Leonys Martin is the most talented player in the Texas Ranger outfield when age, speed, hitting, and fielding are considered with balanced weight. Martin is the youngest, fastest, and he is right there with Craig Gentry when you talk about fielding. I honestly think the Rangers believe he is the best option in center. I believe this because there is a situation where Leonys plays the majority of games or platoons with Gentry, but no one has considered a situation where he is a back-up CF.

Feb 25, 2013; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Leonys Martin (2) singles during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

This spring he has proven that he can handle major-league pitching and he has proven he can handle major-league coaching. Last year he struggled at the plate to the tune of a .174 BA in 46 at-bats. He also struggled in the outfield with his routes to the ball. Those two things became real questions in 2012. After batting .378 in 45 at-bats this spring training and fielding like an above-average MLB starting CF… those questions have disappeared.

Craig Gentry has also impressed during the spring. He has picked up right where his 2012 season left off. He is hitting .286 in 42 at-bats with 5 stolen bases and 2 out-of-nowhere HR’s. Last year Craig batted just over .300 and stole 13 bases while fielding very well for the Rangers. But those numbers will probably not hold up for a second straight year. If Gentry would’ve stolen 30 bases last year, this conversation may not even be legitimate but he failed to surprise in that area last year and here we are.

I think the Rangers will make the right decision on how to handle the platoon, or they will start one of the CF more than the other. One thing that needs to be remembered is how important Leonys will be in the future. He is still young and he is being payed to be a starter. I think he will prove to be a very good CF for Texas. If that is this year, the Rangers should be set. If Gentry proves to be the best option in CF. Next year’s OF will have many unanswered questions.

A couple days ago I mentioned Randy Galloway’s initial reaction to Jon Daniels becoming the new President Of Baseball Operations. Galloway — from the Dallas Morning News — viewed it as ownership’s signal to cut down on Nolan Ryan‘s power to the point where it’s nonexistent, and furthermore that he will no longer be necessary to the Texas Rangers. By the end of spring training, Ryan will retire, according to Galloway.

I initially rejected the idea, but last night Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star Telegram added more fuel to the fire, going so far as to say:

Through it all, said Daniels, he and Ryan have maintained a working relationship that has strengthened over the years.

“I think it’s grown,” Daniels said. “We’re from different backgrounds and different perspectives, but there’s a mutual respect. We don’t always agree, but I think that’s a healthy thing. You’d be hard-pressed to find two people who always do.”

But Ryan is sensing uncertainty now, according to sources, and is strongly considering leaving the club. That notion had several players raising their eyebrows and wondering what was going on behind the scenes.

Outside the organization, I get the impression Nolan Ryan is viewed in a nearly infallible sort of way, like his presence alone turned the Rangers from a dormant franchise, overnight, into one of baseball’s best. The truth is, the only “culture-altering” concept Nolan Ryan introduced is the idea that Ranger starters should pitch deeper into games, but even that conveniently coincided with the Rangers actually having better pitching (Cliff Lee, C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, and Derek Holland, at times).

If Nolan Ryan left the organization tomorrow, It would not bother me in the least. Daniels and his team are of significantly more value to the franchise than the figurehead minority owner.

Truth be told, the more power Nolan hypothetically were to receive from ownership, the worse off the franchise would figure to be in the longterm. It’s no secret that Jon Daniels, Thad Levine and A.J. Preller have been the true backbone of the Texas Rangers’ rise to prominence. If you risk losing Daniels, you risk losing everybody. By locking Daniels down, it keeps the entire group intact, which, like currency, is security. (Jamey Newberg even had the idea that Levine move into the GM chair, and Preller take his current job as assistant.)

Let’s put it this way: Daniels and Ryan have collectively worked as the crucible to the neo-Rangers — the Rangers we know them as today. But if one of them has to go, it’s Ryan, and without hesitation.

If you are asking me, I see no reason why Nolan Ryan should leave, and I don’t know why he would. I mean, yeah, supposedly he was against the signing of Yu Darvish, while being the driving force behind bringing Roy Oswalt to Arlington. Daniels, on the other hand, was apparently all-in on Darvish (which he was right about) and against the acquisition of Oswalt (which he was also right about).

Could those decisions be playing a role in the alleged feud that’s currently taking place? I’d like to imagine Nolan Ryan’s ego isn’t big enough that he would throw away his stake in the franchise over little kid shit like that.

But who knows; I mean, he did oust Josh Lewin. Like a child, I’m not sure if I’ll ever forgive Nolan for that.

Rangers win 5-4.

The main news of the game is that Rangers ace, Yu Darvish, was once again impressive, throwing three shutout innings, strikeout out 3. He did allow two walks, however.

Here’s what Jason Parks had to say about him:

The other news of the day is that Cody Buckel is apparently having a rough time adjusting to more advanced hitting. In just 2/3 of an inning this afternoon, he allowed three runs (all earned) on 4 hits, striking out one. He will only be in his age-21 season in 2013, so we’re still talking about a very young kid who will probably need at least one more full year in the Minor Leagues before he’s ready for the show. Just because he is on quite a few top-100 prospects lists, it’s not freakout time or anything.

Again, here is what Parks had to say:

Aside from that, it was a pretty routine day in Surprise, AZ; Adrian Beltre went 1-3 with a double in his first game of the spring; Jurickson Profar went hitless in two plate appearances.

Coty Woods threw 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out three; Cory Burns, who inevitably got the win for pitching a scoreless 9th, struck out one.

Tomorrow the Rangers get the day off, which is followed by a game on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs.