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You know what I'm tired of?

Th_buckykatt_tiny by Adam J. Morris on

Walks.

Especially bases-loaded walks.  They are getting old.

Evan Grant is worried about Kason Gabbard's loss of command since coming off the disabled list, and suggests that Doug Mathis may stick in the rotation when Kevin Millwood is activated, at Gabbard's expense.

I wouldn't really have a problem with that, I don't guess.  Gabbard has 29 walks and 20 Ks this season, and that's terrible.  Although in looking at it, Mathis has 7 walks and 1 K in his two starts, and that's not much of an improvement.

 

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Well Mathis

was on a 2BB/9 Inn walk rate in the minors this year, so I guess that says that there can be improvement. right?

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

by LBBRangerFan on May 28, 2008 2:53 PM CDT   0 recs

Gabbard

There has to something wrong with Gabbard. He hasn’t been right since Sexson pounded him in the back with his helmet. I think, if you’re the Rangers, you have to consider replacing him with Mathis or AJ Murray.

by j-r-d on May 28, 2008 2:56 PM CDT   0 recs

Gabbard

What to say about him?

One one hand, he’s stuck this long.

On the other, did anyone reeeally think he would?

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on May 28, 2008 2:56 PM CDT   0 recs

i would rather just hit the batters than walk them

- Padilla’s motto

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on May 28, 2008 3:01 PM CDT   0 recs

Bradley, Frank, Eddie

Dont worry, we will swap these boys for some more pitching, maybe we will get 1 keeper.

Maybe someday….we will have pitching.

by SaltyGoesYard on May 28, 2008 3:02 PM CDT   0 recs

We could have had Young, Ducheire(sp?), etc...

I hope that Jon Daniel’s sphincter constricts.

Wharter

by Wharter on May 28, 2008 3:04 PM CDT   0 recs

^

Weirdest post ever.

My three favorite numbers: 10, 32, 36. =)

by utlonghorn24 on May 28, 2008 3:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

But

The Greatest.

by brettgardner on May 28, 2008 3:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Plus, who has a doper signature?

"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 28, 2008 3:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Guhgree

+1

I guess it was the beatings made me wise. But I'm not about to give thanks, or apologize.

by TheJeezus on May 28, 2008 4:21 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

For Vince Young.

by brettgardner on May 28, 2008 4:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Justin Duchscherer

became an A in 2002, before JD was here.

by Agreen07 on May 28, 2008 3:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Whats wrong with Gabbard?

-His performance is determined by the other team chasing his pitches or not. I think he is going to be one of those guys that has 16-8 seasons every once and awhile because he will get some streaks where guys don’t hit him well and make him look better than he really is. Plus he has an 85 MPH fastball.

by corbsclinton on May 28, 2008 3:07 PM CDT   0 recs

Strikes

I can live with him getting beaten by throwing strikes. I don’t like the John Koronka’s of the world

by OKC Ranger Fan on May 28, 2008 3:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If Kason Gabbard ever wins 16 games, I'll eat my hat

2008 Gabbard = 2007 Tejeda.

"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 28, 2008 3:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think he'll have 1

...possibly 2 and still be an MLB journeyman for his career because the years in between sucked.

by corbsclinton on May 28, 2008 4:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm thinking often injured long reliever

"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 29, 2008 7:56 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Walks

Have always been a problem, and could arguably be one of the biggest killers historically among Ranger pitchers. It’s just not addressed enough other than “we don’t need to do it.” Pounding the strike zone needs to be reinforced and location on breaking balls that hitters are supposed to chase is critical. If you miss by a bunch, no one will swing. If they’re at least pretty close, you’re going to get some swings. But to do any damage, you have to be able to throw strikes a whole lot more than we’re doing. And Gabbard is just the worst among the bunch. Lots of other pitchers within the staff and bullpen are equally as guilty of the same thing. (i.e. C.J. Wilson).

My three favorite numbers: 10, 32, 36. =)

by utlonghorn24 on May 28, 2008 3:11 PM CDT   0 recs

Since 2001 when I moved to

DFW and started following the Rangers, BBs have always been a problem. Until they get some pitchers in here that consistently throw strikes and get a respectable K/BB ratio, this team will not win the division.

Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on May 28, 2008 3:23 PM CDT   0 recs

I agree about walks.

i get so frustrated that I do not even post since it would turn into a wild rant that would not make any sense. Either these guys are (1) hurt, (2) lacking in talent, or (3) have no confidence in their stuff. What really gets me is when Wash finally comes out to get them, they have this why are you out here look in their eyes. Bah!

by Jea103 on May 28, 2008 4:02 PM CDT   0 recs

Time to "Rich Hill" him

send him down to AAA (does he have options left?) to let him work on his command, and see what Mathis or Murray can do for a few turns.

When is it time to start talking about Tejeda again? He has been our best starter in AAA by far, and there is room on the 40 for him (even more when Nippert is DFA’ed).

by clark on May 28, 2008 4:08 PM CDT   0 recs

40

There isn’t room for him right now. We have 1 open spot but that is basically reserved for Diamond when he transitions from rehab assignment to optioned to the minors. Now yes if we decide to DFA Nippert or anyone else then we would have room but right now our 40 is full for all practical purposes

by bigsteve on May 28, 2008 4:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Murray > Mathis

To me, anways.

I don’t mind Mathis in a long-relief role. I would rather see Murray in the rotation.

by cmkelly29 on May 28, 2008 4:18 PM CDT   0 recs

Tejeda and Mathis>Murray

IMO

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 4:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why can't this team

get at least a game over .500%. This is getting ridiculous lately.

by Agreen07 on May 28, 2008 4:23 PM CDT   0 recs

Remember the mantra

That Washington kept chanting to the media when he took over? “We’re going to pound the strike zone.”

I guess it was the beatings made me wise. But I'm not about to give thanks, or apologize.

by TheJeezus on May 28, 2008 4:37 PM CDT   0 recs

Why

is everyone freaking out about Kason’s walks, he has done this throughout his minor league career. He has no track record. Basically, he tries hard, but at the end of the day, he stinks. He is nothing more than a AAA (or even worse) pitcher.

You want to know the name of a real pitcher? Doug Mathis. I would love to see him stick up here, and there is little reason to believe he won't, and for years to come I might add.

You know what else is weird? Robinson Tejeda’s numbers in AAA this year. We might just have a little something there. His walks are down DRAMATICALLY, just as his K’s are way up. You simply cannot ignore it.
You know what his numbers this year are comparable to? One Edinson Volquez’s AAA numbers LAST year, and we all know how that worked out. I’d like to see Tejeda replace Ponson/Feldman, whichever one fails first. AJ Murray is pretty decent as well, and I wouldn’t mind seeing him replace failure #2, and if they don’t fail, he might be ok in the bullpen. Murray’s too old and not good enough to carve out a place for him, he’s going to have to hope for some fail.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 4:38 PM CDT   0 recs

Tejeda

is a AAAA player, no better.

"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos

by miles on May 28, 2008 4:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Agree

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on May 28, 2008 4:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

you're

wrong too, but I’ll give you a smiley face because I like you, ok?

:)

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 4:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

wrong.

he may be, but there is no reason to say that at this point seeing how his numbers have changed so dramatically this year.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 4:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Still

if we fall out of this race I wouldn’t mind giving him one more shot considering how well he is doing in AAA right now. Call it the Volquez factor if you want, but it wouldn’t hurt to let him have a couple of starts if we are out of it…

by Agreen07 on May 28, 2008 4:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

not

even if we are out of it. I want some Tejeda NOW! but I’ll just have to deal with it until Feldman Fail comes. Or Ponson hits people with his fists.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 4:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Feldman and Ponson

are pitching well right now…

by Agreen07 on May 28, 2008 4:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

a few bucks in the road recently

but not time to remove em from the rotation yet.

by Agreen07 on May 28, 2008 4:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I realize that

but eventually, I believe they will fail.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 4:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I

hope they don’t fail, let me make that clear, I’m just saying I think either one of them easily could, just as I thought Gabbard would. Now I’ll be super happy if Mathis gets the opportunity.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 4:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah i mean

i’m not saying they won’t fail but we gotta wait until they do before they are removed.

by Agreen07 on May 28, 2008 5:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

exactly

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 5:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

what the?

how did I make that weird block thingy, I didn’t mean to. I was trying to say I think Mathis is good and I think he can stick up here for years to come.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 4:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think

Indentation makes that happen.

by brettgardner on May 28, 2008 4:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I've been wondering

about that for a while. Are you sure it’s indentation?

"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos

by Chase Irwin on May 28, 2008 7:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Mathis doesn't impress me...

23 baserunners in 11.1 IP, so far. (Small sample, obviously)

Murray’s first start should be encouraging enough to get him the nod over Mathis. It won’t though.

by cmkelly29 on May 28, 2008 4:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

exactly

small sample size.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 4:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Tejeda was given his chance last year

While I’m not saying get rid of him, I would rather see Feldman given a longer chance and hell, if we’re contending, I’d keep Ponson in there too..

by hinduplaya on May 28, 2008 4:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

but

IF they do fail, Tejeda IS there.

You can’t use that argument, he (Tejeda) failed last year because of control issues. His control has never been how it looks this year, and it is paying dividends. His K rate has never been what it is this year, and again, it is paying dividends.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 4:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

All I'm Saying is

Ya Tejada has been better, but at the same time I would rather give Feldman a shot to win a spot in this rotation like Tejeda got last year and if we are ocntending, it’s probably be more advantageous to have a veteran in Ponson…
But if the time does come up with an injury, I’d be all in for giving Tejeda a chance, just not at the expense of others who are taking their first chances,,,,

by hinduplaya on May 28, 2008 8:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The wildcard is McCarthy

After he gets back, you’ll have Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Ponson, Gabbard, and Feldman to fill 5 spots. Scratch one of the last 3. Forget adding Tejeda… who do you axe out of that bunch to fill out your rotation? It’ll depend, in part, on where the Rangers are in the standings and if anyone will be trade bait by that point (I think McCarthy is not due back until July).

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

by SarasotaRanger on May 28, 2008 9:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

but McCarthy

will probably be back on the DL by the end of July. :P

"You got a guy coming up there who can’t hit water if he fell out of a boat." - Tom Grieve on Richie Sexson, 5.8.2008

by lisa w on May 29, 2008 9:19 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Tejeda

Send him to Cincinatti for vacation and some chilli. See if his arm slot is different when he gets back.

What happened to my old signature?

by WyoRanger on May 28, 2008 5:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Let me see I understand this...

The Demon Thing = Bases Loaded Walks
Cookiepuss = Adam J. Morris

It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin

by txranger7 on May 28, 2008 5:59 PM CDT   0 recs

Gabbard

I guess I’m in the minority here, but I like the kid. As a back of the rotation guy anyway.

My guess is that he’s hurt.

by Black Francis on May 28, 2008 6:16 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

He is probably hurt but when he is healthy could be a decent pitcher.

by coolaid on May 28, 2008 6:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

doubt it

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 6:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I like him too

Not sure if there’s an injury issue or not. But when he’s pitching well, he looks good. Just needs to look like that more often. Or perhaps more cosistently.

What happened to my old signature?

by WyoRanger on May 28, 2008 6:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And the Rangers...

...need to give him a chance to do that. In the rotation. In the big leagues.

As long as he’s not hurt, see if he can work it out. Again, for a 4th or 5th starter one could do a lot worse. The Rangers had to be the hottest team in MLB for a month just to sniff .500; they’re not going anywhere so they can afford to leave him right where he is.

by Black Francis on May 28, 2008 6:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

tell me

why does he deserve a chance over Mathis or Murray?

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 7:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

A history of SOME major league success

and he generally K’s more batters than he walks.

by cmkelly29 on May 28, 2008 7:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gabbard

is beginning to or already has failed at his chance, while Mathis and Murray never got a chance and they were putting up better minor league numbers than Gabbard. How does that make Gabbard better? Just because Gabbard got the original shot over Murray and Mathis doesn’t make him better.

