Tuesday a.m. stuff

by Adam J. Morris on May 20, 2008 9:11 AM CDT

Disappointing game yesterday, with the Rangers failing to capitalize on some good opportunities, and C.J. Wilson and Josh Hamilton having some crucial lapses.

The bullpen overall wasn't bad last night, going 5 1/3 innings with just 2 runs allowed. And while there was a lot of hostility directed towards Franklyn German on the game day thread for allowing the winning run to score, he allowed a slowly hit check-swing infield single on a play that could have been scored an error, an intentional walk, and a double on a catchable ball hit to centerfield.

Evan Grant's game story focuses on the closer situation, and the question of whether Wilson will still be closing when the next home game rolls around. Ron Washington says C.J. isn't pounding the strike zone like he was earlier in the year. Given that the other options are, according to Grant, Eddie Guardado and Jamey Wright, I don't see the point of making a change right now.

The outfield may be getting more crowded, as Jeff Wilson says Milton Bradley may play all three games in Cleveland in right field. If Hank Blalock is activated and put at first base, that would free up DH for Frank Catalanotto against RHPs, and let you roll with an outfield of David Murphy, Josh Hamilton, and Milton Bradley, with Marlon Byrd as the 4th outfielder. That still leaves open the question of whether Brandon Boggs or Chris Shelton gets sent back down, but if Milton Bradley is healthy enough to play the outfield regularly, it seems like you'd need a halfway decent righty bat more than a 5th outfielder.

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I'd have no problem

with Everyday Eddie closing.

It would probably raise his trade value significantly.

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

by DJCahill on May 20, 2008 9:14 AM CDT 0 recs

And he would probably throw strikes.

by phanhandlecholo on May 20, 2008 9:22 AM CDT up 0 recs

Isn't he now

“Every-other-day” Eddie?

Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on May 20, 2008 10:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

CJ - My Take

From what I’ve read, CJ has really learned alot from Gagne and now Guardado over the past two seasons. He even has some of Gagne’s habits and mannerisms. But, I think he has taken too much from them. Last year, Gagne (as a Ranger) was outsmarting hitters and beating them with stuff that was clearly not the dominant Gagne of old. Guardado is now a crafty lefty. Wilson doesn’t need to outsmart anybody. He needs to go after batters. The way he pitched Monroe last night was a prime example – 5 pitches off the outside corner of the plate for a walk. Monroe doesn’t deserve that kind of respect. CJ needs to trust his stuff.

by Randy Richardson on May 20, 2008 9:23 AM CDT 0 recs

I agree with this almost universally...

CJ needs to get his head on straight and trust that he has the stuff to close out games because he clearly does. He’s shown stretches of dominance and when things go wrong it’s almost always because he’s making mistakes, not because he’s just getting beat.

Also, I agree that it should be Boggs that goes down instead of Shelton.

by TexasTiger on May 20, 2008 9:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

Good point.

I think overall, our bullpen nibbles too much. See Frankie’s outing: He stank it up until he (or Salty) remembered that he has a 95mph fastball, which he promptly used to blow through the rest of the inning.

I’m not proposing that we turn all our bullpen guys into Jonathon Papelbon “hit my 99mph heat” style pitchers, but locate the fastball FIRST and THEN work in the breaking pitches.

by jwiscarson on May 20, 2008 9:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

I should also add

That umpire’s strike zone last night was AWFUL.

by jwiscarson on May 20, 2008 9:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed! So did Tom Grieve...on several occasions.

Wharter

by Wharter on May 20, 2008 9:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

His BB/9

P/PA and all those other peripherals that deal with control are exactly the same. In fact, he’s given up fewer hard hit balls this year compared with last year. This is either 1) just a bunch of lucky events occuring at the same time or 2) an example of stagnation and the idea that CJ’s control, at least, will not get better.

But regardless, that curveball to Harris was a fucking strike. He called that same goddamn pitch for Guerrier and that pitch for Bonser all fucking night.

by FirebatM3 on May 20, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

Poveda

Anyone know when he’s due back?

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on May 20, 2008 9:46 AM CDT 0 recs

No idea

But I’ve wondered if Hunter’s promotion is an indirect indicator that either Jones or Poveda is almost ready to resume his turn. BTW – Thomas Diamond is starting his rehab assignment with Frisco Wednesday per the DMN – that’s a good. I bag on Whittleman as much as anybody – so (.296/.402/.465) after the start he had is noteworthy. Renny Osuna’s last 10 games have been ridiculous.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on May 20, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up 0 recs

Osuna

Who saw that coming? Hope he can keep some of that going long term.

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

by t ball on May 20, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up 0 recs

Watching Osuna with Spokane last summer

during the Boise roadtrip, I thought that he looked like he could go far in the minors as an org guy. Sometimes guys like that even get some UIF love in the majors eventually. He’s got a good frame. He was going with the pitch. He seemed to be very savvy. He’s Ramon Vazquez writ small. I never thought he’d get on a tear like this though. Somebody’s gotta play the Fox, Berkery, Meyer, Roberts role 2/3 years from now – Osuna’s always been the guy most likely to me. We’ll see if he’s more than that.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on May 20, 2008 10:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

rotations

So where are Font, Ramirez and Main when they’re ready? Does someone get promoted out of Clinton? Castillo even stepped into a starting role this week.

And the Bakersfield rotation will be more crowded if your post is accurate: Jones / Poveda / Kiker / Reed / Phillips, potentially.

Whittleman’s improved over the course of ~250 Bakersfield ABs and he’s 21. I don’t think there’s a better eye in the org, except maybe Max. He might not be a 3B, but there’s room in the outfield for the line he’s putting up…if he maintains, the team will find a place for him.

If he’s not in Frisco by July (at latest) he’s injured.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on May 20, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up 0 recs

logjam

and don’t forget Holland and Gomez, who both look like they deserve promotions before too long.

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

by t ball on May 20, 2008 10:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

Font will do Spokane. See Fabio and Feliz. Anything else would surprise me.

Main is slowly, carefully building his stamina and stuff back up after the lay-off. It might be a few more weeks before he appears – could even target starting with Spokane a month from now.

Speculation on Ramirez ranges from the mundane: season with Spokane – to the tittilating: could join Clinton soon! I have no idea. I just wanted to type tittilating.

I used to wonder if Tatusko or Holland could get a quick promotion due to age, with Feliz going to BAK due to his molten magma-like lava-lamp arm – but all these guys are doing is just getting reps and building innings and learning to prepare. No reason to go crazy. Maybe come midsummer we’ll see some promotions to BAK.

I wanna see Whittleman play on that excellent Frisco infield turf with quality players around him. Maybe his defense might kick it up a notch in front of sell-out crowds.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on May 20, 2008 10:42 AM CDT up 0 recs

Whittleman

I’ve noticed the last few weeks his strikeouts have gone down as well as his power. Is this something that he is working on or just a small sample? Four homers are a small number for him in the Cal League considering his other numbers.

by badradiorules on May 20, 2008 11:30 AM CDT up 0 recs

SS Leagues

I can’t wait for Spokane and the AZ Rangers to start up again this summer, with Font and, I would imagine, Pimentel and maybe Neil Ramirez and Kyle O’Campo pitching in Spokane. Then in Arizona my man Grullon returning to work on his command and utterly dominate the league, giving the Rookie Rangers two exciting lefties along with Martin Perez.

AJ Preller = Santa Claus (?)

by naropean on May 20, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think that Feliz

does get promoted but not until later in the summer, like you said. As long as everyone is healthy, there is just going to be a logjam there for most of the season, I think. And just think, if they pick a college pitcher at 11, he’s going to have to go into either Spokane’s or Clinton’s roto to start, as well.

by zywica on May 20, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

evan's column

Evan said this today in his column, “We got the lead, but just couldn’t close it out,” manager Ron Washington said. “We had it set up the way we wanted it. We had chances to put it away. They just beat us.”

No, RW, they did not just beat you. Your team beat it’s self. CJ blew the save and Hamilton misjudged the ball hit to him in the 12th. You need to come to the truth sometimes.

¡yo soy Horsedooty!

I soloed in the mile high club.

by Sr Horsedooty on May 20, 2008 10:07 AM CDT 0 recs

As long as that point is made in the club house,

I really could care less about what is said to the media. Although we feel like we are in the clubhouse with exclusive access, we are are not. As long as he is not blowing sunshine in the clubhouse, It really does not matter what he tells us.

Danks, Volquez, Galarraga and Young are GONE! GET OVER IT! Endless whining will not bring them back!

by LBBRangerFan on May 20, 2008 10:25 AM CDT up 0 recs

Horsedooty

Why do you say Hamilton misjudged the ball in the 12th? He was playing in and it was hit over his head. He had to play in because Gomez, a very fast baserunner, was on 2B. A groundball up the middle and Gomez scores easily if Hamilton is playing his normal position.

Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on May 20, 2008 10:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

I don't know if he misjudged it...

But he definitely got a late break on the ball…he froze, then moved to his left several steps, before going back on it.

Grant’s article today also says that he misjudged it.

by Adam J. Morris on May 20, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

I made the

posting above before I read Grant’s article. I’ll take EGs word on it. Hamilton does have a problem with balls hit directly at him. Many OFers do. Combine that with playing in the Metrodome and it added up to a tough night defensively for him. Now about that throw…

Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on May 20, 2008 12:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

It looks like he misjudged it

He took a few lateral steps before starting to spring all out

Either that or he has the reaction time of planet formations

by Telegraph on May 20, 2008 1:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

In the minors...

Manny Pina has not struck out since April 25, just 3 K’s on the year. His May line is up to .378/.405/.459. We’ve been waiting forever for his bat to pick up and he may finally be hitting enough to be a good backup catching prospect.

Looking for a viable 3B prospect in the organization? Since Whittleman is probably going to be moved at some point, Jonathan Greene might be it. After a very slow start he’s looking more like the hitter who had an .833 OPS last year in Spokane. Obviously he’s not a top prospect, but he bears watching in an organization with no one at 3B.

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

by t ball on May 20, 2008 10:08 AM CDT 0 recs

Go Pina

by zywica on May 20, 2008 2:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

No one

come on

Corey Ragsdale

by badradiorules on May 20, 2008 11:32 AM CDT 0 recs

Boggs mashes LHP

so there is no need for a “righty” bat, rendering Shelton expendable, imo.

"When I am pissed off, I get angry." - Miles 5/06/08

by Chase Irwin on May 20, 2008 2:39 PM CDT 0 recs

Do you want Boggs up...

...in the majors on the bench, rather than in AAA playing every day?

by Adam J. Morris on May 20, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

Not necessarily

I’d prefer him getting regular AB’s, but if the alternative is keeping an obsolete Shelton, I’d just as soon make Boggs the 4th OF’er if he’s on the 25-man, while Byrd can be benched or DFA’d, if not traded.

Weren’t you or someone else recently speaking of a lack of AB’s in the AAA OF anyway? The last thing I would want is Boggs to be sent down and not play every day.

"When I am pissed off, I get angry." - Miles 5/06/08

by Chase Irwin on May 20, 2008 3:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Boggs...

I think he will continue to struggle in the bigs and should go back and play everyday in OKC. The hot start as cooled off a lot. He can play CF in OKC and take Ellison’s place, should be no problem with playing time.

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

by slc ranger on May 20, 2008 5:31 PM CDT up 0 recs