Monday morning things

by Adam J. Morris on Apr 14, 2008 9:23 AM CDT

Frustrating, frustrating series against the Jays. Particularly last night's game, which was very winnable. The silver lining, such as it is, is that a lot of the offense's problems stem from not getting hits with RISP, and that is the sort of thing that evens out over the course of the season...this team is not simply inherently incapable of hitting with RISP.

The S-T says the Rangers are hitting .184 with RISP, worst in the majors. And checking the stats, they are hitting .290 with no one on, 2nd in the A.L.

Richard Durrett's game story focuses on the failure to convert opportunities, but also mentions that the team is staying positive because of the quality starting pitching. Obviously, if the team starts hitting a little better and maintains this same level of starting pitching, they are a playoff contender. But just as obviously, they aren't likely to maintain this same level of starting pitching.

Jamey Wright is feeling better, and it sounds like he'll be moving into the 7th inning role. Either Wes Littleton or Kam Loe is going to come up to replace Scott Feldman today, but Ron Washington says Eddie Guardado will be ready to go by Saturday, so the stint will likely be a short one for whomever gets called up.

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Guys hitting below Mendoza line

with RISP and 10ABs or more.

Josh Hamilton 17ABs .176 -- Career RISP .295
Frank Catalanotto 12ABs .167 -- Career RISP .319
Michael Young 12 ABs .167 -- Career RISP .341
Ben Broussard 10 ABs .100 -- Career RISP .254

I think its just small sample noise. The team just needs a little hot streak going.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 14, 2008 9:31 AM CDT 0 recs

well

a couple of guys are just hitting below the mendoza line, period

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 14, 2008 9:42 AM CDT up 0 recs

Good Stuff

Just going off memory, I thought that Hamilton had been up quite a few times with a chance to do something and sure enough he's leading in AB's (at least with those below .200). With him, I would kind of relate it to when ARod was here and you just simply expect that he will come through in those situations and when he doesn't it stands out that much more.

Our time will come I think and I think our starting pitching is going to be pretty consistent this year. I know they will not continue to post low 3's ERA's, but when our hitting comes along and I think we will level off at no worse than mid 4's and this team should still be in good shape with that.

by Chris Hanes on Apr 14, 2008 10:00 AM CDT up 0 recs

Reading some of the comments

from the weekend, I'm glad I was working and couldn't watch.

Whatever gets you through the night, 'salright, 'salright.

by t ball on Apr 14, 2008 9:54 AM CDT 0 recs

Be glad. It was maddening at times...

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 14, 2008 7:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

Per Lucas

Reed's pulling a Poveda.

Evan Reed will pitch for Frisco in Monday’s doubleheader. Reed pitched six shutout innings in a lone start for low-A Clinton.

Looking forward...

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Apr 14, 2008 9:59 AM CDT 0 recs

Per MJH

Reed will start Game 1, at 4:00pm.

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on Apr 14, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up 0 recs

Why?

Is a 22 year old with 9 total professional starts and none being above Low-A being sent to start at AA. I just don't understand the move...

White Women!

by nikpin on Apr 14, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

Evan Reed

He's the same age as Michael Schlact, reported to be very self-confident, even approaching cocky. He's got a heavy fastball and good command. Clinton's rotation is all backed up as a result of it raining 5 of the first 9 days of the season - getting a guy work elsewhere is a welcome boon. Feldman's spot start with the Rangers created a hole in the Frisco rotation that unfortunately coincided with a make-up double-header, a burden the bullpen couldn't comfortably shoulder. Add all that up and Evan Reed getting a spot start in AA is a nifty solution. No biggie.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Apr 14, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agree with shroomer

He got reps in college, which is decent competition.

His stuff may put him in a better light with the org, as well. He's not necessarily on the plan they've used for Hurley, Danks, Poveda, other high school arms...

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Apr 14, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

i thought he quit doing e-mails?

unless you got that info from a website...

the truth.

by Longhorn on Apr 14, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up 0 recs

He has a blog now

http://rangersfarmreport.mlblogs.com/

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on Apr 14, 2008 11:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

Thanks for the info.

Makes more sense now.

White Women!

by nikpin on Apr 14, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

OT: classic FJM

This is a great one. As usual be forewarned about a few f-bombs and the like.

http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2008/04/heady-days.html

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

by tricer on Apr 14, 2008 10:10 AM CDT 0 recs

Yeah

Seems like they've been on fire lately. The last Joe chat was pretty good.

Eric (NYC): Hi Joe. What do you think of the Rays' decision to start the season with super-prospect Evan Longoria down in AAA? What kind of message does this send to the fans and to the rest of the team who are deperate for a winner?

Joe Morgan: If they're sending him down so that his arbitration situation will be put off a year, it's a joke to the fans and the teammates. If that's the reason, baseball should take a look at it and change that. It should not be normal procedure.

Okay, so this isn't the most eloquent answer ever. But Joe out-of-nowhere suggesting that a Tampa Bay front-office decision about Evan Longoria was based on the f-ing arb rules? Are you serious, ESPN intern who is now just typing the answers himself while Joe talks on the phone to his kids?! How dumb do you think I am, that I would believe that Joe Morgan (a) knows who Evan Longoria is or (b) would know that he's in the minors or (c) that he would have an opinion on why he was sent down based on the f-ing ticking-clock arbitration rules?! Give me some credit, ESPN Intern Who Is Now Typing Answers All By Himself While Joe Gets a Clark Bar From the Vending Machine.

What happened to my old signature?

by WyoRanger on Apr 14, 2008 10:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

I cant stand it-

last year are pitching falters this year are hitters are going that route. Im not gonna panic because it hasnt even been a month, but I would really like to see a constant team put on the field.

Adam loves him some Lard

by NYTXFAN on Apr 14, 2008 10:11 AM CDT 0 recs

Actually last year,

our hitters faltered the first couple of months.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 14, 2008 10:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

Yep.

Mike Young was in one of those grooves like he is now where he's hitting balls on the button and lining straight out to the right fielder. Very frustrating. But at the same time things are going to pick up with the offense and if the pitching can stay consistent, they shouldn't have a terrible season.

by Athos on Apr 14, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yep

his batting average on balls in play is around .210, when hes usually like .340.

I dont think all of it is luck.. maybe not hitting the ball as well as often, but hes definitely had bad luck.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on Apr 14, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah,

by end of season, he should be good for a 750-800 OPS anyway.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 14, 2008 2:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yep. And if Kins keeps hitting well ...

I may finally have to concede that he's eclipsed Young.

That's going to be a very happy and sad day for me.

by Athos on Apr 14, 2008 4:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

could just be a sad day

if both turn in mediocre performances

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 14, 2008 4:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

I just want Kinsler

to look as comfortable defensively as he did the 2nd half of last year. I have no idea why he is starting this year defensively as poorly as last year.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 14, 2008 4:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

OT: Ian Gac

Hate to hijack this thread, but I don't feel this is fanpost necessary.

Has Gac figured things out? I know it's small sample, but he has had a tremendous week to start the season. He's not overly old for low A, probably a half a year older than league average. I know his career numbers are pretty awful, but has anyone heard anything on him that would suggest he has figured this whole batting thing out?

by Chris Hanes on Apr 14, 2008 11:02 AM CDT 0 recs

Gac

is in his fourth year of Low A, after having been demoted back to short-season A last year. Nice numbers but he is a complete non-prospect.

by uthornfan on Apr 14, 2008 11:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

Gac

Yeah, I understand where he's been and what he's done, I was just wondering if anyone that went to ST had seen him and perhaps saw something in him or maybe heard something on the positive side on his behalf. Of course, not being a prospect, he probably wasn't of much conversation.

However, just because a player is not a prospect does not mean he can not figure things out (even though history says he will not). I don't really recall, but before Kinsler went on a tear in '04 he wasn't a big prospect either was he?

by Chris Hanes on Apr 14, 2008 11:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

Gac

I wouldn't say he's a prospect, but I also wouldn't say that he's completely off the radar. He's a guy that I think the organization likes, or else he would have been released a long time ago. He put up nice numbers in Hawaii this winter and will finally make it back to Bakersfield this season. I would like to hear what someone inside the organization thinks of him. I think he has an outside shot of at least being better than Nate Gold, which would put him on the cusp of the big leagues, which isn't bad for a 26th round draft pick.

by badradiorules on Apr 14, 2008 12:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

The difference is that Kinsler went on a tear his first full season of professional ball

I would expect a player to finally figure out to hit Low A pitching when he is at the level for the fourth season in a row. If Gac keeps hitting when he gets to AA and AAA people may notice, until then, he is nothing more than organizational filler.

by uthornfan on Apr 14, 2008 12:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

Gac

He's got to be a little more than that, right. Probably not much, but he must intrigue them a little bit or else he would have been released a couple of years ago. Organizational fillers don't spend four years in Low A, they get released, right. I may be wrong.

by badradiorules on Apr 14, 2008 1:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Doesn't filler mean

he's filling a spot? I mean if he wasn't filler -- wouldn't he be released?

by Dirk Diggler on Apr 14, 2008 1:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

Heh

nice.

"Hmn [sic] ... pehaps [sic] I've said too much..." - LSJesus

by Chase Irwin on Apr 14, 2008 1:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

Boggs

After Salty starts the 2nd of with a triple, Boggs hits him in with a double. Maybe they will be doing this for Texas by the end of the year.

by psmitty on Apr 14, 2008 1:24 PM CDT 0 recs

Salty's triple

hit to the berm in CF of this crazy-azz yard.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Apr 14, 2008 1:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

nice pic

thx

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on Apr 14, 2008 1:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

That makes my eyes hurt.

by Athos on Apr 14, 2008 2:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

Bill

I'll be sending the medical bill resulting from the epileptic fit that picture enduced to the Isotopes (Springfield?)

by Jack Nicholson 1974 on Apr 14, 2008 2:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

Albuquerque

Hitters' paradise.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Apr 14, 2008 5:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

Salty's ops is around 1.1 now

All hail salty. June 1st or earlier please.

Also, AJ is getting lit up again.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on Apr 14, 2008 1:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

Great...

here comes another 500 nonsensical posts by lsj...

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on Apr 14, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

dont think hes online =)

but ill make a couple random points that hopefully arnt nonsensical. no long argument since im about to leave but....

1) Salty's catchers ERA stat (taking into account caught stealing and the pitchers era and i dont know what else) was actually lower than lairds last year. Sample size issues obviously, but ill throw it out there.

2) His caught stealing % was .216. Bad, but given his reputation for a strong arm that could show improvement its not all that bad. Take a look around the league's catching stars- Brian Mccann .213, Posada .239, Varitek .241, V-Mart put up a .180 in 06 before a nice 07. I dont think the .216 should be all that alarming, and id imagine its likely to improve anyway. I couldnt find his minor league percentages, anyone know how to find them?

I dont think its ridiculous to want to key in on salty. Botts 06/07 anyone? Laird when barajas was here? Salty is a better prospect then any of those guys. You could argue he would have been #1 on the lists if considered. Seems like suddenly we have to just accept roster decisions ..

And yeah, if I had to guess when hed come up it wouldnt be June. It would be august or september. but i can hope.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on Apr 14, 2008 2:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

Heh

The club is just looking to get Salty more experience, while they hope Laird raises his trade value. All good things come in time...he will be up soon enough, and hopefully here for a long time.

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on Apr 14, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

i don't think anyone is suggesting

that Salty needs to stay in AAA if he proves he can handle AAA. However, there was no proof of that given that he'd never been to AAA and his ML numbers weren't exactly great. If he's still dominating in AAA when June 1st comes, I'll join the chorus to want to promote him. Before that, I think it's premature

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 14, 2008 2:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

You wouldn't have to argue much

I think most everyone would have had him #1 on their prospect lists had he been eligible.

I know I would.

"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi

by thedirkatron on Apr 14, 2008 3:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

+1

"Hmn [sic] ... pehaps [sic] I've said too much..." - LSJesus

by Chase Irwin on Apr 14, 2008 5:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

Rodney, my posts on Salty are never nonsensical

It's just that I've had to repeat myself over and over again regarding him, because nobody stops to read them in the first place. People discount a lot of my posts on here because they don't like me, and then they wind up without a clue of what I'm even saying when they try to slam me (as evedenced by your sweeping, and slightly moronic comment there).

If people actually read a lot of the stuff I posted on Salty, they might actually learn something. I learned a long time ago never to discount posts from anyone, even the people I may not like reading most of the time, because there's always a chance they might have something good to say. Unfortunately, the vast majority of LSB doesn't seem to want to give me the same chance.

So in the future, just listen to Shep. He's right on when it comes to Salty - you'll hear pretty much the same stuff from him as you will from me, only without all that anoying "passion" I have.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on Apr 14, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

No

We get it. You love Salty. You hate Laird. You think that it would be best for his long term success to be up in the big leagues rather than in the minors. We get that. Its the fact that everytime Laird or Saltys name is brought up you seemingly feel obligated to chime in and reassert your position.

by bigsteve on Apr 14, 2008 5:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Isn't that what this site is for?

If people don't want a discussion about Laird/Salty, then don't bring it up. Because in discussions over that, I'm not the only one reasserting my position - everyone is.

So I don't see how you can knock me for participating in a discussion that has been rehashed dozens of times not only by me, but by everyone else. If that's really the reason people don't like me, they need to get a grip.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on Apr 14, 2008 5:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

Perhaps this is why you get knocked

"If people actually read a lot of the stuff I posted on Salty, they might actually learn something"

lepricon

by jparks77 on Apr 14, 2008 5:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

So...

I'm a bad guy because I'm confident in what I write?

I'm not trying to say I'm a great guru of baseball, but isn't the point of this site for everyone to discuss and learn from each other comments? I know awhile back, someone made a point about Laird's platoon offense, almost verbatum too the point I have made many time previous, and everyone all of a sudden went "gee, I hadn't thought of it like that before". I'm not saying I need the credit for that, but it's a little frusterating to know people obviously have not been reading what I write, yet they like to bash me anyway.

I think you guys have unfairly boxed me into a corner, trying to say I have a big head and it's not really true. There are just certain things that I know and believe to be true by logical thought process, and Salty/Laird is one of those things. I'm not going to back down from stating something when I belive I'm right.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on Apr 14, 2008 5:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

Don't explain

No one wants to pick on you (well maybe in fun and sarcasm, neither is very much my gig). Your logical deductions may not be apparent, to some, and may be off track to others.

Analyzing play and players ... great. Analyzing other's opinions (yeah, that's usually what they are) not so much. Anyway, I enjoy your posts even when I'm forced to laugh.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Apr 14, 2008 5:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

Thanks Ed

But lately, I feel there's been a misunderstanding with some of the other posters and me. I know the difference between animosity and sarcasm, and I feel there's been some serious animosity directed my way lately by some people. I just wanted to take this opportunity to try and clear things up.

I don't mind the "baseball Jesus" schtick, and other sarcasm, but I just wanted to say some things, so maybe this animosity surrounding me will dissipate.

In any case, I've said my peice, I'm done. I'm not trying to attack anyone here, I'm just trying to let people know I'm not trying to be a bad guy.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on Apr 14, 2008 5:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

say a little less

and people will listen a little more.

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

by tricer on Apr 15, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

I doubt

the Rangers FO will bring him up before September, TayTea is struggling in AA offensively and would be overmatched in AAA and I can't see them delegating Laird to a backup position or sending him to AAA while he's making $1.6mil. I know I'm not holding my breath.

by 525DP on Apr 14, 2008 1:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

If the stars became aligned

OMOT would be flipped at the deadline, ideally.

"Hmn [sic] ... pehaps [sic] I've said too much..." - LSJesus

by Chase Irwin on Apr 14, 2008 1:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

Eh

This just doesn't make sense to me. When do catchers get traded in-season?

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Apr 14, 2008 2:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

every year

I can think of Kendall, Barrett, and Jose Molina from 07

by Randy Richardson on Apr 14, 2008 3:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

Props to yer boy

for his hyper-enthusiastic reaction to scoring the winning run on opening day. I've wondered if part of the Redhawks' W-L success so far can be attributed to his teammates seeing the club gem truly excited to win at the AAA level and following his lead a bit atmospherically.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Apr 14, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

Thanx shroomer

its much appreciated.

by 525DP on Apr 14, 2008 2:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Props also

For the way he has handled himslef since being sent down. There have been guys who get sent down and they let it affect their play on the field. I can only imagine Salty wants to be in Arlington rather than OKC and by playing the way he is he is putting more and more pressure on the rangers to bring him up. Personally i look forward to watching him behind the plate and mashing home runs alongside Hammy for a long long time. And I do think it will be around June or July when it happens. Especially if he keeps up his pace at OKC.

by bigsteve on Apr 14, 2008 2:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

yeah

i think this will give the rangers pause in terms of whether or not they want to trade him. i think management responds well to guys doing what they're told and doing it well. I could see him getting called up well before September. AAA catching depth is hardly a reason to stop a promotion. grab some scrub off the street or just demote melhuse

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 14, 2008 2:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed

I also appreciate how Nelson Cruz is talking walks like a fitness outpatient, hitting well, and contributing to scoring. Maybe Salty IS setting a get after it example.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Apr 14, 2008 5:32 PM CDT up 0 recs