Wednesday a.m. stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 1, 2008 9:25 AM CDT
29 comments
Hell of a game yesterday. John Danks was terrific. And the ChiSox, who I lampooned for acting like they were thisclose to being a contender when they were so bad last year, are the AL Central champs.
Evan Grant runs down the leading issues for the Rangers to address this offseason, with the coaching staff and the Hank Blalock option (which a decision must be made on by the 10th day following the World Series) the most pressing. Rick Peterson is mentioned as someone who the Rangers have interest in, while the Rangers have contacted Perry Hill as an infield coach (and probably first or third base coach).
Grant also mentions that Blalock, if he comes back, won't be playing third base, and that the Rangers aren't going to give Milton Bradley a multi-year deal, which could mean that Blalock is the DH next year. Grant also indicates that the Rangers need to find a cleanup hitter, but given that the only real hole in the lineup is at third base right now, and given that there are no 3B/cleanup types available out there, I imagine they'll have to address this internally, be it with Blalock, Nelson Cruz, Marlon Byrd, or someone else.
Gil LeBreton says the Rangers need to be smarter, not necessarily spend more money, and that they've got the talent on hand to be able to succeed without a $100+ million payroll if they just utilize it right.
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And the ChiSox, who I lampooned for acting like they were thisclose to being a contender when they were so bad last year
You and me both.
I’m disappointed they won’t offer Milton a multi-year deal. I would be thrilled with a reasonable two year deal.
I am the motherfucking shore patrol, motherfucker! I am the motherfucking shore patrol! Give this man a beer.
by TheBZA on Oct 1, 2008 9:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The White Sox win
because they have so much intensity in Ozzy Guillen, Nick Swisher, and AJ Pierzynski.
Wish we had players like that.
"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky
by DJCahill on Oct 1, 2008 9:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe.
…so much intensity in Ozzy Guillen, Nick Swisher, and AJ Pierzynski.
So much intensity? Yes.
So much douchebaggery? Also yes.
"One man, five scoops." -- shroomer
by ghtd36 on Oct 1, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
did anyone see
Pierzynski after that play at the plate last night? He ran up to whoever the runner was after the play and pretty much crammed the ball in his face. I can’t wait until that guy gets a judo chop to the neck by someone who’s sick of his shit.
"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"
by Bob Loblaw on Oct 1, 2008 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One of the few times I openly rooted for the Cubs.
"One man, five scoops." -- shroomer
by ghtd36 on Oct 1, 2008 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pierzynski
If he plays on the other team, you hate him. If he plays on your team, you hate him a little less.
by Inkara1 on Oct 1, 2008 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Casey Blake
How about Casey Blake for 3B? He’s played there before and hits lefties better then righties. He’s unfortunately 35, but if he’s willing to take a 2 year deal I think the Rangers should look into signing him.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Oct 1, 2008 10:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Inge
I also think the Rangers should look into trading a catcher for Inge if they can’t get a decent pitcher instead. Inge would play 3B for the Rangers and the Tigers get a long term solution at catcher to replace Pudge. Note I’m not familiar with the Tigers so I don’t know if they don’t already have someone in mind for a catcher of the future. This wouldn’t be plan A obviously (or even plan B or C)
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Oct 1, 2008 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Inge
I wouldn’t give up Chad Tracy for Brandon Inge, much less one of the 4 major league catchers.
He’s not good and has a bad contract.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 1, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OPS
You know I hadn’t checked on Inge’s stats until you said that. For some reason I was thinking of the .776 OPS Inge of 2006 not the sub .700 OPS of the past 2 years.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Oct 1, 2008 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rob Neyer did the same thing recently
From his column yesterday:
I’m afraid I have to admit that when I recently wrote about Inge, I didn’t realize just how awful he’s been this season. One of the reasons the Tigers were supposed to be good this season was that they were getting Inge out of the lineup; last year, coming off three pretty good seasons, he batted .236/.312/.376, numbers that work only for a solid catcher or shortstop. Still, those three pretty good seasons earned him another shot this year.
Frankly, he blew it: .205/.303/.369. Now he’s got two straight terrible seasons (for a noncatcher) and he turns 32 next spring. Meanwhile, the Tigers are supposedly committed to playing Inge every day at third base, and hoping he hits again. Stranger things have happened.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 1, 2008 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sox
It kills me that they won, I can’t stand them. But if the Rays weren’t doing so well I think they’d be a bigger story, as so many picked Cleveland and Minnesota ahead of them.
In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.
by t ball on Oct 1, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Detroit
"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama
by DaheelzCM on Oct 1, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
White Sox
I really wouldn’t mind seeing Danks turn the corner into an elite pitcher. I hope they last long enough for a couple more of his starts.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Oct 1, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow
Looks like I am in good company.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Oct 1, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of Tigers (or Ex-Tigers)
wasn’t Pudge on one of those worst bang for the buck lists this year?
"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky
by DJCahill on Oct 1, 2008 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
36 year old catchers
with that much use are like dogs that chase cars.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Oct 1, 2008 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock at DH
Grant seems convinced they’ll exercise that option. Does that mean they trade him in the offseason or keep him? I suppose they could keep him and try to deal him next summer, pretty much guaranteeing that Max is in AAA. Pluses and minuses to those ideas I guess. I am extremely skeptical, however, that Blalock will remain healthy and hitting well for any length of time. Pretty risky even if the $6 million isn’t a huge amount of money. I’d prefer they deal him for something of decent value, even if that means picking up some of the $6M tab.
In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.
by t ball on Oct 1, 2008 10:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Him being the DH for 6 mil is a better bet for me than Milton on a multi year deal.
I think it sucks that Blalock has such a bad injury history. That at any moment he could break his cheek bone and be out for three months. At least he being the DH would give him a lesser chance to injure himself. Max in AAA is a great protection plan.
The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ
by NYTXFAN on Oct 1, 2008 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cleanup hitter...
If Byrd is not traded and Wash hits him cleanup everyday next year I may lose it.
I don’t think Board Game will be back, and I don’t see the Rangers adding a big RH bat, so Cruz would be my choice to hit behind Josh to start the year.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Oct 1, 2008 5:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Davis?
Is Chris Davis not a viable option at clean-up? I have no idea what you do with Blalock, but I would think Davis is a better clean-up option than Blalock.
Ephesians 1:3-10
by kwellborn on Oct 1, 2008 9:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
My guess...
…is that they aren’t going to want to have two lefties hitting 3-4.
It would be even worse if Blalock is back, and you’d have Hamilton-Davis-Blalock (or Blalock-Davis) going 3-4-5. That would be bad.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 1, 2008 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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