Thursday newsletter time: Spring training sure sounds nice right about now
(AP photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The countdown to the first spring workout for Rangers pitchers and catchers is less than two weeks away.
Considering the weather this week, that sounds pretty sweet.
Be warned, however, early Surprise visitors: It’s chilly in the mornings. In fact, the way-to-early forecast for Feb. 15 calls for a low of 42 and a high of only 62.
Yes, it could be much worse.
Typically, many players would be in Arizona well before Feb. 15. However, there is one big exception this year: Super Bowl LVII.
The game is being played down the street in Glendale, Ariz., where TCU beat Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl. Just about every hotel and Airbnb is sold out or priced so that even baseball players aren’t comfortable paying the rate.
A good number of players live in Arizona. Maybe they have room at their places.
One takeaway from Fan Fest, though, is that the players are ready to get to Arizona. They can only take so much batting practice and throw so many bullpen sessions before needing a change of scenery.
After a few weeks in Arizona, they’ll be saying they’re ready to get to Opening Day.
This year will mark the first normal spring training since 2019. The media doesn’t even have to wear masks this year, or at least that’s the early word.
We’ll find out in less than two weeks.
Show must go on
There will be a new episode of the Rangers Today Baseball Podcast this week.
The goal is to be in studio this afternoon, but all the meteorologists out there aren’t so sure. It’s supposed to get above freezing, which is a victory, but those roads might be too treacherous to navigate.
So, the podcast might go old school, all the way back to last year, when John Moore and I did the podcast from our homes. Producer Joel Perez said that won’t be a problem.
However it gets done, it will be a good one. Our guest is scheduled to be Hannah Huesman, the Rangers’ mental performance coordinator. The team has placed an emphasis on the mental side the past two seasons, and she is a key part of the department.
Anyone who follows her on Twitter knows she likes to help everyone.
Maybe John can finally get some help.
ICYMI …
Judging by our statistics, you guys missed a lot. Slowly but surely we’re figuring out this new email system. The current resolution is a slow, incredibly slow, delivery speed, but everyone who should have received our emails yesterday did. Progress! Until we’re off double-secret probation, we’ll keep doing it this way and make sure to link to what might have been missed. In that vein, here’s our latest in case you missed it.
Examining the internal non-roster invitees
Tuesday newsletter: Darren O’Day’s Rangers debut
Monday newsletter time: Five signings that shouldn’t be ignored
The Sunday Read: Two keys to the lineup
Baylor Lora released by Rangers
Rangers Today Baseball Podcast: Video, audio links with TK Roby
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Doggy video!
What on earth did she do to him? Enjoy.
MAN's best friend. pic.twitter.com/1WDC7jew4v
— Heckin Good Dogs (@HeckinGoodDogs) January 27, 2023
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
