Let’s Do This: Rangers-Diamondbacks Live Blog

First, we start with an advisory: Sources close to Josh Hamilton confirm that the Rangers have made an initial contract offer to the center fielder. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and owner Tom Hicks declined to comment on an offer, but Hicks did say “We like the player a lot and we want him to stay here a long time.”

In the past that’s been Rangers code for “We’re actively negotiating.”

What will a Hamilton deal look like? My guess is the Rangers would seek six years with an option for at least one more. I’m thinking he annual value would have to average out to about $9 million per year. Please feel free, however, to offer your own guesses.

And now on to the live blog. …

8:30 p.m. CDT: Congratulations the seven billion people who guess that today’s special guest was indeed Mrs. Evan Grant, er, Molly Erdman. Molly and I shared a fine lunch. She met her dream date Steve Buechele. All in all a fine afternoon. So, tball, send me an email with your mailing address. You were the first to make the correct guess, so you will receive an official MLB baseball autographed by none other than Molly Erdman (it was the first time she’s ever signed a baseball). We’ll have some video interviews up, most likely tomorrow when Stephanie Spielberg, er, Nancy “Puck Bunny” Nichols gets done editing.  First, though, Nancy is about to Ranch Up! with a noted Burgermeister.

8:44: Patrick was the only one to ask a question [REMINDER: We are taking questions tonight] and wanted to know where Dave Barnett has been the last couple of weeks. Eric Nadel’s newest partner has been involved in NCAA basketball coverage, doing first several conference tournaments and, most recently, the women’s tournament. He is gone until the end of camp, but will rejoin Eric for the two exhibitions in Texas April 3-4.

8:55: LonFree, about Elvis Andrus’ hit-and-run in the second inning that led to a pair of runs, situational hitting is considered his strong suit. Guys have told me he seems more locked in for plate appearances when there is a hit-and-run to execute or a bunt to get down. For him, that’s going to be an important tool this year.

8:57: Travis Metcalf made a pair of nice plays at third base in the top of the third, charging to get one ball and leaping to grab a high bouncer. I still believe Metcalf is an above average fielder at the position. What’s interesting is that designated backup third baseman Hank Blalock hasn’t played third since he went head-first into the dugout chasing a foul pop last week. With Michael Young out with a sore quadriceps, there should be plenty of time to get Blalock some time at third. Yet, Metcalf is starting there today with Blalock at DH.

9:00: C Max Ramirez has been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

9:08: After watching RHP Kris Benson pitch six solid innings in a minor league game this afternoon, manager Ron Washington said Benson was still in contention for a spot in the rotation. I asked Washington who he could possibly remove if there was no health issue and then suggested the only pitcher suited to be a swing man is RHP Scott Feldman. Washington declined to discuss options, but only reiterated that Benson is a possibility.

“We certainly have some tough decisions and that’s the way we like it,” Washington said.

On the radio and TV tonight, club president Nolan Ryan acknowledged that Feldman could pitch in relief and probably do a good job. General manager Jon Daniels declined to discuss potential roster permutations.

In theory, moving Feldman to the bullpen to add Benson to the rotation would help the beleaguered relief staff. But I’m not sure it’s practical or wise.  Feldman has pitched well since moving into the rotation last year. He’s been the staff’s most durable starter. Benson’s .482 winning percentage over a 10-year career ranks him 63rd among the 76 active pitchers with at least 150 starts. At some point, you have to believe a pitcher is what a pitcher is. He’s 34 , a full eight years older than Feldman. And his contract allows the Rangers to send him to the minor leagues for a month. The Rangers came to camp and announced their planned rotation within the first week. Nobody has done anything to pitch their way out of it. No reason to fuss with that.

9:19: Hey, JamesG, you mention another reason to wait on adding Benson to the 40-man roster. If he is added, the Rangers are going to lose a pitcher with upside. Last year, the Rangers added a guy to their 40-man roster who once showed a lot of promise but was dealing with the fallout from injuries. To add him, they add to take somebody off the 40. That guy? Armando Galarraga. Time to learn that lesson.

9:22: Strong words from AJM, who will feel “tormented” if the Rangers give at-bats to Andruw Jones at the expense of Chris Davis and Nelson Cruz. I think any at-bats they lose will be marginal. I think Hank Blalock ends up losing more at-bats and how he reacts is going to be a key. But the Rangers have not told Blalock anything about their possible plans at this point. To me, he is the ultimate loser in all this, losing at-bats and potential market value for free agency.

9:25: Regarding Jason Jennings, Greg, he’s not throwing 90 mph and I doubt he’ll ever do more than briefly touch it. He didn’t throw 90 often even before being injured. Reports on him have been mixed. I go back to my 9:08 diatribe: There has been nobody in the rotation who has pitched his way out of a spot. So right now there’s no room for Jennings. I don’t think he’s going to have a major league job waiting on him if he’s not added to the roster for the season opener, so I think going to Frisco and showing he’s healthy is the best way to go. I’m not much for putting him in the bullpen. And I reiterate the trouble I have with adding guys to the roster at the expense of guys like Josh Rupe or Dustin Nippert.

9:33: Shocking development – Vicente Padilla hits batter. Hard. Conor Jackson takes one in the rib cage at 91 mph. Be interesting to see what comes of this.  If not tonight, then when the Rangers play Arizona June 23-25 during the regular season. Padilla is currently in a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fifth and there are already three runs across the board in the inning.

9:40: DPPBM (Figure out the acronym) – I can’t even begin to calculate the average age here, but can tell you that once again the Rangers appear to be playing a road game in Surprise. More D’Backs fans on hands. That’s only natural because we are in Arizona, after all. But it’s that way no matter who the opponent is.  … And the age guess: Doesn’t matter, I still haven’t gotten a date, but I did spend the day with Molly.

9:45: Colin, the Opening Day starter is going to be Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla should start Game 2. There is still time to play with the slotting for the rest of the rotation.

9:46: D’Backs overshift Josh Hamilton in bottom of fifth with the second baseman at midway depth in right field and the third baseman way off the line. No bunt tonight. He hits the ball into the guts of the shift and is thrown out by the second baseman from right field.

9:49: Feliz and Holland are still in major league camp, but are now starting to get all their work in minor league games. The Rangers simply want them around the major leaguers. Holland, in particular, has struck up a strong relationship with Michael Young and Marlon Byrd. That’s the kind of thing the Rangers want to see happen.

9:56: DPPBM is back at it with a six-pack of questions. Those questions and the answers:

Who is more likely to be a major league closer: Warner Madrigal or Kasey Kiker? Me: I’ll take Madrigal only because he’s already transitioned into a reliever and seems to be working his way up the food chain.

Will Ron Washington still be the manager when the Rangers make the playoffs? ME: First steps, first. He’s got to get this team off to a better start than in the past two years. If he doesn’t it is entirely possible he’s not the manager by Memorial Day.  But if this team starts making progress in the win column this season, there is no reason why he can’t be the manager for the next playoff game.

Which of the big-name prospects disappointed you most? ME: Does Thomas Diamond still count as a big name prospect? If so, then it’s him. Great kid, good stuff, just wonder if he’ll ever put it together.

If Chris Davis struggles, etc., will we see Justin Smoak early? If the Rangers don’t give Davis the full year and full support, it will be foolish and a step backward. Owner Tom Hicks said again today that “there are no short-cuts” in building a championship club. He said he is excited about all the young players in the system. Abandoning Davis would be directly in conflict with that theory.

10:03: Bioaggie – Michael Ballard is working as both a reliever and starter in the minor league camp. if the Rangers’ lefties struggle this season, Ballard and Corey Young (drafted in the 12th round last year) could climb quickly.

10:08: Line on Vicente Padilla is six innings, eight hits, three runs (all earned), one walk and two strikeouts. It’s the second official quality start (six innings or more, three earned runs or less) by a Rangers starter this week. Kevin Millwood authored the other. I’ve said this about Eleventy Billion Times, but if those two pile up quality starts this team is going to win more games than it loses. Maybe a lot more than it loses.

10:10: Oh, Jolly, I think you are overthinking. This team needs a fifth starter for the sixth game of the season. I’m all for the club growing up and just running five starters out there one through five. The Rangers have tried to manipulate and twist the rotation for years, mostly because they haven’t really believed in their pitchers. Well, if the first tenet of pitching coach Mike Maddux’s philosophy is “pitch with conviction,” that ought to apply to how the Rangers treat their pitchers, too. They ought to believe in them.

10:13: Brendan Donnelly has replaced Padilla. Big night for Donnelly. The “out” date in his minor league contract is Friday. I don’t expect the Rangers to pick it up. Now, he’s not pitching to make the Rangers roster, per se, but perhaps pitching to attract attention from the other 29 teams. And believe me, the Rangers aren’t the only ones with bullpen issues.

11:09: Well, ended up waiting in the clubhouse for Josh Hamilton longer than I expected, but I did get this from him: He’s going underground as far as commenting on contract negotiations. Earlier in the day, he expressed “disappointment” to reporters over the Rangers initial offer. Wednesday night, he was reminded by his agent Mike Moye, Rangers GM Jon Daniels and other club officials not to negotiate in public.

“I’m thinking about baseball, not a contract right now,” Hamilton said after attending a post-game meeting with Daniels while still bundled in ice wraps. “No matter what happens I’m going to play just as hard as anybody would expect. I just feel fortunate to be in a position to get an offer after everything I’ve been through.”

11:12: What happened while I was gone? Chris Davis pretty much put any worries about his spring to rest with a grand slam that put the Rangers ahead for good. Over the last two weeks, Davis is hitting .323 (10-for-31) with three home runs and eight RBIs. Stop worrying. … Oh and the other thing: Eddie Guardado pitched in the game for the first time in two weeks after dealing with some shoulder stiffness. He threw 10 pitches, none of them faster than 85 mph. He also retired all three batters he faced and threw first-pitch strikes to each of them. Mid-season form right there. Mid-season form.