Friday morning things

by Brett Perryman on Sep 12, 2008 8:44 AM CDT

Nice win last night and, though his control wavered, another reasonable start by Dustin Nippert.

Evan Grant discusses a stretch of almost a week straight against left handed starters. This is another reason that Nelson Cruz could be an asset if he can turn the corner. Marlon Byrd and Brandon Boggs can both play against lefties, but Cruz would have the most offensive upside of the three if he's made the necessary adjustments. Considering that catcher, short and second base all will field right handed bats, this perceived team weakness could go away if someone like Cruz can help anchor the lineup against lefties. All the more reason that I wish his audition this summer had been much longer...

This weekend will be an exciting one for Rangers affiliates in Oklahoma and Frisco, as they try to become the second and third teams in the system to win championships this year.

And, yes, the Rangers do think that finishing in second place is a worthwhile pursuit.

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And MJH goes back at Evan,

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/09/evan-evan-evan.html

by Kinslerhomer on Sep 12, 2008 9:00 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah

They have five young premium position prospects — Taylor Teagarden (24), Max Ramirez (23), Chris Davis (22), Elvis Andrus (20) and Justin Smoak (21), all off whom are probaby going to be ready to produce substantial results for the club over the next five years — likely better than Michael Young over the next five years — for the league minimum.

Michael Young’s contract is untradable and will almost certainly lead to the Rangers getting rid of at least one of those guys.

Wait, what?

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 12, 2008 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions

i take that to mean

he’s taking a needed roster spot and blocking andrus

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Sep 12, 2008 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Young blocking Andrus

I might be giving JD too much credit, but this simply won’t happen.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 12, 2008 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions

position blocking

well there are several scenarios i see that could happen, especially if they keep blalock for some reason.
Also depends too on youngs willingness to move, given that he’s the vocal team leader if he doesnt want to move quietly that becomes an issue.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Sep 12, 2008 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions

I would think the opposite

If there’s one positive in the situation regarding Young, it’s all the young talent coming up. The Rangers will have a lot of cheap players on the roster over the next few years, making Young’s contract less likely to hamstring the team. If you have young players at C, 1B, DH, all 3 OF positions, SS and several pitchers, than you have room for Young’s contract.

The Rangers can let Young be a clubhouse leader, play halfway decent 3B and cross their fingers that his bat doesn’t decline too far too soon. But his contract, though onerous, will not prevent the club from signing a major free agent if they wish to do so.

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.

by t ball on Sep 12, 2008 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions

good point

the one roadblock i guess i see is what happens to davis? is he a thirdbaseman? firstbase? outfield? traded?

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Sep 12, 2008 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Davis in the outfield

That’s the most interesting possibility, with the lack of power there now and the arm he could bring to the job.

The trade scenario is even more interesting.

That K rate’s as bad as advertised…only thing that mollifies it is his age.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 12, 2008 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Age and lack of pro experience.

Didn’t he start in high A this spring?

by FuturePants on Sep 12, 2008 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions

no

double A, where he finished last season

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Sep 12, 2008 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

AA, after 100 ABs there in 2007.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 12, 2008 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

How many minor league at bats does he have?

by FuturePants on Sep 12, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

lack of are strength?

I would aregue that with Josh, Byrd and Cruz, the rangers probably have one of the strongest outfielding amrs in the entire league!!!

by thad728 on Sep 12, 2008 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions

power

as in hitting power, not arm strength.

hamilton is the only power hitting outfielder they have other than maybe cruz and no one knows if he even will stick.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Sep 12, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions

fair enough

I would agree. That would put us with one powerful outfield. I think Cruz is going to be a very above average power hitter. I just have a feeling that he finaly gets it up here.

by thad728 on Sep 12, 2008 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

I think Cruz may have turned a corner...

…and maybe will hit for some power, or maybe it’s a late season fluke, like the Rangers see every year. No pressure means Cruz can succeed. I have serious doubts that he will ever be very far above average in hitting.

by FuturePants on Sep 12, 2008 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions

I think it says a lot about the state of newspapers...

…that someone who makes their living covering the Rangers is so completely defeated by someone who follows the team as a hobby.

It also proves something I have come to know since I started reading this blog a few years ago:

You’re much more likely to get good analysis from someone who does it because they want to (i.e. a dedicated blogger or blog regular) than someone who does it because they have to to make a living (i.e. a newspaper writer or talk show host).

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Sep 12, 2008 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions

to quote Gary Cole in Talladega Nights:

“If you aint first you’re last!”

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Sep 12, 2008 9:10 AM CDT reply actions

“Real simple son! Cops are comin’, and there’s a kilo of Columbian bamm bamm underneath the car! Time to be a man! You got hair on your peaches or what? Let’s go!”

Kasey Kiker Interview

by jparks77 on Sep 12, 2008 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

I wish

That instead of Dustin Nippert his name was Deuce Nippert. That sounds cooler. Maybe I’ll just start calling him “The Deuce!”

by FuturePants on Sep 12, 2008 9:23 AM CDT reply actions

The Rangers will

have to move MY off of SS in the near future. I’m not sure that there are too many who would seriously argue that.
Often, an aging fielder with offensive skills has been moved from a position of high defensive demands just so that they can save some of their concentration, stamina, strength, etc for the offensive side of things. The reason I mention this is the fairly consistent occurence of MY tearing it up as a DH. Small sample size though it is, it gives some concrete evidence that MY would be able to reverse his downward slide if his defensive responsibilities were somewhat lessened.

by mcgee48c on Sep 12, 2008 10:56 AM CDT reply actions

OT: Simmons

Hilarious.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 12, 2008 2:00 PM CDT reply actions

With each start, i like Nippert even more

I was really happy when the Rangers decided to give him a shot in the rotation, I think he can be a good starter for the next 2 or so years. I heard TAG say that Nippert has some movement now on his fastball which is great because most starters who throw 95-97 mph with movement and 2 quality off-speed stuff are pretty darn good. if he continues this success, he derserves a chance to be in the rotation next year. This could be a great move by JD. But it would suck for the D-backs, to lose Quentin and hopefully a #3 starter, and get virtually nothing in return

also…. some of his control problems were due to the ump behind the plate not believing in calling strikes

"Tommy Hunter will be the best pitcher on the Rangers in 2009" Me- August 14th, 2008

by Seth. on Sep 12, 2008 3:11 PM CDT reply actions

Nippert

I did it after his last start and will after this one. Take away his first appearance this year and the game which he went on the DL afterwards and his ERA this year is 4.34. That includes his first start which was really bad.

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 Sep 12, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions

So quick poll...

Would you rather have Millwood (and his salary) in the rotation to start next year or Dusty Tits?

Say Nippert has 3 more starts like he has had recently and another team was willing to take Millwood’s contract. Do you make that move? Do you do it just as a salary dump, or do you want a decent prospect back in return? Or do you keep MIllwood and use Nippert as the long guy to start next year and put him in the rotation if there is a injury or bad performance?

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

by slc ranger on Sep 12, 2008 3:32 PM CDT reply actions