Thursday newsletter time: Word is Rangers’ search is picking up, just not official word
(AP photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Of the four writers on the Rangers beat who are members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, one is in Houston, one is on the Appalachian Trail and another has left the country.
Maybe I should take the hint.
Alas, here we are again. Maybe I can take a day once new manager is hired, whenever that might be.
Word is that things were picking up this week on that front. Maybe the Rangers loaded up Ray Davis’ jet and visitied with Bruce Bochy again. More likely, the elimination of postseason teams may have opened the door for the Rangers to interview candidates who might have otherwise been occupied.
Possibilities from the coaching staffs of the vanquished include Tampa Bay bench coach Matt Quataro, who is one year and one day older than me, and Atlanta third-base coach Ron Washington, though he hasn’t been contacted.
Tony Beasley, who finished the season as the interim manager, is the only confirmed candidate to interview. Unlike the managerial search in 2018, the Rangers are not planning to reveal who they have interviewed.
Beasley is the only internal candidate who will interview, general manager Chris Young said earlier this month.
Arizona Fall League check-in
The team with the best record in the Arizona Fall League entering Wednesday was the Surprise Saguaros, the home of nine Rangers minor-leaguers.
The headliner is Kumar Rocker, who allowed three runs in two innings earlier this week. Shortstop Luisangel Acuna is faring well at the plate, and so is catcher Cody Freeman.
Assuming the world doesn’t end, or something else dramatic happens, Freeman will be the guest on the next episode of the Rangers Today Baseball Podcast. He entered Wednesday batting .353 in six games while sharing time with Henry Davis, the first overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Rocker will likely be discussed, as will relievers Nick Starr (0.00 ERA) and Grant Wolfram (1.80).
Freeman was drafted in 2019 (fourth round) as an infielder. He’s transitioning nicely.
ICYMI …
Thursday is upon us, so it’s time for in case you missed it. Among the things you might have missed that aren’t listed below is yet another gentle reminder to become a paid subscriber for full access to Rangers Today, which has continued cranking even with news slowly leaking out. There’s also the Rangers Today Baseball Podcast YouTube channel. Subscribe to it for free so that you don’t miss any shows. Now, here’s our latest stuff.
T.R.’s Memoirs: What could have been, manager edition
The Sunday Read: Not-so-random thoughts on things
Martin Perez contract not a layup?
Rangers Today Baseball Podcast with Colby Lewis: Links to audio and video
Doggy video!
I hope your Thursday goes as well as this. Enjoy. See you Friday.
Best day ever!!! 😜🐕🦺🛝 pic.twitter.com/4ufCUtl3is
— Fred Schultz (@FredSchultz35) October 18, 2022
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
