Texas Rangers Notes: Ogando, Kazmir, Bell, Scheppers, Webb

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Alexi Ogando the Hard Luck Loser

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You can't blame Alexi Ogando for what happened on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. He did exactly what he was supposed to do.

Thanks to two mental lapses by catcher Yorvit Torrealba, and a wild pitch by Ogando, the Braves were able to get three runs that inning which ended up making the difference in a 4-2 Atlanta win.

Ogando went five innings and gave up three runs though only one was earned. The only reason Ron Washington didn't go with Ogando into the sixth inning was because he was already at 105 pitches after he finished the fifth inning.

After a 7-0 start for Ogando, he's come up with losses in each of his last two decisions.

Rangers Interested in Scott Kazmir

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After the Los Angeles Angels released pitcher Scott Kazmir, you knew there were going to be more than a few teams who were going to show interest in signing him. Especially since he could be had for cheap.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Texas Rangers are apparently one of those teams showing their interest. The other four teams, Cafardo says, are the Padres, Rockies, Marlins, and Diamondbacks.

Heath Bell Could be on Rangers' Radar

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According to a source I spoke to over the weekend, the Rangers apparently met with the Padres' brass at Petco Park three weeks ago. Though they couldn't say what was talked about, you have to believe the Rangers are showing interest in some of the San Diego relievers.

ESPN's Buster Olney talked about the Padres trade of their closer on Twitter saying "I'd bet that the Padres' sweep, at the hands of the Twins, will accelerate their decision-making on when to trade Heath Bell. It makes sense."

Olney went on to say, "The sooner that the Padres trade Bell, the more than can ask for -- certainly more than if they wait until July 31 deadline."

Tanner Scheppers Dominates

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The Texas Rangers officially re-activated one of their top pitching prospects, Tanner Scheppers, and sent him to the bullpen of the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders. Though two innings, Scheppers looked nothing short of dominant.

Through two innings of relief, the young right hander didn't give up a single hit, struck out four, and has his fastball up around the mid-90's.

While he was expected to be a starter, his domination out of the bullpen could have him seeing the big leagues sooner rather than later.

However, it's going to be awhile before he moves himself back up to Triple-A Round Rock, which is where he was before he went to the disabled list back in late April. Rangers' general manager Jon Daniels has already been quoted as saying they want to make Scheppers prove he's ready to move himself up to the next level.

Things Could Not be Worse for Brandon Webb

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I don't know if Brandon Webb is going to make it back to the big leagues let alone make it out of Double-A.

Webb made the start for the Frisco RoughRiders on Sunday and couldn't have looked any worse. The right hander lasted just two-thirds of an inning, giving up four runs on six hits before being taken out with two outs in the very first inning.

You have to wonder just how much longer the Rangers are going to wait for him to come around. From the way things have looked, I don't know if things will ever 'come around' for him.

Texas Rangers: Chris Davis Could Be On His Way Out

Chris Davis was supposed to be the next big thing at first base for the Texas Rangers. He was supposed to be that big power bat at one of the corner infield spots that would bring extra pop to a lineup which only had a few big swingers.

I remember watching Davis when he was a member of the Double-A Frisco Roughriders. I would sit in the stands three hours before a ballgame and watch him hammer pitch after pitch into the stands. He had all the tools to become a good and potentially great player at the next level.

Unfortunately for him, it hasn't exactly worked out that way.

Whether it's a mental thing or something in his swing, the confidence that always seem to be there in the minor leagues has all but left.

Now, it seem the Rangers are ready to trade him out of town especially since they don't have much room for him to play or a position for him to fill.

They want to keep their long time star, Michael Young, happy so it's likely they'll have him splitting time at several different positions including the one spot Davis can play. First base.

While I don't know for sure that the Rangers have lost confidence in Davis, his numbers over the last few years are reason enough for them to try and make a deal to get what they can in return. Maybe it's time for a change for the young player to see if he can succeed elsewhere.

It does him and the Rangers no good for him to sit on the bench. He needs to be somewhere where he can get playing time and at bats to get his confidence back.

There's no question in my mind this kid can play and do so at a high level. Maybe the Rangers brought him up too fast just as they did with young catcher, Taylor Teagarden who hit .155 in 71 at bats last season.

Don't expect a move to happen until possibly a week prior to the first game of the 2011 season. But that doesn't mean general manager Jon Daniels won't be calling around to other teams to gauge their interest.