Wednesday newsletter time: Rangers don’t anticipate needing a third catcher to open season
(AP photo/LM Otero)
Bruce Bochy made his thoughts about a third catcher on the Rangers’ active roster pretty clear in December.
“I’ll find a third catcher,” the new manager said.
Come on down, Mark Mathias. Or maybe Josh Smith or Brad Miller.
The point was received. Bochy is planning on having two catchers on the Opening Day roster, and so is general manager Chris Young.
The thinking entering spring training is that Mitch Garver is going to be healthy enough to catch by the March 30 lid-lifter.
Garver said last month during Fan Fest that he is throwing up to 200 feet. Young said on Monday that Garver is on track to be a full-go for the opener against the Phillies.
The only way a third catcher makes the roster is Garver has a setback or if he’s not quite ready to catch regularly. If not, Sam Huff or Sandy Leon would make the team.
That seems like a lot to put on Garver’s surgically repaired forearm/elbow. He will get at-bats at designated hitter, which Young said will help the Rangers take it easy on him early on if needed. Garver won’t be the exclusive DH, as the Rangers will use the spot depending on matchups and which platoon player is not in left field on a given day.
But it all hinges on Garver’s health this spring. The Rangers’ pre-camp thinking is he will be fine.
Memoirs bring back memories
As the chief/only editor of Rangers Today content, I could have taken sneak peek at each of the six parts as T.R. Sullivan takes a look back at the Jon Daniels era in his latest T.R.’s Memoirs.
But I’m trying to not get too far ahead of our subscribers, so I’m just reading it one story at a time.
Part 3, which will be published later today, takes readers into the 2010 season, to a point. More good stuff is ahead, but the stuff that has already been published is very good.
It brings readers back to the Rangers’ best era, but also includes details on key figures of the time and how they all combined to take the Rangers to back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011.
Those were some good times with good people, some of whom the media still runs into from time to time.
The latest is Ian Kinsler, who joined the team Monday as a special assistant to Young. I have a feeling Kinsler might be in Part 4 and Part 5.
If you want to give them all a read but need access, go here to get it.
Headed to Round Rock?
If so, Triple A Round Rock announced its promotional calendar Tuesday, and it includes 13 giveaways. There is Yellowstone Night jersey July 8 for the first 1,500 fans at Dell Diamond.
That comes the night after the third of four bobbleheads in the Nolan Ryan Bobblehead Series. The other three days are June 2, June 24 and July 21.
But the promotion that caught my eye and made my belly rumble comes July 21-22 as the Express becomes the Round Rock Donuts.
Round Rock Donuts is a thing, a donut spot in downtown Round Rock. The regular donuts are tasty. There is also a two-pound Texas-sized donut that was once featured on the show Man vs. Food. Sign me up for that, and one of the 1,500 jersey giveaways to fans that night.
The full promo calendar can be found here. The Rangers have some darn well-run affiliates.
Doggy video!
Hey! An actual use for a cat. Enjoy.
When you can’t find a pillow so you use your best friend 🤷
🎥: IG gusthexlstaffy#dogsoftwitter pic.twitter.com/F6QPiK5tsi
— WoofWoof TV (@WoofWoof_TV) October 10, 2022
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
