Minors 5/11

by rooster on May 11, 2008 12:40 PM CDT

Day games today! And, Happy Mother's Day to those of you who are mothers. I hope you all have treated your mothers well today

I'll put this up early, and I may not get around to many updates as we're busy getting the house ready for the market and getting me ready for my wife's business trip next week that will leave me alone with a 4-year-old and a 6-month-old. No hard feelings on the Jayslick front, just been too busy to post much lately.

A couple of interesting guys on the mound today. Blake goes for Clinton at 2:05 CT, while at the same time The Pirate returns to AAA.

Davis is highlighted on MJH's report today and in Lucas' farm update. I'm a little confused by the set of statistics used by each. Lucas shows Davis' numbers are almost identical to last season's, but MJH points to a regression toward the Bakersfield numbers and away from the early Frisco success. I think Lucas' numbers from last year include both Bakersfield and Frisco.

Either way, not a lot to dislike about a power hitter who has the hitting ability to bat .300+. My initial impression with Davis' success last year was that he looked like a Dean Palmer from the left side. After another year to watch his stats and read analysts, I think Davis has better hitting ability than Palmer and probably just as much power.

Another note: I'm beginning to believe that Boggs has quite a bit more upside than Murphy. Alot of folks made a big deal out of Murphy batting left handed and having relatively late career success in that it reminded folks of Rusty. I wondered the same thing during the offseason. I'm not wondering that anymore. Murphy looks more like Delucci, though with a bit more ability in the OF than Delucci. However, I think Boggs' minor league numbers are somewhat reminiscent of Rusty, especially the jump in performance from age 24 to 25.

Bottom line, if I had to place odds on who would be with the Rangers for the next 5 years, I think Murphy is more likely to stick around as a 4th OF. Boggs may very well be traded, if the Rangers decide to trade for or pick up via FA a masher LF, but he also seems more likely to be a starter for the Rangers. Boggs has made the decision to not flip Byrd for Murton appear very wise.

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Thanks for this

I posted in the comments at MJH’s blog that I’m more psyched about Whittleman. He’s got the strikezone, and has for his whole career, except now the K rate is falling and the BB rate is rising.

Davis is disappointing me with the Ks and, even with my crude understanding of BABIP, his line looks unsustainable. The walks aren’t there to cover any dips in AVG, and he hasn’t made adjustments through almost 150 ABs.

That said, it was nice hearing MJH’s apologia of the player’s ability.

Boggs has made the decision to not flip Byrd for Murton appear very wise.

You mean because then Murton would be taking Boggs’ ABs?

On Murphy: I used to snicker at LAMF being so bullish on this player. I still need a couple months of the current version to be convinced.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on May 11, 2008 12:59 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Mostly that JD felt that internal options, whether Boggs, Murphy or others,

would present themselves and be as useful as Murton would’ve been. Not necessarily that JD had Boggs pegged from ST or before. JD appears to be comfortable trusting the depth of the minor league system for fill-ins. I’m sure he’s still on the lookout for impact players, which the system appears to be thinner at the top compared to bottom levels.

by rooster on May 11, 2008 3:16 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

isn't Nolan the one who's responsible for Boggs?

i remember reading somewhere that Ryan was very adamant in his call-up…

by oc on May 11, 2008 5:55 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Link please.

I thought that was just all rumor & JD haten’.

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on May 11, 2008 5:58 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

no

there have been some rumors that Nolan signed off on calling up the young guys. That cannot be extrapolated to what you are saying though.

Rare Gnats Sex

by ab03 on May 11, 2008 7:45 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Not to rain on the Boggs parade

But we need to see him prove himself against RHP before considering him as a long-term option.

3 of his 5 XBH have come against LHP in half as many PA’s. He’s also striking out a ton right now, but he does appear to have a legit future, which is great to see after he had been written off by so many.

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 11, 2008 1:16 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

wasn't byrd having as much success early on his major league career?

Rare Gnats Sex

by ab03 on May 11, 2008 1:47 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I suppose ... ?

Why is that even relevant?

I highly doubt Boggs will have a career slg % below .400. Do you feel they’re comparable?

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 11, 2008 2:13 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

um..really?

look at boggs’ SLG% in the minors and look at Byrd’s. They probably aren’t comparable just because of age discrepancies but there’s nothing that says that Boggs will be a big league slugger. his power is fairly new.

Rare Gnats Sex

by ab03 on May 11, 2008 7:49 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Ad hominem

Slugging aside, if they aren’t comparable, what is your point?

Why is Byrd’s “early” MLB success relevant?

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 11, 2008 9:54 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

ad hominem?

you are saying I insulted you? did you mean non sequitur?

if you don’t like at age, then they have some similar characteristics. no power for a while, then new found power and early success withe the Rangers.

Rare Gnats Sex

by ab03 on May 11, 2008 10:13 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

*look at age

Rare Gnats Sex

by ab03 on May 11, 2008 10:20 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Ok?

There’s not much relevance to my initial post, but whatever.

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 11, 2008 10:36 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

still think

long term, Boggs and Murphy could be a good platoon option. i know that isn’t a popular opinion right now with Boggs hitting the way he is, but it wasn’t a popular opinion last fall when Murphy was hitting well, either. Put together, they could give us some very solid numbers. I still think this team needs to find one more solid OF of the future, and I still have serious doubts that it is Milton Bradley.

by clark on May 11, 2008 1:49 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

or John Mayberry Jr.

for that matter, although he probably deserves an audition later this year after MB is dealt.

by clark on May 11, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

huh?

"I thought that was bull," Washington said. "What is he 6-13? That's just frustration. He overreacted." - Wash on Sexson

by Longhorn on May 11, 2008 5:15 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Max Ramirez

What’s wrong, only 1 hit last night? Dropped his avg. to .397.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 11, 2008 1:54 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

it is funny you mention that

my first reaction was disappointment when I checked the box score last night, which only made me realize how ridiculous my expectations are for that guy.

by clark on May 11, 2008 1:57 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Beltre

Anyone know why he was lifted so early?

by atlantaranger on May 11, 2008 3:02 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Beavan now up to 4 IP, 0 R, 4K, 0BB.

Nice to see some Ks by Beavan.

And, just when I start thinking about Davis…. Gac Attack! Like a neglected child screaming for attention, Gac goes deep again.

by rooster on May 11, 2008 3:18 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Max Question

I know that Davis is supposed to be our 1B of the future, but I would not mind seeing Max Ramirez getting some time over at 1B every once in a while. I Davis actually has more ABs at AA, but I see his ETA as closer to May or June of ‘09, at the earliest, while I could see Ramirez up with the Rangers as soon as this summer. I don’t think I am going out on a limb suggesting Ramirez has the more advanced eye at the plate, to go along with very solid power. It never hurts for a player to know a couple of positions.

by clark on May 11, 2008 3:39 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Max is not very tall at all.

by coolaid on May 11, 2008 3:52 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

5'11"

is hardly hobbit-like, but I think it’s much too early to consider moving him anywhere. Let him catch all of 2008.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 11, 2008 9:13 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I am just sayin

plus we have CD to play there next year.

by coolaid on May 11, 2008 9:16 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Max

Can also handle third base, from what I’ve heard, or at least he used to… perhaps we could move him back there, since we don’t have much in the way of 3B in the system. Gotta say, his bat would be a perfect fit at third.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

David Murphy rocks, so Ellsbury can just go get himself a taco or something.

by lonestarJon on May 12, 2008 7:34 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Dude

I respond to this every time you or someone else says it, and you either don’t believe me or are just ignoring me. He was terrible as a 3B as a young player. That’s a lot of why he was moved to catcher in rookie ball, not just for hope that he could handle catcher. He might be able to handle 3B in very limited stretches, but he is not going to be a regular 3B. And he’s not going to be a LF.

by zywica on May 12, 2008 10:13 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Terrible

Worse than Whittleman? :)

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 12, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yes

I would think so

by zywica on May 12, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

MaxRam

I can’t see him playing first either.

Seems like he is going to be limited to DH/3rd Catcher in the bigs. Nothing wrong with that as long as he keeps swinging that big stick.

Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."

by tricer on May 12, 2008 3:05 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Why 3rd catcher?

Seems to me like there’s still a good chance he could be regular catcher or at least a backup in the bigs.

"If we where [sic] gonna trade them Salty, I would want a helluva lot more than just Joba though." -lonestarJon

by thedirkatron on May 12, 2008 3:35 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yeah

I think that he could be a #2 if the #1 is a good defender. I guess that since he would, in theory, need to be available to play an expanded offensive role, whether he’s technically your #2 or #3, you would need three catchers.

And I’ve only seen him a couple of times, but I’m certainly not ready to dismiss the possibility that he passes Laird, Saltalamacchia and Teagarden and if this team’s catcher. It’s not likely, but I wouldn’t dismiss it just yet.

by zywica on May 12, 2008 3:58 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Right,

like I said above, everyone just needs to stop thinking about where he’s going to play and let him catch every day this year. If he really can’t catch we’ll know soon enough.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 12, 2008 4:14 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Max

Is leaving him there really worth it?

