Monday a.m. stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 15, 2008 10:31 AM CDT
52 comments
A split in Oakland is a little disappointing, particularly after winning the first two games, but it means the Rangers at least maintained their hold on 2nd place.
I know there are folks here who are probably disappointed the A's didn't sweep Texas this weekend, because they want the Rangers to lose as much as possible down the stretch to improve their draft position in June, but I don't agree with that mindset, and would prefer to see the Rangers win, and finish ahead of their divisional rivals.
Jeff Wilson says it was the walks that killed the Rangers yesterday, with the pitchers issuing 10 of them over the course of the game.
Evan Grant thinks Nelson Cruz may be a fit for the cleanup slot, particularly with Milton Bradley missing as much time as he is, but Ron Washington doesn't want him there, saying he doesn't want Cruz to deal with the breaking and off-speed pitches a cleanup hitter has to face.
The pitch f/x data is out there, and hopefully someone with a lot of time on their hands will look at whether a batter is really going to see that much more off-speed stuff in the 4th slot than elsewhere, but personally, my gut feeling is that if pitchers think you can't hit off-speed stuff, they'll throw it to you, regardless of where you are in the lineup.
With Oklahoma's season now over, four Rangers are being added to the active roster -- Wes Littleton, Brian Gordon, Max Ramirez, and Travis Metcalf. Gordon is the surprise...he's a 30 year old journeyman who has had a nice season with the Rangers, and he may be getting the promotion as a reward for being a good organizational soldier this year. I can't imagine he'll stick on the 40 man roster this winter.
Mike Hindman has another roundtable discussion on Milton Bradley, and whether he should stay or go, up at the DMN blog...a variety of opinions, including mine, set forth there.
Jeff Wilson has a piece up on German Duran's return to the Rangers, and his desire to win a job on the Opening Day roster next year.
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link to the roundtable
not working for me. did they take it down?
"So he tore it up in AA. Yippee. ...Max Ramirez be damned." - bigsteve
by tricer on Sep 15, 2008 10:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
link
Please check your link to the Mike Hindman article, Adam.
It takes me to Evan’s article.
by Trosey on Sep 15, 2008 10:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Cruz
is Nelson starting to make believers out of everybody here?
I haven’t watched much of him, he does look somewhat better, but the numbers are great. is it to be believed?
"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 Sep 15, 2008 10:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he has earned a spot on the 40 man through the end of ST...
…and as long as he doesn’t fall on his face in ST I think he has earned a spot on the 25 for April ’09.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
by Chad Crudup on Sep 15, 2008 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Cruz has muddied up the water
more than ever before with his play this year.
Exactly how did he make a turnaround to this degree after sucking in his first 400 plate appearances and then getting cut from a crappy team that needed OF’s this past spring.
I have probably been Cruz’s biggest detractor since the Milwaukee trade but he’s been nothing short of awesome (still not sure he’s all that smart) since this latest call-up.
I still need to see 30-40 HR’s more than once in The Show before I proclaim myself to be wrong in my assessment of Nelson Cruz.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Sep 15, 2008 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So for Cruz to not be a terrible player
who can never improve past a .290 OBP and will never amount to anything and was crap that JD traded for in terrible Lee trade, he has to hit 30-40 HRs in the Majors? That’s a pretty high expectation for any player and if those are your standards, well no wonder you’re so cranky all the time.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Sep 15, 2008 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I worded what I said incorrectly.
I don’t think we should start projecting Nelson Cruz to automatically start hitting 30-40 HR’s based on what he’s done in this latest call-up because he’s going to be 29 years old next July and mainly because he hasn’t done it yet.
As for the Milwaukee trade, unless Cruz does something meaningful in The Show, it wasn’t a very good deal.
I’m not cranky…I’m just real good at assessing the Rangers and the news hasn’t been very good for 8 of the last 9 years.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Sep 15, 2008 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh
I’m just real good at assessing the Rangers
Good to know, I guess.
Nothing pithy here. Please move long.
by WyoRanger on Sep 15, 2008 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just because you're realistic
about this team and don’t run around with red & blue pom poms doesn’t mean you’re cranky.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Sep 15, 2008 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Milwaukee trade...
what did the Rangers lose? Mench? Nix? A year of Cordero.
I fail to see how that was a bad trade. I think it is a push as of now and if Cruz starts next year on the Rangers I would give the slight edge to the Rangers on that deal.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Sep 15, 2008 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the Rangers
are looking pretty good on the draft pick trade-off too, not that it’s all that fair to include.
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Sep 15, 2008 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
IJJW
It’s Just Josey Whines – ignore.
"...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 Sep 15, 2008 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Roundtable.
The people who are in favor of letting him go are assuming that he’ll be a Type A.
Isn’t that a bad assumption to make?
by LiamP on Sep 15, 2008 10:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Elias rankings
So, his Type A/B status can be decided based on injury history? Or is it games played?
I no understand.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Sep 15, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
For 1B, OF and DH
The Elias ranking criteria is PA, BA, OBP, HR, and RBI.
Eddie Bajek recently projected Bradley as a Type B, but only by the slimmest of margins. Understand that these figures also represent a rough approximation – nobody knows the exact weights given to each statistic by the Elias Sports Bureau, or at least not yet.
It’s a terribly archaic way to determine a player’s compensatory value, but then that seems to be the case with MLB quite often (i.e. television blackouts).
by Joey Matschulat on Sep 15, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Type A, type B, whatever
That for me is a secondary concern in his case. If I felt he’d be healthy and DH 140 games, I’d say do it. But I can’t see the wisdom of re-signing a guy who won’t be able to even hit for a 1/3 of the season or more. The last month has gotten me off the fence. If he is not willing to sign for 2 years and less than $15-16M, say good bye.
O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.
by t ball on Sep 15, 2008 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was a type A last year
and since he’s been un freaking believable this season I see no reason for him to drop out of that classification this year.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Sep 15, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
payroll quote from Grant
_"The Rangers already have contract commitments in the amount of more than $57 million for next year. They’ll spend about $10 million on their team-control arbitrations (C.J. Wilson, Brandon McCarthy, Frankie Frank, Marlon Byrd, etc.) and another $5 million on the pre-arbys (Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis, David Murphy, Taylor Teagarden, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Matt Harrison, Dustin Nippert, Josh Rupe, etc.).
Bingo: before they entertain even one veteran arbitration or free agent signee, they’re at $72 million. You want to keep Bradley? Now you’re up to $80 million or more…and pitching reinforcement hasn’t been addressed at all._
Anyone think that FotF’s contract isn’t going to impact FA decisions starting immediately? Basically, the way Grant has spelled it out, resigning Bradley would likely preempt the Rangers from being serious bidders on any of the better FA pitchers.
"So he tore it up in AA. Yippee. ...Max Ramirez be damned." - bigsteve
by tricer on Sep 15, 2008 11:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Good observation on MY's contract...
…it’s crippling right from the get-go. Even if we were league-average offensively and defensively at SS (which I’m pretty sure he won’t be) that $12MM + deferred $$$ would be a negative.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
by Chad Crudup on Sep 15, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought the
consensus of opinion was to trade for a promising young pitching close-to ace, fix someones fallen prospect, or then high-level free agent, in that order.
by mcgee48c on Sep 15, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
MY's deal
If he was making $10 or $12M / yr vs $16 you are only talking $4-6M difference.. How is that a budget buster?
by mattrpav on Sep 15, 2008 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you hadn't given him the extension and he hit the FA market this offseason...
…he would likely command a salary of about half what we gave him.
Physician: Primum non nocere
Batter: First, make no out
by Chad Crudup on Sep 15, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the Subject...
The Rangers might see some payroll flexibility after 2009:
1) If Frank Catalanotto gets 500+ plate appearance in ’09, the cost of buying out his option is $2.5 million. Otherwise, the buyout is $2 million. The option is for $5 million.
2) If Kevin Millwood pitches 180+ innings in ’09, the 2010 salary of $12 million in his contract vests. Otherwise, his 2010 salary is a team option.
3) There is a team option of $12 million for Vicente Padilla in 2010. The buyout is $1.75 million.
4) Joaquin Benoit will have completed his two year contract, which pays him $3.5 million in 2009.
Also, it’s very possible that Mike Hindman, who wrote the blog entry this morning, was using the “40-Man Roster and Contracts” information from Scott Lucas’s The Ranger Rundown ( http://rangers.scottlucas.com/site/40man.htm ), which has a $57.3 million figure for the Rangers’ 2009 salary commitments. If so, that assumes that all options are picked up. That number could change if the Rangers elect not to exercise their $6.2 million option for Hank Blalock.
Republican or Democrat? You mean I have to pick just one? But what if I love violence AND hate liberty?
by YourNameHere on Sep 15, 2008 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you think its a good idea for the Rangers to be serious bidders?
Is 150 million for CC ever going to be able to make itself worth it? Is there any other SP anywhere near good enough to pay big bucks for right now?
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Sep 15, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd like the Rangers to sign
Ollie Perez.
But the point I was trying to make is that the Rangers can afford one nice signing, then the payroll is probably maxed out. Bradley plus a starter is probably out of the question.
"So he tore it up in AA. Yippee. ...Max Ramirez be damned." - bigsteve
by tricer on Sep 15, 2008 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The point is moot though
if there is no player worth getting.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Sep 15, 2008 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only way
that Milty’s re-signing can not affect the payroll is if Hicks is a big fan and places Milty in the “individual basis” category. If JD, and by extension Hicks, feels that MB is worth keeping around I can see how the payroll could expand where another signing or two can be had. OR if hicks sees CC or Sheets as one of those he breaks the bank for and doesn’t hold against the payroll.
Saying that, I’ve yet to see this done in practice, so I’m doubtful if either scenario takes place.
What's the rumpus?
by Hypo-Luxa on Sep 15, 2008 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh my god why would you want that?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Sep 15, 2008 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Left hander with ace stuff
and only 27 years old. The guy was striking out 11 per 9 in the majors at age 23.
I’d rather sign Ollie than trade away a chunk of prospects for a guy like Grienke.
"So he tore it up in AA. Yippee. ...Max Ramirez be damned." - bigsteve
by tricer on Sep 15, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oliver
Succeeding in a pitcher’s park, with some inconsistency…that’s what freaks me out about Perez.
Not very saber, but his numbers just scream headcase to me, and the performance he’s turned in during a contract year almost hurts my impression.
I don’t think he’ll depart the Mets, but this is the FA starter I’m least interested in.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Sep 15, 2008 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
headcase
One reason I like Perez, is that I think he is the only FA starter that has the potential to actually exceed his price tag. Granted it’s been a while back, but he does have a season with a sub 3 era and ~ 11 k/9, and I also like the fact that he has some youth on his side. Given that he has performed at an ace level in the past, we know the talent is in there.
You are probably right on the headcase stuff, but those guys can sometimes come at a comparative value.
Plus, trading for a comparable pitcher just scares me with what it will cost in prospects. I’d rather sign Ollie to a 4/48 type deal and keep all the high ceiling prospects, rather than give up what it would take to land a Greinke type.
"So he tore it up in AA. Yippee. ...Max Ramirez be damned." - bigsteve
by tricer on Sep 15, 2008 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you don't want to get the Grink, that's fine
But don’t say that just because one move is bad we should go out and make another bad move just because the second bad move is less horrible than the first. I hope to the flying spaghetti monster that we don’t go out an waste money on a sucky suckster like Olly who has one year of a sub-4 FIP (way back in ‘04 with the Pi Rats). He’s benefited from some tremendous luck over his career, as he’s regularly outperformed his peripherals. And that outperforming your peripherals stuff might fly in the NL with a solid defense behind you, but I guarantee it’ll stop the second he sets his bat shit crazy feet down in Arlington.
Olly is exactly the type of pitcher we don’t need. He’s got tantalizing talent with all the strikeouts, but he walks too many people and he’s prone to blowing up. Look at his stats and you’ll see a guy who’s K’s are trending steadily down while his BB’s are trending steadily up. If he comes here you’re looking at a guy who’s a mortal lock for a 5 ERA.
I’d really rather sign absolutely no one and go with in house options than sign Olly to a long term deal cause it’d be a freaking disaster.
It’d be Chan Ho Park! Part Duex.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Sep 15, 2008 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the winning or losing
I know that people have been round and round on this, but I think that the answer is in the middle. Having a first rounder – especially a high first rounder – is a big deal, no matter what the Development Debbie Downer says. It’s important. So if you’re right on the edge, the fact is that it’s better for your franchise to finish 15 than 16, even if it costs you a spot in your division finish. There is no way that the benefits of winning a couple of extra games outweigh that extra asset.
Once that spot is locked up and you are clearly not going to be in the top ten, I think it is a much more debatable issue, and I really don’t mind winning as much as possible. Deep down, I want the draft spot, because I know that the next draft could always wind up like 2006, where the pitchers who went in front of Kiker were: Luke Hochevar, Greg Reynolds, Brad Lincoln, Brandon Morrow, Andrew Miller, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum and Max Scherzer.
But the odds are that that won’t happen, and they could well get the player at 15 that they would get at 13.
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Sep 15, 2008 12:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Having a high first rounder is worth something
Having a late first rounder isn’t a ton different than a third rounder. Hopefully you can make up for the relative weakness of the draft location with sheer numbers.
"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky
by DJCahill on Sep 15, 2008 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd still
rather have a shot at a Michael Main than an Evan Reed or Joe Wieland, but I agree that you’d like to make up for any lack of elite picks with a quantity of good, solid picks. And I think that one good way to do that is to routinely go over slot in those round and get value for the picks.
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Sep 15, 2008 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"The question of how we came to be is a philosophical one." - 4HIM
by Chase Irwin on Sep 15, 2008 12:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Sep 15, 2008 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What a magnificently loaded scap.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Sep 16, 2008 12:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Sep 16, 2008 12:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return
by Brett Perryman on Sep 16, 2008 12:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comment from Hindman's post
Posted by Milton Bradley-verified @ 12:33 PM Mon, Sep 15, 2008
Hey bloggers, this is MB. I would like to join this round table discussion and tell you how I feel. I believe that it would be a good idea if the Rangers-OWWWW! I just felt a minor twinge in my wrist as I was typing. Sorry, I must exit this forum early.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Sep 15, 2008 1:53 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Heh
how does that “verified” thing work?
O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.
by t ball on Sep 15, 2008 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rodney-verified
Just like that…someone types that in to fool the rubes.
"...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 Sep 15, 2008 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But I know
that when MJH, for example, posts comments there is some sort of verified tag that shows up next to his name.
Don't you know it's gonna be alright?
by t ball on Sep 15, 2008 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoaa
Ned Yost got sh!tcanned. Dale Sveum will take over (seriously? Dale Sveum?)
Nothing pithy here. Please move long.
by WyoRanger on Sep 15, 2008 2:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
2nd place
I don’t want them to try to lose games but if they come in 3rd it’s also not a bad thing. I just don’t think that finishing ahead of 2 pretty crappy teams (one of which that did basically give up) is much of an accomplishment.
"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 Sep 15, 2008 7:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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