A big bat

by hiafex on Nov 11, 2006 8:35 PM CST

Most of the options to protect Teixeira in the batting order have dissolved. Gary Sheffield has been traded to the Yankees and Hicks comments that the Rangers will not be looking to sign FA Barry Bonds. Who do you think the Rangers should try to (and have the oppurtunity to) obtain for Tex's protection?

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I question...

whether it's really necessary. I have no real problem with Tex being the best hitter in the lineup if the rest of the team is getting on base and getting some doubles. I think if you make a push to bring in some starters, I have no problem with rolling with Botts, Wilkerson, et al. in house options.

by benmor78 on Nov 11, 2006 8:40 PM CST reply actions

I do

I don't think that this lineup is that good. I agree that it's fine if Tex is the best hitter, but he needs more help.

Of course that depends on what starters you're talking about. If it's Schmidt and Zito or something, yeah, I could accept nothing special added to the lineup. If it's re-signing Padilla and bringing in someone like Westbrook or even Lilly, then I think you need more offense.

by Brett Perryman on Nov 11, 2006 9:15 PM CST up reply actions

With...

an overperforming GMJ and Derosa, and underperforming Wilk, Barajas, and Tex, they were still contenders with a patchwork rotation.

by benmor78 on Nov 11, 2006 9:41 PM CST up reply actions

The Angels will be loads better next season.

by hiafex on Nov 11, 2006 9:42 PM CST up reply actions

How Many Times

have I heard that story? Every year for the last 3-4 years?

Between Kendry Morales, Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick, and Dallas McPherson, I don't see anything that strikes me as "difference maker". The best OBP from any of them was Kendrick's .314. Talk about not having proven anything at the ML level. Sheesh.

OVER
RATED
CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP

by jtts on Nov 12, 2006 3:50 AM CST up reply actions

Jits

How many times in the past 3-4 years have the Rangers finished ahead of the Angels?
Overrated?????

by Bigfan16 on Nov 12, 2006 10:12 AM CST up reply actions

An offense with Freddy Guzman

And the unproven Botts and Cruz is not as good as you think it is. Especially if Blalock bats as he did last year.

by hiafex on Nov 11, 2006 9:42 PM CST up reply actions

Gotta agree

These guys are going to have a hard time scoring next season. That's not to say I'm giving up on the year or anything, because Daniels will probably come up with something. He seems to know what the needs are, at least.

And it's also possible they could have an A's-like year. None of us though OAK would be able to hit, but they won anyway.

Nobody cares about your fantasy or video game teams.

by Dustin on Nov 11, 2006 9:47 PM CST up reply actions

I don't know...

if I would necessarily call Botts "unproven." His AAA stats are solid, and he's got nothing left to prove in the minors. How much longer are you going to leave him sitting in AAA?

by benmor78 on Nov 11, 2006 9:50 PM CST up reply actions

He's unproven

He has to prove he can hit in MLB regardless of what he's done elsewhere.

Nobody cares about your fantasy or video game teams.

by Dustin on Nov 11, 2006 9:51 PM CST up reply actions

Nevertheless...

...his AAA production gives you a pretty good idea about what you can expect him to do at the major league level.

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 11, 2006 9:55 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah

Ideally. I don't really doubt he can hit, but the fact remains that he hasn't yet.

Nobody cares about your fantasy or video game teams.

by Dustin on Nov 11, 2006 9:57 PM CST up reply actions

In...

50 ML AB's he had a .779 OPS. That's not bad for getting so little playing time. He's about as "proven" as a AAA player can be.

by benmor78 on Nov 11, 2006 10:03 PM CST up reply actions

Any AAA player is unproven

I'm not trying to slight him or anything.

Nobody cares about your fantasy or video game teams.

by Dustin on Nov 11, 2006 10:05 PM CST up reply actions

Not proven at the MLB level is what I'm saying.

Anyways, back to the question. Who should the Rangers be targeting?

by hiafex on Nov 11, 2006 10:05 PM CST up reply actions

Botts

has proven in the minor leagues that he deserves a spot in the lineup a lot of the time, imo, but that doesn't mean that he's proven that he is, as of now, a quality major league hitter. And:
if you don't have a quality major league hitter at DH
if you have a black hole in CF in Guzman
if your RF is Cruz who at 26 hit .223/.261/.385 in favorable conditions
if Blalock is, say, the average of his last two seasons
and therefore if you're counting on Wilkerson to rebound from a .222/.306/.422 season and Laird to do what he did in spot-platoon duty and not what he did once he was an every day player (.191/.257/.279 in September)

You're putting a WHOLE lot of burden on Teixeira, Young and Kinsler to be superb, all significantly better than they were this year, for the offense to be what is was - when it wasn't too hot, and when you pseudo-contended but weren't really in it and didn't have a winning season.

by Brett Perryman on Nov 11, 2006 10:25 PM CST up reply actions

I'm not saying...

that a whole lot of things don't have to go right. Lots of things would have to go right. You would need for your closer not to blow 6 saves in April. You would need for a few squibs to squeek through at the right times. I thought that's the way all playoff teams were, though... lots of things went right.

I don't want Cruz to get a bunch of starts, but I don't think we need the proverbial "big bat." I'd be satisfied with Wilson or even a Stairs type, and work the younger guys into the order as much as you can.

by benmor78 on Nov 11, 2006 10:46 PM CST up reply actions

Okay

I just don't think that they'll score enough runs to win that way.

I think that it's probably more likely that they do what you're saying, so hopefully it will be enough.

by Brett Perryman on Nov 12, 2006 11:43 AM CST up reply actions

Rangers in '07

Unless they land Matsuzaka or Zito, it's likely they will have to go with a mediocre rotation, deep bullpen, and add a bat (like Drew maybe) and win a bunch of 6-5 games.

by t ball on Nov 11, 2006 10:06 PM CST reply actions