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2008 MLB
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2008 Texas Rangers Predictions & Season
Preview
Jimmy
Boyd’s 2008 Texas Rangers
predictions see them
unable to contend in the AL
West this season. But if the
Rangers are able to win the
West in 2009 or 2010, this
season will have been a
contributing factor as a
number of young starters
will continue their
maturation process.
Starting Rotation/Bullpen
One constant in Texas’
eight-year playoff drought
has been lackluster starting
pitching. Last season’s 5.50
ERA was the worst of any
rotation in the AL. A big
reason for this was a down
year from the one-two punch
of Kevin Millwood and
Vicente Padilla. Both won at
least 15 games in 2006 and
pitched over 200 innings. In
2007, both posted career
highs in ERA. Millwood went
10-14 last season with a
5.16 ERA and Padilla went
6-10 with a 5.76 ERA. Bounce
back years are imperative
for both pitchers, who are
still in the middle of hefty
contracts. Brandon McCarthy
could not stay off the DL
last season. He goes into
2008 still unproven, but the
potential to win 14 games is
there. Kason Gabbard has
also seen his fair share of
the injury bug and must be
more durable for this team.
The fifth spot is as open as
the Texas sky. A young guy
could fall in here. Perhaps
Luis Mendoza, who starred in
Double-A ball.
A strong pen has been able
to back up Texas’ shaky
rotation for several years
and that’s why the Rangers
often defer to their pen
early. This year’s pen
doesn’t appear to have the
same stuff as we’re used to
seeing. C.J. Wilson does
have the stuff to be the
next great lefty closer, but
he must show the ability to
pitch consecutive days.
Veteran Eddie Guardado will
be his mentor. If Wilson
struggles, the Rangers will,
no doubt, move him in to the
closer roll. Joaquin Benoit
has been a warrior in long
relief, second only to Scot
Shields in AL relief
innings. While Kameron Loe
has struggled as a starter,
he could be a strong relief
pitcher.
Batting Order
DH Frank Catalanotto will
hit lead off against
righties, but will likely
sit against lefties. He is a
solid hitter, but weak
defender. I really don’t see
him as a good enough player
to make the Rangers better
when he’s in the game. Ian
Kinsler will hit in the
two-spot most of the time
and move up to lead off
against southpaws. The
second baseman had 20
homeruns and 23 stolen bases
in his second season and has
30-30 potential. Shortstop
Michael young is one of the
elite contact hitters in the
game. His .316 average the
past 5 seasons is fifth-best
in the AL. He isn’t going to
give you a ton of homeruns.
He had just nine last
season. But he still drives
runners it at quite a clip
with 94 RBIs last year.
Centerfielder Josh Hamilton
looks to be a good one. He
hit 19 homeruns in 90 games
as a rookie with Cincinnati.
The guy has some serious
power. Milton Bradley gets
on base as well as anyone in
the bigs. He has a .395 on
base percentage in the AL
the past five seasons.
Bradley is coming off knee
surgery, but if he can stay
healthy, he will vastly
improve this Rangers lineup.
Third baseman Hank Blalock
slugged .543 in an injury
shortened season. I’ll be
curious to see what he can
do in a full one. Left
fielder Marlon Byrd will
likely hit seventh. He had a
big year as he turned 30 and
entered his baseball
twilight. But I doubt he can
match hit .307 average and
70 RBIs. First baseman Ben
Broussard lacks power for a
corner infielder but
Arlington favors lefties so
that could help him out.
Catcher Jarrod
Saltalamacchia rounds out
the order. He is an asset as
a switch hitter, but tends
to hit righties much better.
Bringing Milton Bradley and
Josh Hamilton should help
the outfield and should
bolster the meat of the
order. Texas clearly has
some more moves to make and
must develop more young
talent before being ready to
contend in the West. Still,
the Rangers should be better
than the A’s.
Jimmy Boyd is the best MLB
Handicapper in the world bar
none. His World Handicapping
titles and profits with
baseball betting speak
for themselves. Mr. Boyd is
coming off the best season
of his career in pro
baseball and is primed and
ready for another winning
campaign. Enjoy
MLB picks that win on a
daily basis all season long
with the industry’s top dog!
Odds to win AL West:
10/1
Odds to win 2008 AL Pennant:
50/1
Odds to win 2008 World
Series:
100/1
Other Predictions for the 2008 Season:
Updated February 16th, 2008
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