Texas Rangers Notes: C.J. Wilson, Mitch Moreland, Mike Napoli

Twitter   Facebook


Not a lot to talk about today by way of trade rumors but I will give you one interesting nugget I was able to scrounge up. The rest is just little odds and ends from the Rangers' walk off win over the Astros on Tuesday night.

C.J. Wilson Struggles With Command


Rick Yeatts/Getty Images



For a guy who took over the role of the 'ace' in the starting rotation, C.J. Wilson has handled the duties better than most expected he would.

Once in awhile, he can get away with struggling once in awhile, so long as the Rangers come out with a win. Such was the case on Tuesday night against the Houston Astros. Wilson gave up four runs and 11 hits through six and two-third innings.

Luckily, his offense picked him up thanks to a game-tying home run from Josh Hamilton and a game winning walk-off blast from Mitch Moreland. His second home run in as many nights.



Rick Yeatts/Getty Images



Mitch Moreland Swingin' a Sweet Bat

After Monday night's 455-foot bomb, Moreland admitted he did watch it just a little bit. On Tuesday night, there was no doubt he admired his work on another bomb to right field, this one of the walk-off variety in the 11th inning.

The very first pitch Moreland saw he sent deep into the Texas night and about 15 rows back in the second deck. Sending his teammates jumping dugout railing and over to home plate to await the impending celebration.

It was Moreland's second blast in as many nights. If his bat stays hot, the Rangers could get on a much needed winning streak as they head towards the All-Star break.

Mike Napoli on the Trading Block?


Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Last week, CBS Sports' Danny Knobler had a blog talking about the San Francisco Giants' interest in Rangers' catcher, Taylor Teagarden.

A week later, Knobler seems to think the Rangers will deal Mike Napoli to the Giants once he's ready to be activated from the disabled list.

I can see the Rangers dealing Teagarden especially seeing the kind of struggles he's had with the big club. I don't see them dealing Napoli at all and there's no reason to do so.

He's a better hitter than Teagarden and Napoli can not only back up starter Yorvit Torrealba behind the plate but also give manager Ron Washington a decent defensive option at first base.

The Giants need catching especially after the season ending injury to Buster Posey. But don't expect the Rangers to engage them where Napoli is concerned. Unless there's a solid No. 2 or No. 3 starter coming back in the deal.

Texas Rangers Ride Derek Holland, Big Bats to Win Over Houston

Twitter   Facebook

The Texas Rangers, fresh off a road trip that saw them lose six of their nine games, came back to their home ballpark in Arlington, Texas looking to get back on track.

Another guy who was looking for a rebound was Monday night's starter, Derek Holland.

After giving up six runs through just five innings in New York against the Yankees, he took to the mound against the Astros and had one of his best performances of the season. He gave up three runs on six hits through seven and one-third innings and struck out four. Not a bad line for the young left-hander.

Jason Miller/Getty Images



It was a night Holland needed to have to give his confidence a little bit of a boost, especially since there had been talk recently that the Rangers were thinking of moving him back to the bullpen.

But it wasn't just Holland who had a good night. The Rangers offense exploded for seven runs, chasing Astros starter J.A. Happ before he was able to get out of the third inning.

Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre combined for five hits in nine at bats and drove in four of the Rangers eight runs on the night. They weren't the only ones turning in big performances.

Craig Gentry, the speedy outfielder, had a career high three hits on the night and Mitch Moreland added a solo blast in the home half of the eighth inning to put the game on ice.

While most will talk about the Rangers beating up on a bad team you can call it what you want. A win is a win and, right now, the Rangers will take any wins they can get to stay in front in the American League's Western Division.

But, as one person said inside the press box at Rangers' Ballpark, "the season doesn't begin for this team until after the All-Star break."

That might be true but the All-Star break isn't here yet and this team needs to tread water for a little bit longer. Make no mistake about it, the Mariners, Angels, and A's know exactly where Texas is and they are only one or two moves away from leaving them in the dust.

It's time to protect until general manager Jon Daniels and CEO Nolan Ryan can put together some moves of their own. Monday night was a good first step but this season is a long ways from over.