SURPRISE, Ariz. -- It's been nearly two weeks since Texas Rangers pitchers and catchers reported to Surprise for spring training and tomorrow finally they get to face players in other uniforms.
It's about time too.
"These (practices) are all fun and great and necessary but you really truly the 27 outs on either side, that's what we do, that's what we're here for," manager Jeff Banister said.
So what have we learned about the Rangers in the last two weeks? Not a whole lot. What do we need to see over the next month before the season opens? Quite a few things.
Here are the top five questions facing the Rangers as they begin Cactus League play?
1. Who's No. 5? The good news for the Rangers is that all the candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation have excelled early in camp. Four of the five had a chance to play in the team's lone exhibition game and each of them notched scoreless innings. The frontrunners? It's hard to say but if all things are equal the battle will likely come down to left-hander Ross Detwiler and right-hander Nick Tepesch for the spot. Of course, that's why they play spring-training games.
2. Can someone throw from the left side? The Rangers have four left-handed relievers in camp, which isn't many to start with. But two of the four haven't thrown from a mound yet this spring. Michael Kirkman has been slow to heal from a sore left shoulder and Edgar Olmos, who was acquired on waivers from Seattle, is also down with a sore shoulder. That leaves Martire Garcia and Alex Claudio as the lone healthy lefties in camp. The club is looking around to see if a deal can be made. Detwiler will figure into the mix if he doesn't win the fifth spot too.
3. What Prince will we see? Prince Fielder hasn't played in a game since May and getting his swing back is a priority. Even when he was hitting for the Rangers in the 42 games he played last year he was dealing with the neck issue. There's no neck issue anymore and there's probably no regular in the lineup who needs to get things going this spring more than Fielder. A healthy Fielder adds another huge bat in the middle of the lineup to go with Adrian Beltre. A strong spring could be the springboard to a big season for Fielder.
4. How will the bullpen shake out? The only two names that we've heard are bullpen locks this spring are closer Neftali Feliz and set-up man Tanner Scheppers. You'd have to think that Shawn Tolleson, who was the most effective reliever the Rangers had last season, would also fit into that category. But that still leaves four spots. One figures to be a left-hander and another is a long man. Phil Klein, Roman Mendez and Spencer Patton all performed well for the Rangers in their time last fall. And free agent signee Kyuji Fujikawa has been solid in his early spring bullpen outings.
5. What's the lineup going to be? The early spring indications are that Leonys Martin will lead off and he's got that role in the Cactus League opener. The club still has to find a spot for Shin-Soo Choo and Elvis Andrus. Banister seems to like the idea of having Fielder hit third with Beltre behind him. Moving Choo to the fifth spot would provide the best protection option or Beltre and that would likely slot Andrus into the No. 5 spot. But Banister has played things close to the vest this spring, providing little insight into how he plans to put the lineup together. That will start coming into focus
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