Some OMFT love
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 8, 2008 2:16 PM CST
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PrintJayson Stark says, in a blog entry, that the Cubs are looking for a lefty-hitting COF. One wonders whether the Rangers, who have been interested in some young Cubs pitching over the past year, might not contemplate offering David Murphy in a deal with them, or if the Marlon Byrd talks might not start up (if the Cubs decide they can live with a righty)...
And then there's this:
Why did the Tigers deal for Gerald Laird as opposed to signing Jason Varitek? It wasn't just about dollars. Tigers sources said they went into the winter with a list of available catchers -- and actually had Laird ranked higher on that list than Varitek.
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sean marshall
i’d still like to see that guy in a Rangers uniform.
by clark on Dec 8, 2008 2:18 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
are we still holding on to byrd
because he’s a team leader?
""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
No because hes good
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 what i meant
""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
What did you mean then?
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.
he is a right handed bat
who has the ability to play CF, which means a lot to this team. the only reason i am on board with trading him is because he is only under control for one more season, and I think Cruz’s RH bat is for real.
Byrd
If a team wants him, you take take it because Murphy can replace Byrd’s defense and most of the offense.
The only issue is whether the offer’s desirable enough to suffer a little dip in 4th OF production.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Dec 8, 2008 2:30 PM CST up reply actions
youve got enough prospects to fill that void
by rangerfannumerouno on Dec 8, 2008 2:32 PM CST up reply actions
None would put up close to what Byrd did last year (and provide the leadership)
Just saying you better get something back substantial
Because Washington has a man crush on him
Probably stands with the fans when Byrd goes to bat and flaps his wings for him as well
In Smoak We Trust
by Smoak Some on Dec 8, 2008 2:36 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
samarzidja?
would love to see that guy in a ranger uniform.
by rangerfannumerouno on Dec 8, 2008 2:28 PM CST reply actions
I know its wrong
But my Notre Dame hate is strong to want him here
by BEW on Dec 8, 2008 5:10 PM CST up reply actions
i'd rather see him in a cowboys uniform
In reference to how good the Steelers have been in their history: "No one is even close to them."- Steal Home
with the conversations that have already occured
between the Reds and the Rangers, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Reds emerge as a serious Byrd contender. The Yankees are another team to watch. Byrd’s OBP and ability to play CF are enough to make him a commodity, and I am hoping the Rangers cash out rather than letting him walk. This team still needs help in the bullpen, and it didn’t come in the Laird trade.
so all of this Moscoso talk
being a bullpen guy as early as 2009 is hogwash? is he a rotation guy instead?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 8, 2008 4:27 PM CST up reply actions
Well
Until the club comes out and says what his role will be, it’s all speculation. His injury history favors the bullpen while his stuff favors starting. Take your pick.
the only reason
he is not a lock as a starter is his injury history (perhaps his middling secondary stuff, but to a lesser extent). i think the Rangers will give him a serious chance to remain a starter this next season.
this is from JD, via the DMN:
According to a Tigers official, Moscoso throws in the low to mid 90s with a good changeup. Dave Dombroski said he thought Moscoso was a long shot to make their bullpen, but the Rangers want to see if Moscoso can start. He has started before, so that’s not a stretch (and he wants to start, according to Daniels).
good.
exactly what I wanted to believe. I mean I’d love to have the guy in our ‘pen next year, if we have a shot at competing, then try to push him towards starting…that way we could limit innings and yet give him quality exposure to major league hitting. however, my gut tells me we won’t be too competitive next year without Bradley and without a significant upgrade in our starting 5…so I’d rather he work in AA/AAA as a starter
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 8, 2008 11:07 PM CST up reply actions
let him walk?
Hes under team control this year so unless we trade him he’ll be with us this year. If you mean as a FA after this year well if he puts up another good year its a good chance hes a type A FA. Im all for trading Byrd if the right deal presents itself but, unlike Laird, I don’t think we have to trade him this winter.
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.
yeah, I meant next year
i just feel like he could be valuable to a team like the Yankees, who are already known to be interested in Cameron and who have an impressive surplus of relievers. but you are right, we definitely should not trade him simply for the sake of trading him.
that said
look at the collection of FA CFs this year, according to MLBTR:
Center fielders
Rocco Baldelli (27)
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Jim Edmonds (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Gabe Kapler (33)
Mark Kotsay (33)
Corey Patterson (29)
Scott Podsednik (33)
So Taguchi (39)
Yikes.
Is there any doubt
that Gerry is better than Tek right now? I would imagine that anyone who watches baseball consistently would rather have Gerry, Tek was an abyss on offense last year and hasn’t thrown out a baserunner since ‘05. He may be able to ’handle’ a pitching staff, but how hard can it be to handle Beckett, Lester, and Dice-K… it’s a hell of a lot easier than Milly, Padilla, and Blah.
"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"
by trident on Dec 8, 2008 2:41 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
with the money cleared
by trading guys like Laird, Byrd, and/or Blalock, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Boras seek out the Rangers on a one year deal for Crede to help him reestablish some value so he can try his luck again next year in FA. Crede to the Rangers makes a ton of sense, given his defensive abilities.
I'd like to see Crede here on a 1 year deal
If he stays healthy, which he probably won’t since back problems are chronic, it would be interesting to see what kind of impact a defensive asset would have on the left side of our infield
"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"
i could easily see him
as next year’s (lesser) version of Bradley. We should take advantage of our supposedly friendly hitting confines and the best hitting coach in baseball and start recruiting position players like this, similar to how San Diego and LA are able to get pitchers to come in on one year deals to reestablish their value.
As a FA player at a career crossroads, how can you not take notice to the career altering shifts in performance we have seen in GMJ, DeRo, Byrd, Vazquez, Bradley, etc.
Our ballpark isn't that great for righties. And you could just as easily counter with a list of dudes who've stunk it up here at similar career points. Shelton, Broussard, Hidalgo, Kata, etc.
But I like the idea of Crede if you could get a one year deal.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
you can do the same thing
with pitchers for SD and LA, but the reputation remains, and they still exploit it, and so should we.
and byrd is a prime example of a RH who had a rebirth here.
Fair point.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
Not surprised
Trade for a guy who’s signed till 2010 and is still a decent catcher who can hit a bit (probably not call as strong as a game) than sign a guy that has Boras, the evil one, as an agent who would want a multi-year deal for a lot of money and can’t hit for average anymore but still can call a good game…
In Smoak We Trust
The Cubs want a power hitter
Pinellia says they clutched in the playoffs because they didn’t have a left-handed hitter who could bat fourth or fifth. Which wouldn’t be Murphy or Byrd.
Where is Mick Kelleher when we need him?
Meh. If they're truly stuck on getting a lefty bat then we're likely not a match.
I still think Byrd would be a great fit for them, but if they don’t want him cause of what side of the batters box he stand in, that’s fine by me. We’ll keep him. He’s good.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
maybe double clutched
does that make slightly more sense?
""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
Yah, as to seize... So, yah. Makes sense to me, but I'm way smarter and more handsome than you and have way more friends, so it tracks.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
not saying he'd do it again
but if nothing else, while healthy, Murphy proved he could provide very adequate offense at the 5 spot. would it work as a clean up guy? definitely not…but a productive lefty is what they’re asking for, and that’s what he has been so far…
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 8, 2008 4:31 PM CST up reply actions
OT: Tigers
2008 C and SS: Pudge and Carlos Guillen
2009 C and SS: Laird and Adam Everett
"Yeah, like I had a chance there" - Lancaster batter, after striking out against Derek Holland
they are in the worst possible position
an overpaid, aged team with limited resources and no farm futilely trying to patch holes so they can “compete” next year. The Cabrera trade will be their Galloway trade.
Reminds me of
the Astros?
"Yeah, like I had a chance there" - Lancaster batter, after striking out against Derek Holland
I like what they're doing, actually.
They’ve made some dumb decisions with their pitching staff, overpaying mediocre/bad starters like Robertson and Willis, but overall their offensive talent level is still pretty solid (Granderson, Polanco, Guillen, Cabrera, Ordonez, Gary Sheffiled’s Corpse, etc.) and they’re trying to fill in the holes around those offensive beasts with cheap plus defender-types. Seems like a smart strategy to me.
If Verlander comes back (and the numbers say he’s a good candidate to do just that) and one or two guys step up behind him they could be a real darkhorse in the Central this year.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
but Everett
seemed to finally show some age last year. his defense was not as exceptional as it has been in the past, which has always made up for his deficiencies at the plate, which were even greater last year.
and Laird is Laird. he is a solid defensive player but he isn’t a difference maker. they are really just collecting mediocrity, and in everett’s case, even that term may be too kind.
When you are close
You have to take every chance you can to win the WS. Getting Cabrera was part of that.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Blake is apparently
close to signing a three year deal with the Dodgers. That would place Crede at the top of the FA 3B list, so we’ll see how aggressive the Twins and Indians get.
If I were a FA hitter, and it was between the Twins and Rangers on a one year deal, that is an easy call to make.
Easy call?
How is that an easy call? You can put up numbers in Texas, but the Twins consistently compete. That’s a tough call to me.
Ok guys, you got to go vote....
The A’s have jumped past Texas after we had a 100 vote lead in the A’s vs. Ranger’s Top minor league vote…
Get over there and rock the vote…
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/12/8/684912/a-s-ranger-s-ba-top-10
Meh.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
OK, crazy thought here...
If the Dodgers are sick of Ramirez, how about we jump in…
We offer Josh Hamilton, Hank Blalock, Padilla and Hurley for Kershaw and Kemp.
Then we flip Kemp to the Giants for Sanchez.
Just popped in my head. Forgive me it is late in the day.
Go Cubbies and Go Rangers!
He's saying
To fill the offensive hole once Manny leaves via FA because the Dodgers don’t want to re-sign him (because they’re sick of him).
Nothing pithy here. Please move long.
Forgive Old Man Thomas.
He no read good.
No watch movie good, either.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
This idea reminds of a deep thought, by Jack Handey:
I hope some animal never bores a hole in my head and lays its eggs in my brain, because later you might think you’re having a good idea, but it’s just eggs hatching.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
did you see this
from Rosenthal’s blog?
4:38 p.m. — Rangers set for more moves?
The Rangers are still open to trading one of their young catchers after sending Gerald Laird to the Tigers, but only if they land a young starting pitcher in return.
The way the Rangers are currently set up, they can platoon Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a switch-hitter, with Taylor Teagarden, a right-handed hitter.
Their third catcher, Max Ramirez, can start the season at Class AAA or fill a role as a right-handed DH/catcher/first baseman if the Rangers succeed in trading Hank Blalock.
I wonder if he is hearing anything.
I feel another trade or two coming
why would he trade Laird the night before the Winter Meetings? Maybe because he needs to focus on other things…
Bobby Jindal '12
More likely scenario
Texas traded Laird as soon as he had two teams ready to make a deal (Cincy and Detroit). Up until now there’s been no indication that he’s had even one team ready to make a deal…
I have a feeling you're going to be disappointed.
I think this will be the high water mark of the meetings.
Of course, I could still be letting my depression over what Romo did to the Cowboys get the better of me, but I’ll bet this is going to be a boring winter meetings, for us anyway.
from John Perrotto
–Now that the Rangers have traded catcher Gerald Laird, the greatly hyped Jarrod Saltalamacchia will get his chance to be the everyday guy behind the plate next season.
does that mean we’re keeping him?
Stability is key, and JD is a Beast.
Jindal - 2012
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