Tuesday morning things

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 18, 2007 9:34 AM CST in News

Almost nothing out there this morning...just a small piece in the S-T, where Kam Loe says that, after his October surgery on his elbow, he'll be ready to go come spring training...

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Evan Grant on the 40-man roster

Overnight, I emailed Evan Grant about the 41 players on the 40-man roster. Here's his reply this morning:

They haven't officially signed Bradley yet. Once they sign him, they will have to designate somebody. Think that is coming this afternoon. ... If I'm the Rangers, I'm trying like heck to trade Nelson Cruz somewhere rather than designate him, but he seems like the guy who doesn't fit anymore. Bradley, Byrd, Catalanotto, Murphy and, in a pinch, Botts. ... Shelton, I believe can also play some corner outfield. It just seems like Cruz is out of opps here...... If they were to sign Cameron and I think if he were to take a two-year deal, they might be interested, then things would get really interesting. You'd have to either deal somebody for a non 40-man guy or potentially run Bill White or Josh Rupe through waivers. Not sure this club has any business running pitchers less than 30 years old through waivers, but don't know what other options they have. ....

Broussard played some COF for Seattle last year - didn't know Shelton can, too. Maybe he got them mixed up.

by shroomer on Dec 18, 2007 9:18 AM CST reply actions

Yeah, if you can get

minor league roster filler for Cruz, it'd probably be a good deal. In terms of the roster, trading Cruz for Bradley seems like a bigtime upgrade.

"As of now they're (The Astros) world series favorites. Period." - Sharky

by DJCahill on Dec 18, 2007 9:29 AM CST up reply actions

Bill White

Is he really going to have trouble going through waivers?

Other teams are willing to take him and withstand the same roster squeeze as the Rangers?

Bill White's the guy. No way JD gives up on Cruz, even at this juncture.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 18, 2007 9:36 AM CST up reply actions

Well...

Look at a team like Houston.

They've got a bad farm system and only 34 players on their 40 man roster, after doing the 6-for-1 and 3-for-1 deals recently.

If I'm Ed Wade, I'd grab any Bill White-type, a decent arm that has options remaining, that shows up on waivers.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 18, 2007 9:50 AM CST up reply actions

But seriously, 8 year minor leaguer

with one inning above AA? 13-22 lifetime record & a 5 ERA....I gotta think he slides through before Cruz.

by tklawless on Dec 18, 2007 9:55 AM CST up reply actions

White

He has two things going for him - 1. he's a lefty and 2. he's got good strikeout numbers. Seems like a guy you'd like to see in spring training, at least.

by Randy Richardson on Dec 18, 2007 10:20 AM CST up reply actions

He's 29 and he's never put up remarkable numbers. I'll grant he averages a K an inning, and his K/IP has been going up in 2006-2007 without a negative impact on his WHIP. But still his 4.81 ERA and 1.57 WHIP (all below AAA) is exactly the type of pitcher he is. Nothing special.

I personally don't want to see Botts go either (I think there's a small chance he'll get it) and I really don't want to lose Cruz. Cruz, after a rocky beginning to his career, is consistently above 900 OPS in the minors. He needs another shot.

"When I was a pup, we got spanked by presidents 'til the cows came home! Grover Cleveland spanked me on two non-consecutive occasions!" LBrooks

by WyoRanger on Dec 18, 2007 10:55 AM CST up reply actions

He had 9.1 major-league innings

this past year with a 4.82 ERA in that time. If I'm Houston and I have that big a need for bullpen help and can pick the guy up on waivers for a song, I'd sure do it and see how it works out.

by Inkara1 on Dec 18, 2007 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

after losing Burke, Lane, and Scott,

I would think Houston would be just as likely to take Nelson Cruz, who reminds me a lot of Richard Hidalgo, if they saw him on the waiver wire as they would to take White.

Cruz has looked really solid in what I believe is a pitcher's league this winter. I think he is a breakout candidate next year if given a chance and is a decent bet to put up numbers at around .270 .340 .450 with solid defense.

Bill White is a nice guy to have around, but it seems like guys like him float around every year.

by clark on Dec 18, 2007 12:58 PM CST up reply actions

Cruz

I just hate to give up on him yet. He is a good defender with pop in his bat. I would DFA Botts before Cruz. The more I see of Botts the more I think he is AAAA. Also, if the Rangers lose Bill White they have lost, at worst, a middle innings reliever. He will never be anything more than that whereas Cruz could potentially be a league average OFer. I keep Cruz.

Fire Ron Washington

by pblack on Dec 18, 2007 10:19 AM CST up reply actions

+1

Botts should go before Cruz.

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws. ~Rick Wise, 1974

by RangerMad on Dec 18, 2007 10:25 AM CST up reply actions

Botts / Cruz

Cruz, like Botts has pop in his bat......at AAA only. Put them in the majors and they s-u-c-k. So, that said, I'd keep Botts because I want to be able to use the nickname "RoBotts" all summer. Everyone likes Robots!

by FuturePants on Dec 18, 2007 11:48 AM CST up reply actions

If 2008is truly

a semi-rebuilding year, you have to keep Cruz and Botts going into the season or face making a Pronk mistake or worse.

by rldwb on Dec 18, 2007 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

there is no mistake worse than pronk

and there is no one on the team that would make the rangers capable of making a pronk mistake

by ab03 on Dec 18, 2007 12:59 PM CST up reply actions

p.s.

my first statement was hyperbole - keep your top 5 worst rangers trades to yourself.

by ab03 on Dec 18, 2007 1:00 PM CST up reply actions

Shelton

has played three games worth of OF in his career. Three innings worth in the big leagues.

by badradiorules on Dec 18, 2007 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

I Hope...

There is something brewing for not only Cruz, but Tejada as well. Both are out of options, and I don't see either one making the Big Club out of ST.

by JB @ Lone Star Ball on Dec 18, 2007 9:35 AM CST reply actions

Any possibility that...

...Loe is competing for the #5 spot in the rotation in ST?

Vista named PC World's biggest tech disappointment of 2007

by RangerMoto on Dec 18, 2007 10:54 AM CST reply actions

I believe Millwood, Padilla and

BMac are locks for the rotation. The other 2 spots are open to anyone including Loe.

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws. ~Rick Wise, 1974

by RangerMad on Dec 18, 2007 11:30 AM CST up reply actions

Everything I've read...

...says that Gabbard and Volquez are 4 & 5, barring injury.

Vista named PC World's biggest tech disappointment of 2007

by RangerMoto on Dec 18, 2007 12:01 PM CST up reply actions

long man out of the pen...

he has had his chances and pitched better in relief. Gabbard and Volquez should have those spots unless there is a trade or injury.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Dec 18, 2007 7:56 PM CST up reply actions

OT: Tiger

An absolutely great read...check it out

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/story?columnist=diaz_jaime&id=3158267&lpos=spotlight& amp;lid=tab1pos1

by Longhorn on Dec 18, 2007 2:10 PM CST reply actions

Read that this morning

it was a great article. Tiger's the best.

Jan. 7th LSU rises again!

by BlackGloveRighty on Dec 18, 2007 2:23 PM CST up reply actions

BGR:

I have a quick question. In an older BA scouting report it said:

"McCarthy's best pitch is a two-seam fastball that generally parks around 90 mph, and he has a four-seamer that hits 92-93."

I know you had health issues last year, that may be the reason, but I don't recall seeing a lot of 2 seamers. Do you still use it, or have you changed your approach since then?

by BHill on Dec 18, 2007 2:44 PM CST up reply actions