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Wednesday a.m. things

Th_buckykatt_tiny by Adam J. Morris on

Yeah, that sucked last night.  Luis Mendoza looked pretty good for a couple of innings, then things fell apart, apparently because of his inability to throw his breaking ball well.  Bah.

Richard Durrett says the bigger concern right now is that the bats have gone silent since the break.  Jeff Wilson suggests that getting Hank Blalock home in the second, after his leadoff triple, could have made the whole game different.

Brandon McCarthy and Gerald Laird each were apparently okay, health-wise, after their rehab outings last night in Oklahoma.  Laird is supposed to be activated on Saturday, and Eric Hurley is supposed to be activated on Sunday.  The DMN also says that the Dodgers and Mets each had a scout at the game last night.

Kevin Sherrington says the Rangers need better pitching to contend. 

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US Cellular field here I come..

I’m off to watch our boys. I’ll send a little LSB love to Josh, Kins, CD and the other beasts.
GO RANGERS!!!!

Milly I have no choice but to nickname you "The Laborer".
Every time I see you on the mound you're laboring through the inning.
You sure as hell don't labor when you hear Dunkin Donuts is closing in
15 minutes, sat there with a chocolate eclair with 5 minutes to spare.

by LAMuscleFag on Jul 23, 2008 10:30 AM CDT   0 recs

ChiMuscleFag?

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 23, 2008 10:32 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

hes a globetrotter

NY, LAA, Texas, Chicago..

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

by DSheppard on Jul 23, 2008 10:36 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Damn, you are lucky!

I loove Chicago, been there twice and had a blast both times. Great city! Unfortunately all my trips have been in the winter, so no baseball :( The closest I have gotten is driving by Wrigley Field on the way to dinner once. In the snow.

Hope you have a good time!

by Melmart1 on Jul 23, 2008 11:06 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

thanks Doll..

Yeh I love Chicago it’s pretty amazing. Thankfully I left when the Rangers were ahead 8 to 4, so I didn’t leave Cellular field with a bad taste in my mouth. Of course I had to go have some stuffed pizza after the game, it would of been a sin to have left the city without having one of the things it’s famous for :) It’s a really nice stadium though, I was impressed – with beautiful views of downtown as you go down the ramps.

Milly I have no choice but to nickname you "The Laborer".
Every time I see you on the mound you're laboring through the inning.
You sure as hell don't labor when you hear Dunkin Donuts is closing in
15 minutes, sat there with a chocolate eclair with 5 minutes to spare.

by LAMuscleFag on Jul 23, 2008 5:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'll be there August 14th...

sadly, it won’t be to watch them play the Rangers.

have a blast

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

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 23, 2008 11:37 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

thanks Walter..

well you should go to Wrigley Field.. I’m considering going this weekend. It should be quite a treat.

Milly I have no choice but to nickname you "The Laborer".
Every time I see you on the mound you're laboring through the inning.
You sure as hell don't labor when you hear Dunkin Donuts is closing in
15 minutes, sat there with a chocolate eclair with 5 minutes to spare.

by LAMuscleFag on Jul 23, 2008 5:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

been to Wrigley a few times.

LOVE it. wish they could bring the Ballpark to downtown dallas and do something like that…but it wouldn’t work, and they never will.

the Cubbies are out of town that weekend, so we have to settle for a Sox game, but I’ve never been to one so it’ll all work out

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

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 23, 2008 9:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Who knew

silverware was such a traveling medicine show?

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 23, 2008 12:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

hahaha

Some of my best accounts are here in Chicago and I’m always happy to come back, as long as it’s not the wintertime and the Rangers are in town :)

Milly I have no choice but to nickname you "The Laborer".
Every time I see you on the mound you're laboring through the inning.
You sure as hell don't labor when you hear Dunkin Donuts is closing in
15 minutes, sat there with a chocolate eclair with 5 minutes to spare.

by LAMuscleFag on Jul 23, 2008 5:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

McCarthy

So is there any timetable for McCarthy to come back up? He hasn’t developed carpal tunnel yet, has he?

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Jul 23, 2008 10:30 AM CDT   0 recs

No, bedsores...

going back on the 15 day DL.

There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.

by SarasotaRanger on Jul 23, 2008 10:54 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

ROFL ..good one!

