Contemplating the Crawdads

Thanks for being patient with the site construction. I apologize if your RSS got flooded with 20 posts. Most of the bugs are worked out.

Mark P. and John Setzler (team photographer that can always be seen roaming the field/dugout) have officially joined the team to offer their unique perspectives. The addicted, Rangers minor league fan thanks you.

After yesterday's day off, Hickory fires it back up tonight and we are likely to have a Perez/Brigham sighting. I'm trying desperately to fit this game into my schedule.

I've been thinking about Perez all morning. Let's think about him together....

During spring training in Arizona, Jason Parks had a sit down with Perez and had this exchange:

Surely Rangers' fans will consider this attitude a breath of fresh air.

The 6', 165lb Perez was signed out of Venezuela in 2007 for $580,000. The very next day the St. Loius Cardinals called to offer Martin $600,000 but he was already secured by the Rangers. If Perez turns into what his proponets believe he could be (a Santana arm with a Maddox brain), beating the Cardinals by 24 hours would become one of the most important moments in franchise history.

At the incredibly young age of 17, Martin was more than effective in Spokane last year. Perez pitched 61.2 innings with an ERA of 3.65. He averaged 7.74 K/9, 1.89 k/BB, and an opposing average of .275.

Hickory pitching coach Brad Holmon commented on Perez in spring training saying, “With Martin, he’s going to have to throw the ball sometimes not for strikes. He’s going to have to attack that inside a little more...and it’s not even for strikes,” Holman said. “It’s to take away hitters’ comfort.

And it appears that a more aggressive approach seems to be paying off. In a small sample size in Hickory, Martin has increased his K/9 to 12.46 and batters are only hitting .160 off the lefty.

Martin said that if he started strong, he knew he would continue that success throughout the year. I guess I better find a way to tonight's game because Perez might not be around long. But Arlington, it's better that I go without so that one day you might have a pitcher that wants to be the greatest, not just survive.

Here's a video from spring training in Surprise, AZ courtesy of Kinslerhomer