Well, this is my first post for Gear Up For Rangers Baseball!  I thought I would start with my first taste of Rangers Baseball in 2009 – Spring Training.

First of all, I have to admit that I have an incredible wife.  For our 5th wedding anniversary, she got me a 5-day trip to Rangers Spring Training in Surprise, AZ! If you have ever been to spring training (this was my first time, but definitely not my last), you know that it is the ultimate experience for a baseball fan. Morning workouts, afternoon games, and unbelievable access to the players and coaches the entire time.

I talked to Jon Daniels (GM), Ron Washington (Manager), Nolan Ryan (President), and tons of players.  I took pictures of my wife with Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Marlon Byrd, Chris Davis, Josh Hamilton, and many more. If you have ever considered going to spring training, DO IT!  You won’t regret it.

Now, let’s talk baseball…

The Rangers have the best farm system in baseball, according to BA. There are a lot of talented young guys in the system who will be in Arlington soon. The consensus is that the Rangers will contend in 2010.

But what about 2009?

Here are a few things I saw in Surprise that give me hope for the Rangers THIS year.

Pitching:

Vicente Padilla was better than I have ever seen him. His stuff has always been good, but he lacked focus the last couple of years. He looks focused now and ready to earn another contract.

Kevin Millwood has slimmed down a bit, and he looked solid in the two outings I saw him pitch. I know he got roughed up in his last outing, but I think he will bounce back and have a good year.

Scott Feldman looked like a man on a mission. He looked very strong in the two outings I saw – nearly unhittable.

Kris Benson is out to prove he can still produce at the big league level. Finally healthy, he looks like he belongs in the rotation. However, he will probably start out in AAA due to the flexibility of his contract.

Help on the way – Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz should make it to Arlington by the end of 2009. Holland could be there sooner rather than later. Both kids provide a ton of hope for the future. Thomas Diamond (yes, he’s still here) could finally contribute, as well. And he’s got a bit of a chip on his shoulder as the only member of DVD not competing at the big league level.

Defense:

The Rangers ranked as the worst defensive team in the league last year. I don’t think that will be the case in 2009. I think Michael Young will have a great year at third (possibly even an All-Star year), Ian Kinsler will do a better job of making the routine plays he struggled with in ‘08, and rookie Elvis Andrus will put on a show at short. I love Michael Young, but I saw Elvis make plays up the middle that Mike could never get to. If he can keep focused on the routine plays, I think this kid is going to be special. He should be…his mentor is Omar Vizquel.

Offense:

The Rangers can hit, plain and simple. Rudy Jaramillo is the best hitting coach in the game, and I got to witness it first hand. David Murphy was struggling at the plate when we arrived in Surprise. We watched Rudy work with David one-on-one after one of the morning workouts. The next day he hit his first home run of the Spring and has been pounding the ball ever since. Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are all swinging the bat well. Once Chris Davis gets his rhythm back (and he will) and Nelson Cruz rejoins the team, it will only get better. The Rangers will score runs.

Attitude:

If you saw the Rangers this year, you would have no idea they finished 21 games behind the LA Angels last year. They have a swagger about them. And I’m not just talking about the hitters. The pitchers seem tougher, grittier, out to prove something. New pitching coach Mike Maddux carries around with him this “Don’t back down! Never say die!” attitude that seems to be rubbing off on the pitchers. They are challenging hitters, pitching to contact to generate ground balls and quick innings. I can’t wait to see how that translates to the regular season.

I can’t wait for the regular season to start!  I’ve got my Opening Day  tickets!  Do you?

I’ll be following the Rangers all season…please feel free to subscribe.

Go Rangers!