — 2009 — doesn’t really count because he was injured. However, last year he had a career-high 49 doubles while posting his second-best numbers in homers (28), RBI (102) and batting average (.321). Beltre slumped to .255, 19 homers and 87 RBI in 2005 after his career year. It wouldn’t surprise me if Beltre’s numbers take a dip in all major categories this season.

Breakout … Mitch Moreland, 1B

You see Moreland’s .255 batting average in 47 regular-season games and you probably don’t think much of him. But take a closer at some of his other numbers. He had a .364 on-base percentage and a .833 OPS. In 15 playoff games, Moreland hit .348, while posting a .400 on-base percentage and .900 OPS. This coming after Moreland had a .313 average, .383 on-base percentage and .892 OPS in the minors. He is also a solid gap hitter and run producer. Not every elite prospect hits consistently when they first arrive in the majors. But Moreland’s postseason run has to be a huge confidence booster. Also working in his favor is that he doesn’t have to be the savior since Texas’ lineup is loaded, so he will probably see some good pitches to hit. He also plays in one of the majors’ top offensive parks.

	Rookies/Prospects	Age	Pos.	2010 high	Destination
1	Martin Perez	19	SP	Double-A	Triple-A
Struggled in high minors, but is still developing and drawing Johan Santana comparisons.
2	Tanner Scheppers	24	SP	Triple-A	Triple-A
Flamethrower compared to Brandon Morrow could also debut in the bullpen before joining rotation.
3	Michael Kirkman	24	SP	Majors	Triple-A
If he doesn’t make rotation this spring, he could be first call-up from Triple-A.
4	Engel Beltre	21	OF	Double-A	Double-A
Texas’ minor-league Player of the Year is still developing at the plate but is solid basestealer.
5	Jurickson Profar	18	SS	Class A	Class A
Very similar player to Elvis Andrus, but switch hitter is still raw and far off from debut.
Best of the rest: Robbie Erlin, SP; Mike Olt, 3B; Luis Sardinas, SS; Jake Skole, OF; Miguel De los Santos, SP; Robert Ross, SP; Neil Ramirez, SP; Kellen Deglan, C; Wilmer Font, SP; Luke Jackson, SP; Cody Buckel, SP; Justin Grimm, SP; Roman Mendez, SP; Joe Wieland, SP; Miguel Velazquez, OF; Omar Beltre, SP.

Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter . You can e-mail us your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com . Be sure to put Team outlooks in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.

What are your opinions.

Rangers are OK with not having started Cliff Lee in Game 4

erenlyotherce — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:07:05 +0000

General Manager Jon Daniels says he is glad the team did not use the left-hander on short rest, choosing instead to go with Tommy Hunter, who lasted only four innings in a 4-0 loss to San Francisco. With the Texas Rangers one loss away from losing the World Series, their general manager said Monday he had no regrets about not asking ace Cliff Lee to start on short rest.

Not a lot else going on in the MLB world today.

Hunter's postseason struggles continue

Paucceerm — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 06:59:00 +0000

Rangers starter Tommy Hunter watched the foul balls fly and his pitch count soar. "It's one of those things where if they foul the balls off, I just laugh," Hunter said. "That's what I did."

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Saving Lee for Game 5 the wise move

DeaDStRikEs — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 05:55:00 +0000

Rangers manager Ron Washington will inevitably catch his share of criticism for sticking with Tommy Hunter in Game 4 of the World Series against the Giants, rather than turning to Cliff Lee on short rest.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

Hunter eager for chance to pick up Rangers

unjussalk — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 03:44:00 +0000

Tommy Hunter struggled in ALDS and ALCS starts, but the right-hander has a chance to pick up the Rangers in Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday night.

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Vlad to play right field in Game 1 of Series

insindbligh — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:06:00 +0000

Vladimir Guerrero will be in right field for the Rangers in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday, and right-hander Tommy Hunter will be on the mound for Game 4 when the Series returns to Texas.

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Wilson, Hunter available in bullpen

typeKamyroato — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:57:03 +0000

Manager Ron Washington said left-hander C.J.

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Rangers pitchers take batting practice

krystyna5 — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:35:53 +0000

Rangers starting pitchers Cliff Lee, Tommy Hunter and C.J. Wilson took batting practice on Thursday.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.