New T.R. Sullivan mailbag up

by Adam J. Morris on Oct 7, 2008 10:30 AM CDT Comment 25 comments

Some discussion of Thomas Diamond, Eric Hurley and Matt Harrison, among others, along with responding to a question of whether Milton Bradley going to Arizona for Micah Owings would have been a good deal by opining that the Rangers were better off keeping Bradley (although it seems highly unlikely, to me, that the D-Backs would have been offering Owings for Bradley)...

0 recs | Comment 25 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Any of you see Diamond this year?

I remember reading some reports from some of his initial starts saying something about an improved breaking ball, but his control was off on many of his pitches. I know control typically takes a while after TJ… 2009 could be a make/break year for Mr. Diamond.

Out of anyone who saw him, do you think he’s got a shot of contributing either to our rotation or bullpen (more likely from his minor league peripherals IMO) either this year or next? He seems like the forgotten man…

If there were no rewards to reap,
no loving embrace to see me through this tedious path I've chosen here,
I certainly would've walked away by now... Be patient

by trident on Oct 7, 2008 10:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ugh...Galaragga.

Nice stomach punch at the end.

The response to the question about the possibility of signing Garland or Byrd is disconcerting. I understand not wanting to give out a 7 year/20 million plus contract, but not to be willing to go over 2 years?

Financial flexibility is great and all, but when the time comes, I expect Hicks to be willing to push the payroll up above $85 million.

by GhettoBear04 on Oct 7, 2008 11:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Who's spot do they block?

I do not like the idea of a Byrd/Garland signing because you can get these mid/back-rotation dudes every year through FA. Right now (before offseason action) we have to make a decision on 3 of (Harrison, Feldman, McCarthy, Hurley, Nippert), and at some point next season many of us expect to see Holland in that rotation. If you add another old, expensive donkey to that rotation some kids get blocked.

If we add a Cain/Grienke/Bonderman/Sanchez/(Marlin)/(Red Sock), that complicates the situation even more. I don’t really think you want to add another guy to the 40 that requires you to make a decision that could turn out like ANOTHER Galaragga.

If there were no rewards to reap,
no loving embrace to see me through this tedious path I've chosen here,
I certainly would've walked away by now... Be patient

by trident on Oct 7, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not saying I want those guys...

…I’m confused by why we aren’t interested in signing a pitcher to a deal for more than 2 years.

The guy I’d like to see them sign to a reasonable contract is Ben Sheets. He obviously has talent, pitched a full year this year before getting hurt, and isn’t old. He gets injured a lot, so the contract would have to include protection for that. If that’s possible, the seems like the best fit for what the Rangers are looking for. If/When he gets hurt, we have guys ready to move in for him.

It’s similar to me liking the idea of signing Milton Bradley to a one year deal (or deal that favors the Rangers) or picking up Hank’s option and playing them at DH. It’s a deal that favors the Rangers and it’s a spot that the Rangers have someone who ideally would come up in the middle of next year (MaxRam).

Basically, use your depth that’s almost ready to help manage risk on good but oft-injured players.

by GhettoBear04 on Oct 7, 2008 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ben Sheets

How would you define “reasonable contract” for him?

by Adam J. Morris on Oct 7, 2008 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ideally 3, but more likely 4 year deal

With IP minimums that allow the Rangers to opt out (for say 3-4 million) after years 2 and 3.

2009: 15 million
2010: 16 million
2011: 17 million, 3.5 million dollar buyout if 320 IP, 2 million if 200 IP
2012: 17 million, 3.5 million dollar buyout if 450 IP, 2 million if 300 IP

Headline would read: Sheets signs with Rangers for 4 years, $65 million.

by GhettoBear04 on Oct 7, 2008 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see any way he'd sign that

by Adam J. Morris on Oct 8, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

sheets

at this point i dont know if there is a reasonable contract with him given his arm problems again.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Oct 8, 2008 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Galaragga

don’t worry – that ROY is going to Longoria. I’m just glad Jacoby Elsbury isn’t going to win it due to his exceptional skills at wearing a Red Sox uniform.

by JBImaknee on Oct 7, 2008 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

and running fast

because lets face it

that 89 ops+ is worthy of ROY because he wears a redsox uni

…and he has the good face!

"I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write." - Newt Gingrich

by knockoutking on Oct 7, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why not...

Arizona gave up Dallas Buck and 2 PTBNL, one is supposedly Owings, for Adan Dunn. And I think that Bradley is a way supperior player than Dunn and at the time he (Bradley) was palying a lot more than he did down the stretch.

by sftxfan on Oct 7, 2008 11:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well

I think Bradley being better than Dunn is arguable – while Bradley’s stats were better last year, Dunn has a stronger track record.

Dunn also can play the field (not great, but he’s okay), whereas Bradley was fairly locked into DH by the end of the season. A healthy Bradley is far better than Dunn defensively, but he was pretty banged up by the end of the season – its arguable that he could have played as many games in the NL.

I’m also not certain, but I would think it is more likely that Dunn will be a Type A free agent than Bradley.

by JBImaknee on Oct 7, 2008 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dunn is

a fairly crappy fielder. I think there is a very good chance that Bradley will be a better defender in his 2nd year off knee surgery.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Oct 7, 2008 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe

but it doesn’t change that if Bradley had to play the field he probably physically couldn’t play more than 50% of the games. DH’ing at the end of the season allowed Bradley to be in the lineup.

by JBImaknee on Oct 7, 2008 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The more I think about it

The more I’m inclined to want Bradley back as a middle of the order DH for a couple of years. He did one of the most difficult things in baseball, be a ‘pivot point’ between OBP guys and power hitters down in the order with his high OBP and SLG. And is of course a switch hitter.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Oct 7, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because there's no DH in the N.L.

by Adam J. Morris on Oct 7, 2008 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep...

…it will be interesting to see how the market plays out for Milton. My prediction has changed greatly in the last 6 weeks or so.

At this point I don’t see any NL teams factoring in, I don’t see any AL teams without significant DH at-bats available factoring in, nor do I see anyone going beyond either a 2-yr deal or a 2-yr+option type contract.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Oct 7, 2008 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

are you kidding me?

Do you think the Rangers could strike a deal for Justin Verlander during the offseason, considering his value may be down? The Tigers could use a third outfielder and a catcher. Maybe we could give up David Murphy and Jarrod Saltalamacchia for Verlander.
— Paul B., Dallas

Now that’s being aggressive. If the Tigers even hint of moving Verlander — doubtful at best — the Rangers need to be on the phone. Murphy and Saltalamacchia would be a good start, but the Rangers would likely have to add young pitching to the deal.

"I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write." - Newt Gingrich

by knockoutking on Oct 7, 2008 12:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If Detroit were to even consider that

I would feel so sorry for their fans: first the Lions, and now the Tigers. Pretty much the only thing the ywould have left would be the Red Wings because the Pistons arent going to as good as theyve been

In reference to how good the Steelers have been in their history: "No one is even close to them."- Steal Home

by hinduplaya on Oct 7, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe if they hire Matt Millen...

…the Tigers would consider such a trade.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Oct 7, 2008 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's just another ridiculous trade proposal.

Are you guys surprised? It’s the TR Sullivan mailbag! He loves to publish those!

My Music Blog

by FuturePants on Oct 7, 2008 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah at least TR acknowledged that...

…that would just be a start to the necessary offer for Verlander.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Oct 7, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

ZING!

In reference to how good the Steelers have been in their history: "No one is even close to them."- Steal Home

by hinduplaya on Oct 7, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If

Matt Millen took over the Tigers he would start drafting wide receivers every year

by BEW on Oct 8, 2008 7:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tom, please just stop talking

He said when he bought the team in 1995 he was looking to make a three-year flip of a “distressed property” and acknowledged there was a time when he was interested in selling the Stars. But Hicks said now he does not see a sale of the Stars at any time in the near future.

“If I could have gotten value, I would have, but I’m happy it didn’t work out that way,” Hicks said. “That window came and went, and it’s worth a lot more today than it was then. It’s been a good investment, and we all feel good about hockey here.”

by Brett Perryman on Oct 8, 2008 1:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs