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AL West Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
Los Angeles Halos Heaven	97	65	.598	0	Lost 1
Texas Lone Star Ball	87	75	.537	10	Lost 2
Seattle Lookout Landing	85	77	.524	12	Won 2
Oakland Athletics Nation	75	87	.462	22	Lost 7

(updated 11.6.2009 at 10:19 PM CST)

Scheppers has the qualities of a guy who can pitch at the top of the rotation, but some talent evaluators think he could be a closer in the big leagues next season if the team wanted to pursue that route.

Jason Grey on Tanner Scheppers.

about 9 hours ago Adam J. Morris 49 comments 0 recs

Top 30 Prospect Rankings are for wimps

True Blue L.A. is ranking the top 200 prospects in the Dodger system

about 12 hours ago Adam J. Morris 15 comments 0 recs

Friday Afternoon Video

about 13 hours ago Adam J. Morris 41 comments 0 recs

2010 ZiPS projections for the Texas Rangers

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 6, 2009 11:54 AM CST Comment 41 comments

Dan Szymborski has the ZiPS projections for the Rangers in 2010 up at BTF. ZiPS views this group, as constituted, as around a .500 team, and seems to identify the need for a legit DH.

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Brewers trade for Carlos Gomez

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 6, 2009 11:16 AM CST Comment 42 comments

The Milwaukee Brewers have traded J.J. Hardy to the Twins for Carlos Gomez.

This could impact the Rangers, since Gomez taking over in center for the Brewers means Mike Cameron likely won't return to Milwaukee. Cameron is a guy the Rangers could bring in on a one year deal, if they decide they don't want to go multiple years for Marlon Byrd, and they aren't ready for Julio Borbon to be in center just yet.

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Friday morning Rangers stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 6, 2009 10:33 AM CST Comment 77 comments

Clint Hurdle has been hired as the Rangers hitting coach, and Jeff Wilson writes that Hurdle wants to focus on the hitters' approach, rather than on their mechanics.

Gil LeBreton says the Rangers have hired Hurdle to be an offensive coordinator as much as anything else, wanting players to be more situationally aware and have a more "team-oriented" approach.

Five Rangers filed for free agency yesterday -- Marlon Byrd, Hank Blalock, Pudge Rodriguez, Eddie Guardado, and Joaquin Benoit. Byrd, Pudge and Benoit could all be back, although Benoit would likely be on a minor league deal.

And T.R. Sullivan has a tribute to the retiring Jim Reeves.

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Forget Vlad. Dunn can't even hold Vlad's jock. There's no comparison between the two. Watch Dunn strikeout like Pete Incaviglia and you'll realize why he's quickly becoming a journeyman.

Vlad: I'd love to see him here. He'd be awesome here.

From the DMN blog comment section today. Vlad's 2009 OPS: 794. Dunn's 2009 OPS: 928

1 day ago Adam J. Morris 57 comments 0 recs

BoSox trade for Jeremy Hermida

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 5, 2009 8:29 PM CST Comment 41 comments

Florida Marlins right fielder Jeremy Hermida snags the ball hit by Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

More photos » by Tom Mihalek - AP

2 months ago: Florida Marlins right fielder Jeremy Hermida snags the ball hit by Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Browse more photos »

Boston has acquired COF Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins in exchange for LHPs Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.

While this appears to be a salary dump for Florida -- Hermida made $2.25 million in 2009, and will probably get $3.5-4 million in 2010, making him a potential non-tender candidate for the Marlins -- they look like they got some talent back. Jones is just a random 25 year old arm, but Alvarez put up good numbers as a 20 year old in the New York-Penn League (although he didn't make the BA League top 20).

Hermida is an interesting guy to take a flyer on, a high school draftee in 2002* who had a strong season in 2007, posting a .296/.369/.501 line while playing in a pitcher's park, but who has regressed the past couple of years. And he's limited to a corner outfield spot, so if he doesn't hit, he doesn't have value.

* Hermida went #11 overall, 1 pick behind Drew Meyer. I was irritated with the Meyer pick because I wanted Texas to take either Hermida or Bobby Brownlie.

But this gives the BoSox a hedge in case Jason Bay walks in free agency, particularly given that there isn't exactly a sterling crop of COF guys out there on the market. And it also allows them to work with a guy who looks like a solid reclamation project, and who is under team control through 2011...if Hermida bounces back strong, he has the potential to be a bargain in 2011.

This is interesting because it is consistent with the philosophy the BoSox have shown of late with guys like Rocco Baldelli, Brad Penny, John Smoltz...if they are going to spend $3-5 million on a player, they'd rather have a high beta guy who might give you nothing, or might give you a whole lot, rather than get the safe, guaranteed mediocrity.

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