Dark K-night on the farm (7-18)

by spurdynasty on Jul 18, 2008 8:03 PM CDT

O'Campo in the Arizona league set the bar with 5 K's in 5 innings as the Rookie Rangers beat the Rookie Royals, 6-3.

Feliz looks to surpass O'Campo with 5 K's in the first three innings of the Frisco-Corpus Christi game. Feliz has mixed a breaking ball and change-up with his mid-90's fastball to hold the Hooks hitless thus far. Borbon is the only Rider with a hit through three innings.

Elizardo Ramirez has given up two runs in the 4th and the RedHawks now trail the Redbirds 2-1. Nelson Cruz hit his 27th homerun of the year with a solo shot in the 1st.

Kirkman has struck out one and given up a run through three innings as Clinton is tied 1-1 with Fort Wayne. Beltre is 0-2 thus far.

Shroom projects Reed for Bakersfield and Swanson for Spokane at 9:00 CDT. Can they combine to strike out as many batters as Feliz totals tonight?

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BP's Kevin Goldstein says:

The Rangers look like they’ve already come to terms with second-round pick Robbie Ross for a seven-figure bonus… They’re also close to spending big money on seventh-round selection Matt Thompson… Another player the Rangers will go over slot on is fifth-round pick Clark Murphy; the California high school first baseman has monstrous raw power and will sign for third-round money in the $350,000 range.

Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people. -- Ben Stein

by Lucas on Jul 18, 2008 8:28 PM CDT 0 recs

Awesome

by zywica on Jul 18, 2008 8:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's a lot

of over slotness. Where are the Hicks is cheap people? Paging…

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 18, 2008 8:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

I have never thought Hicks is cheap

Just a dumbass.

Let me have a diablo sandwich, a Dr. Pepper, and make it fast I'm in a God damned hurry!

by DaheelzCM on Jul 18, 2008 8:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

Don't think he's ever been cheap when it came to draft picks

only one I could think of where he did (Assuming the rumor was true) was when Hart picked Diamond over Weaver.

by Taylor on Jul 19, 2008 7:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

the great drew meyer was a cheapo pick too

"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 19, 2008 1:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

hahahaha

awesome

"Then you an idiot you dont expect lefties to with as much power against lefties" -blueballlefty to me

by BAC on Jul 18, 2008 8:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

Talked to Kevin...

...says Texas will have to sit on the Ross signing until the deadline. Probably the others, too, though I didn’t ask about them. Stupid system.

Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people. -- Ben Stein

by Lucas on Jul 18, 2008 8:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

Is it possible a deal is already in place with Smoak too?

I figured we’d have to wait to announce though.

by LiamP on Jul 18, 2008 8:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

I bet it isn't

But I just think there is no way that they can’t work it out with him. His stance seems too reasonable to not.

by zywica on Jul 18, 2008 8:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

The Smoak situation aggravates me

Slot for #11 is about $2.0, if he’d been picked 5th where expected he’d get $2.5-$2.6. Seems splitting the difference is very reasonable and wouldn’t be that much over slot (as a percentage).

Maybe he’ll debut in Instructionals, followed by a trip to Hawaii.

Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people. -- Ben Stein

by Lucas on Jul 18, 2008 9:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

agreed

i was saying that a few weeks ago, offer him 2.25-2.5 and be done. it’s not like he’s going to get 4mil or anything.

mlb needs to change the slot system. either go full on slot like the nba with guaranteed money at the pick or back of this slot thing and make it more of a guideline like it should be than something teams have to worry about being punished for going over.

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

by rentz on Jul 19, 2008 6:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah

So that Selig can kid himself about keeping bonuses down, we get to have the uneasy feeling for the next month on Smoak, Ross, etc.

Bianucci might be the only guy they don’t get signed among the higher picks.

by zywica on Jul 18, 2008 8:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

'Nooch

I thought they already had a deal with him? Was mentioned in a thread here a day or so ago.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 18, 2008 8:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

Bianucci

already signed. Don’t have the link, but I think someone said something about it in a thread a few days ago.

by naropean on Jul 18, 2008 8:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ah

I haven’t been around much in the last few days. I read an outdated (apparently) piece from outside the market earlier in the week predicting that he would return to school.

by zywica on Jul 18, 2008 9:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

We should just do like the Rays did and sign them all right now

Tell Bud that the best move for our franchise is to get our players signed and onto the field. It doesn’t help anyone to have them miss an entire summer of development.

by uthornfan on Jul 18, 2008 9:05 PM CDT up 0 recs

who did Rays sign above slot?

I read that Beckham is at or below – especially considering the “two-sport” contract status.

by Baider on Jul 18, 2008 11:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm pretty sure Beckham signed for way over slot

This is from BA right after he signed.

“Beckham signed for much more than MLB’s recommendation for the No. 1 slot–believed to be $4 million–and such deals usually aren’t announced until late in the summer. But he apparently will become the quickest top choice to sign since Matt Bush and the Padres agreed to terms on draft day in 2004.”

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=379

by uthornfan on Jul 18, 2008 11:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Read somewhere (trying to find it) that MLB raised slots this year

and thus, Beckham was actually at/below it.

Makes sense given the timing – the above-slot signings never come in that quickly.

by Baider on Jul 18, 2008 11:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Bwa ha ha ha!

So freaking awesome!

In celebration of this good news, I’m going to get even drunker than I was planning on getting tonight.

I’m sure you all care.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 18, 2008 9:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'll raise a glass

as well. Since I wasn’t going to drink anything, this means I, too will get drunker than I planned…

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 18, 2008 9:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

ugh...

Morning Dirkatron says “Boo” to Night Dirkatron’s “get even drunker” initiative.

Ugh…...

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 19, 2008 8:27 AM CDT up 0 recs

I read on a UK baseball fan forum

a post by somebody who knows somebody who’s close to the Ross family. The Rangers are prepared to pay over slot, no problem, book it. But … here’s the kicker!! Ross is only 5-11 and his potential on the mound is obviously stunted. But the Rangers love his bat even more than his arm!! He’s signing as a hitter!! No lie!! I read it on a UK fan forum. It must be true.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 18, 2008 9:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hah

solid info

by zywica on Jul 18, 2008 9:32 PM CDT up 0 recs

so your secret Kentucky sources told you this?

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

by rentz on Jul 19, 2008 7:01 AM CDT up 0 recs

puns make me feliz

As if the Texas League could hope to contain Neftali.

O’Campo has some pretty decent numbers, by the way:
3.50 ERA
.206 avg against
1.83 G/F ratio
18 IP, 16 Ks, 13 hits, 5 walks, 2 HR

I love that .206 avg, but the splits are pretty severe: .353 vs lefties, .152 vs righties. Nothing to read TOO much into, given small sample size and league level, but it’s something.

by naropean on Jul 18, 2008 8:29 PM CDT 0 recs

go Feliz!

-Wakes

by Wakes1331 on Jul 18, 2008 8:34 PM CDT 0 recs

Wow

He’s through 6 (which has kind of been his wall, regardless of pitch counts) with a great line: 1 H, 2 BB, 8 K, 84 pitches. With those innings he’s 17 IP, 11 H, 7 BB, 17 K in his three starts and still 2 HR in his 99 innings.

by zywica on Jul 18, 2008 8:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

they pulled him

cautious i guess.

diaz promptly gives up the lead.

the preceding post is not nearly as negative or insulting as you think it is

by DSheppard on Jul 18, 2008 9:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

wait, no he didnt

he did come in, but didnt give up anything. must have been looking at the wrong inning or something… still up 1-0

the preceding post is not nearly as negative or insulting as you think it is

by DSheppard on Jul 18, 2008 9:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Andrus walk, yay

He has an 8/8 BB/SO ratio in his last 40 ABs, which is just perfect. I’m really excited about him right now, just has to keep getting stronger and eventually translate some more natural power to the game, and of course eliminate defensive mistakes. Those are the exact things that you expect maturity to accomplish for a guy like Andrus, though.

by zywica on Jul 18, 2008 8:39 PM CDT 0 recs

Is Clinton always this hot in July?

The Lumberkings are abusing opposing pitchers this month.
Miguel Alfonzo – 400/667/1067
Engel Beltre – 379/631/1010
Mitch Moreland – 382/610/993
Jonathan Greene – 375/571/946
Cristian Santana – 389/542/931

With Smoak likely joining these guys in Bakersfield next year, I can’t wait to see what they do to the California league!

by spurdynasty on Jul 18, 2008 9:33 PM CDT 0 recs

I keep waiting for the Rangers

to announce that KC Herren has been released, Smith and Moreland are headed for BAK and Butler is headed to CLN.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 18, 2008 9:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

Herren

On fire, for him, in July. .802 OPS. He’s got that average creeping up to the Wilkerson-line.

"So you think the Celtics will beat Detroit? Hell will freeze over before that happens, mark my words." miles 5/20/08

by badradiorules on Jul 18, 2008 9:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

Herren

remember when everyone got excited about him after a hot couple of months last year? The OF situation is much stronger this year.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 18, 2008 10:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Guilty

I fell for it. I thought he may have actually figured it out. I never did think he would end up being a major league player, but after his hot 2-3 month stretch last year I thought he may have enough in his bag to at least get to AA/AAA and make a little noise. Instead, he has confirmed he has a big bag of nothing. If you can’t hit in Bakersfield and the Cali League, you cannot hit.

by uthornfan on Jul 18, 2008 10:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ballard to OKC per Jason Cole

Jason interviews Ballard about the promotion – Free LSD Content

The situation wasn’t completely negative for Ballard, as he was able to spend two days hanging around the big league clubhouse.
.
"Those guys are awesome," he said. "Everyone kept telling me – [Chris] Davis, Max [Ramirez] and [Matt] Harrison were telling me – this is an awesome team. These guys are awesome. They’re real energetic. They just love to have fun and it was just cool hanging around those guys and just listening to the stories they had to share. It was fun."

