When September Comes: Call-ups coming
Of the eight current Texas players called up from Oklahoma City this year, six were promoted this month: relief pitchers Neftali Feliz, Doug Mathis and Pedro Strop, infielders Chris Davis and Esteban German, and outfielder Julio Borbon.
The Rangers also called up starting pitchers Derek Holland and Tommy Hunter in April and June, respectively.
With all of the recent moves, Texas may not have room for many more callups Tuesday, when major league rosters can be expanded to as many as 40 players.
Plus, five Rangers - starting pitcher Brendan McCarthy, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, relief pitcher Eddie Guardado, outfielder Andruw Jones and infielder Esteban German - will soon be eligible to come off the disabled list. McCarthy, for example, is scheduled to start in Texas' doubleheader with Toronto on Tuesday.
Texas will likely call up outfielder Greg Golson, and possibly catcher Kevin Richardson and a lefty relief pitcher, either Mike Hinckley or A.J. Murray. But of those four players, only Golson is on Texas' 40-man roster.
The Rangers may also consider calling up four pitchers on their roster: Willie Eyre, Warner Madrigal, Luis Mendoza and Guillermo Moscoso.
Golson, the fastest player in the Pacific Coast League, figures to be called up because of that speed, as well as his terrific outfield arm. The only question is a sore wrist that's sidelined him the past few days.
Richardson, who was 2-for-4 in a Rangers start this month, may return to the major leagues, especially if Saltalamacchia isn't ready. Texas currently carries two catchers: Pudge Rodriguez and Taylor Teagarden.
Hinckley, the former Moore High School star who began this season with the Washington Nationals, has not been scored upon this month. That scoreless streak stretches over eight appearances and 10 innings. Not counting a nightmarish game in Albuquerque's hitters heaven July 30, Hinckley's ERA is 2.00 with the RedHawks.
Murray had a 1.15 ERA on July 7, but in 12 games since then he has been rocked for 14 runs and 26 hits in 16 2/3 innings.
Eyre, who has already had four stints with Texas this season, has a 2.23 ERA with Oklahoma City.
Madrigal, the RedHawks' closer, with 17 saves, has been struggled in his last three games, allowing five runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. His ERA has risen from 1.74 to 2.57 in that short time.
Mendoza, who threw first nine-inning no-hitter in RedHawks history Aug. 14, has had one complete game and two bad starts (12 runs in 7 2/3 innings) since then. Texas did not give him permission to pitch for Mexico in the World Cup.
Moscoso has been steady all season, with a 2.31 ERA, though he's struggled some in the last month.