Monday Morning Manager...Huckleberry Finn is here

1. Jason Botts
2. Hank Blalock

3. No

4. No

5. No way

1) I HOPE the biggest surprise is, in order: Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Jennings, and Nelson Cruz. We need pitching to be healthy and productive. (So, what else is new?)

2) Mr. Triple A hitter, Jason Botts. (Why am I not surprised?)

3) I do feel Mench will be the starting right fielder ahead of Nelson Cruz....unfortunately. I'd like to see what Cruz can do over a full year. If he can't cut the mustard, bye-bye.

4) Sammy can outhit Mench, Botts and Cruz with both one hand tied behind his back. I know Sammy wanted alot in asking, but hey, everyone asks for more, not less. AND HE DID PRODUCE: 92 RBI's in roughly 2/3 of a season, before being benched for, AHEM, Jason Botts. I'd like to have competent people in our lineup. I couldn't care less if Sammy didn't hit righties as well as lefties. So what? What other righthanded hitters hit righties better? Bottom line is Sammy would have hit about 30 HRs, and drive in about 115 RBI's---not bad based on our serious power outage that seems in place in our OF and DH spots. I'd sign Sammy in a heartbeat....of course, signing a productive player instead of having a rookie at DH is way too sensible, so it won't be done.

5) The only person who believes Roger Clemens is his wife and Tom Hicks. I've never believed him at anytime.

1. Josh Hamilton, I think he will suprise a lot of nay-sayers. (but don't think they'll admit it)
2. Jason Botts. Everyone says he takes a couple of months to get going, but in the big leagues we can't afford that. That's what happened to us last year, and by the time everyone was firing on the same cylindar, it was too late.

3. I think he may be on the roster, but I'm not sure.

4. No, I like Sammy, but he had a way too inflated idea of his value for his age.

5. No Way, but I don't think the trainer is telling the truth either.

1. Jason Botts. (I hope.)
2. The fact that Vicente Padilla is still with the Rangers.

3. He probably will be.

4. I am surprised and saddened. He clearly wants to play. He deserves a better exit from baseball than this.

5. I don't really care.

http://diamondgirl.mlblogs.com

1. Josh Hamilton! The real deal.

2. someone deserving a roster spot gets left off for veterans that will not be here next year.

3. No.

4. a little

5. Let's give it a rest and talk on-field baseball the rest of the year!!

1. Matt Harrison/Ben Broussard
2. Milton Bradley

3. Only if Bradley isn't ready to play right field.

4. Neither. He'd be a fine platoon DH against LHP, but wanted 7 million dollars. You get almost the same thing with Mench and he accepted a minor league deal.

5. No. I think he's dirty and his implications of those close to him without accepting any personal responsibility has worn thin.

1. German Duran

2. Guardado

3. Nope...they aren't going to kill their leverage if Nelson Cruz cant make the team. I dont think Mench makes it past April in OKC though.

4. Nope...Mench can do what he did.

5. Nope

1. Big Ben and Murphy
2. Vincente (I hope not though)

3. I hope not...like the dude but think Murphy can play better.

4. Not surprised but kind of disappointed. Great player that is dedicated to continuing his legacy. Hope he finds a new home.

5. Who really cares...lets MOVE ON!

1. Chris Davis
2. E. Alfonzo/M. Bradley

3. No, I think the plan is to break camp with Cruz, Byrd, Hamilton, and Murphy then see what the first 6-weeks brings. i just don't see Bradley being ready Opening Day. If he tries and hits the DL, it will be Shrek time. I do like Mench, he brings a lot of intangibles, but he has to have a monster spring to make the team outright.

4. Sammy's plan didn't quite work out. He was an asset here and seems to be ideal for a team that could use a platoon DH but it seems somebody may have burned a bridge or two late last season.

5. I really never cared for Clemens much anyway and less so in the last few years. That Prima Donna attitude of "unretiring" come late May was just plain annoying. Not going on rad trips when he didn't have to start, going home when he wasn't pitching. Apparently the no "I" in TEAM memo didn't get to him. I kind of hope it all blows up in his face. This whole thing is all about damage control to be sure of making Cooperstown. Almost all of the other guys in the Mitchell report have at least had the decency to say "I screwed up and it was wrong" instead of living in denial.

1. Gerald Laird. Personally I think that the Rangers should have let Salty play first base and let Laird catch, but I really think that Laird has a huge chip on his shoulders and will come out of the gate fired up. I don't know if there is a player fighting for his job more than Gerald Laird.

2. Marlon Byrd. I really like the guy but I can see him struggling and if he does then Mench and Murphy will be waiting to jump in.

3. I actually think that Mench will be starting the year on the roster. Especially with Milton Bradley being such a wild card. Mench has power and usually does pretty decent to start out the year.

4. I like Sammy Sosa but it doesn't make much sense to bring him back on a club that is trying to get a good read on their young talent. I do feel bad for the guy because he played well enough to get a contract from at least someone.

5. Yes I do. I think I might be the only one here that does. I'm a huge Clemens fan and just looking back at his career he stayed pretty consistent, and was the best pitcher of this recent era. If he did do steroids in 2000 then that doesn't make any sense because he was already one of the best pitchers of the league in the 90s. There isn't enough evidence for me to believe that he is guilty. Clemens has a lot more credibility to me than Brian McNamee

1) Chris Davis will force his way on to the opening day roster with his overwhelming power display and perhaps into the starting lineup. Broussard will be traded.

2) Milton Bradley is not fully recovered from his injury and will show it.

3) Yes.

4) Sammy apparently wanted to come back only on his own terms with a big contract and guaranteed playing time. So, no.

5) Who cares? The most over-hyped story of the decade.

1. Jason Botts and Vicente Padilla (wishful thinking)
2. Nelson Cruz

3. Yes, because I think Cruz will struggle again.

4. His situation makes me sad. He did great for us last year, and I hope someone gives him another chance. He might not be the Sammy he once was, but he still makes a huge impact in the clubhouse.

5. Nope.

sarahsdiamondthoughts.mlblogs.com

1.Ron Wasington, We are going to learn that he can be a big league manager.
2.Gerald Laird. good player but will not adjust to being a bench player.

3.Mench will be a role player

4. Sammy needs to retire

5. Hate to say it but I do believe Roger. Or maybe I just do not believe the other guy much.

1. Kevin Mench. He'll have a decent/good spring, Ron Washington will develop a man-crush on him, and make him the opening day RF. Whereupon Mench will hit .240 for the rest of the season, and Jason Botts will be DFA'd, and hit .300 as a member of the Orioles.

2. Marlon Byrd. Watch him revert to his old .250-.260 bat.

3. See #1

4. I am not suprised, nor dissapointed that Sammy Sosa is unemployed. I hope he finally gets the message, and retires before he embarrasses himself this year like Jose Canseco.

5. Nope.

1. Jason Davis
2. Kason Gabbard

3. No

4. No and no

5. No

1. Laird has had his stinko year, and will relegate Salty to backup or OKC

2. Big = Botts

3. Yes. Someone will get hurt

4. Not surprised--he is among the "Mitchelled"

5. NO

I agree with Skyranch on 1 - 4.

1. Gerald Laird has something to prove and I expect him to come out guns a blazing!

2. Marlon Byrd. Now with Mench in camp it may be wise to reengage the Cubs in trade talks for prospects.

3. Mench in left opening day.

4. Sammy was a good sign last year and I supported his signing. We have a roster problem as is but I am shocked someone hasn't offered him a 1 year 2.5 mil deal with incentives.

5. The Mitchell report gives me tired head. These substances weren't banned in the years these accused players took them. But, if you took them, man up and don't lie under oath.

1. Laird puts together his year behind the plate (2007) with his year at the plate (2006) to become one of the premier AL catchers.

2. Salty sulks after being reassigned to OKC. Is his future in the organization as a catcher...(blocked by Laird, Teagarden and Ramirez) or as First Baseman (blocked by Davis)? Eventually exchanged for a pitching prospect.

3. Mench makes the team out of Surprise and has a good April and May but will be become a role player when Bradley comes back on line.

4. No surprise. Sammy did everything the Rangers asked of him during a "make good" contract year. As a reward, his ABs were reduced and then he was non-tendered when the season ended.

5. Sorry Roger, there's no way that you have been telling the whole truth. Get it off of your chest. We'll all feel better.

1. In camp - Jason Botts.
2. For some reason I think Salty.

3. NO

4. Yes, surprised. No, not disappointed.

5. I don't believe Roger, but I don't believe the trainer either.

In my opinion banning books is the equivalent of burning them.

1. Who is going to be the biggest surprise in Rangers camp?

My hope is McCarthy, Gabbard and Millwood tie as the biggest surprise(s).

2. Who is going to be the biggest disappointment.

Jason Botts

3. Do you think Kevin Mench will be on the Opening Day roster?

I think his odds are 50/50.

4. Are you surprised/disappointed that Sammy Sosa remains unemployed?

Absolutely surprised that he hasn't been made an offer of less than $7 million.

5. Roger Clemens...do you believe him?

Clemens comments are difficult to accept as the "whole truth".

1. Murph!
2. Padilla

3. Nope

4. Yeah kinda

5. HECK NO

1) I can't help but root for this to be Mench. Lonestar90 is right...Wash will get a giant man-crush on this guy.

2)Botts. This guy looks like he should be a helluva baseball player, but he just isn't getting it done.

3)Yes. He's a fan favorite and Hicks likes butts in seats better than W's in the column.

4)A little bit. I thought he proved himself to be a very safe gamble last year.

5)Not really. I'm tired of it all, though and wish they'd stop looking for culprits from the past and just make a plan to keep drugs out of baseball in the future.

1. Josh Hamilton
2. Either Botts or Cruz will have to go, both won't make the team.

3.No Mench please

4.No

5.I don't care. I am really tired of the whole steroid mess. The league had no rules to keep players from using. The league knew it was going on and did nothing and that is what it it needs to do now, nothing. Let it go.

1. Biggest suprise could be Ben Broussard, based on what I believe most folks expect from him.
2. Milton Bradley likely won't be healthy enough to make much of an impact.

3. I think Mench will start the year in OKC, but will be in Arlington as an injury replacement before the year is out.

4. I am suprised that Sosa and Bonds have not been signed. Bonds' OBP was .480 last year. I know there's baggage with each, but teams haven't shied away from this stuff in the past like they have this year.

5. Spring Training. Let's talk Spring Training.

1. i think the biggest suprise could be Botts based on his ability to play first base.
2. can't help but think Vasquez will disappoint, but he'll prob make the team anyway.

3. no, i think mench will start in AAA and actually end up becoming a FA in June.

4. Sosa? To a degree. I thought the Mets, Nats, or Twins might sign him, but that looks unlikely now.

5. No. It doesn't matter though. Unless he confesses nobody but God and all parties involved will ever really know.

6. Kinlser signed a long term deal. Take that all you naysayers who think the Rangers arten't committed to their young players and will only deal them when their value gets too high. How's it feel to be wrong?