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Ian Kinsler Plays Seven For Frisco

In his first game of what should be a two-day rehab assignment, 2B Ian Kinsler played seven innings for Double-A Frisco in a 10-9 loss to Tulsa. He was 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. He was replaced by Renny Osuna, but not due to injury. According to an email from GM Jon Daniels, there were no health issues.

He is expected to play again on Thursday and would likely be activated for Friday’s game when the Rangers return home to Arlington.

Rangers Promote Martin Perez To Frisco

Last night, the buzz at the RoughRiders game that I attended with some 70 fun-loving Cornerians was that LHP Martin Perez, all of 18, might be coming up real soon, skipping past Class A Bakersfield for the rest of the year. Here’s what that person meant by real soon: Today.

Here’s the official release from his former team, the Class A Hickory Crawdads:

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Special Opps: Act Now On A Special Invitation

All I can tell you is this: It’s next Monday (August 10). It involves the Frisco RoughRiders. Space is limited.

Here is what you need to do.

1. Email me for further instructions.

2. Fill out this form. It’s a must.

3. Act quickly. Like I say space is very limited.

This Is Chicken Shtick!

The Frisco RoughRiders are bringing that fowl-mouthed, feathered-fiend The Famous Chicken to the beautiful Dr Pepper Ballpark tonight.

Police in Frisco have been warned to be on the lookout for these guys. They ar reportedly “hoofed and dangerous.”

Weekly Reader: Frisco’s Adam Fox Continues To Pursue His Dream To Catch On With The Rangers

FRISCO – Adam Fox has seven years in the Rangers’ farm system and 10 gloves in his locker at the Dr Pepper Ballpark. “Some are game ready, some getting ready,” he explained.

Fox was drafted as a third baseman out of Ohio University in 2003, a 10^th-rounder between John Danks in the first and Ian Kinsler in the 17^th. He has worn a RoughRiders uniform at least part of every season starting in 2005.

“Could run for mayor,” he said with a laugh.

Fox, 27, has never hit above .280 at any of his stops, which included limited time the last two seasons up at Oklahoma. This is the third consecutive season that he has begun the season at Frisco, where he has started half of the 38 games through Thursday. At 5-11 and 200 pounds, he still hopes to reach the majors and believes his versatility in the field can get him there since he can play third, short, second and both corner outfield positions. He has even pitched twice for the RoughRiders.

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Viral Video: Johnny Whittleman

What’s a weekend without a little viral video? Frisco 3B Johnny Whittleman stopped down to talk with us for a bit. If you’ve watched all our videos from the last week, perhaps you are aware I seem to be wearing the  same outfit for each one? Maybe I need to get a wardrobe budget. Also, it should be noted, Whittleman was not asleep at the start of this video. That’s a “candid” shot caught by producer, director and location coordinator Ted Price of Rangers Podcast in Arlington.

Still availablein the VVV (Viral Video Vault):  Frisco RHP Michael Schlact, RHP Tommy Hunter, SS Marcus Lemon and Rangers RHP Brandon McCarthy.

Good Talk: Frisco’s Kasey Kiker Responds To Meeting

D-tails – Boxscore: Frisco 1, Arkansas 0 (13 innings);  MJH’s pitch-by-pitch breakdown of Kiker’s outing.

FRISCO – Kasey Kiker’s last start resulted in him – and the entire Frisco pitching staff – getting roasted. His start on Tuesday nearly got him toasted. With champagne.

Though he ended up with no decision in the RoughRiders’ 1-0 13-inning win over Arkansas, Kiker was perfect through four innings and took a no-hitter to the sixth. When he left after seven, he had allowed only a single and two walks in quite possibly the best start of his professional career.

It was a stark contrast from his last outing, last Thursday. In that 11-9 loss to Springfield, Kiker allowed four walks and hit three batters in five innings. His teammates continued the walk-a-thon, eventually allowing a total of 14 free bases on walks and hit batters.

And the next day, pitching coach Joe Slusarski sat the entire staff down for a little talk.

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Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (4/22) — With A Full Breakdown Of Kasey Kiker’s Gem

FRISCO — As good as the box score line looks, Kasey Kiker’s seven shutout frames against Arkansas on Tuesday looked even better from the stands. Not necessarily because Kiker’s stuff was so great — it was at times; overall it was just good — but because of his mound presence and approach.

