TR Mailbag
by kevzta on Jun 2, 2008 11:36 PM CDT
47 comments
So T.R. has a new mailbag up with some slightly intriguing questions that are asked.
Why did the Rangers designate Franklyn German for assignment to call up Kameron Loe, if they were just going to send Loe back to the Minors a couple weeks later? German seemed like he was contributing.
-- John M., Denton, Texas
The Rangers were concerned with German's inability to throw strikes in crucial situations, but that's a problem all through the bullpen. The Rangers lead the league in walks by relievers and they have allowed the second highest number of inherited runners to score.
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So this is definitely why Ron Washington brought in Robinson Tejeda yesterday right? A bonafide show stopping run stopper. At least German would have been a better bullpen option than bringing up Kam Loe and successively Robinson Tejeda.
Shall we do another question?
Ken Rosenthal said that the Royals may make Zack Greinke available and would be looking for positions players at the upper levels. Given the fact that's the Rangers' strong suit, what would it take to get him?
-- Cameron P., Wylie, Texas
At least two of these three: Davis, Elvus Andrus and/or Max Ramirez. Still interested?
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Hell Yeah im still interested. I would trade Elvus and MaxRam for Zack Greinke. A guy with Ace potential for a shortstop who is in all likelihood probably not going to hit that much better than average and MaxRam who would be blocked by Chris Davis, Taylor Teagarden and/or Salty. Trading Andrus and MaxRam is not going to deplete our farm system, but it would significantly help the major league club with Greinke.
here's the link
thoughts?
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Id do andrus and maxram every day of the week
and i love maxram.
Gerald Laird is my hero.
by DSheppard on Jun 2, 2008 11:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I would also...
But I would try to keep our best prospect in Maxram out of it…
"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos
by miles on Jun 2, 2008 11:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Scratch that...
I would give up Maxram in a heartbeat for Greinke…
Didn’t know he was 24…
"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos
by miles on Jun 2, 2008 11:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
At least German would have been a better bullpen option than bringing up Kam Loe and successively Robinson Tejeda.
are you really suggesting that there was no reason to cut Franklyn German? and that yesterday’s loss would have been avoided if he was still pitching here?
really?...
...talk about allowing inherited runners to score… German, having averaged almost a walk an inning, would have walked in the first batter he faced. and he would have done it on four pitches…
so, now that i’ve mopped the floor with your ass… please enlighten us… who would you have brought in yesterday over Tejeda?
Benoit? tired. Eddie? tired. Wilson? not a save situation. Rupe? why do you bring your long man in to pitch the 7th with a two run lead?
that leaves Jamey on the mound… and Frank Francisco… the epitome of inconsistancy, in the pen.
no way was Tejeda the best option. he was the only option.
i officially believe.
by oc on Jun 2, 2008 11:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
mopped the floor with my ass?
hahahaha thats ridiculous. in this case, you probably bring in the most dependable guy to pitch, that isn’t your closer. German might not have been the most dependable, but this year, he proved that he was more worthy of a bullpen spot than tejeda. Was robinson tejeda the best pitcher available? Really. Really? Without a doubt he wasn’t. Way to throw his ass to the wolves the day he comes to the majors. I would have brought frank fransisco in, and considering his inconsistency, id roll the dice on his inconsistency than that of robinson tejeda. Robinson tejeda, obviously, has consistently brought in results for team OC. If anyone has the potential to get a strike out in middle relief for the rangers it frank.
baseBALLIN!
by kevzta on Jun 3, 2008 12:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Fx2—no question.
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by Chase Irwin on Jun 3, 2008 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i disagree...
...judging from his recent outings… there’s absolutely no way in hell Francisco solves that problem any better than Tejeda did.
i officially believe.
by oc on Jun 3, 2008 12:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
all scouting reports on Tejeda indicate that he was hitting the strike zone consistantly at Triple-A...
...and with 2.1 scoreless tonight, it makes the decision yesterday look justifiable.
German proved he was more worthy of a bullpen spot over Tejeda?
please… what are you basing this on… Spring Training?...
ok… Tejeda didn’t pitch too bad in Spring Training… he’s about as serviceable as German was in his short stint here..
just remember… there’s a reason Franklyn German isn’t with this ballclub anymore.
i officially believe.
by oc on Jun 3, 2008 12:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: Bill Hall
requested a trade from the brewers.
I would love to have bill hall be out lefty and 5 spot hitter v 3bs.
Although its not a match. For one his price is probably a trade chip wed be better off using on a pitcher, and he wants a trade for every day playing time and we dont really need him vs righties.
So ill bring up the idea and shoot it down in the same post.
Gerald Laird is my hero.
by DSheppard on Jun 3, 2008 12:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
er.. 3b and 5 spot hitter vs lefties.
Gerald Laird is my hero.
by DSheppard on Jun 3, 2008 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
after watching
espn’s top 10 I wouldn’t mind having Bill Hall at 3rd base for me right now, ecspecially with his bat.
by blueballlefty on Jun 3, 2008 1:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Depends on what the Brewers want for him
But we’ve got nothing at 3rd base right now, and with Andrus getting hurt, it means MY will be at SS to start next year. I don’t know about his contract situation, but he strikes me as a guy we could use to hold down 3B until Andrus is ready to play SS, and MT needs to move over there, and then trade once the time comes.
by lonestarJon on Jun 3, 2008 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That might have been a good idea
like two or three years ago, not so much now I think.
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on Jun 3, 2008 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Greinke
Hell yes. I would give up Max Ramirez and Elvis Andrus and another player for Greinke. He is a legitimate ace. Like Hamilton, he would come with some personal baggage. But if that personal baggage is managed properly, he could be an exceptional, cornerstone player.
I would deal Ramirez or Saltalamacchia plus Elvis and a third player for Greinke. He has been awesome last year and this year, is 24, and has not had any serious injuries.
by stephen86 on Jun 3, 2008 12:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Saying grienke is a legitimate ace....
... is a little presumptuous for a guy who supposedly still has some sort of mental issues and plays only somewhat decent for the Kc royals…. I’m all about dealing some prospects in a logjammed position… but calling Greinke an ace is a little over the top…. like all the way over the top.
by TheCrow on Jun 3, 2008 12:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Somewhat decent?
Over the last two season, his line looks like this:
197 IP, 193 H, 19 HR, 55 BB, 159 K, 3.38 ERA
This season, he has an ERA of 2.88. He is on pace so far for:
206 IP, 195 H, 19 HR, 52 BB, 146 K, 2.88 ERA
He is pitching at basically the same level he has pitched for the last 197 innings. No one has ever doubted Greinke’s talent. He has the stuff of a legitimate ace: Great control, several above average, plus pitches, and he eats a decent amount of innings. I suppose me saying he is a legitimate ace might be going a step too far, but he has pitched like one for the last full year and he continues to do so this year.
The only negative has been a questionable background as the result of a personal struggle with social anxiety. But at age 24, he seems like the exact kind of the player the Rangers would target for a possible trade.
by stephen86 on Jun 3, 2008 1:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hells to the yes
if Grienke’s on the market we should be all over that shiznit. He’s got a good track record of success, he’s still young, and he’s got two more years under team control after this one.
Start with Salty and build a package around that. Salty, Andrus and what else? I’m no Royals expert, but they seem pretty set at 3b and, well, that’s about it.
We offer Salty, Andrus and Madrigal. Which team doesn’t do that deal?
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on Jun 3, 2008 12:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I agree Salty is at the top of the list for a package to KC.
TR didn’t put enough in there. Rumors last year of a Greinke trade had folks thinking of 3 top prospects from the likes of the Yankees. I would hope to not put Andrus in there, but they do need a shortstop of the future, and Dayton was still with the Braves when they signed Elvis. KC actually needs good hitting position players more than pitchers, but I’m sure they would just take whichever package gives them the most talent.
I’d be willing to go as high as Salty, JMJ, Hurley (if not Hurley then probably a mid-level and low-level guy, like Harrison and Gomez) and a low-level hitter like Vallejo for Greinke. I’m not sure what my opening bid would be. Maybe Greinke’s emotional issues would keep the price from being that high. I wouldn’t count on it, though, with solid young pitching the highest valued type of player and the mid-season trade deadline often a bidding frenzy.
Gotta think along the lines of a trade similar to the Dan Haren trade.
by rooster on Jun 3, 2008 1:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
they already have a shortstop of the future in Moustakas, no?
i officially believe.
by oc on Jun 3, 2008 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moustakas
He will be a third baseman from most reports I’ve seen.
"So you think the Celtics will beat Detroit? Hell will freeze over before that happens, mark my words." miles 5/20/08
by badradiorules on Jun 3, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So where do they...
put their next George Brett? Alex Gordon will be playing third there for some time.
How about a package for Greinke and Moustakas? What would it take? I know we have MY that SHOULD move to third but…
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jun 3, 2008 8:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
CC?
Doesnt an offer of Salty, Andrus and Madrigal get ya sumpn like Sabathia? then we set the trade up to resign him before the deal is finished…
anyway, my point was that the offer Salty, Andrus and Madrigal is steep.
"There is no reason for me to move to third base," Young said.
-FOTF 5/20/2008
"Well, we are one of the cheapest teams in Major League Baseball"
-Tom Hicks 4/8/2008
by Jayslick on Jun 3, 2008 2:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree. It is steep.
I think that package is less than the Rangers got for Teixeira, and Greinke’s value could be higher than Teixeira’s, so long as the concerns about his emotional stability aren’t a major factor. I don’t think the Indians are gonna flip CC at the trade deadline if they’re in position to contend.
That would also be a steep package for CC, who the team would only control for this year. I wouldn’t do that deal, because it’s hard to imagine outbidding the world for CC this offseason. However, Greinke is under team control for a few more years (I think his service time is just over 2 years). I can live with giving up Hurley when the return is a guy that we all hope Hurley becomes. I can live with parting with Salty, since his departure may allow the Rangers to bring up MaxRam, who can backup at C, DH, and 1B (maybe not too often at 1B) and may be just as much a hitting star as Salty. JMJ, eh. I’d hate most to give up one of the young stable of pitchers at Clinton and below.
The Rangers might even be able to flip Ponson and recover a bit of what they lost in their trade for Greinke.
Now imagine if the Rangers do land one of CC or Sheets this offseason after having traded for Greinke during the season. The rotation for next year looks like
CC or Sheets
Milly
Padilla
Greinke
BMac
AJ, Mendoza, Harrison, Mathis, TD, Hunter, Nippert, (Scheppers?) ready for injury-fill-in duty.
That could be stout.
Yeah, it’s a steep price, but one the Rangers can absorb and one that brings back the type of player most valued in the majors and most needed by the Rangers. The wild card is his mental stability. I just don’t know enough about the support system the Royals have in place. He’s had at least one very stable year now, which is very encouraging.
by rooster on Jun 3, 2008 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think in that rotation
Greinke is still your #1…
by JBImaknee on Jun 3, 2008 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and i think your out of your mind
sheets/CC are def #1’s
but i also think if your in that situation you have traded one of millwood or padilla.
Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark
by knockoutking on Jun 3, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think
we have a better shot at Harrison, Hunter, TD, being in that rotation than BMac
by blueballlefty on Jun 3, 2008 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
CC is good, but not worth that
but he’s not worth trading a farm system for.
Greinke is
1> Better than CC
2> Younger than CC
3> not as fat as CC (less likely to go Colon on you)
4> cheaper than CC
5> under contract longer than CC.
I’d trade one of our catchers (for me, preferably Teagarden), one of our “top” pitchers (Harrison, Hurley), and someone like JMJ (or a low-level prospect). I’d try to avoid Andrus, but if they insisted I’d put him in instead of the pitcher and let us choose the catcher.
by JBImaknee on Jun 3, 2008 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Concur...
Greinke >>> CC for the reasons you listed.
I don’t see any way that CC doesn’t hit the FA market.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jun 3, 2008 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
personally
i think max will be a very good major league hitter and salty can turn into a jason giambi type power/obp guy.
id almost be inclined to offer a combo of elvis and davis. i think elvis is overrated and im not too impressed with davis’ bat control.
by kumizi on Jun 3, 2008 2:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I would hold onto Saltalamacchia and Ramirez if possible. I’d deal Andrus and Ramirez first. Davis is obviously a very strong prospect, but his strikeout rate scares me a little bit. I’d be very willing to offer Davis, Andrus, and say Madrigal for Greinke. Even so, if the Royals responded with a counter offer of Saltalamacchia, Andrus, and Madrigal, I would still take it.
By doing that, you basically traded Mark Teixeira and Edinson Volquez for Josh Hamilton, Zack Greinke, Matt Harrison, Neftali Feliz, and Beau Jones. I think the Rangers would be very happy with that exchange over two seasons.
by stephen86 on Jun 3, 2008 3:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The problem with that is that
you pretty much have to deal a catcher if you are Texas anyway. Pretty soon they’ll have 4 guys who can catch in the majors. That is too many.
Heck, maybe they’d accept something like Laird, Davis, and Hurley
by JBImaknee on Jun 3, 2008 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like where you're going with Laird + Hurley
I just can’t see us letting go of CD. We need that kinda slugging from 1B badly, especially considering the OPS hit we’ll take once MY moves off of short.
I don’t think JMJ would be enough, unfortunately. Laird + Hurley + JMJ + Lemon?
I’m really fishing here. I don’t have a great grip on Greinke in terms of ace / not ace. I just know he had the sickest curveball in MVP ‘05 … EVER.
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by Chase Irwin on Jun 3, 2008 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I asked around at Royals Review.
Their not too keen to the idea of Greinke being traded. The feeling was that Greinke’s value to the Royals was greater than the trade market.
I floated the idea of a Dan Haren type package, and they thought that probably wouldn’t be enough to address the many holes they have. One dude said that the Greinke discussion starts with Josh Hamilton. Salty, Hurley, and MaxRam (or JMJ) at least made them interested, but it still didn’t seem like enough to them.
I don’t disagree with them at all. Greinke has the most trade value on their team, but unlike the Rangers and Teixeira, it would be difficult to overcome the hole left by Greinke, who is cheap and is pitching like their ace.
I found it interesting that they felt Greinke’s psychological problems were less worrisome than Hambone’s drug addiction.
by rooster on Jun 3, 2008 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I totally agree
and thanks for doing this, btw. Definitely appreciated.
I enjoy when people do that sort of thing, when it happens in a non-dick way, to give us better trade perspective. I suspect that they overvalue Greinke, as they should, while we probably overvalue our guys. I mean, the inherent bias of the board.
It just sucks when someone’s trying to posit trade ideas on other blogs and it turns into a flame war because of fan allegiances. Glad that didn’t happen to you.
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by Chase Irwin on Jun 5, 2008 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know about anybody else
But I found TR anwser to this question a little odd:
Am I right to worry that with Hank Blalock moving to first base that it may prevent the call up of Chris Davis later on this season? I trust Davis more given that he has more time playing first base.
—Andrew B., Longview, TexasRangers fans need to stop worrying about who’s going to get called up, what young players are going to be given shots and how they are going to solve these potential position conflicts. Davis needs to be at Triple-A Oklahoma. Blalock needs to get healthy. Neither are ready to play in the big leagues. That will be resolved at some point, and Davis will eventually get a legitimate shot when he’s ready and when he’s needed. Right now, it’s Frank Catalanotto and Chris Shelton at first base.
Did I just read that right?
“Rangers fans need to stop worrying about who’s going to get called up, what young players are going to be given shots and how they are going to solve these potential position conflicts.”
So… we can’t discuss anything except the players that are on-field now? WTF?
by lonestarJon on Jun 3, 2008 6:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
wow, thats pretty.. weird.
Gerald Laird is my hero.
by DSheppard on Jun 3, 2008 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that's fucked up.
An author telling his readers what they should be worrying about.
Man that guy gives me tired head. This is why I stopped reading TR after NYTXFAN’s meltdown diary a while back. You really should search for that thread if you weren’t aboard then.
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by Chase Irwin on Jun 3, 2008 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're missing the point
He means that we need to be patient and that Blalock moving to first means nothing as far as Davis’s future.
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on Jun 3, 2008 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe
But the way he phrased it came off pretty cocky, as if to say “will people quit asking me about Chris Davis? I don’t give a @#&$# about Chris Davis, I only watch the Major League team”.
by lonestarJon on Jun 4, 2008 2:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
For once, I'll agree with you
nah, I’m messing.
I definitely got that vibe from TR and it’s far from the first time that he comes off like that. Just a strange person—he’ll talk up whoever one day and it’ll be a great piece, then the next one is a cryptic diatribe that makes you say “Lol wut.”
Not quite bipolar, but it weirds me out.
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by Chase Irwin on Jun 5, 2008 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd trade
Max and Andrus for Greinke. But I’m not sure KC would do that. If they wanted to deal him, Milwaukee could possibly deal Laporta or Fielder in a deal. Philly could deal Howard.
What about a Max/Davis/Salty, Andrus, Warner Madrigal, and another prospect for Greinke and Mark teahen?
Move Teahen back to third base then. Even if teahen repeats his 2007 season line of .290/.353/.410/.767 with 13 steals, he is a pretty solid third baseman. If he is helped by Ameriquest field at all, then he’d be even better possibly.
It still is difficult for me to part with Andrus though. To me, defense up the middle is critical to helping a team be more successful. You build up the middle and that is what Texas seems to be doing with Andrus and Hamilton as cornerstones there. With Teagarden at catcher and a better defensive second baseman, they’d be great up the middle. Andrus makes a lot of errors right now, but I think he’ll reduce that total as he gets more experienced, afterall he’s only 19 years old.
by FutureGM914 on Jun 4, 2008 1:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Ameriquest Field
Is no more. They got rid of that damn bell last year. It’s “Rangers Ballpark in Arlington” these days – thank god.
As for Mark Teahen, isn’t .290/.353/.410 about what we’d be getting out of MY at third base? I don’t know about Teahen’s defense at third, but that’s kind of sub-par offense for a third-sacker these days.
by lonestarJon on Jun 4, 2008 3:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's better then
half the league in terms of how team’s third basemen did in OPS last year. right now Texas’ third basemen have a .761 OPS for the season and rank 16th among teams. Defensively he was supposed to be good, but moved off of third base because Gordon was a superior third baseman. Not surprising considering Gordon had “gold glove” talent at third base coming from the minors.
right now Texas’ line for third basemen is: .284/.352/.408.
by FutureGM914 on Jun 4, 2008 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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