The problem with irregular playing time
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 10:15 AM CDT
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PrintT.R. Sullivan has a piece up about the Ranger bench being laden with younger players, and the problem that creates vis-a-vis getting them playing time and developing. The particular focus is on German Duran:
Boggs has been able to get semi-regular playing time because of nagging injuries to other outfielders. But the biggest concern is Duran, 23, the Rangers' right-handed-hitting infielder who has been reduced to a platoon role at third base.
Washington admitted it's not the ideal situation for Duran, a natural second baseman who was supposed to play regularly at Triple-A Oklahoma this season. But he's here because he's one of the Rangers' 25 best players.
"Of course he's being hindered by his development," Washington said. "But this is where we are. If this is the way it is the rest of the year, we'll approach him about going to winter ball and making up for the lost at-bats."
Duran, going into Monday's game, had 149 at-bats on the season. By contrast, outfielder Jason Ellison, who has been playing regularly at Oklahoma, led the RedHawks with 326 at-bats. The Rangers are uneasy about Duran losing time in the field, but he's still platooning with Ramon Vazquez, who is hitting .326.
"This kid [Duran] is a natural second baseman," Washington said. "We've got him out of position at third base, and he's seeing the best pitching in baseball. He's fighting and he's strong mentally. But he's not getting a chance to develop his baseball instincts up here.
"I'm trying to do the best I can to get them all playing time during the week, so they don't sit and do nothing for a whole week. But they have to find a way to stay ready. They're not the first guys who had to play just once or twice a week and have to survive. But I can only play nine."
Duran playing once or twice a week isn't doing him any good. I don't understand why Ryan Roberts -- a righty who apparently impressed folks in training camp -- isn't up here, instead.
Boggs is the other guy whose presence I wonder about. Ron Washington seems hellbent on playing Marlon Byrd every day right now, and Boggs has started only 5 of the team's last 15 games. Given that Washington refuses to sit David Murphy against lefties, and given that Byrd is apparently going to be out there pretty much every day, there's not much playing time for Boggs, who is just 25 and had never played above AA before this season.
Personally, my preference would be for Boggs to stay up and get more playing time, with Byrd sitting more against RHPs and Murphy more against LHPs, but if Washington isn't going to do that, then you have to wonder if it wouldn't be better for Boggs to head back down and play every day and see Jason Ellison or Nelson Cruz come up and handle the 5th outfielder job. Especially with Max Ramirez presumably getting some DH ABs, when Milton Bradley is available to play in the field.
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Good problem to have
in a way. If they are trying to showcase Byrd, fine, but if he’s not traded then Boggs needs to play more. We discussed Duran’s playing time quite a bit this past winter and spring since zywica’s prescience in suggesting his current role, but it seems like lately we just got used to him being up and playing occasionally. Good timing to bring it up again.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
Who says Wash is pulling the strings?
I think Byrd playing so much is a showcase situation. I don’t think he’ll be around too much longer.
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley
That seems unlikely
...given that Washington has always loved Byrd, no matter how terribly he was playing. Byrd plays every day because Washington thinks he is the best EVAR. It reminds me of Showalter’s unyielding determination to play RA Dickey because he “looks like a baseball guy.”
Hmmmm
Maybe the fact that in the two years Wash has been here Marlon Byrd has been pretty damn good. I don’t know what the exact factors are that determine it but Byrd has a chance to be a type A FA after this season if he keeps up his pace. He will be a type B at worst.
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.
Speaking of Dickey
He picked up the loss last night.
IP H R ER BB K HR Season ERA
6.1 9 2 2 1 3 0 4.53
It took him 116 pitches to get that far, and only 71 were for strikes.
by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 1, 2008 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Metcalf
Why not swap Duran and Metcalf? Both are on the 40. I don’t think Metcalf is in the Rangers future plans. As for Boggs, lets see what happens after the trade deadline. He might be a regular OF then.
Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY
I would like to see someone like Mark Loretta or Chris Gomez acquired for Duran’s role. Both can sub the infield, both hit lefties better than righties. Loretta is a good clubhouse guy and Houston still is acting like they are still in it so he might be more expensive. Gomez was a waiver claim last year so if Pittsburgh get anything it would be a plus.
Limited Role
I don’t know why the Rangers would be looking to add anybody who is not currently in the system. I supposed if a few guys are traded away, then this might be a better answer.
by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 1, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
completely agree
we are running under the assumption we have a solution in house until we prove different. Then we go out and grab someone
by corbsclinton on Jul 1, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree on German Duran
He’s not playing enough up here to be figuring anything out – he should be down in AAA, getting some every day AB’s. Only thing is, at this point we really can’t bring up Roberts, because there’s no room on the 40 man for him (ahh, the pleasantries of having Catalanotto and Byrd clogging up the roster). About all you can do it bring up Metcalf, who needs those AB’s in OKC himself.
Wrong
Only thing is, at this point we really can’t bring up Roberts, because there’s no room on the 40 man for him (ahh, the pleasantries of having Catalanotto and Byrd clogging up the roster).
The 40 man is currently at 38 players, and that’s with Jason Jennings still on the 15 day d.l. instead of the 60 day d.l.
There’s plenty of room for Ryan Roberts on the 40 man.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions
OR
we could just play Duran nearly every day and tell Vasquez he’s losing ABs.
There’s been a lot of talk about fans not being able to handle playing young guys and living with the mistakes, but in reality Washington is by far the biggest impediment to young guys playing time
sure
just go ahead and sit a guy who is hitting over .300 and has played solid defense while we are still technically in the race.
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.
Byrd
I think the reason he is playing so much is his defense in CF. It is really really good. And it allows the rangers to play Hamilton in right more which, given the fact he has played almost as many games this year already that he played all last year, is a good thing. I think the reason Boggs is still up here and a guy like Cruz isn’t is Boggs’ versatility. Cruz is primarily a RF and I think the way this first part of the year has played out having interchangeable parts in the outfield is viewed as a necessity.
As for Duran I thought at the time it was a bad move and still do. It has nothing to do with his performance or anything else but he needed more time in the minors to develop. he needed that consistant playing time.
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.
Get the kids at bats
Either send them back to AAA or trade off the spares to create a larger role for them. I’m content with either.
Joe Morgan: (On Jay Bruce) I think he will. He brings energy to the team, and besides that, he is a pretty good hitter.
Ken Tremendous: I like that the #1 reason he will help his team is: "energy," and the distant #2 reason is: "ability to hit baseballs."
I like
this reoccurring theme this morning…
by corbsclinton on Jul 1, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
Trading off the spares?
Are you agreeing or is that sarcasm I’m sensing?
Joe Morgan: (On Jay Bruce) I think he will. He brings energy to the team, and besides that, he is a pretty good hitter.
Ken Tremendous: I like that the #1 reason he will help his team is: "energy," and the distant #2 reason is: "ability to hit baseballs."
Does anyone really think Duran will ever be more than a utility guy?
I don’t see what the concern is when he’s already kind of playing that utility role.
Also, I think Boggs sees more ABs as Murphy continues to struggle (especially against LHPs). Wash will have too difficult a time justifying why he’s keeping Murphy in all the time.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
Probably
Duran will probably be a utility or super-sub type of player. Still I would rather let that play out on the field (i.e. prove that he is not fitted for a full-time role at a single position) rather than brand him as that type of player so early on in his career.
by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 1, 2008 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Duran
Yeah I think ultimately that is what he will be but its not fair to the guy to pidgeonhole him at 23 years old as a utility guy. Let him get consistant time in the minors which is what they are there for and develop. Who knows maybe he is a late bloomer and in a year or so breaks out and becomes a legit MIF. He won’t have that chance if he is the utility guy and playing sparingly in the bigs.
Its similar to the people who wanted to bring Max up and stick him at DH. That may ultimately be where he ends up but you don’t generally do that to players until you absolutely have to
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.
I think the player
ultimately determines whether he gets pigeon holed or not. If he plays like Vasquez this year, when he’s 25 or 26 yrs old, he gets on the field. If he doesn’t, he takes his lumps and waits for his shot or waits for free agency.
by corbsclinton on Jul 1, 2008 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
But
But why limit his playing time by slotting him in the utility role when he could be developing in the minors playing full time. I guess my philosophy is until a young guy shows you he can’t do it don’t assume which is what putting Duran as the utility guy would do.
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.
Yeah
I think having the opportunity to learn at the big league level is undervalued. I’m sure Duran wants to play more, but if you asked him whether he wanted to take Vasquez’s role or play everyday in OKC, I’m betting he wants to stay. Whether that hampers his developement is something that is extremely debatable. The guys I want on my team find a way to stay up. If they don’t, they become a different type of prospect. I think thats why Boggs/Duran are still here. We want to believe they can slide right into a role left by Ramon and Byrd. If thats the case, they need to be here and not in OKC. Moving Ramon and Byrd, letting them slide in, gives them the best ability to succeed. IMO, that gives me more to go on then seeing them all year in OKC.
by corbsclinton on Jul 1, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Well of course he would rather stay...
...do you realize the vast differences between MLB and AAA when it comes to finances, travel accomodations, etc.?
Every day he is on the ML roster he is paid more, gets more meal money, stays in better hotels, flies more comfortably, his pension and FA clocks tick…
It’s a no-brainer for him.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
I don't understand your question...
...are you asking if money is motivating him to be a better ballplayer?
My point is a simple one: he is happier as a part-time MLB player than he would be as an everyday AAA player.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
Right
so if you asked him if we are hindering his development what would the answer be do you think?
(Promise there is a point soon)
He would say...
...he is developing his skills just fine at the major league level.
I would tend to disagree with him as I think right now the organization would be best served by him playing 6 or 7 days a week at OKC.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
his answer or the answer
His answer would be no because thats what you say to stay in the majors and keep earning ML money.
The true answer would be yes because there is no way you can get better sitting on the bench playing twice a week. Yes he is seeing ML pitching but playing everyday in the minors is the best way to get better. He has had a taste of the major league experience so next time he comes up he won’t be overwhelmed and can focus solely on playing his best.
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.
Boggs needs to play....
Byrd will not raise his trade value anymore…he is what he is. A guy that can give you good defense at any of the OF positions but will be at best an average streaky hitter. Teams know this. They have seen him makes some great plays in CF.
Boggs needs to take some at bats from Byrd aginst righties and Murphy against lefties….its really not that difficult.
As for Duran, unless you are planning on dealing him, what other role but utility IF is Duran going to play for the Rangers. I wish he could learn the OF as well, and be a super sub that plays almost everyday much like Chone Figgins was early in his career for the Angels.
Is he really
Being hindered by his development?
That seems like a causation problem, or at least a subject one.
Concur
I don’t mind the Murph hitting against some lefties but the set up you suggest would be good.
- "If you keep hitting me you're going to break my spirit" -Bullwinkle
Concur...
I replace Duran with Roberts and Boggs with Cruz at this point.
Duran and Boggs need to play everyday. Wash loves the Byrd (and many here have given it to him) and won’t play Boggs enough so he needs to go down ‘til JD trades Byrd’s ass, then he can come back up. Duran should stay down ‘til Sept and play everyday imo.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
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