ok, but that's not Harrison's problem. It might be the Rangers' problem, but not Harrison, and as far as I can tell this was a post about Matt Harrison, not the Rangers in general. His problem is lack of Ks, which he got yesterday, so the key stat was indeed the 6Ks in 5.2 innings.

miles is right.

It's dumb to play young players during rebuilding years? I disagree. I'm not suggesting that we bring up Fabio Castillo based on the premise of going young, but considering Harrison is already on the 40, that he already has 200 innings of AA experience, and that the Rangers are going to be mediocre at best in '08, I see very little reason to wait until September to give him an opportunity to pitch at the major league level. If that is dumb I guess I'm dumb.

Also, regardless of our current small market payroll, the Rangers shouldn't allow future financial concerns to impact the development of our prospects. We aren't the Rays or the Marlins. We don't have to watch talent walk away because of financial restraint. Hicks has a wallet and he has been willing to open it.

Again, I'm not advocating that we develop all of our prospects at the major league level. This is case specific and at this point, I'd much rather watch a prospect like Harrison take his lumps at the major league level than watch retreads like Jennings struggle to be mediocre on a losing team.

*I should also mention that my feelings for Harrison prevent any objectivity on this subject. I was against bringing up Hurley last season mainly because of financial reasons. I'm a hypocrite. Big deal.

Alot of factors go inot rebuilding. First you have to build the farm system which we have done. Then you have to develop those prospects which we are doing. But if they are not ready you do what we are doing which is find stopgaps. Broussard, Jennings, Bradley, etc. We aren't holding players in the minors for financial reasons. We are holding them there for organizational reasons. You gotta look big picture. The majority of our top prospects are not on the 40 man roster. Andrus, Davis, Hurley, Teagarden. If they aren't absolutely ready why rush them. Would you rather see a young player this year just for the sake of seeing him and then in 3 years you are faced with the same situation we are in with Botts and Cruz this year. Guys who are out of options and we still are unsure if they will be players or not.

The only 2 guys who I would consider top prospects who are on the 40 man and in the minors are Salty and Harrison. Both of whom have not played above AA until last night when Salty was in OKC. Both of them will be up at some point this year. But more than likely the other guys like Hurley, Davis, Duran, and Teagarden won't be up unless we know for certain we will keep them up the rest of the year and they will get significant playing time. Otherwise it would not be smart from an organizational standpoint to burn an option when you don't have to.

will hurt his "value". SS is the weakest hitting position, and anywhere you move him it'll hurt his value. Too bad MY is a "shortstop" and not a shortstop.

Now there's a thought.

If (big if) you have power at 2B, 3B, 1B, LF, RF, and CF you can afford a DH in the two hole who gets a lot of hits but doesn't have a high IsoP. Mantra: power in six positions, hitting/obp in the other three.