Rangers playing name game

By David Mullen

For the first time since moving to Oracle Park (nee Pacific Bell Park, SBC Park and AT&T Park) in San Francisco in 2000, the Giants will be wearing names on the back of their jerseys. Giants President Larry Baer, whom I knew in college, said the change was necessary primarily because of their everchanging roster.    

The 2021 Texas Rangers already have their names on the back of their uniforms, which should make manager Chris Woodward’s job a little easier, instead of having to refer to players on his no name roster as “that big lefty kid from Norfolk” or “that guy from Hiroshima.” After three seasons in Texas, Isiah Kiner-Falefa now reads like John Jones-Smith.

The four greatest words in baseball — “pitchers and catchers report” — has been registered in Surprise, Ariz., and spring has sprung for the club picked to finish last in the AL West. The new names will define the 2021 Rangers. There is Hyun-jong Yang, Josh Sborz, Jonah Heim, Mike Foltynewicz and Kohei Arihara.

Arihara, 28, was 8-9 with a 3.46 ERA in 20 starts for Hokkaido Ham Fighters in the Nippon Professional Baseball Pacific League. Isn’t the entire league a “Pacific League?” And what is a Ham Fighter anyway? A baseball player that eats kosher meals? (Truth be known, the team was once owned by Nippon-Ham, the Hormel of Honshu).

The former Pacific Leaguer is expected to be a middle of the rotation starter. Upon arrival, Arihara issued a statement that, in part, read: “Hello everyone. I am extremely grateful for the Rangers who gave me an opportunity to play in Major League Baseball. I will continue to work hard in order for me to grow and succeed in this city. I am truly excited to be able to pitch in front of the Rangers fans at Globe Life Field and I hope that you will all support me in my journey. Thank you.”

At least he comes to Arlington without pretense, but as a former Ham Fighter, I suggest he resists Angelo’s in Fort Worth.

The Rangers bring at least 75 veterans and prospects to camp, including Brett de Geus, Hans Crouse, Fernery Ozuna, Alex Speas, Davis Wendzel and young Josh Jung. Playing for five minor league teams in two seasons, non-roster player Steele Walker is a steely-eyed outfielder with 19 career steals who Texas hopes they stole in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.

There are some familiar names, too. Delino DeShields is back, fighting for an outfield spot. Matt Bush is back, after recording his last decision in 2017. Ian Kennedy, a 14-year veteran, hopes to make the team and get three wins to reach 100 career wins. He has more than 100 career losses. Former Boston Red Sox utility player Brock Holt is in camp. Drew Butera hopes the Rangers will become his sixth Major League team, because someone has to catch. His lifetime .198 batting average fits the Rangers recent catching profile. 

As comes with any Cactus League season, there is reason for optimism. It could be a fun team to watch. Or are the 2021 Texas Rangers the second coming of the 1962 New York Mets, captured in Jimmy Breslin’s best-selling book “Can’t Anybody Here Play This Game?” 

Assuming the former, there will be some players to watch this spring. Heim is a catcher with potential. He came from Oakland in the Elvis Andrus trade on February 6. The A’s were loaded at the catching position so Heim is more than a throw-in. And catching prospect Sam Huff — now that’s a great baseball name — will be maturing in the Rangers farm system.

Nate Lowe, “that big lefty kid from Norfolk,” is expected to start at first. Once a “can’t miss,” Ronald Guzmán is still around but has run out of chances. Guzmán, only 26, makes the team or must clear waivers.

Gritty Nick Solak, Kiner-Falefa and Joey Gallo return to the order. And then there is Rougned Odor, who will try to learn to play third because, “It’s not that hard, Rougy. Tell him Wash?” “It’s incredibly hard.” “Hey, anything worth doing is. And we’re gonna teach you.” (A modified “Moneyball” reference). Can you teach an Odor new tricks? 

He is also on the books for more than $12 million a year for the next three seasons. I can’t predict that the Rangers will compete in the AL West in 2021, but I will predict that Odor strikes out more times than any Rangers pitcher will strikeout batters this season. 

Texas is hoping that newly acquired outfielder David Dahl, Leody Taveras and Willie Calhoun can play a full season. None have played in more than 100 games in a single year. Khris Davis, also acquired in the Andrus trade, suffered through a two-year batting funk in Oakland. He loved hitting against the Rangers. It remains to be seen if he can hit for the Rangers.

Starting pitching will be a melting pot of Kyle Gibson, Dane Dunning, Foltynewicz, Arihara, Kolby Allard and possibly Kennedy. The staff does not evoke memories of Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar and Pat Dobson of the 1971 Baltimore Orioles, the last four-man staff to each win at least 20 games.

 The opening closer appears to be José Leclerc, with Jonathan Hernández and Joely Rodríguez waiting for the first misstep. A smorgasbord of pitchers like Brett Martin, Yang, Jordan Lyles, Wes Benjamin, Sborz, Justin Anderson and Taylor Hearn could make up the remaining pitching spots.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Woodward said that: “I want to see these guys, how they sustain their routines, how they compete when I watch them fail. I honestly evaluate these guys more when they fail than when they succeed. I want to see what they’re made of.” 

Woodward should have plenty of chances to see players fail. Let’s hope he has a pronunciation guide.