Royals Showing Interest In Beltre

It seems as though Texas isn't content to sit around waiting for Cliff Lee to make his decision. Rumors abound that the Rangers have moved forward from informal discussions and are now in serious negotiation with the Kansas City Royals for 2009 Cy Young winner Zack Greinke.

Rangers top outfield prospect, Engel Beltre, is the name rumored to be most frequently mentioned in the talks, although it is assumed that Texas would also have to part with at least one top pitching prospect (either Tanner Scheppers or Martin Perez) as well as a couple of second tier prospects.

The Royals truly hold all the cards in any deal involving Greinke as they have him under contract through 2012. This allows them the luxury of asking for the moon. Greinke, meanwhile has expressed an interest in moving on, having grown tired of Kansas City's constant state of rebuilding of a franchise that has not seen the playoffs since 1985. The 26-year old pitching ace has averaged 217 innings pitched and a 3.25 ERA over the last three seasons with the perpetually awful Royals.

Make no mistake about it, adding Greinke to the Rangers rotation (with or without Cliff Lee) makes them one of the stronger pitching staffs in the AL, possibly only behind New York (should they end up with Lee) and Oakland. If Lee were to re-sign on top of the Greinke deal (something Texas has said is completely within their budget), Texas would head into 2011 as the team to beat in the AL. A rotation of Lee, Greinke, CJ Wilson, Colby Lewis & Tommy Hunter would look pretty formidable, especially after the way Lewis looked in pressure situations throughout the playoffs.

With all this said, I simply don't know how I feel about giving up possibly 3 of the top 5 or 6 prospects in the entire farm system. Engel Beltre took a big step last season in Frisco, playing an awesome center field while finally finding his hitting stroke. He still swings at too many bad pitches, still relies too much on pure speed rather than smart base-running, and is still probably 2 years away from the majors, but the talent is right there in front of your face.

As for Tanner Scheppers, I believe he's one of those guys who will be a stud. He's going to start the season in AAA, but could find his way to the majors midway through the season. He's got a huge arm, great control and poise. To me, he might be the one untouchable prospect in the farm system.

Martin Perez took a big step back last year in Frisco and has continued to show extreme control problems during Winter League play. He's still very young at just 19 years of age, and his arm is fantastic. However, he's at least 2 years away (maybe three) from making a move to the big club. To me, despite his huge upside, I'd feel more comfortable parting with him over Scheppers.

Finally, if the Royals are serious about moving Greinke, and are asking for 2 (or three) A-tier prospects, I am of the opinion they should be willing to part with another piece as well. The Rangers are in need of an upgrade at the Catching position and the Royals currently have one of the better veteran defensive catchers in Jason Kendall. While Kendall doesn't have a great arm, nor is he going to hit .300 for you the way he did throughout the first ten years of his career, what he will do is provide tough, hard-nosed leadership behind the plate and command the respect of what is still a young pitching staff. If Kansas City were willing to accept a trade of Beltre, Perez & maybe two B-tier prospects like Marcus Lemon, Beau Jones or Kasey Kiker for Zack Greinke and Jason Kendall, that might be something I'd have to think long and hard about.

Zack Greinke and Kendall's combined salary for next season is right around $17.25 million, more than manageable considering the age and talent level of Greinke. If Cliff Lee were to then re-sign, Texas would probably need to look for a cheap option at DH, unless they were able to get Vlad Guerrero re-signed to a 1-year deal in the $6 million range. Baring that, I'd look for them to move Nelson Cruz or Josh Hamilton into the DH role (perhaps splitting the duties between the two All-Stars) while giving Julio Borbon and David Murphy more time in Left and Center field.

Rangers Win Series In Kansas City

Game two in Kansas City featured a pitcher still finding his way in his first big league season. Game three featured one who may have finally found himself.

On Saturday, Texas sent rookie Derek Holland to the mound and, much like he's done since coming up from AAA earlier in the year, mixed moments of greatness with a little too much inconsistency.

After going just 4 2/3 innings, allowing 4 earned runs on 7 hits, Holland is now 1-5 with an ERA of 6.42 in nine starts.

"I saw fight," manager Ron Washington said. "But he still has to work on his commanding the baseball better. Derek had trouble trying to hit his spots from the beginning. He got through the first three [innings] but he still had trouble controlling the baseball."

The offense wasn't much better, scoring just 3 runs on 11 hits. Texas' 3 & 4 hitters, Josh Hamilton and Andruw Jones, went a combined 0-for-7 with 6 strikeouts. For the game, Texas struck out 13 times.

"When you strike out that many times, you're not putting much pressure on the defense," Washington said.

In the final game of the series, Dustin Nippert again showed that he may be finally reaching the level long expected of a player with his potential. Nippert, forced into the game after Kevin Millwood had to exit at the end of the 2nd inning with a strained left gluteus muscle, came up big for Texas, pitching 4 2/3 innings of one hit, one run relief, giving the stagnant offense just enough time to put a few runs on the board.



"I just go out there to throw strikes and keep us in the game," Nippert said. "Keep it close and help us win the game. Today I was able to keep the ball down and use all my pitches. I was throwing my changeup a lot and mixing speeds."

With the performance, Nippert picked up his 2nd win in 5 days, despite his offense doing everything in their power to prevent that. Luckily for him, the Royals defense proved slightly more inept that the Rangers hitting.

After being shut out for six innings by Kansas City starter and former Rangers reject Sidney Ponson, Texas finally got a bit of a rally started in the 7th inning as Andruw Jones banged a double of the wall in left field. A single by Nelson Cruz put runners on the corners with nobody out. Royals reliever Ron Mahay was replaced by Jamey Wright who promptly induced a groud ball by Jarrod Saltalamacchia to first baseman Billy Butler who threw out Jones trying to score at home. With runners at first and second, Cruz then stole third, but Wright got a big strike out of Elvis Andrus for the second out of the inning.

That brought Ian Kinsler to the plate, who quickly swung at the first pitch he saw, popping the ball up high into the air on the right side of the infield. Luckily for Texas, Royals second baseman Alberto Callaspo had trouble locating the ball, making a last ditch running stab at it, dropping it on the right field grass. The error allowed Nelson Cruz to score and seemed to suck the life out of the Kansas City players. Michael Young and Marlon Byrd both singled home runs making it 3-0.

"It always takes the emotion out of you when you give up three unearned runs in one inning," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "That happens regardless of how you're going. But it happens even more so when you've only got a couple hits on the board and you're having a miserable time offensively."

Kansas City put a run on the board in the bottom of the 7th but it was quickly given back as Andruw Jones came up in the top of the 8th and hammered a homerun into the left field seats. Texas would add three more runs in the 8th, closing the Royals out with a 2-1 series win.

"It was a strange game," Young said. "The story of the game was Nip and the sun. We got the sun ball and after that we came alive. Give Ponson credit. He threw a really good game. He had a lot of life on his sinker down in the zone. We caught a big break in the seventh and took it over."

Greinke Tough But Feldman Comes Up Big As Rangers Shutout Royals

Scott Feldman has been saying all year that staff ace Kevin Millwood has set the bar pretty high for staying in games and chewing up innings. Feldman has been very effective this year for six innings but high pitch count and/or fatigue has prevented him from getting through the 7th. On Friday night, Feldman finally broke through that wall, deliving a masterful performance over eight innings in route to his 9th win of the season.

"I hope I can build on this and make it more of a regular thing getting us deeper in the game," Feldman said.



As good as Feldman was, allowing no runs while scattering just four hits over his eight innings, Royals ace Zack Greinke pitched quite a game as well. Greinke went seven innings, striking out ten while allowing just three hits. Unfortunately for the Royals, one of those hits was a solo homerun off the bat of Marlon Byrd.

"I know he wished that pitch was in a better spot," Byrd said. "That was something we needed, and Feldman took it from there."

Texas added an insurance run in the top of the 8th when Hank Blalock hit a long double to center field, scoring Marlon Byrd.

C.J. Wilson took over for Feldman in the 9th, closing Kansas City out, nabbing his 10th save of the year. But despite Wilson's dominant 9th, everyone was talking about Feldman's big night.

"He used his changeup more and had a nice little breaking ball going," catcher Taylor Teagarden said. "I figured Greinke was going to do his usual seven or eight innings and allow zero or one run. At the same time, I was expecting Feldman to do the same."

"For you to outpitch Zack [Greinke], you gotta throw pretty good," Royals catcher Brayan Pena said. "[Feldman] did a great job."

Ron Washington was also quick to praise his starter saying, "Feldman matched the best pitcher in baseball and threw an excellent ballgame."

The shutout was the 6th of the season for Rangers pitchers.

Young Walks Off, Texas Hits The Road

After another dissapointing loss to the Kansas City Royals, a game which saw Kevin Millwood continue his hot pitching with a complete game, 2 run effort, Texas was desperate for a win in the final game of the series before heading out on a seven game roadtrip.

Kansas City pitched well the entire series and today was no different, as Kyle Davies battled back from a 4-walk, 2-run first inning to shut down the Rangers offense, striking out eight and limiting them to 3 runs on 3 hits in six innings of work.



Vicente Padilla struggled again, allowing five earned runs in as many innings, giving up two more homeruns in the process. But the bullpen bailed Padilla out, pitching 4 scoreless innings, giving the offense a chance to chip away at Kansas City's 5-3 lead.

The offense didn't let them down, picking up two runs in the bottom of the 8th thanks to rbi's by both Nelson Cruz and Chris Davis, tying the game 5-5.

In the bottom of 9th, Michael Young, historically one of Texas' better clutch players, hit it a walk-off, game-winning homerun off a 96 mph fastball from Kyle Farnsworth, sending Texas on the road with a 6-5 victory.

- David Murphy now has more runs batted in (1) this season than he does hits (0).

- Frank Francisco hasn't allowed an earned run in 5 appearances this season.

- Ian Kinsler has now reached base in his last 12 games.

Rangers Offense Sputters, Royals Roll

What a difference a day makes.

Fresh off a 19 run explosion against the Baltimore Orioles, Texas had to be feeling pretty good with perpetual doormats, the Kansas City Royals, coming to town. But it was the up-and-coming Royals who turned on the bats, scoring four runs in the 2nd inning of starter Matt Harrison, a leadoff homerun by 3b Mark Teahen and a three-run blast by Coco Crisp. Harrison battled, making it into the 6th inning but was forced from the game after a leadoff walk to John Buck and a single by Alberto Callaspo.

Willie Eyre came in and poured gasoline on the fire, allowing a two-run single by Mike Aviles.



"I was falling behind too much and showing my offspeed stuff too early," Harrison said. "I should have attacked more with my fastball early. I threw some good offspeed stuff later, but they had already seen it. But, overall, I was falling behind too much. I need to attack more than I have been."

Reliever Josh Rupe fared no better, giving up a 3-run homer to Mike Jacobs. All toll, Kansas City put up 12 unanswered runs.

Texas managed only three extra-base hits the enitre game, solo homeruns by Marlon Byrd and Hank Blalock in the 8th, and a solo homerun by Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Kansas City - 12
Texas - 3