Yesterday the Rangers fell to 1-4-1 by losing to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Yu Darvish got the start and went the first three innings giving up 2 runs on 3 hits. One of those runs was to ageless wonder Raul Ibanez. Suprisingly though Darvish failed to register a strikeout after striking out 4 in two innings in his last appearance. Mike Trout continued his hot hitting against Darvish with a single to right field in the third inning. In his career Trout is hitting .321 and has a .441 OBP against Darvish. Darvish did leave with the game tied, but once again the late inning relievers lost the game. After the Rangers had taken a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning Ryan Feierabend gave it up in his third inning of work. Howie Kendrick knocked in two runs with a single and then in the seventh Colin Cowgill gave the Angels the lead with a 2-run double off of Lisaverto Bonilla. One thing to remember and to help Ranger fans not panic is that in a regular season game the pitchers in the game would likely be Tanner Scheppers, Neal Cotts, Robbie Ross, or Joakim Soria. Right now they are trying out these other guys to see if they can do it, but by the time the regular season starts these guys names will be long forgotten.

Suprisingly though the Rangers game against their rivals the Angels was probably the smallest story of the day. Ian Kinsler came out and said some things yesterday about the Rangers and Jon Daniels in particular. Here is just a sampling of what he said.

They wanted me to lead these young players, teach them the way to compete, when the only thing I should be worried about is how I’m performing in the game.”

Daniels is a sleazeball,” he says. “He got in good with the owners and straight pushed Ryan out. He thought all the things he should get credit for, Ryan got credit for. It’s just ego. Once we went to the World Series, everybody’s ego got huge, except for Nolan’s.

To be honest with you, I hope they go 0-162. I got friends, and I love my friends, but I hope they lose their ass.”

“I haven’t been this excited about baseball in years

So yeah Kinsler definitely stepped in it when that article came out. He tried to backtrack by saying it was meant to be a joke, but I am not sure I believe that. If it was a joke why say it to a writer who is doing a profile piece on you. If it was a joke wouldn’t you just be saying it to your former teammates. No one will really know the truth except for Kinsler, but this just makes him come off as petty. He had to realize that Daniels was doing what was best for his career and for the Rangers organization. After 2013 Kinsler did not have a position. He was not going to be playing second this season. They were handing that position to Jurickson Profar. He refused to move to first, so Daniels traded him to the Tigers where he will have a chance to play second every day. The not wanting to be a leader thing definitely irks me and should worry the Tigers in the future. Kinsler had to realize as soon as he signed the $75 million extension that he would be looked to as a leader. That is what comes with being in the league for several years. He just seriously needs to move on. I really enjoyed his time in Texas and he brought a lot to the table in his time here. No doubt about it, he was a great player and a cornerstone of those 2 World Series teams. I wish he would have left it there. I wish he would have just said nothing instead of trashing the Rangers organization. I hate it when players leave an organization and then proceed to really tell what happened. I know it hurt to be traded the way he was, but it was the best deal for him, Prince Fielder, and the Rangers organization. I know this is not the end of it and that come June when the Tigers come to town I am sure the fans will boo him, much like they did Josh Hamilton, and Alex Rodriguez before him.

Finally, the Rangers have signed left-hander Joe Saunders to come in and compete for the 5th starter spot. He signs a non-guaranteed MLB deal, much like what Tommy Hanson has. This means that he is not guaranteed a spot, but if he does make the opening day roster, then his contract becomes guaranteed. This signing probably means that Tanner Scheppers is heading back to the bullpen. Scheppers was a long shot to win a spot anyways. This move pretty much seals it. Saunders is what you would call a finesse lefty. He doesn’t throw hard, but he has good control of the ball and can place where he needs it. Rangers fan will remember Joe Saunders from his time with the Angels and from his time with the Orioles. It was in 2012 that he beat the Rangers in the AL Wild Card game by outdueling Yu Darvish. Hopefully that is the Saunders the Rangers are getting and not the one who has been pretty mediocre throughout his career.

Today the Rangers take on the Colorado Rockies at 2:05 and Tommy Hanson will be taking the mound in his second appearance of the Spring. The Rangers will be looking at him very closely in what they are hoping will be 3 innings of work. He needs to continue building arm strength and increase his velocity.

Countdown to Opening Day: 26 days to Opening Day