This team is done
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 2, 2006 8:27 PM CDT
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PrintTime to recognize the obvious, and move on.
Start soliciting offers for Dumpmaster, GMJ, Padilla and Barajas, and let Jason Botts and Freddy Guzman start playing regularly.
This team needs to start looking to 2007. It isn't going to do jack in 2006.
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Sad...
Really?
wow
Maybe Adam Eaton comes back and does something great. I don't expect it, but that would be neat.
I'm bitter right now
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 2, 2006 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Nothin to say on the subject but
Wow
Even if we were to decide to blow things up, do y'all really think we should deal GMJ, when he's almost assured to decline arb and sign a multi year deal somewhere and net us at least one draft pick, maybe two? Can we do better than that for him porspect-wise if we deal him right now?
My Fear
by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 2, 2006 8:52 PM CDT reply actions
Huh?
I know
In a year or two, I think Daniels will have earned the requisite faith to pull off an unpopular move (or non-move).
To clarify, my fear is not that the Rangers win games, but that short-term success blinds them from just how badly the team is fooling itself.
by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 2, 2006 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Hm
They have a chance, just like everyone else in the division.
by Dustin on Jul 2, 2006 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
The only way this team wins is if they make a mid-year uniform switch to red.
I want to think the Rangers have a chance
Lets wait
Mench
Does everyone really believe Tex and Mike cant hit anymore? I know its been half a year and Tex is looking more and more like he's off of some special apple juice, but Mikes still hitting well over 300.
by Nichols22 on Jul 2, 2006 10:42 PM CDT reply actions
I think if you are slated
Hustle/fire
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 2, 2006 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions
The
Word.
Anaheim: Done-zo. Done-zilla. Done-skis. Not going anywhere. Frankly, not that good.
Seattle: Not that good, will fall off in the second half.
Oakland: The team to beat, but really not anything special.
Texas: Slumping pretty much throughout the entire first half.
Look at it this way: The Rangers are a game and a half back even though Mark Teixeira has had a terrible first half, Michael Young's first half was average for him, Kevin Millwood's first half was sub-par, Brad Wilkerson's first half was sub-par, Gerald Laird is only playing one day a series, and Adam Eaton hasn't thrown a pitch.
Everyone just calm the fuck down. Seriously.
Judging
Granted the team played well in May but they didn't play well in April or June. If they duplicate that over the rest of the season it would be two good months and four bad months. Where will they be then? The answer is .500 and that won't win anything in the AL this year.
Daniels will make changes; it's just a question of what changes he will make. None of us can be sure what he will do but he seems to have a pattern of doing something.
I hear a lot of trade talk and Kevin Mench's name seems to keep coming up. I think he's being mentioned because it seems he is not going to be a productive player here.
However, I'm sure every other team is aware of that as well. They have video and scouts and ultimately you cannot hide the numbers. Folks seem to think we can package one or two of our unwanted players for a productive player from another team. That just isn't going to happen.
Getting better this year is going to cost a jewel or two from the organization. If the club turns out to be a seller then they might net some good return, we can all look to Florida as a model of how that might work out.
But we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking the current roster can be one which wins the division. The starting pitching is not strong enough which creates too much of a strain on the bullpen. A strained bullpen cannot be a good bullpen.
People carp about the offense but the Rangers are outhitting the A's by a considerable margin, some 65 points of OPS.
The point being that the Rangers and A's are two different types of teams and it's up to Daniels to address the needs of this team at this time.
Can he fix the deficiencies as they exist today so that the team will reach the post season? Maybe he can, but does anyone out there think this team, even with any additions you might imagine, can beat the other division leaders and/or the wildcard team? This team doesn't feel like, for example, how the Mavericks felt at the half-way point.
If they cannot win in the post-season, and I don't think they can with today's roster, then why bother with some half-hearted attempt to make the post season in order to be swept right out?
I think in order for the Rangers to make the post season this year the farm system will have to sacrifice some top prospects like Danks and Volquez.
