SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. _ Drew Smyly took the mound here against the Giants on Sunday, an act that, in itself, differentiated it from the 2017 and 2018 seasons. It was not unlike Edinson Volquez throwing Saturday back in Surprise, something that has not happened in a major league regular-season game since July 2017.
Welcome to the Rangers Reclamation Rotation.
There are specific mistakes one must guard against on trips to spring training that go beyond taking in too much sun or turning your clocks forward. Another is believing too readily in the optimism that surrounds any baseball team _ maybe not the Baltimore Orioles but the other 29, anyway _ and the last place I expected to harbor thoughts of "Hey, the Rangers might be OK here" was in regards to the rotation.
But you know what? Hey, they might be OK here.
That's not to say Houston or Cleveland or Boston should feel threatened by the American League arrival of Shelby Miller, although, unlike Volquez and Smyly, he did pitch in the majors last season.
Made four starts for Arizona. Went 0-4 with a 10.69 ERA. It was his second consecutive season of four starts, in fact.
So with these three penciled in somewhere behind Opening Day starter Mike Minor and Lance Lynn, who struggled for Minnesota but was effective for the Yankees last year, what are we looking at here?
"Is there a path for us to surprise folks and be competitive?" general manager Jon Daniels said, rerouting a question with a question. "Yes, but it's going to require some good health from people who haven't been healthy recently."
That's "haven't been healthy" as in two of the five made more than four starts last season. This is the Tommy John Recovery team, second time around in Volquez's case, so, yes, I understand how it's possible for things to go wrong. In fact, it's likely things will go wrong, but if the Rangers' hopes don't turn too quickly to disaster, it's still an upgrade from last year's rotation.
No more hoping for Martin Perez to find it (that's Minnesota's problem now). No more praying that 2017 in San Francisco wasn't proof Matt Moore's at the end (that's Detroit's problem now). And in some ways, it's not the worst thing in the world that an unhappy Cole Hamels has moved on to the Cubs. I can't give all the credit to the Cubs' defense or pitching coach or blame on the Texas heat for Hamels going from a 4.72 ERA pitcher to a 2.36 ERA pitcher after July's trade to Chicago.
The optimism of a new manager can be an infectious thing to watch out for, too, but Chris Woodward shows no fear of wading into battle with this five.
"To say I'm pleasantly surprised is an understatement," Woodward said. In the last three days, Lynn, Volquez and Smiley have allowed one earned run in 9 1/3 innings. "They're good names. They obviously have a track record. Obviously health is a huge factor moving forward.
