Sponsored Ad
There are legitimatly 4 guys who are going for 3 outfield spots, 5 if you count the first baseman. Here are the reasons we here at the Report some people should or should not start in the outfield in 2011.
1. Josh Hamilton – LF 
Josh will be the left fielder to start the season unless he gets hurt at some point in Spring Training. Josh is a good outfielder no matter where they decide to put him, but the odds of him getting hurt is a whole lot less if he is not the everyday center fielder. Josh had a good fielding percentage last season (.985) and he will only be better this season in my opinion. I look for Josh to stay healthy this season and do better without the stress of covering all of center field. The Ranger are now being smart with Josh by moving him to left so that he will be able to play at a higher level for longer, at least that is the hope. So, if Josh is in left, that means:
2. Nelson Cruz is in right field. 
Nelly had some hamstring trouble that made his 2010 not near as impressive as it would have been if he had remaind healthy. Nelson put up great numbers for a guy that missed over 6 weeks of the season because of injury. Will he stay healthy and have a MVP type season in 2011? That is left to be seen, but if he does, the Rangers will win the West with ease. If he does, you are talking about a 30+ HR season with most likely 100+ RBI. From all of the reports coming out about him, he had a new off season workout routine that is supposed to help his hamstrings and he did not play winter ball for the first time in his career. Look for Nelly to be the player of 2011 for the Rangers.
3. Julio Borbon CF, David Murphy 
Ron Washington has said on multiple occasions that Julio is the guy for the job in CF in 2011. Julio got off to a really slow start in 2010, and then in late 2010 lost the job to David Murphy, who was playing great. Julio has all the potential of a great center fielder, and the Rangers are ready to give him a legitimate shot at winning the job. But don’t expect David Murphy to sit back and let Borbon take the spot. Competition is a good thing in my opinion, and I think that a friendly competition between Murphy and Borbon will eventually be really good for the Ranger outfield. David will get his at bats either way, he did last season and I do not see that being any different coming into the 2011 season, but his playing time in the field will be determined by how well Borbon does, if he steps up and becomes the center fielder that the Ranger seem to think he is. If he does not, I would not be upset at all to see Murphy become an every day player. If he does, that might spell the end of Murphy’s time as a Texas Ranger. I hope not, since I have said on mulitple occasions, I think David Murphy is the best 4th outfielder in all of baseball, and a whole lot of teams would like his as one of their 3 outfielders.
So, there is your look at the Rangers outfield right now, and as you all know, it is subject to change at any time. Be sure to check back often for Ranger news and opinion right here.
