Texas Rangers Make Layoffs To Business, Administrative Staff

The difficult economy and uncertainty about future ownership pushed the Texas Rangers on Monday to lay off “less than 10 percent” of the 275-person front office, club spokesman John Blake confirmed.

Blake said the club reached the difficult decision to make layoffs in season after reviewing several factors, including the economy and positioning the club for sale. Owner Tom Hicks, who in March opted not to make an interest-only payment on a loan of $500 million to his sports group, has been actively seeking investors to join him. Hicks has also said he would be willing to part with his majority stake in the club in order to get a deal done. The Rangers have been valued at approximately $500 million recently.

The timing of the move may seem odd given that the Rangers last week picked up the 2010 option in manager Ron Washington’s contract last week and then selected two players in the first 44 picks of the amateur draft who are expected to demand bonuses well above Major League Baseball’s recommended “slots.” Blake said, however, that in light of the economic environment, the club has been looking for ways to cut costs without diminishing the product on the field or the fan experience.

Texas Rangers Hitting Woes: Should Ian Kinsler Move To A Supporting Role?

There are – and have been – plenty of issues with the Rangers lineup.

The bottom of the order strikes out way too much. The middle is lacking Josh Hamilton, which is kind of like a Krispy Kreme donut lacking its glaze. Those are mostly season-long problems, though. The bottom third of the order hasn’t hit all year. Hamilton has missed more time than he’s played.

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Texas Rangers Trade Talk: Let’s Make A Deal

Before we identify some potential deals, let’s first figure the parameters we’ve got to work with. First, assume that you’ve basically got one major deal you can make. You can fix one trouble spot on the roster ahead of the trade deadline. Second, assume that adding payroll is going to be difficult, so we can’t attempt to add $10 or $12 million to the roster. It simply won’t happen. Finally, assume you are going to have to pay a fair price for the trade target. We’re not going to propose dealing Ian Gac and Adam Fox for Roy Halladay.

That in mind, before we go to any proposals, let’s start narrowing our focus:

Step one: Identify the need you are most willing to address if you can only address one.

• A starting pitcher.
• A big bat for the lineup.
• A reliable, durable late-inning reliever.
• There are either too many holes or none at all; no deals.

Answer away.

Rangers Hitting Woes: Not What You Think It Is?

What if I told you that everything you think about the Rangers’ hitting problems is not as it seems? What if I told you that the problem is not the short at-bats; it’s the long ones?

Would that blow your mind?

It blew mine, but the statistics I looked at clearly indicate the Rangers are most dangerous early in at-bats and that the problems mount when pitches pile up in plate appearances. And the biggest problem is that there are far more longish at-bats than there are short ones.

Consider these stats (through Saturday):

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MGM: Billy G, Black Mamba Are Champions

“Sports Summer” is upon us. “Sports Spring” ended last night, as both of our sports that occupy our time during that season ended in the span of 48 hours.

First, on Friday, the brilliant Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals was played, and the Pittsburgh Penguins pulled off a most unlikely upset of those hated Red Wings in Detroit. As I said Friday, I sure pulled hard for Pittsburgh, but I wasn’t really counting on a happy ending.

Win a Game 7?

Win a Game 7 on the road?

Win a Game 7 on the road in Detroit?

The odds seemed pretty stacked against the Penguins and our old buddy, Billy Guerin.

But, a gritty effort in Game 7 that included a wonderful save with 1 second left on the clock secured a very exciting Game 7 victory in Detroit, just the 3rd time in the history of the sport (Det 1945, Mon 1971) that a road team has won a Game 7 on the road. Truly historic stuff.

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Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (6/15)

Hickory's Fabio Castillo

The Rangers revamped Caribbean development program landed it’s first prized prospect back in 2005 when A.J. Preller inked Dominican Republic native Fabio Castillo, who had been coveted by all of the major players in the Latin American market.

As a 16 year old, he became one of the few Dominicans to appear at a Perfect Game showcase and wowed scouts there to the tune of a perfect 10 rating (highest level pro prospect). The Rangers signed him and sent him to the AZL club, but after just one appearance (blanking the opposition on one hit, fanning four in three innings of work) he was sent back to the DSL due to maturity issues (the homesick kid kind, not the bad kid kind).

Back at home, he dominated at times and struggled at others, ending the summer having posted a 3.46 ERA and fanning 37 in 26 innings of work, holding DSL opponents to a .216 average. His penultimate DSL start saw Castillo set 14 down on strikes in a 5.2 inning opus that was a lone single short of perfection.

He grew up and filled out over that off-season and reappeared in Surprise in the spring of 2007 as a 6’2″, 220 lb. manchild and impressed the developmental staff enough that he was assigned to the college-dominated Northwest League where he would be one of the league’s youngest participants. Though he struggled against the advanced hitters he faced for Spokane (5.92 ERA; .289 opponents’ average; 46 K’s and 27 BB’s in 62 IP), Baseball America ranked Castillo the league’s fifth best prospect that year. One AL scout told BA‘s Alan Matthews that Castillo’s fastball has “plus-plus late life,” and though he was hit frequently, he wasn’t hit very hard (opponents’ slugging percentage was just .395 and he surrendered only four jacks in 62 IP).

Castillo spent 2008 in Clinton and appeared to struggle in the Midwest League. But the Rangers weren’t disappointed by his performance (5.48 ERA in 90.1 innings of work including seven starts and 29 relief appearances). Former pitching coordinator Rick Adair told me that he was happy with the work that the 19 year old Castillo did in Clinton and made a point to praise his maturity, saying that he became a team leader for the Lumberkings.

Castillio, who turned 20 in February, is off to a fine start this year and his results are starting to fall more in line with his talents. His command is the best it’s ever been and he’s been less hittable than ever. As usual, it’s nearly impossible for opponents to lift his heavy stuff (no homers allowed in 42 innings).

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