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Texas Rangers Positional Breakdown
March 25, 2003
by T.L. Mackey
Catchers
Robert Lumsden - a 38 year-old with 1 year left on his contract. He hit a decent .263 last year with 2 HR, 12 RBI, and a .333 OBP in just 95 at-bats. Let's not kid ourselves...catcher is not our strongest position. Lumsden can get the job done for the moment as long as he keeps doing his job well on defense.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 5/3/6 (2.5 stars)
1st Basemen
Robert Debord - another 38 year-old with 1 year left on his contract. He only pulled a .273 last year...not the kind of numbers I like for a "go-to-guy" at first base. He did slug out 43 HR with 105 RBI, however. And his walks outnumbered his strikeouts 104 to 94, the only guy on the club to accomplish such a feat. In short, Debord is an obvious leader in the clubhouse and is still producing. He'll be the top guy at 1B on opening day.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 3/10/6 (3 stars)
Minh King - a 31 year-old utility guy really. He is equally effective at either 1B or at C. Pretty good production offensively for limited opportunities. He hit .268 and had 10 HR with 19 RBI. King has a problem with patience, however. He struck-out 23 times and only drew 2 walks. Blech! King will still find playing time now that Debord is 38...at least until I find a better option.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 5/7/2 (2.5 stars)
2nd Basemen
Thomas Messick - a 22 year-old who is just itching to bust loose. You can tell by looking at the kid's work ethic. He was the number-two guy at 2B last season...getting only limited opportunities at the plate. But he did do well for his first year in the majors. A modest .211 BA with 3 HR, 17 RBI, and a .306 OBP in just 147 at-bats. He's also been solid defensively. Messick will gain playing time this year.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 6/4/3 (4 stars)
Alex Hoosier - a 26 year-old from Canberra, Australia of all places. He was the primary second baseman last year, pulling in a .262 average with 9 HR and 62 RBI. Hoosier also managed 6 stolen bases, ranking second on our team in that category. A good solid player who plays with his head even though some of the natural ability may not be there.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 4/1/3 (1 star)
3rd Basemen
Bill Clark - 'Big Bad Bill'...the Canadian Bruiser. Clark is a 21 year-old phenom hailing from Toronto. He was thrust into AAA last season and exceeded all expectations. This will be his first season in the majors, but it will be a definite trial as we have no other options at 3B currently. Lester McAdory may have pulled off a coup in this prospect.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 5/8/5 (5 stars)
Shortstops
William Schmidt - The 27 year-old lynchpin to the Rangers offense. Schmidt banged in 57 HR and 142 RBI while maintaining a .300 average last year. He also boasted a .392 OBP and 9 stolen bases to lead the team in all offensive categories. Keeping Schmidt with the Rangers and keeping him happy are top priorities.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 6/11/3 (5 stars)
Celso Escandon - a 21 year-old rookie from the Dominican Republic. His offensive and defensive abilities are about average and he has a titan ahead of him on the depth chart, but we are hoping for him to develop into a good backup so that Schmidt will be well rested for postseason runs.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 2/1/3 (2.5 stars)
Left Fielders
James Viveiros - a 37-year-old defensive specialist with a solid bat. Not much is wrong with this guy's numbers. He batted .270 last year with 13 HR and 60 RBI. No errors committed in over 100 games too. As long as the production doesn't dip, he can expect some serious playing time this year.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 6/5/3 (2 stars)
Cordell Spencer - a 33 year-old who is almost the spitting image of Viveiros as far as stats go. A batting average of .276 with 22 HR, 77 RBI, and a strong .333 OBP. He too will prove to be a valuable asset in the outfield.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 5/7/2 (2 stars)
Center Fielders
Jose Quinones - a 24 year-old sensation from Guadalajara, Mexico. He had a modest debut year in the majors last season. Offensively, he managed a .235 average with 1 HR and 9 RBI in 81 plate appearances. He has a good head for the game defensively and Wilmer is sold on his ability to develop into a stud outfielder.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 4/6/5 (4.5 stars)
Balta Ramirez - the 31 year-old mainstay of the Rangers outfield. He's played centerfield for Texas since being drafted in 1992. He continues to be a dependable producer...16 HR and 62 RBI with a .267 BA and .333 OBP. He is a fan favorite and will undoubtedly continue to dazzle the crowds with his acrobatic fielding displays.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 4/6/4 (2 stars)
Right Fielders
Steve Rosson - a 25 year-old star who has continued to develop nicely. He batted .260 with 15 HR and 60 RBI last year. While he split playing time 50/50 at RF last year, we expect the balance of playing time to shift in Rosson's favor this year.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 5/8/4 (4 stars)
Lee Faith - a 33 year-old who shared RF duties with Rosson last year. His offensive numbers from last year were competitive with Rosson's but many insiders believed this was merely a fluke. He batted a strong .282 with 8 HR and 35 RBI over the course of the season. Faith will still be called upon to produce this year, although it will be in more of a supporting role.
Wilmer's H/HR/BB ratings: 5/4/2 (2.5 stars)
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Key Players:
Bill Clark
William Schmidt
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