KingFish
02-26-2002, 05:06 PM
Rangers preview
By Jason Langendorf - The Sporting News
The latest in a series of team-by-team fantasy analyses previewing the 2002 season.
Team PreviewsAngelsAstrosAthleticsBlue JaysBrewersCardinalsCubsDevil RaysMarinersOriolesPiratesRangersRedsRed SoxWhite SoxYankees
> Rangers lineup/rotation
> Rangers team statistics
Who's here: RHP Dave Burba, OF Carl Everett, OF Juan Gonzalez, RHP Hideki Irabu, OF Ryan Ludwick, RHP Dan Miceli, RHP Chan Ho Park, 3B Herbert Perry, RHP Jay Powell, LHP Bill Pulsipher, LHP Mario Ramos, LHP John Rocker, RHP Ismael Valdes, RHP Todd Van Poppel.
Who's gone: RHP Tim Crabtree, RHP Rick Helling, OF Ricky Ledee, RHP Pat Mahomes, LHP Darren Oliver, 1B Carlos Pena, RHP Mark Petkovsek, OF Ruben Sierra, LHP Mike Venafro.
WHAT'S NEW
Plenty, though there's surprisingly little worth mentioning. Most important are the additions of righthander Chan Ho Park and outfielder Carl Everett and the return of Juan Gonzalez. Big things are expected from each, but -- and here's a real surprise -- Gonzalez looks like the surest bet among them to come through.
INFIELD
Shortstop Alex Rodriguez should be the No. 1 pick in most every draft. He's healthy, in his prime and puts up otherworldly production at a premium position. He does it all. This group's other big boppers, first baseman Rafael Palmeiro and catcher Ivan Rodriguez, are fighting a battle they can't win against age and injury. Can they hold a little longer? Rodriguez, despite being seven years younger than Palmeiro, is the riskier fantasy prospect of the two. He has been struck down by major injuries the past two years, and history shows the demands of his position eventually take their toll on a player's skills. At the very least, expect far fewer steals than you're used to getting from him. Palmeiro probably has at least one big season left, and the option of playing some games at DH gives him a better chance to stay healthy and productive for a full season.
Far less proven are second baseman Michael Young and third baseman Mike Lamb. Young wasn't bad as a rookie, but he needs to exhibit better patience at the plate and turn his steals potential into production to be worth something in most leagues. Lamb might have missed his big chance -- not because he has been terrible, but because he hasn't been terrific enough to keep Rangers management from signing vet Herbert Perry or drooling over prospects Hank Blalock and Mark Teixeira. Designated hitter/outfielder Frank Catalanotto hits for average and will bag some steals, but his best attribute is his versatility; in some leagues he qualifies at outfielder, first base, third and second (where his value is highest).
OUTFIELD
One would think that the Rangers' outfielders would be among the fantasy game's most sought after. But it's conceivable that only one of them deserves to be drafted in your mixed league. The biggie is Gonzalez, the Rangers' prodigal son, whose best years have come with Texas. Even if he doesn't rediscover his MVP form, you can pencil him in for a .320 average, 35 homers and 120 RBIs.
It's not that simple for Carl Everett and Rusty Greer. If he can overcome injuries and a bad attitude, Everett could be a solid roto outfielder. But various ailments and suspensions have kept him out of the lineup too often, and hindered his production when he does play. Plus, he showed up to camp overweight. Not a good start. Even at his best, the guy was overrated. Avoid him until the risk is minimal. Greer is a gamer -- the polar opposite of Everett. But the two share one unfortunate characteristic: proneness to injury. Greer was only an average fantasy outfielder when healthy, so don't spend much to land him. Gabe Kapler still could become a force, but probably not anytime soon -- not in a Rangers uniform anyway. He'll piece together 300-400 at-bats, but he's a fourth outfielder right now.
PITCHING
Park might have been the best starting pitcher on this year's free-agent market, but he might raise more questions than he answers for the Rangers. First and foremost, does the guy have the intestinal fortitude to beat opposing aces, especially at The Ballpark? The bet here: Park will be no more effective this season than Rick Helling was a year ago (except with about 50 more strikeouts).
