Yhe starting pitching and the defense are certainly making the bullpen seem better than it is…..Salty blocking CJs dirt balls has to be the poster photo for that reality…..

Young, however, is bad. So far. He was terrible at short last year in terms of range, but has more than enough of it to handle third. Plus he has a cannon. The hands are definitely there, so I expect him to be good. He’s just not quite there yet.

There was nothing wrong with the OF last year. Seems like just about every guy they stick out there can run and throw with the best of them. This year they’re just as good.

Most improved player is Saltalamacchia, as the feller in Afghanistan said. Laird was not and is not a bad catcher. Teagarden is a very good defensive catcher. Salts, prior to this year, was really kind of bad. He looks like a different guy out there this year, though. Like a totally different guy.

The hitting has actually regressed in terms of their approach. They are less patient and aren’t doing a good job of working opposing pitchers. When they slump, they’re really going to slump as a result.

I don’t think the pitching is going to remain this strong. The starters are really on a roll and that’s very good to see, but over the course of the season I think they’re going to fall off some. The bullpen has some serious — no, potentially fatal — weaknesses.

But the defense I think will do nothing but get better as the year progresses. I think Andrus will get a little more consistent with his throwing and Young will continue to learn his position.

The new infield will save this team some runs and outs directly, but also some bases and most importantly, pitches. Definitely fewer runs allowed. This is baseball how it’s meant to be played.

Texas 2008 .670 last place
Texas 2009 .712 so far, second place

Outstanding work.

the defensive improvement – and prowess! – is such an exciting part of the 09 rangers.

just look at the 3-2 game 2 days ago: nellie makes that over the shoulder grab at a critical juncture and andrus makes a stellar grab, too and the game stays in range to where the team can pull out a win.

exciting.

However, I think Salty’s play has been equally important. Rangers backstops have allowed less than half as many stolen bases than the next best American League team, only 6 all yr, I believe; Carl Crawford equaled that in 1 game! Salty and Tea have zero passed balls and only 1 error. I’d like to see the stats after 35 games last yr.

One more thing, Kins is much better than last yr, but can continue to improve. Only 3 errors so far, which would be on pace for just under 15 for the yr. He had 18 in only 110 games last yr. I think he’s definitely going to be in the running for the GG with his superb range, if he can somehow keep the errors down to about 12-13 for the year.