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 28, 2008 8:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gabbard

How many innings has he pitched with the Rangers? You’re already writing him off? Typical casual fan bullshit.

by Black Francis on May 29, 2008 6:39 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

nobody with 1,000 posts on lonestarball is a casual fan...

well.. almost nobody…

as for gabbard/murray.. i just think gabbard has better stuff. when he doesnt walk 6 guys hes pretty good. if he does it in his next start then something might have to be done.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on May 29, 2008 6:44 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Number of Posts doesn't mean anything

It’s the mentality I’m referring to, not the passion or whatever.

by Black Francis on May 29, 2008 7:51 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

anyway, as for the actual point.

he didnt say gabbard will never do anything and we should give him his release, he asked if mathis or murray possibly deserved the shot ahead of him since gabbard has melted down a bit and not given innings.

ive been supprting gabbard and do believe he should be in the rotation over those two because I think he is the only one of the three with the potential to be better than a 5th starter. but its not a ridiculous question when you look at their minor league numbers.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on May 29, 2008 9:03 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

thanks

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 29, 2008 11:07 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Don't

you dare call me a casual fan, son, unless you feel like it, because there is no way for me to stop you.

How many innings have Murray and Mathis pitched for the Rangers? You’re ready to write them off when they have, I personally believe, better minor league numbers and fewer innings than somebody who has at least had a decent amount of innings with not much success of late. The league has figured Gabbard out. FAIL!

"Then, like a**holes, they took it back." -Jeff of Lookout Landing after Hamilton's 9th inning HR on April 1st.

by dstar442005 on May 29, 2008 11:06 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The league can figure anybody out

Well, except those elite guys. Everyone else has to make adjustments. It wasn’t all that long ago Gabbard was getting the job done. Let’s see how he responds to this.

I have nothing at all against Murray or Mathis, but Gabbard is just first in line.

And don’t call me son, boy! haha

Good day, sir!

by Black Francis on May 29, 2008 6:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It's funny...

You know what team Gabbard would probably have success against?

The Rangers.

by cmkelly29 on May 28, 2008 7:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Walks

And I thought most fans really liked their pitchers to walk batters.
I think what we’re encountering is a lack of command as opposed to control. I think that most of our pitchers do not have good enough stuff to just pound the ball in there with high strikes, etc. So they try to throw good strikes, low or on the corners or both. If they are not sharp, they are just nibbling and eventually give up a fat pitch or walk batters. Its sort of a spinoff of pitch to contact.

by mcgee48c on May 28, 2008 6:58 PM CDT   0 recs

Gabbard and AJ Murray

In the past I’ve been a Gabbard supporter, mainly because I really liked his curveball, and I bought into all the hype back when he came over from Boston. But right now I’m wondering exactly what it is that makes people think Gabbard is significantly better than Murray.

They’re both finesse lefties who don’t have overpowering stuff, and their career minor league WHIP’s are practically the same (1.30 and 1.34). But if you look at their BB/K totals, it seems like Murray misses more bats that Gabbard, and also walks less people – Murray has 175 BB to 464 K in 564 minor league innings whereas Gabbard has 205 BB’s to 399 K’s in 492 innings.

Those might be negligable differences overall, but considering Gabbard and Murray are very similar pitchers, and probably have about the same ceiling for success in the Majors, I would think those numbers might indicate that Murray > Gabbard, at least as far as back-of-the-rotation lefty starters go.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

"I LOVE to fart" - Bert Blyleven

by lonestarJon on May 28, 2008 7:22 PM CDT   0 recs

Walks and Gabbard

Walks are collectively a failure to pitch well. At any level. If Gabbard is hurt, DL him and make him demonstrate on rehab he can throw 55+ strikes out of 100 pitches. But here’s the thing with Gabbard. He isn’t Kenny Rogers. He doesn’t have a lively fastball to put in the mix. He doesn’t really have much of a change. And so far as I’ve seen, can’t change speeds at will on his otherwise excellent curve.

So, he starts each game with his best stuff, and when it doesn’t work (for whatever reason) there is nothing different or extra in the tank for him to go to. That says, doesn’t put batters away, doesn’t move the ball around in the zone, and doesn’t miss quite enough bats. If he’s better than other Ranger alternatives, yes give him more starts or if hurt, get him fixed and healthy. And no I don’t know who else is actually ready. But don’t expect more from Gabbard than he can actually do, would be the present