Four added, two dropped

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 20, 2008 7:38 PM CST Comment 42 comments

Per T.R. Sullivan, John Bannister, Willie Eyre, Omar Poveda, and Jose Vallejo have been added to the 40 man roster.

Kam Loe and Wes Littleton have been designated for assignment.

Disappointing about Littleton, who seemingly fell out of favor with Ron Washington early on and never got back in his good graces.

Bannister seems a likely candidate to be dropped later this offseason.

Eyre? Eh. I guess they thought someone might grab him. If he's healthy, he's a near-lock to be in the pen this year.

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Odd

I don’t see the rationale in adding Eyre or Bannister, unless it’s simply to add two players who are unlikely to be claimed if they’re dropped to make room for free-agent signings. Why not leave a spot or two open for a Rule 5 pick?

And agreed on Littleton- I still think he’s got a future in a major-league bullpen, even if it’s not with the Rangers.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Nov 20, 2008 7:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

strange

dropping littleton could hurt, but whats stranger is adding bannister and eyre? Guess they are exposing strop to the draft and hope no one takes him because of injury

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

by rentz on Nov 20, 2008 7:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

bannister and eyre will be gone soon enough

Jindal '12

by Longhorn on Nov 20, 2008 7:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

No Strop...

This isn’t going to end well. Give me Strop anyday over Bannister and Eyre. What’s worse is another team can easily store Strop on the 60 day DL until they are confident he’s ready to still satisfy the Rule V rules.

by TRanger on Nov 20, 2008 7:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Of course...

…if another team wanted Strop that badly, they could have signed him to a major league deal this offseason, or claimed him on waivers in September, and not had to keep him on the 25 man roster all year.

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 20, 2008 7:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yea

im suprised no one has noted this yet

by blalock84 on Nov 20, 2008 7:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

seriously?

you must have tuned out all my why strop, keep omar posts.

by bushe on Nov 20, 2008 8:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

bleh...

Bannister and Eyre over Littleton? I guess I’m in the minority when I think that Wes could still be a good 6th/7th inning guy.

And why no Strop?

by Schrute Farms on Nov 20, 2008 7:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

if Nolan has his way...

we won’t need a 6th inning guy ;)

I guess you heard Fat Joe left Atlantic.

by Haeger Champ on Nov 20, 2008 7:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Concur...

I don’t understand why some in the organization went sour on Wes so quickly. I would much rather have him over Eyre or Bannister.

Beat those Cougs.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 20, 2008 9:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Man...

the Rangers dumped JMJ, Kam Loe, and Littleton all in the same day.

That’s a bunch of names that were favorites of a lot of folks around here. I for one think Littleton has the makings to be a solid bullpen arm.

But, John Bannister? Whatever.

by ghostofErikThompson on Nov 20, 2008 7:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Bannister.

The guy throws 94-96 MPH out of the ‘pen and has a pretty filthy slider. This season, his control made huge strides. There’s a reason he was added.

Neftali Feliz is not a swimmer.

by NoNameOnCard on Nov 20, 2008 8:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Glad to hear it.

It seems like Littleton has really dropped in value since his real nice stretch in the summer of ‘06. But Bannister sounds interesting and if they think he’s worth more than Littleton at this point I’m anxious to see him pitch at some point.

Perhaps Littleton’s work ethic is an issue?

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

by t ball on Nov 20, 2008 8:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What was his FB velocity as a starter?

by Telegraph on Nov 20, 2008 8:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

89-92 when I saw in Frisco early in the year.

In relief, he was more like 91-93. I think he only had a start or two with Frisco. One was absolute insanity when came to balls-strikes. Walked 7 in something like 1.2 IP

Neftali Feliz is not a swimmer.

by NoNameOnCard on Nov 20, 2008 8:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Meh

I still like littleton.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DSheppard on Nov 20, 2008 7:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

+1

Defintely like him more than Wille freaking Eyre.

"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL

by lonestarJon on Nov 20, 2008 10:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Littleton

is the sort of right handed pitcher reliever who can squeak through waivers. this could very easily be an example of us overvaluing out own.

by clark on Nov 20, 2008 7:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I have no right to speak on this subject. I thought Botts was going to get snatched up as soon as he was released him and that JD was an idiot for releasing him. Woops.

I like Littleton, mainly because I love watching that delivery of his. Hopefully it works out for the best.

Fire Todd Dodge. Seriously. Back to Suckville with a loss to FLA ATL but whatever, SUCK IT WESTERN KENTUCKY! 1-9 baby!

by sprite on Nov 20, 2008 8:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If someone wants Littleton

couldn’t they just pick him up today and put him on their 40? He wouldn’t have to spend the season on their 25 man (though I guess he’s out of options, so he probably would anyway…)

by JBImaknee on Nov 20, 2008 8:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No, Michael Schlact?

JD seemed to lean toward adding him when he spoke at the great UNT.

