00:00to talk about the Rangers once more.
00:03The 2-1 hit high into the air.
00:05Deep left field.
00:06Berger's got a shot, and it's gone.
00:11A grand slam smash Berger for Jake Berger,
00:16putting Texas on the board.
00:185-0 becomes 5-4 in the blink of an eye.
00:22Look at Hicksy already having fun.
00:24He's in pro, he's in mid-season form right now.
00:27Indeed.
00:28The consensus seems to be that there are four spots left
00:34for the Rangers to figure out.
00:37Is it going to be Lats or Rocker for the 5th rotation spot?
00:42And even that in and of itself is interesting,
00:44because if Rocker wins it,
00:47you just assume Lats would go to the bullpen,
00:49whereas if Lats wins it,
00:51the assumption is that Rocker will go back down to AAA
00:55so he can continue to start.
00:56So that might impact the fact that you probably have
01:00two bullpen spots available,
01:02and you're still trying to figure out your final bench spot.
01:07I think those are the four spots.
01:08So two in the bullpen, that seems to be the consensus.
01:11The bench spot, and then who's your fifth starter?
01:14Yeah, I think the fifth starter,
01:15let's start with that question real quick.
01:18Because I think you and me, me and Alec,
01:21we've talked this thing into a point where we still haven't made a decision
01:25because we were trying to let the decision play itself out.
01:29And then what happened was Rocker had a really good outing
01:32and Lats had a bad outing.
01:34Dude, and they even brought him back into the game
01:36and it still went bad.
01:37And I thought we were at a point,
01:38I was like, okay, here we are.
01:41Lats has made his impression
01:42and the Rangers want him to be the guy.
01:44And then that outing happened.
01:46And again, Rocker's kind of showing this consistency
01:49and flashing what he needs to flash just enough.
01:51But, you know, how deep can he go?
01:53Those are still the things.
01:54And I think the conversation, Kevin,
01:58I might be wrong about this.
01:59Did Jared mention piggyback?
02:01Ah, now let's talk about that.
02:05Which that could change a lot of things.
02:06I am so glad that you said that.
02:08And then that would eliminate one of your bullpen spots
02:11with the idea of the piggyback start.
02:14And what that is,
02:15is Lats and Rocker would essentially be your co-starters.
02:19Now, I know you wouldn't switch them out or anything,
02:21but like maybe one of them's going to throw three or four innings
02:24and then the other one throws three or four innings.
02:27So that is the pre-made kind of determination,
02:29is Lats throws and whatever he's done,
02:33Rocker goes in and throws.
02:34So you're not going to like your traditional bullpen.
02:37And there is some thought that at least early in the season,
02:41perhaps that could be the direction that they go.
02:45The other potential option,
02:46are we done with Quantrill after his,
02:49have we moved on from him?
02:51Because I know he was with Team Canada
02:53and if they don't have him up,
02:56I believe he's gone.
02:57They lose their rights to him.
02:59And so it is possible
03:01that you could go that same way
03:04with him and Austin Gomber.
03:08And that would,
03:10so they are signed to minor league deals.
03:14Evan Grant brought this up.
03:15Those two are signed to minor league deals
03:19and if you could retain them,
03:21then that would be super helpful.
03:23And Schumacher would also talk about
03:24a bullpen role for both of those.
03:26But like you said,
03:27with players like Quantrill,
03:28it will be,
03:29that will be kind of a negotiation after the fact.
03:31And in fact,
03:33man,
03:33on the field matters,
03:34but I bet those discussions happen as well.
03:37Like if Quantrill's like,
03:38I'll go wherever you need me
03:39as long as I'm on the big team,
03:41the big club,
03:42then maybe,
03:43or if he's like,
03:43hey,
03:44we need you to start in the minors
03:45for a couple of starts
03:46and then we can bring you up,
03:47then how do those negotiations go?
03:50Yeah,
03:50no,
03:50that's a good question.
03:51And I think that's where I stand on Lats and Rocker.
03:55We know Rocker kind of got a leg up last year
03:59when it came to the conversation.
04:01He kind of was told,
04:02the coaching staff was kind of told,
04:04hey,
04:04look,
04:04he's going to be on your roster.
04:08And he got his experiences
04:10and those were good
04:11and he's still growing and developing.
04:13He's still becoming a,
04:14I think Jared said last week,
04:16if you were to look at it
04:17in the grand scheme of things,
04:18he's essentially where Jack Leiter was last year
04:20where you're kind of like,
04:21everything except for,
04:23has he dominated AAA?
04:25And he hasn't yet
04:26because he hasn't had the opportunity
04:28to go dominate
04:29and be the best pitcher in AAA
04:30like Jack Leiter was.
04:31But that's kind of where he is
04:32in the development of,
04:33can we go ahead and see that
04:35just a little bit from him?
04:36Have you decided
04:38on which one you're,
04:40like if you were to take him or Lats,
04:42which one,
04:42and is that going to come down to
04:44the manager has said,
04:48clean slates for everybody?
04:50Right.
04:51Also understanding
04:52he had a chance
04:53to observe these guys.
04:55And is the,
04:56is,
04:56is GM,
04:58president,
04:59going to step in
05:00and say,
05:00hey,
05:01we have our decision here.
05:02So,
05:03this is one of the questions
05:04I asked Jacob Lats
05:06in spring training
05:07and I hate saying this,
05:09but if you look at it
05:10from that perspective,
05:11doesn't it make
05:11an awful lot of sense
05:13to go with Rocker
05:13since Lats has a more
05:15natural fit in the bullpen?
05:17I'm not saying you can't
05:18put Rocker in the bullpen,
05:19but long term,
05:20that is not
05:21what the Rangers
05:22want him to do.
05:23Like,
05:23as much as we throw out
05:24the idea of a high leverage
05:25pitcher or maybe even
05:26being the closer,
05:27that is not
05:28what the Rangers plan is
05:29long term for him.
05:31So,
05:31using him as your fifth.
05:32But did he earn it?
05:33I don't know.
05:35As Skip said,
05:35it's like,
05:36these guys have to earn
05:37the things they want.
05:38Yes.
05:38So,
05:38did he earn it
05:39or was it just,
05:40well,
05:40we've got to pick somebody?
05:41See,
05:42I think he might have
05:43earned it with the last
05:44go around.
05:45Or at least,
05:46even if he didn't earn it,
05:47got back into the mix
05:50for that.
05:51Because it looked like
05:52it was Lats to go,
05:53but like you said,
05:54it was really a disastrous
05:55last outing at a time
05:57where it feels like
05:57every single one of these
05:58is being broken down.
06:00I could see how they would
06:01go with Rocker at five
06:02and put Lats in the bullpen
06:03because that fits.
06:05Yeah.
06:06I don't know if that
06:07would be my choice,
06:08but it fits.
06:09Again,
06:09I'd love to break up
06:10the righties as much
06:12as possible.
06:12I'd love to be able
06:13to do something like that,
06:14but if your best five
06:16is four right-handers
06:18and a lefty,
06:20then you run with
06:20the best five.
06:21Yeah,
06:21I agree with that.
06:22Go win games
06:23and hope you can score
06:24runs now.
06:24Now,
06:26what did we talk about
06:27earlier in spring training?
06:28It had been forever
06:31since Ezekiel Duran
06:33had hit a home run,
06:35and I know this came up,
06:37but also he'd only had
06:38one extra base hit
06:39in 20 spring training
06:41at-bats.
06:42Now,
06:43in the span of seven games,
06:45he has hit
06:46three home runs,
06:48so I feel like
06:49he's looking good.
06:50Sam Haggerty,
06:52looking good,
06:53especially given
06:54what he can do
06:55against left-handed pitchers.
06:57So,
06:57where does it go
06:59from there?
07:00Evan Grant
07:01believes that
07:02Osuna
07:02and Michael Hellman
07:03might be on the outside
07:05of the group
07:06looking in.
07:07Makes sense.
07:08So then...
07:09Haggerty's had a hell
07:09of a spring, dude.
07:10Hell of a spring.
07:11So then it comes down
07:12to the trio
07:13of more seasoned players.
07:16Now,
07:16do you hate
07:16Osuna not getting it?
07:18It bums me out,
07:19but I understand.
07:20Look,
07:20I always thought
07:23when he went to go play
07:24in the World Baseball Classic
07:25that was going to hurt
07:26his progression
07:27just to make this team.
07:29But also,
07:30how could you not?
07:31You go play in the World Baseball?
07:32Yeah,
07:32of course.
07:32I don't begrudge
07:35that at all.
07:36Agreed.
07:36But now you get
07:37to the more veteran
07:38players.
07:39Is it
07:40Mark Khanna?
07:42Or Khanna?
07:43Is it
07:44Tyler Wade?
07:46Or
07:46is it the man
07:47that I know you guys
07:48did a spotlight segment
07:49on last week?
07:50Andrew McCutcheon.
07:52Because it kind of feels
07:53like it's down to
07:54those three
07:55for that last
07:57bench spot.
07:58I think
08:01and I think
08:02Derek Holland
08:02would agree
08:04McCutcheon
08:05needs to be
08:06on this roster.
08:07Okay.
08:08I know
08:09Khanna's given
08:10like a
08:11he had
08:11a hot streak
08:12here
08:12that stood up
08:14nice for him
08:14but when it comes
08:16to McCutcheon
08:17and
08:18the
08:19friendship
08:20that he's able
08:21to help
08:21be around
08:22he's one of those
08:24guys that
08:24he's a good
08:25teammate
08:26and I think
08:27that in addition
08:28to being a
08:28right-handed
08:29compliment bat
08:30to go
08:30hey
08:31hell dude
08:31he might
08:32take over
08:32for Jock
08:33we've decided
08:34I don't know
08:34if you heard
08:35Kevin
08:35but we
08:35we decided
08:36this
08:37oh
08:37Jock has
08:38one month
08:40okay
08:40until
08:41he has one
08:42month of service
08:42to say
08:43alright
08:43that's how long
08:44my leash
08:45is for you
08:45okay
08:46after that
08:47if I can
08:47find somebody
08:48interesting
08:48better to do
08:49the job
08:49I will
08:50I don't care
08:51how much
08:51I'm paying
08:51you anymore
08:52and I know
08:53that money's
08:54already spent
08:54yeah
08:54I know that
08:55Jock Kevin
08:55has
08:56Jock Kevin
08:57I know that
08:58Jock has
09:00he's proven
09:01over his history
09:02that he can be
09:02bad in the
09:03spring
09:04and good
09:04whenever the
09:05season starts
09:06I'm not willing
09:06to take that
09:07risk too long
09:08in this thing
09:09because I can't
09:10have a hole
09:10in the middle
09:10of my lineup
09:11so
09:12right now
09:13McCutcheon
09:14for me
09:14is the
09:15right-handed
09:16compliment
09:16hopefully he
09:17can continue
09:17showing that
09:18he's still
09:19got it
09:20but that's
09:21where I am
09:21right now
09:22I'll take
09:22Kutch
09:23okay
09:24interesting
09:24I know
09:25there is
09:27some thought
09:28that
09:29Kana would
09:30be a better
09:30option
09:31in the
09:32outfield
09:32and he has
09:33some experience
09:34at first base
09:35but
09:35that is
09:36that's interesting
09:37man
09:38I'm
09:38okay
09:39I was already
09:40as I'm sure
09:41all Rangers fans
09:42were excited
09:42to see how
09:43it was going to
09:43play out with
09:44Jock Peterson
09:44but now that
09:45you say that
09:46yeah
09:46and
09:47you still agree
