The Rangers are fielding what may be their best team ever. But will that stop us from discussing players who won't be relevant for another three to five years? 
Hell no!

Parks, Cole and the Newberg are out at back field instructs. And they're tweeting, e-mailing and weaving stories that can really make the heart race.

Some of the notable stuff we've read so far. I'm not including any of the subscriber-only content unique to Lone Star Dugout.

Guzman:

Parks: #Rangers prospect Ronald Guzman with one of the more remarkable BP displays in recent back field memory. Great hands and easy power. #want

After a day of Ronald Guzman viewing, Im tempted to say something sensational like Guzman is the best 16 y/o hitter I've ever seen. #Rangers

Guzman: top 5 prospect in system. RT @wfaasports: @ProfessorParks Tempted.. but are you saying it? The people need something to obsess over!

@wfaasports The bat is crazy fast; the hands are special.

@jdh90 Not necessarily. The bat will carry him wherever he plays on the diamond. He's very raw in the field. Very raw.

@Tex2044 @basejaw Many sources had Guzman pegged as the top talent in LA market. Not really a surprise. 

 don’t want to get too crazy here, so I’ll just say that Guzman is the most impressive 16 year-old prospect I’ve ever seen. His hands at the plate are special; he has a calm load and lets his hands slowly drift into the hitting zone where they come alive. The swing is very easy and smooth, with a quiet explosion when the hips fire and the hands ignite allowing for crazy power. I need to see more before going into more detail, but based on what I’ve seen so far, I’d say the Rangers have something special. I’d already put him in the top 5 in the system, and it won’t be long before he’s the top position player in the system. He’s still quite raw in the field, and his body is obviously immature, but I’ve never seen a 16 year-old swing a bat with such beauty and efficiency. He is beyond special.

 

The swing itself is incredibly fluid, with good bat path and plane, without the swing exaggeration normally found in young power hitters. Like fellow lefty masher, Eric Hosmer, Guzman’s swing is easy and geared for drive to all fields rather than selling out for power. The pitch recognition skills are still very immature, which is to be expected, but that doesn’t mean Guzman is a free-swinger standing in the box hacking at everything. 

 

In the field, Guzman is very raw, but not unauthentic. Standing close to 6’6’’, the long-limbed Dominican 1B can snatch throws from infielders directly from their hands, with a wingspan that the NBA would covet. Grounders have been a struggle so far in camp, as has footwork and positioning around the bag.

 

Overall, Guzman has the potential to be a special player, with hitting skills that aren’t often found in teenaged prospects. The ceiling is a superstar, but development doesn’t occur overnight, so keep that in mind. Physical skills will only take you so far, so makeup is vital to the developmental process. Judging by what I’ve seen so far, Guzman shows the work ethic and intelligence to push himself to the peak of his physical ability.

Cole: Ronald Guzman and Jordan Akins are knocking the hell out of the ball going back-to-back in BP. Fun to watch.

 

Newberg:  Guzman was the one who knocked me flat.  He could have been 22 years old and I'd have been blown away by his BP session.He's 16.  

More imposing and physically mature than Mazara, and a very exciting hitter.  It was an extraordinary exhibition of awesomeness.

Akins:

Parks: It's early, but Akins looks awesome. (Other content on TFR. Subscribe to it).

Cole: Jordan Akins showing definite development in BP. WHen asked to go the other way, he can do it. Looking easier for him.

Ronald Guzman and Jordan Akins are knocking the hell out of the ball going back to back in BP. Fun to watch.

Newberg: Akins, whose physicality is the closest the organization has developmentally to a future Nelson Cruz...

Akins had.... hit another gear, it was unanimously suggested, a gear that most young baseball players aren't

capable of.  

 

His closing speed on fly balls demonstrated how a 6'3" kid could land a college scholarship as a cornerback, and an hour later, would crush a fastball over the 390-foot sign in left center field, despite not getting the good part of the bat on it.

 

I scribbled down a preliminary version of my Top 72 Prospects list for this year's Bound Edition a few weeks ago,

just after the minor league seasons ended.  I had Akins somewhere around 25-30.  That's twice as far down from

the top as it should be.  At least.

 

UPDATE: More general post on Guzman and Akins, which everyone should see. The mental image and the indelible sounds of Monday afternoon's Jordan Akins/Ronald Guzman batting practice session were still stuck in my head when I got out to the back fields Tuesday morning, and there they were: Beast & Beast, at it again.
And I kid you not: Akins and Guzman were even better this time around.  They were doing bad things to pitched baseballs with malicious intent, and it got to the point that coaches were joining teammates in the laugh track that followed each successive cannon shot ripping through a sky that was being pierced by the sonic roar of the Luke Air Force Base fighter jets getting in their own early morning training.
Akins from the right side, Guzman from the left.  Crushed baseballs in all directions.  
Boom.  
Boom.  
Boom.
I found myself wondering what it sounded like when Josh Hamilton was hitting baseballs from the left side and Nelson Cruz from the right when they were 16 years old like Guzman, or even 19 like Akins, and whether it could have been any more spectacular.

Jordan Akins and Ronald Guzman will experience failure and adversity on their way up.  Every player and every coach here who played the game is a testament to that indisputable fact.  One club official suggested yesterday that there's enough talent in this organization that you could simply roll the balls and bats onto the field and five of the players here at Instructs would get to the big leagues.  

 

 

 

Mazara:

@Tex2044 @basejaw Many sources had Guzman pegged as the top talent in LA market. Not really a surprise. More questions on Mazara

 Parks: @basejaw I've seen Mazara; leg kick gone but power still there. Not on same level as Guzman, though.

@Tex2044 @basejaw Mazara clearly has elite power potential, but Guzman isn't a slouch in that dept and a better all-around hitter.

Newberg: There's loads of raw out there.  Nomar Mazara's jagged outfield routes... understandably underdeveloped,

Mazara was the J2 player I was prepared to be more excited about, the Jurickson Profar to Guzman's Luis Sardinas.  But, at least for one day, Guzman was the one who knocked me flat.

Melo:

Parks: #Rangers RHP Carlos Melo showing nasty stuff today; he just hit 99 on the gun. Been sitting 93-96 w/ some natural weight.

 

The command is well below-average, but if he can refine without losing stuff, Melo is going to climb and climb quickly. Sitting 97-98 and touching 99? Yes, please.

Cole: RHP Carlos Melo at 93-96 mph for the second consecutive outing. Throwing more strikes. Saw him in Spokane at 90-93 throwing no strikes.

Melo still has a few issues but today was easily the best stuff I've seen out of him.

Marte:

Parks: Gifted prospect, with above-average actions at the position and a very strong arm. I need to see more, obviously, but Marte looks as projectable at the plate as he does in the field, with contact and pop. Add his speed to the equation and you are looking at a five-tool talent with the makeup to reach his potential. If not for Guzman, I’d probably be calling Marte the next big prospect in the system. He’s another future top-tier talent.

West:

Parks: With a fast arm coming from a ¾ slot, West looks like he is playing catch when on the mound, pumping fastballs in the 94-98 range and showing a plus slider at 79-81.  The depth of the pitch is key, because hitters geek up to hit West’s plus-plus fastball only to discover the pitch on the fastball plane turns into a horizontal/vertical nightmare right before it reaches the plate. They don’t have a chance to touch it. It’s effective against both LH/RH and along with the fastball will push West to the major leagues in the near future.

I'll add to this as more content gets out.

Talk about these things. Moe already knows to talk about this.

It is that time again, LS Ballers! Time for Rangers Fan Radio Live, the only Internet radio show produced, hosted, co-hosted, and supported by your LSB brethren. We're coming at you on the night of Monday, November 29 and hope you join us in festive, joyous baseball deliberation.

Our first major offseason preview show begins at 7:00 PM CT. If you need extra incentive beyond that, sit tight. I'm gonna lob some fastballs in your general direction. Pedro Strop style.

We've assembled a bevy of your friendly/belligerent/snarky neighborhood experts for the coming show. You know what the best part is? They're all ready toTAKE YOUR CALLS!

• Host Patrick McCullough -- PM Productions
• Co-host Or Moyal -- Conjunction
• Co-host Sam Dowell -- RangersSD
• Noted prospect guru and writer of the Newberg Rangers Farm Report Scott Lucas.
• Noted prospect guru, dejected Longhorn fan and Lone Star Dugout proprietor Jason Cole
• LSB second in command and Mainstream-Media favorite Christopher Fittz -- or GhostofErikThompson in some circles.

Instructions for using the BlogTalkRadio player below...

- At 7:00pm CT, the new episode will appear in the player as Season 2: Episode 1. BUT, you have to refresh your browser at 7:00 to see it! Keep refreshing, it will show up eventually. Once it does, just hit play! It's that easy!

- WARNING: IF YOU HAVE AN AD BLOCKER, LIKE ON FIREFOX, YOU HAVE TO TURN IT OFF! DO SO, THEN CLOSE YOUR BROWSER, THEN COME BACK AND LOAD THIS PAGE AT 8:00, AND YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ISSUES!

- After the show, the podcast will be available shortly after we finish, in this same player... It will also appear on our show page on iTunes!

Listen up, derogatory terms. The show's better with callers. The hosts and guests could make this a 4 hour show if we so pleased, but variety is the spice of life and spontaneity is its barbecue grill. So here's a challenge for you. Whether you're a frequent listener or not... a filibusterer or a social retard... Call in to this show, at least once, and ask a question. Give an opinion, no matter how ludicrous... Or just say something totally crazy... Or just yell out the word "silly". The show is improved by your participation. Without you, we are just a bunch of blowhards talking baseball. So please call in. Help us help you. Help us.... help you!

Felicia was disappointed by your past effort. But you can atone for it by calling in.

Want to join the party and ask a question? YOU CAN! Just dial (347) 215-6611 and we will get you on as soon as we can.

Want to listen to the show on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch? Easy! Go to your App Store and search "blogtalkradio" and you will find an App called "cinch" that is free! Once it is installed, search for the show "Rangers Fan Radio", and you should find us! The show will be accessible once it starts at 9:00pm CT.

Want to listen to previous episodes of Rangers Fan Radio? All episodes are available on iTunes in our podcast store (they are all free) which can be found here!

Please feel free to post comments, questions, etc. here in this post. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or would like to come on a future show, email us at rangersfanradio@gmail.com

Want to join the party and ask a question? YOU CAN! Just dial (347) 215-6611 and we will get you on as soon as we can.

With the  change of the show's name, the URL that hooked up to iTunes also changed, so to keep downloading the show, you will need to go into iTunes store, click on podcasts, and search for Rangers Fan Radio and then subscribe to that podcast.

Check out our new site! We've been working on filling it with blog posts, funny videos, extra content -- and of course, access to all of our material.

Rangers Fan Radio Live On Facebook

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A.J. Green |  6'4, 212 pounds | WR | Georgia 

Acceleration: Average by most scales, but good for a big receiver. Green's first step isn't great, but he excels from that point on and reaches his top speed more quickly than most. Has the ability to start on a dime from anywhere on the field. 6.5

Agility: Cuts and changes directions extremely well. His size belies his quickness and agility, and he is more dangerous in the open field than most Running Backs. Green should consistently post very high YAC numbers as a pro. 8.5

Speed: A long, loping gait gives Green above-average speed. His wheels are sufficient to create separation down the field against most cornerbacks, but it is worth watching whether consistently going up against Cornerbacks faster than himself will affect Green. Likely will run better than his 40 time indicates. 7.5

Continue reading this post »

UPDATE: With the  change of the show, the URL that hooked up to iTunes also changed, so to keep downloading the show, you will need to go into iTunes store, click on podcasts, and search for Rangers Fan Radio and then subscribe to that podcast... Sorry, wasn't expecting that. All the old shows are still on this new link. Go and get subscribed to the new podcast, please!

It is that time again, gentlemen and... hmm. Gentlemen! Time for Rangers Fan Radio Live, the only Internet radio show produced, hosted, co-hosted, and supported by your LSB brethren. We're coming at you on an ever-rare Friday night and hope you participate eagerly in our show!

The first ever World Series Review/Hot Stove Preview show starts at 6:30 PM CT on Friday, November 11. It will be epic. Want to know why?

Continue reading this post »

UPDATE: With the  change of the show, the URL that hooked up to iTunes also changed, so to keep downloading the show, you will need to go into iTunes store, click on podcasts, and search for Rangers Fan Radio and then subscribe to that podcast... Sorry, wasn't expecting that. All the old shows are still on this new link. Go and get subscribed to the new podcast, please!

It is that time again! Time for Rangers Fan Radio Live, the only Internet radio show produced, hosted, co-hosted, and supported by your LSB brethren. We're coming at you on the best Tuesday night ever and hope you participate eagerly in our show!

The first ever ALCS Review/WORLD SERIES (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) preview show starts at 8:00pm CT Tuesday October 26th. It will be epic, just like each Ranger game so far in October.

Continue reading this post »

Major League Baseball made an interesting ruling this morning pertaining to Texas A &M pitcher Barret Loux. A little backstory before we get to the talking points...

The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Loux sixth overall in the June amateur draft, a surprising move as most pundits tagged him as a late first rounder. A madly excited Loux reported to the team's doctors for a physical, likely dreaming of a payday in the $2-2.5M range. It was revealed, though that Loux failed the physical---the doctors found issues with both his shoulder and elbow. This heralded ensuing speculation in the following weeks that Arizona's front office knew about the issues all along, purposely picking the pitcher to avoid signing the first round pick---and receiving the seventh pick in next year's (far better thought of) draft as compensation. 

This was obviously a huge blow to Loux. There was speculation the D-Backs would offer him a severely reduced contract--and more rampant rumors that he wouldn't be extended an offer at all. Loux's agent threatened to sue the team, the league and anybody else in the vicinity.

Continue reading this post »

A note: We won't be doing a show next week. That's due to the combination of no day off and both hosts becoming ridiculously busy.

We still love you guys, though. So we've booked some dude named Chuck Greenberg for the program set to air sometime between August 29 and September 4. Tune in then.

It is that time again! Time for Lone Star Ball Radio: Live, the only Internet radio show produced, hosted, co-hosted, and supported by your LSB brethren. We are happy to be with you on this wonderful Monday night, and we hope you participate eagerly in our show!

P.M. and I are super happycited for this episode, as we're trying new and exciting shenanigans. MLB schedule makers decided not to accomodate our setup and made do without a monday off this week. The good news is we'll have baseball. Cliffmas baseball, no less. And there will still be a show.

As soon as the game ends, hit up this thread. We'll let you know when we're live (Very, very shortly after the last out)---at that point, refresh.Hit the player below. And get your ears queued up for some good goddamn Rangers talk. 

Listen to internet radio with LSB Radio Live on Blog Talk Radio

We'll be featuring the regular butt shit faithful listeners are accustomed to... rants about Christian Guzman's unrivaled ineptitude, Derek Holland conjecture, Neftali Feliz hand-wringing, bankruptcy talk....

Oh, wait. Drop that last thing. 

Yes!

We'll very likely be knee-jerking like mad to whatever transpires in the SexGod v DPrice matchup. And based on how busy postgame threads get, that should take up the majority of our time and vocabulary.

Listen to internet radio with LSB Radio Live on Blog Talk Radio

Want to listen to the show on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch? Easy! Go to your App Store and search "blogtalkradio" and you will find an App called "cinch" that is free! Once it is installed, search for the show "LSB Radio", and you should find us! The show will be accessible once it starts at 9:00pm CT.

Want to listen to previous episodes of LSB Radio? All episodes are available on iTunes in our podcast store (they are all free) which can be found here!

Please feel free to post comments, questions, etc. here in this post. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or would like to come on a future show, email our fearless leader at p.a.mccullough@tcu.edu

PLEASE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!!

Also, Ill post this--as I'm becoming known for it.

via meta-tainment.com

As most of us have heard, Dez Bryant became the first #1 pick to sign on the dotted line, inking a five year, $11.8 Million contract with the Cowboys. $8.3 Million is guaranteed.

