Wednesday morning stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Apr 16, 2008 10:03 AM CDT

Bleah. I don't want to think about yesterday's game.

Kevin Millwood expects to make his next start, despite leaving yesterday's game. On the outfield front, Ron Washington says that Milton Bradley won't play in the field in the series at Toronto, likely DHing one day and sitting another. Washington also says that he plans on Josh Hamilton playing 3 or 4 days a week in center, a couple of days in right field, and maybe once per week as a DH, to try to limit the wear and tear on Hamilton's body.

And Evan Grant has a new newsletter up...

Tweet Comment 45 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

that's just Wash's

way of saying that he’s going to keep playing Marlon Byrd without actually having to say, “I’m going to keep playing Marlon Byrd.”

Ugh

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Apr 16, 2008 10:21 AM CDT reply actions

+1

I’m so sick of Byrd. He’s done very little to keep his spot. But hey, he’s hit the ball hard, right? I’m so freakin’ tired of that excuse. What if Devean George goes 1-8 every night, but hey, the ball looked great coming out of his hands? He’d be sitting on the bench.

Poor Jason Botts.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions

It's a shame that Botts has done nothing

in his limited opportunities to show he is more worthy than Byrd of playing.

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

by DJCahill on Apr 16, 2008 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Tis a shame

Difference is that we know that Byrd is a career spare. Botts is still undetermined.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Undetermined

with a fairly godawful swing.

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

by DJCahill on Apr 16, 2008 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

true.

at least there’s hope. I don’t expect Botts to be anything better than average, but when you’ve got hope over below average (which Byrd is), let’s go with hope.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

There is a good chance

Byrd is a better baseball player than Botts. That is to say, a defensive player who can handle the corners, and CF in a pinch, who hits .271/.332/.392 may be better than Botts is.

If Botts was 3 years younger, I might be more optimistic, but he is a little long in the tooth to believe he is a bigtime prospect. I suspect Botts is a AAAA player. I hope he can prove me wrong and hit so well he forces himself into the lineup. However, seeing what he does when he is up there, and watching him watch Strike 3 go by as often as he does, I can definitely understand why RWash isn’t motivated to write his name on the card.

JD would have to force RWash’s hand on Botts, because I don’t think any manager in their right mind would play Botts with what he has shown in the bigs the last few years.

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

by DJCahill on Apr 16, 2008 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions

If that's the case...

Botts shouldn’t have made the team. There’s no reason for him to be here if he’s not beneficial for the team.

Byrd has the ability to be a much better defender than Botts this year, but other than that one assist, he’s gotten poor jumps on balls and made terrible decisions.

I think having both players on your roster shows how desperate of a situation our COF is.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions

JD makes the 25 man roster

not Wash. Wash has to play his best 9. I just don’t think that he thinks that Botts is ever amongst his best 9, and Botts hasn’t done diddly to change his mind. Tough to believe that Botts watching strike 3 pass by is going to change his mind.

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

by DJCahill on Apr 16, 2008 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

And I agree.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I think one of the big reasons...

the lineup is terrible is because it’s not very balanced. We’ve got a lot of singles and doubles hitter, but little pop. Byrd is just another guy that hits line-drives right at people and every once in a while doubles down the line.

Botts though might be able to give the team some more pop.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions

do you have any pot?

...’cause you could really use some.

by oc on Apr 16, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

why?

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions

For no reason

Teixeira to date: .196 / .281 / .353

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Apr 16, 2008 10:53 AM CDT reply actions

Just wait

As soon as he has a 2 HR game or get a couple of RBI, hurler and his ilk will create a fanpost to tell us how stupid JD is.

by Jack Nicholson 1974 on Apr 16, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

No doubt

Yet his kind don’t give JD credit for the good trades.

"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg

by boomer1 on Apr 16, 2008 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions

If the team was good, it would.

Winning = positive reactions

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Well look at the minor leagues

How about some credit for that? Or does that mean nothing?

"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg

by boomer1 on Apr 16, 2008 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah.

It means nothing. Sorry.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL

Well I feel sorry for you then. If the farm system is weak then the big league club will be also. Do you remember the playoff teams of the 90’s? They got their because they had a good farm system and then added some timely FA’s and made some good trades for veterans.

What did you expect from this years club? Me I expected a year of growing with the young kids they have. I did not and do not expect them to go to the playoffs. I do expect them to be much improved next year though.

"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg

by boomer1 on Apr 16, 2008 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm arguing that...

you don’t get any credit for a good minor league system. That’s the cry of losers. Nobody ever won the World Series because they had a good AA team. It’s all about the guys in the bigs. I’d rather win at the big league level consistently than have a great farm system.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Me, too

However, the latter can help the former occur.

by Adam J. Morris on Apr 16, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

If you have a strong system it will allow you to make trades during a playoff run as opposed to if the system was weak and you had no trade chips.

"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg

by boomer1 on Apr 16, 2008 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

You have to have one

to get the other. Ask the Yankees of the 90’s almost that entire team came from their farm system.

"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg

by boomer1 on Apr 16, 2008 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree

but again, as far as credit is concerned, the minors should have little influence. Credit is for proven things, not unproven.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions

the point is

don’t judge the GM until you see his minor league teams graduate to the majors.

scap load or die

by ab03 on Apr 16, 2008 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

My point is

judge the GM on the FAs he’s signed and the major league team he’s put together. Prospects are always judged in hindsight. Minor league stats and standings don’t contribute to the majors, which is the league that counts.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Holy hell

We have a celebrity in our midst. LSB – Colin Cowherd; Colin Cowherd – LSB.

“Prospects? Don’t talk to me about prospects. That’s not Big Boy Baseball. Yankees – they play big boy baseball. Red Sox play big boy baseball.”

[paraphrasing, but not by much]

What happened to my old signature?

by WyoRanger on Apr 16, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Of course,

the Ranger faithful have been hearing about our prospects since Kelly Dransfeldt was our top prospect. Its tough not to be jaded.

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

by DJCahill on Apr 16, 2008 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Good lord Kelly Dransfeldt

What a blast from the past. Jeff Kunkel anyone…anyone?

"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg

by boomer1 on Apr 16, 2008 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Comparing me to that ass?

I think you’re misunderstanding my point. JD doesn’t deserve credit, good or bad, for the minor league trades he makes, or how many supposedly great prospects he acquires, or how stacked the minor league system is. It doesn’t matter because ultimately he is graded on what counts in the standings of Major League Baseball, which is the major league players. Minor league players can be judged in hindsight, but for the moment you have to judge the GM on the product on the field now vs. what was on the field before. In the first two years or so, you do factor in how good the minors system is, but after a couple of years, you’ve got to put the weight on the product on the field.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Eventually it will come down

to the product on the major league field, but they may give him 5 years rope for it to get there. Unfortunately for him, he is in his 3rd year, and he better start seeing results by next year or very early the year after. I would be surprised if any GM got more than 5 years and continued to lose at the big league level.

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

by DJCahill on Apr 16, 2008 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions

How I'd approach JD

Trades: He’s had some really good ones, and some really bad ones. Overall about average.

Major League FA signing: Good ones and bad ones. Overall about average.

So right now, I’d say JD’s about average, but I do understand his philosophy and his future plan, so that would definitely buy him some time in my eyes.

I have confidence in him, but at the same time, another Soriano-type trade would cause me to fire him. But I don’t think he’ll make another trade like that for awhile. Every GM has a couple of trades like that though. I think JD and Wash are both learning the job on the go a little which has to be taken into consideration.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Made you could loan JD your magic wand

and then he could just pull 9 all stars out of his ass, since you seem to be implying how easy it is.

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 16, 2008 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions

that's about..

the most idiotic inference anyone’s ever made.

I’m just expressing the fact that organizations are judged by their success at the major league level, not the minors.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions

The Mayor of Superobviousville says

“I’d rather win at the big league level consistently than have a great farm system.”

Well, no shit. Coincidentally, I too, am of like mind in that regard. Let’s take a poll. Everyone who prefers success at the MLB level over the MILB level say “aye.”

It has become quite clear that we are the fat girl at the prom when it comes to FAs. JD’s tried his ass off on free agency and has by all accounts done his due diligence on trading for guys like Beckett and Santana. Events beyond his control have caused him to come up short.

So now we are on to plan B. Which takes time, Mayor. No magic wands. So the original point, that the farm is in great shape IS relevant. It does mean something.

If you want to bash him for a particular trade or for hiring Wash, fine. That’s fair. But if you want to judge his regime, everything counts.

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 16, 2008 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Let's keep this in context.

My original point is that when you’re losing, you don’t get positive credit or positive articles written about you, even if you’ve stockpiled the best system in the majors. It’s all about the product on the major league field. I imagine you’re just taking what I originally said out of context.

by Apes and Androids on Apr 16, 2008 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Fair enough

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 16, 2008 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Yup

Hurleyhurler just mentioned that the jury is still out on the Hamilton/Edinson trade, but after one good start by Danks, the McCarthy trade is a complete bust.

What happened to my old signature?

by WyoRanger on Apr 16, 2008 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep

You never hear about the Tex or Gagne trade about how good they are. That is because it doesn’t support their argument of how bad JD is. Every GM has had bad trades their is not one GM that has never had one. If so we need to crown him as the greatest GM in the history of sports.
Before JD was hired the Rangers had on of the worst farm systems in baseball now they are top 5.

"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg

by boomer1 on Apr 16, 2008 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Anyone else get that

EG newsletter 3 times in your mailbox so far?

"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2

by tdi1985 on Apr 16, 2008 10:54 AM CDT reply actions

Yep.

And I also got the Baseball Digest Daily rundown 3 times.

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

by t ball on Apr 16, 2008 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions

FYI

Armando Galaragga gets the start for the Tiggers tonight against Cleveland, in case anyone wants to keep tabs on him.

Fire Ron Washington

by pblack on Apr 16, 2008 1:13 PM CDT reply actions

no thanks...

i’ve had my fill of traded Ranger pitchers playing well with their new teams.

by oc on Apr 16, 2008 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

OT Matt Murton

Didn’t think this was worthy of a fanpost. Many of us were disappointed that JD did not pull the trigger on the Byrd for Murton deal. Murton is off to a decent start (.294/.442/.294) at AAA Iowa – all singles and lots of walks, but from this report, seems that the Cubs don’t think that highly of him right now.

The Chicago Tribune believes the Cubs will call up Eric Patterson, not Matt Murton, as the replacement for Alfonso Soriano should Soriano land on the DL.
If that really happens, then Jim Hendry was lying through his teeth when he kept saying he thought Murton would be a solid left fielder on a lot of teams. The Tribune’s Paul Sullivan suspects the Cubs will give Mark DeRosa a lot of time in left field, with Mike Fontenot taking over at second.

link

by Randy Richardson on Apr 16, 2008 3:40 PM CDT reply actions