Nelson Cruz a Redhawk
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 3, 2008 8:22 PM CDT
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PrintIn a mildly surprising development, Nelson Cruz has cleared waivers.
There was thought, of course, that he'd be claimed.
Apparently not.
The Redhawks have Drew Meyer playing left field today, so there's clearly room in the outfield for Cruz.
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Surprising to who?
players who can't hit breaking balls arent in as much demand as one might think.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
I dunno...
can he even passably play center? He would have some value to a lot of teams as a backup OF'er if he could play all three positions.
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
yeah
the guy still has one of the best cannons to fire a ball to home plate that ive seen around here in a decade. that has some value as a late innings fielding change in the NL or as a defensive replacement in the top of the 8th or 9th in the AL.
.500 or bust!
Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!
wow
that was quick. That's good news.
That boy Whiffy's swing has more holes in it than Amy Winehouse's arm.
Interesting
Part of me still wonders if we could include Laird in that deal, and get a better prospect... but that won't happen.
by LSJ on Apr 3, 2008 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions
is there any deal ...
that you don't include Laird in ? :)
That boy Whiffy's swing has more holes in it than Amy Winehouse's arm.
...
...you knock me for being all high on Volquez...
and then you make comments like that...
you are quickly becoming one of the most annoying... things... about this site.
by oc on Apr 4, 2008 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions
The difference between me and you is
Laird sucks, and is blocking a better player. Volquez is long gone, and we got the best player currently on this team in return for him.
So sorry, I don't see the correlation.
by LSJ on Apr 4, 2008 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions
blocking a better player?...
...ha...
goodbye, loonstar
by oc on Apr 4, 2008 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Soooo
if something happens (God forbid) to Bradley, Rusty, Cat or Byrd:
Mench vs. Cruz
Who do you think gets the call?
Who do you want to get the call?
Thoughts?
by robert_d_wilfong on Apr 3, 2008 8:58 PM CDT reply actions
Boggs
" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"
Boggs
I doubt they'll call him up to play once a week.
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 3, 2008 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions
He is already on the 40 which
obviously rules all so it tough to say. I would imagine him playing more than once a week.
" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"
If Bradley or Ham are the ones injured
I think Boggs would be the one to get the call. But if it's Murphy, Cat or Byrd you don't want Boggs sitting on the bench.
by LSJ on Apr 3, 2008 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions
well
I don't want Mench or Cruz sitting on the bench either.
" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"
Why wouldn't you want Mench on the bench?
He's a lefty-crusher platoon guy, really. Maybe platoon him with Murphy, but I wouldn't want to see him going full-time.
Re: Cruz, though, I agree.
by LSJ on Apr 3, 2008 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions
hows he gonna help us win down the road?
sure if its early in the season and nobody is ready, but if we are out of it and its mid july, id prefer to see some1 who is on the verge of a decision being made on like boggs over mench, i like mench i wish him the best, but he needs to be on a different team, im not sure we are a match when it comes to menchy and the rangers at this time.
.500 or bust!
Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!
How is Cruz gonna help us down the road?
If he can't hit the breaking ball at his age, I don't think he'll ever be able to hit it.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
Cruz
The most frustrating thing about Cruz to me is that everyone says that he can't hit a breaking ball, which is true, but I watched him time and time again get blown away by a fastball. The fact that he can't hit a breaking ball would be okay if he could destroy fastballs, but he doesn't.
by badradiorules on Apr 4, 2008 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Location
He is getting whipped by good pitchers who can move the ball around and locate. Sees more straight stuff, and less change of velocity, at lower levels.
'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern
by Ed Coffin on Apr 4, 2008 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Lets just hope,
Mench and Cruz stay on the farm. I'd rather see Murphy, Hamilton, Byrd and Bradley man the OF, with Cat and Botts as emergency OF.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
Boggs
I seriously doubt that Boggs ever has any kind of important role on the big league roster.
by badradiorules on Apr 4, 2008 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Boggs has a good chance
to be David Murphy in a year or so, another good 4th outfielder.
A working class hero is something to be.
Murphy
I may be drinking the kool-aid, but I think that Murphy will be more than a 4th outfielder and much better than Boggs. I don't have a ton of statistical proof to back that up, so he may make me look stupid on that claim, but I see them as two guys on different levels especially if Boggs can't hit RHP.
by badradiorules on Apr 4, 2008 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
huh?
They are using an option right now while he is in AAA. Boggs would actually probably be the best bet if someone got slightly injured and only needed 1-2 weeks to recover. He may only play one or two games during that time but to bring Mench or Cruz up would have to mean they would have to stay for a prolonged time.
So if the phone rings at 3 a.m.
Who do want to answer it is that what you are saying? :)
"My death certificate will probably say: 'Cause of Death: World Series.'" Jamey Newberg
well Vinny P with his bottle of Tequila..
is the only one up at that hour...but he's not in OKC......HOLA!
That boy Whiffy's swing has more holes in it than Amy Winehouse's arm.
Mench
Unless of course Cruz is doing his Jason Botts imitation, and Mench is doing his Milwaukee imatation.
OKC OF
Anybody know why Boggs isn't playing?
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
Cruz all day any day
I don't understand the people that are ready to cut bait with Cruz. So we've got a pretty good outfield currently with Milton Bradley in RF (when he stops DHing), Josh Hamilton in CF and David Murphy getting the regular playing time in LF. Byrd's a very capable 4th OFer. But the general consensus around here - and that could change, but as I've seen it - is that Murphy is no better than a 4th outfielder and thus not a long-term solution at LF, and Bradley should either be flipped if he performs well or be cut if he perfomrs poorly or ends up hurt again.
So why wouldn't you want Cruz? Why in the HELL would you want Mench, who's clearly on the downside of whatever illustrious career he's had? Listen, I liked Mench when he was here, but we traded him with a poor outfield in place because he wasn't our answer then...in his glory days...so why now? Plus, this team is built around the idea that defense is a major contributor towards winning (sure they're off to a slow start in the infield but the outfield is looking pretty damn good...). And Mench I think we all agree is far inferior to Cruz in outfield defense. Arm, range, etc. all weigh in Cruz' favor.
And while he has yet to hit consistently in the majors, he has the ability to hit for extreme power (many saying last year he had by far the best power showing on our team) and has dominated AAA. What's wrong with that? I think if you can dominate AAA and you can get your confidence and timing down in the majors, you can eventually have at worst an average offensive season in the big leagues.
Anyways, my two cents - but I'm tired of seeing the negativity surrounding Cruz. I for one and f#$king jumping out of my seat because he cleared waivers, and I would love to see him get one final shot before Boggs and Mayberry get their shots
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
+1
good take. i feel the same way on mench. and im glad cruz cleared waiver, it gives us a full season to look at him, let him develop a little more and give him a chance if the time comes.
i think the guy can turn it around with his bat, his fielding for the corner is good and his arm is the best ive seen in years.
.500 or bust!
Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!
Why wouldn't we want cruz?
Because I don't see him as a better option than Murphy or Byrd? I just don't have any faith in anyone who can't hit a major league curve at 27 figuring it out. I just hope neither Mench nor Cruz is called up, because that would mean an injury.
Nelson is .231/.282/.385 for his effectively 1 full year in the majors. That's fairly atrocious for a COF.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on Apr 4, 2008 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Cruz
I think the biggest thing is who's going to help us this year because the 2009-2011 right fielder is not in this organization right now (barring some extension with Bradley which I think is a bad idea or some big time turnaround from Mayberry). Right now, Mench would do a nice job at the major league level as a platoon outfielder. He's not an everyday player, but he could do a nice job for somebody in that role, even the Rangers as long as he's not taking at bats away from anyone important.
The only way I see Cruz making it back to the big leagues is if two of Bradley, Byrd and Murphy get hurt at the same and they need someone to play every day. I have a hard time seeing that he'll ever be an everyday player and I think the fact that he cleared waivers speaks volumes towards that. I'm glad that he did clear waivers as I fully expected him to, because he does have a small chance to be good enough to bridge the gap to Borbon or Beltre. However, if he never gets that chance again, I don't think its that big a deal.
by badradiorules on Apr 4, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Assuming Bradley plays well this year
Why would you think signing him to another couple of years be a bad idea?
I can understand if he's asking for Torii Hunter money or something, but assuming it's not a crippling deal in money or years, why wouldn't he be a good solution for the next few?
by vfn on Apr 4, 2008 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions
better bet
you ask him to sign an extension during the year and if he says no, trade him. and really, you err on the side of trade. He's still very injury prone
Bradley
My theory on Bradley is that if he stays healthy the whole season, he is going to have a big year offensively. He's relatively young, so some dumbass team is going to throw big money at him for 3 years or more. Signing him pretty cheap to a one year deal and hoping that he can stay healthy = smart. Signing him at or above market value to a multi-year deal = very risky and potentially stupid.
Bottom line, if he stays healthy and is productive this season count yourself very lucky and move on. If he's healthy by the trade deadline, he could get at least a nice AA prospect or more in a trade as well. I don't know if he could do anything to warrant a compensatory pick this season. I don't understand that process very well.
by badradiorules on Apr 4, 2008 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions
MOB
My thoughts exactly.
"You are this month's NYTXFAN." - t ball
by inactive lsb user on Apr 4, 2008 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't like the idea
of admitting defeat on someone who might be the thing that decides whether or not we contend in 2009 or 2010 3 games into the 2008 season. You see if he stays healthy, see how he performs, and make an offer, see where you stand on money.
If you can't reach an accord at that point, then you might see about trading him or getting the draft pick when he signs.
But doing so 3 games into his Rangers career is silly.
by vfn on Apr 4, 2008 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions
That makes no sense.
You see if he stays healthy, see how he performs, and make an offer, see where you stand on money.
1. If he were to stay healthy for 140 G and play to his potential, he would demand $GMJ ++ and likely get it.
2. You'd be committing to someone who has played 100 games twice in his career.
3. We should be able to acquire a better [cheaper, younger, less injury prone) COF option in 2009 or 2010 with all of our ammo progressing to where the team's needs become narrowly defined. A lot can happen between now and then.
"You are this month's NYTXFAN." - t ball
by inactive lsb user on Apr 4, 2008 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions
What?
I've said that since they signed him. It was a great signing. I hope he stays healthy and plays awsome this season. Then he makes bank somewhere else, because there is no way that he consistently stays healthy.
Again, great time in his career to sign him to a one year deal. Idiotic to sign him to an extension, unless he signs maybe a two-year extension at a very cheap number. CI is right, he'll get GMJ money or better for sure and maybe be a worse signing because of the amount of games that he'll miss.
I'm trying to respond to your 3 games comment, but I can't find anything in my original post that refers to anything that he has done this season. I just know that there is no way that this is admitting defeat. I love the signing, no matter how it works out, and love the fact that he's a Ranger in 2008. I just don't see a scenario where it would be smart for him to be a Ranger in 2009.
by badradiorules on Apr 5, 2008 12:40 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm happy
Not personally or anything.
Just for Ed.
Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.
Drew Meyer versus Nelson Cruz
in a Battle Royale for the ages for LF.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
+1
Winner take all.
"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 4, 2008 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Meyer
Hey, he had two singles last night. Prospect again?
by badradiorules on Apr 4, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
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