Tuesday a.m. stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 18, 2008 8:36 AM CDT in News

Some good news for the rotation this morning...Evan Grant says Jason Jennings 4 inning outing yesterday saw improved velocity from Jennings. There has been concern about Jennings' fastball, but Jennings said yesterday that he's now around where he was in 2006, when he had his best season, and it looks like the concerns that he might have to start the season on the d.l. have been put to rest.

Grant also says that Eric Hurley is probably 3rd in the race for the 5th starter slot (a job that is, hopefully, just temporary anyway), behind Luis Mendoza and Sidney Ponson.

Gil LeBreton is on the David Murphy bandwagon, and doesn't understand why Murphy hasn't won a starting job.

Ron Washington thinks that, despite their slow starts, Marlon Byrd and Ben Broussard will hit once the season starts.

Of course, neither of them have a real extensive track record of hitting well, so...

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Actually,

I think Grant has it backwards. I think them keeping Hurley around for another "A" game start shows that he may be at the forefront of the "number 5 starter" saga. Even though the records don't matter, being 0-4-1 in ST against indivision opponents doesn't help matters much. If Mendoza does not fair well against an Oakland team and Hurley does well against Seattle on Saturday, that door for the number 5 spot could be looked at two ways. Either it was just slammed wide open or wide closed.

by justabaseballfan on Mar 18, 2008 8:57 AM CDT 0 recs

I hope

that we trade Byrd. I;m getting close to saying just cut Broussard. I know its only spring, but I haven't seen him do anything useful other than have a decent glove at 1b. If we lose people who could be here going forward for him I'll be sorta annoyed.

by JKolar on Mar 18, 2008 8:57 AM CDT 0 recs

Broussard's glove at 1st

is a major factor, I think. JD and Wash are putting a lot of value on defense, and the other options at first after Broussard (Shelton, Cat, Botts) are much worse defensively. It will be interesting to see how bad Broussard has to hit for the Rangers to move in another direction this year.

by racecarr on Mar 18, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

thats fine

but its looking like the guy might be a cypher at 1b.

by JKolar on Mar 18, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up 0 recs

Defense at 1B

Do you mean ability to field balls hit his way, or catch the throws by his teammates? Is there a correlation between the two? Is one more important than the other? How do Broussard, Botts, Shelton, and Cat rate with respect to fielding balls and catching throws?

by Excel Hearts Choi on Mar 18, 2008 11:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

RZR and FPct for Broussard, Cat, and Shelton

I obviously could not find stats for Botts at 1B, but here are the numbers for the other 3. In 2007, Broussard had a .780 RZR and a .993 FPct(which is pretty average for his career), while Cat had a .750 RZR and a 1.000 FPct (in limited action, obviously). I did not see Shelton's 2007 numbers, but he had a .907 RZR and a .994 FPct in 2006 and .794 RZR and .993 FPct in 2005.

All 3 are pretty close as far as numbers, with Shelton's being a little better. Is Shelton really a better 1B than Broussard? Not from what I've heard. I don't think any of them will kill you over there, but Broussard definitely has the most experience playing there.

by racecarr on Mar 18, 2008 3:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Broussard and Byrd /will/ hit

about .250 or so.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 18, 2008 9:31 AM CDT 0 recs

I get the feeling

That JD wants players, including those out of options, to get opportunity to earn MLB jobs. And Wash apparently thinks his job is to produce an AL West pennant. Isn't it at least a year early for those aims to be in synch?

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Mar 18, 2008 9:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

it does seem

as if we would have to have absolutely everything go just about perfect to get near a pennant this year. Either that or both the M's and Halo's totally imploding.

by JKolar on Mar 18, 2008 9:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

Broussard and Byrd /will/ hit

about .250 or so.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 18, 2008 9:31 AM CDT 0 recs

Oops.

Me good computer make go.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 18, 2008 9:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agree with LeBreton

Just turn over one of the corners to Murph. Even if he should slump to the .270's, his defense makes him a lock. Too little is made of outfield defense...it's one of those "little things" that conspires to let games get out of control.

by TedFord on Mar 18, 2008 9:41 AM CDT 0 recs

the worry

is what if Murphy slumps back to what his minor league numbers say his MLB avg/obp should be.

by JKolar on Mar 18, 2008 9:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

Murphy

Some players are better than their minor league numbers indicate. See Travis Metcalf. Some players are worse. See Nelson Cruz. Fact is Murphy hit .340 in 100 or so major league at bats last season and has apparently improved since then. He deserves a shot as a starter.

by doolindalton on Mar 18, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

Travis Metcalf?

His career MiLB OPS is .771. His career MLB OPS (57 games) is .742.

How is Metcalf better than his minor league numbers indicate?

by jparks77 on Mar 18, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

the mother of all + 1's

The MURPH is a BEAST, end of story!

Kataphilia = an intense fascination for those of inferior skill sometimes brought on by ingesting massive amounts of sunflower seeds.

by LAMuscleFag on Mar 18, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

Out of the horse's mouth

Rusty Greer: "I think he's going to be better than I was."

Enough said. End of story.

But people don't fight no more. They shoot. ~Milton Bradley

by TitaniumJoe on Mar 19, 2008 7:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

Uh, yeah

whatever. I'm sure Rusty doesn't know Murphy's minor league numbers. Unless Murphy is some kind of complete freak he'll probably turn out like the other hundreds and hundreds of players with similar production during their development years. He's a 4th outfielder. A good one, but a 4th outfielder unless he has to start by default.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 19, 2008 12:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

Actually I was

just quoting Rusty. I have followed his career from the day he was drafted in 90. From what I know of him he is not one to hand out empty praise. David's minor league numbers are not such that I would dismiss Rusty's thinking on David out of hand. Since David reminds Rusty of himself, I reckon he is very much aware of David's Minor League numbers. However this may very well have been Rusty's first look at David. One certainly feels that he was impressed. Just as I have been.

I'm hoping that David gets enough PAs this year to be close enough to Rusty's 95 year for a comparison. I watch David this year with great interest.

But people don't fight no more. They shoot. ~Milton Bradley

by TitaniumJoe on Mar 19, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Most on LSB...

have followed Rusty from day 1. I was at his first ML game in Oakland. That doesn't mean just because Rusty says he reminds him of himself that he will perform that way. Let's give the guy one full year, at least, before we start that comparision please.

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

by slc ranger on Mar 19, 2008 6:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well, I agree

I expressed my hope above that David gets enough PAs this year for a comparsion which shows my willingness to wait. I simply take Rusty's pronouncement about the matter at face value for now.

But people don't fight no more. They shoot. ~Milton Bradley

by TitaniumJoe on Mar 19, 2008 8:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

I do like Murphy

in the 5 man OF mix a lot more than others, because he can play CF in a pinch.

"We should have bombed it (Auschwitz)"-President Bush

by DJCahill on Mar 20, 2008 8:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

Most players

are worse than their minor league numbers, if they are coming up later in their 20s. Its usually the younger players who come from the minors to have better numbers in the majors.

Also 100 AB is still a pretty small sample size.

I do think Murphy has a spot on an MLB roster. I'm just not convinced its as a starter yet.

by JKolar on Mar 18, 2008 12:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

With a BABIP of .410...

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jamcadbury on Mar 18, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

Improved from a .340 BA?

Are you saying that Murphy is the next Tony Gwynn?

Man, I know some people are drinking the Murph-aid, but that seems a little excessive....

Req

by Requiem on Mar 18, 2008 4:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Broussard/Byrd

I have this fantastic feeling that our offense is going to be raking to start the year only to be held back by Broussard and Byrd. Prove me wrong boys.

by slimshadty12 on Mar 18, 2008 6:26 PM CDT 0 recs

i'm hoping

I still hope that Byrd/Broussard will be traded. Though Byrd could definitely make up for part of his lackluster bat with a great glove.

by JKolar on Mar 18, 2008 9:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

Look what we got Broussard for

Tug Hulett.

He's about worthless on the trade market. Which is unfortunate, but it means we're stuck with him.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 18, 2008 9:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

maybe a bag of balls

from the mets. Sounds like they want someone to backup Delgado. But I'd almost say eat the contract and cut his butt.

by JKolar on Mar 18, 2008 10:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well

He's not that bad. And he is useful to keep the 1B seat warm for Davis, I guess... although, at this point, I'd rather see Botts or Shelton there thab him.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 18, 2008 10:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

i guess i've gotten

a very bad opinion of him watching him this week. He got on base by error only, and didn't do anything special that I saw at 1b. I'd rather let someone else who might have some future here taking time, or at least someone whos already known.

by JKolar on Mar 18, 2008 10:15 PM CDT up 0 recs