Smoak made his major league debut for texas in late april and has been less than spectacular since then. He has hit .206 but has a solid 8 home runs and 34 RBI. He was supposed to be a huge building block after Texas Traded Mark Teixeira two seasons ago, but was all that Seattle wanted for Cliff Lee.
Most analysts and team representatives are saying how this will be a great change for both teams. Seattle's future and Texas' present playoff chances, but I don't agree. I think that for the future Smoak will be a solid middle of the order hitter whith a lot of power and a good glove, but Lee is a free agent after this season and is a worse pitcher in the second half of the season than the first. Not only that but the stadium the Rangers play in, The Ballpark in Arlington, is a proven hitters park. Lee will have his struggles adapting to a new team, new stadium, and new pressure since he is the most significant player acquisition the Rangers have made since the 90's.
Lee was rocked by offensively challenged Baltimore in his first start for his new team in his new park and I think this won't be the only time. The ballpark in Arlington is a place where pitchers struggle. The temperature is hot and makes it easier for the ball to travel thus creating Lee more prone to home runs. He has a great K/BB ratio, in fact he is on a record setting pace, but all that means is he lets people hit the ball. He throws strikes and I think that style of pitching could come back to bite him and perhaps prevent the Rangers from playoff greatness
-J.DeClercq