And that's the good news. Park is one of the few good things the Rangers have going for them here. The only other starter worth noting at this point is lefty Doug Davis, who was the team's best starter down the stretch last season. But even he remains largely unproven.
We know all we need to about lefty Kenny Rogers and righthanders Ismael Valdes, Dave Burba and Hideki Irabu: They're not good. Rogers and Burba are old and haven't been useful for anything in years other than eating innings. At least Valdes and Irabu don't have age working against them, but they have battled injuries in recent years. And don't buy into the hype that Irabu will be dominant now that he's slimmed down a bit.
The bullpen is in far better shape than the rotation, with not one but two legitimate closer candidates on board. The favorite is Jeff Zimmerman, whose cold consistency last season makes him a pretty safe bet to keep his job. John Rocker is as loose a cannon as you'll find, but when he's on, he can be as tough as any reliever in the biz. He won't have much value for most leagues unless he unseats Zimmerman.
ON THE RISE
Doug Davis, LHP. He has the right stuff to keep opposing hitters' homers down at The Ballpark, and he was extremely effective after the All-Star break last year. He has been pretty hittable, but his low number of walks should keep his WHIP under control. He could notch 15 wins this season if he finds his groove and stays there.
ON THE DECLINE
Rafael Palmeiro, 1B. The power numbers are still there, but Palmeiro's strikeouts have gone up and his average down in each of the past two years. He's 37 and has been lucky and tough enough to stay in the lineup despite being troubled by a knee injury. His run has to end sometime, though, and you don't want to be around when things start falling apart.
SLEEPER
Michael Young, 2B. He'd likely be ordinary on just about any other team, but his decent all-around offensive skills will be enhanced by his surroundings (lineup, ballpark). If he builds on his solid rookie performance, he could turn out to be a great value in AL-only leagues or as a middle infielder in deeper mixed leagues.
BUST
Chan Ho Park, RHP. He cut his WHIP to 1.17 last year, which is where the positive vibes end in this analysis. Park has been mediocre away from Dodger Stadium in his career and he had a couple of serious mental meltdowns late last season. Now he has to deal with the pressure that comes with being the Rangers' ace, including pitching half his games at The Ballpark. His fantasy value fell as much as any non-injured player in the offseason.
POSITION BATTLES
Third base. There doesn't appear to be a favorite among the group of Mike Lamb, Herbert Perry and Hank Blalock to win the job out of spring training, but make no mistake: Anyone else who earns regular time there initially is just keeping the position warm for Blalock.
Fifth starter.. Dave Burba or Hideki Irabu? Uh, we'll take Charles Nelson Reilly to block. Seriously, you'd have to be really hard up to be barking up the tree of either of these guys. For what it's worth, Irabu has a better shot to be -- and we'll use the term loosely -- "effective."
Closer. This shouldn't be a contest. Jeff Zimmerman was outstanding last year, and he has had no problems taking on all comers in previous job competitions. John Rocker has a shot, but it's a long one.
INJURY RISK
Rusty Greer, OF.. Plays with size-XXL stones, which is why he keeps coming up lame (157 games missed since 1999).
Carl Everett, OF. Always dinged up, and he arrived at camp overweight.
Ivan Rodriguez, C. Has missed 122 games in the past two years, and catchers -- even the greats -- often start breaking down at his age.
Ismael Valdes, RHP. If his WHIP and a move to The Ballpark don't scare you, last year's shoulder injury and his blister problems should.
ON THE SPOT
Juan Gonzalez, OF. Is Juan comfy? Is there anything we can get Juan? A foot massage? A Tic Tac? We'd hate for Mr. Gonzalez to cross paths with any sort of unpleasantness, because it seems to affect his every at-bat. Seriously, Gonzo should be primed for a fine year after returning to familiar surroundings. But if the Rangers' pitching is as awful as it appears and the team goes in the tank quickly, will all motivation for Juan be gone?
Associate Editor Jason Langendorf is a fantasy football expert for The Sporting News. Send questions to him at jlangendorf@sportingnews.com.
