Rangers in 08

by jrams33 on Jun 15, 2007 12:40 AM CDT Comment 33 comments

So as I've been following the conversation about how sorry the Rangers are and how they won't be competetive for another 2 or 3 years, I decided to look at what we do have for next year and I am not as discouraged about '08 as before.

I look at our starting pitching which has been atrocious and I think some changes need to be made. So with the understanding that the powers that be must look at Connors and Laird, I can't help but feel hopeful with Millwood, McCarthy, Tejeda and Hurley that next years staff can fulfill the expectations we had for them at the beginning of the season. If you add a guy like Lester, Buchholz, or Hughes to that, wonderful. Padilla and to some degree Tejeda are wearing thin with me, and I really only want to have one if either of them on our staff next year. One nutcase is enough.

Now our OF is still poor but if we can procure Ellsbury, and fit him in with Diaz and someone else like Dunn, then we might have the seeds of something good out there. I will say I am leary of FA signings for awhile, so I am on the fence about Dunn or Hunter, so if not those guys then the best guy in ST (wouldn't mind it being Cruz or Byrd because then at least we would have a plus outfield defensively)

The IF is set except for 1B, and I don't know where we could go for that. It seems irrational that a guy as athletic as Botts could not pull off a serviceable 1B, because unless his "newly shortened" swing is the real deal and he knocks the cover off the ball the 2nd half of this season, I don't feel he is the answer at DH, and I think if he wants to be a starter for us, he has to learn what the leather on his off hand is for.

Across the board we are below average in the infield defensively, but my hope is that with Blalock and Kinz taking to some of Wash's ideas, we might be able to improve the unit so our groundball pitchers have more confidence with the guys behind them.

The bullpen will be a strength even if we lose Aki along with Gagne, and if FF gets the chance to take that closers role we could see a group that doesn't skip a beat from this year to next.

We have a team next year, and though I don't think we will win the division unless things go just right, I believe that this team can finish above .500.

Finally, we have SOOOOOO many guys who are underachieving this year and most will either gain from experience (Kinz, Laird, McCarthy, Tejeda, Diaz) or won't decline significantly but instead should bounce back (Milly, Blalock, Cat, Padilla) so I think that building for 2009 is what we need to be doing, but having a fire sale for everything not bolted to the floor is foolish.

Oh and don't fire Daniels. Give Wash another year and give him his choice of staff.

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2008

I agree, this team is not bound for multiple terrible seasons. Millwood, even though he looks about the same age as Schilling, is just 32yo. His turning things around is the most important piece to the Rangers puzzle. At this point, if Padilla could just put up #5 numbers, I'd be thrilled - we can't give up on the guy, he's under contract through 2009.
If we do trade Tex, his numbers have to be replaced somewhere. But, I wouldn't expect us to be aggressive in the FA market next year.

by Randy Richardson on Jun 15, 2007 12:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I expect us to sign

a CF, unless we decide Marlon Byrd is an answer there.

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 15, 2007 12:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

cf

yeah, I expect we'll have to sign or trade for a CF. But, I don't expect us to be in the Andruw Jones/Torii Hunter sweepstakes.

by Randy Richardson on Jun 15, 2007 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup

But we might be players on Rowand or Corey Patterson.

Both are good defenders, which we badly need.

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 15, 2007 1:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Cameron...

Is a guy I could see us going after. From watching him the other day, it still looks like he can play a mean center. His bat aint too shabby either. I really don't see Hunter as that much better unless he continues his torrid pace at bat.

by slimshadty12 on Jun 15, 2007 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Corey Patterson ?

I just threw up in my mouth a little. That guy is absolutely terrible.

Career .253/.294/.410

2007 .208/.264/.286

by tricer on Jun 15, 2007 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

threw up

that phrase needs to be retired. Not picking on you, but there are several on this site that seem to use it daily.

by t ball on Jun 15, 2007 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you're right...

...after I wrote that, I saw a couple other places where it had been used. So allow me to rephrase...

...The idea of Corey Patterson playing for the Rangers made me shit on myself.

by tricer on Jun 15, 2007 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you too?

we'd be better off resigning 40 year old lofton for one more year

by Randy Richardson on Jun 15, 2007 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

shitting vs. throwing up

Hmmm...let's just go back to punching babies or something like that.

by t ball on Jun 15, 2007 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My thinking:

He's been horrible this year (beyond horrible, actually), but he's got a ton of talent. He was Dusty Baker's whipping boy in Chicago, and that may have permanently damaged him. But maybe he can be salvaged. He did ops .750+ last year, his gap power seems like it would be a fit here at the rbia, he'll likely come cheap after this season (a huge plus for us), he likely won't command a risky long term contract, he's only 28 so there's reason to believe he could still get better (as opposed to the other FA OF's, who are all older and in the declining part of their careers), and he's a fast plus-defensive CF with a strong arm... something we really need here.

He's not someone I'd spend much money on, but assuming we want to stay out of the Hunter/Ichiro/Andruw sweepstakes, I think I'd be okay with CP playing CF and batting 8th for us next year.

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 15, 2007 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Patterson

it's intriguing from a value perspective, because like you said, he'll be relatively inexpensive. But, the way our team is set up, we pretty much need the CF to leadoff, and he obviously can't because he doesn't get on base enough.

by Randy Richardson on Jun 15, 2007 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cat can lead off

versus righties. Kinsler versus lefties.

There really aren't any leadoff type CF's available this winter.

Ichiro is out of our price range. Andruw and Hunter are more power hitters.

I guess Rowand or Cameron could lead off if you wanted.

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 16, 2007 12:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

leadoff

that's an OK option, doesn't get me real excited. I really like Rowand, but I hear the White Sox are determined to get him back. It might not be glamorous, but resigning Lofton for another year is a solid option.

by Randy Richardson on Jun 16, 2007 1:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

CF defense

Well, I am a huge proponent of filling CF with a plus defender with a good arm. So I guess I couldn't complain tooo much about bringing him in for real cheap if his defense is as good as you say.

If we went that route and signed CP for CF, then we would really need to get some good production out of the OF corners and DH. Hopefully Botts will seize the DH spot, which would leave Catt in LF (yuck), and we would need a plus bat for RF. And probably a replacement for Teix.

Also, after looking at the FA for this upcoming offseason there is virtually no talented 1B that will be available. Sean Casey is about the only 1B starter, so that vacancy will really need to be filled via some of the trading this midseason.

I guess after we see what trade acquisitions are made, it will be easier to start filling in some of the blanks.

by tricer on Jun 16, 2007 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about someboy like Byrnes?

by tklawless on Jun 16, 2007 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meh

Some issues:

Dunn isn't a FA after this year, so signing him won't be an option.
You think Botts will hit enough for 1b, but not enough for DH? That's odd. Those positions are usually considered pretty equal in terms of expected offensive production.

But I think the main thing about next year is that we have no idea what we'll need, cause we have no idea if we'll keep Tex, or what we'll get back in return if we deal him.

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 15, 2007 12:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

ahh

I do remember that being said about Dunn. It slipped my mind.

I guess what I mean by the 1B/ DH distinction is that it is tough to watch Cat/ Sosa/ Wilk lightly tap to the pitcher, fly out to short Center, and then strike out looking and sit on the bench for the rest of the game.

That sounds like what Botts needs to do for awhile this year and I am fine with that as we are chalking this one up already, but it has always been reassuring even when Tex has been strugglin from the plate that he is the best 1B in the field. It makes those 0-4 nights more palatable I guess.

As far as traditionally they are about the same, I didn't know that. If Botts could develop something of a glove it just gives us more options, instead of being forced to put him in the DH spot if he is going to play at all. I hope he comes up and its not an issue, but he is going to have to really hit well for that to be the case.

I am admitting that right now, thinking about Botts being our everyday Dh next year does kill the buzz I was working up after thinking about next year, because we are depending on more from him than what I feel he can deliver.

"Excuse me while I go ice my balls and puke up blood....Team player!" -Vince Vaughan after falling victim to the LSB's latest knee jerk reaction

by jrams33 on Jun 15, 2007 1:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dunn

I believe Dunn has a clause in his contract that makes him a FA after this year if he is traded.

by Randy Richardson on Jun 15, 2007 1:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

But my assumption is that if someone's willing to give Cincy a package good enough to land Dunn, they're probably going to like him enough to extend him.

I'm officially on the bandwagon: FIRE JOHN DANIELS!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 15, 2007 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We are not

getting Lester and Ellsbury for Tex. And Dunn sucks in the field. He is destined for DH, wherever he goes.
I love the optimism I keep seeing in the posts, but the reality is going to be far different. That said, what we collect in possible trades could be pretty good if JD plays his cards right.

by stltxfan on Jun 15, 2007 1:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

im 100% ok with that

with putting dunn at DH.

throw diaz, CF FA, botts/byrd/wilk/cruz/whoever else out there

by knockoutking24 on Jun 15, 2007 2:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's the spirit!

be positive. the rangers could end up with a miracle turnaround.

Al Gore 2008 http://www.myspace.com/igotsculture

by gossamer on Jun 15, 2007 2:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So

If we get Ellsbury, Dunn, a new Catcher, a new pitching coach, and Botts, we're golden?

Mitt Romney should "get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn" -- Sen John McCain

by DJCahill on Jun 15, 2007 5:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

haha

and if all of them, plus the rest of our guys make improvements from this year and we get the COF position figured out...yes it will happen

"Excuse me while I go ice my balls and puke up blood....Team player!" -Vince Vaughan after falling victim to the LSB's latest knee jerk reaction

by jrams33 on Jun 15, 2007 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

i don't like how the starting rotation is addressed with a new pitching coach. can we pleeeease trade millwood. apparently we should have traded him 3 weeks ago when it wasn't quite so obvious to everyone he was going to start sucking from here on out.

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jun 15, 2007 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would be

selling low and that's not a very smart way to build a club.

by t ball on Jun 15, 2007 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

adam thought we coudl get a jason jennings package for millwood. i would take that in a heartbeat.

main problem i have is that its a big contract for a #3 pitcher (at best) and apparently he's clogging up rotation spots. If you want to give a slot to mccarthy, tejeda, and padilla, I'd rather free up a spot for a FA/trade acquisition (like lester) by trading a fairly big name. And that 5th spot has all sorts of suitors in '08 (Loe, Hurley).

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jun 15, 2007 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wha?

Where did anyone say we could get a Jason Jennings package for Millwood?

Does that really make sense to you, dude? I mean, have you looked at Millwood's numbers, latest quotes in the paper, and contract?

Even if you have, take one more glance at all that...

by hightowersmith on Jun 15, 2007 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

adam did

about three or four weeks ago. so, yeah, his latest butchery is obviously going to affect it. But really, if you thought you were going to get a jason jennings package, then three weeks really shouldn't dissuade a team from giving you something similar barring a catastrophic injury.

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jun 15, 2007 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i mean

I really didn't believe him, but I don't think Jennings is all that much better than Millwood anyway so i accepted it.

Forget Johnny Bench, we got Gerry "the Jet" Laird

by ab03 on Jun 15, 2007 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice try guys

but fact of the matter is this isn't like Playstation where we can just go out and acquire guys whenever we want to. More than likely next offseason is going to be the same as every other one, where we are tempted by several big name players, but in the end we are all disappointed.

The #1 Passive Texas Rangers Fan

by aggierangerfan00 on Jun 15, 2007 2:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't be disappointed...

...if we didn't sign a single FA that requires draft pick compensation.

I don't see any point in giving out large, long term contracts and giving away draft picks in an effort to build a team that has a ceiling of mediocrity.

by tricer on Jun 15, 2007 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs