Wednesday morning stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 3, 2008 8:50 AM CDT Comment 45 comments

Real solid outing from Brandon McCarthy last night...I missed the first few innings, but from what I saw, he looked like the guy the Rangers thought they were getting when they made that Christmas Eve, 2006, trade. He had three solid pitches he was commanding, and he was throwing strikes. If he can do that consistently, the Rangers will be able to feel good about one of their rotation spots.

Ron Washington and McCarthy both said that McCarthy needs to throw fewer pitches, with McCarthy saying his problem was with putting batters away. That's my ongoing concern with McCarthy...I'm not convinced he has a strikeout pitch, and if he doesn't, he's going to continue to have issues with having batters foul off 2 strike pitches.

Gerald Laird and Taylor Teagarden are going to split time the rest of the way, and Laird isn't happy about it (and is complaining about it to the press).

I can sympathize with Laird. The whole catching situation this season has been handled in a way that isn't real beneficial to any of the players involved, and the Rangers are going to have to move at least one of these guys this offseason. As Laird speculates, he has a good chance of being one of the guys moved. But it is still dumb, and inappropriate, to be mouthing off to the press about it.

David Murphy, Ian Kinsler, and Eric Hurley are all on the shelf still. Hurley is done for the season, Murphy has stopped taking b.p. and fielding, and Kinsler still can't do anything at full speed.

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McCarthy

Minors:
368.1 IP
414 K

So he doesn’t have a strikeout pitch.

I’m not disagreeing…just seems like there’s data, as well as the decision to give up a pretty good lefthander to acquire him, militating against the idea.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 3, 2008 9:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

militating?

word of the day calender?

mil·i·tate
–verb (used without object), -tat·ed, -tat·ing.
1. to have a substantial effect; weigh heavily: His prison record militated against him.
2. Obsolete.
a. to be a soldier.
b. to fight for a belief.

from dictionary.com
Just for everyone else like me.

by bushe on Sep 3, 2008 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

supposedly he 'lost' his strikeout pitch

once he was traded to Texas.

"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 3, 2008 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yah

That’s the part that doesn’t really make sense, but I guess the Connor firing shoved it to the front of the line as far as explanations go.

Whatever, so long’s the numbers keep improving…

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 3, 2008 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well maybe he should go to the...

strikout pitch lost and found department.

"California is the most liberal state in the union. No joke that place is probably going to slide into the ocean one of these days. California is a wasteland run by liberals"

-Sharky- what a nice guy huh? I guess he doesn't watch any TV shows or movies.. If California goes so goes the entertainment industry. What a nut job!!

by LAMuscleFag on Sep 3, 2008 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

FB Velocity?

Its crept up lately.. I wonder if it comes back in the spring.

by mattrpav on Sep 3, 2008 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I bet it does!

He’s been laid off a long time of course his arm strength isn’t where it should be. If he can keep “pitching” like this and add a few miles to his fastball he’s going to be…DYNO MITE….
like J J Walker used to say.

"California is the most liberal state in the union. No joke that place is probably going to slide into the ocean one of these days. California is a wasteland run by liberals"

-Sharky- what a nice guy huh? I guess he doesn't watch any TV shows or movies.. If California goes so goes the entertainment industry. What a nut job!!

by LAMuscleFag on Sep 3, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

McCarthy

Maybe his strikeout pitch was his mid nineties fastball not his 89mph fastball.

by sftxfan on Sep 3, 2008 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The question remains

Where’d it go? Did somebody not get the memo?

All ya can do is bring up the Connor and Nolan storylines.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 3, 2008 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ask the folks in Chicago

Many wondered what was the motivation for them to trade McCarthy. Only explanation that I’ve been able to think of is that the folks over there knew his arm wasn’t right.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Sep 3, 2008 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

McCarthy

never averaged more than 90.8 on his fastballs. Where does everyone get this mid-90s stuff from?

by FirebatM3 on Sep 3, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't that average indicate that he could dial it up to 92-93 on occassion?

Top speed by inning:

1st — 90 (7 times: foul, ball, foul, double, single, foul, fly out)
2nd — 91 (1 time: foul)
3rd — 90 (1 time: ball)
4th — 90 (2 times: foul, ball)
5th — 90 (2 times: swinging strikeout, called strike)
6th — 91 (1 time: swinging strikeout)

by robert_d_wilfong on Sep 3, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lack of a killer pitch

I noticed as well how quickly BMac got to 0-2 or 1-2 on the batters but ended up with a 3-2 count with 8 or 9 pitches thrown. The guys were fouling off everything he threw close to the plate, however, there were a few batters he completely had off-balance with his pitch sequence. These guys were Lahair, Cairo and Lopez, sure, but if he can get his control better on the off-speed stuff (which it looks like he is) he’ll be getting weak pop-ups from guys that are more selective at the dish. I see marked improvement from BMac every time he goes out, and if he can continue this growth the next few starts I won’t feel so iffy about his spot in the rotation next year.

What's the rumpus?

by Hypo-Luxa on Sep 3, 2008 9:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

staying tall

I don’t know about everyone else but I have been watching McC’s pitching action as close as I can and it seems to me that he is still “staying tall” and not using his legs a whole lot. I would like to hear one of the more knowledgeable members of the community comment on this though as you can’t tell a ton from the traditional tv angle.

by bushe on Sep 3, 2008 9:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Using his legs...

I think that as a normal viewer of the games and BMac’s approach (maybe he is still allowed to use LSB and make comments), his staying tall is just the way that he will always appear, but that his falling towards 1B is the biproduct of the “thrust” that pushing off moreso with his right leg will produce.

I.e., more forward thrust with the push off leg will produce more downward velocity on the ball and more of a “falling” result in his followthrough. My .02.

"But the major difference is where Showalter tried to overthink everything Washington at times seems like he isn't thinking at all. " - rentz

by hillcrest on Sep 3, 2008 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought the same thing

The thing that is easy for me to pick up is his stride length and the way that his front foot lands. Last night it looked like his stride was shorter and he was landing on his tippy toe. I’m certainly no expert, but it seems the previous 2 starts he was more aggressive in his delivery with a longer stride and landing more towards his heel.

Anyway, the results were pretty good, so I’ll take it and hope that his arm stays healthy.

But yeah, I did notice what seemed to be a difference in his delivery compared to the first couple starts, the delivery last night looked more like last year’s.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Sep 3, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heel Toe

My understanding is that pitchers – especially power pitchers – land heel first. If BMac is landing toe first, I wonder why. I did not pick that up last night, but his stride still does not look like the long power stride from his White Sox days from that much discussed Hindman photo compario.

by FuturePants on Sep 3, 2008 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

how would you have

approached the catching situation between Laird and Salty? Treat Laird as the starter all 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 3, 2008 9:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I would have

made Laird the starter to see if he could regain value, and planned to leave Salty in AAA until about June or July. The injury to Melhuse made things difficult, you can’t easily justify leaving Salty in AAA then. Still, I think everyone is a bit too much in a lather about the catching situation. They can make a move this offseason from a very strong bargaining position.

Salty’s injury is not career threatening and he’s still young, especially for a catcher. Laird has regained the value he lost in 2007. Max’s value skyrocketed, and Teagarden looks like a major league catcher with stellar defense. The Rangers can expect good value for any one of them.

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

by t ball on Sep 3, 2008 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Teagarden

Is he Jason Kendall? Strong defense with occasional pop but no substantial offensive benefits? Typical 8/9 hitter?

"But the major difference is where Showalter tried to overthink everything Washington at times seems like he isn't thinking at all. " - rentz

by hillcrest on Sep 3, 2008 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

More like Mike Lieberthal

Jason Kendall was one of the premier offensive catchers in the NL before he was hurt.

Teagarden will be solid, with a solid OBP and excellent defense. And lots of strike outs.

I think PECOTA had him at like .223/.333/.460. That’s a low BA, but a solid player.

by FirebatM3 on Sep 3, 2008 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll take a .460 slug…

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 3, 2008 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

…those OBP and SLG numbers are better than what we will be getting from MY.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Sep 3, 2008 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would die

if our so-called worst offensive catcher puts up an OPS of .793. That would be pretty unbelievable.

by jwiscarson on Sep 3, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's a damn nice projection.

You’d have to be very excited about getting offense equal to Laird but with better all around defense.

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

by t ball on Sep 3, 2008 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The one criticism I have

is that I think they were too wishy-washy. They tried two on, two off with Laird and Salty, Laird starting the majority of the time, Laird starting practically all of the time, etc., etc. Injuries to all of the guys (Olympics in Teagarden’s case) contributed to it, but seemingly every time Laird or Saltalamacchia went on or came off the DL, they had a different plan.

I attribute this to the GM and manager not being on the same page and the manager feeling like he was performing to save his job (though I think that is a smaller part of the issue). Washington does not like Saltalamacchia, I think, as a catcher, and whenever he’s had say he’s wanted to go with Laird – or really anybody but Saltalamacchia. Daniels likes each quite a bit, maybe as much as almost anyone in baseball (other than Grady Fuson in Laird’s case and a handful of Salty admirers), and I don’t know that he’s known exactly what he’s wanted to do this year. I think that Saltalamacchia has disappointed him, and Laird has returned to the level he expects him to be at, so he’s caught between wanting Laird to contribute to a winning team and establishing Saltalamacchia as a viable guy and maintaining/building the trade value of each guy.

So I think that he’s put his foot down at times and hasn’t at times, and when he hasn’t put his foot down, Washington runs with Laird or even Ramirez, so that he doesn’t have to have Saltalamacchia back there. I guess all of this is to say that I blame the lack of consistency on Daniels. My expectation level for Daniels’ judgment is much higher at this point than Washington’s anyway.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by Brett Perryman on Sep 3, 2008 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why doesn't Worsh like Salty?

"The question of how we came to be is a philosophical one." - 4HIM

by Chase Irwin on Sep 3, 2008 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My guess...

defense.

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

by slc ranger on Sep 3, 2008 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

More on McCarthy

I was at the game last night and was glad to see McCarthy pull off a win. The concern I had with him was that it seemed like the batters were hitting him very hard. A real tell-tale crack of the bat when you’re sitting close to home plate. Fortunately, most went right to fielders but there were a lot of hard hit balls. Sometimes that works out as it did last night and other times not so much.

Foolish consistency is the hobgobblin of little minds - Emerson

by RangerEddie on Sep 3, 2008 9:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Laird

I am sorry but what a baby. Dude no matter where you go, you will always have young guys below you, trying to take your job. The rangers are trying to evaluate and that’s just life, deal with it.

by Lifewish on Sep 3, 2008 10:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep

When you are 20 games out of first place in the last month of the season, your priorities go to finding out what the young guys can do. Not trying to put together a huge winning streak and getting within 15 games of first by the end of the season. We all know what Laird can do in the majors, while none of us know what Teagarden can do. Since we have to trade one or two catchers this offseason, it makes sense to see what TT can do. Also, Laird whines to the press way too much for my liking. At some point he needs to grow up and realize that in his chosen business, there is always someone who is trying to take your job. And no matter how good you are, teams are always trying to improve at every position.

by uthornfan on Sep 3, 2008 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Assuming they won't give the award to a player they traded...

…are the two leading candidates for “Rangers Pitcher of the Year” Loe and McCarthy?

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Sep 3, 2008 10:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Feldman

has a shot.

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

by t ball on Sep 3, 2008 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sadly he will probably win...

…even though he currently sports an ERA+ of 85.

FX2 could be a candidate with a strong September as closer.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Sep 3, 2008 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I nominate

anyone who hasn’t walked in a run.

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

by t ball on Sep 3, 2008 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hate Laird so much

so very much
“Either you have to get rid of me or get rid of one of them.”
oh, it’ll be you
“With these two guys coming up, I felt like this is my last month as a Ranger.”
let the rejoicing begin.

BMac seems like he’s been getting lucky to an extent. but I’ll take any kind of success, lucky or not. I really hope he can improve his changeup… seems like that could be the answer to the strikeout pitch problem, especially with his type of delivery. also depends on him continuing to get his fastball velocity up there.

Kinsler and Murph should just be shut down. I don’t trust the training staff or doctors for a second not to mishandle them. put them in bubble wrap, something.

by tangiers on Sep 3, 2008 10:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

not very team leader like.

the preceding post is not nearly as negative or insulting as you think it is

by DSheppard on Sep 3, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

McCarthy

I believe his changeup will return next year and that will be his strikeout pitch. From the very little I know about pitching the changeup puts the most strain on the forearm. I imagine he is still getting his confidence back in throwing that pitch. Everything else looks good.

His stride does look to be still not as long as it should be. A longer stride will keep him from falling away from the mound so much. The shorter the stride the more off balance he is after releasing the ball mainly because of his height.

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 3, 2008 10:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's my ongoing concern with McCarthy... his problem with putting batters away.

That’s what everybody used to say about Chris Young, and part of why he was considered tradeable. Let’s not make that mistake again.

by Wemedge on Sep 3, 2008 10:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Splitting time at catcher to properly evaluate Teagarden...

…may be the prudent choice long term. But if it is I have to ask this question: Why isn’t it also the right choice vis a vis Marlon Byrd and Brandon Boggs? I feel we have a pretty good handle on what Byrd is at his best and at his worst. Why is Boggs rotting on the bench most nights simply waiting to see if Hamilton gets tired or Bradley needs a pinch-runner? Boggs has showed some promise with regards to plate discipline, some power, and defensive play in LF. Doesn’t he deserve some PT?

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Sep 3, 2008 11:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Money quote:

JD:

We like Gerald. He’s a talented guy and brings a lot to the table. So does Taylor, but we have an understanding of Gerald’s abilities."

If Laird’s backup was some veteran with little upside he wouldn’t be splitting time. Fact is, the Rangers can’t have TT just sitting on the bench waiting until next year. He needs to get some work while he’s up there.

Nothing pithy here. Please move long.

by WyoRanger on Sep 3, 2008 11:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Per JD's take on Laird "We have an understanding

of Laird’s abilities" … methinks JD realizes that Laird is Rod Barajas.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 3, 2008 11:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Bill Smith (Minnesota): I promise I’m not Klawbaiting with this: I like hitters who don’t strike out. My team is hitting really well with RISP (and has done well with RISP over the last four years). Coincidence? Or am I on to something?

SportsNation Keith Law: (1:22 PM ET ) That’s a good question, one that is researchable. Do teams with low K/PA or K/AB rates hit better with RISP? My guess would be no, but someone can (should) be able to get a firm answer, and if someone does, email me and I’ll get your results out there.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=22232

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 3, 2008 12:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs