Rangers infield

by venturafearsnolan on Aug 8, 2008 1:41 AM CDT Comment 16 comments

While watching the YES feed for tonight's game, the announcers kept talking about how hard the infield was to play at RBiA, because of how hard and fast it was, comparative to the rest of the league.

Is there actually something to this, or were they basically just filling airtime?

If it is true, could it be a contributing factor to why we're defensively so bad, especially when we promote ground ball pitchers? And is there something the Rangers can do in terms of keeping the infield grass that could change it?

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i dont know if there is any truth to this

but i hate that all we have is ground-ball pitchers. everyone knows that if you want to be a good pitcher then you have to be able to get a strikeout,

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by Steal Home on Aug 8, 2008 1:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

roy halladay

groundball + pitch to contact = complete stud

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Aug 8, 2008 2:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

should read

strikeout + pitch to contact/groundball = total stud

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Aug 8, 2008 2:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup

Brandon Webb too.

God damn I’d sell my soul to get a piece of that tall drink of Arizonian agua.

He’s a FA after ‘10, at which point he’ll be 31.

Wonder how much he’ll get at that point assuming he has two more of his usual great seasons between now and then.

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by thedirkatron on Aug 8, 2008 3:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Webb

Now THAT’s a pitcher I’d be willing to trade a fat package for. It’s not happening though.

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 Aug 8, 2008 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rescinded Contract

Well, the D’Backs recently rescinded a contract offer to Webb. This was right about the time that Haren signed his extension. Webb said all the right things such as he wants to stay in Arizona, but they need to work out a few details. Who knows what will happen, but he may not remain with the D’Backs after all.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Aug 8, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

any info

on the terms of that offer?

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Aug 8, 2008 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

THT

This is from the Hardball Times a few days ago:

Webb said that the Diamondbacks recently rescinded a contract offer that would have kept him in Arizona through 2013. The Diamondbacks announced a contract extension for Dan Haren earlier in the day. “I just want to let fans know that I’m not the one who pulled it off the table,” Webb said. “We just didn’t see eye to eye on a couple of things, and that was it. I love Arizona, and this is my first choice.” Webb is under the team’s control through 2010, so there’s still plenty of time to work something out.

That is all that I have seen so far about the contract. I’ll keep looking.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Aug 8, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Official D'Back Website

This is from the D’Back’s official website:

“I’ve still got 2 1/2 years here, so there’s definitely still time,” said Webb. “If it comes down to that, we’ll address it.”
The two sides began discussing the possibility of an extension during Spring Training, and a source said the talks focused on an extension of three years.

On Friday, Webb sounded relieved that at least there had been some resolution for now.

“I’m done talking about it,” Webb said. “It’s gone on for five months, so I’m tired of it. It’s been off and on, but just to have something keep going on and on and on for months, it does kind of wear on you a little bit, and to have it done and over with for right now, it’s good to get that off my mind.”

While not revealing the specifics of the potential deal, Webb said he thought the two sides were close at one point and admitted that the talks were somewhat distracting.

“Kind of trying to do stuff on the mound and not knowing if that’s going to help you or hurt you in the meantime,” Webb said. “There’s a lot of things that go into it.”

by Excel Hearts Choi on Aug 8, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It seems to me

back in the day that the Rangers infield was considered good (Blalock, ARod, Young, Teixeira), that the Rangers grounds crew let the grass grow and watered the infield on the heavy side. Have they hired a new groundskeeper?

"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain

by DJCahill on Aug 8, 2008 3:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually...

...I remember them saying that A-Rod wanted them to cut the grass short to make the ball go faster so that he could turn more double plays. It also meant he had to have quicker reflexes…

by GhettoBear04 on Aug 8, 2008 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Toronto

The astro turf (I think they recently put down a more grass-like surface) at the Sky Dome is supposed to allow for fast ground balls. The Jays, despite this, have arguably the best defensive team.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Aug 8, 2008 6:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

However

even though I think its obvious to most that our infielders defensively as a group are objectively poor, it doesn’t mean the grounds crew couldn’t let the infield grow, to help with our fielders lack of range.

I suppose you could check to see home and away fielding stats, if the any defensive metrics you trust keep those stats. Unfortunately, I see very few defensive statistics that I believe are accurate enough to give you that information.

"And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago." -John McCain

by DJCahill on Aug 8, 2008 7:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just Saying...

That even if the the infield is “fast”, it does not mean that the Rangers can’t field an above average defensive team without the help of the grounds crew.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Aug 8, 2008 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The horrific ChiSox announcers

were going off about that a few weeks ago. I would imagine it has a bunch to do with the heat.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
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by Rodney on Aug 8, 2008 7:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs