Dallas Morning News baseball writer Evan Grant wrote a nice piece a few weeks ago regarding the temptation to place Nelson Cruz into the No. 4 spot in the Rangers batting order next season.
I said the same thing shortly after we signed Adrian Beltre, as it became clear that Vladimir Guerrero, last season's cleanup hitter, wasn't going to return to Arlington in 2011.
But, as Grant pointed out, Cruz's numbers in the No. 4 slot have not been good. He's tried to do too much in the past when he's hitting cleanup.
OK, so I'll come around to Beltre as the cleanup guy. He's used to hitting 4.
Here's my updated Rangers batting order, with 25 days until pitchers and catchers report. Can't wait.
1. Elvis Andrus, SS
2. Michael Young, DH
3. Josh Hamilton, LF
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. Nelson Cruz, RF
6. Ian Kinsler, 2B
7. Mitch Moreland, 1B
8. Yorvit Torrealba, C
9. Julio Borbon, CF
Starting pitching order
1. C.J. Wilson, L
2. Colby Lewis, R
3. Brandon Webb, R
4. Tommy Hunter, R
5. Derek Holland, L
Late-inning bullpen
Primary righty set-up relievers: Frank Francisco, Alexi Ogando, Darren O'Day
Primary lefty set-up relievers: Darren Oliver, Arthur Rhoades
Closer: Neftali Feliz, R
Looking pretty good, I'd say. Still should be favored to win the AL West.
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