April 2006 vs April 2007 (and more)

by WhipSmart on May 1, 2007 4:07 AM CDT

So we are now 25 games into the 2007 season. That is roughly 15% of the 162 games that will be played. The Rangers are 10-15, five games below .500. Last year through 25 games (also ending 4/30), the Rangers were 13-12. Just two days earlier, they had been 11-12 and they would not be below .500 again until the end of July.

The 2007 squad is already 5 games below .500 (or 2.5 depending on how you figure). The only time the 2006 team was in that same position was when they were 2-7 through the first 9 games. They never fell that far again (they were 6 games above .500 on June 18 at 38-32, the best W-L difference they would have that year) and lost the last two games of the season to end at 80-82.

I am the eternal optimist when it comes to my teams. I always believe they can pull it out and come from behind and that miracles happen. But at what point do comparisons like this stop becoming knee-jerk and turn into being a real worry?

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The only important number

is 4.5 games back. How this team did last year is irrelevent.

The only thing about the slow start that is particularly relevant is how slow some of the individual players are starting. The only reasons I can see not to assume they will come around is if you believe the individuals who are starting slow are injured, or if you believe that some of those who are starting slow have just gone off HGH or other PEDs due to the stories on JHJ or GMJ.

"The challenge we face today is not how to win in Iraq; it is how to recover from a strategic mistake: invading Iraq in the first place,"--ret Lt. Gen. Odom

by DJCahill on May 1, 2007 4:57 AM CDT 0 recs

I'd have to agree................

MYoung & Tex have got to start carrying this team........if they are to get back to their previous #'s, they could hit .400 over the next month.......seems like Laird (up from .098) might be coming around. If Wilk, Cruz, Blalock, Lofton just improve slightly (10-12 pts.) the offense would be OK.

Granted, my boy BMac needs to get his shit together and quick! But Padilla threw well last night and Millwood usually heats up with the weather.

Question? Are the Ranger's just jinxed, or are they really that bad with pitcher's? Some of you (most) didn't like the Danks/McCarthy deal, but did you really think BMac would suck this bad?

by tklawless on May 1, 2007 9:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

Its the pitching!

Yeah everyone can see the struggles of MY, Tex etc. but the real problem on this team is the pitching. I believe the bats will heat up. I still doubt the pitching will gel this year though I do like the rotation.

Pitching stats of note. Padilla and Millwood are not averaging six innings per start. 35 and 33.2 IP respectively through 6 starts. Not to mention both ERA's, 5.66 and 5.88 respectively. Not the solid #1 and #2 we had hoped for/expected. Add to the struggles of the top 2 the struggles of BMac and the rotation looks bad.

On the plus side Tejeda is off to a great start. 30.2 IP through 5 starts and an ERA of 3.82. I always love a SP with an ERA under 4.00 and can average 6 IP per start.

The funny thing about the pitching this year is they are not giving up the long ball only 35 HR's through 31 games. They are also not walkng a bunch only 3.4 per start with 106 BB through 31 games. Their problem is they are just getting hit giving up as a team: .272 BAA and a 1.56 WHIP.

My view is continue to through the same rotation out there until someone gets hurt. Plan ahead for next year and beyond. Millwood and Padilla are established professionals and will have better runs in the future. Loe, BMac, and Tejeda need the experience of getting 25 - 30 starts in one year at this level. May not translate to a great 07 season but will let us know what we really have with these three talented guys.

by Bigfan16 on May 1, 2007 10:04 AM CDT 0 recs

Here we go again...

I can't seem to say this enough. The hand wringing one month into the season smacks of desperation. Give BMac the frigging ball all year(unless he is hurt), and leave him alone. Just because he is struggling doesn't mean he needs more work in the minors. He must learn how to swim in the deep-end of the pool. IMO, this is where the team goes wrong with pitching. Let me write this again. Detroit stuggled an entire year with most of their starters. Obviously, the pitchers eventually got it as they were in the WS last year. If BMac or any pitcher feel the desperation of the franchise, performance can be effected. Everyone chill (you too JD), and give the guy a year to figure it out.

by Parman on May 1, 2007 10:34 AM CDT 0 recs

Did McCarthy just "forget" how to pitch?

Did the Ranger's screw him up? is he trying too hard to justify the trade? or is he hurt?

Here are his stats after being brought up in August of 2005, in a pennant race:

ERA W L G GS Inngs H R ER HR BB KO avg.
1.69 3 1 7 5 43.2 31 8 8 5 8 31 .201

Even last year, mostly out of the 'pen, he had an ERA around 4.50........all I'm asking is WTF?

by tklawless on May 1, 2007 11:03 AM CDT 0 recs

blown chances

The Rangers have had many chances this April to get ahead of the A's and Angels while they deal with multiple injuries. Their play against AL West foes has been terrible, and no matter what they do against the rest of the league they can't win the west if that keeps up.

by t ball on May 1, 2007 11:26 AM CDT 0 recs

Dallas Sucks

I'm even more of an eternal optimist - I always think the Cowboys will make it back to the Super Bowl, I thought the Mavs had it all last year and this year, I thought the Stars would play decent regular season hockey and for a change turn it ON in the playoffs, I thought the Aggies would squash Memphis and Cal in their respective post-season competition, and I thought the Rangers would at least look promising.

I realize I am involved in an epidemic now - Dallas sports are misleading, they suck, I give up, and they don't deserve my attention anymore. It's Sopranos all the time for me now, until I get caught up, then I'll re-visit the situation...if I have to move into a cave and grow out a giant beard, so be it, I will not endure this crap anymore!!!

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on May 1, 2007 5:31 PM CDT 0 recs