If you recall, I said they have an all-star currently at short in Elvis Andrus, and had a phenom in Frisco (AA), Jurickson Profar.
Profar homers in 1st career at-bat, Rangers down Indians
Published September 02, 2012
Sports Network
Cleveland, OH – Highly touted prospect Jurickson Profar homered in his first major league at-bat, and the Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Indians, 8-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Progressive Field.
The scrawny Profar, the first player born in 1993 to appear in the majors, began his big league career by crushing Zach McAllister's 2-1 fastball about 15 rows into the right-field seats.
"I didn't feel any pressure," Profar said. "I got a fastball and put a good swing on it."
Profar's leadoff blast opened the scoring and ignited a four-run third inning that also included David Murphy's two-run single.
Murphy added a solo home run in the fifth, extending Texas' lead to 7-2 after McAllister (5-6) surrendered back-to-back homers to Josh Hamilton and the red- hot Adrian Beltre earlier in the frame. Beltre entered play batting .500 (20- for-40) with seven homers in his last 10 games.
Elvis Andrus matched Murphy with three hits Sunday and scored on Michael Young's eighth-inning double.
Ohioan Derek Holland (10-6) tossed seven strong innings for the AL West- leading Rangers, scattering seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Carlos Santana's two-out, two-run homer in the third was the lone blemish on the left-hander's afternoon.
McAllister allowed seven runs on 11 hits and walked two in five innings for the Indians, who haven't won a series since July 24-26 against Detroit.
"Zach didn't have very good stuff today," said Cleveland manager Manny Acta.
Profar debuted for the Rangers at 19 years, 195 days old -- the exact same age as Washington's Bryce Harper. He became the first teenager to play a game for the Rangers since Ivan Rodriguez (19 years, 309 days) in 1991 ... Profar, who also doubled, batted ninth and played second base ... Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler was a late scratch with a stiff back ... Andrus extended his hitting streak against the Indians to 29 games, the longest against one opponent in Rangers history ... Texas manager Ron Washington picked up his 506th career win, tying Johnny Oates for second place in team history.
(Posted on behalf our pal, Jim Domzal.)
ReplyDeleteI know, but they’re not going to make any moves now. the cards are dealt. they have the pitching, they have the power, they don’t have the ability to stay strong against the weaker teams. its baffling. 5 losses to kc and Cleveland. we win those games, we have a 4 game lead rignt now. instead, we are looking at the scoreboard each night to see what the pale hose are doing. I am telling you. ventura for manager of the year. great guy, but, I hate seeing what I am seeing. he was out there too. Leyland has the experience though. but, again, has only been there to the top once. I still say the players seem to have lost respect for him possibly. some of them. I love the guy, but, look at bobby valentine. another great manager, and the players don’t respond to that either. I don’t have an answer. just hate seeing that scoreboard. last night, we were up at the Time I looked at it I think 4-1, and, sox were losign 2-0. next thing I know, they win 6-2. incredible.
I know, nothing will happen this year, and if I were the Rangers, there is no way I'd give up either guy, at any price. If I were them, I'd deal Kinsler (he's a very good player too) and train Profar for second.
ReplyDeleteTrading players, deal making, etc. is fascinating to me. It would be fascinating to be a fly on the wall when these deals are cooked up.
Does it start with a guy like Dumbrowski thinking, "geez, we need a shortstop." He goes to winter meetings or spring training, armed with scouting reports on a guy like Profar, and say to the Rangers, "What would it take?"
I agree the Rangers are not going to give up those prospects unless they get a lot in return or they are tainted goods with problems that nobody knows about.
ReplyDeleteJust for the record, Profar hit the game winning RBI in the 10th tonight. He played short, and they put Andrus, the regular shortstop in at DH. The kid is making it very difficult to leave him out of the lineup, and even more difficult to send him back to the minors next year.
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