Thursday a.m. things

by Adam J. Morris on May 1, 2008 8:46 AM CDT

You know, it would be nice if these games that should be blowouts would stay blowouts. Last night's game was too close for comfort.

Evan Grant's game story focuses on righting things after a miserable middle of April, with Ron Washington trying to stay positive.

Jason Jennings is headed to the disabled list, which wouldn't be a bad thing, except that Brandon McCarthy, Kason Gabbard, and Luis Mendoza are already on the d.l. So we have 3/5ths of the anticipated Opening Day rotation on the d.l., along with the guy expected to step in should the Rangers need a different starter. A.J. Murray is going to come up and apparently fill Jennings' slot in the rotation.

My guess is that Jennings goes down on a rehab stint and stays down there until he gets his act together. If, by the end of that time, he's still having the same problems he's had up here, I think he gets released.

Kason Gabbard threw yesterday and all went well. He's scheduled to start a week from today, and his return to the rotation would be a good thing.

Jim Reeves has the usual "Washington and Daniels must go" column, and claims that Daniels has made "some of the worst trades in Rangers history," reiterating the "the Rangers traded all these guys and have only X on the 25 man roster to show for it."

0 recs | Comment 65 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Rangers 2008

Record in games started by Millwood, Padilla, and Gabbard = 10-7.
Record in all other games = 0-11.

That, in my mind, suggests that the Rangers can really be competitive if they can stabilize the back of the rotation. Ponson goes today and hopefully he can put an end to this ugly streak.

by Randy Richardson on May 1, 2008 9:25 AM CDT 0 recs

Didn't Gabbard get a win

against the Angels in the game where Nippert turned an 11-0 lead into an 11-6 lead?

by Inkara1 on May 1, 2008 11:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

Oops

Only saw Millwood and Padilla… my bad :(

by Inkara1 on May 1, 2008 11:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

I love Reeves

Cherry picking those trades and ignoring the fact that a good farm system makes your team better is great journalism. I love how he left out Gagne and the fact that we got two major leaguers from the Sox for a guy who did his best to ruin their postseason and then jumped ship.

by jwiscarson on May 1, 2008 9:26 AM CDT 0 recs

However, one of the truisms of being a fan

someone is always claiming the minor leagues are loaded with talent. After decades of hearing it, I’m sure he gets skeptical.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 1, 2008 9:33 AM CDT up 0 recs

I see your point

but I think he’s just trying to sell newspapers to angry fans. Declaring trades worthless because they didn’t bring back major leaguers is really short-sighted and stupid, regardless of how often he’s heard about a great farm team.

by jwiscarson on May 1, 2008 9:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

Exactly

why are so many people protective of JD?

Reeves is the old dinosaur white newspaper guy true, but JD’s tenure has been nothing short of a colossal failure.

Yippeee, the minor league system is up to #4 according to Baseball Prospectus but the product at the major league level is and has been nothing short of awful and getting worse every year.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 1, 2008 9:40 AM CDT up 0 recs

I wouldn't say

colossal failure, but it certainly hasn’t been an unvarnished success.

I think he has made some good moves as well as bad.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 1, 2008 9:42 AM CDT up 0 recs

Failing

to run this manager right now says so much about JD.

He is afraid to admit that he was wrong.

The first step in the right direction is to run Washington’s ass out of here today.

When can you ever remember hearing from scouts (according to B.Olney) that they have never seen a major league team playing such a loose fundamental style of baseball that could only be described as “out of control”??

That’s not Jim Reeves, Galloway or some spare who posts on baseball message boards saying it, it’s a nationally recognized writer/tv personality..

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 1, 2008 9:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

I don't see

not firing him before Memorial day as a massive failing.

I do see this as yet another example of your hysteria though. Any chance you can confine it to the NMLR board?

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 1, 2008 9:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

Hysteria?

I see the standings, I see sustained and consistent incompetence and I see the dumbest team in baseball.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 1, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

and...

...i see a manager who was hired by the owner and a new team president who’s previous baseball experience is focused more on fastballs and uppercuts than building a FRANCHISE… which is the GMs job anyway…

i don’t get how people can complain about us having a better farm system now..

"Juan Pierre hit zero home runs last year. Mythical fairy creature David Eckstein hit three, for Chrissakes, and he swings a three-inch bat carved out of a candy cane." ~junior, FJM

by ivysafety39 on May 1, 2008 10:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

if

youve got no faith that the proper roster management will eventually allow those minor leaguers to succeed at a major league level, then have a sticked minor league system starts to have a lot less meaning than otherwise…

.500 or bust!

Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!

"Well, we are one of the cheapest teams in Major League Baseball"
-Tom Hicks 4/8/2008

by Jayslick on May 1, 2008 11:15 AM CDT up 0 recs

i do think...

... daniels has made some questionable roster moves lately, but i honestly think his hand is being forced a bit by a new team president that wants to win now… when in all turth that wasn’t the plan for this year…

go back over the last couple years and its pretty obvious hicks can’t just leave this team alone for any amount of time, and thats not a good thing…

"Juan Pierre hit zero home runs last year. Mythical fairy creature David Eckstein hit three, for Chrissakes, and he swings a three-inch bat carved out of a candy cane." ~junior, FJM

by ivysafety39 on May 1, 2008 4:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

And

do you really believe that any semblance of intimidation from somebody such as yourself is going to shut me up?

If you prefer takes written by somebody who never takes off their Ranger Foam Finger, you’re probably better off not reading what I have to say.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 1, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up 0 recs

No, I don't imagine anything will shut you up

you will just going on and on, saying less and less. I would just prefer you do it over at NMLR with all the other uninteresting posters.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 1, 2008 10:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

who really

cares what you prefer?

The discussion was about baseball and you’re the one that took it off the track.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 1, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

.500 or bust!

Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!

"Well, we are one of the cheapest teams in Major League Baseball"
-Tom Hicks 4/8/2008

by Jayslick on May 1, 2008 11:23 AM CDT up 0 recs

fireronwashington.com

would prefer to extend it some, make some money…

by SanDiegoKev on May 1, 2008 12:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

Josey

Just out of curiosity, have you ever been to a Newberg Night (or any other Ranger function) where Daniels took questions from the fans?

I’ve been to several, and he’s been willing to admit on several occasions that he made a bad decision.

Not to defend Washington- who I agree probably needs to go- but this characterization of JD as someone who can’t admit mistakes is way, way off base.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on May 1, 2008 5:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm not protecting him.

I see that he’s made bad trades, but last year’s trades seem pretty damn great to me. Last year’s free agent signings (Gagne/Sosa/Lofton) were also pretty fantastic. Again though, he’s human, and although I support him because I think he has a plan that’s worked in other places, he does make mistakes (one of which is the way we handled the first base situation this offseason)

This is more a rant about slanted journalism and the “angry” sportswriters with stupid-assed opinions who either propose no changes or ridiculous changes (such as “fire the whole team” from Galloway).

by jwiscarson on May 1, 2008 12:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well, yeah

of course he is trying to sell newspapers to angry fans. Thats what most columnists do.

When they aren’t whining that Bloggers living in their mothers basements are taking their jobs.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 1, 2008 9:43 AM CDT up 0 recs

How did Tampa

How did Tampa Bay having a Top 5 system since 2000 make them a better team?

by Apes and Androids on May 1, 2008 9:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

By

letting that top farm system fully, and appropriately develop. They now have a young team with tons of talent, and more on the way; that is currently third in the AL in wins. While I don’t think they are winning the AL east, or making the playoffs. They are performing well, and doing so without Kazmir.

by BHill on May 1, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

Oh ok.

I can’t wait for 8 seasons from now.

by Apes and Androids on May 1, 2008 10:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

Well

you said since 2000; not in 2000. Having a quality farm system supplies the the MLB club with cheap, sustainable talent, hopefully. Unfortunately, you don’t get high draft picks for being good, and the talent you do get via trade or the draft takes more than one or two years to develop.

What has a good farm system done for the Diamondbacks?

by BHill on May 1, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

Ok.

Well, the Rangers have had a good farm system since middle of last year. So, again I say, I can’t wait for 8 seasons from now.

by Apes and Androids on May 1, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up 0 recs

"the Rangers have had a good farm system since middle of last year."

really?

most of the guys we got back werent til at the deadline, and beaven and ramirez didnt sign until the last second. this is the first year we can say we had a good system and all those guys are at least 3+ seasons away in an ideal world.

rebuilding is a 5+ year plan, and this team still is not not fully in a rebuild mode. when this team realizes its in rebuild mode we got 4 or 5 years after that point that we can expect the team to become competitive.

in other words we are like 2 seasons from rock bottom rebuild and then likely 3 years after that we can expect a competitive team.

realize this and quit bitching about how you wanna be competitive now. trying to be competitive now is how we got in this stupid ass mess…

.500 or bust!

Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!

"Well, we are one of the cheapest teams in Major League Baseball"
-Tom Hicks 4/8/2008

by Jayslick on May 1, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up 0 recs

Losing sight of the context

I’m not saying be competitive now. My point was about Reeves ignoring the fact that we have a good farm system. That’s not something you champion, so why expect a writer to do that?

by Apes and Androids on May 1, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

You said

you can’t wait eight years, and never once mentioned Reeves in your comments, or how the Rays’ rebuilding plan reflects on the Rangers’ rebuilding plan.

What’s your point? Are you actually defending Reeves?

by jwiscarson on May 1, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

I was being sarcastic.

And in a way I was defending Reeves (as sick as that is), because you can’t expect to point to your great farm system and expect the fans to be okay with the crap being rolled out on the field.

I’m on board with the rebuilding program, have been asking for one for years.

by Apes and Androids on May 1, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm not saying we should be okay with it

Again, I’m just sick of the “journalism” that gets printed because the person writing it happens to be in the sports department.

I’m as pissed about this season as everyone else here. However, I don’t think firing JD/Wash will change the players’ ability to field their positions correctly. I honestly don’t know how you get the message across to this team, but I wish it would happen.

by jwiscarson on May 1, 2008 12:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well, how about expecting a writer to give an honest assessment, not twistadistortomissions to make his point?

“the fact remains that he has dealt players such as Alfonso Soriano, Chris Young, Adrian Gonzalez, Francisco Cordero, Mark Teixeira and John Danks with only recently called-up catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia on the current 25-man roster to show for it.”

That’s a pretty disengenuous way to frame the so-called “facts.”

I can’t wait till the first day Hamilton goes on the DL. Reevo and Fraley, followed closely by Josey Wales, will wage an epic fatty race to see who can wheeze across the “Boy Blunder traded Danks and Volquez for a godawful hill of beans” finish line.

Yay TRUTH!

"For the record, I did not and do not like the Volquez trade, even though Hamilton is awesome and our best player and I think he’s going to be one of the best players in baseball." philikid3

by Brian Thomas on May 1, 2008 8:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

The solution is simple then. If you can't be patient ...

root for the Red Sox. They’re good now.

Or you could stay here and bitch and moan about something you can’t change. It’s up to you.

by Athos on May 1, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

See above.

by Apes and Androids on May 1, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

The Rays' ownership

was never willing to spend a nickel on quality free agents. That’s what slowed them down greatly. In addition to young players, you have to be able to go out and get some FA’s to add to the team. Naimoli was a cheap son of a bitch.

There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.

by SarasotaRanger on May 1, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

short wish list

1) reeves retires
2) he takes galloway with him
3) we hurry up and get to september for call-ups

"Juan Pierre hit zero home runs last year. Mythical fairy creature David Eckstein hit three, for Chrissakes, and he swings a three-inch bat carved out of a candy cane." ~junior, FJM

by ivysafety39 on May 1, 2008 9:27 AM CDT 0 recs

Concur

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on May 1, 2008 9:43 AM CDT up 0 recs

Make it so!

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 1, 2008 10:17 AM CDT up 0 recs

Bradley

Andro suggested last night that Bradley might miss today’s game after being pulled last night with a hamstring cramp. If he doesn’t play, who bats cleanup? Salty? Murphy? Shelton? No obvious choice.

link

by Randy Richardson on May 1, 2008 9:52 AM CDT 0 recs

I'm not buying the hamstring cramp

more like deeply bruised thigh after breaking the bat over his leg after his K in the 7th…

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on May 1, 2008 10:19 AM CDT up 0 recs

+ 1

It wouldn’t be the first time his unbridled “passion” for the game as Wash calls it has gotten him into trouble. He definately doesn’t have anger management issues – not in the slightest :)

The "Electrician" was born 7/16/07 11:53 PM EDT

http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/7/16/213154/893

by LAMuscleFag on May 1, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

That was great

I moved back to Dallas late last season, and yesterday’s game was the first I’d been able to go to in years. When Bradley broke that bat a bunch of people booed and I’m like, “what the fuck???”. That guy wants to succeed and gets pissed when they team doesn’t. And when he fails he apparently gets REALLY pissed. I like that.

It’s a long season and a team has to stay kind of even, blah, blah, blah. Well, that’s an adage that that applies to teams who haven’t lost twice as many games as they’ve won.

If every player on the team truly despised losing the way Milton Bradley does, I’m betting they wouldn’t be in the position they’re in now. Every one of them wants to win; I’m pretty sure of that. But they need a crazy bastard like Bradley on the coaching staff and at least one more on the field.

by Black Francis on May 2, 2008 2:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

Trades

sure daniels has made some bad trades, but what gm hasnt. do people forget the sosa trade? or sending juando away in his prime?

the real solution to this organizations problems is getting rid of the owner.

"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum

by rentz on May 1, 2008 9:58 AM CDT 0 recs

sosa trade?

hicks wasnt even here then, and if you can name another GM whose traded away the major league talent that JD has and gotten a similar return and still has a job, id be interested to know who it is…

.500 or bust!

Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!

"Well, we are one of the cheapest teams in Major League Baseball"
-Tom Hicks 4/8/2008

by Jayslick on May 1, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

never said hicks was here then.

just felt the need to add that the real problem is the owner

"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum

by rentz on May 1, 2008 12:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

omar minaya

brian sabean (liriano, nathan)
bill bavasi (ask seattle)

All have given away motherloads much larger than anything I’ve seen JD drop.

by bushe on May 1, 2008 12:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

last nights win

did anyone notice that small ball (Wash’s strength supposedly) last night was no where to be found? Home runs 5 of them led the way. Maybe that is what this team needs, just scrap the Wash philosophy? I am just saying…

yo soy Horsedooty!

I soloed in the mile high club.

by Sr Horsedooty on May 1, 2008 10:26 AM CDT 0 recs

I've always thought

small ball was retarded unless you have an extremely good pitching staff, and that ain’t us.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on May 1, 2008 10:30 AM CDT up 0 recs

+ 1

I don’t think Wash has figured that out yet. That like all things may take a while to sink in.

The "Electrician" was born 7/16/07 11:53 PM EDT

http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/7/16/213154/893

by LAMuscleFag on May 1, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up 0 recs

Some things never will sink in

Wash has become a retarded version of Ozzie Guillen on valume with all this “small ball” crap.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on May 1, 2008 3:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

Do you find it ironic

that you while questioning someone’s mental ability you drop “valume” into the mix?

by Randy Richardson on May 1, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

Excuse me, officer spell-cop

Valium.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on May 1, 2008 4:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed

There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.

by SarasotaRanger on May 1, 2008 12:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

+1

Small ball = a manager trying to show you how “smart” he is about “baseball”.

In reality, while this so-called small ball has its place, morons like Wash use it in totally inappropriate times.

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 May 1, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

Spot on

comment, CC.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 1, 2008 10:42 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed.

Like playing the infield in in the 2nd inning. Wash’s managerial style has bothered me from day 1, he makes head scratching decisions daily, and doesn’t pay attention to trends: “I am going to play BB against lefties until he proves he can’t hit them”. That, and the fact that he is not a very good speaker of the English language.

by Topgun22 on May 1, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

+ 1

The "Electrician" was born 7/16/07 11:53 PM EDT

http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/7/16/213154/893

by LAMuscleFag on May 1, 2008 11:00 AM CDT up 0 recs

Or sacrifice bunting down multiple runs in the fourth inning...

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jamcadbury on May 1, 2008 12:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agree, also

Small ball has it’s place. Situational baseball. Most good teams know how to play that style when it’s appropriate.

I don’t want to see the Rangers go back to hacking, though. They’re at least good at making pitchers work for their outs this year, and I thought I’d never see that.

Never play small ball in the early innings at home, though. A rare exception may be when you’re facing an ace and they have their good stuff. Otherwise, just let them play baseball. Or in the Rangers’ case, try to play baseball.

by Black Francis on May 2, 2008 2:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

Is anyone else growing weary...

...of the line that “Washington is staying positive?”

I know we hired him because he is positive, and I also know that staying positive is a good thing for the team, but I think Newberg(?) put it a good way after the sweep to the Red Sox that his comments were just kind of irritating because it’s almost like he assumes that nobody actually sees how bad his team is. He can say the Rangers “handled themselves well” after every loss, but we have watched these games. We all see how they have actually handled themselves like the Bad News Bears; meaning, not well at all. It’s irritating at this point and a Josh Hamilton grand slam doesn’t make me any less sour.

by FuturePants on May 1, 2008 11:41 AM CDT 0 recs

Anybody else notice

the dugout give the faux cold-shoulder treatment to Boggs after the HR? You can see it a little bit in the highlight video as he approaches the dugout and there’s sparse greeting – but this photo shows the scene a little better: