Great work by the invaluable Ted Price of Rangers Podcast in Arlington. Should be noted: This is one of the downsides of saving up video. We shot about a week ago after Chris Davis started to emerge from a slump and before this most recent one started.

Again: Much thanks to director, producer and gaffer Ted Price of Rangers Podcast in Arlington.

And here’s a quick thumbnail look at some key players around the organization.

The great Ted Price came along to shoot some video and later today you’ll want to come back to catch our interviews with Justin Smoak and Kasey Kiker, but until then, make the jump to learn a little bit about the 2009 edition of the RoughRiders, who open in Springfield (thanks for the correction Jack Daddy) on Thursday, April 9th. The home opener is on April 16.

New manager Mike Micucci — who spent the past few years with Clinton — said that his rotation will include Omar Poveda, Kasey Kiker, Dustin Nippert, Jared Hyatt and Michael Schlact, in that order.

Tommy Hunter will begin the season in the bullpen and continue the process of catching up after missing two weeks of action this spring due to a groin injury.

In the mean time, a rehabbing Dustin Nippert will make a couple of starts. Micucci feels that Hunter should be ready to step into the rotation when Nippert’s rehab assignment is over.

For the time being, Guillermo “Willie” Moscoso — acquired from Detroit in the Gerald Laird deal this winter — will pitch out of the bullpen, initially in a split-start sort of format with Nippert.

Micucci would not say that the Riders will have a designated closer, only that they have “a couple of guys who have been identified as back of the bullpen types.” One of them is clearly John Bannister.

Around the horn, the Riders will roll out Smoak at first, Jose Vallejo at second, Marcus Lemon at short and Johnny Whittleman at third. Manny Pina will be the starting catcher.

There has been some talk — including talk from Jon Daniels — that Vallejo would see time at short this year. During spring training, they pair flip-flopped quite a bit, but Micucci says that the play for now is for Vallejo to stay at second and Lemon to stay at short.

In the outfield, Frisco will have a veteran bunch featuring Steve Murphy (back for his third straight tour of the Texas League) in left, the speedy Craig Gentry in center and versatile Dustin Majewski in right. Chad Tracy is listed on the roster as an outfielder and figures to be the regular DH.

Finally, Mr. RoughRider — Adam Fox — returns for what must seems like his seventh season with Frisco and will serve as a utility infielder. It’s a poorly kept secret in the organization that Fox is destined to become a manager in the system, but not quite yet.