New T.R. Sullivan mailbag up

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 17, 2008 11:32 PM CST

A lot of stuff in there, with the most interesting the suggestion that the BoSox and Rangers are just playing a game of chicken with the Ranger catcher/Red Sox pitcher swap, seeing who will blink first.

Also, another mention that the Rangers would want more for Gerald Laird than for Max Ramirez...

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Not that I take anything TR Sullivan says in his mailbags seriously

By why do the Rangers seem so low on MaxRam? Do they really think he’s incapable of playing the position? Or is this just more of a TR-fart than fact?

"I would say that our gaping hole isn’t nearly as gaping as the A’s hole [was] or Mariner’s would be." - tyd3311

by LSJ on Nov 17, 2008 11:38 PM CST reply actions

That is a question I have as well..

I mean watching him last year he didnt look like teagarden behind the plate but he certainly didnt look like Mike Piazza behind it either. Just by sight, I would personally rate him above Salty defensively. And i think his bat is going to be something special. I am hoping for a Teagarden/Ramirez tandem

by Michael Cave on Nov 18, 2008 8:01 AM CST up reply actions

Don't pay attention

to his ridiculous mailbag

by Mike E on Nov 17, 2008 11:40 PM CST reply actions

we want Evan Grant mail bag

I think .. maybe ;)

A Texas Designer's Map of the World

by hurlerhurley on Nov 18, 2008 12:11 AM CST up reply actions

damn right

we are Not getting rid of Laird ass. I’ve been trying to say that Laird and TT we should not deal. Hell, I’m all for trading Max and Salty. But you trade Laird and TT and we could be seriously screwed

A Texas Designer's Map of the World

by hurlerhurley on Nov 17, 2008 11:50 PM CST reply actions

But

If you keep both of them then Teagarden is most likely the backup as Laird has said he does not want to split time. Having Teagarden as a backup is a waste of talent.

by Michael Cave on Nov 18, 2008 8:02 AM CST up reply actions

not a big deal.

We are talking 10-15 games difference in how many games Teagarden will start in the first half of ‘09 depending on whether we trade Salty in the offseason and Laird mid-season ’09, or vica versa. Not a big deal. And yes, I am on board with Teagarden and Ramirez as our catchers assuming Ramirez’s half year in AAA next year doesn’t totally squelch that.

by Dalman on Nov 18, 2008 10:08 AM CST up reply actions

Of course we want more for

Gerald Laird than for Max Ramirez

A Texas Designer's Map of the World

by hurlerhurley on Nov 17, 2008 11:52 PM CST reply actions

Ridiculous

Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither.

by Brian Thomas on Nov 19, 2008 9:36 AM CST up reply actions

in an ideal world (for the Rangers)

Varitek signs elsewhere (creating a need for a catcher in Boston)
the Red Sox sign Derek Lowe (giving the Sox more SP depth)
the Yankees only sign one starting pitcher and one of Mussina/Pettite retires
thus…
Salty for Buchholz
Padilla or Millwood for Phil Hughes

But we already know that all of this happening is highly unlikely.

by chrisR on Nov 17, 2008 11:52 PM CST reply actions

No matter

what happnes in any world, we are not getting Hughes for either Padilla or Millwood. I wish we could but we wont haha

by Michael Cave on Nov 18, 2008 8:03 AM CST up reply actions

I'm very serious about this

we better not trade trade Gerald Laird or Taylor Teagarden.

Lets put Max and Salty out there.

A Texas Designer's Map of the World

by hurlerhurley on Nov 17, 2008 11:55 PM CST reply actions

Max and Salty trade bait

But, you what.. most teams want TT and Laird.. go figure

A Texas Designer's Map of the World

by hurlerhurley on Nov 17, 2008 11:57 PM CST up reply actions

hmm

your post, though i get it, reads like a drunk man’s thoughts. it’s monday, are you drunk on monday?

if so, i am extremely envious

At this rate, he’ll be throwing 107-110 by 2012

by trident on Nov 18, 2008 2:01 AM CST up reply actions

100% chance

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Nov 18, 2008 7:29 AM CST up reply actions

Artist's rendition of TR Sullivan as he moved from the FWST to TexasRangers.Com:

The 40 Trumps All!!!

MVP votes are the new OBP.

by thedirkatron on Nov 18, 2008 2:26 AM CST reply actions 5 recs

so sad

but oh so true

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Nov 18, 2008 11:45 AM CST up reply actions

HAHAHA

good stuff!

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by LAMuscleFag on Nov 18, 2008 12:52 PM CST up reply actions

this is me scoffing at the suggestion

of Max for Homer Bailey. And I’m one that is very interested in Homer, just not for Max.

In memory of Ulysses Simpson Grant Stoner. RIP Lil Stoner.

by tricer on Nov 18, 2008 7:26 AM CST reply actions

+1

You know, there’s a part of me that wants to see Max stick around simply because his LSB catch phrase – “are you not entertained” – is totally awesome.

A lot better than what I’m sure Homer Bailey’s LSB catch phrase would wind up being: “D’oh!”

"I would say that our gaping hole isn’t nearly as gaping as the A’s hole [was] or Mariner’s would be." - tyd3311

by LSJ on Nov 18, 2008 7:53 AM CST up reply actions

Its so easy to picture that too

I’d be up for the task of making the gameday pic of that one

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Nov 18, 2008 11:46 AM CST up reply actions

mlb.com article

lists hamilton and k-rod as the favorites for AL MVP, heh.
how on earth could k-rod win the mvp if he didnt win the cy young.

i think hamilton does still have a shot at it given how voters go.

Quentin missed a month hurting his counting numbers and he just lost momentum by being absent from the picture down the stretch.. if he had missed the first month i think hed have a better chance.

A-Rod I think will have a bit of a backlash from previously winning it and not matching his better seasons even if he is still deserving.

RBIs and HRs are still the most valued MVP stats and pedroia/mauer obviously dont have that profile.

Hamilton’s media appeal and national interest could override the rangers team performance, and most voters don’t know he wasnt particularly good in CF.

Ill be pretty interested this afternoon.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Nov 18, 2008 8:08 AM CST reply actions

Hammy's got a 5% chance

due to the fact that he plays in the media Siberia, slowed way down after the All-star break, and played on a losing team. Seems to me, that is way too many strikes against him.

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by Parman on Nov 18, 2008 8:16 AM CST up reply actions

media siberia?

for kinsler if he hadnt gotten hurt? yeah. for josh hamilton? josh hamilton has no media problems.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Nov 18, 2008 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

media Siberia?

The Rangers have 4 AL MVP awards in the past 15 years or so. That’s a pretty good frequency.

by JBImaknee on Nov 18, 2008 12:57 PM CST up reply actions

And 5 total

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Nov 18, 2008 1:01 PM CST up reply actions

This comment made me laugh.

The managers and coaches pick these awards just as they do Gold Gloves. There are also sorts of different awards voted on by different people: fans, players, managers and coaches and baseball writers. Once they are announced, the bloggers who don’t have a vote but are masters of calculus immediately tear into those who do.

by Athos on Nov 18, 2008 8:33 AM CST reply actions

I think a lot of longtime writers

are really worried that “volunteer” bloggers do a helluva lot better job at analysis than they do. Outside of Beat writers who actually bring quotes and facts from the locker rooms, there isn’t much role for the BBWAA that bloggers and sites like BP don’t do better.

Nolan Ryan is the Greatest Pitcher ever, because Google says so.

"BTW I’m officially welching ab03. Yeah I planned too all along, but I figured I’d try to get off the hook with double or nothing first."- Sharky

by DJCahill on Nov 18, 2008 8:46 AM CST up reply actions

How are your contacts with the front office?

