79-83

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 28, 2008 5:08 PM CDT

Discuss.

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I had just hoped Millwood would end up with an ERA below 5.

Sigh.

by Inkara1 on Sep 28, 2008 5:12 PM CDT reply actions

After being over .500 for most of the summer

A lot of people will no doubt view 79-83 as a dissapointment, but I’m perfectly happy with it. When I look at 2008, I’m not looking at the overall record… I’m looking at the progress made by guys like Chris Davis, Matt Harrison and Taylor Teagarden. Watching the young guys is what has made the season worth watching, and that’s what I think 2008 should be remembered for.

That and some epic LSB gameday threads. : )

A Lonestar in California

"M’s fans are such weenies." - Zywica

by LSJ on Sep 28, 2008 5:25 PM CDT reply actions

It's exactly what I expected.

I was thinking about 78-79 wins, give or take 3 or so either way. So a chance to be above .500, and probably not losing much more than 85 games at worst.

So I shouldn’t be disappointed, I’m just getting numb towards those being the expectations of this franchise.

I’m also angry that baseball schedules the season to end on football Sundays.

by philkid3 on Sep 28, 2008 5:27 PM CDT reply actions

I'm tired of the off season.

How long until spring training?

by BEW on Sep 28, 2008 5:31 PM CDT reply actions

When is the official start date?

I think it’s either moved up or pushed back because of the World Baseball Classic…

-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc

by The Best Micah on Sep 28, 2008 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

No doubt.

"...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

by Rodney on Sep 28, 2008 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions

79-83...sigh

"...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

by Rodney on Sep 28, 2008 5:38 PM CDT reply actions

+1

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

by inactive lsb user on Sep 28, 2008 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions

My thoughts on the season

I would say that I truly enjoyed this season. This year was the first year I have ever truly followed the minor league system, and next year I hope to follow the minors a lot more. Thanks to the posters on LSB, Jamey Newberg, Chuck Morgan, Evan Grant, Mike Hindman, and everyone else I have missed that have contributed to the Rangers fanbase this season. I’m looking forward to see how our team develops over the offseason, and I am ready for a fresh start in March.

by aggierangerfan00 on Sep 28, 2008 5:39 PM CDT reply actions

Ive seen worse.

Like last year.
Next year depends on.. matt harrison, brandon mccarthy and eric hurley.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Sep 28, 2008 5:41 PM CDT reply actions

If so

I can’t say that I’m overwhelmingly optimistic.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 28, 2008 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions

better than gabbard/mendoza/jennings.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Sep 28, 2008 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, part of the reason

I wouldn’t be overly optimistic is that if you’re depending on Hurley and McCarthy to be healthy (besides good), you’re likely to get to see a lot of gabbard/mendoza/jennings types. Going into this year, McCarthy was supposed to be in the rotation and Hurley was supposed to join it, but you wound up with those three until they sucked so bad that they were gone.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 28, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, I dont actually think they will all stay healthy and put up sub 4.5 eras

i just think they are our best shot at a major improvement in the win/loss record if they can somehow do so.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Sep 28, 2008 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

Certainly getting closer to give guys in the rotation who can keep you in most of their starts and not just kill the bullpen would be a good step.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 28, 2008 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions

WS next year.

"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 28, 2008 5:42 PM CDT reply actions

WS=

Washington sucks?

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

by t ball on Sep 29, 2008 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions

190 days

until Opening Day

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
ElectricOkra.com

by WhipSmart on Sep 28, 2008 5:51 PM CDT reply actions

We should have a countdown meter or something

Eh?

A Lonestar in California

"M’s fans are such weenies." - Zywica

by LSJ on Sep 28, 2008 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions

On the front page :)

-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc

by The Best Micah on Sep 28, 2008 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Concur

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

by slc ranger on Sep 28, 2008 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Cruz

Has he done enough this September to justify keeping him? Real nice last 10 days, and a .330 average to end the season. I think he’d do okay in a platoon that can shield him from tough pitchers.

Tom Grieve is my hero.

by tasan on Sep 28, 2008 5:59 PM CDT reply actions

I think so

His body of work was consistent through the AAA season and how he approached hitting when called up. Among the many useful outfielders, I don’t think he needs protection from the better pitchers. First outing against Lackey, he K’d repeatedly. Second time, he ripped John pretty good. Not a conclusion, but symptomatic that he adjusts pretty well. I like how he finished.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Sep 28, 2008 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Ed sez....

YAY! I was right all along!!!

"...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

by Rodney on Sep 28, 2008 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions

No doubt...

In my eyes he has not only done enough to justify keeping him next year, but he would be my starting RFer and cleanup guy if Board Game isn’t back.

He looks like a completely different hitter this year at the ML level compared to last year.

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

by slc ranger on Sep 28, 2008 11:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Has probably been mentioned in the last day or so but

the Rangers will pick in the 13 slot (though with Crow going unsigned and a 9a pick being awarded, they will actually have the 14th pick in the first round) and the Mariners will pick second. Oakland will pick immediately in front of Texas at 12, as a result of two unplayed games improving their win percentage. It’s kind of nice that no one finished tied with Texas or like a game away from them, where you’d second guess anything.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 28, 2008 6:02 PM CDT reply actions

I'm less concerned about any draft slot lower than about 8th

And more interested in the possibility that Nolan and JD are playing possum about going after a premium starter or two during the offseason. I sorta hope chicanery rules in that matter.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Sep 28, 2008 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes

Of the two issues that’s probably the more important. But look at recent drafts. Oakland certainly might have been willing to pick Smoak at 11, but were one pick too late. Texas was willing to pick Tim Lincecum and might have been Max Scherzer in 2006, but they were one pick too late (and two too late for Lineccum).

by Brett Perryman on Sep 28, 2008 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh and

they just barely finished in 16th in the other recent draft and lost their first rounder. Game of inches.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 28, 2008 6:42 PM CDT up reply actions

True

Maybe I’m missing needed information. It just doesn’t look like a very good draft pool, thus the “about 8th” take. Strasburg aside, that is! Heh …

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Sep 28, 2008 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh

I thought you were speaking as a general rule. For what it’s worth, 2006 was not regarded as a very good draft either, and both of those pitchers were supposed to be gone before those spots. I just think that you can’t know whether a single spot or two, even in that 9-15 range, is going to be a big deal until basically draft day.

But it’s a bit of a relief that they were like four games away from gaining a draft spot. It would be a lot more frustrating if it’s like one game or so, like in some of those years.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 28, 2008 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Too early perhaps

to say the draft isn’t deep. As you say, 2006 turned out to have a couple of juicy picks just out of reach. Let’s hope someone falls.

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

by t ball on Sep 29, 2008 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Mike O (KRLD) cited

an article by Phil Rogers staing that MLB is concerned about the Rangers franchise. I could not find a link, perhaps it was inside info, as Mike used to live in Chicago, but still…

GULP!

"...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

by Rodney on Sep 28, 2008 6:20 PM CDT reply actions

...stating...

"...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

by Rodney on Sep 28, 2008 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions

concerned how?

by Melmart1 on Sep 28, 2008 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Attendance,

revenue…local market relevance.

"...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

by Rodney on Sep 28, 2008 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Those

will all improve once they start winning. All the bandwagoning bitches will come in and pretend like they are lifelong Rangers fans after they hide their Yankees and Red Sox caps in the closet.

by Melmart1 on Sep 28, 2008 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Good

Let’s hope it’s a seed for league subdivision and realignment. Rogers, and Mike O, can both take the Chicago POV and remove it from all sunshine.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Sep 28, 2008 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Here you go

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-080927-phil-rogers-mlb-whispers,0,7420889.story

Seems like much ado about nothing.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 28, 2008 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I hate this quote

“It’s never going to be a baseball town. …”

-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc

by The Best Micah on Sep 28, 2008 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions

It's a stupid comment from a guy with

obvious bias on that.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 28, 2008 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions

it wont be...

until they win. dallas is very much a fair weather city.

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

by rentz on Sep 28, 2008 7:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I always thought

that that was because of all the big businesses there, so many people move there from other places because of work, and bring their team allegiances with them. But Troy Aikman did say that Dallas “Isn’t a football town, it’s a winner’s town” so maybe I was wrong.

by Melmart1 on Sep 28, 2008 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions

As are pretty much all cities

by Brett Perryman on Sep 28, 2008 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions

i just moved to chicago

this city is anything but fair weather

""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 Sep 29, 2008 12:20 AM CDT up reply actions

There is a bit of a different dynamic when a team has been in place for like a hundred years, like the Cubs, White Sox, Black Hawks and Bears have. But they react to the Bulls about like most cities would – and even they have been around longer than the oldest franchise in Dallas, the Cowboys.

When teams haven’t been around for too long and haven’t established any sort of winning tradition, it’s not unnatural to have a sort of a fair weather fan appearance. The Rangers have been supported as well as any team with their sort of poor 37 year history – and a feeling of mistrust garnered by Hicks recently – should be.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 29, 2008 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions

They can amend that to

It’s never going to be a baseball town if the team doesn’t get into the playoffs at least an average amount of times. By my math, we should win our division every 4 years on average, and make the wildcard every 14 years on average.

If we get to average or above, folks will flock to the park.

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

by DJCahill on Sep 29, 2008 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Ahha

You are correct. (google let me down) Mike O definitely made it sound like a bigger deal, and teased it for his next show in one week.

Most interesting is the note directly below it. Bring it on, Larry.

"...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

by Rodney on Sep 28, 2008 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Mike O

has a really vivid imagination if he wants to make a lot out of that article.

by mcgee48c on Sep 28, 2008 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions

The Ranger dip in attendance this

year had very little to do with the Dallas Cowboys.

What was Ranger attendance like in the late 90’s? … nearly 3 million per.

People in this area are sick of the SOS and finally sent a message.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 28, 2008 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Rebuilding years

this is more than what you’d expect. Nice season.

by chrisR on Sep 28, 2008 6:33 PM CDT reply actions

pretty good season

with scott feldman, warner madrigal, chris davis, josh hamilton, ian kinsler, and numerous prospects emerming

this year, we went nothing but forward towards being a winning team.

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

To: Luis Mendoza "Please die in a fire." LSJ; PLEASE

by Seth. on Sep 28, 2008 6:40 PM CDT reply actions

The season was a complete failure

and they should burn down the ballpark and rape JD to death with sticks covered in barbed wire.

/Josey Wales

"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"

by Bob Loblaw on Sep 28, 2008 7:07 PM CDT reply actions

Nicely done

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

by slc ranger on Sep 28, 2008 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions

i hope espn replays this mlb special thing

hour special on the highlights of the season with players commenting and it had a part on hamilton with various managers and stars making comments.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Sep 28, 2008 7:50 PM CDT reply actions

I hope so too

I had no idea it was on.

-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc

by The Best Micah on Sep 28, 2008 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions

well i only turned it on when

someone called me telling me they were talking about hamilton. It wasnt particularly special, but it was cool. I might upload the hamilton part i got.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Sep 28, 2008 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions

That'd be cool

Because according to my DVR, there are no plans to re-air it. Boo on ESPN.

-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc

by The Best Micah on Sep 28, 2008 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions

ill post a fanshot for it in a minute

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Sep 28, 2008 8:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I love

this ESPN special!!! I’m ready for the playoffs and next season baby!!!

"You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns." - from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, by Mark Twain

by dstar442005 on Sep 28, 2008 8:01 PM CDT reply actions

I wish I'd known it was on

But I guess I can just catch the last half hour

-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc

by The Best Micah on Sep 28, 2008 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions

The part about KRod

is making me nauseous

-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc

by The Best Micah on Sep 28, 2008 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh well

At least it’s over

by RachelB on Sep 28, 2008 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions

I spoke too soon.

by RachelB on Sep 28, 2008 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions

great season

would like to be above .500 but I am very optimisitic, and I’m sure the rangers won’t shit the bed in april and august.

by cashman on Sep 28, 2008 8:25 PM CDT reply actions

Somewhat disappointing

Not the record, but we seem to have left the season with as many question marks as we had coming in

by Telegraph on Sep 28, 2008 8:30 PM CDT reply actions

I am so pissed we lost today

i came 1 game from my 80-82 prediction from ST!!!!

Damnit!! Can’t you guys ever do anything for me….LOL

by laxtonto on Sep 28, 2008 8:41 PM CDT reply actions

Nice progress made...

this year imo, but plenty of work still to be done.

I’m ready for the off season drama.

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

by slc ranger on Sep 28, 2008 11:26 PM CDT reply actions

Season was on the low side of what I was expecting.

I was figuring on a 500 team, that could compete with some good luck. Unfortunately, luck, at least vis a vis injuries, was against us, and the Angels completely smashed their Pythags by 11 games and we only overachieved by 4 games.

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

by DJCahill on Sep 29, 2008 8:27 AM CDT reply actions