July 10, 2026 • 14 mins
Friday on The A-Team, Adam Wexler was joined by Rangers beat writer Kennedi Landry to preview this weekend's pivotal series between the Astros and the first-place Rangers. The two discussed Jeremy Peña's return to the Astros' lineup, Jacob deGrom being scratched from his scheduled Sunday start, and the other key factors that could determine which team comes out on top in the weekend matchup.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wexler're here with you and happy to talk a little
(00:02):
baseball as the Astros and Rangers get together this evening
for the last three games pre All Star Break, Games eight, nine,
and ten of their season series. And to do that
our conversation we shifted to Arlington and welcome in Kennedy Landry,
who covers the Rangers for MLB dot Com, their beat
writer and has been in that spot since twenty twenty
So through the inevitable first question, timing, did you enjoy
(00:26):
covering the Rangers in twenty twenty three and don't make
our listeners to upset.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
No, it was a good time, you know, only being
on the beat for two years at that point, it
was really good to experience a team I didn't grow
up rooting for, but the organization's first ever World Series championship.
It was a lot of fun to just be around
and to cover and to experience what the fans have been.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Waiting for for so long.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
So I don't want to go too deep into that
for you guys here, but it was a lot of
fun for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Well, I'll only ask you one more question about it. Then,
When you traveled back after Game five to Houston, did
you think there were two more Rangers wins coming.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
No, absolutely not.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
You know, you guys know how that Alcs went in
those three games here in Arlington, the basis clearing the
l two ve go ahead knocks against Hose Jose le
Clerk in Game five. I mean, it felt pretty demoralizing,
but I think really the real key for that Bruce
Bochie squad was their resilience and how they were able
to really bounce back once we once the team got
(01:30):
back to Houston, and it was, like I said, it
was a lot of fun to watch, and you know,
you see these guys, watched cover a lot of these
guys growing up through the organization, and to see them
kind of show it on a big stage was it was.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
A blessing to be able to witness.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
We brought up Bruce Bochie, which I was going to do,
and I don't think it's any fault of new manager
Skip Shoemaker at all, but in my opinion, very very
difficult shoes to fill, very difficult to be. I guess better,
clearly he's going to be different, but to be better
and more successful, and then someone who's done what Bruce
Bochie has done would be virtually impossible, certainly over you know,
(02:07):
ninety games, which is all he's had there. But I'm
curious how you see things differently from how the team
was under Bruce, how the team and I always under Skip
and just kind of the job you think he's done
so far.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Yeah, I think it goes without saying that.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
It's a different managerial style, it's a different it's a
different guys. It's very different to go from a guy
like Bruce Bocci, who's a legend obviously in his own right.
Four championships, so only one here in Arlington, but he's
on the older side, and you get kind of a
burst of energy.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
With a guy like Skip.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
He's what forty five, forty six, he's not too far
removed from his playing days and what these guys go
through over the course of a full one sixty two
And yeah, I think he goes without saying there's big
shoes to fill there, But I think it was a
transitional time kind of in this organization and a.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Kind of a new voice may have been needed.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
And I know the record doesn't quite probably reflect how
the Rangers wish they would be playing right now now,
but I think Skiff has done a good job stepping
into this role with the especially with the roster he
was giving in some of the injuries that have taken
place over the course.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Of these ninety games.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
He's managed it really about as well as he possibly could.
I think we saw this offseason that he was one
of the more coveted managerial hires in MLB with a
lot of vacancies across the league, and a lot of
people have a lot of good things to say about him,
both on and off the field, and I think it
doesn't always show on the field, but I think the
players really respect him, and you see that being around
(03:32):
the clubhouse, talking to the players in that clubhouse, and
you know they really obviously hope that translates to a
few more wins in the second half.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Talking with Kennedy landrybeat writer for the Texas Rangers for
MLB dot Com, and I hear you say some of
those things, and it can't help but strike me as
it's wild to hear what you said, while totally accurate
about the first place team. They slide into first place
with the walkoff victory last night, and I don't think
anything you said as all base for one of the
(04:01):
at least three teams, if not four teams in this
division that are not playing the way they want to
or expect to. What do the Rangers expect to do
over the next couple of weeks. The schedule to me
looks pretty daunting as they rise to first place, but
then have to make decisions about the roster as it
leads to the deadline.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
I think the American League obviously is a pretty week
league across the board this year, and especially in the aos.
Like you said, the Rangers, the Astros, and the Mariners,
the A's. Really these four teams have been hovering around
five hundred for much of the year. The Rangers, they
need to do a lot and like you said, it's
weird saying that about a first place team, but they
(04:42):
number one.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
You need to get a healthy Corey Seeger.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I think they have done an admirable job, and the
guys that have stepped up in his place have done
an admirable job of keeping this thing.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Kind of afloat.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
But you win, to win baseball games, you need to
have your superstars to be superstars, and the Rangers haven't
had that this year. Record se why at Langford, who
walked it off last night, has been hurt for much
of the year as well. And those two guys who
are supposed to be your two best hitters have only
played twenty five twenty six games together this year. That's
not a recipe for winning baseball. And I think you
(05:13):
look at kind of dishrotation, which was the best in
baseball this year, has you know, regressed to the mean
means a bit, and I think that was kind of expected.
But sometimes you need big dogs to step up, and
you need Jacob de Grom, who just got scratched for Sunday,
to pitch like Jacob de gram can and Nathan Valdi
to be on his best like he has been for
(05:35):
so many starts here with the Rangers and the high
leverage arms, the Rangers need definitely one of those at
the deadline.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Jacob laps is the only All Star. He's risen to the.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Occasion and been one of the best, you know, closers
in the American League this year. But they need to
have more guys to set up towards him. And you know,
I'm sure we could say that for a lot of teams,
you know, get healthy and have your superstars be superstar.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
I think the Rangers aren't the only team in.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Baseball who who would like that, But that is definitely
going to be the recipe for the second half.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Was watching Shoemaker's press conference after the win last night.
Forty one pitches to get five outs last night to
help them get to the ninth inning in a tie
game and win it on the walk off. I couldn't
tell for sure is Lat's available for the next three
days or no.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
He won't be available today, that's pretty much a definite,
but I think Saturday and Sunday they will check on him.
And I think Sunday almost definitely, and tomorrow in a
save situation, they would like him to be available and
they'll check on him. He obviously is a he's not
your traditional closer. Obviously, he came into spring training lengthening
out as a starter. He's shortened up since losing the
(06:47):
fifth starter spot in spring training to Kamara Rocker, and
he's been He's gone two plus multiple times this season
for saves. So it's not too far out of the
realm of possibility that he did go as far as
he did last night, even though it was a season
high number of pitches for.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
A relief outing.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
But they know how to handle a guy like Lats
because he's just not been a traditional closer all year long.
So I think it could go either way for tomorrow,
but I think it was It's a definite no for
tonight and a probably yes for Sunday.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
And Kennedy, you brought up the rotation or the pitching
staff in general, which has clearly been very good and
times this year was exceptional lighters injury situation, they've only
needed I think eight starts from the non traditional five
person group, which will change a little bit with that
injury situation, potentially more with de Gram's. But what do
you think about the group moving forward? If Aldi kind
(07:44):
of sits on his own that I think we can
count on him. Yesterday's a parent's a great example of
that moving forward. How do you feel about the rest
of the rotation moving forward and the fact that Cal
Quantrille is making his fourth start of the year tonight.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, I think Cal actually has done a good job
filling in for Jack these this last month or so.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Obviously, he's been a starter for much of his career.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
It hasn't been out of the ordinary for him to
step back into that role, even as he's had to
kind of Linkeen out mid season that was you know,
that's a difficult thing to do. But I think when
you look at this rotation, it kind of comes down
to what the young guys can do.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
And that's Rocker and Gore.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
You know, the Rangers traded five top thirty prospects for
McKenzie Gore this offseason, expecting him to really be an
anchor of this rotation, kind of between the two veterans
of de Graminivaldi at the top and then the two
kind of sophomore pittures of Rocker and Lighter at the bottom.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
You know. And I think.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
He's also he will tell you himself, he said the
other night, he's just not been, you know, good enough
this year. I think there's been times there's a stretch
in May where I think, across six starts he had
a three five ERA. He has looked good for stretches,
but there are some times where he has a daylight
the other night where he gets hit around for five, six,
seven runs in five innings, and that's not a good
(08:58):
recipe for winning baseball. So I think looking at those
those two younger guys, that's I think what is going
to carry this rotation. And then looking towards some injuries.
Jordan Montgomery is coming back within the next two months,
shortly after the All Star break. He's going to make
a rehab assignment again on Sunday. Cody Bradford also making
a rehab assignment on Sunday. He will be shortly behind
(09:20):
Montgomery in terms of returning to the Big league mound.
So they do have reinforcements coming, you know, around deadline time.
If you can rely on two guys coming off Tommy
john surgery coming, you know, in a playoff push, I
guess that's to be seen. But there are a lot
of positives to look at for this rotation going into
(09:41):
the second half, and I think that will also depend
on de Gram's availability coming out of the second halves
as well.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Offensively, clearly they're not one of the better teams. They've
been one of the lower scoring teams throughout the year,
probably you know, at best, a bottom ten offense. Clearly
some of that is Seeers performance when he was out there,
but more importantly is app since the fact of Langford
missing all those games, like you mentioned, he along with
Young and Seer, those are probably the three guys they
should count on the most. What do they need to do,
(10:09):
what can they what do they believe they can get
to add to their lineup at the deadline to help.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
I mean, I think a right handed bat is one
of the bigger needs the Rangers have. I think, you know,
Skip Schumacher was asked about his wish lists for the
trade deadline the other day and he just said he
wants all his guys healthy. And I think, sure, you
can look at that. You want Corey Seeker healthy, you
want Wyatt length for healthy. You want all of these
guys healthy. And you know that may or may not happen,
(10:37):
but you know, you just kind of hope that you
get the most out of your three big guys, Like
you said, why at length for Josh You and Corey
Seger and then you know the peripheral guys. The Rangers
have struggled against left handed pitching a lot in the
last year. They've got been better lately, probably over the
last month to six weeks, but that has been a
(10:58):
real struggle and I think a right handed bat that
could potentially played outfield would be a real addition. And
at the catcher's position, I think it's been better lately
with Elios Diaz coming up with Danny Jansen on the
injured list, but that has been a real struggle to
get offense offensive production out of the catcher position over
the last year as well, that I think the Rangers
(11:19):
could really use down the stretch here well.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Interestingly, as we head into this series from an Astros perspective,
it's the first set of games to start the second
set for all their division teams. They've played two series
against all four teams in the division they have a
winning record against only the Texas Rangers won the three
game series here in Houston, won the four game series
there in Arlington. Are the I think these games are
(11:45):
of extremely high magnitude. Do you get any sense that
the Rangers feel that way?
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Yeah, I think anybody will say the division games are important.
I don't know if there's any access importance on the
Asters right now, though, Skipp Schumacker WI I'll tell you,
I am focused on today and trying to beat the
Astros today. He's a very take it day by day
kind of manager, and that's probably what.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
This kind of team needs, just take it day by day.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
But I don't think it goes without saying that these
division games are important in any series against the Astros
is important, especially in what the division looks like this year,
and everybody being so bunched together, you know, separated by
a game and a half every direction.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
So the Rangers are.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Treating that's exactly how they think it needs to be treated.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Well, let me leave you with one last Astros related question,
but I got to take you back a bit and
ask you if you were in attendance late twenty twenty four,
late December when Jock Peterson was introduced as a Ranger
and heard what he said about our little team here
in Houston putting together a nice little run, but time
for us, the Rangers to take over the West. Neither
(12:52):
team won the West last year was the Mariners. But
he's been that type of person with every team he's
been with, and he's done a ton of winning in
his career. How has he been as a Ranger? Off
to a poor first year and a terrible start this year,
but he's been awfully good or the last two months
in change?
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah, absolutely, I think you know. I was there when
Josh said that, and we all knew it would rough
a little bit of feathers. But that's the kind of
guy and player he is. I think it was really
hard for him to come in last year and perform
how he did, get injured and still not perform up
to his standard. This year has been much more, you know,
towards his standard, and I think especially since Skip moved
(13:33):
him into the leadoff spot against right handed pitching, he's
been phenomenal at the top top of the lineup, setting
the stage perfectly for guys like Young and Langford when
they're healthy. And yeah, neither team won the division last year.
The Mariners had that also themselves, and I think Jock
is a kind of player that anybody wants on their
(13:54):
team and they kind of hate him if he's not.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
So the Rangers are.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Happy to have him here now, especial now that he's
performing to his standard.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
It will be game number thirty seven for him to
start in the leadoff spot tonight for the Rangers. He's
got a nine to thirty five OPS That is elite
and that is a difference maker, and that is unfortunate
for people here who do not like him. As you said, Kennedy,
I really appreciate the insight and the time here with
our listeners and enjoy the game and the weekend awesome.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Thank you all so much for having me
Wexler're here with you and happy to talk a little
(00:02):
baseball as the Astros and Rangers get together this evening
for the last three games pre All Star Break, Games eight, nine,
and ten of their season series. And to do that
our conversation we shifted to Arlington and welcome in Kennedy Landry,
who covers the Rangers for MLB dot Com, their beat
writer and has been in that spot since twenty twenty
So through the inevitable first question, timing, did you enjoy
(00:26):
covering the Rangers in twenty twenty three and don't make
our listeners to upset.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
No, it was a good time, you know, only being
on the beat for two years at that point, it
was really good to experience a team I didn't grow
up rooting for, but the organization's first ever World Series championship.
It was a lot of fun to just be around
and to cover and to experience what the fans have been.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Waiting for for so long.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
So I don't want to go too deep into that
for you guys here, but it was a lot of
fun for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Well, I'll only ask you one more question about it. Then,
When you traveled back after Game five to Houston, did
you think there were two more Rangers wins coming.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
No, absolutely not.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
You know, you guys know how that Alcs went in
those three games here in Arlington, the basis clearing the
l two ve go ahead knocks against Hose Jose le
Clerk in Game five. I mean, it felt pretty demoralizing,
but I think really the real key for that Bruce
Bochie squad was their resilience and how they were able
to really bounce back once we once the team got
(01:30):
back to Houston, and it was, like I said, it
was a lot of fun to watch, and you know,
you see these guys, watched cover a lot of these
guys growing up through the organization, and to see them
kind of show it on a big stage was it was.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
A blessing to be able to witness.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
We brought up Bruce Bochie, which I was going to do,
and I don't think it's any fault of new manager
Skip Shoemaker at all, but in my opinion, very very
difficult shoes to fill, very difficult to be. I guess better,
clearly he's going to be different, but to be better
and more successful, and then someone who's done what Bruce
Bochie has done would be virtually impossible, certainly over you know,
(02:07):
ninety games, which is all he's had there. But I'm
curious how you see things differently from how the team
was under Bruce, how the team and I always under Skip
and just kind of the job you think he's done
so far.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Yeah, I think it goes without saying that.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
It's a different managerial style, it's a different it's a
different guys. It's very different to go from a guy
like Bruce Bocci, who's a legend obviously in his own right.
Four championships, so only one here in Arlington, but he's
on the older side, and you get kind of a
burst of energy.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
With a guy like Skip.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
He's what forty five, forty six, he's not too far
removed from his playing days and what these guys go
through over the course of a full one sixty two
And yeah, I think he goes without saying there's big
shoes to fill there, But I think it was a
transitional time kind of in this organization and a.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Kind of a new voice may have been needed.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
And I know the record doesn't quite probably reflect how
the Rangers wish they would be playing right now now,
but I think Skiff has done a good job stepping
into this role with the especially with the roster he
was giving in some of the injuries that have taken
place over the course.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Of these ninety games.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
He's managed it really about as well as he possibly could.
I think we saw this offseason that he was one
of the more coveted managerial hires in MLB with a
lot of vacancies across the league, and a lot of
people have a lot of good things to say about him,
both on and off the field, and I think it
doesn't always show on the field, but I think the
players really respect him, and you see that being around
(03:32):
the clubhouse, talking to the players in that clubhouse, and
you know they really obviously hope that translates to a
few more wins in the second half.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Talking with Kennedy landrybeat writer for the Texas Rangers for
MLB dot Com, and I hear you say some of
those things, and it can't help but strike me as
it's wild to hear what you said, while totally accurate
about the first place team. They slide into first place
with the walkoff victory last night, and I don't think
anything you said as all base for one of the
(04:01):
at least three teams, if not four teams in this
division that are not playing the way they want to
or expect to. What do the Rangers expect to do
over the next couple of weeks. The schedule to me
looks pretty daunting as they rise to first place, but
then have to make decisions about the roster as it
leads to the deadline.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
I think the American League obviously is a pretty week
league across the board this year, and especially in the aos.
Like you said, the Rangers, the Astros, and the Mariners,
the A's. Really these four teams have been hovering around
five hundred for much of the year. The Rangers, they
need to do a lot and like you said, it's
weird saying that about a first place team, but they
(04:42):
number one.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
You need to get a healthy Corey Seeger.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I think they have done an admirable job, and the
guys that have stepped up in his place have done
an admirable job of keeping this thing.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Kind of afloat.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
But you win, to win baseball games, you need to
have your superstars to be superstars, and the Rangers haven't
had that this year. Record se why at Langford, who
walked it off last night, has been hurt for much
of the year as well. And those two guys who
are supposed to be your two best hitters have only
played twenty five twenty six games together this year. That's
not a recipe for winning baseball. And I think you
(05:13):
look at kind of dishrotation, which was the best in
baseball this year, has you know, regressed to the mean
means a bit, and I think that was kind of expected.
But sometimes you need big dogs to step up, and
you need Jacob de Grom, who just got scratched for Sunday,
to pitch like Jacob de gram can and Nathan Valdi
to be on his best like he has been for
(05:35):
so many starts here with the Rangers and the high
leverage arms, the Rangers need definitely one of those at
the deadline.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Jacob laps is the only All Star. He's risen to the.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Occasion and been one of the best, you know, closers
in the American League this year. But they need to
have more guys to set up towards him. And you know,
I'm sure we could say that for a lot of teams,
you know, get healthy and have your superstars be superstar.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
I think the Rangers aren't the only team in.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Baseball who who would like that, But that is definitely
going to be the recipe for the second half.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Was watching Shoemaker's press conference after the win last night.
Forty one pitches to get five outs last night to
help them get to the ninth inning in a tie
game and win it on the walk off. I couldn't
tell for sure is Lat's available for the next three
days or no.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
He won't be available today, that's pretty much a definite,
but I think Saturday and Sunday they will check on him.
And I think Sunday almost definitely, and tomorrow in a
save situation, they would like him to be available and
they'll check on him. He obviously is a he's not
your traditional closer. Obviously, he came into spring training lengthening
out as a starter. He's shortened up since losing the
(06:47):
fifth starter spot in spring training to Kamara Rocker, and
he's been He's gone two plus multiple times this season
for saves. So it's not too far out of the
realm of possibility that he did go as far as
he did last night, even though it was a season
high number of pitches for.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
A relief outing.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
But they know how to handle a guy like Lats
because he's just not been a traditional closer all year long.
So I think it could go either way for tomorrow,
but I think it was It's a definite no for
tonight and a probably yes for Sunday.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
And Kennedy, you brought up the rotation or the pitching
staff in general, which has clearly been very good and
times this year was exceptional lighters injury situation, they've only
needed I think eight starts from the non traditional five
person group, which will change a little bit with that
injury situation, potentially more with de Gram's. But what do
you think about the group moving forward? If Aldi kind
(07:44):
of sits on his own that I think we can
count on him. Yesterday's a parent's a great example of
that moving forward. How do you feel about the rest
of the rotation moving forward and the fact that Cal
Quantrille is making his fourth start of the year tonight.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, I think Cal actually has done a good job
filling in for Jack these this last month or so.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Obviously, he's been a starter for much of his career.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
It hasn't been out of the ordinary for him to
step back into that role, even as he's had to
kind of Linkeen out mid season that was you know,
that's a difficult thing to do. But I think when
you look at this rotation, it kind of comes down
to what the young guys can do.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
And that's Rocker and Gore.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
You know, the Rangers traded five top thirty prospects for
McKenzie Gore this offseason, expecting him to really be an
anchor of this rotation, kind of between the two veterans
of de Graminivaldi at the top and then the two
kind of sophomore pittures of Rocker and Lighter at the bottom.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
You know. And I think.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
He's also he will tell you himself, he said the
other night, he's just not been, you know, good enough
this year. I think there's been times there's a stretch
in May where I think, across six starts he had
a three five ERA. He has looked good for stretches,
but there are some times where he has a daylight
the other night where he gets hit around for five, six,
seven runs in five innings, and that's not a good
(08:58):
recipe for winning baseball. So I think looking at those
those two younger guys, that's I think what is going
to carry this rotation. And then looking towards some injuries.
Jordan Montgomery is coming back within the next two months,
shortly after the All Star break. He's going to make
a rehab assignment again on Sunday. Cody Bradford also making
a rehab assignment on Sunday. He will be shortly behind
(09:20):
Montgomery in terms of returning to the Big league mound.
So they do have reinforcements coming, you know, around deadline time.
If you can rely on two guys coming off Tommy
john surgery coming, you know, in a playoff push, I
guess that's to be seen. But there are a lot
of positives to look at for this rotation going into
(09:41):
the second half, and I think that will also depend
on de Gram's availability coming out of the second halves
as well.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Offensively, clearly they're not one of the better teams. They've
been one of the lower scoring teams throughout the year,
probably you know, at best, a bottom ten offense. Clearly
some of that is Seeers performance when he was out there,
but more importantly is app since the fact of Langford
missing all those games, like you mentioned, he along with
Young and Seer, those are probably the three guys they
should count on the most. What do they need to do,
(10:09):
what can they what do they believe they can get
to add to their lineup at the deadline to help.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
I mean, I think a right handed bat is one
of the bigger needs the Rangers have. I think, you know,
Skip Schumacher was asked about his wish lists for the
trade deadline the other day and he just said he
wants all his guys healthy. And I think, sure, you
can look at that. You want Corey Seeker healthy, you
want Wyatt length for healthy. You want all of these
guys healthy. And you know that may or may not happen,
(10:37):
but you know, you just kind of hope that you
get the most out of your three big guys, Like
you said, why at length for Josh You and Corey
Seger and then you know the peripheral guys. The Rangers
have struggled against left handed pitching a lot in the
last year. They've got been better lately, probably over the
last month to six weeks, but that has been a
(10:58):
real struggle and I think a right handed bat that
could potentially played outfield would be a real addition. And
at the catcher's position, I think it's been better lately
with Elios Diaz coming up with Danny Jansen on the
injured list, but that has been a real struggle to
get offense offensive production out of the catcher position over
the last year as well, that I think the Rangers
(11:19):
could really use down the stretch here well.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Interestingly, as we head into this series from an Astros perspective,
it's the first set of games to start the second
set for all their division teams. They've played two series
against all four teams in the division they have a
winning record against only the Texas Rangers won the three
game series here in Houston, won the four game series
there in Arlington. Are the I think these games are
(11:45):
of extremely high magnitude. Do you get any sense that
the Rangers feel that way?
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Yeah, I think anybody will say the division games are important.
I don't know if there's any access importance on the
Asters right now, though, Skipp Schumacker WI I'll tell you,
I am focused on today and trying to beat the
Astros today. He's a very take it day by day
kind of manager, and that's probably what.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
This kind of team needs, just take it day by day.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
But I don't think it goes without saying that these
division games are important in any series against the Astros
is important, especially in what the division looks like this year,
and everybody being so bunched together, you know, separated by
a game and a half every direction.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
So the Rangers are.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Treating that's exactly how they think it needs to be treated.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Well, let me leave you with one last Astros related question,
but I got to take you back a bit and
ask you if you were in attendance late twenty twenty four,
late December when Jock Peterson was introduced as a Ranger
and heard what he said about our little team here
in Houston putting together a nice little run, but time
for us, the Rangers to take over the West. Neither
(12:52):
team won the West last year was the Mariners. But
he's been that type of person with every team he's
been with, and he's done a ton of winning in
his career. How has he been as a Ranger? Off
to a poor first year and a terrible start this year,
but he's been awfully good or the last two months
in change?
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah, absolutely, I think you know. I was there when
Josh said that, and we all knew it would rough
a little bit of feathers. But that's the kind of
guy and player he is. I think it was really
hard for him to come in last year and perform
how he did, get injured and still not perform up
to his standard. This year has been much more, you know,
towards his standard, and I think especially since Skip moved
(13:33):
him into the leadoff spot against right handed pitching, he's
been phenomenal at the top top of the lineup, setting
the stage perfectly for guys like Young and Langford when
they're healthy. And yeah, neither team won the division last year.
The Mariners had that also themselves, and I think Jock
is a kind of player that anybody wants on their
(13:54):
team and they kind of hate him if he's not.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
So the Rangers are.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Happy to have him here now, especial now that he's
performing to his standard.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
It will be game number thirty seven for him to
start in the leadoff spot tonight for the Rangers. He's
got a nine to thirty five OPS That is elite
and that is a difference maker, and that is unfortunate
for people here who do not like him. As you said, Kennedy,
I really appreciate the insight and the time here with
our listeners and enjoy the game and the weekend awesome.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Thank you all so much for having me
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