New DMN newsletter up

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 3, 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Evan Grant has a new Rangers newsletter up...

He lists 5 Rangers to keep a close eye on in September, talks about the rotation possibilities for 2009, and lists possible candidates to replace Ron Washington if a move to switch managers was made (and the two guys he lists make me want to see Washington stick around another season)...

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1b is a

‘difficult to fill corner infield spot’?

i get that hank is likable and the season he put together in 03 is tantalizing but considering his health problems and that the only position he can play is one of the easiest to fill i see no reason we should pick up his option, even if he stays healthy and puts together a solid september.

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Sep 3, 2008 10:33 AM CDT reply actions

ok thats a little harsh

but i just cant justify picking up that option, especially considering the other places we could spend 6 mil

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Sep 3, 2008 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Chris Davis might be our best trade chip in the off-season for a front-line starting pitcher...

…i think Hank’s return will be predicated on what they do with him.

Hey, you suck McBain.

by oc on Sep 3, 2008 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I laughed at that too...

…1B should be one of the easier to fill spots on a team. Especially if you aim low at guys like Broussard.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Sep 3, 2008 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Been a long time since I read Nolan's

autobiography but I think he said his favorite manager to play for was Gil Hodges.

Player’s manager, hard ass, had a lot respect in the room because he was a very good player.

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

by Josey Wales on Sep 3, 2008 10:34 AM CDT reply actions

Manager

Is there a guy like that out there?

I’m not necessarily opposed to replacing Washington, but Don Baylor and Mike Hargrove aren’t the people I have in mind to replace him.

Baylor is even more of a small-ball freak than Washington, and my main recollection of him is that he shares Dusty Baker’s disdain for patient hitters.

Hargrove has a bit of a reputation as an arm-slagger, mostly from his Cleveland and Baltimore days, but the M’s recent track record with young pitching is pretty terrible as well. They’ve jerked around Brandon Morrow; Felix Hernandez hasn’t progressed as much as he should have- and those are the success stories. They’ve had a number of top pitching prospects develop serious injuries over the past few years. I don’t know how responsible Hargrove is for any of that, but it’s enough of a concern that I wouldn’t trust him with our crop of up and coming young arms.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Sep 3, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

+1 Please no more dinosaurs...

…like Baylor. And I don’t necessarily mean an old manager, just the type of manager with an old philosophy like Dusty Baker.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Sep 3, 2008 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Borbon

EG kind of poo-poo’s the notion of Julio coming to Arlington because of playing time concerns and overwork concerns. However, seeing how Bradley is perpetually taken out in the 8th-9th innings for a pinch runner, wouldn’t this be an ideal spot for Julio? Boggs does fine, but Borbon is much much faster. Then if Milty’s spot comes up in the line-up just replace Borbon with a better hitter.

Rubbing elbows with the MLers HAS to be an invaluable experience. Gives the kid something real and tangible to shoot for when he’s down in the minors next year. He’s already on the 40, so why not bring him up? A PinchRunner opportunity here and there will not overwork the kid. He will most likely eat it up like any other red-blooded human being in their first brush with The Show.

What's the rumpus?

by Hypo-Luxa on Sep 3, 2008 10:35 AM CDT reply actions

I think he will probably be called up

for the reasons you said, to be around big leaguers and to reward him for a great minor league season. he will probably get about 10-20 ABs and a lot of pinch running ops.

by clark on Sep 3, 2008 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions

he'd also make a very fine defense replacement

late in close games. i say bring him up too

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Sep 3, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Evan Grant

needs to stop talking about trading Elvis Andrus right freakin now. After seeing Michael Young’s shortstop impression, you’d think people would realize how much this team would benefit from a good defensive SS.

by FirebatM3 on Sep 3, 2008 11:30 AM CDT reply actions

amen

by JTodd on Sep 3, 2008 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions

agreed

Grant is getting on my nerves lately with the trade Elvis rhetoric, and his accusations that Padilla is skipping tough starts.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Sep 3, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Yup

Surprisingly misguided.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 3, 2008 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions

I've said it before...

…and I’ll say it again: EG has a man-crush on FotF. He is not about to advocate something so unpalatable to MY as keeping Andrus long term and moving Michael’s cement shoes to 3B. Trading Andrus insures Grant that his hero and go-to guy will stay happy at SS for years to come.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Sep 3, 2008 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions

pitching

is it just me or now that we are totally devoid of any hope for a wild card slot (not that we were really ever in the running), our starting pitching has started come around? This makes me think our pitchers may not be up to the pressure of the playoffs. I don’t have any proof but I have been thinking about this since Millwood threw his second complete game.

¡yo soy Horsedooty!

I soloed in the Mile High Club!

by horsedooty on Sep 3, 2008 12:33 PM CDT reply actions

pitching

Its possible. However I think it has more to do with BMac coming back healthy, Harrison having some time and games under his belt, and Millwood is apparantly healthy again after dealing with a groin issue.

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 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Don Baylor and Mike Hargrove?

Seriously?

If the Rangers did shit-can Wash I would rather see Walbeck over those two guys.

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

by slc ranger on Sep 3, 2008 5:37 PM CDT reply actions

Walbeck

I would take Walbeck but he has to quit shaving his head. White guys that have shaved heads look like they are going thru Chemotherapy. Creepy looking. Black guy shaves his head looks cool. White guy, not so much.

¡yo soy Horsedooty!

I soloed in the Mile High Club!

by horsedooty on Sep 3, 2008 7:09 PM CDT reply actions