Wilkerson

by DIESCTBRS on Mar 26, 2007 12:41 PM CDT Comment 32 comments

Can someone please justify how he can make the team this season. I understand that it is only Spring Training, but his performance has been consistently dreadful. What would be financial penalty be for cutting him? If it is just $4mil sign me up.
I do not understand why our media does not get on him as much as they did with Mench or Nix.

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Now I know I haven't been a Botts fan

but I would be more than willing to sacrifice Wilkerson's spot in the lineup for Botts. I've been pretty outspoken about how skeptical I am of his performance so far in the major leagues, however I get tired of Wilkerson constantly striking out. I'm sincerely hoping that his strikeouts will go down this year.

by aggierangerfan00 on Mar 26, 2007 12:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wilk

If you want to cut Wilk based it on ST, here are his stats and someone else's.

Wilk .227/.320/.341
X .265/.306/.353

Do you think we should just cut both of them?

I'll admit that I've been about as supportive of Wilk as AJM, mostly because the Rangers needed to get rid of Soriano (if you predicted Soriano's 2006 season, congrats to you). I'll agree that Wilk needs to improve this season, but there's no reason on earth to cut him for nothing.

Texas Rangers: baby step to 2007. Baby step to 2007.

by WyoRanger on Mar 26, 2007 1:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

HAHAHA

Please tell me this is Tex's line. That is unbelievable. (Note: I believe Tex needs to improve this season). However, Tex has proven to be one of the best first baseman in baseball. Wilkerson on the other hand has proven to be one of the best hitters (for pitchers to face) in baseball.
If he makes this team I will most likely move forward on my Wilkerson T-shirt design from last year. The one with a backwards K in the Superman symbol. With his number on the back. I will then try and buy the first row of LF and heckle him. The thought of him walking up to the plate during our home opener will force me to the concourse to buy 2 beers right after I vomit.

by DIESCTBRS on Mar 26, 2007 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you are a true fan

now, where are the people that will heckle this guy?

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 26, 2007 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am a true fan

I love the Rangers and will even make a formal apology on a diary if he can complete a full season and have a line similar to his '04 season (.255/.498/.374). I have never booed a Ranger and will continue to silence myself in the stadium when Wilkerson walks out on to the field. I just want to know why most people here continue to show support for him.

by DIESCTBRS on Mar 26, 2007 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so

"I will then try and buy the first row of LF and heckle him."

that was in jest?

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 26, 2007 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

In my dream world it would be funny to see someone like myself sitting alone in the first row wearing that shirt and making my hatred known to good ole' number 6

by DIESCTBRS on Mar 26, 2007 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats the difference

in my dream world if i saw someone doing that in the first row my instinct would be to throw my beer at them.

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 26, 2007 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know he played for Montreal/Washington

so nobody ever saw him play, but c'mon. Wilkerson was a quality player from 2002-2005. Saying he's "proven himself to be one of the" worst hitters is totally disingenuous.

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:) - Obligatory smiley showing I don't mean whatever mean
spiritedness is likely contained in the preceding post

by jtts on Mar 26, 2007 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I never said he was the worst hitter in baseball. My comment was used for pure comedic value. He truly do not see why he deserves to make this team.

by DIESCTBRS on Mar 26, 2007 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

The last line was to read "I truly..."

by DIESCTBRS on Mar 26, 2007 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

because prior to last year when he had season

ending surgery he was one of the most underrated OFs in the league.

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:) - Obligatory smiley showing I don't mean whatever mean
spiritedness is likely contained in the preceding post

by jtts on Mar 26, 2007 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

That's Tex's line.

Texas Rangers: baby step to 2007. Baby step to 2007.

by WyoRanger on Mar 26, 2007 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

okay

I am not going to try and justify his presence. However, I think that Wilk was jerked around by Buck almost as much as Hank. He was injured and freaked out a little by the trade. I am willing to give him a shot based on the new clubhouse enviroment and his dedication to his off-season training. Now he needs to get his timing back. I don't care if he strikes out a bunch, as long as his walks and slugging % are up. Let's see how he does in the first 4-5 weeks and evaluate then. If he is failing, the Rangers actually have a bit of depth to make up for his shortcomings.

by jshcmp on Mar 26, 2007 1:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Heh ...

He's got a contract for 2007. Therefore is a Ranger. How about pulling for him to do as well as it's thought he is able?

"When you're riding in a time machine way far into the future, don't stick your elbow out the window, or it'll turn into a fossil."

by Ed Coffin on Mar 26, 2007 1:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That is ridiculous

We are paying A-Rod, should I cheer for him? Wilkerson does not deserve to make this team. Of everyone who will most likely make the 25 man roster he should have the shortest leash.

by DIESCTBRS on Mar 26, 2007 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If

Your primary interest is in getting rid of players you don't prefer, rather than winning games, I get the drift. I guess I understand that, and have called it football mentality or Cowboy mentality, expecting every single player in the local lineup to excel.

Just a hint. I'll use the example of the Big Red Machine of Cincinnati back in the'70's. There were five starters and maybe eleven guys on their 25 roster who were considered sort of famous for their team's accomplishments. But might not have made the roster of a few other MLB teams at the time. The four great position players and four adequate or better pitchers set the stage for the rest of that crew to appear to be excellent. Good, yes. Far short of excellent IMO. And I used to say things like why the he11 don't they have a better CF'er than Geronim (for example), even knowing he had a great arm and adequate range.

Wilkerson doens't get a pass because he had an onerous injury. It's an excuse, and he and I and you know that. He's better (even partly recovered, like now) than his apparent contribution.

Dang! I overspoke ... sorry for the long post.

"When you're riding in a time machine way far into the future, don't stick your elbow out the window, or it'll turn into a fossil."

by Ed Coffin on Mar 26, 2007 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course I will support him

but if he's not producing by May I may give up hope.

by aggierangerfan00 on Mar 26, 2007 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So,

much like Sosa, who just everyone seems to be pulling for?

"I think that Donald Rumsfeld will go down in history as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history" -- John McCain

by DJCahill on Mar 26, 2007 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

who's not pulling for him?

i think everyone wants him to do well. at one point, i think people were annoyed that he was handed a roster spot but he's obviously had a good spring and so now i think people want it to work.

Wilkerson is almost the exact opposite where he was handed a spot and has had a bad spring (like a few other regulars). I just think its silly to not support his roster spot without seeing him against regular season pitching.

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 26, 2007 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Bad spring

and a bad last 2 years.

"I think that Donald Rumsfeld will go down in history as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history" -- John McCain

by DJCahill on Mar 26, 2007 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

a year and half

and so apparently a good spring would have made you forget about wilkerson's last year and a half?

i wonder if wilkerson was aware that he was trying to impress people in march.

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 26, 2007 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What

I am not sure what you are trying to say on this one. Yes, Wilkerson should be trying to impress everyone. He could have started by lowering his strikeouts. His 10k's leads the team this spring. SHOCKING

by DIESCTBRS on Mar 26, 2007 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

most people try to work on specific things in march - not bomb away homers.

as for strikeouts - i don't think its all that crucial to his game to cut down strikeouts. keep it reasonable, yes, but in his 2004 good year he was 4th in strikeouts. he's always been a league leader.

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 26, 2007 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

I was under the impression that his high strikeout rate would be offset by the amount of walks he draws. Well those continue to decrease.

by DIESCTBRS on Mar 26, 2007 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

he got a decent amount of walks in ST. 2nd to Hank on the team. But I guess that number is too low to be of any value.

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 26, 2007 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A good spring

would give me more hope that he isn't still injured. I think he is gonna be injury prone, and I think there is a much better than zero chance he still isn't right after the surgery.

He has already proven that he will say he is healthy, whether he is or isn't.

"I think that Donald Rumsfeld will go down in history as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history" -- John McCain

by DJCahill on Mar 26, 2007 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no

i think he said multiple times he was injured last year but it wasn't a big deal. different than saying he's healthy.

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 26, 2007 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

he got a decent amount of walks in ST. 2nd to Hank on the team. But I guess that number is too low to be of any value.

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 26, 2007 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

wrong place

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Mar 26, 2007 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

for me, the line is that

he was on the roster last year and is still on the roster this year.

If Wilkerson were an NRI who would have to bump somebody off the 25/40 man roster to make the team I might feel a bit different.

To me, its more difficult for a guy to play his way off the 25 man roster than it is for a guy to play his way on the roster (That said, I think Sosa has played his way on).

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:) - Obligatory smiley showing I don't mean whatever mean
spiritedness is likely contained in the preceding post

by jtts on Mar 26, 2007 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You, as much as anyone,

Cahill should know the difference between healthy skpeticism and rooting against your own team. I don't think anyone here will say that they will root against Sosa if he makes the Rangers. We're just skeptical about his ST numbers, which is justifiable given his age, his performance of the last 3 seasons and his BA driven production so far.

by FirebatM3 on Mar 26, 2007 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs