Thursday morning things
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 17, 2008 9:56 AM CDT
116 comments
All right! First day after the All Star Break!
Of course, due to the genius of the MLB scheduling folks -- the same folks who think that it is a good idea to have less than a full slate of games on Memorial Day -- a bunch of teams, including the Rangers, are off today. So no game tonight.
Hank Blalock is expected to be activated -- finally -- on Friday. No word on who will be sent down to make room for him, but the speculation has been that it will be Chris Davis.
Richard Durrett has a piece up about the chemistry of the team, that includes some of the rituals and themes from this season...this piece includes an awesome quote from Tom Hicks:
While Brandon Boggs was keeping tabs on the finger about a month ago, it was stolen from the dugout. A replacement was found immediately.
Several players speculated that someone from the owner's suite near the dugout took the finger, possibly one of owner Tom Hicks' sons.
Hicks denied those claims.
"I have heard from all my sons, and we were not the red finger stealers," Hicks said.
Evan Grant talks about the importance of this particular game, taking place at Yankee Stadium in its final year, to some Rangers...
Anthony Andro says the Rangers won't likely deal veterans at the trade deadline. Andro has the odds of Hank Blalock being moved at 10-1, Frank Catalanotto at 25-1, and Milton Bradley at 40-1. I think this is way off...there's a greater than 10% chance, I think, that Blalock gets moved, and better than a 4% chance Cat gets moved.
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a lot of similarities in the Brett Favre / Hank Blalock situations
okay, not so many I guess.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Jul 17, 2008 9:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
hank blalock for chris davis
now that it is actually happening, I find myself being very upset by it. Davis better be up in a month. Davis’s numbers prove that he needs some development time in the majors.
""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 17, 2008 9:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not happy with it either
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So… Blalock’s the vet. The team needs to up the trade value. Blah. Whatever. I say stick with Beasticon, Jr.
Good to see the guys are having fun this year. 13 games over .500 since that dubious 9-18 start. That’s pretty freaking sweet and incredible to consider since they have the worst ERA in the AL.
There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.
by SarasotaRanger on Jul 17, 2008 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it really is telling how nobody is really even
bringing up Blalock going back to 3B in the media. I think whoever said it the other day (Adam?) that the team was afraid of putting Blalock back at 3B because they know his arm is crap now was right on point. Blalock’s trade value is low right now, but it may be even worse at 3B.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Jul 17, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's pretty much a given
that the guy can’t make the throws anymore. Imagine him trying to dive, push himself up, and throw a dart to nail a runner. I just can’t see that out of him.
You are correct… putting him at third could be very counterproductive. 1B/DH scenario is the best option and they’d better hope he can get hot and start raking.
There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.
by SarasotaRanger on Jul 17, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hes a thridbaseman
if he cant play thried he should go on the DL the rest of the season.
"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 Jul 17, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only possible reason to do this
Is to make Blalock a tradeable commodity. And even if he has a hot 10 days or so, is anyone really going to give up that much for a guy that will probably hit .270/.340/.460 or so while learning to play first base?
by mikedallas45 on Jul 17, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Waivers
You can still trade Blalock after July 31st as long as he clears waivers. You could also work out a trade with the team that claims him.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Jul 17, 2008 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm beginning to think that moving Cat is a long-shot
his salary isn’t cheap for a pinch hitter or fill-in type.
I think there are other options available to teams looking for someone like Cat that will be easier to acquire.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Jul 17, 2008 10:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I've thought for awhile
that moving Cat was unlikely. Platoon DHs just don’t have that much value, especially ones that hit .280/.356/.396. I think he will remain a bench guy.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
mlbtraderumors has the DBacks close to acquiring Tony Clark
for a AA pitching prospect. Tony Clark seems pretty comparable to Cat.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Jul 17, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Durrett article
Did anyone else find this part odd?
“Catcher Gerald Laird said such chemistry is one reason a team that fell 7 ½ games out of first place a month into the season finds itself within 7 ½ of first at the All-Star break.”
So thanks to positive chemistry, they’re exactly the same number of games out of first now as at they were on May 1?
I know that’s probably supposed to be a good thing considering how poorly they played the first month, but it struck me as an odd quote…
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on Jul 17, 2008 10:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
it does sound a bit odd...
i think he’s just saying that it’s remarkable that the team didn’t just throw in the towel being 7 1/2 out so early. They’ve scratched and clawed (and relied on the chemistry) to keep pace with the best teams in baseball since then.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Jul 17, 2008 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dealing Blalock now = Retarded
Unless he comes back and just mashes the crap out of the ball while bounding around the infield like a gazeelse screaming at the top of his lungs, “I’m healthy! I’m healthy!”
Seriously, what team would be interested in him right now, and what could we possibly get?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jul 17, 2008 10:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Are we going to want to exercise
his option next year though? If we don’t exercise, we get rid of him for nothing though.
If all he can do is play 1B, due to his arm, I can’t imagine we’d want to pay $6.5 million to block Chris Davis. That would be even more retarded.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a conundrum, I know
If he can’t play 3b anymore then personally I’d just run him out there at DH.
Hopefully by next year (if we still even have him) Milt will be ready to play COF most every day and Hank can take over DH.
I just hate to deal a guy as talented as Hank right now at his absolute lowest point. Bring him back next year to DH and pray he gets his act together in a walk-year miracle.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jul 17, 2008 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with you
Bring Blalock back, and if he hits well for the next three months, then you have a better trade chip on your hands (you can exercise the option and then trade him). If he hits really poorly, you just let him go, but I doubt that will be necessary. Blalock’s intrinsic value is such that someone will want him in a deal. Maybe not for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell anymore, but for something…
by JBImaknee on Jul 17, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hank and
Danks for Beckett and Lowell. Just playing the MJH role.
by mcgee48c on Jul 17, 2008 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They wanted Hanley all along and never would've done that deal so longas they felt there was a shot at getting Hanley
Just playing the realist role.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jul 17, 2008 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You don't really know that
What if the Rangers had countered with Blalock, Danks, Diamond and Arias? If that happens, Beckett and Lowell are Rangers now.
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
by Agreen07 on Jul 17, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course...
...Beckett would have also had his crappy 2006 season here instead of in Boston, and then likely would have walked as a free agent after 2007…
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 17, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You don't know that
the Rangers could have made the trade then immediately locked up Beckett long-term.
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
by Agreen07 on Jul 17, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if that did happen
we’d get 2 1sts. Nothing wrong with that.
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 17, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
for blalock and danks at that point
there was nothing wrong with 2 1sts?
i dont agree.
"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 Jul 17, 2008 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lowell
People tend to only see what he has done in Boston. At the time he was just a contract shedding by Florida. the only reason Beckett was available was thats what they had to give up to get rid of Lowells contract. he was making alot of money and had come off two consecutive declining seasons and was turning 31 years old. Not exactlyt the recipe for success for the next 4 years.
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 17, 2008 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yet,
I still wanted him at the time. Blalock hadn’t had a good full season in 2 years at the time.
I was always bummed that the Rangers dithered so long on that one.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you are mistaken
The two previous seasons he had averaged 160 games, had a .269 avg, averaged 28 HRs and 100 rbi and was only 24. If you wanted to give that up for a 31 year old coming off a .236/ .298/ .360 season with 18 million remaining and 2 years left on his contract then I don’t know what to say
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 17, 2008 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock was
a 730/740 OPS both years, with an OPS+ around 90, and fell apart completely during the 2nd half.
I’m not mistaken about that.
I was willing to take Lowell as a filler at 3B to get Beckett, because I didn’t think then, and I don’t think now, that we would deeply regret losing Blalock, and Beckett has Ace potential.
I viewed it as Joe Crede and a prospect for one of the top 20 young arms in baseball, and a throw in veteran 3B.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No
You are mistaken. Lowells first year in Boston was 2006. Blalock in 2004 was a .855 OPS with an OPS+ of 113. In 2005 he dipped a little and was a .749 with an OPS+ of 93. But again he was only 24 and if you had the crystal ball to envision Lowell doing what he has done at his age in Boston and hank doing what he has done at his age in Texas since then then you my friend are in the wrong business.
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 17, 2008 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
as parcells would say
consider yourself sucked. Lowell had a bad 05 and his stock was low because of an injury. Boston knew exactly what they were doing. Lowell mashes lefties, still a good 3B, and bringing him into Fenway from a absolutely great pitchers park was going to help a lot as well. Epstein WANTED Lowell in the trade, but it was portrayed by the media that he was a ‘throw in’, when in fact, he was not…
By the way, Lowell was pretty good in FLA too..
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 17, 2008 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uh Lowell sucked leading up to that trade
and yes, he was contract shed. That’s it.
by cmkelly29 on Jul 18, 2008 12:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, if Danks was included from the start
trade would have went down.
Just playing the ‘that is what was actually being reported in FLA’ role.
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 17, 2008 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Danks was included from the start...
...Florida goes to the BoSox and gets Hanley in the deal earlier…
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 17, 2008 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
click the links
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 17, 2008 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you may be right
you may be wrong.
But certainly Hicks doesn’t agree with your assessment, and he was just a little closer to it than you are.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay
Daniels says otherwise, though, and normally, you aren’t the type to put a lot of credence into what Hicks says.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 17, 2008 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't recall
Daniels saying otherwise.
Do you have a link?
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Again, Boston didn't even get involved till a few days later
here
http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/6/2/16815/35449#2643894
http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/8/29/113623/432#2678077
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 17, 2008 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Meh
FLA is going to run our offer by Boston before pulling the trigger. It’s the same thing we were doing with Atlanta’s Tex deal before accepting
Boston bit on Beckett. The Dodgers and Angels didn’t bite on Tex.
Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.
by TheBZA on Jul 17, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
huh?
i just proved that was not the case. Whatever, selective evidence is what we look at now. I get it.
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 17, 2008 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One quote
Is hardly proof. Do you really think teams say “Okay!” immediately after a good trade proposal? Outside of maybe the Kazmir/Zambrano trade I’m pretty sure they shop that offer one last time before accepting….
Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.
by TheBZA on Jul 17, 2008 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Milty
I’d rather have him as the DH, playing outfield only about twice a week. I would never count on him being healthy enough to play the field very often, and I don’t want another guy (Blalock) like that around.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 17, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aren't we already stuck with Cat
as the DH who can’t hit lefties? I think we are full at that position. I really don’t see spending $6.5 million for something that would be as redundant as having Cat and Blalock on the same team.
I think our odds of trading Cat are about as good as trading Blalock.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd just as soon cut Cat
he’s okay for what he is, but we have no need for him at all.
I guess I could see just dumping Blalock to save the cash so you could spend it elsewhere, but I think he’s got enough potential left in his tank that he could seriously bite is in the ball sack if he stays healthy in his contract year next year. Cat doesn’t really have that potential.
It’s basically a no-win situation we’ve got ourselves in with Hank.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jul 17, 2008 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
That’s why I am content with taking a “We’ll take what we can get” type package with Hank. I think some kind of C/C+ reliever arm in AA is a reasonable return. Is that a reasonable guess? Am I aiming too low?
Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.
by TheBZA on Jul 17, 2008 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you cut Cat
and keep Blalock, you’re basically paying $10.5M for your platoon DH by virtue of exercisign the $6.5M option and eating Cat’s $4M. Is Blalock $6.5M x greater as your platoon DH than Cat?
by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 17, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep.
You nailed it. I just can’t see re-signing Blalock, when he isn’t a big upgrade over Cat, and you either pay $10.5 for Blalock and releasing Cat, or $4M for Cat.
If you thought Blalock might pay 3B, there might be an argument for re-signing him, but with Chris Davis and Cat under contract, exercising Blalock’s option looks sillier and sillier.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is no reason to keep Blalock
and you certainly don’t keep him just because you hate to dump someone for nothing. I have no confidence he will rebuild value, ever. Yes, his value is low, but it is always going to be low. Move on.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 17, 2008 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Clark again
If the Padres can get something for Tony Clark, then why can’t the Rangers get something for Catalanotto?
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Jul 17, 2008 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yep
and Cat is a lot more versatile than Clark and a better hitter.
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 17, 2008 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
salary
Of course Clark costs a lot less and is a free agent at the end of this year. The Rangers my have to include cash with Cat in order to trade him.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Jul 17, 2008 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He really isn't more versatile.
Tony Clark could play a lot of positions badly if you forced him to.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
And, for whatever reason, Tony Clark is looked upon as a “leader”, the kind of guy who makes a clubhouse better.
Cat? He’s just sort of a little quiet guy.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jul 17, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
going into 2009
would it be so bad to have a healthy Milton Bradley playing RF all the time, leaving DH open for a combination of Davis/Blalock, whoever is not at 1B for the day, and maybe Max-Ram, if he’s up and not catching?
compare that scenario to our 2008 opening day of Laird and Stewart rotating at C, with Broussard starting at 1B…
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on Jul 17, 2008 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
gazeelse = gazelle
I’m half retarded this morning.
thediraktron no function coffee well without.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jul 17, 2008 10:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought you were talking about
Gisele Bundchen.
Nothing pithy here. Please move long.
by WyoRanger on Jul 17, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
just this morning??
i thought it was all the time!
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Jul 17, 2008 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let's go to the scoreboard:
70 to 48.5 = Ownership
Bwa Ha Ha!
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jul 17, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey man
i can’t help the fact that you took other owners to school in trades
(in hindsight i’d be better with jd drew than gordon, this season anyway)
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Jul 17, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gordon
what a massive, massive disappointment he’s been.
I thought I was dealing away a surefire badass keeper when I traded him. What the hell happened?
(And and I got ownershipped hard in the Tacoby/Gomez trade… why did Gomez stop running? He has like two steals the last six weeks. I hate him so much!!!)
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jul 17, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
as much as i wanted jacoby
i just couldnt give up my biggest bat….oddly enough sizemore has turned into my big bat!
oh well, my seasons done i need to trade for next year
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Jul 17, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haven't been active
Apologies for that. Been preoccupied with my money leagues.
by LiamP on Jul 17, 2008 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the plus side
I will have a couple of decent keepers next year.
by LiamP on Jul 17, 2008 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock DH'd last night
I think. The guy can’t even play 1B, let alone 3B. Again, it’s just incredibly sad to think what it looked like his career would be a few years ago and what it’s become.
If he is playing instead of Davis in August I’ll be very disappointed.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 17, 2008 10:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Blalock
Was thinking of that.
After Jamey flashed about him DHing last night, I was surprised to read today he’s getting activated.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Jul 17, 2008 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock DH.
i dont really understand why if hes trying to learn to field at 1B he was playing DH last night at frisco. he wasn’t paticulary good either, he struck out in 3 pitches his first at bat. i booed his ass.
by Andrew L on Jul 17, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock's appearance at DH
Had nothing to do with health or ability.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 17, 2008 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It does nothing
to inspire confidence. I thought they wanted him to play a few full games at 1B before joining the big club? He was pulled early in one, DH’d another. Odd plan to teach him 1B, though I understand they’re just being careful.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 17, 2008 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or maybe...
1B really isn’t that important anymore.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 17, 2008 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trading Blalock
Trading Blalock now makes much more sense now than keeping him. Why? because you aren’t really losing Blalock. What you are losing is the difference between Blalock for the rest of the year vs Chris Davis for the rest of the year, which might be less than nothing. and you still owe Blalock $6.5 million. so you can actually make one of those deals where you trade Blalock and pay his salary and STILL come out on top.
In fact, I might go so far as to say that you might come up on top by simply releasing Blalock, but I’m sure that you can get something for him in trade.
by iblum on Jul 17, 2008 10:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Blalock
This situation is sticky….
-Blalock could come in and play extremely well for 2 weeks, and we probably would still get very minimal back in a trade.
-Were are sending down a young player that was holding his own and is the future.
Here is a question for you?
Next year, Will the Rangers pick up Blalocks option and let him DH while Davis takes over 1B …...then let Bradley go for 2 picks?
Surely not….while both are injury risk, Miltons right-handed bat and the way that he works the pitcher is much more valuable than anything Blalock brings to the plate.
If only that Beckett deal would not have fell through….stupid Marlins!
by clinton33 on Jul 17, 2008 10:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Chris Davis is still young
I don’t know why people are getting all riled up about Blalock taking over for him for a few weeks or even until September. Davis is 22, he hasn’t seen more than 65 plate appearances, and he’s not perfect out there.
Ideally, this is what I see as happening:
1. Blalock comes up, and gets time at first base. I doubt he’ll be traded, as two weeks really isn’t enough time to convince a team to give up anything useful for a guy off the DL at a new position. However, by September the Rangers will know what they have with Hank, and I bet his trade value will increase by then (as dirkatron says, its as low as it has ever been right now)
2. Davis goes down to OKC and is able to improve his game. (Pause while people laugh at me for saying that…). Davis looks like Mark McGwire out there, which isn’t a bad thing, but I doubt he’s going to maintain the 1 homer every 10 ABs pace he’s had. And if you aren’t hitting 60 homers a year, you’d better put up a better BA than .259 and a better OBP than .328. He’s K’s 1 in 4 ABs so far.
Sure, we all have known for a while that Davis K’s while hitting his homers, but I’d like to see him polish his game up a little bit. Because if he can swing a little less and take a few more walks while maintaining his production, he’ll be a superstar. And I think its easier for him to learn that away from Arlington
by JBImaknee on Jul 17, 2008 10:57 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I disagree
I believe davis at this point is better off learning against ml pitching. he dominated against minor league pitching so what is there to prove there? let him stay in arlington and work with rudy and wash on plate discipline and approach.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Jul 17, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
completely agree
Even if he goes down he will be back in September so the most time he will spend down is 6 weeks. And if Blalock is a s fragile as most think and he can’t last more than a week without getting hurt then Davis will be back up anyway. This little audition has been great and has goiven us fans a glimpse at what we can expect for years to come. but he could use more time in the minors.
