Friday a.m. things
And...back to .500.
Crappy game yesterday.
Kevin Millwood was, in the words of Evan Grant, an "unmitigated flop," Josh Hamilton hurt his hand, and Maximus proved to be human.
Chris Davis got his first major league hit. I think that was pretty much the lone positive from yesterday.
Ron Washington says that Davis will be sent back down when Hank Blalock is ready to return. So enjoy watching Davis while you can.
Randy Galloway has a column up where he refers to Armando Galarraga as one of the best young pitchers in baseball.
And T.R. Sullivan has some bloggy notes up...
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Randy Galloway
is a crotchety old curmudgeon who brings little to the table in terms of wit or insight, but it is hard to argue with his main point. Daniels has pissed away some quality pitching. Danks and Galarraga are on different tiers, obviously, but after making it to my first Rangers game of the year last night and witnessing the best way to waste 12 million dollars pitch on the mound, it still holds true that Daniels cannot identify good pitching.
Period.
by clark on Jun 27, 2008 10:07 AM CDT 0 recs
If that's the case...
...then he should be fired.
by Adam J. Morris on
Jun 27, 2008 10:14 AM CDT
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i have thought this too
but strangely, i keep hemming and hawing on that decision. he handled the trade deadline well last year and he has done a solid job of refocusing the org on international scouting. but the idea of him being a buyer scares the hell out of me.
by clark on
Jun 27, 2008 10:17 AM CDT
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Who should be fired?
JD or Galloway?
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
Jun 27, 2008 10:41 AM CDT
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Boo
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 27, 2008 11:55 AM CDT
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Is there any evidence you can point to...
...that indicates this front office can identify quality young pitching?
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 10:56 AM CDT
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Well he's still too young to say..
so I guess you can’t.
by Agreen07 on
Jun 27, 2008 10:58 AM CDT
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I was thinking more about young ML ready
or near ready.
It seems like every mistake JD has made involves a mis-evaluation of ML pitching.
Eaton, Danks, Galarraga, McCarthy, Volquez…
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 11:04 AM CDT
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McCarthy wasn't JD's fault
No one could’ve expected he’d be hurt constantly. If he can kick the injury bug, he could still be a good pitcher.
by MeanMr.Mustard on
Jun 27, 2008 11:19 AM CDT
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seems like Chicago
had some idea that he wasn’t fit to be a ML starter.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 11:25 AM CDT
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Since when
do injuries = not being fit to be an ML starter?
I don’t think the Chicago front office was sitting around saying I bet McCarthy spends more time on the DL the next two years than off it despite little to no history of being injury prone.
by MeanMr.Mustard on
Jun 27, 2008 11:29 AM CDT
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why do you think they traded him?
Probably because they thought Danks was going to be a better ML pitcher, and they were right.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 11:30 AM CDT
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Look at it the other way around
Say Danks gets hurt and McCarthy stays healthy. Is Chicago stupid for making the trade?
This trade has to be separated from any use of the phrase “talent mis-evaluation”, because we still haven’t seen what type of player McCarthy could’ve developed into.
by MeanMr.Mustard on
Jun 27, 2008 11:40 AM CDT
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Chicago
You want to know why they traded him. Heres why. They had too many pitchers who were in or ready for the major leagues. They had their 4 veterans from their WS run two years prior (Buerhle, Contreras, Vasquez, and Garland). They had Gavin Floyd who they had just traded Freddy Garcia for and thought highly of and planned on sticking in the #5 spot. Then they had McCarthy who had started 10 games during their WS season as a 21 year old and spent the previous year in the bullpen putting up decent numbers. They made the decision to trade McCarthy for a young pitcher who they planned on sticking in the upper minors and who would be ready mid-late 2007 or at the latest this season. That is supported by their comments that they say they rushed Danks last year. They have stated he should have started out in the minors and it was their plan for him to do so.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on
Jun 27, 2008 12:33 PM CDT
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If I am not mistaken
BMac and Ozzie do not get along very well either
by Telegraph on
Jun 27, 2008 12:46 PM CDT
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Wasn't there a rumor
that Williams had tried to make time with McCarthy’s girlfriend?
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 12:57 PM CDT
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His sister?
Rather than g/f ?
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on
Jun 27, 2008 1:26 PM CDT
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I think you are correct.
