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Wednesday morning things

Th_buckykatt_tiny by Adam J. Morris on

6 games over .500, but still 5 back of the Wild Card race. 

Once again, the Rangers win, but have a sort of cloud hanging over the win.  This time, the cloud is C.J. Wilson, who is headed to the disabled list with bone spurs, and who seems to have upset some folks with how he handled last night's meltdown:

Wilson was placed on the disabled list with bone spurs in his elbow.

The decision was made after a 30-minute meeting that manager Ron Washington acknowledged was unpleasant. It happened after Wilson, who entered the game with a six-run lead, allowed a pair of walks, a hit batter and a grand slam to Richie Sexson. During his time on the mound, Wilson was vigorously chastised on one occasion by catcher Gerald Laird.

Things really got explosive, however, when Washington came out to get him and Wilson casually flipped the ball in the air and started walking off the mound. Washington caught it, yanked Wilson back up on the mound, handed him the ball again and told him to hand it to him.

"I didn't like it one bit," said outfielder Marlon Byrd, who followed up his game-winning grand slam, with three hits and a two-out, rally-starting walk in the seventh. "Everybody hits rough patches, but when the manager comes out to get you, you hand him the ball and show him the respect he deserves. I don't know how it looks to fans, but I know how it looks to 24 other guys. It doesn't look good."

Said general manager Jon Daniels: "Guys are going to struggle. That is part of the game. That's not the issue. There is a way to act and carry yourself. The way he left was unacceptable and disrespectful. He's somebody we need and somebody we have to get right. The physical issue becomes the No. 1 priority for right now, but that doesn't excuse what happened on the mound."

Joaquin Benoit is being activated to replace Wilson.

Not that anyone noticed, with all the drama surrounding the bullpen, but Matt Harrison had a real nice game yesterday.  After a few rough outings, he really needed a strong start, and he provided one.

The Rangers won't need a fifth starter again until August 15, and it appears to be up in the air who the fifth starter will be then.  Tommy Hunter is going to start today, and then could go out to the bullpen until the 15th.  Eric Hurley and Brandon McCarthy are both expected to still be on the shelf until then, and McCarthy will do a side session rather than a rehab start his next time out to work on some mechanical issues.  It sounds like McCarthy is going to be optioned rather than put on the major league roster when his rehab time is up.

 

 

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mccarthy

what are the chances we never get to see Brandon this year?

¡yo soy Horsedooty!

I soloed in the Mile High Club!

by horsedooty on Aug 6, 2008 8:28 AM CDT   0 recs

health is one thing

but he needs to have a couple of decent starts in AAA before i think of bringing him back. he hasnt dont enough to just automatically be brought back when he is healthy. good to see the rangers are thinking the same way.

by kumizi on Aug 6, 2008 8:34 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

So

Has McCarthy already become the Exxon Valdez? Or are we still a few steps away from that?

by SaltyGoesYard on Aug 6, 2008 8:31 AM CDT   0 recs

on ice

I don’t think he’s hit an ice berg or killed a bunch of baby seals yet, could be wrong.

by bushe on Aug 6, 2008 8:36 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think

because oh what he did at the beginning of the season. I have a feeling that the team still has a problem with his lazy faire attitude.

by JackDublin on Aug 6, 2008 8:37 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thats not the point.

The point is we have won 3 straight, 2 straight to the yankees and we are 6 games over .500 but yet CJ is the main story cause he flipped a ball to the Manager and is going on the DL.

How's Dshep's ass taste?

by iorange555 on Aug 6, 2008 8:40 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

its our closer

cmon..its suppose to be a huge deal! no matter what, if Rivera did something like that and hit the DL in the same nite…....all over the press. its quite unusual.

by JackDublin on Aug 6, 2008 8:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

cj has been the story for several weeks...

the issue had been resolved prior to last night, so it continues to take away from other, more important things – like beating NY.

fester (v) to cause increasing poisoning, irritation, or bitterness

that’s what happens when problems aren’t addressed

by sam in so cal on Aug 6, 2008 8:47 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

agree

There’s too much focus on the mini drama. Everyone knows CJ is a ‘unique’ character. A ball flip shouldn’t be front page news.

by jcAustin on Aug 6, 2008 8:48 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

it should

when its one of your supposedly front line players showing up the manager in front of 35K fans. and to try to downplay what he did is ridiculous. you wont ever ever ever see another pitcher at any level flip the ball to the manager as he comes out. whether he did it out of disgust and frustration with himself, or if he was just ticked at Ron for pulling him, its ok in neither instance.

The problem all along that people have pointed out with CJ is his perceived lack of maturity. This appears to be further support of that.

by 6th street on Aug 6, 2008 9:18 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

THE RANGERS WON

How about we talk about the other 24 guys on the team that have just won two straight against the Yankees. We should be talking about the Davis clutch double or Eddie becoming Everyday Eddie again and getting ARod out on a game ending double play. This team has so much good stuff going for them that a pitcher, who is going to the disabled list shouldn’t be the talk of this team. I say, if this bothers the team, then they’re mentally weak and shouldn’t deserve to be in any race.

by meatbonelefty on Aug 6, 2008 9:28 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

edi

who would be our closer now if eddie’s gone and cj’s on dl? frankie? im more comfortable with eddie, but frankie has to be next in line, unless benoit remembers how to pitch again

by FreeMoney4Sale on Aug 6, 2008 9:52 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

agreed

Obviously the team’s irritated with CJ, but this shit needs to be buried immediately, as the best things the Rangers have going are a positive vibe and some red hot bats.

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

by SarasotaRanger on Aug 6, 2008 9:02 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I have been kind of hard on RW this year and thought all the love was kind of manufactured but...

it sounds like he does have some true respect in the clubhouse. The CJ episode could turn out to be the thing that sends us on an extended streak. The kind of streak that this team has avoided since RW took over.

by Ranger Capt on Aug 6, 2008 8:35 AM CDT   0 recs

Gotta give CJ a break

He he is a strait edge emo. It has to be a rough life.

by SaltyGoesYard on Aug 6, 2008 8:36 AM CDT   0 recs

Heh.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 6, 2008 9:39 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

also CJ

so was CJ upfront with management about his elbow and the bone spurs all along? If not, why does the space cadet think he can work through it? I want CJ to be healthy and good if not great. but he has to be straight with them also.

¡yo soy Horsedooty!

I soloed in the Mile High Club!

by horsedooty on Aug 6, 2008 8:38 AM CDT   0 recs

we all said that about Padilla last year.

look how that turned out? hopefully, he and Jack Benny get healthy and kick ass in 2009

"So you have no frame of reference here, Donny. You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know... "

by Walter Sobchak on Aug 6, 2008 10:22 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

On another note

How the hell does Eddie Guardado get people out on a consistant basis? He has 1 pitch, a 87 MPH duck…

Very impressive.

by SaltyGoesYard on Aug 6, 2008 8:40 AM CDT   0 recs

his location

seems more like he is wild within the strike zone more than anything else.

by kumizi on Aug 6, 2008 9:03 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yep...

... amazing what can happen when you throw strikes and challenge hitters. He’s not alone in that department. JP Howell of the Rays tops out around 87-88 and has a sub-4 ERA.

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

by SarasotaRanger on Aug 6, 2008 9:04 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

JP

Howell did the same thing when he was at the University of Texas. He would attack hitters with his mid 80s heater and curveball and dominate. He broke Roger Clemens record for strikeouts in a two-year span while he was in college. In the pros, he was a starter until this year and really struggled. But this year in the pen, he is 6-0 with a 2.45 ERA.

by uthornfan on Aug 6, 2008 10:20 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

have you seen trevor hoffman?

all-time saves leader with only a change-up…

by JBImaknee on Aug 6, 2008 9:43 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

CJ

would make a stellar situational lefty. i just hope this incident and his spiral isn’t something that compounds itself and becomes a bigger problem than it should be.

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Aug 6, 2008 8:48 AM CDT   0 recs

if

he can consistently find the strike zone. right now, he walks way too many guys to be considered “stellar” in any situation.

by 6th street on Aug 6, 2008 9:04 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hurley

I wonder when we see him back. Seems like a ways away

by Salman on Aug 6, 2008 9:23 AM CDT   0 recs

When CJ flipped the ball the to Wash

the terrorists won.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Aug 6, 2008 9:34 AM CDT   1 recs

Ranger Fans

They hate him for his freedom…

Last week I took a pleasure trip. I drove my wife to the airport.

by Brian Thomas on Aug 6, 2008 9:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

MJH on Feliz

Does it make sense to bring him up for the stretch run?

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/08/neftali-time.html

EG mentioned it in the newsletter today, too. I don’t have that link.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 6, 2008 9:40 AM CDT   0 recs

ugh

the 40 rules all…

by JBImaknee on Aug 6, 2008 9:47 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Nah

I don’t want to take any chances with the best pitching prospect in the system and a guy we hope is a future ace. Most realistic scenario if he came up is he help the Rangers maybe finish one less game out of the wild card race.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 6, 2008 10:01 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Feliz

I think it makes sense. The only downsides I can see are (1) he doesn’t work on his breaking ball during the time he is up (being afraid to throw it) and (2) the 40 man implications.

Regarding the 40 man, there enough dead wood on it right now to build a house. Hopefully, we will be able to clear a couple spots with trades this month (Cat, Byrd, Wright, Guardado, etc.). When Metcalf is on your 40 man roster, you aren’t facing a crunch.

--Brian

by BCanfield on Aug 6, 2008 10:02 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Wwe don't need to have another Volquez scenerio

where we rush someone

"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 Aug 6, 2008 10:09 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Volquez wasn't pitching out of the pen

they’re already limiting Feliz’ innings, why the hell wouldn’t you take the guy with the best stuff in our entire organization and get his feet wet, while at the same time, possibly giving our team the best chance of holding a lead/tie game before handing it over to the setup man/closer?

I see the downside potential – injury, embarassment – but I see the benefits being MUCH greater. what if he dominates Joba-style (without the dominant secondary pitches…?) and comes to camp next year actually competing for a starting spot?

"So you have no frame of reference here, Donny. You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know... "

by Walter Sobchak on Aug 6, 2008 10:26 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Feliz

The guy had 70 innings of professional experience before this season and started this season in Low A ball. I don’t care how good his stuff is or anything but he does not need to be up in Arlington this year.

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 Aug 6, 2008 10:35 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I wouldn't

want to start the arbitration clock on our potential ace until he is absolutely ready. No need to rush him.

by BHill on Aug 6, 2008 10:40 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Arbitration clock

Thats the least of my worries right now. If we brought him up he would get about 60 days of service time this year. We woudl still have him for 6 full seasons after this and with his options we can finagle that to 7 seasons pretty easily.

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 Aug 6, 2008 10:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i think this says it best

for all you clamoring that the story should be about the guys and that theyre in a playoff race, not about CJ, what youre failing to see is that the 2 things are intertwined. I think Joey over at Baseball Time in Arlington points this out best below…

It ultimately does not matter whether we believe Wilson flipped the ball to Washington with spiteful intent or not; what matters is how his actions were perceived by his teammates, coaches and front office superiors, and he very clearly dug himself deeper into a hole that was already undergoing the laborious process of excavation before he ever stepped onto a mound on Tuesday.

http://mvn.com/mlb-rangers/

by 6th street on Aug 6, 2008 9:43 AM CDT   1 recs

Does it make the team worse

or less likely to win tonight?

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Aug 6, 2008 9:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think

if it effects the team chemistry, then yes, you can positively say it has an influence on how the team plays going forward. If management is worried that his poor attitude could have an impact on the other 24 guys in that clubhouse, and that being part of the reason for putting him on the DL, I definitely think its worthy of discussion.

by 6th street on Aug 6, 2008 9:48 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It would be really pathetic

if anyone on the team let something as small as that effect their mindset or performance. And if this team can’t handle a singular act of frustration by one player on the team then they should just quit now.

And I’m guessing CJ going on the DL has more to do with having bone spurs in his elbow.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Aug 6, 2008 9:54 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

he's had

the bone spurs for some time. he didnt magically develop them tonight. his continued ineffectiveness was obviously the basis for the decision to get a second opinion and go to the DL, but his attitude last night are what pushed it to the edge.

by 6th street on Aug 6, 2008 9:59 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

well

i actually think it has a positive effect on team chemistry. Seems like everybody is rallying around the whipping boy.

and you’re being a bit naive. he didn’t develop bone spurs last night.

""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 Aug 6, 2008 10:09 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

But if he has them

and it has become clear he can’t pitch through them then he should be on the DL.

If CJ had clamy handed Wash the ball I think he still would be on the DL today.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Aug 6, 2008 10:14 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

probably

because he gave up a grand slam. but if he had come in and walked a few batters and defense bailed him out and he had calmly handed wash the ball, i think he wouldn’t be having surgery now.

""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 Aug 6, 2008 10:18 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

right on.

I mean, he’s tossing 96 mph heat. and he was close on a lot of the balls, but pretty far off on the others. if it were 88 mph “Hurley heat” I’d have to think he’d have been gone either way. but they were looking for an explanation, and they seem to finally have found one. for the performance, anyways. the disrespect, while I can certainly understand his frustration, must be dealt with. I have to think that Eddie taking the closer’s role for the rest of the year will be punishment enough, if he addresses the team and manager with a sincere apology

"So you have no frame of reference here, Donny. You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know... "

by Walter Sobchak on Aug 6, 2008 10:29 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

True

I guess the reason I’m sort of defending CJ here is that I really have no problem with what CJ did. But the players and manager did, so I’m clearly in the minority—and their opinion matters a lot more than mine.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Aug 6, 2008 10:37 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah

i haven’t had a problem with anything prior to this but everybody unanimously seems upset about the ball flipping so it must be an issue.

I never realized ball flipping was disrespectful but i guess it is

""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 Aug 6, 2008 10:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

x
i actually think it has a positive effect on team chemistry. Seems like everybody is rallying around the whipping boy.

Who are you referring to as the “whipping boy”? Ron Washington?

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 6, 2008 10:17 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

"rallying around" is the wrong way to say it

rallying around whipping the whipping boy maybe, whipping boy being CJ.

""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 Aug 6, 2008 10:19 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

screw cj

I’m sick of the guy. but now we can’t even get rid of him because he’s hurt. I’d like to demote his petulant ass to AAA. oh well….

Zap Brannigan... you're my hero.....

by hotshot215 on Aug 6, 2008 9:53 AM CDT   0 recs

fine.

but don’t show up on this board with support for him if he shows up healthy and dominates next year.

I am not happy with his performance, but he’s gone from fan favorite to goat in 2 months. I’m pretty pissed off at the lack of loyalty around here

"So you have no frame of reference here, Donny. You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know... "

by Walter Sobchak on Aug 6, 2008 10:31 AM CDT to parent up   1 recs

Nice kneejerk reaction.

CJ could be great so get rid of him because of recent struggles. Very shortsighted IMO.

by Bigfan16 on Aug 6, 2008 10:46 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

riiight

because everything he’s done leading up to this year had him destined for greatness. ok man, you win

Zap Brannigan... you're my hero.....

by hotshot215 on Aug 7, 2008 8:51 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I am flat out stunned at how quickly so many have turned on the guy

Last week I took a pleasure trip. I drove my wife to the airport.

by Brian Thomas on Aug 6, 2008 9:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Concur

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

by slc ranger on Aug 7, 2008 2:14 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why?

It happens often here.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Aug 7, 2008 12:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Enough

This is like forgetting to check a box on your TPS Report and having hundreds of people discuss what a huge deal it is. CJ did something while exiting a game that his manager and fellow players deemed disrespectful. The manager confronted him about it. Move on.

--Brian

by BCanfield on Aug 6, 2008 9:57 AM CDT   0 recs

and the players seem to be making a very vocal deal about it

it’s a non story until players and management feel the need to discuss it. it is definitely a story when your closer falls completely out of favor with everyone on the team

""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 Aug 6, 2008 10:10 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Theres two different stories here

One being CJ on the DL. The other being his attitude last night upon being taken out of the game. Those are separate in my mind. But some people seem to be combining them.

CJ going on the DL seems to support the notion that his performance of late has been because he wasn’t fully healthy. I am a CJ fan and have a hard time believing the guy lost his stuff overnight.

Now as for the attitude issue. That was very bad last night. From strictly a fans view watching tv whenever the manager has to grab your arm and literally pull you back and make you rehand the ball to him something is wrong. Its a matter of respect. Whether CJ was mad at himself for giving up the homerun, mad at Wash for demoting him from closer role, or mad at Wash for pulling him after the GS doesn’t matter. You don’t show up your boss like that. In alot of jobs that gets you fired. For players and management to come out and publicly say stuff about it shows how bad it was perceived by his teammates and management.

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 Aug 6, 2008 10:33 AM CDT   0 recs

Thank you Bigsteve for your voice of reason and sanity.

CJ is a rare talent and has been a fan favorite at times. Everyone struggles from time to time and injuries are part of the game. Like you I am a fan of CJ and thought last nights emotional response to the situation was unacceptable. There is the right way and the lack of the right way to handle things. CJ was on the lacking side last night.
I LOVED how Wash handled the situation on the field, after the game (private 30 minute meeting with CJ) and then DL. GREAT JOB WASH!
CJ is a young man and I dare say an emotional human being. I have made a lot worse mistakes in my life but have learned from them. Give CJ time to learn from this, get healthy and grow into the talents he has been blessed with. His emotional energy combined with his talent, health and a little maturity could add up to an incredibly great MLB pitcher.

Once again great job to Wash.

by Bigfan16 on Aug 6, 2008 10:44 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

OT Question....

Isn’t there a website that will show me a team’s record from a date A to date B?

Thanks.

by Chris Hanes on Aug 6, 2008 10:49 AM CDT   0 recs

Anyone

have a video of the CJ/ RW incident in last night’s game??

"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 Aug 6, 2008 11:34 AM CDT   0 recs

Most of you have it all wrong

We don’t continue to talk about CJ because he’s on the DL, or because he flips a ball.

We talk about CJ because he continues to try to throw the games away. I can’t remember him coming in and performing well since @ NYY. I don’t know about the majority of you, but I have a sense of dread when he enters a game. I’m glad he’s on the DL, and I hope he spends some time in the minors to work out whatever the hell is wrong with him. When we’re playing well, we don’t need him coming out of the bullpen and being unacceptable.

by chief on Aug 6, 2008 4:41 PM CDT   0 recs

Nope...

he’s not trying to throw games away. That just happens to be the result when he has come out to pitch lately.

Plus I’m not “glad” that any of our pitchers are on the DL.

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

by slc ranger on Aug 6, 2008 5:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs