The Last Pre-Season Series before it gets for REAL!

First game at home for the Rangers after spending the spring in Surprise, Arizona for the last six weeks.

Now they return home for a two game set with the New York Mets then a day or two off and they start the season on the west coast against the Oakland A’s.

The strange thing, the first four series in April are against Division Rivals. They start with the A’s, then the Astros, the Angels, then the Mariners.

Checking the roster of the Rangers, some names are familiar, but there a slew of names on this team that are not even close to being known, but they can be by the end of the April, if this team takes off the way that Manager John Banister plans on this team competing.

The 2015 Rangers are not the same team that battled for the World Series title just four years ago, the only hold overs from that team are Pitchers Colby Lewis and Derek Holland, then you have Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus, Mitch Moreland, and closer Netali Feliz. Guess what folks, the rest of the roster is a who’s who of guys who are trying to make a strong living in Major League Baseball!

Opening day for the Rangers is a week from today, the 10^th of April at 3:05, but today—this game, this moment, is another moment in the sun for the Rangers, and their fans, and for this reporter, a return to the press box that he’s been away from for the last four years.

2011, the last time that I had the opportunity to sit in the press box and cover the Rangers, and to have a chance to see what this team could do, not only during the regular season, but take it into the post season.

Those dreaded Cardinals, those pesky Red Birds, then the dive of this team, post seasons for just one game playoff against the Orioles,  then last year a 163^rd game against the Tampa Rays, and then the departure of Manager Ron Washington, and the demise of this team.

New Manager, new attitude, new look Rangers. Only time will tell if these Rangers will live up to the expectations that the fans and the management put upon them.

Upon seeing the New York Mets roster, I am seeing an old familiar name as one of their coaches… Tom Goodwin, a former Texas Ranger outfielder in the 80’s and 90’s and then a coach / Manager of the Continental League Lewisville Lizards, in which the broadcast crew consisted of, yours truly, and others, and to see Goodwin in a major league uniform once again with the famous number 26 on his back, brings good feelings back into the fold.

Goodwin said that this was his first trip inside Globe Life Park, even when he was not playing for the Rangers anymore, he never played in this stadium.  It was built in 1994, and by then he was with Colorado or with the Dodgers, but never did he play inside this facility. With the Mets he at least gets to walk on the field, and see for the first time what this “Temple” is truly like!

Game time just moments away for an exhibition game! The CHILLS are still there!

Already into this short game—one pitching change and the reliever doesn’t look like he is sharp at all.. so Anthony Bass who the Rangers got from the Astros struggling in the 3^rd inning… but gets the third out… the Starter was Logan Verrett… and he only lasted 2 and third innings… with three hits .. one run it was earned… one base on balls and three strike outs.. but still struggled with his command as he gave up back to back doubles to lead to the Mets early 1-0 lead..

Aside from the fact that the Mets starting pitcher Jacob de Grom went four innings with toying with a no hitter until Prince Fielder broke it up in the bottom of the fourth… with a double into left field… though he was stranded at second—and the Rangers are down 2-0 after four… top of the fifth and a lot of new faces on the field for the Rangers… just trying to get in that last audition before the regular season starts.

This is why they play the game, this is why we watch the game… and all because we can push the sun back into the sky for one more chance to be a child of summer again!

Its just a thought!