By Jason Langendorf - The Sporting News
The latest in a series of team-by-team fantasy analyses previewing the 2002 season.
Team PreviewsAngelsAstrosAthleticsBlue JaysBrewersCardinalsCubsDevil RaysMarinersOriolesPiratesRangersRedsRed SoxWhite SoxYankees
> Rangers lineup/rotation
> Rangers team statistics
Who's here: RHP Dave Burba, OF Carl Everett, OF Juan Gonzalez, RHP Hideki Irabu, OF Ryan Ludwick, RHP Dan Miceli, RHP Chan Ho Park, 3B Herbert Perry, RHP Jay Powell, LHP Bill Pulsipher, LHP Mario Ramos, LHP John Rocker, RHP Ismael Valdes, RHP Todd Van Poppel.
Who's gone: RHP Tim Crabtree, RHP Rick Helling, OF Ricky Ledee, RHP Pat Mahomes, LHP Darren Oliver, 1B Carlos Pena, RHP Mark Petkovsek, OF Ruben Sierra, LHP Mike Venafro.
WHAT'S NEW
Plenty, though there's surprisingly little worth mentioning. Most important are the additions of righthander Chan Ho Park and outfielder Carl Everett and the return of Juan Gonzalez. Big things are expected from each, but -- and here's a real surprise -- Gonzalez looks like the surest bet among them to come through.
INFIELD
Shortstop Alex Rodriguez should be the No. 1 pick in most every draft. He's healthy, in his prime and puts up otherworldly production at a premium position. He does it all. This group's other big boppers, first baseman Rafael Palmeiro and catcher Ivan Rodriguez, are fighting a battle they can't win against age and injury. Can they hold a little longer? Rodriguez, despite being seven years younger than Palmeiro, is the riskier fantasy prospect of the two. He has been struck down by major injuries the past two years, and history shows the demands of his position eventually take their toll on a player's skills. At the very least, expect far fewer steals than you're used to getting from him. Palmeiro probably has at least one big season left, and the option of playing some games at DH gives him a better chance to stay healthy and productive for a full season.
Far less proven are second baseman Michael Young and third baseman Mike Lamb. Young wasn't bad as a rookie, but he needs to exhibit better patience at the plate and turn his steals potential into production to be worth something in most leagues. Lamb might have missed his big chance -- not because he has been terrible, but because he hasn't been terrific enough to keep Rangers management from signing vet Herbert Perry or drooling over prospects Hank Blalock and Mark Teixeira. Designated hitter/outfielder Frank Catalanotto hits for average and will bag some steals, but his best attribute is his versatility; in some leagues he qualifies at outfielder, first base, third and second (where his value is highest).
OUTFIELD
One would think that the Rangers' outfielders would be among the fantasy game's most sought after. But it's conceivable that only one of them deserves to be drafted in your mixed league. The biggie is Gonzalez, the Rangers' prodigal son, whose best years have come with Texas. Even if he doesn't rediscover his MVP form, you can pencil him in for a .320 average, 35 homers and 120 RBIs.
It's not that simple for Carl Everett and Rusty Greer. If he can overcome injuries and a bad attitude, Everett could be a solid roto outfielder. But various ailments and suspensions have kept him out of the lineup too often, and hindered his production when he does play. Plus, he showed up to camp overweight. Not a good start. Even at his best, the guy was overrated. Avoid him until the risk is minimal. Greer is a gamer -- the polar opposite of Everett. But the two share one unfortunate characteristic: proneness to injury. Greer was only an average fantasy outfielder when healthy, so don't spend much to land him. Gabe Kapler still could become a force, but probably not anytime soon -- not in a Rangers uniform anyway. He'll piece together 300-400 at-bats, but he's a fourth outfielder right now.
PITCHING
Park might have been the best starting pitcher on this year's free-agent market, but he might raise more questions than he answers for the Rangers. First and foremost, does the guy have the intestinal fortitude to beat opposing aces, especially at The Ballpark? The bet here: Park will be no more effective this season than Rick Helling was a year ago (except with about 50 more strikeouts).
And that's the good news. Park is one of the few good things the Rangers have going for them here. The only other starter worth noting at this point is lefty Doug Davis, who was the team's best starter down the stretch last season. But even he remains largely unproven.
We know all we need to about lefty Kenny Rogers and righthanders Ismael Valdes, Dave Burba and Hideki Irabu: They're not good. Rogers and Burba are old and haven't been useful for anything in years other than eating innings. At least Valdes and Irabu don't have age working against them, but they have battled injuries in recent years. And don't buy into the hype that Irabu will be dominant now that he's slimmed down a bit.
The bullpen is in far better shape than the rotation, with not one but two legitimate closer candidates on board. The favorite is Jeff Zimmerman, whose cold consistency last season makes him a pretty safe bet to keep his job. John Rocker is as loose a cannon as you'll find, but when he's on, he can be as tough as any reliever in the biz. He won't have much value for most leagues unless he unseats Zimmerman.
ON THE RISE
Doug Davis, LHP. He has the right stuff to keep opposing hitters' homers down at The Ballpark, and he was extremely effective after the All-Star break last year. He has been pretty hittable, but his low number of walks should keep his WHIP under control. He could notch 15 wins this season if he finds his groove and stays there.
ON THE DECLINE
Rafael Palmeiro, 1B. The power numbers are still there, but Palmeiro's strikeouts have gone up and his average down in each of the past two years. He's 37 and has been lucky and tough enough to stay in the lineup despite being troubled by a knee injury. His run has to end sometime, though, and you don't want to be around when things start falling apart.
SLEEPER
Michael Young, 2B. He'd likely be ordinary on just about any other team, but his decent all-around offensive skills will be enhanced by his surroundings (lineup, ballpark). If he builds on his solid rookie performance, he could turn out to be a great value in AL-only leagues or as a middle infielder in deeper mixed leagues.
BUST
Chan Ho Park, RHP. He cut his WHIP to 1.17 last year, which is where the positive vibes end in this analysis. Park has been mediocre away from Dodger Stadium in his career and he had a couple of serious mental meltdowns late last season. Now he has to deal with the pressure that comes with being the Rangers' ace, including pitching half his games at The Ballpark. His fantasy value fell as much as any non-injured player in the offseason.
POSITION BATTLES
Third base. There doesn't appear to be a favorite among the group of Mike Lamb, Herbert Perry and Hank Blalock to win the job out of spring training, but make no mistake: Anyone else who earns regular time there initially is just keeping the position warm for Blalock.
Fifth starter.. Dave Burba or Hideki Irabu? Uh, we'll take Charles Nelson Reilly to block. Seriously, you'd have to be really hard up to be barking up the tree of either of these guys. For what it's worth, Irabu has a better shot to be -- and we'll use the term loosely -- "effective."
Closer. This shouldn't be a contest. Jeff Zimmerman was outstanding last year, and he has had no problems taking on all comers in previous job competitions. John Rocker has a shot, but it's a long one.
INJURY RISK
Rusty Greer, OF.. Plays with size-XXL stones, which is why he keeps coming up lame (157 games missed since 1999).
Carl Everett, OF. Always dinged up, and he arrived at camp overweight.
Ivan Rodriguez, C. Has missed 122 games in the past two years, and catchers -- even the greats -- often start breaking down at his age.
Ismael Valdes, RHP. If his WHIP and a move to The Ballpark don't scare you, last year's shoulder injury and his blister problems should.
ON THE SPOT
Juan Gonzalez, OF. Is Juan comfy? Is there anything we can get Juan? A foot massage? A Tic Tac? We'd hate for Mr. Gonzalez to cross paths with any sort of unpleasantness, because it seems to affect his every at-bat. Seriously, Gonzo should be primed for a fine year after returning to familiar surroundings. But if the Rangers' pitching is as awful as it appears and the team goes in the tank quickly, will all motivation for Juan be gone?
Associate Editor Jason Langendorf is a fantasy football expert for The Sporting News. Send questions to him at jlangendorf@sportingnews.com.