Tuesday a.m. things

The draft more of a long term investment Just because the Rangers need bullpen help now does not mean that they will when the players drafted this year are ready for the majors.

This situation is the one that makes me scratch my head. On one hand you have to think he couldn’t do any worse than what we are running out there already. On the other hand the ghosts of Volquez and Dominguez keep shooting through my head whenever I think I want him up here. He has pitched better of late there is no denying that. However, does it do him and the team more good long term to keep him down in AAA for another couple months. Ultimately I think you need to keep him down for another couple months unless he absolutely forces you to bring him up by not just pitching well but pitching dominantly for a 3-4 start stretch. Im talking 7 IP and 0-1 runs allowed with 6-8 Ks and 0-1 BB each time out. He does that and my concerns about his age and readiness will go out the window.

And I hate to bring reality into it but you have to wonder how the Rangers want to work his roster status as well. I imagine if he gets brought up this year he will stay for the rest of the year so as to not unnecessarily burn an option. With that in mind they may wait a little longer so it shrinks the time between when they bring him up and September 1st when rosters expand.

i think if he had a 3.2 era it would have been a week ago.

but while struggling? who knows. maybe they look at his minor run of success and a couple more good starts could get him up here.
i wouldnt be shocked if they bring him up, but at the same time im not expecting him very soon.

so uh.. clueless.

i think the bullpen fluctuates too much to worry about it in the draft. i think the rangers just go best talent available.

We recorded a podcast last night, which should be up today.

One of the things I mentioned, vis-a-vis Hurley…I think the Rangers don’t want to call him up until he’s ready and up for good.

I think that the Murrays and Mathises, they don’t have a problem yoyoing, because they are fringey guys anyway, future middle-men or back of the rotation starters. Hurley, they have higher hopes for, and thus are going to be more protective of.

Isnt it kind of assumed hes going to be a 1b/DH if he plays for the rangers?

You’d have to be a real butcher to make a significant negative impact on a teams overall defense from 1b unless the alternative is a gold glvoer. Or DH obviously.

Botts would have found a way to fit in if he could have hit the ball.

I keep thinking JD has to sacrifice Bradley and take the leap with Max at DH, but Milton’s got to bring in pitching and really a guy who’s close.

Laird gets dealt (somehow…he’s still such an odd lot to trade) then it’s Max backing up Saltalamacchia and DHing. The bullpen shitting out is the blessing in disguise that will inspire this transition, which is otherwise waiting on Ramirez’s continued development and a ripening trade market.

This team is dreaming of an absolute waterbug at SS. It would help so very much. I bet we get a one-year caddy for Andrus this winter and 2008 is it for Michael at SS. The writing’s on the wall.

Volquez becoming a front rotation pitcher? Oh wait, me:

“My other HSO along these lines is that I think that the most important guy in the organization is Edinson Volquez. Given how far he came this season he looks like the only potential front rotation starter within this organization’s sights for years (even if one of the new draftees were to become that sort of prospect, it would be awhile).

by zywica on Oct 10, 2007 9:20 PM PDT”