The Mark Connor Myth
by ab03
on Jul 23, 2008 4:07 PM CDT
It seems to me that on this blog, there is this pervasive idea that once Mark Connor comes for a mound visit, only bad things happen. I have never thought of Mark Connor as good for anything and I remember participating in the boos last year when he would come out.
But, at least to me, it seemed like he wasn't so ineffective this year and people seemed to completely ignore the good outcomes and highlight the bad. Sometimes it seems people will boo his mound visit when the mound visit the LAST INNING proved to work out.
So I did some dirty work:
| Date | Inning | Pitcher | Situation | Outcome | Success? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/22/08 | 1 | Mendoza | walk, double, walk - 2 outs | FO - 0R | Y |
| 07/22/08 | 4 | Mendoza | 1b, 1b, HR, double - 2 outs | 2 1B -1R | N |
| 07/22/08 | 7 | Nippert | GO, FO, BB, 1B, BB, | GS, 2B - 4R | N |
| 07/19/08 | 4 | Harrison | 1b, FO, BB, Force, 1B - 1R | FO - 0R | Y |
| 07/19/08 | 5 | Harrison | GO, 2B, 2B, FO- 0R | IBB, 2B, GO - 3R | N |
| 07/19/08 | 6 | Nippert | K, 1b, 2B, K, 2B, HR - 5R | K - 0R | Y |
| 07/13/08 | 1 | Harrison | GO, 1B, HR, BB, 2B - 2R, Runners on 2nd, 3rd - 1 out | GO, GO, - 1R | M |
| 07/13/08 | 4 | Nippert | FO, 1B, 1B, K, BB - 0R | FO - 0R | Y |
| 07/12/08 | 3 | Millwood | BB, HBP, GO, FO, BB - OR, Bases Loaded, 2 outs | 1B, GO - 1R | N |
| 07/12/08 | 9 | Diaz | 1B, E, SF, K, HBP, BB - 1R | K - 0R | Y |
| 07/11/08 | 9 | Madrigal | BB,BB | FO, FO, BB, Pitching Change (Eventually 0R) | Y |
| 07/10/08 | 3 | Feldman | 3B | HBP, SF, BB, BB, SF, CS - 2R | N |
| 07/10/08 | 4 | Feldman | 1B, 2B, BB, HBP | BB, GO, IBB, 1B, pitching change - 3R | N |
| 07/10/08 | 9 | Wilson | K,BB, BB, 1B - 0R | BB, FO - 0R | Y |
| 07/09/08 | 7 | Francisco | FO, BB, FO, HR, 3B - 2R | FO - 0R | Y |
| 07/08/08 | 9 | Wilson | GO, 1b, BB, GO - 0R | IBB, GO - 0R | Y |
| 07/07/08 | 1 | Mendoza | BB, GO, 1B, 1B - 2R | BB, GIDP - OR | Y |
| 07/07/08 | 2 | Mendoza | 1B, HR, GO, 2B, 1B - 3R | HR, HR - 2R | N |
| 07/06/08 | 7 | Wright | GO, FO, K WP, BB - OR, 2 on 2outs | GO - 0R | Y |
| 07/06/08 | 8 | Wilson | HR, FO, K, HR - 2R | K - 0R | Y |
| 07/05/08 | 5 | Feldman | GO,1B, HBP - 0R, 2on 1out | FO, GO - 0R | Y |
| 07/05/08 | 6 | Feldman | GO, GO, 1B, BB - 2on, 2outs | FO - 0R | Y |
| 07/05/08 | 7 | Francisco | FO, 2B, 1B - 0R, 1st and 3rd 2 outs | GO - 0R | Y |
| 07/04/08 | 2 | Padilla | GO, BB, 1B, 2B - 2R | FO, 1B, GO - 1R | N |
| 07/02/08 | 3 | Mendoza | GO, 1B, E, FO, BB - Bases Loaded, 2outs | GS - 4R | N |
| 07/02/08 | 7 | Madrigal | 2B, BB, 2B - 2R | 2B, 1B, GO, 1B, Pitching Change - 3R | N |
| 07/02/08 | 8 | Wright | 1B, FO, 1B, GO, 1B, 1B - 1R, Bases Loaded 2outs | 1B, FO - 2R | N |
| 07/01/08 | 4 | Millwood | GO, BB, 1B - 1R, 2on 1out | K, FO - 0R | Y |
| 07/01/08 | 6 | Rupe | K, FO, 1b, 1b, 1b - Bases Loaded 2outs | FO - 0R | Y |
In 29 mound visits (up to and including the game on July 22nd):
- 17 of them ended in 0 runs (success),
- 11 of them the opposing team scored runs (failure),
- 1 of them, the opposing team scored a run but the pitcher just yielded outs (undecided).
I'm not sure what expectations people have after a mound visit but a 59% success rate seems pretty good. Consider that if a pitcher requires a mound visit, he's already pitching badly and the expectation is probably that he's going to fail anyway. In some situations, you expect that nothing in the world is going to get the pitcher out of the inning short of the hook.
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when the mound visit the LAST INNING proved to work out.
I think you spoke too soon.
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 4:13 PM CDT 0 recs
Failure is always emphasized more than success
Especially round these parts.
That being said, I would like to see Connor go.
by LiamP on Jul 23, 2008 4:19 PM CDT 0 recs
fire him.
the preceding post is not nearly as negative or insulting as you think it is
by DSheppard on Jul 23, 2008 4:26 PM CDT 0 recs
Yep
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
by Agreen07 on
Jul 23, 2008 4:36 PM CDT
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yep yep let's do it!. + 1
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 7:21 PM CDT
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Well
its hard to interpret this without seeing a comparison to the probable number of runs to score in each situation (ie, bases loaded with no outs, you’d expect probably around 2 runs to score in an average case). Is the outcome higher or lower than the expected runs scored when Connor goes out there? (I’m not going to calculate all of these, but I guess someone could).
That said, I think Connor should go not because of his visit success rate, but because pitchers on this team cannot remain healthy and those that can don’t pitch well. I don’t really think that Texas is horrendous at pitching because of Connor, but I am pretty certain that he isn’t making it any better. At which point, you may as well get rid of him and find someone who may be able to make it better (Leo Mazzone or Greg Maddux…)
by JBImaknee on Jul 23, 2008 4:27 PM CDT 0 recs
by the way
nice compilation – gets a rec from me.
by JBImaknee on
Jul 23, 2008 4:27 PM CDT
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more context would have been more helpful
but i couldn’t fit everything I wanted into the chart. But, looking at the numbers, it is about what you’d expect. When pitchers didn’t have it and they got into trouble, they usually gave up runs. When it was a lower pressure situation, they saved runs. Still, Connor mound visits led to the rangers getting out of more than a few dicey situations
""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 23, 2008 8:28 PM CDT
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prospect project
Is the community prospect project over? We definitely need a diversion.
"An effortless 98" - Scott Gardner after Neftali Feliz's first AA pitch
by RangerMad on Jul 23, 2008 4:31 PM CDT 0 recs
i can't help but notice...
...23 of those 29 mound visits were with a young pitcher.
by oc on Jul 23, 2008 4:36 PM CDT 0 recs
mound visits
I’m less worried about those than what happens between appearances
we need to do something to get more consistency out of the pitchers
by simplesimon on Jul 23, 2008 4:36 PM CDT 0 recs
Honestly?
However much Dave Duncan is getting paid…double it and get him here.
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2008 4:37 PM CDT 0 recs
Nah
I’d much rather have Peterson.
You read Verducci’s cover story on Lincecum a couple weeks back?
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on
Jul 23, 2008 4:42 PM CDT
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I didn't read it
although I heard Verducci being interviewed by DP on his radio show. I thought Lincecum’s dad taught him everything…
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
by Agreen07 on
Jul 23, 2008 4:43 PM CDT
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Peterson
It was only partly about Lincecum. The second half was about the latest research on pitching injury.
Peterson got quoted heavily there…you couldn’t read it without wondering how he has no job.
Seems like a short window is open on a richly educated pitching mind. I would snap the dude up, and give him input with the scouting department too.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on
Jul 23, 2008 4:52 PM CDT
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Agreed
I’m not sure if he’d come here but we at least have an in with Wash and Howe, assuming those guys get along.
by LiamP on
Jul 23, 2008 5:09 PM CDT
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Peterson
I’m not sure about giving him input with the scouting department- as I recall, he had a big hand in the Mets’ decision to deal Kazmir for Victor Zambrano.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on
Jul 23, 2008 8:46 PM CDT
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on the other hand
did he have a big hand in the Mets decision to draft Scott Kazmir?
by tyd3311 on
Jul 23, 2008 8:49 PM CDT
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Incorrectamundo, Master Pynchon
Two years too late.
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jul 23, 2008 9:18 PM CDT
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Scouting
Actually, here’s the article.
Peterson’s been working with a group that studies pitching injury, the overall problem-laced human technology of pitching a baseball. That piques my interest.
Actually the one whose eye for latent injury is most convincing is…Mr. Lincecum.
FWIW. He taught Tim everything he knows.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on
Jul 23, 2008 10:45 PM CDT
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Nice Work
Good info. I don’t think that he’s as bad as most make him out to be. Look at what he’s had to work with. However, I wish they’d replace him.
by HITX on Jul 23, 2008 5:01 PM CDT 0 recs
that's not the point
the point being he looks like jackass coming out there yelling and with a scowl on his face and he’s a holdover from the Buck regime.
duh.
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 23, 2008 5:15 PM CDT 0 recs
Detroit
Check out the pitcher they had on the mound today.
I wish we could get pitchers like that.
by SaltyGoesYard on Jul 23, 2008 5:16 PM CDT 0 recs
nah
i don’t go looking unless you give a link here.
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on
Jul 23, 2008 5:17 PM CDT
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Stirrin the pot....
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
by Agreen07 on
Jul 23, 2008 5:17 PM CDT
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at least we have
good ole Mendoza.
And BMac!!!
Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.
by tricer on
Jul 23, 2008 7:53 PM CDT
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Good Work,
and I gave it a rec.
But I feel that we are due for some pointless meaningless gesture. Since all of the pitchers can not be release, then I think that it is time to fire Conner. Just to reaffirm the message to the entire organization that results do matter. I do not know if another coach could do any better with the material that he has been given, but it is time to find out.
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 5:16 PM CDT 0 recs
Eyes..
We need a new set looking at our pitchers…
A different perspective.
Mark Connor has run his course hear.
He has nothing left to offer our current pitching staff.
by tyd3311 on Jul 23, 2008 5:17 PM CDT 0 recs
YESSSSSSSSSSS
Yanks called Rangers about Laird. That is the start we’re looking for…
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 23, 2008 5:22 PM CDT 0 recs
Ohhh shit
I hope we can get them desperate and get 3 sprinkled donuts….no no 1 blueberry. oh shit what am I talking about thats a pipe dream.
Lets just settle for one mid level donut hole.
by SaltyGoesYard on
Jul 23, 2008 5:24 PM CDT
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Famous Ray's Pizza
that’s all i want
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on
Jul 23, 2008 5:25 PM CDT
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I just started a diary detailing their interest...
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
by Agreen07 on
Jul 23, 2008 5:30 PM CDT
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This loss is good
Now we can get on with the Blalock, Guardado, Laird, maybe CJ trades…
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on Jul 23, 2008 5:29 PM CDT 0 recs
Yeah
Eddie and CJ really upped their trade value today.
by JBImaknee on
Jul 23, 2008 5:52 PM CDT
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riiiiiiiight
So did Josh Hamilton’s.
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on
Jul 23, 2008 5:55 PM CDT
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Heh
You know in the abstract that’s an interesting idea, but in reality that’d probably cause my head (and the head of just about every Ranger and Rays fan) to explode.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on
Jul 24, 2008 3:36 AM CDT
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Yes its one game
but if you are a team thinking about trading a top prospect for a top reliever, are you encouraged by that 8th inning? If the Cards were on the fence about an Eddie for Todd deal, you think that helped?
by JBImaknee on
Jul 23, 2008 6:25 PM CDT
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i dunno
i figure they’d have “success” at least half the time by pure luck.
by SteveP on Jul 23, 2008 6:02 PM CDT 0 recs
Figure this needs to be posted here...
Stars in a Texas Night Sky, a Dallas Stars blog from a fan's perspective.
by rangers85 on Jul 23, 2008 6:43 PM CDT 0 recs
What the hell is Connor supposed to do?
Go back in time and teach these guys how to pitch as 12-yr. olds, or genetically alter them so they have more talent?
It seems a lot of you expect Connor to turn a pig into princess, but most of the time he’s just going to get that pig as pretty as she can be. I don’t know if Connor helps or not, but when it comes to TX pitching, he is waaaaay down the list of problems.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on Jul 23, 2008 7:58 PM CDT 0 recs
+Rec
for grammar
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 24, 2008 8:08 AM CDT
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not be such an ass and a buck lover
Josh Hamilton is better than you.
by Longhorn on
Jul 23, 2008 8:14 PM CDT
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Seriously, what has Connor been given to work with?
The likes of:
Loe
Rheinecker
Koronka
Gabbard
Mathis
Feldman
Mendoza
Harrison
All noodle-armed finesse-oriented control-reliant talentless losers who’d be lucky to be mop-up men on other organizations’ AAA-teams. Seriously, the overhyped Harrison looks like another Koronka with maybe 1 or 2 additional mph on his fastball. Yay. Mendoza looks like another Mike Wood with maybe 1 or 2 additional mph on his fastball. Talk about stinky.
by Rangerchick on
Jul 23, 2008 8:23 PM CDT
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I don't think
Harrison belongs on the list. He’s at least proven himself in the minors and was/is highly regarded. He’s a rookie he’ll take his lumps. If this continues 2 or 3 years down the line than yeah, but already calling him another Koronka is foolish.
"Mr. Hicks, you watch, I'm going to be a leader on this team." Kinsler
by sprite on
Jul 23, 2008 8:28 PM CDT
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What if I never held Harrison in high esteem?
Although calling anyone another Koronka is a bit much.
Really I think he’s more of a poor man’s Carlos Silva or maybe a homeless man’s Jarrod Washburn.
Though with his control there’s a chance he could end up as a decent 4/5 for a few years, imo.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on
Jul 24, 2008 3:40 AM CDT
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Agree
I am impressed with Feldman’s transformation into a starter though and Connor should be given some credit for that. The true test will be how our own home-grown products produce at the major league level. So far I think Hurley has exceed all of our expectations (although it has been in just limited action). And I still stick by my original assessment that Mendoza has reliever written all over him.
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
by Agreen07 on
Jul 23, 2008 8:28 PM CDT
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It only took Connor and the Orginazation 5 years
to figure out they needed to raise felmdan’s arm angle
by tyd3311 on
Jul 23, 2008 8:30 PM CDT
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Hahaha
I’m just trying to highlight some of the positives. I guess he deserves blame for Volquez and Galaragga though.
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
by Agreen07 on
Jul 23, 2008 8:32 PM CDT
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On the flip side
Rudy should get no praise for turning Juan, Rusty, Pudge, Raffy, ARod, and Teixeira into hitting machines.
Let me have a diablo sandwich, a Dr. Pepper, and make it fast I'm in a God damned hurry!
by DaheelzCM on
Jul 23, 2008 8:30 PM CDT
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there is something to be said for turning a great minor league batter into a great major league batter
so, the flip side to that would be connor not having success with BMac (even before the injury) and Volquez. Similarly, if Hurley doesn’t improve, that should be on Connor.
""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 23, 2008 8:32 PM CDT
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McCarthy was really starting to come around last year
He had a truly terrible April that buried him, but he was starting to show real signs of life as the season progressed.
Pre-ASB: 5.70 era 60.0 ip
Post-ASB: 3.67 era 41.2 ip
April 9.90 era 20.0 ip
May 3.55 era 25.1 ip
June 1.80 era 5.0 ip
July 4.09 era 33.0 ip
August 1.69 era 10.2 ip
September 5.87 era 7.2 ip
Not to be a Disagreeing Doris here, but couldn’t one construe those numbers as Mark Connor helping BMac overcome some shit and get better?
And I’m too lazy to grab the stats on Edinson, but, iirc, wasn’t it Connor’s idea to send Edinson down all the way to A-ball to work on things so that he’d have a chance to truly excel at the big league level? And weren’t there real signs toward the end of last year that those things were working?
I’d actually consider those two guys to be Connor success stories.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on
Jul 24, 2008 3:53 AM CDT
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McCarthy's ratios never really varied much last season
He was the same poor pitcher all season long. The blips in the era are just noise, if you look at his peripherals they remained poor all season.
Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.
by tricer on
Jul 24, 2008 8:22 AM CDT
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To play devil's advocate
hitting has not been a real problem since he’s been here, by and large, so I tend to think he is at least not screwing guys up.
Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.
by t ball on
Jul 23, 2008 8:59 PM CDT
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michael young
mark derosa
gary mathews jr.
and marlon byrd
by tyd3311 on
Jul 23, 2008 9:02 PM CDT
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What about them?
Let me have a diablo sandwich, a Dr. Pepper, and make it fast I'm in a God damned hurry!
by DaheelzCM on
Jul 23, 2008 9:05 PM CDT
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seems
he has a history of taking great arms…
and absolutely f’ing them.
not the arm, but the person.
by tyd3311 on
Jul 23, 2008 9:24 PM CDT
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The Braves are winning 9-0
Mark Teixeira is 0-1 with 3 BB’s. 2 LOB. and somehow 0 R.
He doesn’t impact games.
If the Braves were losing 0-9.
Mark Teixeira would promptly hit 2 HR’s making the final outcome 9-4.
by tyd3311 on Jul 23, 2008 8:38 PM CDT 0 recs
get him the hell out of there
we need to make a statement our pitching staff has been horrible forever we need to get a different pitching coach. Maybe I am just fed up but I am sick of this pitching to see our guys galarraga for instance go 7 innings perfect pisses me off . Why do we get rid of pitchers that just go elsewhere and succeed. Thats on JD! but what the F… Millwood is a piece of shit. Watching rangers live and seeing him do mma shit over and over they say he would work out once a week and they replayed that shit over and over. Wow I know I dont work out that much but he gets paid millions of dollars a year and all he can do is work out once a week in the offseason. All that stuff if how good of shape he is in. Bull he cant stay healthy build within dont sign any more free agent pitchers for big money chan ho still pitching and not that bad. Send millwood on his way so he can be successful which with our luck he will win the cy young next year with another team.
by mai on Jul 23, 2008 8:48 PM CDT