Say, if his line hasn’t changed after 300 ABs, like an OPS over 1.000, you still leave him in AA?

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on May 12, 2008 4:35 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

That just boils down to

whether you value his bat or his potential to stay at catcher more. He still needs games at catcher, if that’s the route you could go with him. He actually has improved quite a lot at the position over the last three years, but he’s not there yet either. On the other hand, if you see him as a bat and only a filler at catcher, yeah, he’s obviously ready for a greater challenge.

by zywica on May 12, 2008 5:02 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I could see him

in Frisco, OKC, or Arlington later this year. Depends on whether or not they feel he can catch even part time; how much they think of his bat at DH in Arlington; who backs up the starting catcher in Arlington when one of Salt/Lard is dealt.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 12, 2008 7:32 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Since you said so

Tea and Max seem like a good combo, so long as Taylor’s fully healthy.

You get more years from the younger Saltalamacchia, but better D (so says the hype) from Tea.

Interesting to see Max accumulate starting catcher ABs in Frisco, but I still see him functioning best as a DH/back-up C, and even with Jared, y’know, works for me.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on May 12, 2008 4:28 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

"Lucas' numbers from last year include both Bakersfield and Frisco."

true dat

Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people. -- Ben Stein

by Lucas on May 11, 2008 4:24 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Are you listening to the Clinton game?

Did you hear why Beltre was yanked? Was Miccucci mad about his plate discipline again?

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on May 11, 2008 4:28 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

if that is true

I don’t like it at all. you don’t repeatedly show up one of our young stars. i want happy superstars. look at how young he is, give the kid a break

Rare Gnats Sex

by ab03 on May 11, 2008 7:50 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Tough love.

by coolaid on May 11, 2008 7:53 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

+1

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 11, 2008 8:43 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

He's not a star yet,

long way to go before he gets that kind of consideration. Right now he’s a lolly gagger.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 11, 2008 9:12 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

it's one thing if he isn't running out groundouts

quite another if you keep benching him for not showing patience. that stuff can go either way for a young kid’s psyche, especially since I doubt anybody else is getting benched for swinging at the first pitch

Rare Gnats Sex

by ab03 on May 11, 2008 10:21 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Cristian Santana = lollygagger?

During the L-Kings last roadtrip, Clinton radio guy Dave Lezotte seemed to come very close a few times to claiming that Cristian Santana appeared to be dogging it in the OF defensively. Lezotte really tip-toed around it while describing some plays involving Santana. Did anybody else listening get the same vibe? IMO, Lezotte seemed genuinely put off by the what he worried could be lackadaisical effort. Kinda worrying if true.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on May 11, 2008 10:48 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yup

Defensively he wasn’t giving it his all and not very interested in playing defense according to the radio guy.

by coolaid on May 11, 2008 10:54 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

lolly lolly lolly get your adverbs here

His plate discipline is really becoming horrendous, 58% strikeout rate this month. If his attitude is also a problem than he might be wasting a lot of time right now when he could be making the org love him as an OFer.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 12, 2008 7:45 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Amidst the blowout against Fresno

Tx2 with his first XBH @ OKC, an RBI-triple. He also drew a BB.

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on May 11, 2008 9:50 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

slugging aside his overal AAA line

is looking pretty solid, given what he was coming out of AA with.

glad he finally got an extra base hit.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on May 11, 2008 10:17 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

:(

john mayberry had an 0fer

"I thought that was bull," Washington said. "What is he 6-13? That's just frustration. He overreacted." - Wash on Sexson

by Longhorn on May 11, 2008 10:32 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

HR today

by zywica on May 12, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Gac

He’s considered old for his level and is crushing the ball there… is there a particular reason the organization hasn’t promoted him?

by venturafearsnolan on May 12, 2008 3:31 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I think that

a lot of people are wondering the same thing. The two most logical conclusions that I can think of are that there is still something (mechanical adjustment or change in approach maybe?) that they want to see him do, regardless of his numbers, or that they view him as blocked by Mauro Gomez for some reason.

by zywica on May 12, 2008 3:45 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

They're hiding him for next year's rule V.

heh.

by rooster on May 12, 2008 3:52 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Oh and on his age

While he is a little old for the MWL, he’s the same age as many college players who are sent there for their first full season, 22. He seems older than he is (to me at least) because he’s been bobbing around MWL/NWL for so long now. Todd Frazier, a Reds first rounder who hit .321/.402/.598 (in comparison with Gac’s .364/.479/.788) in this league before being promoted a few days ago, is also 22 and is highly regarded, obviously.

by zywica on May 12, 2008 3:52 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs