Tuesday 1 March 2011

Spring Training 1.0

A bat in the belfry
The Texas Rangers officially kicked off Spring Training games Sunday and Monday against their bunkmates, the Kansas City Royals. Not that winning matters, but they split the pair 12-11 yesterday and 4-2 on Sunday.

Among various other notes, Mike Young made his debut at first base yesterday fielding with no incident, but with little opportunity.

The Good
Mike Napoli and Ian Kinsler had two hits each and a two- and three-run dingers, respectively.

Julio Borbon knocked a single and a double, and stole two bases. Borbon's got two doubles on the spring.

Colby Lewis pitched two near-perfect frames in his spring debut.

Mike Kirkman, a fringe rotation guy, was knocked early, but then put in a 10-pitch second inning. Watch him the rest of the spring.

Ryan Tucker, Pedro Strop, Tanner Scheppers and Yoshinori Tateyama each threw scoreless frames in the Sunday game.

Jurickson Profar with a RBI double.

The Bad
Fringey relievers Seth McClung and Yhency Brazoban walked two and allowed a run.

Fringey start Dave Bush walked two and allowed a run.

Engel Beltre's failed to register a hit. It's early.