"Point is I could have had them if I wanted. But I DO NOT lower my standards. Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought." -miles
by coolaid on
Jun 27, 2008 2:10 PM CDT
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Yeah, I think you're right.
Kind of the last straw in an already strained relationship.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 2:19 PM CDT
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I've heard that
I think it came from miles’ secret sources in chicago
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on
Jun 27, 2008 1:27 PM CDT
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cincinnati*
Iron Mike Tyson works out at my gym.
He's a pretty good boxer.
by LAMuscleFag on
Jun 27, 2008 3:54 PM CDT
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yeah...
but you see, i had to change it to chicago since we’re talking about the whitesox.
do you doubt he has secret chicago souces?
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on
Jun 27, 2008 4:37 PM CDT
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oh hell no..
I would never doubt the almighty Miles.
Iron Mike Tyson works out at my gym.
He's a pretty good boxer.
by LAMuscleFag on
Jun 27, 2008 5:06 PM CDT
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this question is silly
“since when do injuries = not fit to be an ML starter?”
Since forever?
If you can’t stay healthy to pitch in the big leagues, then you aren’t a big league pitcher. Seems like a pretty simple concept.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 11:34 AM CDT
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The question is not silly
when you’re talking about a GM’s competency.
My point is no one could’ve seen it coming. McCarthy’s injury has nothing to do with JD’s talent evaluation.
by MeanMr.Mustard on
Jun 27, 2008 11:36 AM CDT
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which team did a better job in evaluating
McCarthy?
Obviously Chicago did.
Same question for Danks. Same answer.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 11:40 AM CDT
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No
You cannot say they did a better job evaluating because McCarthy had injuries. That makes Danks healthier, but it does not mean he’s a pitcher with a higher ceiling.
Say Danks should have been kept because we need more lefties here. Say they should have kept him because they should have been retooling/rebuilding instead of trying to contend. Just don’t say it was obvious Danks was the better pitcher, because it wasn’t.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 11:46 AM CDT
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so if Texas traded Kinsler for spare parts tomorrow
and Kinsler had a career-ending injury, Texas did a better job in evaluation?
Injuries are freak accidents 90% of the time. Chicago got lucky. You can make a hypothetical argument that Danks was just a better pitcher than McCarthy, but every scouting report at the time had McCarthy as a comparable talent level who was more ML-ready.
by MeanMr.Mustard on
Jun 27, 2008 11:46 AM CDT
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I don't think "luck" is nearly as prevalent
as most people, but that is just me.
A lot of times I think what people point to as “luck” was actually preparation meeting opportunity.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 11:52 AM CDT
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Should the Rangers have reasonably anticipated...
...that McCarthy was a significant injury risk?
by Adam J. Morris on
Jun 27, 2008 11:53 AM CDT
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I think that is reasonable, yes
His delivery and frame seemed to me to be highly susceptible to an injury the first time I saw him pitch for the Rangers.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 11:57 AM CDT
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Did he not
Have that exact delivery every year before that, though?
by brettgardner on
Jun 27, 2008 11:58 AM CDT
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I can't say for sure
but I’ve seen some people indicate that the Rangers and Connor made some adjustments to his delivery. Specifically having him throw more downhill, or shortening his stride.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 12:00 PM CDT
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Look
No one here is happy with how this has turned out. But to say that the Rangers should be able to predict the future when it concerns injuries - with a player that has no prior history - is absolutely ridiculous.
The Rangers made a TERRIBLE trade with San Diego. They made a win-win deal with Cinci. The made what very well could have been (and could still be) a win-win with Chicago but for the injuries.
You’re just interested in pointing fingers to vent your frustration. Continue if it makes you feel better.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 12:11 PM CDT
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for the record, I like JD
...and I want him to continue as GM of the Rangers. I just think it is wierd that I can point to what I see as an organizational weakness in evaluating young pitchers, and give what I feel is reasonable evidence indicating that this is indeed a problem – and everyone gets up in arms and starts chanting “it’s not his fault, it’s just bad luck”.
I don’t believe luck has much to do with it. I think in the case of the White Sox trade, Kenny Williams looked at the two pitchers and thought Danks was a better bet to be a better ML pitcher. JD thought differently. Kenny was right.
Now I guess you could say that Kenny was right due to good luck, and JD was wrong due to bad luck but I just don’t evaluate things that way myself. If good luck is what it takes to make a good GM, then I guess it doesn’t much matter who has the job.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 12:18 PM CDT
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If you are going to talk about evaluation
We need to talk about scouts. JD gets info from the scouts about players and then make decisions based on these. Maybe you need to tell him to hire better scouts.
by Telegraph on
Jun 27, 2008 12:25 PM CDT
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I like arguing these points
but I’m not trying to just say every deal that didn’t work out is bad luck. And I disagree strongly that Williams was right. We just don’t know because McCarthy is injured. I wish they would have kept Danks, because I thought he was going to be a solid lefty #2 or #3 starter, and I didn’t think McCarthy was going to be any better than that and was a righty.
I do think that Williams liked Danks better, but I don’t think the Rangers thought poorly of him.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 12:28 PM CDT
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my last comment
This is pure speculation on my part, but I would be willing to bet that if JD was asked point blank, “Has this organization had problems in evaluating young pitching during your tenure?” – he would say yes, and that steps have been taken to rectify the problem.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 12:31 PM CDT
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Not a bad way to put it.
We’d all certainly like to have Danks here this year, given the way things have gone.
You have to be encouraged by the long term picture with the bevy of young arms in place. Not all of them will make it, obviously, but the odds are much better now with that much pure talent.
I have a vague bad feeling about their roster management skills, and it certainly remains to be seen if Daniels can polish off a team nearing contention. He’s been great at collecting talent this past year or so, but the trades he made prior to that give one pause when it comes to finishing the job.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 12:43 PM CDT
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It is not that we don't think you have a point on the arm evals, b/c I know I do, and I bet the rest agree
It is just that the McCarthy trade is not a good example of it.
If you trade for a guy w/ no health questions, and he gets hurt, I’d say there is no blame to be assigned. Likewise, if a gm trades for a hurler w/ a history of fragility, big blamage.
And fwiw, Williams obviously DID like McCarthy, b/c he had tried for a good while to get Danks for Garland instead of Brandon. And I believe there was some personal animousity between the 2, as well, which obviously factored into it.
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 27, 2008 12:47 PM CDT
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Well
I know that BA and Sickels praised his durability pre-trade, and I believe Will Carroll had good things to say about his delivery and mechanics, vis-a-vis injury risks.
by Adam J. Morris on
Jun 27, 2008 11:59 AM CDT
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They were just plants
doing Williams bidding and/or Daniels should have known they were wrong.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 12:01 PM CDT
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Thats a load of crap...
there’s no way that you had anticipated these injuries at the time of the trade. I’m sorry but its real easy for you to make these comments at this point, but nobody could have reasonable come to the conclusion that McCarthy would suddenly become injury prone once he joined the Rangers.
by erikj07 on
Jun 27, 2008 12:09 PM CDT
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i agree...afer the fact
but predicting injuries for a guy who’s been injury free is tough, regardless of mechanics. it’s not just mechanics. i’m kinda curious to know who told BMac to hit the weights so hard in the offseason.
by SteveP on
Jun 27, 2008 12:10 PM CDT
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"Since when do injuries = not being fit to be an ML starter?"

"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08
.501 or bust!
by Jayslick on
Jun 27, 2008 12:32 PM CDT
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-alksbdfl;kasjdflk asALOT
dumb dumb dumb
Stats don't lie
Paul Pierce >> Soft Nowitzki
"The Legend of Rudy continues to grow..." - the other guy on the podcast.
by Longhorn on
Jun 27, 2008 5:59 PM CDT
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McCarthy?
Who is this person McCarthy? Is he the same one that is also referred to as BMac? Has BMac pitched an inning this year? No, I didn’t think so. I agree that maybe Chicago was hip to the idea that this BMac character was not totally fit.
¡yo soy Horsedooty!
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
by horsedooty on
Jun 27, 2008 11:46 AM CDT
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New ideas, please
you’ve already done this who is McCarthy bit multiple times.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 11:48 AM CDT
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You owe me a bushmills
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 27, 2008 11:49 AM CDT
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gladly trade one
for a Springbank you’re in Dallas.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 11:56 AM CDT
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Next month. End of July
Let’s hit a game…
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 27, 2008 11:58 AM CDT
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I'm out of town
from July 27-August 5…here before that?
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 11:59 AM CDT
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Unfortunately, no 24-29
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 27, 2008 12:03 PM CDT
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25th?
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 12:13 PM CDT
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Possible, but doubtful
It is my h.s. reunion that w/e. Lots of festivities planned, plus I have to keep the wife entertained, see the sis and nephew, see Gma in the nursing home, etc.
Coming home can be a lot of work.
It might work though. That would be fun.
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 27, 2008 12:32 PM CDT
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Bushmills
That’s Protestant whiskey!
Get you some good catholic Jameson’s
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on
Jun 27, 2008 1:20 PM CDT
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Wire fan?
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
by Chad Crudup on
Jun 27, 2008 1:44 PM CDT
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YUP!
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on
Jun 27, 2008 1:59 PM CDT
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Me too...
...I think it’s one of the 5 best series ever . Maybe the best.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
by Chad Crudup on
Jun 27, 2008 2:04 PM CDT
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That line is from when he drives down to DC to see his politico sex buddy and crashes the power player party
Great episode, best show eva.
Good ref Rentz…
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 27, 2008 2:39 PM CDT
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How about some new material
You’ve made that same lame joke 3 or 4 times now.
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 27, 2008 11:48 AM CDT
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Great sig...
...just noticed it today. Those are words I can (and do) live by.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
by Chad Crudup on
Jun 27, 2008 1:45 PM CDT
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don't let 'em get you down, Doots...
...you just go back to that stable, mash up some more horsedooty, and come back stronger than ever before.
by oc on
Jun 27, 2008 1:24 PM CDT
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Eaton
to me is the only one misevaluated (or at least a bad assessment of his riskiness.) With Danks and Volquez, the Rangers knew very well what they were giving up, but they valued the return. You can argue that they should have just held onto those guys but I don’t see how you can say the Rangers didn’t know what they had.
Galarraga doesn’t even belong in a discussion with the others on a talent level basis.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 11:24 AM CDT
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let's approach this from another angle
I disagree with the above, but that stuff has been rehashed too often anyways.
Can you give evidence that JD and company outsmarted another organization in evaluating ML pitching? Is there a case where a guy that JD brought in met or exceeded expectations? Is there a case where a guy that JD sent out failed to meet expectations?
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 11:32 AM CDT
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They're not trying to "outsmart" another organization
nor should they be, necessarily. They didn’t think that McCarthy was heads and shoulders above Danks, just further along in the development process. That decision is not bad because McCarthy got hurt, it’s bad because they should have stuck with a longer term plan instead of trying to contend in 2007.
And I don’t see how you could say that Hamilton has not exceeded expectations. The fact that Volquez has also done so does not make that a bad trade. And there again, they are not trying to outsmart Cinci in that deal. It was high risk for both clubs, and both clubs knew it at the time. But the Rangers had a terrible outfield and the Reds had a surplus of OFers with a young stud coming up. It was a good fit.
I just do not agree with your premise that the Rangers didn’t know they had good pitchers in Danks and Volquez. You also can not overlook the fact that there was a resounding consensus on McCarthy being a top notch young pitcher. That is a fact, not an opinion. It’s a fact about opinions, but it is a fact. Daniels was not going out on a limb saying he was a quality young starter. It’s also well known that the Chicago brass and McCarthy did not get along too well, and it’s also well known that KW really liked Danks.
This is not a simple black and white issue. We’d all like to have a simple villain to point to, but I’m sorry, it just isn’t that way.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 11:41 AM CDT
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Hamilton has definitely exceeded expectations
but I thought this conversation was solely about the organizations ability to evaluate young pitching.
Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."
by tricer on
Jun 27, 2008 11:43 AM CDT
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Well
but he was obtained for Volquez, and I responded to the line about a guy JD brought in exceeding expectations. You can’t just consider pitcher for pitcher trades in evals.
...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.
by t ball on
Jun 27, 2008 11:49 AM CDT
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what if the Rangers allowed Volquez to throw from the slot he wanted to throw from?...
...i’m sure, he needed an adjustment in his approach at the time…but, look what he’s done after the fact.
by oc on
Jun 27, 2008 1:29 PM CDT
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