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.