No Surprise surprises. 808 comments


Here are highlights from yesterday’s game. None of which would be considered surprise developments:

Nick Tepesch imploded. After being given a 3-0 lead, he immediately gave it back, and more. Seven more, to be precise.  Five in the third, two more in the fourth. His day was done, and maybe even his roster spot.

Keona Kela has yet to give up a run. He pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, but one walk. He is a true bright spot in an otherwise smudgy spring.

Phil Klein continued giving up runs in bunches, letting three more score in one inning of work. His ERA is a nice even 9.00.

Adrian Beltre went 2-for-3, hit the ball hard, with a double, a single and an RBI. There is never any doubt about Beltre. Like Easter, some years he arrives later than other years. But he always arrives.

Another game, another hit for Jake Smolinski, who increased his batting average to .341 and his on base percentage to an even-better-than-Choo-like .413. Numbers that still threaten to send him down.

Speaking of Choo, he looks like he is dialing it in as well. He got a solid RBI single, and walked. It was the first time since the World Series years way back in ’10 and ’11 that the Rangers got an RBI from the second-place hitter in the lineup. Let’s hope he stays there.

As usual, Mitch Moreland is having a good few weeks. He is early this year, though, normally having his awakening weeks in May before he takes the summer off. This time of year, hope springs eternal. Even when it’s false hope.

And the least surprising development of all, the Rangers lost 10-5 to the Dodger, giving up double-digit runs once again. Yes, these are just exhibition games but they do tell a compelling story that the Rangers are not anywhere near ready to complete with the elite teams in baseball.

No surprise there.