The time has come for most of the early picks to concede their unreasonable demands and fall in line. Use this thread to discuss signings, training camp battles or the legitimacy of ramen noodles as a dinner staple. 

We're super proudcited to present the second broadcast of Lone Star Ball Radio: Live, a live show that will be made, produced, and brought to you solely by LSB Brethren. We will analyze, digress and make fun of the pertinent stuff that's taken place in the last week. We don't plan on pulling any punches. And if we do, we expect you motherflowers in the comment section to tear the collective hosts a new orifice. Cause that's how you roll and we love you for it.

Tonight at 8:30, your host PM Productions is joined by co-hosts TooLegit and myself to talk BENGIE MOLINA BWAHAHAHAHAHA, Cliff Lee's tough luck, Tommy Hunter's perpetual good fortune, and whether the last two are somehow related. We will also touch on the ownership situation, the continued awesomeness of Engel Beltre, and possibly the DUST chip.

But very likely not. Because that's boring.

This week's show-and future shows-will be extra-long. Up to two hours long, because that's how we roll in every facet of our lives. 

Also because PM sprung for the paid version of BTR. 

Continuing the trend of life materializing on this podcast, expect a page taken out of PacMan's playbook. Because WE GON DRANK. WE GON DRANK TIL BENGIE MOLINA LOOKS LIKE PENELOPE CRUZ.

Even broke college students can splurge for Skol every once in a while. Laundry and dinner aren't important.

This is the player. Click on it. 

Continue reading this post »

I don't really know enough about the particulars to wax poetic or offer my opinion, but this was posted on Chuck's Facebook account.

For Immediate Release
July 5, 2010

GREENBERG/RYAN GROUP TAKES STEPS TO ACCELERATE TEXAS RANGERS' EXIT FROM CHAPTER 11

All Funding for Purchase Raised and Available; Group Agrees to Market-Test Transaction a Second Time to Answer Lender Objections to Chapter 11 Exit

ARLINGTON, Texas - The investor group led by sports attorney Chuck Greenberg and Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan confirmed today that it has received into escrow the full amount needed for the equity portion of its purchase of the Texas Rangers and has executed definitive financing agreements for the debt portion of the deal. This extraordinary step puts the Greenberg/Ryan group in position to close the transaction promptly upon confirmation of the Rangers' Chapter 11 plan (which pays all of the team's creditors in full) and Major League Baseball's final approval of the agreement.

"We wanted everyone to know that our proposal is fully funded, that we are ready to close and that our number one objective is to get the team out of Chapter 11 as quickly as possible," said Greenberg. "All we need is the Rangers getting their Chapter 11 plan confirmed and final approval from MLB."

In a related move, the Greenberg/Ryan group also announced it had negotiated terms with Rangers representatives and William Snyder, the Court-appointed chief restructuring officer for the team's parent holding companies, pursuant to which Greenberg and Ryan would waive their exclusive right to purchase the team and permit the $575 million transaction to be market tested for a second time.

This arrangement is intended to overcome the efforts of Hicks Sports Group lenders to extract additional payments by delaying the team's exit from Chapter 11. Instead of engaging the lenders in continued legal maneuvering that could be detrimental to the team, the Greenberg/Ryan Group agreed to give other potential purchasers one final opportunity to submit a topping bid. Subject to obtaining bankruptcy court approval, it is anticipated that July 16 will be the bid deadline and that the purchase of the team will be consummated by late July or early August.

"Our group was selected last December after an extensive marketing process because we put forward the strongest bid for the Rangers," said Greenberg. "Today, nearly seven months later, our bid is still superior and best serves the interests of the Rangers and their fans."

"Our goal is to do everything possible to bring this process to conclusion so that we can continue to build on the progress we've made on the field the past two seasons and so that the fans and our community can turn their full attention to this great season." said Ryan, who is a partner in the deal and would continue to serve as the team's president when the deal closes.

Contact: Kevin Sullivan / Weber Shandwick
703/343-5757 sullivankf@gmail.com