Milly I have no choice but to nickname you "The Laborer".
Every time I see you on the mound you're laboring through the inning.
You sure as hell don't labor when you hear Dunkin Donuts is closing in
15 minutes, sat there with a chocolate eclair with 5 minutes to spare.

by LAMuscleFag on Jul 23, 2008 5:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Probably around the 10th of August

I think the Rangers will not rush him. Option him to OKC when his 30 day rehab stint is up and bring him up around the 10th of next month

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 23, 2008 11:37 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Mendoza

Does anybody (except tyd3111) really think that he can be an effective ML starter?

I sure don’t. The start before this one, he brought stuff to the mound that he has never had before. Every other time out he just gets abused. Last night in the middle innings was almost as bad as a pitcher can look.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Jul 23, 2008 10:34 AM CDT   0 recs

Love your blog

And I think you are great at what you do, but your eye for pitching talent seems a little suspect.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Jul 23, 2008 11:15 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How much of Mendoza have we seen to conclude either way?

A quarter of a season of suckiness? Lots of pitchers (even good ones, like Roy Halladay) suck when they first come up to the majors.

by jwiscarson on Jul 23, 2008 11:21 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well

I’d imagine that if you or I were to be thrown out there on the mound, you wouldn’t need much time to evaluate.

by brettgardner on Jul 23, 2008 11:24 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah

I doubt a 55 mph fastball (if we’re lucky) would impress anyone.

by jwiscarson on Jul 23, 2008 11:27 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

ROFL

"I’m sure you’ve seen Kiker before but I’ll just reiterate that the kid is mean on the mound. He is only 5’10’’ but he is an intimidator. He looks like he hates hitters. He has the juice for pressure situations."
-Jason Parks on Jul 22, 2008 10:08 PM

by Jayslick on Jul 23, 2008 11:28 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well

I’d have to be very lucky for that, but my only point was that sometimes you don’t need a lot of time to make a judgment call.

Not saying that particularly applies to Mendoza, just saying.

by brettgardner on Jul 23, 2008 11:29 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I totally agree.

I just don’t think 48 innings, given the flashes of brilliance we’ve seen, tell us anything.

by jwiscarson on Jul 23, 2008 11:36 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Just say

You have an amazing changeup.

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 23, 2008 11:35 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I am still optimistic as well

if only because, when he is on, he appears to have the capacity to dominate, whereas when a pitcher like Koronka was “on”, he seemed to constantly be on the edge of unraveling.

at the least, I think Mendoza can be a quality reliever for this team, and by that, I mean a legit 7th or 8th inning guy. But I am willing to give him starts for the rest of the season to allow him the chance to establish himself as a major league starter.

by clark on Jul 23, 2008 11:24 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I totally agree.

I’m not sure if he’s a quality starter or a quality reliever, but I think we should give him the rest of the season to find out, just like you said.

by jwiscarson on Jul 23, 2008 11:26 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

but Mendoza was never any good in the minors

I’m all for giving young pitchers extended opportunities, and at this point we really don’t have anyone better qualified than Mendoza. But for a guy that was never very good in AA, skipped past AAA, then has gotten rocked every game he started this year, with one notable exception, just doesn’t give much cause to think that he will be a good ML starter. Hell, he was never a really good minor league starter – yet some think that all the sudden he has transformed himself into something that he is clearly not.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Jul 23, 2008 11:40 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You have me there.

He had a marginally solid season with Frisco in 2007. He probably should be left down in AAA for a while, but is with the team this year based on a good spring training performance (unless my memory fails me).

The small sample size bites us in the ass once again.

by jwiscarson on Jul 23, 2008 11:46 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

AJM would tell you

that it was only last year he developed his curve or cutter or some pitch thats supposedly helping him.

but id say… a 4.0 era or whatever he had in AA for one year with poor rate stats hardly makes you a real prospect.

he has no command and only has good stuff when he happens to have all his pitches working. the sinker alone wont get you anywhere. his command + poor consistency with secondary pitches = bad pitcher.

but again, given our other options, i guess i dont have a problem with letting him go a few more times and seeing if he can find some consistency. but i would be shocked if hes in this rotation in may of 09.

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

by DSheppard on Jul 23, 2008 12:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I disunderstand

"They shouldn't throw at me. I'm the father of five or six kids."
-Tito Fuentes, after getting hit by a pitch.

by Haeger Champ on Jul 23, 2008 11:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

can you explain why?

I’m sure you have before, but I’m just amazed that you can hit it on the head with so many things, but not with this situation…

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

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 23, 2008 11:38 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

you

should show some of that love to David Murphy.

The Eagle has landed....

by Lonerangers on Jul 23, 2008 12:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm still with him

I just think he’s like Sampson and when he cut his hair it messed him over. He seems to be growing it again so…

In all seriousness he seems to have really good movement on his fastball and I think that it will click for him. I don’t think he’s felix or even padilla but I think he could be a decent starter at the end of the bench.

by bushe on Jul 23, 2008 1:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

luis mendoza sucks.

he has to have both his curve working and better than usual control to succeed. i dont see that happening real often. of course, so far there is noone to replace him.

also not real excited about millwood today. hopefully he can get something going…

but on the brightside, its feliz day!

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

by DSheppard on Jul 23, 2008 10:35 AM CDT   0 recs

yeah, at this point

I only really feel like the Rangers have a good chance to win when either Padilla, Feldman, or Hurley is on the mound.

Mendoza/Millwood on back to back days is a real beating.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Jul 23, 2008 10:42 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

"Kevin Sherrington says the Rangers need better pitching to contend."

I’m not sure where I would be with this sort of insight from the meida….

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 10:38 AM CDT   0 recs

I decided to read the article anyway

and it really is that not bad. It ends with a quote from Daniels which I like. Does have the usual slams of Rangers pitching evaluation, but they are true to this point.

“I don’t think we’re necessarily contradicting the point Billy’s making,” Daniels said. “We are building something that’s going to last.

“We’re not deluding ourselves into thinking we’re a finished product.”

Godwin's Law Version 2.0 (Rangers Edition)
"As a Ranger discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Danks, Volquez, or Young approaches one."

by LBBRangerFan on Jul 23, 2008 10:44 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This team is done in 08

so I’m glad that’s their thought process.

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 10:47 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gosh I'm glad Kevin

straightened me out. I thought our pitching was great and we just needed a big left- handed bat. What a waste of ink.

by Jea103 on Jul 23, 2008 10:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

"apparently because of his inability to throw his breaking ball well"

reminds me of Kam Loe

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

by RangerMad on Jul 23, 2008 10:45 AM CDT   0 recs

Mendoza

Is at best a long-man in the bullpen.

I wonder what his stats are for the 2nd and 3rd time through the order. He has been murdered twice in the middle innings (once in NY and now in Chicago)

I am guessing Hurley will take Harrisons spot, so I guess we are stuck with mendoza until BMAc is ready…which after last night could be a month.

by clinton33 on Jul 23, 2008 10:54 AM CDT   0 recs

hurley is taking feldmans spot

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

by DSheppard on Jul 23, 2008 10:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Three words

Prospect No. 15. Lets get him up here.

by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 23, 2008 10:57 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

forgot about that....

so we ar looking at a rotation going forward of Padilla, Millwood, Hurley, Harrison, Mendoza

JD will probably leave Harrison and mendoza in the rotation until Bmac is ready, and he takes the spot of the one struggling the most.

by clinton33 on Jul 23, 2008 11:13 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Nippert was having AAA success as a starter

Why not roll him out there in Mendoza’s spot. Some guys just have a hard time working out of the pen. Maybe he’s one. Couldn’t be much worse … could it?

by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 23, 2008 10:56 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yes

have you seen nips pitch?

by bushe on Jul 23, 2008 1:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

As Starter and As Reliever

Here you go boys and girls, the career stats for Mendoza as a starter and as a reliever, with his stats for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd times facing an opponent.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 23, 2008 11:34 AM CDT to parent up   1 recs

inconclusive

just kidding. that is pretty damning. but we have nothing to lose running him out there a few more times. I still like him a lot more than Nippert or Lizard or any of our other VIABLE fallback options.

by clark on Jul 23, 2008 11:36 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Forgot to mention...

that this is for only 16 career games.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 23, 2008 11:37 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yep

sample size is screaming here.

I don’t think Mendoza is the next Cy Young winner, but for crying out loud, people let’s have some patience.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 23, 2008 12:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I dunno, I mean

He’s had a few atrocious outings as a starter since returning from the DL, but how badly is that line affected by his early stuff, when he was injured but lied about it?

by jwiscarson on Jul 23, 2008 11:41 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

the same as 3 of his last 4 "healthy" starts...

4 innings, 9 hits, 2 walks, 6 earned runs, 1 HR
1.1 innings, 9 hits, 2 walks, 8 earned runs, 3 HR
4.2 innings, only 4 hits, 2 walks, 1 HR, only 1 earned run BUT 6 runs. that was a “good start” for him. the other start was dominant I agree, giving up only 3 hits, 1 walk and 1 earned run through 6 innings.

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

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 23, 2008 11:46 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Point, game, set, match

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 11:41 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Is that the same as "checkmate?"

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

by Brian Thomas on Jul 23, 2008 11:52 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah...

its a tennis thing.

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 12:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

When did I say love?

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 12:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 12:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Very nice

The 2nd PA slugging looks like it may be an aberration, considering the 3rd PA goes down to about .400 again. But the OBP trend is probably real.

I’m curious – what are other pitchers lines like? I doubt everyone goes from .713 to 1.052 – that seems pretty awful – but do they increase similarly? Would a guy like Hurley, who ramps it up as the game goes on, actually see a decrease?

by JBImaknee on Jul 23, 2008 11:50 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

My guess

His 3rd PA SLG is lower because when he is sucking, he doesn’t make it to the third time through the order. When he’s on, he does make it to the third time through and you’ll notice the SLG is not very much higher than the first time through.

by Inkara1 on Jul 23, 2008 11:56 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

good point

a little selection bias in there. I should have caught that myself…

by JBImaknee on Jul 23, 2008 12:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

so basically

The first time, they don’t know what to make of him.

The second time, they have figured him out and hit the ball 10 miles.

The third they feel bad and just take a walk.

"You’re the only here who contributes schtick only." - brettgardner

by trza on Jul 23, 2008 11:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Third time

I think it’s more likely that Mendoza only gets to see the lineup a third time when he has good stuff. If he doesn’t have it he won’t make it out of the fourth or fifth and that tends to lead to less players seeing him a third time.

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Jul 23, 2008 11:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Dodgers apparently had a scout

to watch Hank Blalock. Anyone interested in Andy LaRoche?

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 11:25 AM CDT   0 recs

LaRoche

I just don’t know about that guy. His power seems to have all but dried up because of this lingering thumb injury. It is definitely a high risk/high reward play. He could break out next season in the Carlos Quentin mode if he overcomes his injury, and you have to love his eye at the plate. But if his power never comes back, he is a pretty weak bat at third.

I would need LaRoche plus someone like Meloan to consider the deal a success.

by clark on Jul 23, 2008 11:29 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

nope i want pitchers in return hopefully about to hit AA or in AA

i dont want another position player till we have some sort of major league pitching stability. til then, sign me up for best pitchers i can get my hands on.

"I’m sure you’ve seen Kiker before but I’ll just reiterate that the kid is mean on the mound. He is only 5’10’’ but he is an intimidator. He looks like he hates hitters. He has the juice for pressure situations."
-Jason Parks on Jul 22, 2008 10:08 PM

by Jayslick on Jul 23, 2008 11:31 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

the problem with that

is that a top tier offensive prospect (think laroche or salty) has as much value at the deadline as a middling pitching prospect. also, the dodgers don’t have much in the way of pitching these days. McDonald is an extreme flyball pitcher, Elbert is a huge injury scare, and Kershaw is untouchable. I personally think a package of Meloan and LaRoche is pretty good for Blalock, and LaRoche is the sort of player we could then flip to a team like the Twins.

by clark on Jul 23, 2008 11:35 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

agreed that LaRoche

is a great prospect to flip. also agree that the Dodgers farm system is somewhat lacking in SP, with the exception of untouchable Kershaw. That’s why you do it.

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 11:40 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

think about this

and this is completely hypothetical, but what if we got the above mentioned package of LaRoche and Meloan for Blalock, and then were able to flip LaRoche to the Twins for Newberg favorite Tyler Robertson? LaRoche may actually present more value to the Twins than Blalock because he is cheap and under control for a longer period of time. Meloan and Robertson would be a hell of a return for Blalock.

by clark on Jul 23, 2008 11:44 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Rosenthal

Rosenthal recently talked about the White Sox looking to trade Josh Fields for some help this season. Of course that means they would be getting rid of Crede’s long term replacement. So, they would need to sign Crede to an extension (Boras client I believe), or roll the dice with free agency. As you can see from the list below, there are slim pickings:

Third basemen
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) – $6.2MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) – $3.75MM club option for ‘09
Chipper Jones (37) – $8-11MM vesting option for ‘09
Dallas McPherson (27)

Getting LaRoche (not that this is even possible) could be valuable since he would be highly sought after. Then again, the Rangers could shop Blalock without trading for anybody.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Jul 23, 2008 12:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

LaRoche

would be a nice acquisition, giving the Rangers options short term and long term. He could stick around and help the team in 2009, leaving Young at SS another year, then be dealt when Andrus is ready. Or, obviously, he could be dealt immediately or this offseason.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 23, 2008 12:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why do you want pitchers about to hit AA?

We have so many pitchers fitting that bill already.

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 11:39 AM CDT</