Tuesday morning things
by Brett Perryman on Apr 22, 2008 9:56 AM CDT
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PrintNot a lot out there this morning. Kason Gabbard has a bad back, Jason Botts is going to continue to play more, and the team is going to Detroit for a matchup of the two worst records in the AL.
Looking at the pitching matchups for this series, a win tonight would be a good idea.
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Well, since this season is rapidly getting away
there is no reason not to play Botts a lot. Hopefully he either steps up, or fails completely and they can be done with him. So far, in his MLB career to date he has been one big millstone.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
+1
I’m rooting for Botts but have no idea whether he will succeed or not. I just hope that he gets a legitimate chance and either earns a spot on the ‘09 Rangers or a DFA late this season or in the offseason.
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.
by Chad Crudup on Apr 22, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions
The only thing more depressing
than the play of the team so far is the kind of blame-fest it brings out here.
Whatever gets you through the night, 'salright, 'salright.
This season
There’s a lot to look forward to.
It’s looking like Botts will finally get an unobstructed chance.
McCarthy’s return from injury is in a few weeks.
We will see Saltalamacchia, maybe within two months, and probably 300 – 400 ABs’ worth.
It’s hard to believe Chris Davis won’t make the ML team this year, and get his own couple hundred ABs. If you think of the state of the offense right now, how could his promo not be a good idea?
Might be another interesting trade deadline, especially if Millwood, Vicente, and Bradley keep going like they have. If JD deals from those positions, we’ll probably see Hurley/Mathis and Boggs.
In other words, the first wave of talent is closing in. I still feel like I’m forgetting someone.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Apr 22, 2008 10:19 AM CDT reply actions
Millwood/ Padilla
Why would you trade away two quality starters who are under contract at very reasonable rates if they are having really good years? Not saying don’t listen to offers and take one if it absolutely blows you away. But don’t trade them simply to make room for young guys. Make those young guys earn a spot in the rotation by pitching really well in AAA. Hurley hasn’t done that so far.
I don’t understand the fascination with Boggs either. He looks like a decent player but nothing to suggest he will be a superstar or game changer. He finally has made it to AAA, lets see him do well there for more than a couple weeks before we start rearranging the roster to accomodate him.
Next year is Padilla's contract year
Everyone knows how Padilla produces in a contract year… think the Rangers could benefit from that kind of production anchoring a rotation spot so not all five spots are kids taking their lumps at the same time?
For some
But there are examples of guys who have monster years and then regress back to their norm after getting that contract. Padillas first year here was an example. Adrian Beltre, GMJ, Derosa, Sexson, etc. If I am a team looking to win now those are the types of guys I would look for.
That's pretty foolish
There is no evidence that guys perform better in their contract years. Of course some will, and some will not, but you cannot expect it to happen, even if they’ve done it before. That’s like expecting the odds of a coin flip to change just because you get heads ten times in a row. It’s a myth supported only by anecdotal evidence.
Whatever gets you through the night, 'salright, 'salright.
Why do you keep saying that?
http://www.lonestarball.com/2008/4/18/415343/friday-a-m-stuff#4907421
Besides, he’s only had 1 “contract year,” how can you “know” anything?
Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.
by Brian Thomas on Apr 22, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Boggs
I’ve watched Boggs play a handfull of times this year… and he doesn’t look amazing. He’s hitting really well and has decent speed, but nothing has stood out. I’ve seen some guys like Braun and Gallardo last year and Colby Rasmus this year who just “have it” – and you know it when you see it. I’m not saying he won’t make it, but he doesn’t have that star quality.
Well?
We already knew that. He’s a 25 y/o in AAA—was anyone expecting star quality?
He projects as a 4th OF’er, one who will be better than Marlon Byrd. If he sustains an .850 OPS or so in AAA, I don’t see why he shouldn’t be called up by June 1.
"Hmn [sic] ... pehaps [sic] I've said too much..." - LSJesus
by inactive lsb user on Apr 22, 2008 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Boggs
A late blooming Mike Cameron-esque player capable of a respectable OPS (.790-.810?) and above average OF defense at the major league level?
Personally, I think Boggs continues to improve at the plate (he has at every professional level) and becomes a starting OF for the Rangers. If not, a very valuable 4th OF, capable of playing all three positions without being a hindrance to the team at the plate.
"I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer
-Richard Strauss
it's hardly an indictment of Boggs
that he isn’t as impressive as Rasmus or Braun.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
McCarthy's return
You want to lay a wager on that?
Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
by LSBUser on Apr 22, 2008 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions
I wouldn't
It could be worse, we could still have Whiffy in the lineup:
Whiffy in 2008
.135 BA
.162 Slg.
0 HR
4 RBI
by LAMuscleFag on Apr 22, 2008 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Rebuilding
Agreed DJ. Time to take a real look at Botts. Let’s give the guy a shot at starting everyday. Volquez and Danks look good though.
Of course
if they want to release Botts after 200or so more PAs, I don’t have a real problem with that. He needs to show something fairly soon.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
Agreed...
...if after at least half a season of getting consistent ABs 5 or 6 days a week he is not producing then cut bait.
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.
by Chad Crudup on Apr 22, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
I figure 500 career PAs is enough
its not like he has just been a little below average. He has had bad offensive output, even if he was a gold glove defensive SS.
He needs to get in the 750 range of OPS anyway. That would still be bad for a DH, but at least you can somewhat justify a spot for him, and hope for improvement. Sub 700 OPS from a guy with absolutely no defense can’t be tolerated all that long.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
A win tonight
Yeah that would be a good idea, but Verlander will probaly pick tonight to look like Cy Young.
I don't like the losses on a day-to-day basis, but...
...in the overall scheme of things I was expecting a lot of losses and hoping for a true effort towards building a contender for the future. That is why the overall record does not bopther me right now.
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.
As I said in another thread
The losses don’t bother me nearly as much as watching Danks and Galaragga pitch well.
Losing a series just means that things are bad right now.
Coming to the realization that the organization can’t properly evaluate young pitching is much harder to deal with because it means that things aren’t likely to improve any time soon.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
Wasn't that good of a point the first time
I agree that individual wins this year are not as important as developing our young talent. I don’t think there is any point in wondering about past deals, though. There is no guarantee that any pitcher we’ve dealt would pitch effectively for us. Sometimes there is a huge mental benefit from getting a fresh start with a new franchise (Danks), changing parks (Young), hooking up with a different catcher, getting tips from a new pitching coach, etc. There is no telling which, if any, of these factors (or others) have contributed to a pitcher’s success. There’s also no telling (right now) how the pitcher will perform over the course of a full season.
by Jack Nicholson 1974 on Apr 22, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
+1/2
I agree that we can’t spend too much time worrying about past deals… although it is correct to realize that past mistakes might indicate that there is a greater likelihood of future ones.
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.
by Chad Crudup on Apr 22, 2008 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Always a lot of good...
...mixed with the bad.
And perhaps more than anything a lot of “meh” somewhere in the middle.
My point is that while we cannot dwell on past failures (or successes for that matter) we still must be somewhat aware of them.
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.
Do they get points for their evaluation of Massett?
Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.
by Brian Thomas on Apr 22, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Verlander,
As bad, as we are playing, should he be a -165 favorite? Plus, we are 1-2 to win the series.
OT: Chase Utley
anyone see what this guy is doing this year? .353/.430/.823 for a 1.253 ops.
9 homeruns, 8 doubles and a triple.
he had a .973 ops from 2b last year, looks like he might be on his way to breaking 1.0 this year.
Gerald Laird is my hero.
Chase Utley = beast
I think he might be my all-time favorite 2B. Not a bad defender, and he hits like a first baseman. I had him on my last fantasy team in 2006, the year he hit 32 homers, been a huge fan of his ever since.
Thought this was interesting:
From Jeff Wilson,
Josh Hamilton likes the first pitch he sees, so much so that no other player in the American League hacks at a pitcher’s first offering more than the Rangers’ center fielder.Half of his plate appearances have started with a first-pitch swing. He is batting .305 with team-highs in homers (four) and RBI (19), so it’s hard to argue with his long-held approach that he’s swinging if the first pitch is a strike.
“It doesn’t matter what it is—fastball, curveball,” said Hamilton, who swung at the first pitches in his first three at-bats Monday. “If it’s over the plate, I’m going to swing at it.”
by Randy Richardson on Apr 22, 2008 1:22 PM CDT reply actions
And he still has a very good 8/10 BB/K ratio...
...for a power hitter. My uneducated opinion would be that he is exhibiting a nice combination of an aggressive/patient attitude at the plate. Swinging at strikes early and often perhaps.
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.
Hamilton
when putting 1st pitch into play,
2008 .167BA .556SLG
2007 .360BA .740SLG
by Randy Richardson on Apr 22, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I believe,
that was what started the Tex, Wash, screaming match last year. Wonder how long Wash will hold off, on the new stud?
There is nothing wrong
with swinging at the first pitch if you can do something with it. If you always take the first pitch, you are basicly giving the pitcher a free strike on you.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
exactly
Guys like Tex and Hamilton and Bradley and any other top flight hitters in the league very seldom see multiple good pitches in an at bat. I hate nothing more than a guy who as soon as the pitcher starts his windup basically stands straight up and watches the first pitch sail right down the middle.
Now guys like your lairds and broussards and Botts’ and Byrds etc etc etc those guys are not the accomplished hitters the other guys are. They should be up there watching pitches and getting their timing down. Not to say they can’t put first pitches in play but the majority of the time they shouldn’t.
seems like
Kinsler is guilty of this sometimes. The pitcher will just groove strike 1 knowing that Kinsler is unlikely to swing. Part of that is trying to fit the role of leadoff man though I guess.
That's exactly who I thought of
He does the “stand straight up and watch the first pitch sail right down the middle” routine that BS alluded to. Perhaps he should take the first pitch often as leadoff man, but at least don’t telegraph it?
"Hmn [sic] ... pehaps [sic] I've said too much..." - LSJesus
by inactive lsb user on Apr 23, 2008 12:31 AM CDT up reply actions
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