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Report: Rudy Jaramillo Will Not Return To Rangers

After fielding one of the worst offenses in the history of the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington era, Evan Grant is reporting that the Rangers will not retain the services of hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. According to the report, the club extended a one year offer to Jaramillo, but he declined it and will explore other options via free agency.

Jaramillo has been the Rangers hitting instructor since the 1995 season, and from 1996 through 2004, the Rangers ranked in the top five in batting average, runs scored, slugging percentage, home runs, and hits. Texas is also only a year removed from leading the majors with 901 runs scored.

But 2009 was a different story, as the Rangers failed to crack 800 runs for the first time since ‘95, Jaramillo’s first year on the job. Texas also led the A.L. in strikeouts (1253) and ranked 12th out of 14 teams in walks (472), seeing a 20.6% drop in free passes from last year. The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros have already been listed as potential suitors for Jaramillo.

No Longer Hamstrung: Michael Young Returns to Rangers Lineup as DH, Batting Second

ARLINGTON - Shutout in consecutive games, the Rangers sure could use a shot of energy.

Well, Tuesday night, they’ll be Young again.

Just two weeks after suffering a significant left hamstring strain, Young is returning to the Rangers lineup. He will bat second and play DH today against Oakland. He intends to be back at third base on Friday when Los Angeles arrives in Arlington for a key three-game series.

“There is a sense of energy and a sense of excitement,” CF Marlon Byrd said. “His presence does that. You can only go so long with out your big bats in the lineup and when we saw his name in the lineup today, there was a spark of energy that everybody felt.”

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Rangers Remain Undecided on when Kevin Millwood will Make His Next Start

Weather advisory (6:10 pm): The grounds crew is taking the tarp of the field to start preparing it for play. On-time start expected.

ARLINGTON – The Rangers want their three best starters to pitch against the Los Angeles Angels this weekend. It remains uncertain whether the club currently considers RHP Kevin Millwood in that trio.

The no-brainers are RHPs Tommy Hunter and Scott Feldman, who will start the first two games of this series in that order. Then comes the Rangers big decision: Whether to pitch the struggling Millwood or go to RHP Brandon McCarthy. Whoever doesn’t pitch on Sunday is expected to pitch next Tuesday at Oakland.

Manager Ron Washington said nothing had been decided and even though Hunter’s name was etched on the dry-erase board for Friday, he said it was a “hypothetical” scenario. Hunter, however, pitched the first complete game of his career on Sunday. The Rangers are 6-1 in his last seven starts. Millwood is on the other end of the spectrum. He lasted just 3.2 innings on Saturday and suffered his third loss in the last four decisions. The Rangers are 1-6 in his last seven starts, during which he has a 5.97 ERA.

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Pitching Plans in Place for Postponement

ARLINGTON – Alliteration is fun. But in this case, it’s also practical.

With the chances of playing tonight at less than 50 percent – that’s just a guess from this end, but the forecast hasn’t gotten any better in the last two hours – Rangers manager Ron Washington unveiled his pitching plans in case tonight’s game is rained out. That would give the Rangers three consecutive days off and change around some pitching plans.

Washington said RHPs Kevin Millwood and Tommy Hunter would start the doubleheader on Sunday. Regardless of what happens Sunday, RHP Scott Feldman will pitch Monday because the Rangers want to keep him pitching on regular rest. On Tuesday, the Rangers would go with LHP Derek Holland and RHP Brandon McCarthy would pitch Wednesday, though those two pitchers could be flip-flopped. If the teams do play tonight, the Rangers would need another starter for Wednesday’s series finale against Oakland. Washington indicated RHP Dustin Nippert could step into that spot.

Also another potential scenario emerges to keep all the games in Arlington if tonight’s game is rained out. It’s possible – though it would require the approval of MLB – that Seattle could be held over a day and the Rangers couyld paly a day-night doubleheader against two different teams. The Rangers could play Seattle in the early afternoon and play their regularly-scheduled game against Oakland at 7:05. There is precedent. Cleveland hosted the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins in such an arrangement in September, 2000.

Putting the Rangers “DVD” Era Drafts in Perspective

The Rangers decision to waive RHP Thomas Diamond last week, which ultimately led to the Chicago Cubs claiming him, officially put an end to the once-celebrated  “DVD” Era in Rangers history. DVD stood for Danks-Volquez-Diamond and together they were going to form the heart of a championship Rangers rotation. We followed their every start, marveled at every out, counted the days until they reached the majors. And then they produced a total of three wins while in Rangers uniforms.

The divestiture of Diamond got me thinking something else: The Rangers no longer have control of their top draft pick from 2002-2005 and they got very, very little from the quartet of picks, even though the average top selection was No. 12 overall. In total, the Rangers got five games. From Drew Meyer, the 10th overall pick in 2002. He had three hits, all of them singles.

So, I decided to look at what other clubs received from their top picks in that era, characterized by the John Hart-Grady Fuson management team that was formed for 2002 and joined by GM-wannabe Buck Showalter a year later. In short, it’s not pretty, but, surprisingly, five games of contribution was not the worst in baseball.  With that in mind, here’s what you can do with this post:

1. Choose not to read it and move on.
2. Mutter about how little the Rangers got from their top draft picks during the 2002-2005 seasons.
3. Marvel at how far the scouting/player development side has come so quickly despite complete washouts with four consecutive top picks. The Rangers, after all, entered the season as the No. 1-ranked farm system in baseball, according to Baseball America. I suspect they will remain in the top five after this season, even after graduating SS Elvis Andrus, LHP Derek Holland, RHP Neftali Feliz and RHP Tommy Hunter to the big leagues.

It’s your choice. See the glass as half empty, half full or ignore the glass entirely.

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Rangers Considering Trade Options at Third Base

ARLINGTON - With Michael Young out for at least two weeks, manager Ron Washington said he plans to alternate INFs Omar Vizquel and Esteban German at third base.

But there is another option to fill the hole created by Young’s hamstring injury: A trade.

Though any player acquired would not be eligible for the playoffs, if the Rangers qualify, the club can still make a deal to help it get to the playoffs. The Rangers are weighing the pros and cons of making a September trade. The biggest decision is whether getting a player who may only play regularly for two or three weeks is worth the price in whatever prospect or prospects the Rangers would have to surrender. The Rangers expect Young to be back before the playoffs begin. Young said he’s hoping to return for a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angeles that begins on Sept. 18.

In the meantime, there are three potentially attractive options out there for the Rangers to ponder. None would cost the Rangers more than $1.5 million in salary for the rest of the year and none have long-term contracts that would require commitments for 2010. A look at those options listed in alphabetical order.

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Michael Young Diagnosis: Likely Out 2-3 Weeks

An MRI exam Wednesday confirmed a significant strain of 3B Michael Young’s left  hamstring. GM Jon Daniels, in an email, said that Young will likely be out “a couple of weeks,” though exactly how long is uncertain.

Young is receiving an injection of blood platelets to accelerate the healing process.  Here is an on-line discussion about the rather new therapy (Mark Teixeira had it for his hip injury in 2007).

Rangers Roster Moves for September 1

ARLINGTON - The Rangers have added seven players to the roster today since said rosters can be expanded to 40 players. Perhaps the biggest news, however, was one of the players they removed: Former first-round pick RHP Thomas Diamond. Diamond, the 10th overall pick in 2004, was designated for assignment.

The seven roster additions comes from three pools:

Players activated from the DL: RHP Brandon McCarthy, who will start the second game of today’s doubleheader, LHP Eddie Guardado and INF Esteban German.

Players recalled from minor league assignments: RHP Warner Madrigal and RHP Guillermo Moscoso.

Players purchased from the minor leagues, thus adding them to the 40-man roster: OF Craig Gentry and C Kevin Richardson.

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Couple of Ranger Quickies

• C Jarrod Saltalamacchia played seven innings Sunday night for Double-A Frisco after playing six on Saturday. At this rate, I don’t think he’s going to be ready to catch a full-game Tuesday when rosters can be expanded. If not, the Rangers could either play with two catchers for another couple of days, create a spot on the 40-man roster for C Kevin Richardson or recall C Max Ramirez. It appears the Rangers would prefer to add Richardson at this point, rather than Ramirez, but the roster situation is dicey. It’s important for this team to have three catchers in September since it would allow C Ivan Rodriguez to DH against left-handed pitching. The Rangers are scheduled to face lefties in each game of Tuesday’s double header.

• Columnist Kirk Bohls of the Austin Statesman-American writes that Round Rock could replace Oklahoma City as the Rangers Triple-A afiliate after 2010. There’s nothing in the column to say something is in the works, except common sense. No longer associated with the Astros, it might make sense for Ryan to have a Rangers afiliate. And from a business side, it would make a lot of sense if he’s still the Rangers president or part of the ownership group come next season. It might help the Rangers draw more interested from Austin and the Hill Country. I’ve asked Ryan on a couple of occasions since he took over as Raners president if such a move was in the offing and he’s demurred on those occasions, basically saying any decision is a long way away. Come 2010, the decision won’t so far off in the future.

Bulletin From Bronx: Pedro Strop in Clubhouse

That’s what Evan just passed along from Yankee Stadium. The minor league right-hander isn’t on the 40-man roster according to what I just looked at on the Rangers’ web site. The Rangers have announced no roster move. In 36 relief appearances for Frisco before promotion to Oklahoma, Strop worked 51.1 innings, allowing 48 hits and 29 walks with 48 strikeouts. ERA of 4.38 with a 5-5 record. At OKC, 12.2 innings, 13 hits and four walks with 13 K’s. ERA of 7.38.

Marlon Byrd Battling Kidney Stones

OF Marlon Byrd is not in the Rangers’ starting lineup tonight. He is battling an attack of kidney stones. Byrd is currently at a Manhattan hospital. His status for the night and tomorrow’s day game remains uncertain. It’s possible the stone could pass and Byrd could be ready to go before game time tonight.

Rangers Notes: Countdown to Chris Davis Return?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Are the Rangers putting 1B Hank Blalock on notice that he’s got 10 days left – max – to prove he should remain at the position for the playoff race’s September stretch drive?

It certainly appears so. On Saturday, manager Ron Washington said the club is looking at way it could bring 1B Chris Davis back from Triple-A Oklahoma City before rosters expand on Sept. 1. The club isn’t yet ready to move Davis back into the spot Blalock inherited when Davis was sent to the minors in July. But, Washington said, that when Davis does return, he will play first base.

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Julio Borbon Missed Sign in Eighth Inning

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Rangers asked Julio Borbon to be a pinch runner on Friday, not a base stealer.

Understanding the difference between the two roles might have made the difference in the Rangers’  5-3 loss to Tampa Bay Friday night. Inserted into the game as the Rangers were rallying in the eighth, Borbon took off for second on a 2-and-2 pitch to Josh Hamilton, who just happened to represent the tying run. He did it against reliever Grant Balfour, whose extremely quick time to the plate had been noted by manager Ron Washington when he flashed the “red light” to Borbon before the pitch.

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Afternoon Rangers Notes on Possibilities at DH, 1B

ARLINGTON - Rangers manager Ron Washington indicated Andruw Jones and Julio Borbon could become a DH platoon since Borbon has remained on the roster following Thursday’s activation of Nelson Cruz from the disabled list. Washington also said he’s about ready to allow Jones to give Hank Blalock a day off at first base against left-handed pitching.

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Matt Purke’s Father Discusses Rangers Negotiations

Lawrence Purke says the club knew it would take between $7.2-7.5 million to sign his son and that the Rangers simply never got that far. No indication whether Rangers simply underestimated the Purkes resolve or anything else of a more nefarious origin.

Rangers Send INF Jose Vallejo to Houston

Don’t really have much more than that. Vallejo cleared trade waivers and will join the Houston organization. The Rangers sent RHP Matt Nevarez to Houston earlier in the week.

Texas Rangers Notes

ARLINGTON – DH Andruw Jones got a heavy workout at first base on Wednesday and could start playing the position against some left-handed pitching.

Jones, who started one game at first in May, has taken ground balls at the position for much of the regular season, but he got a more intense full-scale workout on Wednesday. Manager Ron Washington acknowledged the possibility that 1B Hank Blalock could get an off day or two against left-handed pitching, but didn’t indicate he was contemplating a full-time platoon.

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Rangers Ability to Focus on One Game at a Time in August, May Well Mean Extra Dates in October

ARLINGTON – The season was over. It’s OK. You can admit it. That was your thought Friday night after all hell broke loose in the ninth inning. One strike away from leading the wild card race, Frank Francisco suffered a nuclear meltdown and the Rangers saw pole position for the playoffs yanked away. A 4-2 lead became an 8-4 loss. A certain half-game lead instead became a 1.5-game deficit.  And 1.5 games never looked so big.

This time they had to be done for good. Finis. Good night.  So, how’s Roy Williams’ wrist doing?

If you are a Ranger fan, and particularly if you’ve been one for a while, you had no choice but to make that conclusion. After 37 seasons of frustration and disappointment, defeatism is a birthright.

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Flying Dutchman: Derek Holland Clips Angels As Rangers Move Into Tie For Wild Card Lead

• Post-Game Show (with new format)

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The live fastball made LHP Derek Holland a great prospect. The secondary stuff is what can make him a great major leauger.

On Sunday, 12 starts into his major league career, Holland demonstrated his understanding of that. He plowed fastballs right by the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels for as long as they were willing to sit there and watch them. And when they started gearing up to swing early, Holland trusted his slider and changeup to help him take advantage of the Angels’ eagerness.

The result was a masterpiece. On the way to a 7-0 complete game win that moved the Rangers within 3.5 games of the Angels and into a tie for the wild card lead, Holland took a no-hitter to the sixth inning. When Maicer Izturis broke it up with a solid single up the middle, the 22-year-0ld Holland stayed calm and struck out Erick Aybar to end the inning. Holland needed just 96 pitches to become the youngest lefty in Rangers history to throw a shutout. His pitch total was the third-lowest in a shutout by a Rangers pitcher since pitch-count stats were first officially recorded in 1988.

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Rangers Post Game Notes

OAKLAND, Calif. – DH Andruw Jones surgically repaired knee is holding up just fine, thanks.

His hamstring, not so much.

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Do You Know This Man? Joaquin Arias Remains Rangers Mystery Nearly Six Years After Acquisition

OAKLAND, Calif. – Of the 25 players on the Rangers active roster Tuesday, INF Joaquin Arias ranked sixth in terms of length of service to the organization.

But is there a player on this team about whom the Rangers know less?

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Another Late Rangers Game; More Early Notes

OAKLAND, Calif. – When you’ve got a 100 mph fastball in your arsenal, it’s hard for any other pitch to stand out, but if there was one thing that made RHP Neftali Feliz’s stunning major league debut so spectacular, it was, of all things, his changeup.

Of course when Feliz takes a little off, it’s still traveling at 90 mph, but thanks to Triple-A Oklahoma City pitching coach Terry Clark, it’s now traveling down in the strike zone instead of coming at hitters like a fat fastball.

“When we sent him down at the end of spring, we asked the minor league staff to do some things to help get him ready,” manager Ron Washington said. “We made it known his secondary stuff had to get better. And he had to command the fastball. They did a great job on both fronts, getting him to harness his fastball and making his secondary stuff more effective. We’ve got a lot to look forward to if his delivery can stay that compact, that easy.”

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Late Rangers Game, Early Rangers Notes

OAKLAND, Calif. – While giving 2B Omar Vizquel a day off after six straight starts, manager Ron Washington decided to hit replacement 2B Joaquin Arias leadoff. The people’s champion, SS Elvis Andrus remains ninth.

Washington’s explanation, even though Andrus has 50 more games and 150 more career major league at-bats than Arias: “Experience.”

“Arias has more time in the game,” Washington said. “But what it really comes down to is comfort zone. I don’t want to pull Elvis out of the spot he’s in where he is doing such a good job. He’d probably handle the leadoff spot well, but he’s doing a good job where he is and there is no reason to do anything about that. I just think  a 20-year-old at the major league level doesn’t need to be [hitting leadoff].”

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Chris Davis: Ready, Willing And Trying Hard To Wait While Playing For Triple-A Oklahoma

The highlights of my visit with Chris Davis in Oklahoma City on Saturday:

• He believes he’s ready to return to the Rangers but is trying not to wait every day for the call.

• Said the biggest changes that he has made are to his bat path and being more patient.

• Said he has never really gotten a chance to develop rapport with Rudy Jaramillo, who was out for about six weeks because of knee surgery during Davis’ time in Arlington last season.

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Omar Vizquel Eager To Provide Texas Rangers Second Option During Ian Kinsler’s Absence

ARLINGTON - The Rangers’ signing of shortstop Omar Vizquel to a minor league contract in January appeared to be greeted locally with yawns and groans. Texas’ off-season free-agent budget landed the oldest position player in the majors.

It wasn’t known then that Vizquel would in part play Mr. Miyagi to Elvis Andrus. And the 42-year-old learned a new trick on the Rangers’ most recent trip to Oakland – playing second base, after 21 seasons on the other side of the bag. That will be his address on the 10-game trip that will begin in Oakland on Monday night since Ian Kinsler was forced to the disabled list before Sunday night’s 4-2 win over Seattle.

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