Ricard Durrett from the Texas Rangers Blog for the Dallas Morning News agreed to answer a few questions about the team the Red Sox will be facing for the next three games.
FW: Can the Rangers win the division without Josh Hamilton?
RD: Yes. It won’t be easy, but they can. The AL West is a weak division this season, where 88 wins is probably enough to win it. The Rangers have the bats to compete, though they’ve been inconsistent on offense early in the season. This Rangers team, like any Rangers team, must prove they can pitch well enough to stay in games. So far, for the most part, they’ve done that. In my opinion, it’s pitching more than the absence of Hamilton that will decide this division. But there’s no question he’ll be missed in the lineup and that means this team must get production from guys like Hank Blalock, Marlon Byrd and David Murphy to go along with the bats of Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and Nelson Cruz.
FW: How would you rate C.J. Wilson's performance since he took over the closer role?
RD: CJ Wilson is not the closer. He lost that job last season after a handful of struggling performances and an injury. Outside of yesterday’s two-run homer given up to Melky Cabrera, Wilson has pitched well in a late-inning setup role the past month. Frank Francisco is the team’s closer now that he’s returned from a brief stint on the DL. He’s been one of the top relievers in the AL. He’s aggressive and doesn’t mess around out there. He deserves an All-Star spot.
FW: What has been the biggest reason for the Rangers early success this season?
RD: Starting pitching. The rotation has pitched deeper into games and left with the Rangers still in it. Last season at this time, the Rangers had the most overworked bullpen in the AL. Now, they’ve got one of the least worked. It’s part of what Nolan Ryan stressed the last few years. He wanted pitchers to get one more batter, give the team one more inning. They are doing that. The fact that the offense hasn’t completely come around yet makes some think this team will only improve.
FW: Do you think the Rangers will trade Saltalamacchia or Teagarden before the deadline?
RD: Tough question. I think if the right deal is out there, they would trade one of those catchers. But they’ve been hesitant to do that so far. Rumors were out there about the Rangers wanting Clay Buchholz, but that hasn’t materialized. Saltalamacchia has shown vast improvement defensively and is starting to hit the ball. He must cut down on strikeouts. Teagarden, who plays once or twice a week and has been Matt Harrison’s personal catcher, has always been a big defensive presence and some see him with more upside. The bottom line: They’ve got two young catchers who can probably start in the majors for a long time.
FW: What are your predictions for this series with the Red Sox?
RD: The Rangers are fortunate to avoid Beckett and Wakefield. The X-factor is how Vicente Padilla does on Sunday, assuming he makes that start (and I think he will). I predicted the Rangers would take 2 of 3, but that won’t be easy.
Jon Lester took a perfect game into the 7th before Michael Young hit a double to break it up. Lester would only give up one more hit (to Young again) in his first complete game of the season. He had 11 K's in the outing and said he had better stuff than when he pitched his no-no last year.
