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Wednesday a.m. stuff

I was all prepared to talk about how I had mentally geared up for a 10 game losing streak to end the season, and then the Rangers won last night, and ruminate about Hank Blalock's resurgence...

However, the big news today is that Nolan says Jon Daniels and Ron Washington will be back next year

I'm relieved.  I had gone back and forth on what I thought would happen, and figured it was 50/50 or 60/40 as to whether Daniels would return, a little less than that on Washington.

There will be people surprised by this decision.  Gil LeBreton writes about that today:

Nolan’s response, no doubt, may surprise some people. The same people who think Washington was over his head when he arrived here in November 2006. The same people who were convinced that Washington was hours from being fired in late-April of this season, when a sudden elixir of Wash’s birthday and a four-game winning streak spared him.

* * *

For a full season, Nolan has watched and, we assume, assessed. Some people expect a purge, of sorts, starting as high as the general manager’s office.

But those, again, are the same people that, for whatever reason — owner Tom Hicks, perhaps? — never liked the idea of hiring Jon Daniels, only six years out of Cornell, as general manager.

"It’s easy to see where we ended up and say, 'We need to go out and make all these changes,’ " Ryan said Tuesday.

But the franchise’s philosophy hasn’t wavered, Nolan said.

"We all agreed that we’re going to develop within our system," he said.

"Development is not a quick fix."

Ryan clearly acknowledges the progress that the Rangers’ farm system has made. Some young players, no doubt, are more major league-ready (Chris Davis) than others (pick a pitcher, any pitcher).

With only today’s game left on the home schedule, attendance has disappointed the front office.

But those who have followed the Rangers’ winding path this season surely have seen the new nucleus of youth that has emerged — from Kinsler to Murphy to Davis and more.

Daniels has been scourged plenty for trading away John Danks, Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez. But most loyal Rangers fans likely would view a change in general managers as another setback, another flushing of philosophies — and just when the franchise appeared to have finally figured this "player development thing" out.

Ryan, fortunately, isn’t planning to flush anything, at least not down any philosophy bowl.

So there you go.

Hank Blalock was huge yesterday, and his strong finishing kick may force the Rangers' hand in terms of exercising his option next year and deciding what to do with him.  I have some thoughts on a possible solution that I'll post later today, time allowing.

Richard Durrett's article in the DMN today touches on Blalock's uncertain future, and also has some quotes from Frank Catalanotto saying that he doesn't know what his role will be next year, but that he's going to work hard and do whatever the team asks and just try to help the team win.

 

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Adam,

I know how you feel about JD but do you treat the news that Washington is coming back is “good news”?

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 9:47 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

And what are your feelings towards

Nolan Ryan right now?

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm just hoping

he encourages scap loading amongst our prospects.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 24, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

LSB

We’re all-scaploading, all the time.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yup

I’m scaploading right now.

"LSB: We’re all-scaploading, all the time." -AJM

by BAC on Sep 24, 2008 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Relieved, to an extent

I didn’t want Tim Purpura here.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So you're relieved...

…because in your mind it was Tim Purpura or Ron Washington with no other options?

by FuturePants on Sep 24, 2008 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

why would you think Purpura would be the choice?

"Popularity is fleeting. Principles are forever."
"Maybe congress should take more vacations, whenever these people leave town, things just seem to get better..." - Jay Leno

by Longhorn on Sep 24, 2008 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think he is saying Washington is better than Pupura.

by FuturePants on Sep 24, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know that it is "bad news"

I can understand the decision to bring him back. I’m not convinced he’s a good manager, though.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So you think bringing back a bad manager

is a good thing for this organization?

Do you really like seeing Joaquin Arias hitting lead-off “because he’s the only speed we have”?

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Adam, also

what’s your take on Nolan Ryan now? You’ve been very tough on him since he was hired.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know that I've been very tough on him

Other than pointing out something that a lot of folks don’t want to acknowledge — he has no experience, management-wise, on the baseball side of things.

What about you? You seemed pretty confident he was going to clean house.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was confident he would clean house...

…and this decision actually gives me some faith in Ryan’s ability to be President. I can’t say I love bringing RW back, but he needed to hang on to JD.

by FuturePants on Sep 24, 2008 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nolan

That’s the thing for me.

Hearing Nolan acknowledge that in-house development isn’t a quick process, that is rich with meaning for me.

Nolan sounds like he gets the big picture. Big relief.

This off-season will be fun to watch, with JD getting the vote of confidence and a full personnel cupboard. Looking forward to that Batlack piece, Adam.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 24, 2008 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I thought Washington was a definite goner

but wasn’t too sure about JD because Hicks wasn’t too anxious to swallow that extension..

JD above all, is a survivalist and knows the corporate game very well. He fell into the job like Forrest Gump, f’d the franchise all up with his incompetence, turned the fans off in record numbers and yet earned a 3 year extension. That’s a skill.

I’m very disappointed in Nolan. I’ve watched Washington & JD very closely and neither one of them know what the f they are doing. They are both really bad at their jobs and the dark clouds of incompetence will remain over this franchise in the off-season.

I have complete respect for Nolan’s his judgment as an executive and in running an organization. He was in baseball in one way or another since he became an adult. Put up what he knows about the game v. JD and it’s not a contest. That said, I don’t understand why he would keep both of them but there’s the outside chance that Nolan’s right and that I’m w…wr…wrrrr…..wrong but I doubt it..

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

What makes Ryan understand more about the game

…than JD? Because he played for a long time?

by FuturePants on Sep 24, 2008 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

30 years before JD began to

learn how to make a decent jelly donut and a tasty cruller, Nolan was pitching for the Miracle Mets in ’69.

Nolan played the game for 25 years and saw first hand great teams, good teams, average teams, good young teams, bad young teams.

Nolan knows the qualities that a good manager has while JD, obviously, does not.

JD’s tenure as GM has been a colossal failure.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

What makes Nolan...

…any different from any other player who has been in the game a long time?

I mean, by your theory, is there any reason to believe Nolan knows more than, say, John Kruk?

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

Dusty Baker played 16 seasons and has as many rings as Ryan. He should know some baseball, too. Ask Mark Pryor.

by fds on Sep 24, 2008 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nolan Ryan had a helluva

lot more experience than John Kruk, especially when it comes to identifying major league pitching talent.

Nolan has also run a very successful minor league franchise from soup to nuts while Kruk has been nothing more than a talking head on ESPN.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Really?

What experience did Ryan have in identifying major league pitching talent?

Really, I think Kruk would be better at it, since he actually had to face pitchers. I’m not sure why Ryan would be an expert in identifying major league pitching talent.

As for running a minor league franchise, that has nothing to do with baseball operations — that has to do with business operations.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

evaluating talent

as far as i know he took whatever players the astros gave him, no evaluation involved.

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

by rentz on Sep 24, 2008 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Adam, do you believe

didn’t learn anything about judging talent after spending 25 years in The Show?

By your logic of saying that Kruk would be a better judge of pitchers, should Nolan be a better judge of hitters?

That’s ridiculous.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know if he learned anything about judging talent or not

He never had to do it, though, and the fact that he played for 25 years doesn’t, in and of itself, make him qualified, IMO.

Do you think Bert Blyleven is as qualified as Ryan to judge pitching talent? Greg Maddux? Roger Clemens? What about Jesse Orosco? Or Steve Carlton?

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well...

Isaiah Thomas, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan were Hall of Famers, and look at their track records as NBA executives…

Playing the sport at a high level does not make one qualified for front office or talent evaluation positions…

by N41D on Sep 24, 2008 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not sure but all the pitchers you listed

would be better judges of pitching talent than JD.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's not what we are discussing

We are discussing whether those guys are as qualified as Ryan.

Why wouldn’t you be sure? Why wouldn’t those guys be able to judge pitching talent, and determine who is a good manager, just as well as Ryan?

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

YOU are discussing whether or

not those guys are as qualified as Nolan.

To me it doesn’t matter and dumb to follow you down the rabbit hole because they aren’t JD’s boss nor are they in charge of this franchise.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

JD made a lot of early mistakes

…and continues to make them (Gallaraga), but I do think he is learning and adapting. Some of the pitfalls of an unexperienced GM. Ryan is even more green at President – and any level of executive – than Daniels is/was. At least Daniels had some kind of experience as assistant GM and under that prior to being hired as GM. Ryan has zero experience as any executive except for the loose affiliations he has had with the Astros and Rangers over the last decade or so.

by FuturePants on Sep 24, 2008 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

What moves did JD

make after Ryan was hired?

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And which...

…were dictated by Ryan? None, by all accounts.

by FuturePants on Sep 24, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

"f’d the franchise all up with his incompetence"

Yeah I really hate how he absolutely destroyed our farm system. I don’t think we’ll ever make it out of this hole he has created for us.

by rcreative on Sep 24, 2008 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wait

Unsurprisingly, logic is not your strong suit.

“I have complete respect for Nolan’s his judgment as an executive and in running an organization. He was in baseball in one way or another since he became an adult. Put up what he knows about the game v. JD and it’s not a contest.”

So, Papa Bear Nolan, who is the God and Guru of all things baseball, gives JD a vote of full confidence, but JD is still a bumbling fool?

Either you or Papa Bear don’t know what the hell you are talking about.

Hilarious…

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

by Brian Thomas on Sep 24, 2008 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's what it is going to come down to

…either Nolan or myself will be right about JD & Washington.

I like my chances.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

How many years did you play?

"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 24, 2008 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hilarious...

used his own bs argument against him. I like it.

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

by slc ranger on Sep 24, 2008 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow.

That’s what they call the cherry on top.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 24, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hilarious

You’re betting on yourself to be right over Nolan who you are defending as a smarter more experienced person than JD. So in essence, there is nobody in the Ranger organization smarter or more competent than yourself. I knew you had a bloated view of yourself, but this takes the cake.

Put a Power Point presentation together and go to the Ranger F.O. and blow them away with your expertise and knowledge. I don’t see how they could say no to you….

What's the rumpus?

by Hypo-Luxa on Sep 24, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm betting that I'm right

when it comes to judging the competence of Washington & JD and nothing more.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That’s not so, though.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 24, 2008 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Beat me to it

I owe you a beer…

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

by Brian Thomas on Sep 24, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm starting to think you might not be a real person

“Nolan played the game for 25 years and saw first hand great teams, good teams, average teams, good young teams, bad young teams.”

In your own words, that’s your gold standard.

So, essentially, Papa Bear Nolan is the smartest man in baseball not named Josey Wales, who, coincidentally, played about as much baseball as Jon “boy Blunder” Daniels.

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

by Brian Thomas on Sep 24, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The question had to do

with who was better qualified to judge major league talent.

I’d take Nolan’s lifetime of experience over JD’s 5-6 years as an incompetent major league executive.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Somebody should've taught you to quit when you're behind

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

by Brian Thomas on Sep 24, 2008 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

For saying I think Washington

and JD are incompetent?

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sigh.

No dude. For trying to have it both ways.

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

by Brian Thomas on Sep 24, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I like Nolan and thought it was the best

thing Hicks has done in 10 years.

I simply disagree with him bringing back both JD & Wash when it is readily apparent how incompetent they are.

Either Nolan is right on this or I am but that doesn’t my change my feelings about the hiring of Nolan Ryan.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

how has this post not been getting all the rec's in the world

One of the greatest things I’ve ever read on the internet.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Sep 24, 2008 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

f this

f that, f all of you. For a guy that worships the ground Bill James walks on, you sure seem to have some strange fear of saying the f word.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Sep 24, 2008 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So Adam...

After being an attorney for 25-30 years, do you believe that you will be better equipped to interview a potentail associate and look for certain qualities that would make a successful lawyer, better than, say someone who watches Law and Order or Private Practice?

I’m not saying Nolan is the best candidate for President just because he played, but you have to realize that there is quite a bit of utility in experience. I think statistical analysis is the most important aspect of scouting. That said, anyone can read the same stas off of a spreadsheet, there are other things that need to be addressed. Personal dynamics, group dynamics, motivating factors, and a whole list of other unquantifyiable attributes that true sabermatricians believe have no relevance. IMO someone with as much experience as Nolan has is better equipped to evaluate these things than someone without the same kind of experience.

by Topgun22 on Sep 24, 2008 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Adam interviewing an associate

Adam’s job and that person’s job are essentially the same. Nolan’s job never involved anything close to any front office job. It’s like thinking that someone who knows how to work on an assembly line knows how to run that company.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 24, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

But....

“What experience did Ryan have in identifying major league pitching talent?”

                                                                                       — AJM

A job vastly similar to the one Nolan performed for 25-30 years.

by Topgun22 on Sep 24, 2008 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ryan Pitched

Ryan didn’t catch and didn’t hit very much. The bulk of his career was in the AL. So what experience did Ryan have in identifying major league pitching talent? The answer is zero whatsoever.

by FuturePants on Sep 24, 2008 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So....

Given my analogy, on defense attorneys know what makes a good prosecutor and only prosecutors know what makes a good defense attorney?

Do you really believe that hitters know more about pitching than pitchers do just because hitters faced pitchers?

That’s absurd.

by Topgun22 on Sep 24, 2008 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Being a pitcher

is a very, very different thing from being an attorney. A physically based talent like pitching, singing, gymnastics, etc. is a completely different animal from being an attorney. It’s a bad analogy.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 24, 2008 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Of Course...

I’m not saying that the two professions are comparable, just trying to show that there is a benefit to having experience.

OT: It seems to me that a lot of sabermatricians are sensitive to this notion because that’s the #1 argument they are met with from “baseball men”. The old “What do you know, have you ever played the game?” argument. Thus statheads tend to devalue the utility of experience because it is the one part of the analytical process that many of them lack.

by Topgun22 on Sep 24, 2008 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

My point is simple

I don’t think the fact that one pitched in the majors for 25 years necessarily makes one qualified to evaluate pitching prospects and major league pitchers, implement a development process for nurturing and developing minor league pitchers, or run the baseball side of a major league organization.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Right...

But it also doesn’t mean that he’s not qualified to do those things. I don’t think the fact that he played can hurt, so it either helps, or has a zero effect. Either way, it’s hard to say he’s unqualified based on what we’ve seen from him so far.

by Topgun22 on Sep 24, 2008 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

No one is saying it is hurting him

There are those, however, who say that Ryan is qualified based on having spent 25 years pitching in the majors.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well...

Again, I do believe that there is a fair amount of utility in experience. Surely those 25 years taught him something about pitching mechanics, pitch selection, and strategy that he could look for in young pitchers. Im not saying that alone makes him qualified, but it has to help. Doesn’t it?

by Topgun22 on Sep 24, 2008 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Adam has never said

Ryan is unqualified to do any of those things, just that there’s no guarantee that he is. He’s arguing against people making a huge assumption, not making a huge assumption himself.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 24, 2008 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If that's the case...

Then we are arguing the same point from two different perspectives.

by Topgun22 on Sep 24, 2008 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

do you think

that pitching in the majors disqualifies someone from the above, because that is how you come across.

"So he tore it up in AA. Yippee. ...Max Ramirez be damned." - bigsteve

by tricer on Sep 24, 2008 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just don't

see Adam as coming across that way, which is why I cannot understand people harping on this with him.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 24, 2008 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Adam is claiming that John Kruk is

more qualified to judge pitchers than Nolan Ryan if I’m not mistaken…you know, because he actually faced pitchers.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You are

mistaken, or at the very least twisting what Adam said.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 25, 2008 8:10 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is what Adam said...

"What experience did Ryan have in identifying major league pitching talent?

Really, I think Kruk would be better at it, since he actually had to face pitchers"

I didn’t twist anything.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 25, 2008 8:24 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So he did, my mistake

But why are you talking about that comp and not answering his question about whether Blyleven, Maddux, et al would be better than Ryan? You said none of them are in charge of Daniels, but neither is Kruk? Selective when it suits you.

Ryan may very well be a good judge of pitching talent, but Adam’s position, and mine, is that it’s a fallacy to assume he is just because he was a great pitcher. Anyone can look at a pitcher that is already successful and tell you he’s good. It’s another thing entirely to look at a pitcher still in the minors and say this one or that one will succeed. Even the most qualified and experienced scouts get it wrong, and get it wrong a lot.

As I’ve said before, you want the world to be plain black and white and it just isn’t. Daniels has strengths and weaknesses like any other GM. But he has the organization moving in a healthy direction. Enough so that Ryan seems to believe in it. Only obstinacy explains your position that Daniels is completely worthless.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 25, 2008 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I didn't answer his questions per

Blyleven, Maddux etc. because it was a useless argumentative rabbit hole and none of the people he referenced are JD’s immediate superior. Let’s deal with the now.

Right now, Nolan Ryan is JD’s immediate superior and he is infinitely more qualified to judge and evaluate major league pitching talent.

This organization is not moving in any direction. This year was the SOS and given Nolan’s comments in this morning’s DMN, I expect the same thing next year as well.

When I do see something to be legitimately optimistic about this team, I’ll acknowledge.but until further notice, the Texas Rangers are firmly stapled to the treadmill of mediocrity.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 25, 2008 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Selective
it was a useless argumentative rabbit hole and none of the people he referenced are JD’s immediate superior. Let’s deal with the now.

Then why talk about Kruk?

The organization is moving – determinedly – in the direction of building from within, as Ryan himself said yesterday. It takes longer than a quick fix. If you like quick fixes become an Astros fan. Their luck-ridden ride to contention this month will probably hurt them in the long run. They’ll think they’re contenders and act accordingly. This, I think, is similar to what happened to the Rangers after 2004.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 25, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I talked about Kruk

because that was the first player he brought up.

