Spring training isn’t just a long, never-ending slog for players, it’s that for sportswriters, as well. There are only so many times they can talk about how a player is in the best shape of his life, or how hitting .150 at this point is not cause for concern because it’s just spring training.

So, instead, they fill their time with silly, meaningless top ten lists, like this one on MLB.com today: “Top Ten Pitching Staffs in The Game” from Anthony Castrovince. 

Texas ranks number nine. But it’s a reluctant nine. Here’s what he had to say about it:

9) Rangers
Top starters: RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP Jacob deGrom, RHP Jon Gray, RHP Tyler Mahle, RHP Kumar Rocker
Key relievers: RHP Chris Martin, LHP Robert Garcia, RHP Jacob Webb, RHP Shawn Armstrong, RHP Marc Church

We’re friends here, right? We can be honest with each other, yes?

OK, I’ll say it: I was somewhat lukewarm on including the Rangers on this list. Ultimately, it’s the right thing to do, because deGrom is back. And Tyler Mahle is also coming back from Tommy John. And the Rangers re-signed a great competitor in Eovaldi. And Gray is a solid mid- to back-end rotation option (or maybe even a closer someday). And Rocker and Jack Leiter have a lot of promise. And the rebuilt bullpen, in which prospect Church provides a lot of upside, looks reasonably good. All that is true. But there’s also a very real possibility this whole thing blows up in the Rangers’ face. After all, deGrom hasn’t pitched even 100 innings since 2019, Eovaldi is 35 with his own extensive injury history and Mahle is already dealing with a forearm issue in camp. But sure, if deGrom wants to jump back into the Cy Young conversation with a comeback season for the ages, I’m here for it.

While Castrovince makes good, salient points, the same can be said of pretty much every staff. Every pitcher is one pitch away from Tommy John surgery.

But the key to the Rangers rebound will be their bullpen and whether they find a competent closer. Because, without a closer, it all blows up with every blown save. 

MLB.com’s complete top ten, in order, are: Dodgers, Phillies, Braves, Mariners, Diamondbacks, Tigers, Red Sox, Royals, Rangers, Padres.

*****

TODAY’S CACTUS LEAGUE GAME: 

Colorado vs Texas, 8:05

TV: CW33, Victory+    Radio: 105.3 FM