The Minors 7/2
by Hull Fan on Jul 2, 2008 3:38 PM CDT
61 comments
I always enjoy the minor league threads. Generally shroom, or jparks chime in on a guy I've never heard of and I learn something so with that in mind.
AZL Rangers
Joseph Wieland (2008 4th Rounder) went 4 full innings with no hits, no runs, no walks, while striking out three.
The rookies beat up the A's AZL team 8-1, led by Erik Morrison (46th round Kansas Jayhawk 2B) going 3-4 with 3 singles, a walk, and one strikeout. First baseman Michael Ortiz went 3-5 as well.
Tonight
Neal Ramirez goes to the mound for Spokane in the late game at 9:00pm.
Feliz is on the bump for Clinton.
Evan Reed starts for Bakersfield.
And maybe most interesting of all, Tommy Hunter makes his AAA debut for the Redhawks.
Frisco has the night off. So if any of you are listening online or following the boxscores tonight please post your observations. I can't remember a better time to follow the minor leaguers.
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Yep...
Very interested in all those guys on the hill tonight.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jul 2, 2008 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Indeed
Though I must admit Evan Reed doesn’t do a terrible amount for me.
Too many walks.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jul 2, 2008 7:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. Great night to listen (or watch) minor league ball.
Hope to hear that those radio reports of 77 mph changeup on Feliz are legit and not just bad siting of the radar gun. Even more eager to see if Hunter continues to be solid.
Wieland is looking like a really good pick. I can’t wait to see what he picks up in fall instructs and implements next summer in Spokane. Besides a tick up in pitching acumen, I hope he adds a few pounds this winter.
Anyone think we’ll see Smoak in the fall AZL? The LaPorta track.
Go Rangers!
by rooster on Jul 2, 2008 3:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
LaPorta signed soon after the draft in '07
and logged 30 professional games before the AFL. Smoak needs to sign soon to follow this path.
by jparks77 on Jul 2, 2008 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
am i the only one
who wants to see (almost) that exact track?
Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark
by knockoutking on Jul 2, 2008 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well besides
jparks and rooster
Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark
by knockoutking on Jul 2, 2008 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feliz...
...does he have the composure to bounce back after last week’s thrashing?
critical start?
by oc on Jul 2, 2008 4:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
reportedly he's working on his breaking stuff
It will all depend on what they have him do in this start. He’s got to know that he can throw his fastball by guys at this level. I won’t worry about his psyche too much at this point.
by Hull Fan on Jul 2, 2008 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Primarily his change, according to radio reports
Go Rangers!
by rooster on Jul 2, 2008 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cruz/Metcalf
Am I the only one who thinks the Rangers would be better off optioning Boggs and Duran and bringing up Cruz and Metcalf? I know Metcalf isn’t hitting, but neither is Duran, and Cruz would at worst be as productive as Boggs. Let those two guys play everyday at AAA and bring up the more veteran fringy guys… IMO
by Topgun22 on Jul 2, 2008 4:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
but I’d go with Cruz and Roberts. Metcalf can stay down and play everyday in AAA as well, not that it really matters.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jul 2, 2008 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
remember when
we were all clamoring for young guys to be brought up from AAA? Now it seems like a lot of people want the reverse. “bring up the more veteran fringy guys?” Really? Let these guys get their feet wet because once guys like vasquez and bradley get traded they will be starting.
I like the rangers current philosophy of letting these guys soak up the major league experience, especially these two. They have been identified by management as having a tough and positive outlook and their current situation/struggles are not going to be a deterrence to their future.
"Why do you need the stereo and the tv on?"
"Cause I like to pawrty."
by rchawk12 on Jul 2, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure, they are soaking up the major league experience
The problem is Duran cannot hit MLB pitching and no amount of sitting on the bench and soaking up the atmosphere is going to get him to the level where he can hit. He needs at bats and since he won’t get them here, he needs to get them in OKC.
And people didn’t want prospects brought up so they could sit the bench. We wanted them brought up so they could get playing time. Unless Duran is going to get PT, he needs to be sent back down.
by uthornfan on Jul 2, 2008 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I dont disagree with your statement
however, I’m not sure I agree with it either. The fact of the matter is every prospect is different and with the exception of duran, every rookie is getting at least semi-consistent pt. Really there is no way of knowing what is the right way to handle a prospect and so I defer judgement to management. Maybe hanging around rudy every day is the best thing for him. When it comes to matters like this its tough to have an opinion because we dont have near as much information as the coaches and front office.
"Why do you need the stereo and the tv on?"
"Cause I like to pawrty."
by rchawk12 on Jul 3, 2008 2:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
when this day in the rotation comes up again
I wouldn’t mind seeing Reed in Frisco and Feliz in Bakersfield.
by clark on Jul 2, 2008 5:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I could get behind that.
Would like to see Main in Clinton then, with Holland moving up also.
by Hull Fan on Jul 2, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When is the last time the Rangers had this type..
of talent on the hill on one night in their system?
by booyahcaveman on Jul 2, 2008 5:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Last Appearances:
Hunter – 6/27
Wieland – 6/28
Reed – 6/27
Feliz – 6/27
Ramirez – 6/27
Jokes? I wouldnt call it a swing and a miss. Foul Tip? Nice try though.
by booyahcaveman on Jul 2, 2008 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
damn
Well it just made sense, although I imagine whoever took the hill in the rookie league, if they were playing five days ago, was pretty darn good.
by Hull Fan on Jul 2, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I had to look it up
It was Ben Henry. It is just so nice that every night there is not only a reason to watch the Rangers but also to keep track of the farm system. Whether it meant watching CD or Ramirez to see how many bombs they hit or Kiker, Feliz, Main, et al and how they are just straight dealing on the farm.
by booyahcaveman on Jul 2, 2008 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
these days
with Ramirez and Davis in Arlington, the arms far out weigh the bats in the minors. Andrus, Vallejo, Lemon, and Beltre are interesting but Feliz, Main, Beavan, Hunter, Perez, and the rest are just amazing.
by Hull Fan on Jul 2, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Happy Happy
2K’s in the first inning. Threw alot of sliders early in the count.
Go Rangers!
by rooster on Jul 2, 2008 7:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Beloit radio guy
just said the game will resume at 9:40
by shroomer on Jul 2, 2008 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I assume
Feliz is still gonna be done though, right?
by Brett Perryman on Jul 2, 2008 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn't say. I don't know if Beloit has a radar gun.
2 of his K’s were with the fastball. 1 was with the slider. The radio guy didn’t say what he threw for the other two K’s. His last K was Ben Revere, who had K’d all of 17 times in 206 AB previous to that.
Go Rangers!
by rooster on Jul 2, 2008 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok, I give
Who is Happy Happy?
Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY
by RangerMad on Jul 2, 2008 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feliz = Happy in Spanish
Coffin said we should name him Happy as a nickname, thus, Happy Happy.
by Hull Fan on Jul 2, 2008 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hunter fighting through a tough night
6 ip
7 H
3 R
3 ER
2 BB
4 K
1 HR
by Hull Fan on Jul 2, 2008 8:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Still...
not bad for his first start at OKC
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jul 2, 2008 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. Solid.
Only one rough inning so far.
Go Rangers!
by rooster on Jul 2, 2008 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
no not at all
just in comparison to some of his previous starts that’s all.
by Hull Fan on Jul 2, 2008 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Evan Reed splits
vs lefties – 29.2 IP, 8.19 ERA, .308 BAA
vs righties- 37.0, 1.95 ERA, .222 BAA
wow – start getting lefties out and he might get places
by shroomer on Jul 2, 2008 9:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
NeRa
Made it through the 1st despite struggling to keep his fastball down.
Had one K that the Yakima radio guy called “nasty, a real back-bender”.
Go Rangers!
by rooster on Jul 2, 2008 9:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
So I guess
when BA does its top tens after the season and has the tools section, Ramirez will be the guy with the best curveball?
by Brett Perryman on Jul 2, 2008 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've talked to some people
that think Gomez has one of the best curveballs in the system.
Ramirez has plus-plus potential but Hunter’s CB is a monster as well.
by jparks77 on Jul 2, 2008 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hunter has a good curveball
but I’ll be disappointed if Ramirez can’t top that. If Hunter has the best curve in the system, I’m not sure that there is a plus breaking ball in the system.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 2, 2008 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it depends on what you look for in a curve...
Hunter’s raw curve wouldn’t compare to Ramirez or Brigham (if he still has it after surgery) or Gomez or Diamond, but he commands it better than anyone I’ve ever seen at his age… not that I’ve been around all that long…
I summed it up the other day. It’s an above-average to plus pitch, but with his command, it’s a borderline plus-plus pitch.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 2, 2008 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really don't know about that
AA hitters can hardly touch a pitch good enough to be considered borderline plus-plus. With his solidl fastball, he would be dominant in the upper minor league levels with a breaking ball that good, especially with command of it.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 3, 2008 1:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't have numbers on this...
but I will a large, large sum that Hunter strikes-put-in-play percentage on his curve is crazy-low. To get guys to strike out on a curve, you have to throw it with 2-strikes. Look for his strike out numbers to improve when Hunter wants them to improve.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 3, 2008 3:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Main
doesn’t he have a pretty good one as well?
by FirebatM3 on Jul 2, 2008 10:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah good point
I bet his is up there.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 2, 2008 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Inconsistent
but with plus potential. He doesn’t always stay on top of it and he doesn’t command it yet.
by jparks77 on Jul 2, 2008 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
More news of broken hearts and failed efforts in LA:
Per the story on San Diego’s team web site today:
The Padres forked over a franchise-record $4.85 million in signing bonuses to procure those five players, including $2 million to land Portillo, who was considered to be the second-best pitcher in the pool of available players behind 16-year-old Michael Inoa, who signed for a record $4.25 million bonus with the Oakland A’s.
That part sounded fine. Good for them. The kid sounds good. Then this:
The Padres fended off late advances by the Texas Rangers to sign Portillo, who Smith said is “one of the most complete pitchers in Latin America, with a fastball that has reached 93 mph.”
Dammit! He was almost ours!!! I hate being a bridesmaid!
The “late advances” me wonder if we thought our ridiculous offer for Inoa would win out and sort of went into scramble mode when he announced he was going to Oakland and tried to enter the Portillo sweepstakes a little too late. Who knows though.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jul 3, 2008 1:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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