Check my math on this one, but I think a Murphy / Gentry righty/lefty platoon has some real potential.

Starting assumptioin is we'll see about 3 times as many righties as lefties. So, Murphy would have 3 times the at bats as Gentry.

Against righties last year Murphy was 88 for 297 with 34 runs, 11 homers, 41 RBIs and 9 SBs.
Against lefties last year Gentry was 18 for 68 with 12 runs , 1 homer, 10 RBIs and 11 SBs.

That's only 365 at bats.

To get the platoon to 600 at bats with a 3 to 1 ratio you have to bump Murphy to 450 ABs and Gentry to 150.

Doing so gives you this 173 for 600 or hitting .288 with 78 runs, 19 homers, 84 RBIs and 38 SBs.

One season, too small a sample and other flaws aside . . . I'd sure take those numbers out of a third outfielder.

Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

No responses to the original post before the season started.

Here's an update . . .

Gentry/Murphy are hitting .296 with a .324 OBP and .408 slugging.

They are on pace for 605 at bats with 68 runs and 77 RBI with 9 HR and 26 SB.

I'll take that out of a platoon in the bottom third of the order.

And it is in the same ballpark as the numbers in the original post.

One fifth of the season down . . .

.293 / .338 / .451

On pace for 20 HR and 25 SB to go with 74 runs and 88 RBI

What's that kind of performance cost out on the free agent market? A lot less than what we're paying and we've got late inning pinch hitting, pinch running and defense substitutions in the mix.

This is perfect for the Rangers in my opinion. You get quality starting outfielder numbers without having to pay for it because it is split over a pair of guys that have not demonstrated they can put it up singly.

With Moreland coming around, the 7-8-9 part of the order is in awfully good shape.