Tuesday morning things
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 9:39 AM CDT
48 comments
July 1, and the Rangers are two games over .500. Christopher Davis, Max Ramirez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Josh Hamilton, and Brandon Boggs are all getting at least semi-regular playing time right now, and Scott Feldman, Eric Hurley, and Luis Mendoza are all in the rotation.
You have to feel kind of good about the way things stand right now.
Evan Grant credits a newly stable bullpen with getting the Rangers past the 1 game over ceiling they'd been bumping into, with Frankie Francisco, Jamey Wright, and C.J. Wilson combining for 3 1/3 shutout innings yesterday.
Jim Reeves offers his thoughts on what the Rangers should do at the coming deadline:
If they can survive the next couple of weeks, here’s my suggestion: They should be both buyers and sellers. Prudently, on both counts.
Let’s be sensible here. Chris Davis has been here less than a week but has shown nothing to make us believe he’s not ready to do at the major league level what he’s already done at every minor league level he’s played. He’s homered in his first two starts as a Ranger and doubled in a run in Monday night’s game.
At Yankee Stadium.
In the first game he ever played here, the first time he ever saw the place.
First base is his, for now and the foreseeable future, or at least it should be.
What about Hank Blalock? I’m glad you asked.
The Rangers either put Blalock back at third base and keep him there or they put him on the market. He can’t stay here if he’s not playing, that’s clear.
The fact that the Rangers hold an option on him for next year makes him attractive to other teams, but the Rangers will have to get him back into the lineup long enough for him to prove that he’s healthy and can still hit.
Then, if they can trade him for pitching, starter or bullpen help, do it.
Although Ron Washington is saying that the Rangers are in it because they are only 7.5 games back (that was before yesterday's games -- they are 6.5 back now), I'm not optimistic. I'm not that impressed with either Anaheim or the A's, but the reality is that the Rangers have 2 teams to try to pass, and (in essence) 7 games to make up in half a season. It is possible, but not likely, and I don't know that we should be, at this point, considering the Rangers contenders.
Kason Gabbard's elbow is inflamed, but an MRI showed no structural damage.
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Hah, the Musers responded to my Kinsler e-mail on the air!
by BudLight on Jul 1, 2008 9:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Details por favor
As much as I hate listening to the Musers talk baseball.
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."
by TheBZA on Jul 1, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if Texas sweeps the Angels next week
I will consider them contenders…if that doesn’t happen, I’m not buying in.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Jul 1, 2008 9:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Not even
Given 2 of 3 in NY, 2 of 3 in BAL, and 3 of 4 home against the Halos?
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Jul 1, 2008 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Boy, that is a gutless, 6-foot-7, .200-hitting formerly good player. What a joke." -Tom Grieve RE: Richie Sexson
by ghtd36 on Jul 1, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Reeves Is Right
Reeves is right about the games leading to the All-Star break. After the series with the Angels we should know more. It’s strange to see how people are thinking contender at this point. All of the pre-season predicitons put the Rangers in third place and about a .500 team give or take a few. Looks to be spot on. As much as I like Hank, there is no place for him on this team anymore if they are building for the future. Davis needs to play. Let Hank try to work at third and hope he recovers enough to be a trade chip.
Foolish consistency is the hobgobblin of little minds - Emerson
by RangerEddie on Jul 1, 2008 9:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't think
we’ll see Hank in a Ranger uniform again.
by Baseball Jesus on Jul 1, 2008 10:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dude!
You’re ripping off my nickname! WTF?
by lonestarJon on Jul 1, 2008 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry
I am pretty new to the board. I just thought I was ripping off Mike Rhyner’s nickname.
by Baseball Jesus on Jul 1, 2008 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha
That’s okay, I guess… the rest of the board branded me that as a derisive term awhile back, I just got kind of ebraced it, and got used to it.
This should provide some new confusion though, if you’re going to be posting regularly: do people mean LSJ Baseball Jesus, or the Baseball Jesus? Heh…
by lonestarJon on Jul 1, 2008 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
man
I dont think from what I saw last night it was a “pinch” The whole thing looked like a rehearsed good-bye to me….
by corbsclinton on Jul 1, 2008 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It looked like a
counterclockwise swirl to me
by Brett Perryman on Jul 1, 2008 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1 for any well placed Seinfeld reference
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."
by TheBZA on Jul 1, 2008 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock is not attractive
to anyone right now. That option looked good a year ago, even with his history, given the terrible alternatives available at 3B on the FA market. But right now I can’t imagine exercising that option.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 1, 2008 10:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
after ASB
Blalock probably comes back shortly after the ASB. Catalanotto will probably be traded for whatever JD can bet to make room for him. Blalock then gets ABs at 1B and DH. JD then trades him for whatever he can get. Trading Cat and Blalock at this point is not about getting max return for them. It is addition through subtraction. It is more important for Davis, Ramirez and Saltalamacchia to get consistent ABs then for JD to get a good return on Blalock and Cat.
Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY
by RangerMad on Jul 1, 2008 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
disagree
we need to get a lot for Hank. I’m sorry, I know everybody’s down on him, but my goodness the guy’s a former all star 30 HR/100 RBI guy, and one of our home-grown. A few years of injuries following up a few years of backsliding can hurt, but I still have love for Hank.
if you’re going to trade him, of course you don’t expect a Teixeira-like return, but come on…addition through subtraction?
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Jul 1, 2008 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Buyers/Sellers
I feel like the Rangers are about to go an a tear. The relief pitching has reverted to a solid state, the offense is steady, and I get the feeling the starters are going to reel off a good stretch. I’m really looking forward to seeing Mendoza back in the rotation.
I’m really not interested in buying an 8th inning guy. It might be nice to add another OF bat, but I wouldn’t want to spend anything like the group of prospects that JD sent to Milwaukee for Lee. I would have to say, if the Rangers can pick up a top-rotation guy that has less than 2-3 years ML experience (which includes minor league guys with no experience, I’m looking at you Bowden), that’s the only move they should make. They need to get one sometime. If they can get one now, do it. Otherwise, keep the farm intact for next year’s deadline and circle the wagons for the rest of this year.
Go Rangers!
by rooster on Jul 1, 2008 10:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
what?
“but I wouldn’t want to spend anything like the group of prospects that JD sent to Milwaukee for Lee”
Are you serious? Laynce Nix, Kevin Mench, and a middle reliever who you couldn’t trust in pressure situations anymore? Forget what Coco did after the trade, at the time of it he had blown a ML record number of saves in April and been relegated to essentially mop up duty out of the pen. So are you telling me you wouldn’t send say Benoit (guy who has lost the confidence of the manager in late game situations) and Cruz and someone else for the best hitter available at the deadline? I know I would.
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 Jul 1, 2008 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking a similar package would be frankfrank, Boggs, and JMJ.
We’re close in our thinking. I’m not sure who would be on the market for that. Probably Adam Dunn. Definitely not Holliday, who would be under team control for this season and next. Maybe Bobby Abreu. I can’t imagine Burrell on the market. Could probably get Cliff Floyd.
The best rent-a-basher out there is Bradley, followed by Dunn. A team interested in keeping a player for two pennant runs would probably have Holliday at the top of their list with an eye on Mags or Brian Roberts.
Adam Dunn for that would be a good deal, and it would move Murphy or Byrd into Boggs’ current limited-time role. So, it should notch the offense up a tick. I’m just of the mindset to keep as many near-ML-ready players and prospects as is possible to maximize the number of opportunities to trade for an ace either this trade deadline, this offseason, or next trade deadline.
Go Rangers!
by rooster on Jul 1, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not FX2
He has been damn good in late game situations for the most part. If you want to compare packages Benoit=Cordero. Both guys who have been good in the past but the first part of this year seem to have lost it and are now relegated to mop up duties. Cruz=Mench or Nix. Guys that just couldn’t put it together on the ML level. You package is 3 young guys with bright futures not anything like what we gave up to get Lee. That package was 2 AAAA players and a used to be good closer.
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 Jul 1, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Cruz = Nix
Byrd = Mench
Benoit = Cordero
If the Rangers want to deal Benoit, Byrd and Cruz for something, that’s fine with me. I don’t even care that much what it is.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
damn
i didn’t realize how close that package was.
by corbsclinton on Jul 1, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
agree to some degree
if we go after Adam Dunn, I’m not sure where we’d want to put him…I mean, sure, we can make room in the outfield, or DH, or even 1B, but of course that’s going to take at bats away from Davis, Max-Ram, Boggs, etc. So if we trade Byrd in that package, I’m fine with sending Boggs down for Dunn…but then we have a sub-par outfield defender, correct? Unless Milton’s back ready to play the outfield everyday.
I’d much rather throw another piece (high-ceiling starter in our lower levels) and get a young # 2 starter in return if there is any to be had
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Jul 1, 2008 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another OF bat?
Where would we put him? There’s no DH time available and we already have a log jam with Murphy, Byrd and Boggs – and that’s not even counting anything Cruz may be.
I think Murphy, Byrd and Boggs (if used correctly) can fill out the 3rd and 4th OF spot. Our focus needs to stay on long term pitching solutions and sorting out our various log jams (C, 1B, etc.).
by Jack Nicholson 1974 on Jul 1, 2008 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm in agreement
that we are turning a significant corner and are about to make a run. My issue is I think we should do it with what we got. I thinking picking up rentals clouds the ability (hampers rebuilding) to determine what we really have, right as player roles are starting to get defined and accepted. Do we really need a young Bailey or a Bowden that has service time left when we have Feldman/Mendoza/Hurley in the rotation and needing time to establish themselves? So I don’t think that route works either. One last thing, the 40-man is going to be a nightmare at the end of the season and I see us losing some guys if we are as unsure about who stays and who goes as last off-season/spring training. I don’t want to see us lose 3 or 4 gallaraga’s because we still weren’t sure on Francsico/Benoit/Mendoza/Feldman/Wright/Hurley/Gabbards of the team.
That said, I think the trade deadline should be more about 40-man roster management rather than about improving the big league club and trading prospects. Vasquez, Byrd, Blalock, Cat, and possibly a pitcher that management doesn’t think is part of the future are the only moves I see making. If you have to add 1 maybe 2 prospects to finish a deal, I’m fine as long as they aren’t the CD/Max/Hurley’s of the teams.
by corbsclinton on Jul 1, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
40 man
Its not really gonna be as big an issue as it could have been. So far this season we have already added Hurley, Mathis and Duran who were going to have to be added. We currently are sitting at 38 I believe. Right now these are the guys who will have to be seriously considered to be added or risk losing this offseason.
Schlact, Ben Harrison, JMJ, Teagarden, Steven Murphy, and Kea Kometani. Out of this group obviously JMJ and Teagarden will get added. I think Kometani and Harrison do also. I think we roll the dice on Schlact and Murphy. So thats 4 guys right there. You factor in the people we lose off the roster in Vasquez, Jennings, Bradley, Guardado, Byrd, Wright and its really not that big a mess.
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 Jul 1, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm
yeah, that doesn’t sound that bad. I could have sworn we had more prospects that we had to protect or face losing.
by corbsclinton on Jul 1, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You left off Vallejo
I doubt Harrison and Kometani get added.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
really?
Kometani is a decent bullpen arm which is not exactly something the Rangers have a plethora of. Even if its not for next year by adding him you ensure another team doesn’t stow him away in the pen and you have his option years to keep developing him.
Harrison is the wildcard. I think alot depends on how he finishes the season. if he goes up to AAA and plays well I could see us adding him. Otherwise I think you’re right.
Vallejo won’t get added. hes too far away for a team to grab him and be forced to have him on the 25 man roster a whole season.
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 Jul 1, 2008 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
21 year old middle infielder, lots of speed, quality defensive 2B, currently in AA…that’s the type of player a team will grab and keep around as a pinch runner/utility infield type.
Kometani looks like an organizational depth guy to me, a guy who back in the day would have been called up at some point already because there just aren’t any other decent options, but who is really just a AAA lifer.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK
Im warming up to the idea of adding Vallejo.
Maybe its just me but i see Kometani having a decent, not spectacular, lengthy career as a middle reliever. Maybe he won’t have to be added this winter to achieve that career but given our bullpen situation i think we should hold on to the guy.
Also doesn’t Poveda have to be added as well. I don’t think he will unless he has a lights out 2nd half but isn’t he in the same boat as Vallejo?
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 Jul 1, 2008 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kometani
He’s 25 and has a mid-4 ERA and mediocre peripherals in AAA as a reliever. I don’t see him doing much of anything. He could, of course, given the variability of pitching performances, but I don’t see the risk of losing him in the rule 5 draft as being worth a roster spot.
I don’t think Poveda is eligible.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Poveda
I was merely going off the amount of seasons they have had in the minors. Both started in the AZL in 2005 and have played 4 seasons.
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 Jul 1, 2008 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well,
then that begs the question, would someone claim him?
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 1, 2008 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would lean toward no
Poveda would be of absolutely no help at the major league level next season, and he doesn’t seem to provide the upside of a guy who could be a real difference maker you eat the roster spot for a year.
This does, though, illustrate why we shouldn’t see Hunter until next spring.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 1, 2008 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vallejo will be added
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jul 2, 2008 2:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This Is NOT The Year
I only hope Jon Daniels doesn’t troll this site. He’ll trade all our young talent for 30 somethings in an attempt to win over the next two years and then we’ll be back where we started.
by GhostofGaryHogeboom on Jul 1, 2008 11:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
IF/WHEN Hank returns...
Hank needs to be at 3B. No 1B at all. Let Davis/Max-Ram hold down the fort there, plant Hank at 3B and let Vazquez rotate in mostly there, but some to back up Young and Kinsler. Send Duran down for regular at bats.
Boggs is a tricky subject…I think there are compelling arguments for why Byrd should and will be traded, and why he shouldn’t and won’t. So if he isn’t, send Boggs down and bring Cruz up. Cruz has had all the AAA he needs, Boggs needs consistent playing time at AAA. If Byrd is traded, keep Boggs up and give him more at bats. You can still call Cruz up (unless we acquire a bat like Dunn) and have him be the 5th outfielder that doesn’t get as many at bats…build up that confidence, see if we can get a streak out of him.
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Jul 1, 2008 1:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
We have already made up 11gms in less than half a season
I don’t see any reason that we can’t make up 6.5gms, especially since a disproportionate number of our remaining games will be against the A’s and LAngels.
Not sayin’, just sayin…
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
www.ElectricOkra.com
by WhipSmart on Jul 1, 2008 5:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yes, I know it's 11gms from where they were in April to where they are now record-wise
not gms back in the Div. I just seem to have poorly worded my point.
Move along, nothing to see here…
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
www.ElectricOkra.com
by WhipSmart on Jul 1, 2008 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't see...
how the Rangers can get any value at all for Hank right now.
Who knows though. Lofton brought back MaxRam. Work your magic JD.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jul 2, 2008 2:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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