09:48on that Alec
09:48is that you're
09:49you're at one
09:50you're at a month
09:51with him
09:51yeah
09:51I'm at a month
09:52at this point
09:53the sample size
09:54was big enough
09:54for me
09:55even with the
09:56IL stint
09:57last year
09:57because you got
09:58options now
09:59you got veteran
10:00options
10:00you may as well
10:01use them
10:01and I'll also
10:02point out
10:03Alec is very
10:04kind by giving
10:05him a month
10:05I think I gave
10:05him four at
10:06bats
10:07oh no
10:08that's not
10:08long enough
10:09prove it to me
10:09or else
10:10kind of situation
10:10but Alec
10:11would talk me
10:11off the ledge
10:12and I appreciate
10:13that
10:14because I was
10:14kind of
10:16frazzled
10:16a little bit
10:17dude
10:17okay
10:18I worked
10:19myself up
10:20just a little
10:20okay
10:20man
10:21I am excited
10:22to see how
10:22this plays out
10:23me too man
10:23by the way
10:24we already
10:25knew that
10:26for the opening
10:26series in
10:27Philly
10:28you're going
10:29to go
10:29Evaldi
10:30DeGrom
10:30and Mackenzie
10:31Gore
10:32some really
10:33positive
10:33wrap ups
10:34for spring
10:36training
10:36from two
10:37of those
10:37pitchers
10:37I believe
10:38Gore is
10:38pitching
10:39in the
10:39exhibition
10:39game
10:40today
10:40Jacob
10:41DeGrom
10:41final start
10:42of the
10:42spring
10:43on the
10:43backfields
10:44against
10:44their
10:44triple-A
10:45team
10:45four and
10:46two-thirds
10:47he did
10:48give up
10:48eight
10:49hits
10:50and four
10:50earned
10:51runs
10:51but he
10:52also
10:52struck
10:53out
10:53seven
10:53he had
10:5371
10:54pitches
10:5451
10:55strikeouts
10:55and I'm
10:57sure he would
10:57give you the
10:58same answers
10:58last time
10:59about the
10:59home run
10:59yeah
11:01well
11:01locate it
11:02better
11:02I'm fine
11:03don't care
11:03but you have
11:04seen a lot
11:04of home
11:05runs off
11:05of him
11:06in spring
11:06training
11:06and then
11:07Nathan
11:07Evaldi
11:08last start
11:08before opening
11:09day
11:09I think
11:10he'll
11:10like this
11:10better
11:10four innings
11:11pitch
11:12no runs
11:12four hits
11:13one
11:14walk
11:14he got his
11:15fastball
11:15up to
11:1696.4
11:18in
11:19really tough
11:20heat out
11:20there
11:21Kevin
11:21do you
11:22agree that
11:23he should be
11:24the opening
11:24day pitcher
11:25yes
11:25no questions
11:27asked
11:27correct
11:27over Jacob
11:28deGrom
11:29correct
11:29okay
11:31the only
11:33scenario
11:33I could
11:34see
11:35where you
11:35might want
11:36to make
11:36it
11:37different
11:37is if
11:38you
11:38staggered
11:39him
11:39and put
11:40him
11:40second
11:40then he
11:41would
11:41start
11:41the home
11:42opener
11:44and that's
11:45why I think
11:46it's the way
11:46but no matter
11:46what I
11:47think
11:48Evaldi
11:49deserves it
11:49he in
11:51because of
11:51Alex said
11:52the other
11:52day
11:52he embodies
11:53see the
11:54Rangers
11:55what you
11:55want
11:56and you
11:56guys are
11:56spot on
11:57with that
11:57because I
11:58get it
11:58theoretically
11:59it should
11:59be your
12:00best pitcher
12:00and I'm
12:01not here
12:01to like
12:01debate
12:02that right
12:03now
12:04but you're
12:04right
12:05it is a
12:05saddest thing
12:06and Evaldi
12:06is that
12:06good
12:07and it
12:07would feel
12:08wrong
12:08for him
12:09to not
12:09be the
12:10guy
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