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Wednesday a.m. things

Th_buckykatt_tiny by Adam J. Morris on in News

Five solid innings for Luis Mendoza yesterday, and that's apparently allowed him to pretty well lock down the 5th starter job, at least until Brandon McCarthy returns (although that also assumes everyone else stays healthy).

Mendoza is what he is, a relatively low-ceiling guy who may have a future as a back of the rotation starter or middle reliever.  I'm fine with sticking him in there as a placeholder for now.

Evan Grant says C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit each pitched an inning yesterday, and should be good to go to start the season.

Grant also has a new newsletter up, that addresses the catching situation, among other things, and speculates that Jason Botts is going to end up winning the battle for a roster spot that is going on between him, Nelson Cruz, and Kevin Mench.

Grant also says, as part of an essay explaining why he thinks Gerald Laird starting the year in the majors and Jarrod Saltalamacchia starting in the minors makes sense, that he thinks Salty is the long-term catching answer, and as part of that explanation, says that "Taylor Teagarden may be too fragile to stay behind the plate."

If that's the case, that's troubling, because if Teagarden can't stay behind the plate, he really doesn't have a major league future.  

And T.R. Sullivan talks about the inherent tension between Ron Washington's goals and Jon Daniels' goals, with Washington wanting to win now and Daniels looking more long-term.  Sullivan also explains why a rebuilding team has added guys like Ben Broussard and Sidney Ponson on short-term deals...

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MLB.com
has a new video interview with Mark Connor up.  He sums up the current status of the pitching staff pretty nicely -
http://tinyurl.com/26l6vd
If you click on "My Team" you can get some other recent interviews as well - Kaz, Botts [goofiness] and a sorta edgy Salty.

I also ran across this quote from Worsh.  He was asked by a USAToday guy which players the fans should be excited about.  He said three - Milt, Hambone ... and ...

My 'sleeper' is Ben Broussard. I always liked this guy when I saw him play in Cleveland, and when I had an opportunity to get him to be my first baseman, I jumped at it. He brings good defense. He's a good teammate and he certainly gets a lot of big hits. He's certainly going to get the opportunity to go out there every day and if that doesn't happen as we go through the season that would be because Ben Broussard made the change, not because Ron Washington made the change.

World's Most Dangerous Hiking Trail

by shroomer on Mar 19, 2008 12:17 PM CDT   0 recs

Worsh
'..not because Ron Worshington made the change.'

Great.

by jparks77 on Mar 19, 2008 12:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Video
I feel sort of bad watching those.  I get such an invasion of privacy vibe.  You can only justify it by thinking how much they get paid.

Some of those dudes aren't really public speakers, either.  They just don't look comfortable.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Mar 19, 2008 12:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Washington
It really is time for him to go.  He will never take this team anywhere IMO.
Fire Ron Washington

by pblack on Mar 19, 2008 12:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

"really is time"
yeah, that one year with a bad lineup has told us so much

by ab03 on Mar 19, 2008 4:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

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

by slc ranger on Mar 19, 2008 6:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1
Wash is a baseball idiot, who refuses to play young players because they are too "inexperienced".

He needs to go not because he's a bad guy, but because he's the wrong guy to be managing this tema in a critical time of rebuilding.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 19, 2008 6:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Baseball idiot?
Alright, that may be going too far.  I don't agree with everything he does but the man has been a professional player, coach, and now manager for a long time.  He probably knows something about baseball.  

There are too many people here (myself included) who are not willing to give rookies a break.  Did the team not play well in the 2nd half after the get to know you phase wore off?

I call a moratorium on Wash bashing until he's actually been around managing enough to even know something about him.  Calling him an idiot now is a little premature.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 19, 2008 9:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Mendoza
He went 13-9 with a 4.75 ERA in my simmed season in MLB 08 The Show.

Botts hit about .190

by chief on Mar 19, 2008 12:18 PM CDT   0 recs

13-9, 4.75
I'd happily take that from a No. 5 starter.

by Inkara1 on Mar 19, 2008 12:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

MLB '08
How do you like that? Any difference between that and the older versions? Does it still have the player creator/editor feature?
A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 19, 2008 6:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

08
I owned 06 for the PS2 last, so I'm not sure how the features compare to 07, but I'm pleasantly surprised with this new version.  The graphics are spectacular.  Game mechanics haven't changed too much, except for the "Road to the Show" mode where you create a player and work your way through the minors.  It's the first time I've seen an in-game position POV.  So if you're a first baseman, the camera is behind you.  You can charge home on a bunt attempt, or choose to play closer to the line.  It's very cool.

As far as player creation, it's spectacular.  If you spend enough time on it, you can create damn near anyone.  My example:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/tarballa/deckermug.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j298/tarballa/030508_17441.jpg

by chief on Mar 19, 2008 8:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow
Sounds spectacular. I have the '06 version for PS2 as well, and it's literally the only baseball game I play these days. I really like the MLB 05-8 franchise - they have the best graphics and overall presentation, IMO. I really like Matt Vasgersian as the PBP guy.
A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 19, 2008 10:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Teagarden
I have to admit his durability is the one thing that makes me nervous about trading Salty and relying on him to be the long-term answer behind the plate.  Yes Texas has a surplus of catchers right now, but catcher can descend to a organizational weakness faster than any other position: trade Salty, an injury to Tea, Laird can't hit, MaxRam can't field...

That said, even a Teagarden who can play only 3 games a week could be a very strong asset as a half-time catcher, particularly if Max Ramirez (or Salty) can learn to catch and hit well enough to be a 50% catcher/50% DH/1b.  

by JBImaknee on Mar 19, 2008 12:30 PM CDT   0 recs

Why...
would you ever have your backup catcher DH'ing?
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Mar 19, 2008 12:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Life is all about risks baby!
If people didn't do stupid things because common sense dictated they shouldn't, we wouldn't have the years of entertainment found in such as items as the Darwin's List.  Then where would we be?

by Athos on Mar 19, 2008 12:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why not?
What's the over/under on how long it takes for Dwyade to show up at Heat practice limping on the wrong leg?

by thedirkatron on Mar 19, 2008 8:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hmm ...
So in the space of about a week or 10 days, Grant has gone from predicting Botts' demise to saying he is going to win the roster battle and be on the team opening day.  I wonder what changed?

by Athos on Mar 19, 2008 12:43 PM CDT   0 recs

Wash
Spent time with him, working on first base footwork and fundamentals.  Therefore, he's an RW product.  Note RW is starting the same ritual with Mench.  So far, your manager has not worked with Nelson Cruz on footwork, being a picking machine, how to play 1B in a pinch, or morphing into a veteran.
'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 19, 2008 12:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

and
there have been several comments lately from Daniels and Washington about his aggressiveness at the plate.  It all sums up to a goodbye party for your fav Cruz, Ed.
A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 19, 2008 12:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Beginning to believe it
Starting with his being shelved until late inning replacement time.
'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 19, 2008 1:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Cruz
my only hope for him at this point is that they can trade him for something rather than lose him to waivers.
Theory: Jeter wears rings on fielding hand,rendering fielding borderline impossible.

by rentz on Mar 20, 2008 8:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If I'm a contending team
I think I'd rather sign Kenny Lofton as a 4th/5th OF as Cruz.

You'd have to be a non contender with glaring holes on your bench to worry about claiming Cruz.  An OF who can't hit the curveball, and really can't play CF really doesn't have a place.

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

by DJCahill on Mar 20, 2008 8:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Catcher situation
I don't think anybody in this forum has voiced more displeasure over Gerald Laird than myself. But I would actually be alright with going forward with him if both Teagarden and Salty could be traded for very good or elite pitching prospects.

I fully realize that this is not practical, but my point is that both of those guys have the type of value that might bring in that rarest of commodities - near ready SP with a high ceiling. I don't think the catcher position is going to propel us into contention, even if we have an elite player there. But the rotation could, so I'd be alright with moving either Salty or Teagarden for a top shelf young pitcher if that opportunity arises.

I don't see how the Rangers are going to move forward without adding some real quality to the rotation. Hurley and Harrison are on the way, but we are going to need more than those 2, even if both pan out. Trading away Salty and/or Teagarden is the only feasible way that I see for us to get an impact arm that could possibly slot towards the front of the rotation. If we don't get that type of pitcher in trade, then we are either going to have to rely on offering a gaudy FA contract and hope against hope that they take the offer and pan out, or alternatively wait until one or more of the teenage arms get all the way to the show. I'd rather not wait as long as that would take.

Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 19, 2008 1:26 PM CDT   0 recs

I think JD feels the same way, concerning
the quality of the rotation.  He was in on Santana.  Fearless.  Last year he was in on Oswalt.  The year before that there was the Beckett situation.

Gotta figure JD will be in on Kazmir next offseason, but I don't know if the Rangers will be willing to send some arms to the Rays, which is the reported price for the Sweater.

If CC hits the market, I'm certain JD will be 1st in line.  CC is on a WS contender.  We all know there's only one reason he'd hit the market.

Vitamin B12. You can get it in cereal or by an injection in the buttocks. Only one of the two ways ensures mutant muscle growth.

by rooster on Mar 19, 2008 2:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I just looked through the Rays cache of players.
Man!  That is a really great collection of young players.  Hopefully they mature quickly and cause a stir in the AL East this year or next.

Longoria comes to camp and hits .313/.477/.719.
David Price, without a minor league game to his name, gets a look and in 2 IP has 3 K, 0 BB, and 0 H.  Plus, he hit someone just to show he's a badass, I guess.

I don't think they'll be all that interested in much of what the Rangers have in the minors, outside of pitching.

Vitamin B12. You can get it in cereal or by an injection in the buttocks. Only one of the two ways ensures mutant muscle growth.

by rooster on Mar 19, 2008 3:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Rays
Might have need of a catcher or 2b. Those are the 2 positions that they don't have a lot of talent that is near ready.

We actually match up pretty well with them I think.

Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 19, 2008 3:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not sure what I think about Navarro.
Agree at 2B, though.

I'm trying to decide if I'll be happy if JD goes after Sheets next offseason.

Vitamin B12. You can get it in cereal or by an injection in the buttocks. Only one of the two ways ensures mutant muscle growth.

by rooster on Mar 19, 2008 3:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Personally
I want no part of Kazmir. He's a total cliff dweller.

He allows a lot of baserunners and always seems to be laboring to work his way out of trouble, usually via the strikeout. If his stuff slips even just a little I think he's gonna go from great straight to not-very-good in no time flat.

Throw in the fact he's thrown a ton of innings at a very young age and there's just too much risk for me to throw the kind of prospect/money package it'd take to get him out of Tampa.

What's the over/under on how long it takes for Dwyade to show up at Heat practice limping on the wrong leg?

by thedirkatron on Mar 19, 2008 8:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I also would rather
acquire a 1-2 starter via trade. Saltalamacchia or Teagarden plus a low A pitcher just might do it. It probably wouldn't happen until after this season.
"This has been a team effort. No one or two guys could have done all this." - Casey Stengel, after the Mets lost 120 games in 1962

by RangerMad on Mar 19, 2008 2:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't understand...
why everyone seems so anxious to trade away a 22-year-old catcher. Evan Grant's position in the DMN mailbag makes perfect sense to me -- in fact, I remember a Rangers broadcast last year where Josh and Tom talked about where other Rangers stars were when they were 22 (or maybe this was another Evan Grant article in the DMN). I think one of the Rangers was in AAA/the majors at the time, and a few of them were playing average ball in the minors.

Obviously, he's not a defensive stud right now, but I don't see why we should trade him away instead of Laird. I agree that we might need another solid pitcher in our rotation, but isn't it a bit soon to be talking about that? None of us knows where this team will be in a year (especially given how our much of this year lies on "hope").

by jwiscarson on Mar 19, 2008 3:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It's never
too soon to be talking about improving our rotation.  The Rangers are only going to go as far as our arms take us.  The arms we currently have are going to take us all the way to 4th place with an outside shot at 3rd.

by jparks77 on Mar 19, 2008 3:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

anxiety
I'm not anxious to trade a 22 year old stud catcher, not at all. However, I am very anxious to improve the rotation - that should be the top priority and I think the best way to do that is going to be to trade for one or more high ceiling, near ready SP. That requires giving up talent.

How else do you propose improving the starting pitching?

Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 19, 2008 3:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Patience...
...and waiting on guys like Eric Hurley to make it to the majors.

I think we all agree that unless a lot of things roll our way this year in an unprecedented fashion, we're rebuilding. Why not let Laird play out a full season in the majors, Salty a full season honing his skills in AAA (then he'd be an ancient 23-year-old), and then re-evaluate at next year's spring training? It isn't like Laird is in his late-30s, and as Grant pointed out, there are always teams willing to take even the most mediocre catching talent (see Rod Barajas).

I just don't think it makes sense for us to talk about trading anybody when we really don't know what we have at catcher right now. I'll just brief the questions that I recall:

Will Laird ever figure out how to hit again? Will he be better if he owns the starting catcher job outright? Is he so good defensively that we don't want anyone else out there right now? Can Salty make the necessary adjustments behind the plate to handle a major league staff? If not, does he have enough pop to fill in at first? Should we wait a year to see how this plays out? Why bother with Salty when Taylor Teagarden is so close behind and we have a surplus of catching talent?

All I'm saying is that we have a lot of unknowns right now, and I don't think it makes sense for us to try to guess which of those unknowns needs the greatest amount of help right now. I just don't see how the Rangers lose by letting Laird have at least the majority of this season catching on his own and sending Salty to AAA.

by jwiscarson on Mar 19, 2008 6:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

the area that needs the most help
It's not really an unknown. It's the rotation.

I'm not saying to go looking for a taker for Salty until you find someone that will take him. I am saying that if someone makes an offer of an elite SP prospect for him, I'd pull the trigger without hesitation.

Oftentimes, a proactive approach to problem solving is the most effective. The idea of "well, lets wait around and let everybody develop and see who is good and who isn't in a couple years" doesn't really do anything to solve the big problem around here - finding effective starting pitching. If you make some moves to add potential front of the rotation starters and end up with a surplus in that area - it won't be any trouble at all to pawn that excess into whatever else that is needed.

Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 19, 2008 6:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Trading Laird/Salty....
Depends on which guy can bring back the most useful collection of talent.  Salty, the thinking goes, can bring back a more talented prospect or stable of prospects than Laird.

But, if Salty plus the return on Laird is greater than Laird plus the return on Salty.... trade Laird.

What happens with these two will depend upon the circumstances of the trade market, IMO.

Vitamin B12. You can get it in cereal or by an injection in the buttocks. Only one of the two ways ensures mutant muscle growth.

by rooster on Mar 19, 2008 3:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Melhuse hits 'Hamiltonian' shot
Haha, a new buzz-word for this year?

From T.R.

I am Breed Grayhawk!

by Rodney on Mar 19, 2008 2:17 PM CDT   0 recs

Prospect list - Top-50 hitters
From some guy at BDD named Rob -
http://blog.baseballdigestdaily.com/blog/_archives/2008/3/19/3589939.html

Comments:
Chris Davis' SO's are holding him back in these rankings.
Hank Conger is 5th and has a partially torn labrum.  The catching market tilts our way a little more - bwahahahahaha
Denton's Austin Jackson - sigh, I told ya so
Look at some of the names ranked lower than Whittleman - wow
Look who came in 50th!  Ha!  Zywica's gonna roll over in his grave - I assume he died since he's AWOL.

World's Most Dangerous Hiking Trail

by shroomer on Mar 19, 2008 3:10 PM CDT   0 recs

#15 Pearce
The Pirates just sent him to minor league camp.  That has to be more frustrating to Pirates fans than the Botts situation has been to Rangers fans.
Vitamin B12. You can get it in cereal or by an injection in the buttocks. Only one of the two ways ensures mutant muscle growth.

by rooster on Mar 19, 2008 3:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

frustrated fans
Think how the Rays fans are feeling right now, since Evan Longoria has been sent to minor league camp, apparently for no reason other than to delay his arbitration clock.
Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 19, 2008 3:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Arb clock
That might be a very smart thing, though, considering how many young guys they have to consider paying for in a few years.  Delaying his arrival might mean the difference in being able to hold onto one more player during their contention window.  I can't fault them for that.
A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 19, 2008 4:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Free agency clock
If he's on the opening day roster and never is sent back down, he'll be a free agent after 2013.  If they wait a few weeks and then call him up, he's not a free agent until after 2014.

Probably what Texas should have done with Teixeira in 2003.

by AZranger on Mar 19, 2008 6:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ryan Braun
The Brewers were in a similiar situation last year with Braun. They kept him in the minors for a couple of months and successfully delayed his free agency eligibility. They also missed the playoffs by 2 games. Hard to say that it was a wise decision.
Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 19, 2008 6:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Braun
Was not the reason they missed the playoffs. The reason they missed the playoffs was Ben Sheets went down, Chris Capuano sucked, and so did the bullpen.

This year, and in the years to come, however, they should have a much stronger team, and Braun will be with the team for a longer amount of time - I'd say that's a wise decision any way you slice it.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 19, 2008 6:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Brewers 3b
Craig Counsell started 50 games at 3b for the Brewers at the beginning of the season and posted a 65 OPS+. He was replaced by Braun who posted a 153 OPS+. I think it is very reasonable to suggest that had Braun replaced Counsell for those first 50 games, it could have easily made a difference in 2 games - which was the margin that they missed the playoffs by.
Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 19, 2008 7:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

True
But would you rather get into the playoffs with a weak pitching staff, and a limited chance to win, or would you rather tack on some extra time to how long you control a player like Ryan Braun?

I'll take Braun every time.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 19, 2008 7:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

playoffs...
anything could happen there. Especially in the NL. Just look at the last few years with the Rockies and the Cardinals. The Brewers have as good a shot as any NL team to make a run.

It's no guarantee that the Brewers would have a shot at the playoffs in that extra year they have Braun. You give up 1 year of 1 player for the playoffs. Even for a player like Braun.

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

by slc ranger on Mar 19, 2008 7:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd take the playoffs
That is the whole point of putting a team together. Who knows what the Brewers team will look like in 2013, maybe they are playoff contenders, maybe they aren't. And Colorado didn't seem to suffer too much by having a weak pitching staff in the NL playoffs, they will be unveiling a pennant at their home opener.

And if you want to keep Braun, you have 5 more years to negotiate an extension. It's not like he automatically leaves town after 6 years.

Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 19, 2008 7:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe it's just me
But you seem to constantly argue some really weak positions.
Hambone, Hambone where you been? I been around these bases, and I'm going again.

by tricer on Mar 19, 2008 7:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Concur...
In Jon's defense I believe he is a relatively new baseball/Rangers fan. I thought I remember him saying he started being a fan in 03 or 04?

I think he really likes the game, but still has some things to learn, as I know I do. There are a lot of people on this site (including yourself) who's baseball knowledge is extremly high. Jon strikes me as a casual fan who would like to work his way up to that level.

Perhaps someone here should adopt him as their young padawon? Much to learn this young one has.

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

by slc ranger on Mar 19, 2008 8:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I started
watching in the middle of 03.
Mike Greenberg likes sucking on his microphone.

by miles on Mar 19, 2008 8:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It was late 2004
And I admit, I don't know everything there is to know about baseball yet. I don't know everthing about anything, really - although I kind of doubt I'm the dumbest guy around here either.

But hey, I'm willing to learn - and I have learned a lot since joining LSB - it's all part of the fun, after all.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 19, 2008 8:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't think you're dumb...
at all. Sorry if it came off that way. I'm in no way implying that. Just relatively new to the game, compared to many hardcore fans that are here on LSB.

I've been a diehard fan since I was about 9 years old, so about 20 years. I've only been here on LSB for less than a year though. I have learned quite a bit as well from the LSBers. Some of these guys just know a ton about the Rangers and baseball in general. You are in the right place if you want to continue to learn about the game. Just don't be afraid to state your opinion Jon.

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

by slc ranger on Mar 19, 2008 8:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In this scenario,
you always take the shot at the playoffs regardless of what chance you have to win.  Don't forget, most people didn't think the Rockies had a chance to advance very far in the playoffs last season either. Anything can happen.

by jparks77 on Mar 19, 2008 7:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The Rox had a better pitching staff
But yes, it's true anything can happen... but it doesn't mean anything will.

I really doubt the Brewers would have been able to beat the Rox or the D-backs in the playoffs - that's what I'm basing my reasoning on. I just don't think Milwaukee was a strong enough team to have won it all last year.

Irregardless of that, if you want to look at it from another angle, there's no real garuntee bringing Braun up earlier would have won them those extra two games. His defense, after all was horrible - if you're going to go by the "well, anything could have happened" arguement, for all we know he could have made some errors that could have cost the Brewers the same amount of games he won them.

In the end, I don't really see that arguing either side of this issue makes for that strong an arguement - it's too much of a "what if" scenario to really successfully predict one way or the other.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 19, 2008 7:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Austin Jackson
I wanted him so bad. I've been following him ever since he first appeared in BA back in there "best by age" feature as, iirc, a 15 year old.

It's always nice to see someone representin' Denton out there in the big old real world.

I also hear the Dodgers are still high on Javy Guerra despite his pretty poor numbers last year since he was working his way through some injury troubles and wasn't 100%. His stuff is apparently still very good. Hopefully he'll breakout this year.

What's the over/under on how long it takes for Dwyade to show up at Heat practice limping on the wrong leg?

by thedirkatron on Mar 19, 2008 9:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1
He was sick at basketball too. I'm sure you've seen him play.
"The back of our rotation ... One guy that couldn't break a mirror with his fastball and another that could break a mirror just by looking at it." - Tricer

by Chase Irwin on Mar 20, 2008 12:19 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Im not sure how you could say
Tea wont have a future if he isnt catching. To me that sounds silly.  If his bat holds up and comes around than this team will find a spot for him.  Plus he could platoon at catcher right?  I mean he doesnt have to be a full time catcher to have a M.L. career.
"Gerald Laird = Beast" Adam J Morris

by NYTXFAN on Mar 19, 2008 4:30 PM CDT   0 recs

Don't forget
about Max Ramirez, he is a beast.
Mike Greenberg likes sucking on his microphone.

by miles on Mar 19, 2008 5:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Who was the last...
full-time ML player to platoon at CA and OF?
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Mar 19, 2008 6:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

A Florida Marlin
Josh Willingham I think. I think he is a full time OF'er now though.
Get your weeds killed with the Weed Terminator, Inc.

by boomer1 on Mar 19, 2008 6:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well...
You seem to have shifted gears halfway through your argument, going from "he can be a successful major leaguer without catching" to "he doesn't have to be a full time catcher."

If he isn't catching, he's got two positions available to him -- 1B or DH.

I doubt he'll hit well enough to be a quality major leaguer at either of those positions.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 19, 2008 6:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1
Tea isn't going to be a DH or a first baseman. People vastly overrate his offense, but he's had only one good year in limited time at AA, and his BB/K numbers also took a dive last year when he got to Frisco.

He'll be a solid offensive catcher, but he's not going to be a Victor Martinez or something, where he can be moved to first later in his career.

Saltalamacchia, on the other hand, does have that kind of potential - which is why it mystifies me why people think Teagarden is the more valuable of the two players.  

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 19, 2008 6:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

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