M’s vs. Rangers Series Preview- 4/9/10

By way of a series preview, I think we’re going to play the who would you rather have game, like we did with the Athletics earlier in the week.  Due to the lack of roster changes, we’ll just do it for the first series of the year with each team and maybe the first series after the all-star break, or something like that.  It’s a quick fun way to look at rosters though, and doesn’t take much work for us Good Guys!

Note: no line ups today yet, so I’m going with opening day line up for the Rangers.  I believe Kinsler and Saltalamacchia are the only guys out right now, so I’ll adjust as needed.

C  M’s: Rob Johnson   Texas: Taylor Teagarden (Jarrod Saltalamacchia injured)

Pick: Probably the Rangers with either guy.  Adam Moore might be a closer comparison to Teagarden.

1B M’s: Casey Kotchman   Texas: Chris Davis

Pick: Davis

2B M’s: Chone Figgins   Rangers: Andres Blanco (Ian Kinsler injured)

Pick: Figgins.  Might take Kinsler when healthy though.

3B M’s: Jose Lopez  Rangers: Michael Young

Pick: Young.  I wouldn’t want the contract, but just as a player, I’ll take Young.

SS M’s: Jack Wilson   Rangers: Elvis Andrus

Pick: Andrus.  Does everything Wilson does offensively and defensively, plus more.

LF M’s: Milton Bradley   Rangers: Josh Hamilton

Pick: Hamilton.  Similar players with lots of talent but a decent amount of volatility.  Hamilton is just better, more talented, and younger.

CF M’s: Franklin Gutierrez   Rangers: Julio Borbon

Pick: Gutierrez

RF M’s: Ichiro!   Rangers: Nelson Cruz

Pick: Ichiro. I’d happily take Cruz in left, though.

DH  M’s: Griffey   Rangers: Vlad Guerrero

Pick: Vlad

 

Expected Pitching Matchups

Friday  M’s: Jason Vargas   Rangers: Colby Lewis

Pick: Lewis. Hard to know what to expect from him after a few very good years in Japan, but Vargas isn’t the stiffest competition.

Saturday  M’s: Felix   Rangers: Scott Harrison

Pick: Felix

Sunday  M’s: Ian Snell   Rangers: Scott Feldman

Pick: Feldman

Closer: M’s: David Aardsma   Rangers: Frank Francisco

Pick: Aardsma 

*****************************************************************************

That’s Mariners 3 and Rangers 7 for position players and DH.

2 to 1 Rangers on the rotation, Mariners take the closer spot. 

That’s a lot of talent on this Rangers team, with more on the way.  Teams like this (young, talented, little success so far except for a winning record last year) often take a “consolidation” year, where they struggle a bit and then become a contender.  We’ll see if that’s the case for Texas or if they can win right away.   They’re definitely the scariest team in the division, but that doesn’t always mean they’re the best.  Enjoy the weekend and go Mariners!

-Matthew