Locked in a pitchers dual with the Angels’ top prospect, Midlothian native RHP Jordan Walden (a 2006 draft-and-follow who signed for a seven-figure first-round bonus), Kiker delivered a big-league performance, locating his fastball in and out, changing speeds and throwing any of his three pitches for strikes in any count. He was thoroughly unpredictable.

Though his curve was off-and-on most of the afternoon (and he started to hang it in the last couple of innings), he set it up very well and managed to drop it in for strikes at very opportune times. His change was much, much better than expected. Big subtraction and great arm action. He’s much more confident in that pitch than I had imagined.

What stood out more than anything for me was his competitiveness and confidence. Kiker is clearly on the cocky side of confident, and he made that work for him on Tuesday. It was very much a “get ball, throw ball” approach and a clinic on the value of being in command of the pace of the ballgame.

After the jump, I’ll give you the pitch-by-pitch breakdown of Kiker’s dominant performance as well as recaps of yesterday’s games played by the other three Rangers minor league affiliates.

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Praise For Dr Pepper Ballpark

Baseball America released a ranking of the top-10 minor league ballparks in the United States “as picked by people in and around baseball,” and Dr Pepper Ballpark ranked fifth. Among Texas League ballyards, it topped the list.

It’s a beautiful day for baseball and if you’re in the North Dallas / Plano / Allen / McKinney / Denton area, you’re just a short drive away from this farm league palace, so get yourselves out to the yard to catch the Riders take on the Arkansas Travelers (first pitch at 4:05 pm).

If you can’t make it, make sure to watch the Riders on Channel 21 (btw, I’ll be joining Scott Garner for the broadcast in the 4th inning).

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Viral Video: Rangers Prospect Tommy Hunter

Marlon Byrd talked to InsideCorner on Wednesday, then went out and piled up five hits. Tommy Hunter talked to us yesterday ahead of his first start of the season for Double-A Frisco tonight? Is it a good luck charm to visit with us. We shall see.

Especially like the freeze frame producer, director and lighting coordinator Ted Price of Rangers Podcast in Arlington caught of Hunter at the start. He’s looking at me like I’m nuts. Well, I am. More video coming over the weekend.

Live From Frisco, It’s The Depot/Homer Pool Combo Live Blog, News, Notes And Other Assorted Stuff

We’ll make one concession: We are going to combine the home run pool and The Depot for tonight’s home opener at the beautiful Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco. If you want to play, give me the hitter, inning and number of men on base. If we have multiple winners, we’ll happily make arrangements for you. If you take Justin Smoak, you also have to give me the count. Sorry, my game, my rules.

Here’s your RoughRiders lineup against Springfield: CF Craig Gentry, 2B Jose Vallejo, 1B Justin Smoak, DH Chad Tracy, LF Dustin Majewski, 3B Adam Fox, RF Steve Murphy, C Manny Pina, SS Marcus Lemon and pitching for Frisco. … LHP Kasey Kiker.

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The Depot: Rangers Notes, News, Live Blog And Other Assorted Stuff (4/11 at Detroit)

Welcome to the depot. All aboard for the Rangers-Tigers Express. Next departure is at 12:05 p.m. (CDT) We’ll be here this afternoon with our usual variety of pithy comments, notes, any newsy updates and whatever else pops into our overheated mind. Please join us. To participate (or just to lurk regularly), remember, you’ve got to periodically hit refresh. Otherwise you’ll be staring at the same computer screen all afternoon.

10:28: Most interesting thing about the Rangers lineup today is that it marks the first time three players acquired in the 2007 Mark Teixeira trade will appear in the same game. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is catching, Elvis Andrus is at short and Matt Harrison is on the mound. The other two guys in the deal, RHP Neftali Feliz and LHP Beau Jones, made their 2009 debuts last night for Oklahoma City and Frisco respectively. They combined for five scoreless innings. Read more on the Road To Arlington.

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Talkin’ Heads: Visiting With Frisco RoughRiders Pitcher And Rangers Prospect Kasey Kiker

Just in time for tonight’s Frisco debut, LHP Kasey Kiker sat down with MJH and I for a little talk. Love Kasey’s stroking of the chin when he decides to be especially introspective.

Special thanks to producer, director and music arranger Ted Price of Rangers Podcast in Arlington