M's blogs on the Rangers
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 2, 2008 11:36 AM CDT
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PrintJeff Sullivan has been flamed around here because he isn't a Michael Young fan. However...he really likes Josh Hamilton.
Derek Zumsteg is also not a Michael Young fan.
And if you missed it when I linked it in the Game Day thread last night, Dave Cameron was really impressed with Hamilton's back-to-the-plate catch yesterday.
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Hamilton question
Is there anywhere already taking bets on the 2008 homerun derby champ?
www.mavsmoneyball.com
Hamilton
As Grieve said during the broadcast, he moves so effortlessy for a pretty big guy. Smooth. That was a great catch, and the home run was very satisfying so soon after they gave the lead away.
I don't know if I've been this excited about watching a Ranger since Gonzalez was on his way to 100 RBI before the ASB.
A working class hero is something to be.
Back in the late '90s
I actually looked forward to fast guys getting on first base agaist us, just so I could possibly see Pudge gun them down at 2nd or even better at 1st. And he did most of the time. I think I may find myself hoping for guys to hit balls into the gaps against Hamilton, just to watch him cover that field. And I'll be cheering for people to try to score on his arm...
+1
"I can only hope that you continue to monitor me, and help me out as I slowly work to take the training wheels off." - BG
by inactive lsb user on Apr 2, 2008 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions
Young plays defense
just like Derek Jeter, and defenders of his defense sound about the same.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
Jeff and his lineups
I love how he puts quotes around "SS" for Young. Of course, he also does it for Ibanez in "LF".
For some reason, that just kills me.
Why do I follow the Rangers again?
his hit in the 8th
was against a lefty but you are correct (since that was a slow dribbler). he still has a lot to prove about his offense actually. truth is, the putz hit was easy peasy (slow fastball down the middle). hopefully he uses that and starts smacking balls left and right
Plenty of chances
He'll get plenty of opportunities if Washington keeps him and Blalock back to back.
he meant
that if two lefties are hitting back to back, opposing managers will be more willing to bring in lefty relievers
young's defense last night
isn't typical young. we all know he's very good at throws. however, I do remember one hit (I think right after his error in the 8th) where it looked like a guy with decent range could have had it. But saying the throws were typical young is just not right. he usually has a powerful arm
that throw
that landed short of first by 10 feet was a perfect indication of how sick the guy is right now. Gotta cut him a break.
exactly!
Lighten up on MY he had the FLU!
"He'll be better next time he gets the ball"
Ron Washington says after Fukumori gives up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and a couple of wild pitches in a third of an inning.
Well that's comforting!
I wonder if he and Hank...
were wearing Depends last night. Can you imagine messing your pants while on the field?
"He'll be better next time he gets the ball"
Ron Washington says after Fukumori gives up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and a couple of wild pitches in a third of an inning.
Well that's comforting!
what i remember from that throw was....
how the hell does Broussard not come up with that??? bounced 10 feet in front of him and he misplayed the bounce?...wtf??? 9.9 out 10 firstbasemen come up with that.....of course Young shouldv'e made the throw, but isn't that where 1B makes their money(besides the obvious offensive stats)?
Another Comment from the Mariner's Blogs
For all of the griping about BB and Laird, at least we don't go "Oh Crap, our clean up hitter is coming to the plate" like they are with Sexton.
Several of them are not happy that loading the bases to get to their cleanup hitter is a good way to get out of an inning.
Why do I follow the Rangers again?
The M's won't win the division with Sexton as their cleanup hitter.
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
The M's
The only time I worried about their lineup is when Betancourt (#9) and Ichiro (#1) come up to hit. The rest of that lineup is amazingly anemic.
I suppose that Beltre can be a threat when he gets hot, but that isn't too often. Sexson, Wilky, Vidro, Lopez, Johjima, and whoever else I'm forgetting isn't too scary
It is funny
To see their fans calling for Wilkerson to replace Sexton.
Why do I follow the Rangers again?
by LBBRangerFan on Apr 2, 2008 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions
they don't know any better...YET
in 2 months time after all those strikeouts in key situations they'll lambaste his ass
every night.
"He'll be better next time he gets the ball"
Ron Washington says after Fukumori gives up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and a couple of wild pitches in a third of an inning.
Well that's comforting!
I don't think you understand quite what we've been dealing with at first base
by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 2, 2008 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions
and I don't think you understand..
quite what we had to deal with for the last 2 years. Well you'll get to see for yourself ..
"He'll be better next time he gets the ball"
Ron Washington says after Fukumori gives up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and a couple of wild pitches in a third of an inning.
Well that's comforting!
well
the problem with beltre is that wilkerson is right behind him.
but beltre is scaring me jsut as much as betancourt/ichiro. those are the tough spots in that lineup
I know what ya mean,
instead of him coming up for us every time and me being like, "oh crap." He comes up for some1 else and im lik, "Wooohooo! this is gonna be a strikeout"
.500 or bust!
Ha ha ha
I think the reason I hate the Angels so much more than the M's is because M's fans are actually clever. From the comments on that LookoutLanding link:
"You can take Kata out of Texas, but...apparently it makes everyone else in Texas field like Kata."
Pure. Greatness.
"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi
No one's as douchey as Rev
No one.
"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi
I agree on the Rev
However, this was damn fine journalism:
http://www.halosheaven.com/story/2005/8/11/1452/77939
An enemy of Rex Hudler can't be all bad.
And banning Sharky from Gearheads of War is pretty damn funny, as well:
http://www.gearheadsofwar.com/comments/2007/8/23/0624/29873/13#13
Sharky threatening assault on 15 year olds. Internet tough guys, hilarious.
Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.
by Brian Thomas on Apr 2, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
haha that's hilarious...
is that our (your) Sharky?
"He'll be better next time he gets the ball"
Ron Washington says after Fukumori gives up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and a couple of wild pitches in a third of an inning.
Well that's comforting!
He claims it's an alias
Evidently, he threatens people alot, and concocted the fake name and ip to throw his adversaries "off the scent."
That's what he told me when I called him Bill, anyway. Who knows. It's funny as hell either way...
Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.
yeh good luck throwing people "off the scent"
It's like a skunk putting on cheap perfume.
"He'll be better next time he gets the ball"
Ron Washington says after Fukumori gives up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and a couple of wild pitches in a third of an inning.
Well that's comforting!
Petering out
I noticed that their game day thread basically ended with Hambone's homer. We wouldn't do that here would we?
Sullivan
I know he doesn't like Young, but I thought this was a little baffling:
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2008/4/1/388416/1-0
...he's not a very good batter, and he's not a very good fielder, and he doesn't have a very good contract.
I concede the last two points, but Michael Young isn't a very good batter? That seems like a ridiculous thing to say. He's better than the average ML shortstop at the plate, probably in the top 1/3. How does that equal "not very good?"
But that river of tears has dried for all of us.
5 straight seasons with 200+ hits
With so many people pulling that off, he must suck with the bat, right?
by SarasotaRanger on Apr 2, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions
He doesn't "suck with the bat"...
...but a career OPS+ of 104 says a lot more to me than 200+ hits every year. Don't forget that along with a lot of hits every year he makes a lot of outs. In fact he's been in the top 8 of the AL in 4 of the last 5 years.
Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.
Of course...
...which helps him build up counting stats, both good and bad.
The more relevant stats, IMO, are the rate stats and in those he is a slightly (less than 5%) better than average hitter.
Right around the time all the young talent is ready to contend is when the organization will realize that Ron Washington is the wrong man for the job.
Overrated
I will say that Mike Young may be overrated, but not bad. As a hitter (meaning if he played DH instead of shortstop) he's not that good. Lots of hits doesn't make up for the fact that he doesn't walk all that much and his power disappeared last year. (though his 2005 line of .331/.385/.513 was well above average. but it was the best of his career. ) He's certainly no Cal Ripken. his career line .302/.347/.448 is, when normalized for park and era, 4% above average. So, basically he's an average hitter. Now, when you combine that with the fact that he's a Shortstop, that makes him a special player. How special? 18 guys are in the HOF who's career was spent primarly at shortstop (and after 1900). of those, 9 (that's half) had an OPS less than 5% above the league average. Now, I'm not saying that Mike is a HOFer. in fact, I'd say its at best a long shot, as he's probably only a shortstop for another 2 to 3 years before Elvis enters the building (so to speak). Though Mike might move to Centerfield and go the Robin Yount Path to the HOF. Also Mike is already 31, and unlikely to make big strides forward with the bat.
As far as Mike's defense. well, its a complex issue which I don't really understand. I've looked at metrics, and read articles, and read all the stat lines, and there are a few points of consensus:
1) Mike Young, from 2001-2003 was NOT a great second baseman. He was either average, below average, slightly above average, or outright wretched depending on who you talk to.
2) Mike Young, in 2004-2005, wasn't a very good Shortstop. Bad. wretched. the best I've seen is "slightly below average"
3) Mike Young's 2006 year cannot be easily classified. Some people chose to overlook all the stats and just keep repeating that he just kept on sucking. Personally, all the things I saw suggested that he was one of the top *DEFENDERS* in baseball. Everyone else is somewhere in between.
4) Mike Young's 2007 year wasn't as good as 2006 defensively. Again, not as good doesn't mean back at his 2004/2005 rates either. I peg him as still above average.
so, now what? You can't deny that Mike hits better than the average shortstop and you can no longer deny that he doesn't deserve to stand between second and third. So, just enjoy the rest of his "Hall of the very good for a what we hope is a long time" career.
Mike Young at 2b
He always looked pretty damn good to me.
Can you cite some sources on his mediocre 2b defense?
Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.
+ 1
"He'll be better next time he gets the ball"
Ron Washington says after Fukumori gives up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and a couple of wild pitches in a third of an inning.
Well that's comforting!
Hope not all M's fans are like this guy
I got warned by an usher, because while I was screaming obscenities at Sexson, this lady in front of me turns around and says "Don't you ever shut up?" So since I'm already pissed because of Sexson I responded with "No I don't fucking shut up. I'm gonna scream all fucking day woman. I don't need the fucking scoreboard to fucking tell when the fuck I should make some noise like the rest of you stupid idiots. Richie Sexson sucks, and you see Willie out there at 2nd base? He sucks too. What does that piss you off? Well suck my dick."
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2008/4/2/388883/1-1#4337734
And with the 22nd overall selection the Dallas Cowboys select Jonathan Stewart.
+ 1
Yep there are a lot more like this example.
"He'll be better next time he gets the ball"
Ron Washington says after Fukumori gives up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and a couple of wild pitches in a third of an inning.
Well that's comforting!
You Stay Classy Seattle
or should it be "You Stay classy Seattle?"
Why do I follow the Rangers again?
by LBBRangerFan on Apr 2, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Classless in Seattle.
"He'll be better next time he gets the ball"
Ron Washington says after Fukumori gives up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and a couple of wild pitches in a third of an inning.
Well that's comforting!
i read that
and like someone said below him, if I heard that, I would have intervened. i don't mind cursing that much but my dad, who is as passionate about sports as the next guy, abhors it and it gets just as turned off when the person next to him indiscriminately keeps cursing away.
the worst is when people curse at the home team. even if you are really a fan, it just sucks for a bad AB to be compounded by "you effin suck, get the f off the field" in your ear
agree
i really think that you can give the opposing team absolute hell without cursing up a storm all night. You can get rowdy without being a piece of trash.
worst ive ever gone with my own team was booing cat and chanting "Young is better!", when EGS and genius Buck were busy trying to run him out of town about 5 two hundred hit seasons ago.
.500 or bust!
did you see the fanpost
of someone saying they saw a fan trow snow(ice) balls at murphy?
of course, the fanpost was condemning the action.
they are a class act up there...
and don't forget throwing garlic bread at Hamilton so close to him he could smell it as he made his amazing catch. I think the problem is they drink too much up there. Wouldn't you if it was either cloudy or raining 90 percent of the time?
"He'll be better next time he gets the ball"
Ron Washington says after Fukumori gives up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and a couple of wild pitches in a third of an inning.
Well that's comforting!
You snidely call Seattle fans
a "class act" and then fall upon stereotypes. Mate, this is what we call irony ;)
hey
I'm just stating fact. It rains a lot in Seattle more than anywhere in the country. When it's gray and rainy out people get depressed. Depressed people tend to drink more, thats just the way it is. I have friends who live in Seattle and they admit how depressing it is and yes the drink heavily.
That boy Whiffy's swing has more holes in it than Amy Winehouse's arm.
video of hamilton
Any on-line video of Hamilton's catch(es) last night? I only have mlb gameday audio. :-(
can you not see it here
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2008_04_01_texmlb_seamlb_1&mode=wrap
this is only the basket catch though. the other catch wasn't anything special other than the fact that he ran a really long way in a really short time to track the ball down
The other catch
Although it might not look special, I do think it was pretty special, if only because I think the majority of CF'ers wouldn't have gotten to that ball, and it would have gone for a double.
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 2, 2008 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah
i didn't say it right. basically, my point was you can picture that catch more easily in your head. but, it is refreshing to see CF range.
Funny, at least on the M's broadcast, the first out in the 9th was to basically RF (maybe a shade towards CF) and the cameras were focused on hamilton sprinting over. Byrd had to go maybe 2 steps to his right to get it but you still thought that it was Josh's ball. It's his field now.
Hate to break up this Hamilton
lovefest. But, nobody is mentioning the two ball that fell in front of him. He appears to have good lateral range but may need work on balls hit at him.
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
welll
the ichiro ball was a misplay. the betancourt ball (is that the one you mean), I just don't think he wanted to dive. it may be be because he doesn't want to risk injury but it also could be that he doesn't want to let a ball like that get behind him. but lots of good OF'ers would not have made a play on the second ball.
and the basket catch was basically hit at him
love the video on there of the HR
just because of the M's announcers......Crushed.....That's Trouble.....That's Gone....*gasp*...
lost gem from last night
miles, around the 5th or 6th inning:
So where is all the Hamilton praise I was hearing about in the spring?I know I pick on miles a lot (and I'm kidding...usually), but at this point it is uncanny how the person he calls out ALWAYS ends up delivering. He asks about the Hamilton love, and today it's in all the newspapers and even showing up on M's boards.
Jeff
its not that he doesnt think michael young is that great. You dont seem to think that michael young is that great.
its that he says it as often as possible. every single time i check lookout landing when a rangers game is up he makes like 3 comments insulting young and has "ss" as his position. its like a personal vendetta.
not to mention the 'ol "maicer izturis is better than michael young"
yeah
lots of people here don't like michael young...or at the very least, wouldn't rate him highly. and most of the fans that do like him don't necessarily think he's the best player ever - they just like his attitude and like the fact that he gets a lot of hits. if ichiro didn't play defense well, i'm sure a lot of m's fans would still like him even though his offensive game isn't that much better than young's.
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