Michael Ballard starting tomorrow

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 8, 2008 4:46 PM CDT Comment 58 comments

Per Richard Durrett, Michael Ballard is supposed to get the start tomorrow against the Angles.

Ballard is an organizational depth guy who, presumably, will be DFA'd immediately after tomorrow night's game.

You can check out his numbers here. He's a 24 year old lefty drafted in the 14th round of the 2006 draft. My guess is that he'll clear waivers unclaimed and be outrighted later this week.

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What's the status

of the 40 right now?

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 8, 2008 4:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nippert

Calling him up seems to complicate it a little. Personally, my top two choices to take off would be Jennings and Metcalf.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 8, 2008 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jennings?

isnt he on the 60 day DL so he isnt taken up a space on the 40 man? I know the Rangers website says he is on the 15 day but surely since he’s out for the season he is on the 60 day

by blueballlefty on Jul 8, 2008 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jennings

He’s not on the 60 day d.l. yet. He can be put there at any time. I don’t think the 40 man is full yet, though, so no real reason yetl.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 8, 2008 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So just curious

what is the advantage of leaving him off the 60 day DL when he is clearly out for the season?

by blueballlefty on Jul 8, 2008 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Instead of putting him on the 60

might as well release him

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Jul 8, 2008 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

A Lonestar in California

"My keyboard is a Yankees fan" - Whipsmart

by lonestarJon on Jul 8, 2008 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

can someone be put on the 60 retroactively?

"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2

by tdi1985 on Jul 8, 2008 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 8, 2008 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very possible

I was just going by their site.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 8, 2008 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

im significantly less excited for this AAA lefty than the other one =)

this angels series has been derailed pretty quickly. hope harrison has something today.

2 games over 500 please.

by DSheppard on Jul 8, 2008 4:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

lefty none-the-less

that’s exciting in a way…although it’s kind of a strange choice, as the Angels pound lefties…

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

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 8, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh my

by Brett Perryman on Jul 8, 2008 4:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Would you agree...

...he falls in the category of organizational depth, rather than prospect?

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 8, 2008 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i would

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers, BENOIT SUCKS, bring up Harrison

by nice hands on Jul 8, 2008 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

The move makes perfect sense, just shocking to see a name like that starting against the Angels. The Texas League hits him pretty hard.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 8, 2008 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I skipped

Frisco games when he was pitching. This ~~could~~ should be real ugly.

by BHill on Jul 8, 2008 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Texas League hits him pretty hard.

.304 BA against – Yikes

by LBBRangerFan on Jul 8, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ballard

I heard he’s the next Randy Johnson can anybody validate that?

by blueballlefty on Jul 8, 2008 4:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i hope you are kidding

i saw him pitch about a week ago

why not bring up hunter?

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers, BENOIT SUCKS, bring up Harrison

by nice hands on Jul 8, 2008 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He pitched last night

and you wouldn’t be able to clear him off the 40 after the start

Junior Mayberry

by jparks77 on Jul 8, 2008 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers, BENOIT SUCKS, bring up Harrison

by nice hands on Jul 8, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hunter

You don’t call him up because you start his option clock going and have 40 man complications this offseason.

Ballard, you call up, give him a spot start, then drop him from the 40 man immediately afterwards.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 8, 2008 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you really don't think Hunter will be called up

before September?

"I really think JD is probably going to be one of the best things ever to happen to the Rangers." - Longhorn, May 27th, 2007

by Longhorn on Jul 8, 2008 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that...

...it is possible, but not likely.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 8, 2008 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

uh what

"I really think JD is probably going to be one of the best things ever to happen to the Rangers." - Longhorn, May 27th, 2007

by Longhorn on Jul 8, 2008 5:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

wow.

by oc on Jul 8, 2008 5:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This guy...

is either REALLY excited right now, or he is shitting himself.

by ghostofErikThompson on Jul 8, 2008 5:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

poor kid...

by oc on Jul 8, 2008 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't it be great...

if he pitched a 3 hit shutout with like 7 K’s and then walked off the field to a standing O?

Maybe that’s what he is thinking about right now.

Sadly, it is more likely that he gets torched and becomes afraid of baseballs.

by ghostofErikThompson on Jul 8, 2008 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

wouldnt it be great..

if he pitched more than 2 innings and didnt let in more than 8 runs

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers, BENOIT SUCKS, bring up Harrison

by nice hands on Jul 8, 2008 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

by oc on Jul 8, 2008 5:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

anyone

else seen ballard pitch in frisco?

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers, BENOIT SUCKS, bring up Harrison

by nice hands on Jul 8, 2008 5:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Little Rock two weeks ago

I’d say he is a chunky Kason Gabbard. 89-91 mph on the fast ball with a slow curve.

If he can’t hit his spots or the Angels take lots of pitches, they’ll need another long man.

by T Coleman on Jul 8, 2008 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

great another gabbard...

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers, BENOIT SUCKS, bring up Harrison

by nice hands on Jul 8, 2008 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

but a chunky Gabbard

that’s gonna be fun to watch…

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

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 8, 2008 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

chunky

So he won’t fold up like a lawn chair when GMJ charges he mound?

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

by RangerMad on Jul 8, 2008 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OT a bit

How is the new stadium there in N. Little Rock? I haven’t been to a Travs game since they closed old Ray Winder…

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
ElectricOkra.com

by WhipSmart on Jul 8, 2008 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice

The stadium is on Broadway, just down the street from Alltell Arena. There seems to be plenty of parking, unlike Alltel.

From the 3rd base line, the view over looks the Arkansas River into downtown Little Rock. There is a nice view of the Peabody and the Stevens Bldg. Thank goodness the hideous Clinton Library is out-of-sight.

For $10, we were right behind the Visitor (Frisco) dugout. Only two other folks were in the entire section. Definitely worth a trip if you are in state. Tickets can be purchased on-line and printed from the computer…kind of a novelty in Arkansas.

by T Coleman on Jul 8, 2008 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So What Happens....

....... if Rupe has to go 4 or 5 innings tonight? then WHAT for wednesday? Oh NO the more I think about this the more if I was RonWash I would take a sabatical for the next week or two because this could get soo soo ugly!

by blueballlefty on Jul 8, 2008 5:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hambino

comes in and goes Kazmir on their asses.

by Lo'Ranger(s)714 on Jul 8, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since Mendoza didn't pitch that much

I would assume he’s the long man. Texas could also send down Madrigal and call up Loe to be the long man tomorrow, if Rupe has to go a long time today.

by Hull Fan on Jul 8, 2008 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is Mathis

anywhere close to returning??

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Jul 8, 2008 5:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i hope not

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers, BENOIT SUCKS, bring up Harrison

by nice hands on Jul 8, 2008 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

better choice than Ballard

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Jul 8, 2008 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is any one really suprised? Im not-

I heard through Miles that Sharkys getting the nod next week. Take that to the bank.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Jul 8, 2008 5:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Heh

A Lonestar in California

"My keyboard is a Yankees fan" - Whipsmart

by lonestarJon on Jul 8, 2008 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ballard still a prospect

I think Ballard could project as a lefty bullpen specialist so I don’t think AdMo should blow him off so easily as a prospect. We have traded a lot of lefty/bullpen specialists over the last few years, which has left us in a bind, so I’m sure they will try him in that role next year as better quality starters migrate up through the system. He is not a ML starter for sure but he does have a 2.75 era over his last 9 starts…

by Goyogringo on Jul 8, 2008 6:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Mathis

Gonna go ahead and throw this out there but I feel like we are in another Armando Galarraga situation with Ballard. If we bring him up for one start and DFA him I imagine some team with an open 40 spot will grab him and just option him to AA or AAA. He will still have 2 option years left after this one so its not like a team has to view him as an immediate impact much like was with Galarraga this spring. I agree with the decision making process and with seemingly no one else we could bring up for such a spot start I just worry we may lose a future back of the rotation or bullpen guy for no reason.

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 8, 2008 6:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought there would never be a day..

that I wished the HO was still ptiching here.. but after hearing this news….

the HO is doing pretty good this year: 4-2 2.36 with the Dodgers

Last week Arod and Cynthia were huge news in NYC.
This week they are huge national news.
The power of Miles, the child prodigy, catch it!!!!

by LAMuscleFag on Jul 8, 2008 6:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

beware of what you ask for

HO’s carry STD’s!!!

by Coolbean04 on Jul 8, 2008 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this is not the day and there will never be a day that a ranger fan will want Chan HO here

Kinsler is the best player on the rangers(done), BENOIT SUCKS(done), bring up Harrison(done),new: Put Nippert in rotation, Mendoza to the pen, get Feliz to AAA by the end of the year, trade cat

by nice hands on Jul 9, 2008 2:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am so smart.....

SMRT

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

by DaheelzCM on Jul 8, 2008 10:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ballard needed?

Could the Rangers go with Rupe tomorrow followed by Wright instead of Ballard? The bullpen is well rested thanks to Nippert and Harrison. If Rupe and Wright can go 6 innings it wouldn’t over tax the bullpen.

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

by RangerMad on Jul 8, 2008 11:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I would like to see that

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jul 9, 2008 12:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

with the lack of SP currently in AA and AAA (see the Stanford signing), can the Rangers really risk losing Ballard?

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

by RangerMad on Jul 9, 2008 1:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One of those situations

where Wash pulls aside his four all-stars and says:

“Can you help a brother out?”

by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 9, 2008 12:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Totally disagree with possible Ballard move

I have no problem using Ballard tonight. Every game of experience is good for the kids.

What I don’t agree with is what to do with him after the game. He is a 24 year old lefthanded pitcher who is moving up the system after being drafted only two years ago. He should not be sacrificed for a stopgap start. And not if he HAS to be DFA’d!! This is how we lost Galarraga.

Say he pitches like Harrison last night, don’t youthink another team would claim him on waivers If he was 33 years old that is one thing, but he is ONLY 24 and a lefty.