In order to win the division the Rangers will need to out-pitch the A's, not out-hit them.
All Star Break
Matthews
I mean what type of prospect should we shoot for in reality? Would a Scott Baker type pitching propect be too much to ask for? I know that doesn't make sense for the Twins but I am just saying that type of prospect or a prospect on the same tier as Baker.
too much?
Contending teams in need of a quality CF: White Sox, Seattle (sad but in the West they are and Reed broke his thumb tonight), Astros, Giants, and Rockies.
I know some like GMJ but this career year most likely won't extend into further years and with this year he is bound to want quite a pay raise next year. I don't think it will be worth it and if we can get a quality prospect, then lets go for it.
It might actually be better to get a position prospect in exchange instead just because ours suck so bad. After seeing the roughriders play tonight, it has further solidified that fact.
I blame this first part of the seaon
i had that same thought
some guys have contributed a little more then we thought, others (loe) have contributed less. Its give and take but overall its not horribly beyond what we expected.
the problem is the middle of the lineup that produced so much last year.
Young is doing fine but not up to last year, tex is absolutely destroying the middle of the offense, and hank is barely above last years numbers.
Of course, tex isnt even a high priced free agent (although he is making a bit now). he is just someone good enough that everyone had such huge expectations. It probably actually is unfair to criticize him so much. But regardless, if i had to pick one reason why the rangers are 50, itd would be tex.
thank god for matthews and derosa (other then tonight...ugh) otherwise they might be 10 under 500.
tex.......... please please please please recover in the 2nd half. please. you dont have to have the .975 or so OPS i was expecting, but 20 hr, .290 or something for the 2nd half could be neough to win the very medicore AL West.
I think somebody hit the nail on the head......
Think about how every game day, Adam posts the lineups for the game. Honestly (although it is an appreciated gesture), it shouldn't have to be that way. I believe it is hard for players who aren't sure if they are playing each day, or in the proverbial "dog house".
Personally, I enjoyed the Rangers more when I knew who "the guys" were on the team, even if they didn't win all the time. I don't want to watch the "revolving door" in the lineup, much less the team itself. I don't get excited about a new guy coming up every other week. Earn your spot and keep your spot.
Buck has done this stuff forever, and I am not a fan of it. Anytime a manager has so many self-made options for his lineup, I become disinterested. I like rooting for "the guys" on 'the team", not just any guy(s) in the uniform of the team.
I said it prior to the season, and I'll say it again (no matter how decent he has done). Anytime you are finding ways to fit Mark DeRosa into the lineup each day, you are screwed. He is what he is, no better, no worse.
I said prior to the season what I thought the lineup should be, and not much has changed in my opinion. However, the ever changing lineup and the STUPID decisions with the pitching staff have turned me off for the past month or so....no matter where they are in the standings. I find it hard to pull for "the guys", when I don't even know who the guys are.
Its a stupid system and one thing that Buck has been known for in the past....building a team that someone else takes over and runs deep into the playoffs. THAT IS THE PRIMARY MOVE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE...AND MADE SOON!!
I don't want to be bothered with the stupid Barajas vs. Laird business, when it is clear that Laird should be the starter...not just now, but for the future. I don't want to be bothered with "fitting" DeRosa into the lineup. I don't want to be bothered with some "new, young player" brought up for basically nothing.
Get your lineup and stick with it. I understand why some players may be losing focus, because some do not respond well to not starting everyday, or not knowing how they, or others, fit into the equation.
I haven't really posted a "Bash Buck" comment before, but this dude needs to go....and fast. For everything he is good at, he is destroying the focus and drive of individual players, which is affecting the team. Buck's style has put out the fire in many of "the guys".
Honestly, I'd want out of here if I was playing for him.
A little bitter
It is a shame to see this team breaking down defensively and seemingly not having any fire to hustle and make plays. The summer swoon may be upon us, but the A's are not pulling away yet, so I will keep hoping to see some signs of life from these guys.
The Ranger's latest slide...
Usually the downward spiral starts after the All-star game.
Maybe this year it will be an "upward" spiral.
Wait a minute now!!!
The real problem is Hicks and little man JD. Look at this roster and tell me they are a contender. $53 Million in payroll is good enough for 25th in the majors. Granted ejecting Nevin was a step in the right direction but where is the beef? The Wilkerson/Soriano trade never led to more pitching. The trade for Eaton was a disaster and will be for years. The only Free Agent signing (Millwood) was a success. But this team needs 2-3 or maybe more solid players. How hard is it to find a corner OF that can hit? A DH?? Or pay for a rotation that can keep us in the game? Given where the Rangers are at now they should be able to add $30 million in payroll and still be around average in the majors.
The Farm is still barren of immediate help so why not invest in some FA's this offseason?
Corner Outfielders That Can Hit
Re:
Ok, that's possible.... OTOH, you follow the previous statement with this....
Buck has gotten the most out of this group as can be expected.
If this team "isn't as bad as it seams (sic)," how can that equate with "Buck getting the most out of this group that can be expected?"
And how does that equate with playing Barajas at least twice as frequently as Laird?
He's gotten a lot out of Matthews, Jr. and DeRosa, but the "stars" of the team have not performed.
The real problem is Hicks and little man JD.
Well, I'll agree that the main problem is Hicks. However, I'd say that Buck is more of a problem than Daniels is.
Look at this roster and tell me they are a contender.
I won't, because they aren't (and I've been saying this since the pre-season).
$53 Million in payroll is good enough for 25th in the majors. Granted ejecting Nevin was a step in the right direction but where is the beef?
I don't mind them not spending money. I DO have a problem with them trading away the future of the team for an unrealistic (IMO) shot at the playoffs.
The Wilkerson/Soriano trade never led to more pitching.
It doesn't have to as long as they got back a good return. I'm very curious to see what Soriano brings in at the trade deadline. I don't think he'll bring in as much as some people believe, but I could be wrong.
The trade for Eaton was a disaster and will be for years.
Agreed. Hated that trade when it was made, after it was made, and still now. I don't care that Otsuka's closing well for a team which probably won't make the playoffs.
The only Free Agent signing (Millwood) was a success.
Well, considering that the only marquee signing WAS Millwood, this wouldn't be a bad thing.... if it were true. Millwood has been great on the ROAD, but horrible at home.... Not really sure why, but he's giving up a TON of walks at home and not striking out as many players.... Maybe, it IS tough to pitch in the Ballpark :p.
But this team needs 2-3 or maybe more solid players.
True.
How hard is it to find a corner OF that can hit? A DH??
Well, pretty hard considering the FAs out there....
Or pay for a rotation that can keep us in the game? Given where the Rangers are at now they should be able to add $30 million in payroll and still be around average in the majors.
Not worth it. Overpaying for sub-par pitchers is a quick way to mediocrity and worse. Of course, trading away good young prospects for sub-par pitchers is an even quicker way.
The Farm is still barren of immediate help so why not invest in some FA's this offseason?
I disagree. Volquez looks like he'll be able to help soon. As does Danks and maybe Diamond in the bullpen. Of course, we traded away our one good position player prospect who could have helped next year (yes, I'm including Arias), but it's not completely barren of immediate help.
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Re: Crabby
But I wasn't that crabby, until I got accused of being "condescending and arrogant" and "feeling a manly need to be right."
OTOH, nobody has been responding to what I've posted with anything close to a solid rebuttal. So, though I might be overly critical, it doesn't seem like I was incorrectly critical....
It feels like I'm arguing with a whole bunch of Sharkys right now which might explain why I might be crabby now. (If you remember, I don't like wasting time trying to argue with Sharky.)
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Re: crabby
So, that response probably wasn't that overly critical, either.
After all, my question is has Buck gotten the most out of the players or is the team better than it seems?
It's near impossible for both to be true....
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A bunch of Sharkys?
haha
by Dustin on Jul 3, 2006 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Dustin
(All in good fun.)
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