Fire Todd Dodge. Seriously. Back to Suckville with a loss to FLA ATL but whatever, SUCK IT WESTERN KENTUCKY! 1-9 baby!

by sprite on Nov 20, 2008 7:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

ugh

by Goyogringo on Nov 20, 2008 8:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

MAN!

I can’t believe this. Why leave Littleton off!? God I hope he isn’t taken.

And Strop as well.

by Mike E on Nov 20, 2008 8:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

incidentally

that CJ video is becoming a death sentence to all who were in it. Josh Rupe better watch his back

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Nov 20, 2008 8:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Heh

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

by t ball on Nov 20, 2008 8:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Surprising

I’m not sure if I should be excited that they like Bannister that much, or disappointed that two guys I liked, Loe and Littleton, are apparently not all that.

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

by t ball on Nov 20, 2008 8:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

What did you see in Loe?

"Obama is a Christian - He's always been a Christian...But.........what if he is[a Muslim]? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no, that's not America." Colin Powell on Obama/Muslim assertions.

by AirJordan on Nov 20, 2008 8:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I said I liked him

I didn’t say I thought he should be on the ML roster in 2009. He had some chances and didn’t do enough. Littleton probably deserved another shot (not knowing what they thought of his work this year in OKC).

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

by t ball on Nov 20, 2008 8:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Random LSB assignment - extremely hazardous

Somebody brave watch the new Rosie O’Donnell show.
If you survive intact [God bless your soul] then tell us what it was like.

by shroomer on Nov 20, 2008 9:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

There was once a Japanese (or was it Chinese?) fable

A bunch of people wanted to try Fugu – a delicious, yet poisonous fish – for the first time, but they were afraid that it would be their end, so they gave some to a beggar on a bridge in order to see if he would survive or not

Some time later, they saw the beggar standing on the bridge, strolling aimlessly as always. Relieved, they devoured the remaining fugu with great vigor; the fish was delicious. Perhaps in the spirit of brotherhood, they went back to the bridge and declare the thousand virtues of the fish to the beggar.

Before they could finish, the beggar started to walk away from them. “Where are you going?”, inquired the men – to which the beggar replied, “I have to go eat my fish!”

by Telegraph on Nov 20, 2008 9:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why?

would you even want to know what it is like? Reminds me of a bad joke: Q: How can you tell when a woman has an orgasm? A: Who cares?

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

by t ball on Nov 20, 2008 11:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I basically understand Bannister

and I’m glad that they found room for Poveda.

But Willie Eyre? He sucks. What would make anyone think that he’s going to be appreciably better than he’s been? Bleh. Give me Littleton or Strop.

by Brett Perryman on Nov 20, 2008 9:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

who says you can't have them all?

seriously.

Neftali Feliz is not a swimmer.

by NoNameOnCard on Nov 20, 2008 9:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

so you also don't think littleton is getting nabbed?

would it surprise you if he did though?

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Nov 20, 2008 9:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not saying that will happen.

Neither situation will surprise me.

Neftali Feliz is not a swimmer.

by NoNameOnCard on Nov 20, 2008 9:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe you can

Strop and Littleton both look like guys who others might want, and Eyre looks like someone who will spare us to death for 3-4 months again and needlessly occupy a 40 spot while we make tough decisions on Armando Galarragas and Rob Tejedas. Doesn’t that sound a little familiar?

by Brett Perryman on Nov 20, 2008 9:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm happy...

they added Poveda as well.

Beat those Cougs.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 20, 2008 9:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Have a feeling Littleton will slip through waivers

Just a hunch.

Baseball Time in Arlington

by Joey Matschulat on Nov 20, 2008 11:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

i hope so

i just have a bad feeling about this. Littleton carried a K/inning and a sick G:F rate this past year in OKC, he just doesn’t seem like the sort of player a team like this should give up on, and he seems like exactly the sort of player other teams take a chance on. I can vaguely understand every move they made today except Eyre over Littleton. They must have seen something they liked in Eyre this winter, but besides his Ks , he has been utterly hittable in a league full of kids. It would be one thing if JD didn’t have such an atrocious track record of identifying ML quality pitching….but he does have an atrocious track record, which makes this move feel all the more dubious.

by clark on Nov 21, 2008 12:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Much ado about nothing

I look at each player on the 40 man and want to see one of two things

- a guy who I could see being part of a winning club
- a guy who may develop into a player who can contribute to a winning club.

Frankly, I don’t see Loe or Littleton as either category. They’re 4A pitchers. Sure a time will come next year when it’d be nice to have one of them, but really… their presence on the roster isn’t going to change the fate of this team one way or another.

Now, I don’t see Eyre as that either, but I guess someone in Texas likes him. Bannister and Poveda are definitely in the 2nd group – they probably won’t contribute in 2009, but if things work out, they can help in 2010 or later.

by JBImaknee on Nov 20, 2008 11:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Congrats Texas Rangers Analyst,

for making this thread a giant ass-whipping.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Nov 21, 2008 9:17 AM CST reply actions 1 recs