Saturday a.m. things
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 6, 2008 8:59 AM CDT
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PrintI think the best thing about the end of the season coming soon is that I won't have to watch the Rangers play the Red Sox any more. That's not been pleasant in 2008.
Evan Grant notes that the Rangers are now 0-8 against Boston this season, and thinks most of the 30K+ fans at the game last night went home happy, since most of the fans appeared to be cheering for the BoSox.
Grant also says that Ron Washington is going to audition Warner Madrigal for the 8th inning role the rest of the way, and that Vicente Padilla is coming off the d.l. on Tuesday.
Dustin Nippert is going to be in the rotation for the rest of the way, getting four starts, with Scott Feldman getting just one, as the Rangers look to keep Feldman's workload manageable. A strong finish by Nippert could create some tough decisions for the Rangers next year, as Nippert is out of options, and may, with a strong finish, put himself on the inside track for the 5th starter job for 2009.
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Red Sox/Yankee Fans at the Ballpark
It’s my preference that the home ballpark is filled with Ranger fans. However, if a person buys a ticket, they can holler for the team of their choice.
It just seems that the fans of these two teams holler just a little louder than normal, as if they are doing it just to be heard. In the 80’s, it was the Tiger fans that came out in large numbers.
Yes, your team is better than ours. Yes, your team has won more World Series titles than the Rangers playoff games, but do you have to let us know after every hit, walk, run, etc? Maybe it is like this at all visiting ballparks, I just don’t watch those games.
I agree
It drives me bonkers when the fans cheer after something simple like a walk or something. The reason they do it is just to drive the home team crazy – that’s all they are there for is to get people’s attention and start trouble. I’ve watched Rangers games in Oakland and Minnesota and I was always respectful and on my best behavior – not obnoxious at the games. And people appreciated that….They do it just to get a rise out of everyone – that and probably the only time those people go and watch a game all year is when their favorite team comes to town, so they probably aren’t baseball aficionados anyways.
by aggierangerfan00 on Sep 6, 2008 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Real fans don't bother me
It’s pretty obvious when you see or hear a real fan of one of those teams that has moved down here from the Northeast cheering for them. I don’t mind those guys. It’s the 22 year old drunken whore with the pink Red Sox cap that grew up in Bedford that infuriates me.
"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 LSBUser on Sep 6, 2008 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions
+1
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Sep 6, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Got her number???
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley
Carpetbagger Fans
I totally agree.
Outside of the Cowboys, though, Dallas/Fort Worth has a free agent mentality when it comes to sports teams. As a non-baseball example, the eight people I’ve known in the last decade who were die hard Red Wings fans were all from Dallas and all but one were born and raised in Texas (that one who wasn’t is from Colorado).
The carpetbagger fans (locals who take up another team) are the fucking worst. It doesn’t matter if they’re Sox fans or Yankees fans or Lakers fans or Wings fans…there’s always an extra sense of douchebag entitlement they rock and they’re easy to spot: They’re the ones screaming louder for “their” team than that team’s real fans. They also usually don’t know shit about the team they’re so enamored with beyond the current squad.
As of last night, our carpetbagger Sox fans wrested first place in the douchebag sweepstakes away from the carpetbagger Yankees fans. Fuck ’em all.
Agreed
We are trading in our tickets for Sunday’s game.
I mean, come on – your team is up 8-0 in the 9th inning, but you guys are going apesh*t over balls and strikes?
Last night I said the Red Sox fans were more obnoxious than the Yankee fans during that series. After sleeping on it, I still think so, even though the Yankee fans actually booed the Rangers (the epitome of class, right there – boo the home team!).
Next year you can bet we won’t be going to either of those series (unless we are totally owning them, of course).
"You got a guy coming up there who can’t hit water if he fell out of a boat." - Tom Grieve on Richie Sexson, 5.8.2008
"I’ve been a Rangers fan all my life and I can tell you there’s been plenty of fucking crying in baseball…" - WhipSmart, 6.3.08
"When it comes to Jeff Mathis, the story ends with us putting one in his earhole." - AJM, 7.7.08
Nippert
If it’s Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Feldman in the first four, I’d as soon have Hurley at #5 unless there are health concerns, and then I’d prefer Harrison.
Go Strangers.
Doesn't the #5 guy
Normally spend the first ten days or so in the minors? Maybe I’m making too much out the nominal ‘slot’ guys pitch in, but didn’t we do that with Mendoza this year?
With Nips and Feldman both out of options, if Nippert does make the rotation out of ST, don’t we kinda have to slot him and Feldman ahead of one of the 3 H’s due to options?
Schedule
It depends on the schedule as to where the #5 guy starts the year. This year we had enough off days that we didn’t need a 5th starter for about 10 days. Next year we may not have that luxury.
As to the rotation. Feldman and Nippert being out of options definitely will affect things. If Nippert finishes strong this year and has a good spring he will lock up a spot. Feldman, barring injury or just a horrific spring, has a spot locked up. If we don’t trade either Millwood or Padilla they have spots locked up. That would leave one spot open. Based on talent and production I think BMac would get that last spot with Hurley and harrison starting in AAA and being the first available when the inevitable injuries occur.
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.
Nippert
I don’t think a strong finish guarantees him a spot.
I think they will add a pitcher this offseason, probably through a trade, and the rotation will most likely look something like, in no particular order, new pitcher, Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy and Feldman, with Hurley, Harrison, Nippert and Hunter competing with the last two for a spot in the spring but like opening the year in AAA.
by Darrell McKown on Sep 6, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Nippert
He’s out of options and has been outrighted once. If the Rangers don’t keep him on the 25 man roster, he’s a free agent (if he isn’t claimed).
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 6, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions
Nippert
The big fastball just makes me think he’s better as a long or a late inning guy, but the numbers don’t really bear it out.
Even if he’s needed for rotation depth, I’d plan on sticking him in the bullpen. With all the catchers still here, this team is bound to deal for a starter…it’s just a matter of time.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Sep 6, 2008 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Options
I forgot that he’s out of options (which is how we ended up with him in the first place).
I guess that makes him a pretty good candidate to the long man at the beginning of next season then. I don’t think he’s a guy we should be counting on to start the season in the rotation.
by Darrell McKown on Sep 6, 2008 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions
In that case...
…you’d just have Feldman or Nippert as your long man until you need a 5th starter.
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 6, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
If Nippert pitches well, ...
Would you give him a rotation spot at the expense of Hurley?
"The question of how we came to be is a philosophical one." - 4HIM
by inactive lsb user on Sep 6, 2008 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Now that’s the question.
Maybe Hurley needs to prove he’s healthy before a guy like Nippert gets cut. I’d think the front office prefers the homegrown soldier over the johnny come lately.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Sep 6, 2008 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Thats debatable
Unless Hurley is head and shoulders above Nippert, which I don’t think he is, then you have to give Nippert the look and send Hurley down to AAA. Nippert isn’t a 30 something veteran he is a mid 20s guy who could help us for years to come.
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.
Initially, yes.
If he flops early on, then you DFA him and move on… but the last thing you’d want is for him to show some promise at the end of this season, then let another team take advantage of whatever lightning in a bottle he’s found next year.
Hurley’s got options, and some more time in AAA won’t hurt him.
by vfn on Sep 7, 2008 1:49 AM CDT up reply actions
Trade Feldman?
His value is highest that it has ever been, and given his number of quality starts, I bet he looks more attractive than many of the FA pitchers.
i love what feldman has given this team this year
but i have doubts about his long term abilities. i don’t see much projection with him. i would be willing to trade him if the right deal came along, but i don’t see him having a ton of value.
???
Why in the hell would you trade the ONLY young pitcher who has made large strides this year at the major league level? Feldman has been our only young pitcher this year who has shown that he can consistently go out every 5th day and give you six innings. It would be a horrible mistake to trade away a pitcher who we have developed to become a solid back of the rotation starter especially when he’s the only guy who has really made legit progress. Makes no sense to trade away a commodity such as Feldman. Furthermore, what “long term abilities” concern you?
agreed
everyone on here wants to trade a player who has a goood year because of his trade value, well they probably have more value staying in texas
I give up
i could be wrong
he reminds me of guys like Ryan Drese and Lenny DiNardo, groundball pitchers who are extremely hittable. Both of those guys had one solid season and then came back down to earth. But you are right in that we shouldn’t just give him away.
are you kidding?!?! why trade our best pitcher
thats just stupid. it would just be another good pitcher being let away.
feldman’s ERA should be even lower if the defense helped out a bit, and he has a low line drive percentage, he is only going to improve
I give up
Feldmans ERA
It would be alot lower if Wash would pull him about an inning earlier each time out.
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.
Is this an indictment of Washington?
If so, it is misplaced.
"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 LSBUser on Sep 6, 2008 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions
No just fact
I don’t remember what the exact numbers are but I crunched them one night and in the last inning or portion of an inning of his outtings his ERA is somewhere around 15. The previous innings his ERA is under 4.
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.
Here it is
Heres the link to the numbers I crunched
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.
OT: College Football
UW @ BYU
With 2 seconds to go, Jake Locker ran in for the touchdown to make it 28-27. Locker stands up and casually tosses the ball over his shoulder.
It’s ruled excessive celebration and the extra point is knocked back 15 yards.
Extra point is blocked. Huskies lose.
LOL
That was absolute crap
Pac 10 refs are god awful. What a joke.
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
Yep
The Sooners got screwed a few years ago in Oregon.
A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555
Yeah
I used to work for the ASU football team. I’m used to seeing mind-boggling calls on a nightly basis.
The funny thing is that crew working the UW game used to work all of our scrimmages at ASU. They were thought of as one of the better crews. Oops.
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
Oh, and it was BYU @ UW
nm
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
I hate the Cougs...
I was watching that game and was really torn. They needed to win for the MWC, but I just can’t cheer for them. When that play happened I was pissed off. It was a total BS call and cost the Huskies a shot in OT.
Now I get to hear for another week in the media here about how BYU is “living life the right way” and “it’s their destiny” and the “quest for perfection” lives on. Their fans are the most ignorant and self righteous ass holes in the country. They don’t know shit about football and cheer for BYU because they think it’s some kind of religious experience. It makes me sick, I hate the zoobs.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
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