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Nov 18, 2008 9:00 AM CST up reply actions

How beholden am I

to the front office?

Nolan Ryan is the Greatest Pitcher ever, because Google says so.

"BTW I’m officially welching ab03. Yeah I planned too all along, but I figured I’d try to get off the hook with double or nothing first."- Sharky

by DJCahill on Nov 18, 2008 9:02 AM CST up reply actions

Ya, I saw that too

I really need to stop reading the MLB.com mailbags, because every time I do my opinion of TR sinks a little lower. It’s comments like that that make me picture him in the cranky old man stereotype – and therefore start to think Sullivan is what you’d get if you removed the hatred and vitriol from Randy Galloway.

"I would say that our gaping hole isn’t nearly as gaping as the A’s hole [was] or Mariner’s would be." - tyd3311

by LSJ on Nov 18, 2008 8:59 AM CST up reply actions

Dempster

Close to a 4-year deal.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8812098/Cubs-close-to-re-signing-righty-Dempster

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Nov 18, 2008 10:00 AM CST reply actions

Maybe this means we can get Sheets with a 4 year deal

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Nov 18, 2008 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

I'm on board

but is Big Daddy?

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Nov 18, 2008 10:59 AM CST up reply actions

Rosenthal update...

slightly more than $50 million

Four years, ~$50mm would be pretty great for Sheets. I’ve been imagining him getting more than Millwood’s FA contract.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Nov 18, 2008 11:03 AM CST up reply actions

Is that for Dempster or proposed for Sheets

I think Sheets will still get somewhere around 16 per or more but if you can keep it to 4 years it makes it alot easier to swallow.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Nov 18, 2008 11:05 AM CST up reply actions

That’s Dempster’s contract per Rosenthal.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Nov 18, 2008 11:13 AM CST up reply actions

Dempster gets 4 years for $52 million.

This should demonstrate that Sheets will get about 4 years and $60 million. he and Dempster both have health issues, but Sheets gets some extra money because he is a better pitcher when healthy… in my opinion.

I could handle that contract for Sheets.

Go Cubbies and Go Rangers!

by pbpsean on Nov 18, 2008 1:05 PM CST reply actions

More than that

Sheets has a better performance history by a wide margin. He’s a potential ace while Dempster’s history is much more uneven. I’d say Sheets gets more like 4 years and $70-75 million total. He may end up with the last year of his contract being an option with a vested innings total, but his pay per year will be about $4-5 million more than Dempster.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Nov 18, 2008 1:21 PM CST up reply actions

Sheets

Sheets will get more like 4/70 probably. Dempster is older than Sheets and before last year had been a reliever the past 4 years.

Although just like with Affeldt yesterday I think this is another sign that guys are more willing to take the initial offers early and possibly leave some money on the table to get the security in this economy right now.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Nov 18, 2008 1:23 PM CST up reply actions

Sheets

I’d like to see us offer him 3/60 and see what his reaction is.

In memory of Ulysses Simpson Grant Stoner. RIP Lil Stoner.

by tricer on Nov 18, 2008 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

Sheets

That’s nearly half of our team’s salary cap just to Sheets and Young which isn’t workable unless you could immediately eject both Millwood and Padilla along with their salaries and even then you would be seriously hamstrung.. Tell me Hicks would go to 90 and that is a different story.

by Dalman on Nov 18, 2008 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think

this changes much regarding Sheets. From well before the FA period actually started, most people projected Dempster to get something around 4/50, while Sheets would get something closer to what Schmidt signed (3/47) or less.

There is a lot of pitching on the market this year and fewer teams competing for it due to the economy. I still think Sheets signs for something around 3/42. Dempster was wise to sign that deal early, because as the market plays out, I have a feeling most pitchers will sign for at or less than reasonably projected.

by clark on Nov 18, 2008 2:11 PM CST up reply actions