Friday a.m. things

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 21, 2008 10:46 AM CDT Comment 62 comments

As I'm sure you've noticed, we've transitioned to LSB 2.0 today. If you haven't already, make sure you read this post to know how to claim your account, use all the new features, etc.

There were rave reviews for Kevin Millwood's performance yesterday, as he threw a little over 60 pitches in 5 innings and ended up throwing in the bullpen afterwards to get to his pitch count target. Mark Connor says he'll be ready to go 90-100 pitches on Opening Day.

The S-T has some notes on relievers outings from yesterday, young pitchers impressing in the prospect game on Wednesday, and Franklyn German's push for a bullpen job.

It sounds more and more like Jarrod Saltalamacchia is heading to AAA to start the season, and Gil LeBreton says it is the right move. Saltalamacchia doesn't sound thrilled with the idea:

"I've done everything I possibly can," he said earlier in the week. "My defense has been solid. My hitting has always been there. I've done everything that I possibly could."

* * *

"It's not like they would be throwing me into the fire to keep me up here," Saltalamacchia said. "Atlanta thought I was a good enough catcher to call me up last season."

I see the arguments both ways. I think the bottom line is, the organization thinks that Saltalamacchia's future is as a catcher, that he still has some work to do defensively, and his performance last year in the majors wasn't the sort of performance that suggests he was kicking the door down. Neither was Gerald Laird, of course...but I think the organization thinks that Laird is a starting-caliber major league catcher, and is ahead of Saltalamacchia defensively.

My gut feeling is that, if a team were willing to give up what the Rangers think a starting major league catcher is worth, Laird would be dealt. Since no team is, they'll roll with Laird, and see where they are come June or July. And as I've mentioned before, I think there are teams out there that really like Saltalamacchia, and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being dealt before this time next season, particularly if Taylor Teagarden proves he is healthy.

And T.R. Sullivan has some bloggy notes up...

2 recs | Comment 62 comments

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Comments

Embedded HTML tags don't seem to be working.

I'm seeing the symbols rather than a link on Adam's entry. I've selected HTML as my editor. Anything else I should do?

If I owned a lightsaber, the blade color would be black light, so that I could use it to fight evil and to liven-up parties.

by rooster on Mar 21, 2008 10:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm

having the same trouble.

by BHill on Mar 21, 2008 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It should be fixed now...

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 21, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

Looks good.

If I owned a lightsaber, the blade color would be black light, so that I could use it to fight evil and to liven-up parties.

by rooster on Mar 21, 2008 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

Looks good.

If I owned a lightsaber, the blade color would be black light, so that I could use it to fight evil and to liven-up parties.

by rooster on Mar 21, 2008 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh

damn hrefs.

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

by Chase Irwin on Mar 21, 2008 10:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Geez Salty

what have you ever done at AAA?

the truth.

by Longhorn on Mar 21, 2008 10:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Holland...

The second coming of CJ?

If I owned a lightsaber, the blade color would be black light, so that I could use it to fight evil and to liven-up parties.

by rooster on Mar 21, 2008 11:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's hope so.

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

by Chase Irwin on Mar 21, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It wouldn't seem a stretch to see him starting off

at Bakersfield, based on the buzz.

If I owned a lightsaber, the blade color would be black light, so that I could use it to fight evil and to liven-up parties.

by rooster on Mar 21, 2008 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why not?

Spokane was a breeze. They would just have to watch his innings at BAK.

Next track for OC, et al:

Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One

by Chase Irwin on Mar 21, 2008 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Couple of articles on Holland

Wallace St. press release when Rangers drafted him

Tricer's post at Newberg

If I owned a lightsaber, the blade color would be black light, so that I could use it to fight evil and to liven-up parties.

by rooster on Mar 21, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Salty

I have to say, that attitude concerns me a little bit. I don't blame the guy for wanting his shot at the majors, but if he were put on the team, he would be splitting time at best, and that really isn't what he needs developmentally right now.

That sense of dissatisfaction makes me think he's going to be gone. Just a feeling.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Mar 21, 2008 11:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I understand that view

But I like the fact that he doesn't want to go down quietly. If he thinks he deserves to be up with the big club, then it's fine with me if he gets angry and goes to AAA and tears the cover off the ball. Now if he takes that anger and decides to whine and pout down there.....

by racecarr on Mar 21, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Laird

I don't think it was the best statement to make, but if we were shipping off catchers after dumb statements, Jerry Laird would be long gone by now.

by venturafearsnolan on Mar 21, 2008 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

New LSB Logo

Adam, is there any sense that we should make a new LSB Logo? I'm obviously used to and happy with the current one, but it could be a neat idea if we have a competition to make a 2.0 Logo.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Mar 21, 2008 11:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The logo

The SBNation guys handle that.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 21, 2008 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh

...Bucky rocks!

'cos everybody hates a tourist especially one who thinks it's all such a laugh

by Escher on Mar 21, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bucky

He kind of reminds me of Sharky, sometimes...

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 21, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sharky 2000

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Mar 21, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Decisions, decisions

I think the two biggest conundrums for this team this spring are (1) what to do with Salty, and (2) whether to just go ahead and give Murphy a corner outfield spot.

II Cor. 4:17-18

by TedFord on Mar 21, 2008 11:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

Washington would be giving Murphy anything. He has earned any and all playing time he gets. With ~ 2/3 of SP being RHP, Murphy will get plenty of ABs.

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by RangerMad on Mar 21, 2008 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Salty

just needs to go to AAA and rake....then everything will work itself out.

by clinton33 on Mar 21, 2008 11:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i like the layout

but I think Salty should start in the bigs not in AAA. I know the Rangers have the whole thing about practicing patience with the youngsters but Salty needs to be under pressure and Laird seems to only hit well when there are threats of him losing his job.

I like you, I like baseball!

by RangerMack on Mar 21, 2008 12:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't disagree

with the pressure viewpoint. Pressure can be good for development. However, we have a Major League ready defensive catcher in Laird (the throwing error yesterday not withstanding) and until we get that value offer he should be our starting catcher. Saltalamacchia is only 22 and has yet to prove that AAA does not have anything to offer him. Besides, I havn't seen Teagarden and I already have tickets for all of Frisco's opening games at Springfield. I wouldn't mind if he was there at least for that set.

by TitaniumJoe on Mar 22, 2008 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

fine fine

but please bring salt up FULL TIME after the ASB

send me nominations for the Hall of the Very Good
http://www.buchanan4pres2008.org/
NIXON: NOW MORE THAN EVER

by gossamer on Mar 21, 2008 12:05 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Hooray!

You guys can now use the "rec" feature instead of +1ing every other comment.

by chief on Mar 21, 2008 12:09 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs

+1

had to do it

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Mar 21, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+2

Milton Bradley for MVP

by miles on Mar 21, 2008 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

there is somethign to be said

for personally approving a message as opposed to anonymously approving it

by ab03 on Mar 21, 2008 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Recommendations aren't anonymous

When you recommend a comment or a post, that recommendation appears on your profile. For example, check out tdi1985's profile to see his recommendation of this post.

I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation

by lovitt on Mar 21, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

gotcha

but its not obvious which two people recommended chief's post, right?

by ab03 on Mar 21, 2008 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

It would be nice if you could easily see which specific people recommended any given comment or post. I will run that idea by the team.

I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation

by lovitt on Mar 21, 2008 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i've seen other boards implement this

when you click on the number of recommendations, it reveals who recommended it

by ab03 on Mar 21, 2008 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You must be joking

The Internet is about as anonymous as it gets. Do you think that a poster actually feels better to see a bunch of nicknames posting +1 - +4 rather than just seeing that his/her post has been recommended 4 times? The whole rec concept is great because it eliminates unnecessary posts that don't have to be scrolled through. Especially since someone like me can come back later and think "Oh hey, 3 new posts. Maybe there's something insightful to read" but NO! it's +1 posts.

by chief on Mar 21, 2008 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmm

i guess this is a pet peeve

1) if i'm trying to say something earlier in the thread and someone does a better job of saying it down below, i want to show that I personally agree with the sentiment

2) there are a few non anonymous nicknames out there. not that i'm looking for validation from adam or anything (I doubt he even uses +1) but just saying

that being said, I'm not sure if I've ever used +1 (maybe a couple times) but I don't really like it. but I could see why the anonymous recommendations aren't the same. it makes a difference if only certain people (even if they are only internet personas) are agreeing with you. I think the suggestion above would be best for both of us.

by ab03 on Mar 21, 2008 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+4

Next track for OC, et al:

Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One

by Chase Irwin on Mar 21, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to say, by the way,

I love the forced previews. Really nice, in a "take a deep breath and make sure that's really what you want to say" kind of way.

Glenallen Hill Secrets

by a bebop a rebop on Mar 21, 2008 12:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And this 'z' thing is super nice.

I get tired of ctrl-f, "[new]".

Really nice job with the new sites as far as I can see.

Glenallen Hill Secrets

by a bebop a rebop on Mar 21, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah,

the 'z' thing is the greatest thing of all time.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Mar 21, 2008 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I haven't quite found the 'z' thing.

point me to it please.

If I owned a lightsaber, the blade color would be black light, so that I could use it to fight evil and to liven-up parties.

by rooster on Mar 21, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

just press the z button

in any thread with new comments. It automatically zooms you to the first new post. Pretty damn slick.

by a bebop a rebop on Mar 21, 2008 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The "Z"

Press C tab through new comments, Shift-C to tab backwards, and X to mark a comment as read. Z will simultaneously unmark and tab forward, and R will reply to the comment that has focus.

keyboard shortcuts

by BHill on Mar 21, 2008 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

test

comment

by richardtodd on Mar 21, 2008 12:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

us

older folks will take a day or 2 to learn it but, we'll get there.

* "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." - Yogi Berra

by camartin44 on Mar 21, 2008 1:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Day or two?

I still didn't know how to do everything on the old LSB.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 21, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Z thing

is pretty much greatness

by Dirk Diggler on Mar 21, 2008 1:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

heh, glad you agree

some of the guy on AthleticsNation found themselves trying to use Z on on other, non-SB Nation sites. Our dev team had the same experience. It's totally addictive.

I'm one of the guys who built the new SB Nation. Please don't hesitate to give us feedback.

by sixfoot6 on Mar 21, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LSB 2.0

Well, the upgrade finally made me break down and get an account.

I've been a Lone Star Ball fan for about a year now. Along with Blogging the Boys, it's easily one of the best team-centric blogs out there.

Anyways, just wanted to poke my head in and say what a great job you do on this site, Adam. I doubt I'll be commenting much, cause it's not really my thing, but I'm sure some of these new features will be to my liking ... although God knows I don't need another excuse to waste my time looking at this site. ;)

by MeanMr.Mustard on Mar 21, 2008 1:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Blogging the Boys

will be upgraded soon and you'll be able to use your same SB Nation account to comment and post over there as well

I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation

by clockwerks on Mar 21, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excellent

I was actually kind of surprised LSB switched before BTB — I thought BTB was one of the "flagship" blogs of SB Nation, if there is such a thing.

I'm loving the new roster/stats/schedule interface. You guys did some great work on the upgrade.

by MeanMr.Mustard on Mar 21, 2008 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BTB definitely came after LSB

and I haven't been over there in a while, but I have a feeling LSB gets more traffic.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Mar 22, 2008 1:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

try it out

Commenting, I mean. I'm sure it could become your thing... I was a lurker on here for about 6 months before I made my first post, and I'm sure that's true for a lot of people around here.

by a bebop a rebop on Mar 21, 2008 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1

Next track for OC, et al:

Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One

by Chase Irwin on Mar 21, 2008 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm scared

This new format is really different. This will take some getting used to.

by DaheelzCM on Mar 21, 2008 5:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

We look like MLB.com

The overall look of LSB looks a heckuva lot like MLB.com, which just got redisigned a couple days ago.

I'm with you, I'm not a fan of the LSB 2.0... there's too much going on here. The other one was simple and straightforward, which I appreciated.

I do like some of the new features, but I would have preferred it if they would have kept the new design a little simpler, closer to the old one.

I could use some baseball.

by lonestarJon on Mar 21, 2008 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Salty's comments

I can't blame Salty for his comments. The way things went this offseason and this spring, he was told that the organization had commited to him at catcher (which, if you're Salty, you probably assume means at the ML level), then he was told he had to compete for the job, which he handled well, and then all of a sudden, he became the underdog for the job just as soon as spring training started.

So I understand his frusteration, and I think he's a whole lot more justified in it that Mr. 5 Tools Laird.

Hopefully, he'll use this as a motivator to tear up AAA and work even harder on his defense, and get back and kick Lairds sorry ass out of the starting catcher role, ASAP.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 21, 2008 6:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Catching Situation

You should hope that while Salty is in AAA, that Laird is not sucking at the ML level.

Anyhow, I'm just not for sure why you are so hell bent on making sure that he starts right now. He's not hit one day in AAA and really didn't show too much over here after the trade.

If he is what everyone says he is then he will go to AAA and prove it and earn the job anyhow in due time.

by Chris Hanes on Mar 21, 2008 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want Salty in the Majors

Because I think his bat is ready now, and I want to see him stay sharp, and continue to develop it in the Majors.

I've seen the difference between AAA and ML pitching with Jason Botts and Nelson Cruz - I just don't think it's going to be the same challenge for Salty as the Majors, and I don't want to see him atrophy down there for half a season while we get to enjoy the spareness of Laird. Just my opinion.

BTW, Chris, are you a Marine? I see you have the globe and anchor for your avitar. My Dad was a Navy corpsman with to the 3rd Force Recon in Vietnam - if you are a leatherneck, I pass along a "ooh-rah" from him.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 21, 2008 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Navy Corpsman

Much respect for the corpsman. I've been in the Marines for 16 years and some of the best guys I've met have been corpsman.

Here's the deal on the Laird/Salty situation Jon. If Laird proves himself to be a serviceable catcher for the Rangers this year, you must admit it and come on here to eat your crow. If he blows as bad as you say he will and Salty goes to AAA and rakes and makes the decision look stupid I will do the same.

by Chris Hanes on Mar 21, 2008 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well sir, I thank you for your service to this country

16 years is a long time - what do you do?

As for Laird, here's my arguement:

He's 28. We have two great prospects in Salty and Teagarden. Even if Laird does turn out to be servicable, he'll still have no place on this team in another year or two.

That's why I don't see the sense in letting him start for us again this year. We've gotten interest from the Reds, Brewers, Rays and even Padres for him - I think his trade value has peaked with his strong spring. I don't think it'll get any higher, because according to his stats, he can't hit RHP - once he starts the year and has to go all 9 innings against RHP again, his bat will most likely cool off.

So I don't see the reasoning in playing him now, and sending Salty to AAA, which also bumps TayTea back to AA. It throws a wrench into the entire developmental situation - and since this is a development year, I don't see why that's acceptable.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 21, 2008 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that

Laird has reached his peak value, maybe. JD is smart. He probably knows what he could also get at the July trading deadline. He wants to make sure he gets back equal value for Laird, a starting catcher. As for Saltalamacchia going to AAA, I don't think it is that big of a deal. If he only goes for a few months.

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by RangerMad on Mar 21, 2008 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs