Coming soon to a spring game: A Rangers starting pitcher. But who gets Opening Day?
A good rule of thumb for those traveling from Surprise to Salt River Fields:
It takes 45 minutes going, and a good 90 minutes coming back.
A solution to traffic woes in Phoenix Metro have yet to be solved, though the 202 South Mountain Freeway is helping some. The widening of the 303 near Surprise has been a godsend.
But traffic issues elsewhere remain, but at least the Texas Rangers aren’t training in Florida anymore.
The Grapefruit League is spread throughout central and southern Florida, and it might take four hours to get from one venue to another.
So, yeah, the media and teams in Arizona could have it a lot worse.
But, fans, beware of the traffic.
Here’s the Surprise Five from Wednesday in Rangers camp.
1. Mark your calendars for Friday for the chance at a rare sighting — a member of the Rangers’ projected starting rotation actually pitching in a Cactus League game.
Through five games this spring, and a sixth Thursday, only players expected to begin the seasons in the minor leagues have worked for the Rangers. Meanwhile, Corey Kluber, Mike Minor, Jordan Lyles and Kyle Gibson have been pitching simulated games.
Lance Lynn will be the first of the projected rotation to pitch in a real game Friday, against the Los Angeles Angels. Those who worry about starters facing division foes in spring training might fret, but here’s betting Lynn doesn’t give two squats.
Kluber could pitch Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manager Chris Woodward doesn’t either, apparently, nor is he particularly concerned if the starters actually work in an A game. They’ve been around long enough to know how to prepare for a season.
“I don’t think it really matters unless from their standpoint the psychological factor of getting in front of a crowd,” Woodward said. “Those guys are pretty locked in. If you were to ask Lance and Mike and Kluber, when they’re pitching in a sim game they’re about as intense as they are when there’s 60,000 in the stands.”
Maybe, but there is a difference in facing some of the game’s best hitters as opposed to free-swinging minor-leaguers on the back fields. If, say, Minor gets in trouble in a sim game or minor-league game, the inning can be stopped if he hits a pitch limit.
The guess here is that the five in the rotation make their last couple turns through the rotation as they build for the March 26 season opener at Seattle.
Speaking of which ...
2. Woodward didn’t say which way he is leaning toward naming an Opening Day starter, though it’s clear Kluber, Lynn and Minor are the candidates.
Minor was the choice last season, and it held some significance to him. He backed it up by being selected to the American League All-Star team. Lynn finished fifth in the Cy Young voting, three spots ahead of Minor. Kluber is a two-time Cy Young winner.
“No comment,” Woodward said.
Woodward said that the pitcher who starts the season opener could end up pitching the home opener March 31, as it follows an off day after four games at Seattle.
That brings up another interesting point: The Rangers wouldn’t want to sit on their No. 5 starter for two weeks before pitching him in a game, so they might give the Rangers the wiggle room to put Gibson on the injured list to start the season and let him pitch in a minor-league game in Arizona for his final tuneup.
They could also piggyback Gibson and Lyles in the fourth game, or just send the one who doesn’t pitch the fourth game to Arizona for a minor-league game on the off day March 30.
Decisions, decisions, and only four weeks to make them.
3. Barring an injury to one of the project starters, Kolby Allard will open the season at Triple A Nashville even though he headed into the offseason as one of the favorites to open 2020 in the rotation.
But the Rangers signed Gibson and Lyles, and then traded for Kluber to all but lock out Allard and fellow left-hander Joe Palumbo. Brock Burke, too, but he’s now headed for season-ending surgery on his shoulder.
Allard made his second start of the spring Wednesday and worked two scoreless innings. He said his misses are good misses, which early on in spring training is a good thing.
He also knows what’s likely ahead for him. He’s not hanging his head.
“I think there’s things in your career that you can control and others that you can’t,” said Allard, who was acquired July 30 from the Atlanta Braves for Chris Martin. “The only thing I’m trying to do is make it tough on Woody if he is going to leave you off the roster and make a very good impression that you can help the Texas Rangers win ballgames.”
He showed that last year, pitching with more composure than the Rangers thought they would see from a rookie. Palumbo has better stuff, but Allard has more innings and more experience in the minors to help him navigate rough patches.
They look to be the first two men up if and when a starter needs time on the IL.
That’s not the worst position to be in.
4. The nicest guy so far this spring? It’s a tough call between Sam Huff and Joely Rodriguez. They were the Rangers’ battery for the seventh inning Wednesday, with Rodriguez laboring some while allowing one run.
Huff, an Arizona native, has been an open book so far, and he actually has things to say. Rodriguez’s native language is Spanish, but he does a lot better with his English than some who have been speaking it all their lives.
Rodriguez will be on the Opening Day roster after boosting his career in Japan. The Rangers gave the left-hander a two-year contract, in part because he is good against right-handed hitters and could navigate the three-batter-minimum rule that goes into effect this season.
It was pretty much a bullpen day for the Rangers after Allard did his work. Edison Volquez, Jonathan Hernandez, Juan Nicasio, Brett Martin followed Allard, and Jason Bahr followed Rodriguez and surrendered a two-run lead in an eventual 4-3 loss.
Bahr is better than he showed. He was the Rangers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2019 and could join Allard and Palumbo in the discussion to be an injury fill-in.
He’s not on the 40-man roster, which hurts him, but there are usually ways to easily open a spot if it’s needed.
5. Friendly reminder/shameless pandering time: A Sports-only subscription to the Star-Telegram is available for only $30 for the first year. Click on the Twitter embed below.
From me alone this spring, you may have missed a nice story on James Jones, Shin-Soo Choo playing for far less if doesn’t retire, an initial stab at the Opening Day roster, good news for Gibson and if Kluber is damaged goods.
The Star-Telegram wrote around 800 Rangers stories last year. A $30 subscription is a bargain.
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 5:38 PM.
