Rangers Announce World Series Roster
By Editorial Staff
The Texas Rangers finalized their World Series roster today, announcing a few expected changes. Heading into tonight’s opener, the Rangers have decided to remove relievers Yoshinori Tateyama and Koji Uehara from their playoff roster and replace them with pitcher Mark Lowe and catcher Matt Treanor.
Lowe, who’s been out since September 20th with a hamstring injury, replaces Uehara in the Rangers pen. After posting solid numbers for much of 2011, Uehara totally bombed in the playoffs. The right-hander made three October appearances for the Rangers, surrendering a home run in each. Over a combined 1 1/3 innings, Uehara allowed five runs on five hits and two walks.
In Lowe, Texas has a reliever who provided 45 innings of relief this season, maintaining an ERA of 3.80 and striking out nearly a batter per inning over that span.
Texas decided to go with Treanor, an extra position player, over another pitcher to provide manager Ron Washington more bench flexibility. Four of the potential seven games are set to be played in a National League ballpark, where the Rangers will look to take advantage of an additional bat.
The rest of the Rangers roster stayed the same. Infielders for Texas include Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, Esteban German, Ian Kinsler and Mitch Moreland. Texas’s trio of backstops will be Treanor, Mike Napoli and Yorvit Torrealba and in the outfield the Rangers have Endy Chavez, Nelson Cruz, Craig Gentry, Josh Hamilton and David Murphy. Mr. Do-it-All Michael Young is listed as the club’s designated hitter, but you can bet the Rangers will look to get his bat in their lineup in St. Louis.
The Rangers have tabbed C.J. Wilson as their game one starter and he will be followed in the rotation by Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and Matt Harrison. In the pen, Texas will have Mike Adams, Scott Feldman, Neftali Feliz, Michael Gonzalez, Lowe, Alexi Ogando and Darren Oliver.
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