more JD trade negativity

by davisdingergoingdeep on Feb 1, 2008 12:33 AM CST

Just saw this on the Bleacher Report

I'm not so sure I really have faith in him as a GM to lead this team to the post season anytime soon.

He's done some improvements to the farm system with a few trades.

But he's also made some very very bad moves that have set this team back to the point that we're looking at maybe 2010. And the hiring of Ron Washington has been a big disappointment too.

I'm just getting to the point to where I have really know faith in this team anymore. Sure, I'll go to the games. I;m a full season ticket holder. But you can damn well bet I'll spend more time at Frisco and Oklahoma than I will at the ballpark in Arlington

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Umm... haven't we seen this article before?

I think Lbrooks or somebody posted it last week sometime.

Iregardless, the guy who wrote that is a moron. He's not taking into account how our farm system has just shot from 28th in all of baseball to 4th. Say what you want about the Soriano deal, ext. - JD may not be a rocket sceintist (I'll be one of the first to admit that) but when this team gets to the playoffs, it's going to be because of the trades he has made in this past year, wether he's still the GM by then or not.

"The most important things in life are the things that are the least important" -Yogi Berra

by LSJ on Feb 1, 2008 12:41 AM CST reply actions

Don't take the bait

LSB : Trolls :: Rangers : 4th OF'ers

by inactive lsb user on Feb 1, 2008 12:53 AM CST up reply actions

like you just did?

If you don't want to "take the bait" you don't comment in the diary at all.

IDIOT :)

Want to see Miles do a really great Hannibal Lechter impersonation? Tell him how wonderful you think Eli Manning is.

by LAMuscleFag on Feb 1, 2008 3:30 AM CST up reply actions

AJ M posted it, I believe

Labeled it a 'fair and objective assessment', I believe. If you couldn't read the sarcasm in his words, you can't read. Period.

Your Texas Rangers: Shooting for whichever year best suits our marketing campaign!

by BudLight on Feb 1, 2008 7:51 AM CST up reply actions

ummm ...my comment has nothing to do

with AJM or his sarcasm you douche! I've read it before and I wasn't talking to you. SOOOO beat it trash!!

Want to see Miles do a really great Hannibal Lechter impersonation? Tell him how wonderful you think Eli Manning is.

by LAMuscleFag on Feb 1, 2008 6:12 PM CST up reply actions

I never saw it posted on LSB

I must have been out of town and missed the post. If that's the case. I do apologize for re posting this.

by davisdingergoingdeep on Feb 1, 2008 9:31 PM CST up reply actions

Not sure

You can't be too disappointed with R. Washington, can you?

<> We went 56-52 after June, and only had 2 losing months out of 6 with the two being the first months of the season.

<> We played better after the trade deadline without Teix than when we did with him.

<> We held our own against the Angels (9-10) who traditionally dominate us.

<> We were 26-18 in 1-run games thanks to a nice bullpen.

Lots of positives to last season.

by Rangerchick on Feb 1, 2008 5:13 AM CST reply actions

Wash

also came out with lineups that would make anyone wonder if he really knows what he is doing. Some pitching changes were mind boggling to say the least.

I for one believe that Wash was more to blame for last years start and the players more to responsible for the finish.

Just have a bad feeling about him, hope I am wrong.

by rldwb on Feb 1, 2008 11:27 AM CST up reply actions

Washington showed improvement. Period.

Both personally as a manager and from a team analysis. Period. Last year was his first year as THE man. He deserves at least one more year to see what we can put together, as it takes more than a year for a completely different philosophy of baseball to be plugged in and to take root. JD sure screwed up a few trades - Soriano, Chris Young/Adrian Gonzalez, but he's moved on and drastically improved our minor league system and our pitching staff since taking the reigns. As far as Washington's philosophy goes, it's simple:

Offensively, if we start getting more guys on base and focusing more on situational hitting, which I think this team is more capable of than teams in the past, we will produce more meaningful runs and be able to produce when needed instead of relying on the long ball, which was a simple hit or miss. While our "sluggers" - Hamilton, Bradley, Blalock, and to some extent Kinsler and Shaker - can all go deep, they won't be trying to do that as much and it will come naturally. They will focus more on getting on base and advancing the runners, putting pressure on the opposing pitcher and defense.

Defensively, if we start throwing more first-pitch strikes, getting ahead early in counts, we lower pitch counts and go deeper in games, giving our bullpen a chance to dominate later when we need them. If our defense is improved, the pitchers won't be punished for throwing more strikes, but instead will be rewarded and encouraged to do so more regularly. Obviously, limiting walks is huge to preventing scoring chances.

These are matters of philosophy and execution, not talent. We may not have the most talented roster, and that's fine, if we play the way Ronnie W. wants to play. But we do have very talented guys here and there that, if we start making these changes, can make some very good things happen.

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Feb 1, 2008 12:07 PM CST up reply actions

Agree

but what does that have to do with the competence of Wash?

You have his philosophy (that I happen to agree with) of how baseball should be played. Doesn't mean he is capable of carrying it out .....

JD has displayed intelligence, have not seen a whole lot from Wash.

Again I hope I am wrong, time will tell.

by rldwb on Feb 1, 2008 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

I think

people are way overestimating the intelligence of baseball managers in general. Does that excuse Wash's comments on playing dudes like Broussard vs. lefties? No. But good god guys, there isn't a manager in baseball that doesn't do stupid stuff like that.

Take a look at Mike Soscia, who is often cited as the smartest manager in MLB. He has always had a tendency to play guys like Rob Quinlan in an unnecessary platoons. Every manager has his weakness and has pet players. That certainly doesn't excuse Wash, but it does help us gain perspective. These problems we have with Wash happens with every manager, and it's unlikely to get better.

by FirebatM3 on Feb 1, 2008 12:51 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah

"I for one believe that Wash was more to blame for last years start and the players more to responsible for the finish."

That's a convenient position if you don't like Ron Washington.

Ctrl - V

by Dustin on Feb 1, 2008 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

convenient

well put

by ab03 on Feb 1, 2008 1:59 PM CST up reply actions

Convenient

I do not like or dislike Ron Washington, in fact I was happy when Buck got fired and Wash replaced him.

It just seems that he presented himself as a uniter and a players type manager then became whatever he became at the beginning of last year.

Whether I like Ron Washington or dislike Ron Washington will be of no consequence to the Rangers.

I really do not have anything else to do but bitch on this blog.

by rldwb on Feb 1, 2008 3:24 PM CST up reply actions

i don't think he disproved that he was a uniter

he did show some technical flaws with in game management (at least stuff that we saw were flaws) and gave guys like matt kata too many at bats (maybe, were there other choices), and his getaway day lineups had to have been the absolute worst he could think of.

hmmm. not stating my case very well. but really, the issue is the team was bad. he might have also been bad but I don't think last year is a good indication of whether he can get young guys to improve and whether he can manage a good team.

by ab03 on Feb 1, 2008 3:51 PM CST up reply actions

Your right,

its Wash's fault 8 out of 9 Batters in our lineup were hitting at the Mendoza line for 2 months and that our top two veteran starters had ERA's above 6 during the same time.

It had nothing to do with players....

Bill Paxton is the one who looks like he's dumb, but sounds smart, while Bill Pullman is the one who looks like he's smart, but sounds dumb.

by Jukebox Joe on Feb 1, 2008 3:52 PM CST up reply actions

MY, MT, IK and HB

did nothing to help this team and proved IMO that they have little or no leadership qualities. This is another story.

Wash all but ruined Gerald Laird, pissed off Kevin Millwood, Mark T etc. My point is that if Wash was this great uniter and the team seemed excited (in spring training) about this fact, what happened?

I agree he deserves at least this year to prove his worth but that does not stop me from worrying.

Can you argue that he is a good Manager (he gave himself an A). After all his years of experience I would expect more than we saw.

He had no problem with the journeymen but did with some of the others, and his game management skills were suspect at best.

Most of all, I wonder if he is capable of developing young players.

by rldwb on Feb 1, 2008 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

that laird and millwood stuff

you don't know that's how it happened.

most people are conceding that millwood showed up to camp out of shape (even millwood has seemingly acknowledged this by losing some pounds) and many people might be questioning a manager who doesn't yell at a catcher playing as badly as laird (although he yelled at him for non hitting reasons). anyway, those two players publicly defended the yelling and i havent' read too many stories that suggest that he's fracturing the clubhouse.

Tex was seemingly pissed but that even one of the players acknowledges that that might have more to do with Tex than the manager.

and his track record for developing young guys is pretty good. not sure what young guys he had to work with but the book is still out on that question.

by ab03 on Feb 1, 2008 5:13 PM CST up reply actions

OK

by rldwb on Feb 1, 2008 5:20 PM CST up reply actions

Nice post

Maybe the most encouraging stat that you didn't include was our team era was 4.37 post all-star break. I think we could win the division with that kind of team era and a strong closer for the whole year.

I hope the lack of pressure that Washington is putting on the team this year will relax them in the first half. We know he'll clamp down if the team gets too relaxed though.

by slimshadty12 on Feb 4, 2008 4:28 PM CST up reply actions

Iregardless,

if you were wondering, is not a word. not... regardless...?

by Blev2 on Feb 1, 2008 6:57 AM CST reply actions

Irregardless

I always thought this was interesting: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/irregardless

by naropean on Feb 1, 2008 9:38 AM CST up reply actions

JD and Wash

I'm not sure that JD or Wash will ever see this team get to the postseason much less win a postseason series but I am sure that I'm tired of seeing new strategies every couple of years. At this point I'd rather ride it out with both of them and give them extra time to see what they can do just for the sake of giving this franchise and team some consistency.

Turning over the front office and staff every couple of years won't get you anywhere.

"Let's raise ticket prices and lower payroll, yea let's screw the fans and pad my pockets." - secret thoughts of Tom Hicks

by cgolden on Feb 1, 2008 7:07 AM CST reply actions

TRBaller

your comment about stability in the front office could not be more correct IMO. While I am not a huge fan of JD, I do believe he, or any GM, deserves the time to put his plan into action and bear fruit. He has made mistakes, as all GM's do but the farm system is rebuilt, the rotation has potential and there are plenty of young talented players at the big league level already. I posted this on another diary but it worth noting again. In 1999 the Marlins traded Santana and cash to the Twins for Jared Camp. Was that JD's fault too? I don't think so.
Sure JD's trades of Soriano, Young and Agonz, and Cordero do not look good in hindsight. But he has had a few good trades as well. Gagne, Lofton and Tex just last season all add value to this team for years to come. Ricrod for Padilla, Koronka and Rheineker for Juan Dom also look pretty good in hindsight.

The bottom line is that JD is not perfect, and personally I have my doubt about him, but let's keep the plan in place for more than just a couple of years.

by Bigfan16 on Feb 1, 2008 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

That flushing sound you hear

It's your credibility after linking that atrocious, hackneyed article to support your case.

Disclaimer: this is not a personal attack on anyone.

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Feb 1, 2008 8:38 AM CST reply actions

Not a personal attack on anyone

except the doofus who wrote the article.

I don't have any strong affinity for the Rangers, but anyone who has followed the team even a little should be able to figure out what a clown that guy is for writing an article like that.

by mparks on Feb 1, 2008 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

If you're going to spend more time in Frisco

rather than Arlington - please mail me your tickets. thnx.

Gig 'Em Aggies! 2010

by aggierangerfan00 on Feb 1, 2008 8:41 AM CST reply actions

Well, I did say Oklahoma too

But, this is a good point.

I wasted away over 55 games I didn't go to last year. That's 110 tickets. I have season tickets for two. Last year someone brought this up when I said I wasn't going to as many games as I had in the past and asked for those tickets if I wasn't going to go.

This year I will be glad to mail my two tickets to anyone who wants to go to a game that my wife and I are not going to. . And I'm serious about this. There's no reason that I should be leting those tickets go to waste.

by davisdingergoingdeep on Feb 1, 2008 9:43 PM CST up reply actions

I'll gladly take them

"Let's raise ticket prices and lower payroll, yea let's screw the fans and pad my pockets." - secret thoughts of Tom Hicks

by cgolden on Feb 2, 2008 9:37 AM CST up reply actions

hurlerhurley is back!

I'm positive this one's him.

Glenallen Hill Secrets

by a bebop a rebop on Feb 1, 2008 9:22 AM CST reply actions

So, on that note...

Lt. Dan, ghostofChrisYoungandJohnDanks, schlactattack, blue glove dooshy, davisdingergoingdeep.

I'm relatively certain all of these guys are hurlerhurley. Am I missing anyone?

Glenallen Hill Secrets

by a bebop a rebop on Feb 1, 2008 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

We really

need an IP ban program.

by FirebatM3 on Feb 1, 2008 12:44 PM CST up reply actions

I'm curious

as to why every Tom, Dick and LBrooks here feels the need to start a new diary for every inclination to say something stupid and repetitive. Is your hackneyed opinion really that different from the 100s of other hackneyed opinion on JD or Wash that we've heard before? Couldn't this have gone, I don't know, on the same story that AJM posted just a few days ago? Is it that hard to figure out how not to be a dumbass on the boards? Seriously.

by FirebatM3 on Feb 1, 2008 9:47 AM CST reply actions