Sunday morning stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 7:50 AM CST
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PrintWell, there's an actual Rangers item today...
Jim Reeves has a column about the Rangers' timeline for contention, with Jon Daniels saying it is 2010...
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“We could be a second-half club in 2009,” Daniels said, “assuming some of our young players are ready to come up and help. I could see us making a push by then.”
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
On Hurley and Diamond:
"Daniels, in fact, says Diamond, completely recovered from Tommy John surgery, will be a candidate to make the big league club out of spring training … as a reliever. If he doesn’t, he’ll be in the rotation at Oklahoma City.
And with all the new stars on the horizon, it’s easy to overlook last season’s big rookie name, Eric Hurley. Daniels predicted that Hurley would win a rotation spot this spring."
I really hope they make the big league club. Its been a few years now and all I want is to see these two guys actually pitch a full year in the bigs, just to see what they got.
The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ
Why limit Diamond to relief in the majors
if he’s going to be in the rotation at AAA? I know some teams have done that with young starters… but if Diamond outperforms Hurley (and the other young guys) in Spring Training, shouldn’t he start? Or is it more a factor of building arm strength, and not wearing out the Ranger bullpen?
MJH's Prospect Previews: Middle Infielders
http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/12/prospect-previews-middle-infielders.html
" He throws it where he wants it, his breaking ball kept getting better and better and of course God gave him that special arm. He's great." ~ Neftali Feliz on Derek Holland.
nice wrte-up
I agree with his rankings
http://minormoosings.blogspot.com/
From mlbtraderumors.com
The Red Sox would really rather not move Clay Buchholz for a catcher, even if that catcher were Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden of the Texas Rangers. However, Daniel Bard may be in play for a potential deal with Texas.
Why do we get something like this every other day?
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
it's ridiculous
if he wants to trade bard and masterson for teagardon. fine lol
they want one of our catchers, but they also want us to settle. that’s what all this posturing does. we are fine with our 3 catchers, as Ramirez can play full time in AAA this year, and performances will work themselves out through the year
Wait 'til the year after next
It's almost like...
Theo told a bunch of reporters to run these stories every other day the entire off-season.
We get it….you want Teagarden or Salty without giving up anything signifigant, and guess what? we have moved on.
I am fine with having both Salty and Tea on the opening day roster….hell if we trade Blalock we may have room for MaxRam.
by death of the cool on Dec 21, 2008 11:03 AM CST up reply actions
MLB Trade Rumors doesn't start the rumors
they just report them. He should just stop paying attention to rumors altogether if he can’t stand the constant posturing.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
2010 rotation
Who is going to be in the rotation on this contending team?
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
One veteran+
McCarthy, Hurley, Harrison, and Feldman to start the year
Holland will come up at some point in the year and take Feldmans spot or a spot lost due to injury
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.
that rotation won't contend
not even close.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
No
I think he stumbles a bit this year. Maybe stumbles is a bad word but this past year got the hype and expectations so high for him I think we will be a little underwhelmed this season. I think we will see him in 09 but not for good. I think he starts 2010 in OKC and comes up for good sometime in 2010.
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.
so you are putting your money on Feldman and McCarthy
but not Holland.
Ok, that’s a unique opinion.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
No
Im putting my money on the Rangers being smart. I don’t think Holland is going to perform up to what I perceive alot of peoples expectations of him next year. I think he will struggle a little. He will be good enough to get called up in September but thats it. Then in 2010 I think along with other guys performance the Rangers will start him out in AAA to preserve his service time. You start him out in AAA for a month or so and then bring him up and you have him for 6 years instead of 5 years.
I do think Feldman and McCarthy will be good but not enough to hold Holland back. McCarthy might be able to hold Holland back but not Feldman.
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.
I don't think he meant that
I think he’s saying that Holland will just need a bit more time. Not that outrageous.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Roy Halladay
Vincente Padilla
Derek Holland
Eric Hurley
Matt Harrison
Neftali will be knocking on the door, after coming up and dominating as a reliever post all-star break.
Feldman, Smoak, and another prospect or two were traded for Halladay and a reliever.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
Addendum
Vincente Padilla’s team option was not picked up, and John Lackey was signed as a free agent Dec. 15, 2009.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
that could work
it would depend on Holland making a seamless transition and becoming a #2 type starter right off the bat. And I think you are underestimating Feliz. If he isn’t in a major league role by the start of the 2010 season, something has gone horribly wrong.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
Actually, I'm thinking he will have a Papelbon, Chamberlain type of start to his MLB career.
Which isn’t bad at all.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
I don't disagree
But just like with the two that you mentioned, it is tough to move a relief ace to the rotation. Feliz may very well make his debut out of the pen and ride that 80 fastball to dominance. In that case it would be difficult to transition him back to a starter. Which would be ok with me.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
Yeah, if our rotation is strong
I would be fine with it as well.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
I meant to put post all-star break 2009 for Feliz.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
2010
Sheets, Bucholz, Harrison, Hurley, Holland
Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year
Let me make sure I have all this straight so I know why we'll contend this year after the AS Break...
The team is not going to make any additions to the current roster, all improvement from a staff that gave up 967 runs last year will have to be internal, the same dim-witted manager is coming back and the prospects are so good that they will not struggle at all in their first swim thru the bigs?
Whatever you say, Boy Blunder.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Dec 21, 2008 11:57 AM CST up reply actions
defense
having Smoak, Borbon, Andrus and an ever-improving Kinsler(and possibly a competent third basemen?) will shave quite a few runs off that mark. This was the not-quite-a-secret to Tampa’s success.
by Alan Smithee on Dec 21, 2008 1:16 PM CST up reply actions
You know...
McCarthy has a track record of pitching well prior to coming to Texas. He’s pitched well here when he’s been healthy. He’s just not been healthy.
So when people scratch him from the rotation, I’m curious about whether it is because they think he can’t stay healthy, or if it is because they think he’s not good enough even if he is healthy to be there.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
A healthy McCarthy probably gets you the same output as a Harrison, Hurley or Hunter.
A good start here, a shitty start here… with a whole lot of six-inning, 4-5 run affairs mixed in.
Yawn.
by oc on Dec 21, 2008 1:14 PM CST up reply actions
Well.
There’s not enough data to make that call. He barely got 100 IP in ‘07, his first season with significant starts. He’s been hurt a lot since arriving, limiting the opportunity to make substantive judgments, which I think goes back to Adam’s point.
by brettgardner on Dec 21, 2008 1:23 PM CST up reply actions
Right
And the greatest pitcher in the year 2025 hasn’t even been born yet. It’s not the age, it’s the immense talent and limited experience. I think he only mentions the age to demonstrate how quickly McCarthy rose.
by brettgardner on Dec 21, 2008 1:28 PM CST up reply actions
2025
The greatest pitcher that year will be less than 17 years old? super baby!
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You think that 1-run ballgame in Anaheim was a sign?
Did you remember the number of line-drives and flyballs in that game?
by oc on Dec 21, 2008 1:21 PM CST up reply actions
He can’t stay healthy. He has had health issues from his finger tips to his forearm to his elbow to his shoulder. Will Carroll said that pitchers that go through a series of injuries like this rarely ever amount to anything, some guys just don’t have a body that is suited to being a ML starter.
And McCarthy has never really pitched well in Texas, healthy or not.
I think the chances of Brandon McCarthy ever holding down a rotation spot for a full ML season are incredibly small. I don’t think he will ever be healthy, and even if he were to become healthy and durable, I don’t think he’d be very good. I see no reason that he should be penciled into any starting rotation.
By the way, I wonder if his finger is healthy enough for him to start a running/conditioning program yet? A few weeks ago it was reported that he was sitting out the conditioning camp that several other young starters were participating in at the behest of Nolan. The report stated that his injured finger was preventing him from running. Makes me seriously wonder if he has the necessary desire.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
Well
The guy never had an injury problem prior to 2007.
He’s then had a run over a 2 year period where he has had 4 injuries. And if Will Carroll really said that guys who get hurt like that never make anything of themselves, I must have missed it.
He’s just 25 years old. Hell, he’s younger than Thomas Diamond. He was one of the most highly regarded young pitchers in baseball a couple of years ago. If he’d come up in our system, people would still be optimistic about him.
But because he 1) wasn’t homegrown, and 2) was acquired for John Danks, there seems to be a mindset where he’s just worthless and a writeoff, and even if he’s healthy he’s still worthless and useless. It seems to be based on emotion, not logic.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 1:20 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
+1
I rec’d it.
"I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."
If he’d come up in our system, people would still be optimistic about him.
If he had come up through our system, they’d feel the same way about McCarthy as they do about Diamond…
…Who has conveniently been tabbed for a bullpen role.
by oc on Dec 21, 2008 1:26 PM CST up reply actions
Of course..
…Diamond was also never as highly regarded as McCarthy.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 1:32 PM CST up reply actions
What the hell does that mean?
So because McCarthy was highly regarded we shouldn’t give up on him yet?
by oc on Dec 21, 2008 1:36 PM CST up reply actions
Well...
Let’s say Neftali Feliz and Tommy Hunter both end up missing much of the next two seasons with injuries. Would you at that point say, they both suck and we should cut bait with them? Or would the fact that, pre-injury, Feliz was more highly regarded result in you cutting him more slack than you would Hunter?
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 1:37 PM CST up reply actions
Also
If he had come up through our system, they’d feel the same way about McCarthy as they do about Diamond…
…Who has conveniently been tabbed for a bullpen role.
I also think this has more to do with the fact that Diamond is a two-pitch pitcher.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 1:55 PM CST up reply actions
And that Diamond
seemed to suddenly be much less studly once he got to AA.
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And if Will Carroll really said that guys who get hurt like that never make anything of themselves, I must have missed it.
He said it at last years Newberg function at the ballpark. I repeated Carroll’s thoughts in this thread. To refresh your memory:
Regarding Brandon McCarthy (my question), Carroll said that he doesn’t expect him to recover. Said something about a chain of injuries from fingertips to forearm to elbow to shoulder that is rarely ever recovered from. Said some guys just aren’t cut out for the act of pitching in the bigs and every time one part of the body is strengthened, another weak link in the chain brakes. He sounded very discouraging about any expectations of McCarthy lasting any length of time in a major league rotation.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
The mindset that he is worthless and a writeoff
has nothing to do with the fact that he wasn’t homegrown or the fact that he was the return for John Danks. In my case at least, the mindset that he is worthless and a writeoff comes from watching the rare occasions when he is able to pitch. He’s just not good in my opinion.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
It is amazing
He was good until the moment he showed up in Texas, and all of the sudden, he just turned to suck.
Remarkable.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 1:38 PM CST up reply actions
finally we agree on something regarding McCarthy
It is remarkable that he turned to suck upon arriving in Texas. Remarkable, but true nonetheless.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
I don't understand these arguments...
…His age, his previous injury history, the fact that he was highly-regarded…
What does this have to do with the fact that he hasn’t done jack-shit in two years?
No… how about this… what does this have to do with the fact that when he’s pitched healthy in the past two years, it’s been pretty underwhelming… especially from someone who was “highly-regarded.”
by oc on Dec 21, 2008 1:43 PM CST up reply actions
So...
Let’s assume Chris Davis spends most of the next two seasons injured, and when he is on the field, he’s not great. Decent numbers, nothing spectacular.
Do you then say, after the 2010 season, the hell with Davis, he hasn’t done jack-shit in two years, I don’t care how highly regarded he was at the end of 2008, as far as I’m concerned, he’s no more likely to contribute than Nate Gold?
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 1:49 PM CST up reply actions
would you be on board with the Rangers signing Carl Pavano?
He was more highly regarded than McCarthy ever was.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
Pavano has many more skins on the wall than McCarthy, but most everyone would agree that you don’t hold a rotation spot for Pavano because, like McCarthy, he’s injured all the time and not very good on the rare occasions that he will take the ball.
Point is, pitching well several years ago in the minor leagues (or the major leagues in the case of Pavano) doesn’t mean much in the here and now.
I don’t think you would want a rotation spot held in reserve for Pavano, for the same reasons I wouldn’t want a rotation spot held open for McCarthy.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
I am not saying hold a rotation spot open for him
I’m saying, writing off a 25 year old as worthless because he’s been hurt much of the last two years is dumb.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 2:18 PM CST up reply actions
Ok
I guess we’ll just have to see what kind of production McCarthy provides next year, maybe he’ll be good for a solid 200 innings, then I will be the first to say that I was dumb for writing him off. I don’t think there is much chance of that, in fact I’d be shocked with anything over 50 innings, but if it happens, you can bet that I will be here with egg all over my face.
