Sosa Has Arrived in Rangers Camp

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

According to Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Sosa did not look good yesterday, but seems to have lost the "prima donna" persona that plagued him in Chicago.

 

Link.

 

 

 

What we didn't see here Friday was that old swing. Instead, we saw an old swing as Sammy made his spring debut in a "B" game against the Kansas City Royals. Sosa was 0-for-3, with a walk, two punch-outs and a weak fly ball to right field.

 

In other words, the very early first impression on a guy who was out of baseball last season, and a total stiff the year before with the Orioles, wasn't exactly pretty. In other words, the Rangers got exactly what they paid for.

 

Nothing for nothing.

 

 

 

But what we did see Friday, postgame, was a flashback to the Sammy of long ago. He remained upbeat, gracious and an old-timer who seemed appreciative just to be here.

 

Long gone is the infamous entourage and blaring boom box of his days as the most famous, and for a while, popular players in the city of Chicago or Cubs history.

 

"[saturday] will be better. I feel great," Sosa said.

 

Asked if his goal for this season was to give the Rangers 500 at-bats as the DH, Sosa had the proper answer. "My goal is just to make the team," he said, humbly. "If I can do that, then they can use me any way they want."

 

[UMFan83]

Looks like Sosa went 1-3 today with a single in today's game. No idea how many K's he had.

[imb]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Sammy Sosa got his first hit of spring training, and Kenny Lofton and Ian Kinsler each had run-scoring doubles to help the Texas Rangers beat Kansas City 8-5 on Saturday.

Sosa went 1-for-3 with a single and a strikeout in his first “A” game for the Rangers, who rocked Royals starter Odalis Perez for five hits and four runs in just 1 1-3 innings.

The rough outing by Perez, who also threw two strikeouts and is likely to by the Royals’ No. 2 pitcher this season, didn’t bother Kansas City manager Buddy Bell.

“He got his work in and threw strikes,” Bell said. “Everything worked as expected, and I was looking for that.”

Batting as the designated hitter, Sosa got his first hit on a single to left-center field in the first inning. On Friday, the 38-year-old former NL MVP was 0-for-3 and struck out twice during a “B” game that marked the first action in his comeback attempt after sitting out last season.

Sosa is expected to play right field against the Royals on Sunday.

Rangers starter Vicente Padilla allowed two hits in two innings, including a solo home run to Mark Teahen. John Buck also homered for Kansas City, his coming off reliever Rick Bauer.

With Sosa in the lineup Saturday, Kinsler batted second after hitting ninth in the Rangers’ spring training opener Friday. In the second inning, Kinsler doubled to score Lofton, who was on second after his double that scored Brad Wilkerson.

“I like (Kinsler’s) speed and (he) can complement Lofton when we turn the lineup around,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “He can also play in the second spot, and when Lofton gets a day off, hell lead-up. Hes a special kid.”

Mark Teixeira and Hank Blalock also had run-scoring singles for the Rangers.

Andres Blanco led the Royals with three hits, while Billy Butler added a double and single

Notes: Rangers pitcher Brandon McCarthy, brought over from the White Sox in the offseason, is expected to get his first spring start Sunday against Kansas City. Luke Hudson is expected to start for the Royals.

 

I figure its ok to post this, since it's just an item that crossed the AP wire, and not in a newpaper yet (give me a few hours, and it will be in mine though, I love running baseball articles. Main art and story on page 3? Matt Morris sucking it up for the Giants, ahahah.)

[Chris]

Has anyone who is following the Rangers seen any information on Jason Botts this spring?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Sammy Sosa got his first hit of spring training, and Kenny Lofton and Ian Kinsler each had run-scoring doubles to help the Texas Rangers beat Kansas City 8-5 on Saturday.

Sosa went 1-for-3 with a single and a strikeout in his first “A” game for the Rangers, who rocked Royals starter Odalis Perez for five hits and four runs in just 1 1-3 innings.

The rough outing by Perez, who also threw two strikeouts and is likely to by the Royals’ No. 2 pitcher this season, didn’t bother Kansas City manager Buddy Bell.

“He got his work in and threw strikes,” Bell said. “Everything worked as expected, and I was looking for that.”

Batting as the designated hitter, Sosa got his first hit on a single to left-center field in the first inning. On Friday, the 38-year-old former NL MVP was 0-for-3 and struck out twice during a “B” game that marked the first action in his comeback attempt after sitting out last season.

Sosa is expected to play right field against the Royals on Sunday.

Rangers starter Vicente Padilla allowed two hits in two innings, including a solo home run to Mark Teahen. John Buck also homered for Kansas City, his coming off reliever Rick Bauer.

With Sosa in the lineup Saturday, Kinsler batted second after hitting ninth in the Rangers’ spring training opener Friday. In the second inning, Kinsler doubled to score Lofton, who was on second after his double that scored Brad Wilkerson.

“I like (Kinsler’s) speed and (he) can complement Lofton when we turn the lineup around,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “He can also play in the second spot, and when Lofton gets a day off, hell lead-up. Hes a special kid.”

Mark Teixeira and Hank Blalock also had run-scoring singles for the Rangers.

Andres Blanco led the Royals with three hits, while Billy Butler added a double and single

Notes: Rangers pitcher Brandon McCarthy, brought over from the White Sox in the offseason, is expected to get his first spring start Sunday against Kansas City. Luke Hudson is expected to start for the Royals.

 

I figure its ok to post this, since it's just an item that crossed the AP wire, and not in a newpaper yet (give me a few hours, and it will be in mine though, I love running baseball articles. Main art and story on page 3? Matt Morris sucking it up for the Giants, ahahah.)

 

What paper do you work for?

[imb]

What paper do you work for?

 

Muskogee Phoenix. Oklahoma, holla.

[AllStarMe]

I hope for Sammy that this thread eventually becomes stickied and grows into the hundreds of pages, documenting his season-long return to greatness, or at least goodness.

[Mephistopheles]

sosa just homered

[E.J.]

sosa just homered

 

Did he hop?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

sosa just homered

 

Very nice!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

sosa just homered

 

Woot!

[Coach C]

What paper do you work for?

 

Muskogee Phoenix. Oklahoma, holla.

 

Huh, cool. I been to Muskogee one time, where a buddy of mine went to one of those OSU school there.

[imb]

What paper do you work for?

 

Muskogee Phoenix. Oklahoma, holla.

 

Huh, cool. I been to Muskogee one time, where a buddy of mine went to one of those OSU school there.

 

Yeah, I hate muskogee, but the sports page at the paper is nice, so I plan on working there for a year or two.

[Chris]

542 feet...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

guessing.

[sweetpeteman]

542 feet...

 

 

 

 

guessing.

 

 

Try 642... Yeah!

[sweetpeteman]

I read taht he played in RF today, I wonder if he ran out...

[Chris]

I read taht he played in RF today, I wonder if he ran out...

 

I hope so.

 

Did he jump after hitting the HR?

[Mephistopheles]

Sosa has two more hits and another home run today

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Sosa has two more hits and another home run today

 

Go Sammy Go!

[b_wiggy_66]

Might be a late round fantasy sleeper

[thedaymen]

Guess I'll book my plane tickets to Arlington now for the Cubs-Rangers WS.

[Wilson A2000]

Wow that home run he had yesterday was a monster

[Wheelimus]

Man, Sammy is killing so far in spring training.

 

I'm so glad he got his second chance in the AL and not with the Cards or something...

[Derwood]

he's no Brad Eldred (4 HR in 12 PA's for Pittsburgh)

[Mark Priors Calves]

sosa is in a tough spot this year. if he's bad, then he'll hear all the "i told you so's". if he's good, then the steriod speculation begins all over.