Then he brought up Maddux, Blyleven et al and I thought I’d squelch that argument before he went to baseball reference.com and started pulling out players like Bernie Carbo, Ted Uhlander, Ollie Brown or Norm Cash and asked me to also consider their qualifications as well.

Believe it or not, I was probably one of the most optimistic Ranger fans out there after the 2004 season.

After an 89-73 season on a young team loaded to the hilt with talent on the big club and throughout the organization top to bottom not to mention incredible financial flexibility, the future could not have been brighter but then the owner decided to sit on his wallet.

Windows of opportunity like the Rangers had in 2004 don’t come very often. I walked point all alone at that time and forecasted immediate and long lasting doom.

Wasn’t easy to do but I was dead solid perfect with that assessment. I’ll let you know when I think otherwise.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 25, 2008 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

2004

A fun year, but probably provided a lot of false hope to the front office and fans. The organization did not have NEARLY as much talent top to bottom as it does now, however. There has never been the kind of depth in the system that they have now. The Rangers farm system has never before been talked about as possibly the best in all of baseball, as it is being talked about right now.

2004 was a hell of a lot more fun than 2008, but looking back I’m more hopeful about the future than we had any right to be then. And the payroll issue is far from the most important reasons the club has faltered during Hicks’ tenure.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 25, 2008 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't believe the current

Ranger minor league system has four players in it that will be All Stars within the next four years like the Ranger minor league system had in 2004.

They also had CJ Wilson, John Danks, Nick Masset, Eric Hurley, Thomas Diamond, Josh Rupe, Frank X, Boggs, Littleton et al.

The window of opportunity for greatness was open in 2004 and they blew it.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 25, 2008 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

All stars

You don’t? I think that Ramirez, Davis (just graduated), Andrus, Feliz, Holland, and Cruz all have the potential to be all-stars between 2009-2012. But all-stars are not a good way to evaluate success given the vagaries of the selection process.

Again I’ll say that you are the only person who does not believe the Rangers minor league system is much stronger now than it was then. You’re simply being obstinate. The system was ranked near the bottom two years ago and might be #1 this winter. You are the only person who doesn’t believe that’s progress.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 25, 2008 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Regardless of how BA or BP

ranked the Ranger minor league system in 2004, the Rangers in fact had a very good system (the 2003 trades for CYoung, AG and Frank X helped lots) when it all played out.

Now BP and BA (and several others) claim we have one of the best minor league systems in MLB.

Maybe we do but we also had a deep and talented system in 2004.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 25, 2008 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That Matt Millen

was really qualified to GM in Detroit, and Isaiah Thomas did a bang up Job in New York.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 25, 2008 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Exceptions or the Rule??

Hard to say at this point, but I could name just as many successful players turned executives. ie: Jerry West is pretty good.

by Topgun22 on Sep 25, 2008 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hate the sob

but Danny Ainge did a pretty good job in Boston this year.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 25, 2008 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wouldn't put it that way

it’s more like stressing that point to counter the one dimensional argument (from some, not necessarily you) that experience of any kind trumps any kind of analysis. And saying that Ryan isn’t automatically a judge of young talent does not mean you’re favoring stats. It might mean you want someone who has more of a scouting background or someone who has built a roster before over someone who has pitched and run the business side.

The sabertypes and the “baseball men” are talking in circles. There are some on both sides that refuse to see what the other can offer. Most, though, and I certainly think this includes Adam and zywica, are more than willing to use whatever seems helpful from both sides.

To their credit, both Ryan and Daniels seem to respect each other and what they bring to the table. If two men as different in backgrounds as Hicks and Ryan both believe in Daniels enough to stick with him, I feel good about my own assessment of him as someone who has a good plan in place.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 24, 2008 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

True, But....

Daniels didn’t have experience as a GM until he bacame a GM, and I think that the majority of people here (myself included) think he’s doing a pretty good job.

I do enjoy getting AJM’s (and others) opinions on some of these matters though because he tends to disregard the unquantifyiable aspects of the game as the Easter Bunny or Leprechauns and lean more towards pure statistical analysis. Whereas I believe that many of the non-saber considerations are extremely important.

by Topgun22 on Sep 24, 2008 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

to continue to play devil's advocate

but Daniels did have experience in the front office running the baseball side of operations. I think both men are pretty well qualified, intelligent, and talented. Both seem to be good leaders, good working with people, and willing to let the people below them do their jobs.

The organization might be in as good a shape, leadership wise, as it has been in a long, long time. If they could find a better manager…

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 24, 2008 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed...

I’m no Wash fan. Seems to me the team has won in spite of him this year many more times than they have won because of him. His bull pen decisions, and decision to play the IF in early in games have baffled me on a regular basis this year. As well as his lineup decisions (Davis #9, Arias #1…WTF?)

That said, he too is learning a new job. These are decisions and responsibilities he did not have in Oak.

by Topgun22 on Sep 24, 2008 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think that's an effective comparison

But what it says to me is that maybe Adam shouldn’t be solely responsible for identifying and hiring associates just based on his experience in the job and raw instincts. Someone who makes a living in management, personnel and law would be better suited.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 24, 2008 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

A good manager has many facets.

Clearly, his in-game decision making with the bullpen is often out of whack with what the odds say he should do, and this shows his total reliance on gut feelings. There are similarly whacky decisions made with the lineup.

But, part of being a good manager is keeping the team as a team and keeping on a high level the players trust in the management. He seems to be well respected and supported by his players, and only Marlon Byrd has pointed a finger management during the season.

Go Rangers!

by rooster on Sep 24, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If we could just get rid of Jamey Wright

Ron Washington could be a pretty good manager

by tyd3311 on Sep 24, 2008 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Seems like someone should be able to use wWE to see how often

the results immediately following a manager’s key decisions have improved or degraded wWE. This doesn’t get at the lineup, but it might say something about the bullpen management.

Go Rangers!

by rooster on Sep 24, 2008 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cat

Hopefully the Rangers ask him to suit up for another team next year. That’s the best way for him to help the Rangers in 2009.

by cgolden on Sep 24, 2008 10:03 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm really interested on the Blalock take

I might be able to see re-signing 3B Hank Blalock, but I’ll be danged if I know what to do with 1B/DH Hank Blalock when you have 1B covered with Davis, and since Crush isn’t much of a 3B.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 24, 2008 10:05 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

blalock

i was thinking the same thing. I’m all for picking up the option if they think he can play 3B next year, but not so sure about 1B.
Davis is adequate at third, but to me he’s clearly a first baseman.

But im starting to come around on the idea of just keeping blalock instead of finding some short term stopgap at 3b or handing it over to metcalf.

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

by rentz on Sep 24, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Im for

picking up the option and trading Blalock. Letting Milton Bradley walk. Signing Chipper Jones to play 3B and DH. Letting Duran or Metcalf get the rest of the time at 3rd, and Max get the rest of the time at DH.

by tyd3311 on Sep 24, 2008 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Chipper Jones

He’s not going to be a free agent unless the Braves decline his option. That’s not going to happen.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

My bad

after 09’ not 08’.

by tyd3311 on Sep 24, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you pick up the option on Blalock

I’m not sure he is tradeable for much with his contract as a 1B.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 24, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

well when no talent hacks like Ben Broussard

get $5 million contracts, I’d think Blalock at 6.25 is a relative bargain.

"So he tore it up in AA. Yippee. ...Max Ramirez be damned." - bigsteve

by tricer on Sep 24, 2008 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Broussard

He’s never gotten a $5 million contract.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 24, 2008 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Actually, $ 3.85 million for Broussard.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

and the Broussard move combined

with the colossal failure of JJennings with the Galaragga DFA chaser made for a terrible January for JD.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Broussard

…was demanded by Ron Washington. Front office conceded.

by FuturePants on Sep 24, 2008 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's still a negative for JD

"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 24, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hicks agrees to pay, not JD. True it’s partly on JD just as default for being the GM, but to blame JD is less than factually appropriate. It’s mostly on Washington and Hicks.

by FuturePants on Sep 24, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think

Davis is only adequate at 3B if grading on the curve due to him not playing there in a while, and playing there at the Major league level for the first time. Purely objectively, he appears to be on the same level defensively as Young and Kinsler.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 24, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

But ...

If he hits 40 bombs a season, I can live with him at third if the Rangers need to let Hank play first one more season.

by Athos on Sep 24, 2008 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Except

the Rangers don’t need to let Hank play first one more season. They can decline his option, move Davis to 1B, get a real SS with a glove and everything, and move “shortstop” Michael Young to 3B.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 24, 2008 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Young doesn't need to move until Andrus is ready.

The notion that they should sign a “real” SS when they’ve got Andrus almost ready is myopic. Moving Young to 3B next season isn’t going to make the difference between playoffs and no playoffs. So it won’t hurt them to keep Blalock around next year and keep Davis at 3rd.

by Athos on Sep 24, 2008 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It'd help to get

Young be better at 3B in 2010. One would hope the team is fighting for a playoff spot by then.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 24, 2008 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hard to imagine sometimes.

The Rangers might not even be the best team in that 2010 division.

by oc on Sep 25, 2008 12:12 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Davis at 3B...

I’m torn on this issue. I agree, that it appears obvious that Davis is best suited for 1B. That said, if he can play an average 3B and let Hank hold down 1B for a year or so until Smoak is ready, the team might be better off.

I guess the question is: Can the Rangers live with Davis’ defense at 3B if it allows them to get both his and Smaok’s bats (and a DH) in the lineup?

by Topgun22 on Sep 24, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

JD was never in

jeopardy of losing his job…

"Popularity is fleeting. Principles are forever."
"Maybe congress should take more vacations, whenever these people leave town, things just seem to get better..." - Jay Leno

by Longhorn on Sep 24, 2008 10:55 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

for those who want to fire wash

who do you want to replace him? there’s not much better out there…

"Popularity is fleeting. Principles are forever."
"Maybe congress should take more vacations, whenever these people leave town, things just seem to get better..." - Jay Leno

by Longhorn on Sep 24, 2008 10:58 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Shake a tree and you'll find

10 better managers than Ron Washington.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 24, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

q:

you been watching other teams every game and assessing their manager’s decisions?

"Popularity is fleeting. Principles are forever."
"Maybe congress should take more vacations, whenever these people leave town, things just seem to get better..." - Jay Leno

by Longhorn on Sep 24, 2008 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

OT: Great day if you're a Lion's fan

Matt Millen has been spotted boxing up his office.

by tyd3311 on Sep 24, 2008 11:11 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It's never a great day....

If you’re a Lions fan. Kinda like being a Rangers fan.

"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 24, 2008 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Unless Brooks shows, then it is a great day to be a Rangers fan.

But not quite as great as when Ben makes an appearance.

by Athos on Sep 24, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey!!!

I’m Brooks

"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 24, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

meh

glad to have JD back

not a fan of Wash. is there really not anyone available that can make obvious gametime decisions half of this board could make/

by kumizi on Sep 24, 2008 11:51 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Relieved

that the organization isn’t going to knee jerk in yet another direction.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 24, 2008 11:57 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

This is the new "40 trumps all", imo

"Asphalt me, ben. Asphalt me good and hard." - brettgardner

by Chase Irwin on Sep 24, 2008 12:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

thank you for putting a title on your post.

"Popularity is fleeting. Principles are forever."
"Maybe congress should take more vacations, whenever these people leave town, things just seem to get better..." - Jay Leno

by Longhorn on Sep 24, 2008 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

thank you

for being an irrelevant cloud of dust.

"Asphalt me, ben. Asphalt me good and hard." - brettgardner

by Chase Irwin on Sep 24, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

and thanks again.

"Popularity is fleeting. Principles are forever."
"Maybe congress should take more vacations, whenever these people leave town, things just seem to get better..." - Jay Leno

by Longhorn on Sep 24, 2008 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If he's irrelevant

Then why respond to him?

"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 24, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

logic is not his strong point.

"Popularity is fleeting. Principles are forever."
"Maybe congress should take more vacations, whenever these people leave town, things just seem to get better..." - Jay Leno

by Longhorn on Sep 24, 2008 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

P/K/B

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 24, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

What's that Dan?

"Asphalt me, ben. Asphalt me good and hard." - brettgardner

by Chase Irwin on Sep 24, 2008 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Pot/Kettle/Black

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 24, 2008 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yawn.

"Asphalt me, ben. Asphalt me good and hard." - brettgardner

by Chase Irwin on Sep 24, 2008 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And your strong point is.....?

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

by Brian Thomas on Sep 24, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Clearly politics.

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

by slc ranger on Sep 24, 2008 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's a battle, trust me.

If he sullies my post, I sully his name.

He knows the drill.

"Asphalt me, ben. Asphalt me good and hard." - brettgardner

by Chase Irwin on Sep 24, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I've missed Hank's "resurgence"

can you tell me what I’ve missed? what are the stats? how does he play at 1B?

I’d be ALL for taking that option, putting him at 1st and Davis at 3rd to start the year if we can’t trade Hank during the offseason, and then trading him at the ASB next year. Trade Laird. Cut or trade Cat. Re-sign Milton. I think we can deal with the lack of defense, I mean Davis didn’t look horrible at 3rd when I watched, and Hank wasn’t TERRIBLE at 1st was he?

1st – Hank, 2nd – Ian, SS – Young, 3rd – Davis, C – Tea/Salty/Max, DH – Milton/Max, OF – Murph, SlamHam, Cruz, Byrd, Boggs, IF backup – Arias and/or Duran

Start the year with that, trade Hank, Salty and Byrd as soon as you can for more pitching, call up Mayberry, Borbon, Andrus

"Calmer than you are... "

by Walter Sobchak on Sep 24, 2008 12:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

YOU WERE RIGHT!

Adam, you were correct, as were most of the group here on LSB.
I can admit that I was wrong. I thought being a “baseball guy” would help, but:

Nolan Ryan has no clue about running a MLB team.
What a bonehead move.

Smile when you call me Beat Weed!

by Clueless on Sep 24, 2008 12:52 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Actually, Beat Weed, I'd flip that

My estimation of Nolan has grown. And that’s to your credit, a little bit.

OTOH, if nothing else, this should make you reasess your view of Daniels.

And this shouldn’t really come as a surprise to you. Papa Bear has generally been pretty supportive of your favorite whipping boy, despite conspiracy conjecture to the contrary.

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

by Brian Thomas on Sep 24, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cat

Absolutely nothing but respect for this guy. Career .290/.360/.450 guy with no defensive position that hasn’t bitched one time all year about his role (or lack thereof) on this team. By saying he will work hard and do whatever we need him to do next year, he solidifies himself in my mind as a stand-up guy and classy veteran.

He shouldn’t be back as we don’t have a spot for him, but somebody can find a role for this guy without a doubt. I wish him nothing but the best, wherever his road may take him. I’ll buy him a beer anytime.

If there were no rewards to reap,
no loving embrace to see me through this tedious path I've chosen here,
I certainly would've walked away by now... Be patient

by trident on Sep 24, 2008 12:58 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Cat

who else do you want as the 25th man on the bench? Personally I would rather have a guy like Cat who plays once a week on the bench than a young guy who could be playing everyday and getting better in AAA. Young players do not need to be sitting on the bench that much. Unless some team wants to take his contract then I would be happy to have Cat on the bench next 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 Sep 24, 2008 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

{Cahill clenches fists, mutters profanities}

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

by Brian Thomas on Sep 24, 2008 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The good news about Cat

is he has a 60 bat on the 20-80 scouting scale.

Just ask Adam if you don’t believe that.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 24, 2008 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

This

is getting old. Dead horse.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 24, 2008 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Tough titties.

To me, that statement by Adam, was every bit as funny and absurd as “It’s all about the OC” was by Sharky. So I imagine I will work it in about as often as I have worked in “It’s all about the OC”.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Sep 24, 2008 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

In reference to what

did Sharky make that comment? I don’t really remember it.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 24, 2008 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

OC = offensive coordinator

All NFL personnel are essentially interchangeable in Sharkopotamia…

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

by Brian Thomas on Sep 24, 2008 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hah, oh yeah

I was thinking the locale/TV show.

The difference between that from Sharky and the comment from Adam is that Adam said it back when it was somewhat reasonable and doesn’t harp about it any more. The OC theory and pedophilia are kind of Sharky’s day to day mantras and pretty much the only reasons he ever contributes here any more.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 24, 2008 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

rec'd

I don’t know what the best thing to do with Cat is, but I always liked him and after this season, he has become one of my favorites. He does his job and never once complains. He is one of the few that really seems to get it.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Sep 24, 2008 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He shouldn't be complaining

He has a sweet ass deal. I agree, he’s being nice about it, which is…nice, I suppose.

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 24, 2008 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

umm

where’s the Lemon?

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Sep 24, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Who on there

should he displace?

In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.

by t ball on Sep 24, 2008 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cahill, Santana, the Andersons,

you name ’em, Lemon will displace them.

Seriously though, I haven’t looked at it too much and am not that familiar with other prospects as much. This isn’t a case like Beaven, if Lemon was close to making the top 20, I’ll be satisfied with it.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Sep 24, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Blalock...

is such a cock tease. I’m certain that if the Rangers pick up his option he will get hurt next year, and if he is let go he will sign elsewhere and have his best season ever.

I can see a lot of criticism coming no matter what decision JD makes in regards to Hank. He’s still one of the most popular Rangers and if JD lets him walk there will be many unhappy fans. Especially with his latest hot streak.

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

by slc ranger on Sep 24, 2008 6:20 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Homies

around?

"Asphalt me, ben. Asphalt me good and hard." - brettgardner

by Chase Irwin on Sep 24, 2008 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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