And once again, let the record show that my disdain for McCarthy isn’t solely because he’s hurt all the time. It’s also in part due to the fact that he sucks when he’s not hurt.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
x
It’s also in part due to the fact that he sucks when he’s not hurt.
I assume you believe that Harrison, Hurley, Hunter, Feldman…those guys also suck when they aren’t hurt, as well?
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 3:06 PM CST up reply actions
I'm trying to get a frame of reference
If he sucks, but he’s outperformed those guys, then those guys must really suck.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 3:16 PM CST up reply actions
Sheesh
With your attitude you belong on the DMN blog OC
The simple fact is that McCarthy is still young and has a lot of talent. You cant just write off guys with those 2 attributes.
I still have high hopes for b-mac this season
AsSuMpTiOnS r FuN!
Englighten me, Hector… how much longer are you willing to roll with McCarthy until you call him a bust?
by oc on Dec 21, 2008 1:58 PM CST up reply actions
Isn't McCarthy's talent level more on par with, say, Ian Kennedy
rather than, I don’t know, Joba Chamberlain?
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
You know...
If Ian Kennedy missed most of 2009 with an injury, then he’d actually be a pretty decent comp, at that point, for McCarthy right now.
Although McCarthy was better in his injury-plagued 2007 than Kennedy was in his injury-plagued 2008.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 3:30 PM CST up reply actions
McCarthy was probably the best SP on the staff in 2007
He was a lot worse in the 20 innings that he pitched in 2008 – even though there is not a significant difference in his repertoire. It’s not clear whether this can be solely attributed to small sample size.
If he stays healthy, he’s probably league average – which will make him the best pitcher on the current staff. He has been at least league average every year he had pitched prior to 2008. Of course, the big question is whether he can stay healthy or not – a highly debatable topic.
If the issue with him is health, I’d agree with you, not the performance if healthy part.
I originally had
BMac in the rotation. I just thought I might stir things up a bit by excluding him for Bucholz. I think Sheets does sign with Texas and they do trade for Bucholz.
Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year
in contrast
to reports that Boston won’t trade Bucholz and the Rangers won’t spend money?
by Alan Smithee on Dec 21, 2008 1:23 PM CST up reply actions
from mlbtraderumours.com earlier today
The Red Sox would really rather not move Clay Buchholz for a catcher, even if that catcher were Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden of the Texas Rangers. However, Daniel Bard may be in play for a potential deal with Texas.
Maybe I am reading too much into this wording. But it is not syaing that
they would not trade Bucholz.
Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year
well
I’m sure if the Red Sox were blown away by an offer, they would trade him, but the impression I’ve gotten is that they’re not going to let him go unless that’s the case. The TR Sullivan article AJM posted a few weeks back is one of many to echo that sentiment:
The Red Sox had interest[in Saltalamacchia] before the meetings but they have not met with the Rangers at the Winter Meetings and still have no interest in trading Clay Buchholz.
Also, I’m not sure if the wording you’re focusing on is ‘really rather not’(meaning you think that although they’d rather not, they still might), or the ‘for a catcher’ part(meaning you think that they’d trade him to Texas for something other than a catcher).
I do think that a Salty+b-grade prospect package for Buccholz makes a lot of sense for both sides, but, at the same time, Boston is a savvy team and from their perspective, they probably feel they have the resources(and the pull) to replace Varitek without giving up a blue chipper.
by Alan Smithee on Dec 22, 2008 8:50 AM CST up reply actions
Whatever he gives us from now on
Is just bonus, I personally have stopped counting on him for anything.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
that's a great question
all of the new guys will need at least one full year (once they are called up), so i think 2011 is more likely given the talent in the system
that of course assumes no significant injuries (nearly impossible) and no developmental setbacks (nearly impossible). it also assumes that ace-caliber prospects won’t need to be traded to realize their potential (volquez and danks).
JDs thought of using some of the soon-to-be available $40M on FA pitching is delusional. the next quality (ace-caliber) pitcher that signs will be the first. money-whipping is an option, but it might take all $40M (per season). i know that’s a ludicrous number, but every previous attempt has failed, so what’s the “real” number?
by sam in so cal on Dec 22, 2008 9:37 AM CST up reply actions
OT: Brian Fuentes
Buster Olney is suggesting that 3 years for 15-18 mil is what he will sign for. At that price, I’m very interested.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
Indeed.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
bullpen needs help badly
5-6 million a year for a very good lefty reliever that can close would be a solid investment for this team.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
agreed
I think FranFran will be a beast and I’d like to see CJ bounce back and be a great setup guy.
http://minormoosings.blogspot.com/
I see the current bullpen as a pretty big weakness
The spots to improve the team are SP, RP, and 3b. I think Fuentes at $5-6 million is a more efficient upgrade than would be possible at any of the other positions of need.
Do you think our bullpen could be average or above with the current cast of characters? I don’t.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
What good does it do to upgrade the bullpen when your rotation is still a piece?
by oc on Dec 21, 2008 1:07 PM CST up reply actions
Look at the 2004 Rangers
Or the 1999 Rangers.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 1:08 PM CST up reply actions
No
But one team that went to the playoffs, and another that was a playoff contender.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 1:14 PM CST up reply actions
The Mavs, Stars and Cowboys have really taken the fun out of "playoffs."
by oc on Dec 21, 2008 1:28 PM CST up reply actions
So basically...
…you could give a crap whether or not the Rangers make the playoffs, if they don’t win it all?
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 21, 2008 1:40 PM CST up reply actions
Basically
OC is cranky because Dallas teams have done a lot of sucking lately, so nothing anyone says about McCarthy is going to convince he’s anything more than a pile of shit.
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Opinions expressed
in a public forum are anyone’s business, mr. poopy pants. What the hell is that thing in your picture?
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The greatest
Game ever: Mike Tyson’s Punch Out.
by brettgardner on Dec 21, 2008 10:19 PM CST up reply actions
you upgrade middle relief
if that is the direction you want to go(with the bullpen in lieu of SP) but I would sign a lefty first whatever case..
http://minormoosings.blogspot.com/
signing late inning relievers
pushes better relievers into the middle inning roles, thus improving late and middle relief at the same time.
And Fuentes is a lefty.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
Guardado
would be cheaper and would sign for a shorter period, and he can close and serve as the 2nd-lefty out of the pen.
I wonder why no one has any confidence in Franky Chipmunk Cheeks at all.
"Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps."
- Emo Phillips
I like ole chipmunk cheeks
It’s just that the bullpen needs more than one good pitcher.
And there is a very good reason why Guardado would be much cheaper than Fuentes.
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
I don't mind having Guardado
But I prefer to at least attempt to sign someone younger, with better stuff, and less injury risk, but if we can’t get that then I would be satisfied to settle for Guardado.
by coolrangersfan on Dec 21, 2008 3:07 PM CST up reply actions
Injury Risk
Any time you sign a 33 year old lefty that relies on a fastball-slider combo, you can’t exactly bet the bank on them being healthy. If Fuentes loses a tick or two off his fastball by the third year of the contract, you have a $6 million guy that’s definitely not anywhere close to closer material. Fuentes is a good pitcher, but committing that kind of money into 2011 isn’t the best of plans for our team.
Hendrickson is a sleeper candidate
as a lefty specialist on a minor league deal. I would like to see the Rangers go after Ohman, Guardado, Springer, or Nelson if any of them is willing to to a one-year deal.
by coolrangersfan on Dec 21, 2008 3:02 PM CST up reply actions
and don't forget about a rehabbing Benoit
http://minormoosings.blogspot.com/
Saying
that the bullpen is a weakness is a pretty quick assumption to make, if CJ and Benoit pitches like it’s 2007, I think it’d be a strength. Trying to project bullpen performance is a futile exercise, the only thing we can do is make sure we have a lot of pen options and that some of them will stick – which is pretty much what we’re doing.
I don’t see investing in Fuentes as any sort of a wise move, especially when you consider his 2007.
At that price, why not?
With the experience and resume he brings, it is a huge discount. Also, age is not really that big of a deal for relievers especially one that is only 33. His stats are awesome. He had a 1.84 ERA and a .140/.230/.210/.440 line away from Coors Field last year. Also, he had 82 K’s while allowing only 47 hits, 22 walks, 9 doubles and 3 homeruns in 62.2 innings and that’s including his Coors Field numbers. He is suited for our ballpark as he is left-handed and has high strikeout rates (11.8 K/9 last year). Doesn’t those stats make you interested at that price?
by coolrangersfan on Dec 21, 2008 3:57 PM CST up reply actions
McCarthy
In 2007 as a 23 year old he was pretty damn good. Take away that 3 start stretch in April when there was obviously something wrong mechanically and he was damn good. By far our best pitcher on the staff. Take those 6 innings and 18 earned runs that he gave up in those 3 starts and his ERA for the year was 3.48 over 95 innings. Find me a 23 year old who you wouldn’t take that from. The injuries have been unfortunate but to write him off as a guy who sucks is way off. You don’t become a highly touted prospect who comes up as a 21 year old and makes 10 starts on the eventual world series champions team and then throw a sub 3.5 ERA as a 23 year old if you suck. Like Adam said if he had been drafted by us people wouldn’t be so hard on the guy. But because he was traded for homegrown Texas boy Johnny Danks people hate him regardless of how he performs on the mound.
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.
Not to mention
He didn’t have any sort of injury history prior to coming here, and he was named by Baseball America (or ESPN – I saw it somewhere) as one of the top breakout candidates in the offseason prior to his first season with us.
"Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps."
- Emo Phillips
It was ESPN
they took a poll of scouts, coaches, and front office people or something like that, and McCarthy was voted as the top breakout candidate.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
"take aways"
Don’t forget, if you take away all those hits he gave up in that one game, he would have had a no-hitter.
And if you take away all the injuries, he’d be a 200+ inning workhorse.
And if you take away the finger injury, he’d be running and working out with the rest of the young starters.
A few take aways and this guy looks like an up and coming rotation anchor!!!
Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.
Give it a rest
Im not talking about absolving him of having a shitty outting. He was obviously messed up mechanically. Even if he had pitched 200 innings that year that 3 start stretch would have still marred his numbers. They wouldn’t be indicative of his true stuff. Only pitching 100 innings those 18 runs really skewed his numbers. Over a full run onto his ERA. So yeah I do take those away when looking at his season in 2007. Probably because I didn’t have a preconceived notion that he sucked before he came here like you did. If you could get past that then you would see he is far and away our best young pitcher currently in the major leagues.
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.
How ridiculous.
Just as some say that there are those who dislike B-Mac because they liked Danks, there are also those who love some B-Mac because they backed the trade and JD.
Reality says you are wrong, but you get bitchy at those who think that B-Mac is a washout…which to date, he is.
Can you say, “As of now, I was wrong, but I hope it turns around”?
I won’t hold my breath.
I'm just killing time until I'm reincarnated.
He hasn't been a washout
Hes been injured. Injuries happen. When hes been healthy hes been good. Washouts are guys who are healthy and suck. Or guys who are never healthy. McCarthy hasn’t been either of those. Of course it sucks to see John Danks succeeding in Chicago while McCarthy is injured here but there is no guarantee things would be the same had the trade never happened. Whats to say had we turned down the trade John Danks doesn’t go out and tear his rotator cuff or suffer TJ injury while BMac goes on to be a young staple in their rotation.
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.
I couldn't had said it better myself
I agree totally with you. I liked that trade when it was done and still have hope that McCarthy can get healthy and outperform Danks. I blame Connor for altering McCarthy’s mechanics and making him injury-prone. Now that Connor is no longer the pitching coach, and with Maddux and Ryan’s help, I expect McCarthy to impress everyone in 2009. Also, it’s worth pointing out that McCarthy clearly had better minor league numbers than Danks especially at the higher levels.
by coolrangersfan on Dec 21, 2008 2:54 PM CST up reply actions
OT: Cowboys back in control of their destiny.
Tampa Bay was kind enough to blow their home game against San Diego, so if the Cowboys can win in Philly next week (yeah, I know the odds are shitty) then they are in.
Now we can all get our hopes up before watching them fizzle next week. Yay.
+1
As long as Jerry Jones is in charge we’ll never be great, unless he finds another Jimmy Johnson
Yeah but
when/if he does he’ll just pop off that he is the one that made the team great again.
by Michael Cave on Dec 21, 2008 4:32 PM CST up reply actions
Yet you have faith in the Rangers,
and condemn those who don’t.
Ironic…at best.
I'm just killing time until I'm reincarnated.
Great read
The life of a prospect, and a serious prospect too: Clay Zavala.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/sports/baseball/21pitcher.html?pagewanted=all
Go Strangers.
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