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 17, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Davis has nothing to learn at AAA,
and I doubt there is time for Blalock to build his value before the trade deadline, and I think its even less likely they exercise his option.
Unless Blalock can play 3B, and I’d doubt he’d be spearheading the move if he thought he could play, he has less value to the ‘09 Rangers than next years option.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its Not Illogical
at all to say, Hank is moving to first and not moving back to 3B, therefore he can’t make the throw from 3b to 1b. However, do we think his hand is messed up so he can’t throw or his shoulder/rib from last year hasn’t healed? He played 3b before he hurt his hamstring this year, right? It seems like speculation that this is an injury issue, rather than an issue of Blalock being promised not to be yo-yo’s between 1b and 3b.
by mcgee48c on Jul 17, 2008 11:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
if nolan forces us to go for it this season
and not trade vets and send young guys down when vets get healthy, im gonna have a very hard time cheering this team on for the future. i guess with nolan and his imaginary ability for us to win it all this year, the best i can hope for long term is a meltdown and double digits out by the deadline so he cant possibly say we have to go fot it. otherwise we are being led by a guy whose long term vision is shit.
nolan: we can win it all
jd: our pitching is shit (2nd worst in baseball) and our best trade piece walks for picks 5 years off from contributing if we blow this. didnt you used to play this game?
nolan: im from houston, we always go for it. we can win it all.
jd: shoots self.
"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 Jul 17, 2008 11:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
dont question nolan ryan
he has experience! jd doesn’t have the baseball experience to be a gm and nolan ryan is a baseball man
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Jul 17, 2008 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"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 Jul 17, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"jd: our pitching is shit (2nd worst in baseball)"
jd: And I made it that way!
Why don’t you wait and see what happens before you start writing playlets?
Quit believing the hype…you’re smarter than that. Right?
I Stole The Red Finger !
by Clueless on Jul 17, 2008 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I’m hoping that estimation is way off, unless the sole reason is no decent offers. I’m fine not even going for 2009, I want they to continue to strip down. Make room for all the great youth we’ve got, and while making that room see if you can’t get some more youth to fill in behind them.
by philkid3 on Jul 17, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hank
He is still 27 right if he stays healthy he is entering his prime. Is it a fact that his shoulder is bothering him. He agreed to move to first to help the team because we had shit there in shelton and boooooooosard. Keep davis up and move hank to third if he can play there and send duran down to get some everyday at bats.
by mai on Jul 17, 2008 12:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He agreed to move to 1B
because he knows his arm is shit, and he can’t make the throw from 3B anymore.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you know
if you keep making shit up like that, how much different are you than josey?
""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 17, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some Blalock math for you...
“Chris Davis is safe. Chris Davis is safe.” + Hank didn’t play 1B last night in Frisco. = ???
Yeah.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 17, 2008 12:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
come on front office guy
let us know whats gonna happen.
"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 Jul 17, 2008 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think this whole scenario sets itself up for a trade. wouldnt shock me to see bradley dealt and hank being the dh and davis 1b.
but i’d much rather see bradley at dh and davis at 1b
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Jul 17, 2008 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
duran goes down?
"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 Jul 17, 2008 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's my guess
Cat is gone, one way or another, Blalock splits 1B with Davis and DH’s occasionally if Bradley can play in OF.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 17, 2008 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He kind of is the obvious person to dump
if you can’t find a trading partner.
I just think its more likely they send CDavis down.
"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain
by DJCahill on Jul 17, 2008 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has there ever been an official quote saying blalock moving to 1b
actually IS because of his injuries? he did it before the wrist problems and if hes healed from carpal tunnel then I dont know why he couldnt throw accross diamond anymore…
everything I recall has just been speculating, and while its a definite possibility I dont know that you can really just assume so (again, barring quotes or a story i never saw).
at the time the move was made it was still thought davis would be down for quite a while, and shelton/cat was giving us no power from 1b. He and wash supposedly thought it was better for the team for him to play 1b. Well, now its not.
then the actual move was delayed months by blalock’s injuries, and of course davis has emerged.
all blalock said that i saw was that he doesnt want to be yanked back and forth. would getting moved back to 3b before ever playing a mlb game, and only playing a couple minor league games, at 1b really qualify as being yanked around?
the preceding post is not nearly as negative or insulting as you think it is
by DSheppard on Jul 17, 2008 12:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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