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2018 Spring Training: Colorado Rockies vs. Texas Rangers (02.25.18)
One of the big decisions the Rangers have to make is whether to leave Matt Bush as the team's closer or to move his electric arm into the rotation, as part of a six-man starting staff. Pitching depth is the biggest weakness on the team and any ideas - including moving the team's best power arm into the rotation - are in play. How desperate are the Rangers to find starting depth, outside of possibly moving their closer into the rotation? They signed 44-year-old Bartolo Colón earlier this month. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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2018 Spring Training: Colorado Rockies vs. Texas Rangers (02.25.18)
Remember the historic start that Trevor Story got off to last season? It was arguably the best first month ever by a rookie, as Story hit home runs in each of his first four MLB games and became the first player in Major League history to hit six home runs in the first four games of any season. Eventually, the league caught up to him, as he hit only 14 home runs after his 10 in the month of April alone, and his batting average to end the season was .239. The shortstop of the present and future hopes to be more consistent throughout 2018. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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2018 Spring Training: Colorado Rockies vs. Texas Rangers (02.25.18)
After spending time at first base, third base and the corner outfield positions last season, Joey Gallo is now cemented as the everyday first baseman for the Rangers in 2018. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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2018 Spring Training: Colorado Rockies vs. Texas Rangers (02.25.18)
Gallo is the epitome of the "three true outcome" hitter that has now invaded lineups around Major League Baseball; In 532 plate appearances last season, Gallo hit 41 home runs - he only had 94 hits - while drawing 75 walks and striking out 196 times. In other words, 58.6 percent of his at bats ended with a home run, walk or strikeout. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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2018 Spring Training: Colorado Rockies vs. Texas Rangers (02.25.18)
After winning the AL West in his first two seasons as manager in Arlington, Jeff Banister saw his team limp to a 78-84 record in 2017 as the team was ravaged by injuries and could not keep up with the Houston Astros with the division. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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2018 Spring Training: Colorado Rockies vs. Texas Rangers (02.25.18)
Don't let the size fool you, as Willie Calhoun, one of the Rangers top prospects, packs some pop in 5-foot-8 frame. Coming over from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Yu Darvish trade, Calhoun has a chance to stick with the Rangers coming out of camp in 2018. Calhoun in a second baseman by trade, but with Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus holding down the middle infield positions, Calhoun is transitioning to left field. Early reports are is that his outfield defense still needs a lot of work. That said, his bat and his speed will get him in the lineup sooner rather than later. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh) -
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2018 Spring Training: Colorado Rockies vs. Texas Rangers (02.25.18)
Few players go intro spring training with more to prove than Rockies' top prospect Ryan McMahon, who more than likely will nail down the starting first baseman position with a good spring. Last year's starting first baseman, Mark Reynolds, is gone, and Ian Desmond is not the long-term solution at first. It might be a Desmond-McMahon platoon at first to start the season, but a good spring from McMahon and the job should be his. (Photo by Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh)
– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Get out the pine tar and unwrap a couple of sticks of bubble gum: baseball season is back.
We left off last season with the Houston Astros winning their first-ever World Series title after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in a thrilling World Series in seven games. Going into this season, the Astros and Dodgers are as good as they were in 2017, and not many would be surprised if a repeat of last season’s Fall Classic is in the cards once more in 2018.
Of course, there are 28 other teams looking to claim baseball’s biggest prize, and, as we get started with the 2018 Major League Baseball season, A Lot of Sports Talk will pack up the gym bag and the bucket of baseballs and visit some of the teams in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues to preview some of the important storylines for a number of teams going into the new season.
To start our spring training tour, we headed to Surprise, Ariz., where, on Sunday, the Colorado Rockies faced the Texas Rangers. Colorado made a surprising run to a Wild Card spot in 2017 before losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Wild Card Game, while the Rangers fell well short of winning their third consecutive AL West Division crown.
It was great to get back into the swing of things on the diamond, and above the byline and story is a photo gallery from Sunday’s contest. Our sincere thanks go out to Mako Photography photographer Sammantha-Maria Herbaugh, who was on the field of Surprise Stadium and provided us these amazing shots. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow butting to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are seven pictures in total.