Sunday morning things

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 10, 2008 9:10 AM CDT Comment 40 comments

This has been a lousy few days for Rangers fans. 4 game losing streak. David Murphy and C.J. Wilson out for significant time. 7 1/2 games back in the wild card race.

And last night, another ugly blowout loss. Evan Grant says Eddie Guardado and Marlon Byrd, the "most vocal leaders" on the team, got together last night to try to figure out what needed to be done to get the team out of its funk. Unless one of them can pitch 7 shutout innings or get Milton Bradley healthy, I doubt there is much either can do.

Jeff Wilson suggests that the Rangers struggles since Murphy's injury show that Murphy deserves to be voted rookie of the year. And T.R. Sullivan laments that this injury means Evan Longoria will win the rookie of the year award by default.

Anthony Andro scolds C.J. Wilson for showing up Ron Washington earlier this week, saying Wilson broke one of the cardinal unwritten rules of baseball.

The Rangers are going to skip Tommy Hunter's slot in the rotation when it comes up this week, in an effort to keep his inning total this season to a manageable number.

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Although I think Murph should have won ROY

I think most of the media would have voted Longoria anyways….

"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

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by hinduplaya on Aug 10, 2008 9:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Why?

Although I think Murph should have won ROY

Why? Longoria has been the much better player this year.

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 10, 2008 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a big Murphy fan,

but no way does Murphy win ROY over Longoria. I think Longoria has separated himself from everyone. Murphy was a solid #2.

Aikman and Bradshaw?

Please. They are in the same league as Trent Dilfer and Jim McMahon as QBs who were taken to the SB by great Defenses and great Running Games.
-DJCahill

by SarasotaRanger on Aug 10, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+ 1

I've never seen a pitcher with "bone spur" issues throw 96 mph. The only spurs I'm aware of are the spurs that Wash has buried in C J's ass as he rides him. I love ya C J but welcome to Wash's DOGHOUSE.
.

by LAMuscleFag on Aug 10, 2008 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Definitely a solid #2 though.

-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"If I buy this team, Chris Davis will end up suing me for sexual harassment." - Me
"Oh, but it will be worth it. a few million to you at that point will be pocket change." - LAMuscleFag

by baseballismyboyfriend on Aug 10, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

It isn’t even close IMO. Longoria is killing him. In fact if Longoria had played all year I’d give him the MVP.

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

by Agreen07 on Aug 10, 2008 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The media would have been right

Longoria:

.278/.352/.533/.885

Murphy:

.275/.321/.465/.784

It’s really not even close.

"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama

by DaheelzCM on Aug 10, 2008 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this last week

really has been the perfect storm of crappy things happening to the team. though even if murphy and bradley had been healthy would it really matter the way we are pitching?

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Aug 10, 2008 9:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

RIP Rangers Season

It was nice run. But between the Olympics starting up, the Cowboys starting their preseason schedule, and the Rangers playing all of their significant young players already, there really is little reason left to watch their annual limp to the finish line. All but the most masochistic fans will shift their weary eyes away. Sure, I will check the minor league box scores from time to time, but the day to day activities of the club will hold little relevance for the average fan.

Congrats on at least keeping our attention through the beginning of August. That is an improvement over years past.

by clark on Aug 10, 2008 9:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

-1...

Football and the Olympics don’t mean jack compared to baseball.

I’d rather watch baseball (even “meaningless” baseball) over either of those everyday.

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

by slc ranger on Aug 10, 2008 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Aug 10, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What

about Olympic Baseball?

by phina on Aug 10, 2008 10:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha .... "annual limp to the finish line"

I’d be happy with a limp….. I’m afraid it’s going to be more of “dragging a leg” than a limp, they’re already limping.

by LAMuscleFag on Aug 10, 2008 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lets stop saying wild card race cause

that ship has sailed, not gonna happen, reality check time.

by TRFAN on Aug 10, 2008 9:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I hate to say it

but I’m actually kind of glad it’s happening this way…if the team would’ve made some unprobable surge to be 1 or 2 games out of the wildcard with a couple of weeks left in the season, maybe team management would’ve been blinded by that pursuit of the playoffs and made some poor personnel decisions. The bottom line is a team that pitches this poorly can’t make a serious run at a World Series…I’d rather see the wheels fall off now and the team proceed patiently with hope for the (near) future than to shanghi the next 5 years by doing stupid stuff just to make the wild card in a year they couldn’t realisitically make any actual postseason noise.

2008 Rangers, I applaud you. You have given me one of the 5 most memorable Ranger seasons thus far…but more than that, you’ve given me a reason to believe in the future of this team, and I am very excited.

"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"

by Bob Loblaw on Aug 10, 2008 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Silly TR

Evan Longoria was going to win ROY by default wether Murph got hurt or not.

A Lonestar in California

We need to hire Chuck Norris to kick the ass of any Ranger fan caught booing one of our young pitchers at the RBiA.

by lonestarJon on Aug 10, 2008 9:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

by JimBonnick84 on Aug 10, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

By default? Why by default?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 10, 2008 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

There’s an odd tendency to use “default” to mean “unquestionably” or something to that effect. Doesn’t make much sense.

Unless his point was that every other rookie would fail to respond or pull their names out of contention.

by brettgardner on Aug 10, 2008 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe he meant

that it was a 2 horse race between Murph and Longoria and since only 1 remains, he will win by default.

"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"

by Bob Loblaw on Aug 10, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh that's kind of you

But I don’t think that’s the case, since he said whether Murph got hurt or not.

I like it though.

by brettgardner on Aug 10, 2008 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, that Brett!

“He is the very pineapple of politeness!”

;)

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley

by Rodney on Aug 10, 2008 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed

And it bothers me. I can’t help it.

Unless you’re ESL you should just know shit like that.

It should be intrinsic.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 10, 2008 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

Unless one of them can pitch 7 shutout innings or get Milton Bradley healthy, I doubt there is much either can do.

That’s quality AJM.

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

by Agreen07 on Aug 10, 2008 9:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ranger's season.....

Jordan fades back, Swooosh… .and THAT’S THE GAME!!! Nothing further, your Honor.

Acquire Sheets and some bullpen help and maybe next year’s bunch will be playoff-calibur. 5.52 team ERA. Kick me in the nuts. That’s outrageously shitty.

Aikman and Bradshaw?

Please. They are in the same league as Trent Dilfer and Jim McMahon as QBs who were taken to the SB by great Defenses and great Running Games.
-DJCahill

by SarasotaRanger on Aug 10, 2008 9:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

SO

the team wants to limit Tommy Guns innings? I guess 153.1 innings 1 year out of college for a former college closer is too many? I am a really big JD fan, but he did say at Newberg night that they start there young guys off slow, so they can finish strong, yet Hunter, Feldman, and Feliz are all just about out of innings. I think this all should have been handled a little better early on, I believe its important to let these guys finish STRONG, its important to have some momentum going into next year!

by blueballlefty on Aug 10, 2008 9:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Off base

I’m sure the team knew that Feldman could run into innings trouble if he did well, pleasant problem to have. Feliz as well, given how few innings he had last year. Hunter is probably the one out of the three you mentioned that is a surprise, but they are handling all 3 as carefully as they can so I’m really not sure what you’re beef is.

I think there are a few folks here that will not pass up any chance to take a shot at the team’s front office. These three are some of the biggest success stories of the year, there’s nothing there to criticize. Having them pitch fewer innings in early season and more in August and September is not going to seriously impact their development. And I doubt their “momentum” is in danger.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 10, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again...

Perhaps you haven’t heard, but this team has had some injuries this year.

As far as Feliz goes he has nothing to do with Hunter and Feldman. He’s a completely different situation.

The momentum for next year has already been built imo.

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

by slc ranger on Aug 10, 2008 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hunter

Hunter pitched 117 innings as a 19yo in 2006. He followed that with 107 IP in 2007 at Alabama. Add in his Spokane numbers and his pitched 124 innings in 2007. His 153 innings this year are right inline with what he should be doing.

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

by RangerMad on Aug 10, 2008 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sickels

Something to look forward to: he’ll review his preseason Rangers Top 20 next Monday. So there’s that.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/8/9/590361/finishing-up-the-top-20-re

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 10, 2008 10:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It isn't too soon

To say what I take from this remarkable season.

First, I’m not disappointed. The effort given to this point, surprisingly producing four AllStars, far overachieving preseason guesstimates, and generally playing well despite poor defense and inadequate pitching is an eye opener to a veteran fan.

Second, one can see possibilities in the near future, even though tempered by knowing the construct of the team isn’t yet (and probably won’t be in 2009) talented or prepared enough to compete for the AL West over a full season. Sure, it could happen, but would be at least as much a surprise as being in quasi contention for a wild card on July 31, 2008.

And y’all know me by now, Ranger baseball is a 12 month avocation, like golf, and it truly doesn’t matter how the other pro franchises fare (but yes, they are entertaining).

Finally, the rest of the season isn’t scrap. More “who’ve we got” trials can be run, and the go win one attitude of many of the players won’t die out even though they have hit a health and oxygen shortage right now.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Aug 10, 2008 11:26 AM CDT reply actions 3 recs

I couldn't agree more Ed

One can see the bones to a good team.

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Aug 10, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well stated sir.

However, i do see this team being very much “in it” in ‘09.

by Rodney on Aug 10, 2008 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure how to assess this season

just yet. They’ve been markedly better than last year but last year this thing had a fork in it’s ass on May 31 so that really wasn’t a big step. There were so many statistically negative peripherals that have accompanied this team all year that have carried over from last year that makes wonder if they have the capacity to improve.

The major improvement of this team has been their OF play (plus Ian Kinsler’s entry into stardom) which in turn has given the offense more punch. Last year Ranger #6 hitters had 14 HR / 49 RBI and thru August this year they have 14 HR / 67 RBI.

Other than that? The pitchers walk waaaaaay too many people, the defense is a joke and they still run the bases like mentally challenged old women.

We’re still a long, long way from Tiperary and without massive change, I see more of the same in 2009.

The GM is drowning in catchers and failed in his first effort to erase the log-jam. Our starting pitchers don’t throw enough quality and this taxes the bullpen. Do you keep Millwood, Padilla and Feldman in next year’s rotation and if you do what happens to Hurley & Harrison?

What does the owner do? Modeling your team after the Colorado Rox worked wonders for your own bank account the last 4 years but fans in DFW lashed back and attendance is at a 20 year low. Do you slash payroll or do you try to win some of your fans back by making a splash in free agency?

No negativity, just reality checks on where this thing is and how they have played this year.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Aug 10, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs