Rangers Gobble Up Pitcher

The Rangers signed LHP Jimmy Gobble, who was released by Kansas City Friday, to a minor league contract late Saturday. Gobble, 27, will report to major league spring training Sunday morning and will have about two weeks to prove to the Rangers he could be a viable bullpen option.

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Game Report: Rangers 8, Rockies 4

With his father in the opposing dugout, Rangers minor league 1B Chad Tracy hit a seventh-inning grand slam to break a 4-4 tie Saturday afternoon in Surprise. Tracey’s father, Jim, is a coach for the Rockies. The win was the Rangers sixth consecutive victory. They have scored at least eight runs in each of the wins. The homer came in Chad Tracy’s first major league exhibition at-bat of the spring. (more…)

Andruw Jones Situation May Be Taking Dramatic Turn; He Could End Up Rangers’ Right-Handed Hitting DH

SURPRISE, Ariz. – The three-day extension to Andruw Jones’ minor league contract with Rangers may end up turning into a much longer stay.

Less than a week after informing Jones he had virtually no chance to make the Opening Day roster, the Rangers have had a significant change of heart. After Saturday’s 8-4 win over Colorado, team officials retired to a quickly scheduled evaluation meeting to discuss the roster in general, but Jones specifically.

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Farm Futures — Live from Surprise (3/21)

SURPRISE, AZ – On a day when top pitching prospects Michael Main, Martin Perez, Robbie Ross and Joe Wieland all pitched, it was the young man you are looking at right now who stole the show on the Surprise Stadium minor league fields.

There was nothing wrong with the performances that the more-heralded pitching prospects turned in today — each had more ups than downs (especially Wieland), and we’ll discuss all of them after the jump — but none were as dominant at Geuris Grullon.

You probably haven’t heard much — if anything — about the long, lean 19 year old lefty Grullon, but if today was even somewhat representative of what he’s capable of doing, you will most certainly be hearing a lot about him in the future.

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Owen Wilson In The Rangers Bullen

The Dallas-reared actor is at Rangers camp today researching his role for a movie (please no cheap jokes that it must either be a comedy or a tragedy, oops, dang it.). He is sitting in the Rangers bullpen in a pale blue long-sleeved oxford shirt and a pair of khakis. He is talking with Andy Hawkins, but Josh Rupe is lurking. If a little of Rupe gets into Wilson’s interpretation, I’m sure Southern-Fried hijinks will ensue.

Wilson did not address the media. Apparently, he heard that I wanted my money back for You, Me & Dupree.

Also, I maintain that Owen Wilson will throw out the first pitch during the next post-season series in Arlington. Unless, of course, Matthew McConaughey suddenly announces an affinity for the Rangers.

Festival Of Bunting Continues

With two outs and nobody on base in the first inning of Saturday’s game, Colorado, an NL club, put three players on the right side of the infield and pulled its third baseman way off the line with Josh Hamilton at bat.

So, Hamilton tried once again to bunt for a hit. You may we recall that we wrote about his bunting prowess earlier in the week after he laid one down for a hit against San Diego. This time, it didn’t go so ell. He rolled one ball up the third base line foul and squared twice – with two strikes – before taking a called third strike.

I’m not sure which is stranger, the sight of Hamilton attempting to bunt or the Rockies shifting a player they won’t face this season in the first inning of an exhibition game.

Farm Fotos (3/21 morning session)

Engel Beltre

Wilmer Font

Live From Surprise: Pitching Prospect Extravaganza

We just got word that Derek Holland will be pitching in the Triple-A game in Tuscon (which I won’t see), but here in Surprise Michael Main is scheduled to start the Advanced-A game while lefty Martin Perez will start the Class-A game. I’ll do my best to run back and forth between the fields and keep up with both for this afternoon’s report.

For those unfamiliar with Main and Perez, there are people who belive that they may become an even more impressive Righty / Lefty – One / Two punch than Feliz & Holland. You can read my Prospect Previews on them after the jump.

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Why Constructing The Bullpen Is The Top Story Of Spring

We plan to be back later with our top 10 stories (and a few non-stories) of Spring Training, but thought we’d at least get the day started with a little talk about the No. 1 issue in camp: The bullpen.

To bring you up to date: RHP Frank Francisco is the closer and nothing has changed about that. LHPs C.J Wilson and Eddie Guardado are expected to be the primary setup men, though both have dealt with some spring training pains that make things a little less certain. Wilson’s had a bruised hand and a split callus that have limited him to 1.1 innings since March 1; he’s supposed to return to the mound today, so that will be something of a focus for this afternoon’s game with Colorado. Guardado has dealt with some shoulder stiffness, but he’s dealt with shoulder issues for the last five years and unless his arm becomes physically unattached, he will be ready for the start of the season.

RHP Warner Madrigal has all but clinched a job, though with more than two weeks left until the season begins, you can never be absolutely certain. The rest is a melange of occasional impressive outings (RHP Willie Eyre), decent track records trying to bounce back from injury (RHPs Brendan Donnelly and Derrick Turnbow) and, well, others.

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Saturday LAX at SMU

It’s the second and main day of the two-day Patriot Cup lacrosse event at Ford Stadium. Five matches today beginning in just a few minutes. We open with St. Mark’s facing St. Mary’s from Annapolis, Md. at 9 a.m.

Then, college play will dominate the day. Notre Dame vs. Vermont at noon, Air Force against Bucknell at 2:30, a club match at 5 between Nazareth and Western New England, and a college finale with SMU hosting Texas A&M at 7.

Visit back during the proceedings. Better yet, drop by. (more…)