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 18, 2008 10:00 PM CDT 0 recs

Gotta love free LSD

Ballard is a Ranger injury away from starting, or maybe if Mendoza implodes a couple more times.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 18, 2008 10:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

You don't think they'd start Nippert before Ballard?

by LiamP on Jul 18, 2008 10:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

Perhaps

but stranger things have happened this year. And some of that, of course, depends on timing. Whoever is rested on the day of need gets the nod.

OT, I’m really rooting for Brian Gordon to get a cup (or more) of coffee this year. Great story.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 18, 2008 10:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm rooting for Gordon too.

Gabbard’s injury and Feldman’s innings pitched will probably insure that Nippert will get a look in the rotation before the year is through, especially if the Rangers want to send Harrison back down to work on a few things.

by Hull Fan on Jul 18, 2008 11:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Rooting for Gordon? Yes. Want him in big leagues? No.

by Baider on Jul 18, 2008 11:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

He would be more than fine

for the type of role a J. Diaz plays.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 18, 2008 11:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

you mean called up and pray he doesn't get into a game?

then immediately sent back out?

by Baider on Jul 18, 2008 11:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

No

I mean help the team out when they really need another arm. I don’t think he’d do any worse than several guys who have already logged innings this year.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 18, 2008 11:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

that's not saying much

would like to think the team will raise their standards – not look to set the bar at Kam Loe, Joselo Diaz, and the rest of those not-ML-quality pitchers we see too often.

by Baider on Jul 18, 2008 11:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Every team

is going to have times, due to injuries, rainouts/DHs, etc. when they need to dip down for extra bullpen help. It’s the nature of the season.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 19, 2008 7:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

Naw

Free LSD can be bad news.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 19, 2008 12:15 AM CDT up 0 recs

black jelly pyramids

just say’n

"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 19, 2008 1:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

Scott Lucas attended the OKC/Roundrock series and took lots of pics

SET ONE
SET TWO
SET THREE

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 18, 2008 10:08 PM CDT 0 recs

tommy hunter is a rather large man

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

by rentz on Jul 19, 2008 7:04 AM CDT up 0 recs

In clinton tonight

Swanson

5.0 IP
2 H
0 R
0 BB
4 K

Can someone tell me what his story is? Was he injured last year or something? He’s off to a nice start after his promotion out of Arizona.

by Hull Fan on Jul 18, 2008 11:17 PM CDT 0 recs

I am about 95 percent sure he went down with TJ surgery last summer

I think he played college ball at UC-Irvine.

by uthornfan on Jul 18, 2008 11:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

Correct on both

http://rangers.scout.com

by JasonCole on Jul 18, 2008 11:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Jason Cole question

How did you get started? ou obviously have very good contacts in the organization.

I’m not interested in pursuing it myself (don’t have the time) but very curious about your career path and how you’ve developed those relationships.

by Baider on Jul 18, 2008 11:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

I actually started up the Young Guns blog

on MVN—the minor league blog that Beverly now runs. I did that in 2006 and was contacted by Scout to begin doing this. I’ve just been able to develop relationships by traveling around to the affiliates and going to Surprise three times a year (spring training, rookie league, and instructs). At the AZL and instructs especially, it’s the players, two or three family members, and the people running the organization basically.

http://rangers.scout.com

by JasonCole on Jul 18, 2008 11:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

thanks

enjoy your stuff

by Baider on Jul 19, 2008 12:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

What's it like to dip in the shower?

Give it a Name

by jparks77 on Jul 19, 2008 12:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

This Feliz

kid is pretty good, I think.

by coolaid on Jul 19, 2008 12:04 AM CDT 0 recs

Evan Reed

Rough outing. Another guy to put in the rather slim “disappointing in 2008” category.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 19, 2008 12:14 AM CDT 0 recs

More on Evan Reed

He pitched great in one start at Frisco and two starts in Clinton this year. He’s a flyball pitcher who has been good more often than he’s been bad in Bakersfield. He’s given up 54 runs in 15 starts this year (almost 4 runs per start), but he’s given up almost half of those runs (26) in four starts (9 and 6 runs in two games vs Modesto, 6 in a game against Lancaster, and 5 in a game vs San Jose). If you take what’s left, he’s giving up ~2.5 runs per start in the Cal league where flyball pitchers normally go to die. I think he still has a chance, though his future is almost certainly as a reliever. I would like to see Reed and Beau Jones handling the late innings at Frisco next year in the hope that one or both of them get on the Madrigal path.

One other thing worth noting – it seems that Reed has been particularly unlucky in the number of runs that he has given up when he has been relieved.

by spurdynasty on Jul 19, 2008 12:40 AM CDT up 0 recs