Friday a.m. things

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 29, 2007 8:30 AM CDT in News

The Rangers are heading to Boston for a 4 game set, after winning a series in Detroit...

Evan Grant talks about Scott Feldman's struggles, and his sudden inability to throw strikes, something that historically hasn't been an issue for him.

Grant also says that Kinsler's injury is a strained arch, not a sprained ankle, but the recovery time is still uncertain.

Jan Hubbard writes that the Rangers are feeling good about taking 2 of 3 in Detroit...

On the trade front, the New York Times says the Yankees aren't really in on Mark Teixeira, not wanting to pay the price in terms of prospects it will take to get him.

And New York Newsday says the Yankees have inquired about Eric Gagne and Akinori Otsuka.

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Hopefully Kinsler's injury doesn't linger

One of the few things of interest in the remaining season is how he develops both offensively and defensively.

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

by DJCahill on Jun 29, 2007 9:21 AM CDT reply actions

Meh.

I'm sure Sosa could step in and play second.

by Athos on Jun 29, 2007 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions

sosa

we should let him pitch too

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 29, 2007 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I am very, very hesitant to jump on the Connor scapegoating bandwagon, but it makes me a bit nervous when he can't figure out why someone like Feldman isn't throwing strikes. He hasn't seemed to help Loe or Tejeda either, though of course we have no idea what he's telling them and if they're making an effort to implement his tutelage.

But no matter what he's saying, if the pitchers aren't responding and improving, at some point don't you start to ask if he should be replaced? The guy certainly has a long track record, but maybe Wash should have his own guy in there.

by t ball on Jun 29, 2007 10:21 AM CDT reply actions

yup

I'm not sure if he's the problem or not but with the horrid pitching this season the pitching coach position certainly needs to be reviewed.

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 29, 2007 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions

pitching coach

the way i see it, when you are having a bad season, everybody wants a scapegoat and whether its logical or not, they seem to provide a boost.

Rather than fire somebody like Ron Washington or Jon Daniels, which would be detrimental because of the instability it would cause, doesn't it make sense to fire somebody like Mark Connors? He's the old guard, have never heard of any pitcher say anything good about him. Seems like players would just get a short term boost out from getting a different view of how to bitch.

I can't see the downside, unless firing a pitching coach mid season causes more instability than I am aware of.

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

by ab03 on Jun 29, 2007 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

another thing

bullpen coach chiti is a longtime john hart guy, going waaay back.
Now, the bullpen is doing really well, so it might not make sense to can him... but wouldnt it help longterm to get rid of all ties to the hart/showalter regime as far as coaching goes at least?

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jun 29, 2007 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Politics

Those Hart loyalties are over-rated in this area.

To a skill level coach, the games and players dictate the focus. The GM job is very political. All executive jobs too, even scouting. But good pitching coaches, hitting coaches, you're buying their approach/philosophy/personality. Not the fact that John Hart believed in them or some other exec.

My opinion. Obviously.

by 3Bagger on Jun 29, 2007 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

agreed

If this was one SP not doing well I'd be quick to absolve Connor. But it's not just one guy. Whether Padilla's been pitching hurt all year or not, the yo-yo performances of Tejeda, McCarthy and Loe show that he's not doing an effective job.

I don't know if it's Connor who worked with benoit to get him to start getting his stuff to finally work, but him and CJ have been the only question marks in that bullpen that have put it all together this year. I agree, though, that philosophies can clash and Wash probably needs to get someone in who he's either worked with in Oakland or has the same mentality as him...you know that philosophy of "Just throw strikes"...

by HypoLuxa on Jun 29, 2007 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd replace Connor at the end of the season...

IF the starting pitching doesnt get it together by then...I wouldnt put too much credence in Hawkins fixing Loes arm slot.. if Hawkins is that.great why wouldnt he have fixed Feldman..who keeps coming back in worse shape then he left..
although i do have to admit that it seems very mysterious that every time Connor visits the mound the pitcher seems to get hit even harder..
you can't blame him for the starting pitching woes and not give him credit for the relief
staff which is doing a great job..you cant have it both ways

GayRangerFan

by RangerDisaster on Jun 29, 2007 12:52 PM CDT reply actions

Is it harder for a pitcher or pitching coach

to try to coach a side-arm pitcher like Feldman? It would make sense to me that a regular pitcher would have trouble helping mechanical problems for a guy like that, just like Connors or Hawkins would have trouble helping a knuckleballer. I could be way off but it was just a thought.

"I'm an aggressive guy, I'm not a guy who's going to go up there and swing like a girl." - Sammy Sosa

by cgolden on Jun 29, 2007 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions