Tuesday a.m. things

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 4, 2008 9:42 AM CST in News

Evan Grant says Ben Broussard will be playing against lefties and righties this season, after being just a platoon player for most of his career. Broussard says that playing every day should help him get into (and stay in a groove).

That may be so. However, with Hank Blalock, Josh Hamilton, and Ben Broussard in the lineup every day, plus David Murphy as the 4th outfielder, this team could be pretty weak offensively against lefthanders.

Randy Galloway has a rambling column today, saying that the Rangers need wins now rather than prospects down the road, but then says "The Plan" is good, but then says they probably won't stick to it and Tom Hicks will change his mind and besides, Jon Daniels probably isn't a good enough g.m. to make it work anyway (and Nolan may fire Daniels soon enough)...

One of the things Galloway carps about, interestingly enough, is the Adam Eaton/Chris Young trade...

But it seems to me that if you are going to kill a g.m. for making a bad trade, shouldn't you at least acknowledge it if you thought it was a great trade at the time? Someone should email Randy and ask about that...

Anthony Andro has a way too optimistic story about Marlon Byrd, saying Byrd is still "working to become a star" and suggesting that Matt Kata could become the answer to a trivia question down the road, since he was the person who beat out Byrd for the last spot on the roster in 2007...

I think Byrd will be back to 4th outfielder duties by July...and I'm not sure why he would be ahead of David Murphy in the pecking order anyway...

And in the spring notes, German Duran talks about touring the Texas League and Ben Broussard talks guitarists.

Tweet Comment 33 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Well

Fortunately, there aren't that many lefties in our division at least. By my count, we have DiNardo, Saunders, Washburn, and of course Bedard as starters. 3 of the 4 are average to slightly above average, and Bedard doesn't scare me as an untouchable ace. Sure you may be right that the lineup could struggle against lefties, but it seems to me a calculated risk with the upside being that we mash the much larger number of righties.

by brettgardner on Mar 4, 2008 9:50 AM CST reply actions

Plus the unstoppable beast

that is Carlos Silva.

Look out, March. February is engorged and it's poking into you!

by thedirkatron on Mar 5, 2008 12:38 AM CST up reply actions

Gallo's take

I think Ryan will give JD the whole year and see how he performs and then in the offseason will decide if JD should keep his job or not.
If JD repeats his performance from last year then I think he will retain his job and I don't think Ryan wants to be a GM but I think he wants his employees be the best at their given positions.

by Choclate ll on Mar 4, 2008 9:53 AM CST reply actions

JD

The Rangers wouldn't have just extended him through 2011 if they had any thought of reevaluating him in the offseason.

by Randy Richardson on Mar 4, 2008 10:00 AM CST up reply actions

Au Contraire

It happens all the time.

I'll be a Troll. Try crossing my bridge, Sally!

by Clueless on Mar 4, 2008 4:12 PM CST up reply actions

I'm talking

just about JD's situation with the Rangers. There are very low expectations on this years team. Say - worst case scenario and the Rangers go 60-102. In this case, Washington's job would clearly be in jeopardy, but not JD.

by Randy Richardson on Mar 4, 2008 5:30 PM CST up reply actions

JD repeating his performance from last yr

He doesn't have 5 first and supplemental draft picks and he doesn't have a Teixeira to trade.

Anyone expecting him to repeat last year's prospect haul is in for a big disappointment.

Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."

by tricer on Mar 4, 2008 11:32 AM CST up reply actions

JD

As Gallo noted that extention does not not mean a whole lot if Ryan wants to bring his own man on board as the new GM.
If JD has a bad year then I would expect him to be a goner and replaced,so Ryan can bring his own people on board.
All contracts have a buy-out provisions.

by Choclate ll on Mar 4, 2008 10:21 AM CST reply actions

bad year...

What would define a bad year for a GM???

by Ph3 on Mar 4, 2008 10:26 AM CST up reply actions

According to Hicks failure is

Less than 2.3 million attendance

If there is one lawyer in town, he goes broke. If there are two, they both get rich

by Taylor on Mar 4, 2008 10:35 AM CST up reply actions

BAD

Bad year by the GM:
Examples:
CY and AG trade
Sori trade
Danks trade
Hanging on too long on Tex given who his agent was
Passing on the likes of Weaver in the draft
Sleeping and dragging your feet on Josh Beckett
JD better have learned from those mistakes and not repeat it ever again.

by Choclate ll on Mar 4, 2008 10:43 AM CST reply actions

Welcome back

troll.

Eli Manning barebacks Ruddy Yan

by Rodney on Mar 4, 2008 10:46 AM CST up reply actions

Good Assessments

by Galloway and lablover.

I'll be your troll, huckleberry.

I'll be a Troll. Try crossing my bridge, Sally!

by Clueless on Mar 4, 2008 4:15 PM CST up reply actions

OK

Maybe you can bitch about the first two. I don't see how you could really complain too much about the Danks trade right now. Maybe in a year or two. I just absolutely do not get your criticism of "hanging on too long on Tex given who his agent was". I'm supposing that you're implying it was a good thing to trade Tex, and, since that's the case, we didn't get the maximum return we could have.

I just don't get that, especially when you consider that the package we got from the Braves looks, at least right now, to be significantly better than those for Santana or Bedard.

As for the draft, I think we've made consistently good picks deep into the draft with Daniels. If you're going to bust his balls about Weaver, then at least give him credit for Davis, Kiker, Main and a load of other great talent.

by brettgardner on Mar 4, 2008 10:50 AM CST up reply actions

Huh?

Danks trade

Why was that a mistake?

Hanging on too long on Tex given who his agent was

When could Daniels have gotten more for Teixeira than he did?

Passing on the likes of Weaver in the draft

Daniels wasn't the g.m. then.

Sleeping and dragging your feet on Josh Beckett

I don't think that happened.

The Young trade was terrible.

The Soriano trade didn't work out, but was reasonable at the time.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 4, 2008 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

Good point.

I didn't even realize that Daniels wasn't GM when Weaver was selected. 2004. Now I feel stupid for even entertaining the point.

by brettgardner on Mar 4, 2008 10:55 AM CST up reply actions

Danks trade

It was a mistake because the principles are on a fairly even level (IMHO) but one is younger, under control longer, left handed, and not built like a flag pole.

by LoneStarBallUser on Mar 4, 2008 5:24 PM CST up reply actions

BAD

For Danks JD got B Mac a pitcher who is always hurt and at best is projected to be a 4th or 5th starter.
For Tex JD got a catcher who can not field his position and a few minor leaguers who look to have a good futures but not a cinch.
Did he pass on Procello?
Hello reallity check!!!

by Choclate ll on Mar 4, 2008 11:08 AM CST reply actions

Oh

I get it. It's a bit.

by brettgardner on Mar 4, 2008 11:10 AM CST up reply actions

Well

For Danks JD got B Mac a pitcher who is always hurt and at best is projected to be a 4th or 5th starter.

McCarthy was never hurt before last year. And I'm not sure who is out there who has any credibility who has projected him to be, at best, a 4th or 5th starter. Hindman, maybe, but that's about it.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 4, 2008 11:13 AM CST up reply actions

Porcello

Yes, JD did pass on Porcello... so did every other GM that doesn't work for Detroit. Didn't he end up getting a $7 million Major League contract right out of high school? That's an awfully big risk. Meanwhile, JD got Main and Beavan before Porcello was drafted, for a lot less money combined, and right now, both of them are just as sure a thing as Porcello is, which is to say, not a sure thing at all yet.

by Inkara1 on Mar 4, 2008 11:37 AM CST up reply actions

Galloway

He highlights my one legitimate fear: that JD could get surpassed or even just interfered with.

His Hunter story should make anyone uncomfortable, and that's from before Nolan arrived. That said, I was willing to believe Hunter might contribute meaningfully for two or three years' window, and was willing to attribute JD on the deal.

Also: the Rangers had a loyal fan base at one time? For their first twenty-some years they were playing in a converted Minor League park...

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Mar 4, 2008 11:11 AM CST reply actions

What do you want?

A better baseball team, or to be right in your assessment of JD?

Let it play out on its own terms...

I'll be a Troll. Try crossing my bridge, Sally!

by Clueless on Mar 4, 2008 4:16 PM CST up reply actions

Blalock in car wreck.

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/03/blalock-ok-after-car-wreck.html

Just a minor fender bender, he's perfectly fine.

LSB hates them some Mench.

by sprite on Mar 4, 2008 11:32 AM CST reply actions

B Mac

B Mac was hurt while he was with the CWS and Ken Williams admitted that they were concerned about his physical condition.
He is on our staff projected as 4th starter and our staff is probably one the shakiest in the league.
Someone isn't paying attention!!!

by Choclate ll on Mar 4, 2008 12:29 PM CST reply actions

When?

B Mac was hurt while he was with the CWS

When?

He is on our staff projected as 4th starter and our staff is probably one the shakiest in the league.
Someone isn't paying attention!!!

Because he's the 4th starter right now, means the best he could be expected to be is a #4 or #5 starter?

Eric Hurley isn't going to make the rotation out of spring training. Does that mean he doesn't project to be even a #5 starter?

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 4, 2008 12:32 PM CST up reply actions

When

Ask CWS for the exact dates.
We end up trading a promising local lefthander for this guy!!!
JD has his job thanks for his Boston and Atlanta trades and now we will see if he can keep it.

by Choclate ll on Mar 4, 2008 12:45 PM CST reply actions

[Reply to this]

Get to know it.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 4, 2008 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

Nah

He should just change his mane to replyhater...

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Mar 4, 2008 5:45 PM CST up reply actions

McCarthy

172 innings (between 3 levels)
186 innings (between AAA & MLB)
84 innings (nearly all in relief)

So when was he hurt in any of those seasons?

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Mar 4, 2008 6:15 PM CST up reply actions

Marlon Byrd

Has already fallen back to earth his spring - he registered just his second hit of spring training today. That's amazing.

And another interesting fact: Matt Murton is 5-11 so far this spring.

Yes, I know, it's only a few games into ST, and it really means nothing because that's a microscopic sample size, but I find it interesting nonetheless.

"The only thing Gerald Laird can beat me at is number of glazed donuts eaten in 10 minutes" - Miles

by LSJ on Mar 4, 2008 4:58 PM CST reply actions

Broussard...

playing everyday will last until about mid-May.

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

by slc ranger on Mar 5, 2008 12:07 AM CST reply actions

Well...

You never know.

Ben Broussard appears to be one of Ron Washington's Chosen. And when you're Chosen, it tends to excuse those little discrepancies, like a .227 lifetime average against LHP.

Last year, it was Sammy Sosa and Matt Kata - this year, it's Ben Broussard and Kevin Mench (and if Ron has his say, Edgardo Alfonzo too). And hey - it sort of worked out with Sammy - so as long as you beleive, it'll work out with Mench and Broussard. It's the power of positive intention, people! Can you believe? No, really, can you? Because Ron Washington can.

This is Ron's philosophy: crappy numbers, hidden ability. Just cross your legs and meditate on that for a couple hours. Pretty soon you'll see it Ron's way - which, of course, means you won't see it at all!

"The only thing Gerald Laird can beat me at is number of glazed donuts eaten in 10 minutes" - Miles

by LSJ on Mar 5, 2008 1:35 AM CST up reply actions