Monday morning things
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 7, 2008 9:44 AM CDT
59 comments
The Rangers could have played better on this 6 game road trip -- particularly defensively -- but you know, given everything, I think you can live with a 3-3 record after 6 games in Seattle and Anaheim.
Evan Grant runs down the positive things from the road trip, with the strong efforts by the rotation being front and center. 5 quality starts in 6 outings is huge...
Jim Reeves boggles at the performance of the rotation so far, and in particular, the fact that Vicente Padilla maintained his composure yesterday, rather than going into meltdown mode like we saw last year.
Jeff Wilson's game story focuses on the bottom of the order -- Gerald Laird, Ben Broussard, and Ramon Vazquez -- coming up big yesterday.
Ron Washington is going to have essentially the same lineup for tomorrow's home opener that he did for Opening Day, with the lefty Brian Burres going.
Evan Grant's notes discuss David Murphy forcing himself into the everyday lineup with his strong play, and Grant also mentions that Jason Botts will be starting Thursday against Adam Loewen. Botts has some positive quotes in the Grant item of the "just happy to be here" variety, so at least publicly, anyway, he's not making waves about his limited playing time thusfar.
Richard Durrett talks about the good and the bad from this first week of the season.
And T.R. Sullivan says David Murphy is proving he isn't just a fourth outfielder.
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Rangers pitchers and walks
When was the last time the Rangers gave up ZERO walks in a whole game? 1 walk on Saturday night, 0 on Sunday night? Its like these guys just figured out that walking guys is bad for their ERAs
As for Botts, after 6 years of riding on buses between spartan AAA clubhouses on AAA salary, I imagine that he's enjoying the major league ride, regardless of how many games he gets into at this point.
by JBImaknee on Apr 7, 2008 9:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Got to be
Laird, Brousard or Murphy
"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2
by tdi1985 on Apr 7, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is it true?
Laird has not struck out yet?
by phanhandlecholo on Apr 7, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If this team
can be .500 on the road all year, I'd say the playoffs are a slam dunk.
That was a great road trip. I do wish they would get Botts in against Burres rather than Broussard.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on Apr 7, 2008 9:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
And its not like they were on the road
against some hack teams like the Tigers (joke)...
but seriously, they just took 3 out of 3 on the road against the anointed top 2 teams in the AL West.
"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2
by tdi1985 on Apr 7, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. I feel really good about the opening series.
Hard to predict whether the starting pitching staff can hold up, ie stay healthy and avoid Padilla meltdowns. At the very least, we've been treated to one really nice road series this year.
by rooster on Apr 7, 2008 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was a great road trip, I agree
All that you have to do is compare it with some of our recent experiences starting the season on the West coast.
by Brett Perryman on Apr 7, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No comment on the Mavs?
Oh, I guess you just save those for after the heartbreaking losses so that your Avery/Cuban/Kidd bashing doesn't seem so unwarranted.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Apr 7, 2008 10:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
hen your struggling to make the playoffs....
you dont get brownie points for a good game. they shouldnt be in that position and now that they are we should cup their butt for winning must win games? sorry.
.500 or bust!
Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!
by Jayslick on Apr 7, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who cares anyways
Stern already knows who's going to win the NBA finals.
by Chris Hanes on Apr 7, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sigh
No, I didn't comment on it because I didn't watch the game yesterday and didn't think about it this morning, because I was busy and had other things on my mind, and because I usually don't talk about the Mavs in my morning posts.
But from now on, I'll make sure I comment on every single D/FW sports event that occurs in every morning post, if that will make you happy.
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 7, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please, for the sake of all that is holy
do not introduce basketball talk anymore than it already intrudes here.
A working class hero is something to be.
by t ball on Apr 7, 2008 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mavs
I don't understand why people want a blog about the baseball team to talk about basketball. If you want to talk mavs there are probably a few blogs about it so look them up.
by bushe on Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well
to be fair, there are posts about the mavs from ajm every now and then...but i think those are mostly under fanposts, i think...
the truth.
by Longhorn on Apr 7, 2008 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
usually
there's no reason for adam seem unbiased about it either. but, you should watch the game if you get a chance. one of the better mavericks games in the last 2 years. they looked really good. its just one game - making no judgments - but was fun to watch.
scap load or die
by ab03 on Apr 7, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No one cares about the Mavs anyway
they will just lose to Houston. Houston gets players no one has ever heard of, like Tracy McGrady, and they become big stars there.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on Apr 7, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I gotta say
I miss his insane ramblings. I may be the only one though :)
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on Apr 7, 2008 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Murphy
I'll believe he's more than a 4th outfielder after about 400-500 more at bats.
A working class hero is something to be.
by t ball on Apr 7, 2008 11:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Team dinner
Is the team dinner something that they have every year? Who didn't attend last year? Also, Padilla is talking to reporters! Has hell frozen over?
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
by RangerMad on Apr 7, 2008 11:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Bad news and good news
Bad news - Chris Davis had a 3-1 count and failed to tally his first walk of the season.
Good news - he hit the snot out it instead for a 2-run homer and 5-0 Frisco lead.
by shroomer on Apr 7, 2008 11:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
11:00 a.m. start?
Yikes.
A working class hero is something to be.
by t ball on Apr 7, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
this frisco team looks pretty good. There pitching seems to be just as good as there hitting. where is Lemon going we he comes back.
by psmitty on Apr 7, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lemon
He's going to Bakersfield. You can actually see his photo in that Fanshot linking to their opening day.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Apr 7, 2008 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotta love you some Murph
I love me some Murph
Adam loves him some Lard
by NYTXFAN on Apr 7, 2008 12:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully
David Murphy can keep showing Botts the lesson on how to take advantage of opportunities. If he can keep going, he will force Byrd to the bench when Bradley is healthy.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on Apr 7, 2008 12:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You mean you have to take advantage
of opportunities?
I thought teams were supposed to keep giving guys chance after chance to prove themselves?
by JBImaknee on Apr 7, 2008 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
chance after chance
interesting characterization
scap load or die
by ab03 on Apr 7, 2008 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Botts is such a piker
After all, he's failed to take advantage of all those opportunities to hit. ok, opportunity. But well, if he were David Murphy he would have gotten 4 hits in that one atbat and made 8 spectacular plays in that one inning in the field.
right?
by iblum on Apr 7, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Botts has had
281 Plate appearances to show something in the Majors. He has hit .241/.327/.335 in those opportunities. He has also shown no ability to play defense anywhere on the field.
Murphy has 162 Plate appearances to show something. He has hit .336/.389/.544 with those opportunities. He has also shown the ability to play all 3 OF positions adequately defensively.
Who would you give the next opportunity to? Murphy may end up busting out, and Botts may be a star someday. However, Murphy is scratching and clawing his way onto the field, and Botts is looking like a good guy to warm a bench. I can't see Washington having any incentive to scratch Botts name in the lineup.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on Apr 7, 2008 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
this year
This year Botts has had 1 plate appearance.
And Washington is putting Broussard in against another lefty tomorrow. Botts will get his first start on thursday. That's game 9 of the season. If I'm Botts I'm pretty much committed to go 4-4 in this game and hope that nets me another start somewhere down the road. Press? sure. after all, if I don't establish that I can pound lefties and play sterling defense at first, Kevin Mench is waiting a AAA. and if he's not up by May he gets to be a free agent. if your Botts, you're hoping that the next 3 or 4 games you play in you hit 2 homers a game and hope that the team still decides not to send you down for Mench anyway. This is a horrendous thing to do to a young player who rightfully won a job in spring training. its how you don't develop a hitter.
by iblum on Apr 7, 2008 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
Botts didn't win the first base job, that really wasn't up for grabs this spring. He won a roster spot. Which he has right now.
Now, I agree that he deserves more than 1 plate appearance a week. He should probably be starting tomorrow, but Broussard hasn't exactly been a failure at the plate so far either. I think Botts will get more playing time when Wash is comfortable sending Milton Bradley into the OF every day.
I also don't understand why it is that Botts is so susceptible to "pressing". Every team has a player or two on the bench who don't get very much playing time. Are they also in danger of trying to go 4-4 and hit two home runs a game whenever they get a chance to play? I doubt it. Why should Botts be any different? He's the 25th man on the roster. He should be happy with what playing time he gets.
by JBImaknee on Apr 7, 2008 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sucks for Botts
that he has zero defensive value. That means he has to carry a hot bat. If you have no other value than your bat, a team can't carry you in the lineup every day while waiting for you to have 200 plate appearances to get comfortable.
Thats just reality. I know some folks think he should get 700 PAs this year regardless of outcome, but that ain't gonna happen with any team in the league.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on Apr 7, 2008 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Broussard
Broussard has started against ONE lefty this year. That was on Opening Day. Did you really expect the manager to bench his starting 1B on Opening Day in favor of the 25th man on the roster who hadn't played 1B on a regular basis in over 3 years? Now you expect him to bench not only his starting 1B, but one of the hottest bats on the team for the home opener in favor of again the 25th man on the roster and who hasn't played 1B in over 3 years on a regular basis?
Botts needs to hit. Plain and simple. Mench doesn't have to be brought up until June 1. Thats how long Botts has to show something. So whenever his name is called he needs to show something. If not well bye. We've heard about the guy for too long to not have seen anything. If he was 23,24 years old then I can understand giving him some slack but hes not.
by bigsteve on Apr 7, 2008 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Murphy
I had a weird dream about him last night. He was playing and he kept on getting hurt. I think he broke his leg and all of his teeth fell out. It seemed like some kind of bad omen, probably something I'm worried about in my life or something. Still, it was pretty random for him to show up in my dream.
But that river of tears has dried for all of us.
by trza on Apr 7, 2008 1:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
whoa
that's pretty f*ed up right there. Sacrifice 3 goats and throw 12 hot dogs over your shoulder to bring peace back to your spirit
by bushe on Apr 7, 2008 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When I was a kid
I used to dream that Juan Gonzalez and I joined forces to fight crime.
Alas, that particular childhood dream never came to fruition in real life.
At least, not yet...
"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi
by thedirkatron on Apr 7, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can see you chasing
some archfiend, and Juan pops a hammy.
"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck
by DJCahill on Apr 7, 2008 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Archfiends
Juan Rivera, AJ Pierzinski, and Nick Swisher.
But that river of tears has dried for all of us.
by trza on Apr 7, 2008 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And please trza
maybe just catch the box scores on the next couple of games or so? Random dreams of the Murph? I know we've been waiting a long winter for the pasttime, but maybe you have overdosed in the first six games. Just sayin'.
by alwfan on Apr 8, 2008 4:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
David Murphy
fought Chuck Norris and won.
by SarasotaRanger on Apr 7, 2008 1:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He did more than that
He flying side kicked Chuck Norris then hit him over the head with a baseball bat.
by iblum on Apr 7, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And will now take...
his rightful place behind Mike Huckabee during his campaign speeches.
Ahh damn, Huck is out of it, oh well.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Apr 7, 2008 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not worthy of starting a thread
How many teams have 4 catchers on their 40 man roster?
I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby
by RangerMad on Apr 7, 2008 8:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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