More Law on Rangers' prospects

by jsm on Jul 10, 2008 1:26 PM CDT

John (NF): Who is the best catching prospect in the minors outside of Wieters? Come on Keith, throw me a bone!

Keith Law: (2:10 PM ET ) Teagarden, Marson, Conger.

Nik (Dallas): Neftali Feliz reportedly hit 101 twice in his AA debut and was in the high 90's most of the game. Wheels came off a little in the 5th but still an impressive debut for a 20 year old. It looks like BA will have him in their midseason top 15 with people jumping on the bandwagon by the day. What's your opinion of him?

Keith Law: (1:45 PM ET ) I confirmed that with someone in Texas. It's hard to see him not being in the top 20 or so by year-end. My only concern, even back in ST, was that it's a reliever's delivery/arm action.

Muzzy (Leicester): I'm sure you're tired of Chris Davis questions, but...what do you make of him? High-strikeout, high-batting average, unreal power, and he zoomed through the minors. What's he going to look like when the dust settles?

Keith Law: (1:25 PM ET ) The power is huge, and I think he'll cut the Ks enough to hit .270-.280 when he's fully developed. But that's a few years down the line. He isn't ready to hit major-league pitching consistently - I mean, on a regular enough basis - but leaving him in AAA was pointless. Someone might have gotten hurt.

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HA HA

Someone might have gotten hurt.

"An effortless 98" - Scott Gardner after Neftali Feliz's first AA pitch

by RangerMad on Jul 10, 2008 1:31 PM CDT 0 recs

that's awesome

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 10, 2008 3:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

I got another one in towards the end

Nik (Dallas): The Rangers appear stacked in the lower minor leagues pitching wise. Care to rank Feliz, Beaven, Main, N. Ramirez, Kiker, Holland, M. Perez, Poveda, Castillo, K Gomez?
SportsNation Keith Law: (2:29 PM ET ) Feliz, Main, Beavan, Kiker, Ramirez are the top five on that list.

I don’t know if he was even ranking them but they seem to be in the right order. Tried to get a question about Saltys dreaded .217/.323/.319 line and if KLaws opinion on him had changed any. He was previously very high on him but the buzzer got me.

This is the Texas Rangers, professional destroyers of hope, we're talking about. - BAC

by nikpin on Jul 10, 2008 1:41 PM CDT 0 recs

Salty

I’m not too worried yet, though I do wish he’d cut down on the K’s. Still, a nearly 15% walk rate and a 25% LD rate shows he hasn’t completely forgotten how to hit. If he cuts down the K’s his numbers could soar quickly.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 10, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

A friend and I were talking during last night's game...

...and we were trying to figure out which Ranger we were most disappointed in this year based on our expectations coming into the season. We had a tough time deciding between Salty and Benoit.

In the end I went with Benoit but my buddy wouldn’t budge off of Salty.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Jul 10, 2008 3:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

maybe Salty should try dropping batting RH

His numbers against righties are pretty good, and they are terrible against lefties, but every at-bat this season has been RH vs. Left and LH vs. Right so It’s tough to tell if he should just bat LH or simply can not hit lefties at this point in his career. Does anybody have any minor league splits or any stats when/ if he batted lefty on a lefty?

by phina on Jul 10, 2008 5:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

Teagarden / Salty

If Law is still bullish on Teagarden despite low AAA numbers, I’d assume he’s still pretty high on Salty.

by cstorm15 on Jul 10, 2008 2:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

Teagarden

Joaquin’s starting to lose his status as a Rorschach test…

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jul 10, 2008 1:52 PM CDT 0 recs

Michael Main

I have a sneaking suspicion that he debuts for CLN tonight. He finally was put on the official CLN roster today.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 10, 2008 2:12 PM CDT 0 recs

Fabio Castillo to the D.L.

hmmmmmm – dang it

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 10, 2008 2:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well

Almost comforting… Those numbers are offfffff.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jul 10, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah

Something had to be wrong. He just went straight in the tank.

by zywica on Jul 10, 2008 3:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

Interesting

and not too surprising. Hope it’s not serious, whatever it is.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 10, 2008 4:21 PM CDT up 0 recs

lots of interesting debuts

over the last month, and this is definitely up there on the list.

by clark on Jul 10, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Another sneaking suspicion

Kyle O’Campo is a $250K bonus baby, IIRC. That’s not somebody you slow roll – you push him. He went 4 shutout innings in his last start and his next start should be Sunday – same day as Neil Ramirez’ scheduled turn with Spokane. With Kirkman no hindrance, Castillo gimpy and a Holland promotion seemingly imminent, Ramirez could slide easily into the CLN rotation and O’Campo could take his spot in the SPO rotation. I could see that happening this weekend.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 10, 2008 2:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

Main?

What about him? Where does he slot in?

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 10, 2008 2:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

today

read the first post in this thread

by bushe on Jul 10, 2008 2:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

I thought that was due to the Castillo injury

I get it now though.

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 10, 2008 2:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

what are your thoughts

on Kirkman? He has looked very good lately, in my opinion. he had a poor final inning a couple of starts ago that hurt his overall numbers, but he is a guy who, in my opinion, belongs in the Clinton rotation the rest of the year. He is a second half wild card in my mind.

by clark on Jul 10, 2008 2:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

Kirkman

He has always had one of the better breaking balls in the system but he couldn’t control his fastball last season. He was throwing it at 90-92 mph.

This season his fastball has been in the 86-88 range but he is controlling it better. His curve is a major league quality pitch.

Junior Mayberry

by jparks77 on Jul 10, 2008 3:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

curve/slider

Depending on the observer, the type of breaking ball he throws seems to vary. I always thought he threw a high/tilting 1/8 curve with good depth. Other reports list it as more of a slider.

Regardless, it’s considered a very promising pitch.

Junior Mayberry

by jparks77 on Jul 10, 2008 3:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

well, he is a lefty

so i imagine there will be a great deal of patience with him.

by clark on Jul 10, 2008 3:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

Too bad that

whatever caused his loss of velocity (toning down to control it or whatever else) has caused it. Kind of takes the edge off of my interest in his resurgence.

by zywica on Jul 10, 2008 3:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

CLN rotation

After Holland leaves and if NeRa is promoted – Main, Beavan, Ramirez, Gomez, Kirkman
If there’s room, start him. Fine by me. If his problems are solved then he’s worth exploring.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 10, 2008 3:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

MIchael Main it is

Your CLN starter tonight at 6:00. It’s on, Jack.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 10, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

Matt Harrison

If you haven’t already, take advantage of the free scouting report on Matt Harrison provided by Jason Cole over at Lone Star Dugout. It makes me wonder why he has stopped throwing his curveball, which I remember reading in the past was a plus pitch.

by clark on Jul 10, 2008 2:34 PM CDT 0 recs

Harrison

he stopped throwing the curve?

i also remember that being touted as one of his better pitches, or maybe i’m going senile who knows

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jul 10, 2008 3:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

Got tickets for Saturday in Round Rock

It looks like it would be Hunter’s turn. Can anyone confirm that?

by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 10, 2008 3:15 PM CDT 0 recs

Looks like a pretty solid lock

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 10, 2008 3:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

Guess I could have just used your sig link

Thanks for the info.

by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 10, 2008 6:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

I hope so

I’ll be there too.

by Back Door Yakker on Jul 10, 2008 3:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

Off Topic

Does anyone know what’s wrong with Diamond? I know he’s inactive but I’m not sure why.

Well I can pretend to be Britney Spears. I'm already standing in urine and I'm with someone I don't like.

by Escher on Jul 10, 2008 3:25 PM CDT 0 recs

Foot Injury

Was initially going to have surgery but got a cortisone shot instead. Should be back soon. Bone spurs in the foot will require surgery during the offseason though.

This is the Texas Rangers, professional destroyers of hope, we're talking about. - BAC

by nikpin on Jul 10, 2008 3:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Foot

Bone spurs in his ankle. Opted to get a cortisone injection instead of surgery which he will have in the offseason. Should be back in the next few days I believe

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 10, 2008 3:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Feliz on tv this Sunday

Frisco v. Corpus Christi should be on FSSW this Sunday at 6:00. According to the Shroomer Calendar, Feliz will be starting. Exciting.

We’ve gone through this before, right? IIRC, Volquez started against Corpus Christi on FSSW after a recent promotion to AA. Volquez dominated, and mass hysteria soon followed. Does anyone else remember this game, or am I making this up?

by cstorm15 on Jul 10, 2008 3:50 PM CDT 0 recs

Good recollection

I remember TiVoing that and being pretty excited.

by zywica on Jul 10, 2008 3:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah, I remember thinking how arrogant he seemed on the mound

Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .

by Brian Thomas on Jul 11, 2008 1:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

wasn't that at a newberg night?

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Jul 10, 2008 3:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

During the

“Rising Stars” game, IIRC.

"...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

by Rodney on Jul 10, 2008 3:57 PM CDT up 0 recs