Dustin Nippert

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 1:27 PM CDT

There doesn't seem to be too much talk about Nippert in the rotation going forward in '09. I think if he can be consistent next year with what he showed in his last outing, he could be 2009's version of Gallaraga or perhaps a lesser Cliff Lee. Lee had a 6.75 ERA last season and wasn't figured to be this good.

This is what i remember reading when we first signed the guy:

MLBRumors.com

"Smart move by Jon Daniels tonight, as the Rangers acquired out of options pitcher Dustin Nippert from the Diamondbacks for minor league reliever Jose Marte.

Nippert, 27 in May, was said to have "top of the rotation stuff" by Baseball America in their '07 handbook. The 6'7" TJ survivor throws in the mid-90s with a strong curve. He hasn't had any big league success, but there's upside here. The Rangers can afford to stash Nippert on the active roster and let him struggle in '08; the D'Backs couldn't."

*******

If McCarthy AND Nippert are supposed to have "top of the rotation stuff," to go along with Feldman, Millwood and Padilla next season, I think the pitching staff could be pretty good next year. You have to think also that the organization is going to try hard to trade for a good young pitcher during the winter (Grienke) and he'll add into the mix as well. That should give guys like Harrison, Hunter, Feliz, Holland, etc time to develop at AAA and AA the way they should.

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Exactly

I would even throw in Hurley to the mix of Harrison, Hunter Feliz and Holland to develope a little longer in OKC. If the Rangers could pull off a trade for Grienke well. The future is so bright you gotta wear shades…..

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Sep 6, 2008 1:33 PM CDT 0 recs

+1 on hurley

it doesnt help him to get knocked around at the big league level. he can still be a pretty solid i think btu he needs to cut down on the HR a SHITLOAD

"I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write." - Newt Gingrich

by knockoutking on Sep 6, 2008 9:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

A lot of chatter about Nippert in the Saturday notes, too…

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Sep 6, 2008 1:48 PM CDT 0 recs

Ive been saying this for a while....

that Nippert should be given a shot to start in the rotation. He has good stuff and should be given a look. I would have absolutely no problem with him going into 09 as the #5 starter so long as he makes progress the rest of this year and looks alright in ST. The reality is that Hurley, Harrison, Hunter, etc. should have more time in AAA next year. Nippert is out of options and at the very least I think he could be a solid bullpen arm, if not a starter.

by erikj07 on Sep 6, 2008 2:10 PM CDT 0 recs

+1

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Sep 6, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

harrison/hurley are a higher priority than nippert

1 good start and everyone wants to jump 27 year old 6.59 ERA above all our young guys.

feliz and holland need more time in the minors, but harrison and hurley dont have any real need to be sent down. hurley was doing just fine before he tried to pitch injured.

imo, nippert should be the long man who starts if someone gets injured or performs poorly, which they inevitably will. but i give the harrison/hurley and maybe hunter group the first shot.

i liked the nippert acquisition when it was made and it was a nice pickup, but he hasnt done nearly enough to need to be given a rotation spot next year yet. now, hes got a few starts before the end of the year. if he actually follows up on his last start and gives real reason to believe he would succeed next year, sure. but i have my doubts that he will do well.

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

by DSheppard on Sep 6, 2008 2:21 PM CDT 0 recs

why both higher than nippert?

would it hurt either of them to get another half year in AAA?

"I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write." - Newt Gingrich

by knockoutking on Sep 6, 2008 9:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

well,

We had our doubts about Armando as well. At some point, you need to give guys a shot. Harrison, Hurley, Hunter etc. will get their chance when our starters inevidibly go down with injuries. Nippert has the talent to be the #4 or #5 guy. I just hate the thought of another Gallaraga leaving the organization.

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 2:34 PM CDT 0 recs

he doesnt have to be an opening day starter to be on the team.

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

by DSheppard on Sep 6, 2008 3:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

"probably" is a stretch.

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

by DSheppard on Sep 6, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

thats to the post below about trading.

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

by DSheppard on Sep 6, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

Earl Weaver

Why not just the Earl Weaver route with Harrison and Hurley and start them in the bullpen? If you have questions about Feldman, Nippert, and McCarthey, might as well give Harrison and Hurley some more experience against major league hitters. It will also keep their innings down.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Sep 6, 2008 2:35 PM CDT 0 recs

earl weaver was smart

lol

"I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write." - Newt Gingrich

by knockoutking on Sep 6, 2008 9:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

hurley is developed

I give up

by Steal Home on Sep 6, 2008 2:36 PM CDT 0 recs

and if this is as good as he gets

i dont know if he is even a 100 era+ guy. i SERIOULSY doubt he is.

"I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write." - Newt Gingrich

by knockoutking on Sep 6, 2008 9:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

you can be developed

,ready for the big leagues and struggle but still be good in the future. its called being a rookie, you have to get used the hitters.

I give up

by Steal Home on Sep 7, 2008 8:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

you have to remember

that one or maybe even two of those three pitchers who’s last name starts with “H” will probably be included in a trade for another pitcher.

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 2:56 PM CDT 0 recs

Nippert

His numbers are skewed by a couple really bad short outtings. I know some people hate taking away starts from stats and stuff but im gonna do it anyway. The 2 appearances I am going to take away are his 1st appearance of the year when he had had one hell of a week. He had been DFAd by Arizona, traded to Texas, had to deal with that and his wife had given birth to a baby during this time. He hadn’t pitched in about 10 days with spring training ending and the time between his first appearance and probably hadn’t thrown alot of bullpen either. Thats one.

The other appearance I am taking away is the one right before he went on the DL. Put together those 2 appearances are 3 IP and 14 ER.

Take that out of his line and he has a respectable 4.58 ERA in 53 innings this year. That includes his first start when he was starting on 3 days rest after pitching 4 innings in relief and he gave up 7 ER in 4 innings.

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by bigsteve on Sep 6, 2008 3:00 PM CDT 0 recs

I am all for

giving Nippert a chance. He seems to have responded well to Andy Hawkins.

by clark on Sep 6, 2008 3:13 PM CDT 0 recs

And Hawkins et al

have tweaked his delivery already…let’s give the changes a bit of time to solidify.

Every time I’ve heard this kid speak, he says something good about beinga Ranger. We need more guys like that on the team.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
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by Rodney on Sep 6, 2008 3:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

i don't feel like starting a new thread, so

Would y’all trade Hurley, Hunter, Borbon and a catcher not named Teagarden to the Jays for Halladay? Would that be enough?

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 3:20 PM CDT 0 recs

No

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Sep 6, 2008 3:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sorry

I meant to post if the Rangers were closer to being in the playoffs then yes but not iwth the team they have now.

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Sep 6, 2008 3:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

If we did that,

would we still have the pieces to go after Grienke with a package built around Salty and perhaps Vallejo and Harrison and/or Padilla?

Personally, I wouldn’t mind giving up three pitchers to bring back Halladay and Grienke.

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

Then,

we could make a hard run at Sabathia or Sheets.

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 3:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

Pipe dream

That is not going to happen. I say go after Grienke hard this offseason and try to get either CC or Sheets I doubt we get CC though. Sheets owns a house over in Highland Park so maybe there is a chance.

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Sep 6, 2008 3:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

I would be surprised if the Astros don't sign Sheets.

Their strong finish is probably going to delude them into spending big on Sheets this offseason.

by LiamP on Sep 6, 2008 3:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

IMO

this team is an average, consistent, healthy rotation away from being a VERY good team.

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 3:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

If I were Sheets

there is no way I would sign in Houston unless they blew away everyone else’s offer (which I doubt will happen). That team is going ot get one year older, and alot of their regulars are going to be in their 30’s at the beginning of next year. Plus, they have pretty much no one in the farm system to come up and help. I’d bet that the top 10 guys in our farm system 9probably even more than the top 10) are better than the Astro’s #1.

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by hinduplaya on Sep 6, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

i would think maybe even more than top 10

guys like beltre, ross, etc could be their top guy

"I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write." - Newt Gingrich

by knockoutking on Sep 6, 2008 9:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

the jays were never really going to trade halladay.

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

by DSheppard on Sep 6, 2008 3:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

you never know...

if he causes the kind of stink Tex caused here, the organization might want to bring in prospects like Texas did.

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 3:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

The only way I make that deal is if

The Rangers were a solid #1 pitcher away from making the playoffs.

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Sep 6, 2008 3:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think

If you make a move for Halladay, then sign a Sheets or Sabathia, that should make the Rangers a playoff team. Hell, look how long they stayed in the race with using pitchers who should still be in minors.

If you could add a solid ace and a solid #2 to go with Millwood and Padilla and Feldman/Nippert/McCarthy/FA… this team would be at the very least a solid wild card contender.

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 3:51 PM CDT 0 recs

What is the most you'd pay Sabathia?

What about Sheets?

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 6, 2008 3:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm not afraid of the money

I’m afraid of the years they’ll ask for. I’d overpay on a per year basis to get Sheets for 3 years with a vesting option for a 4th year.

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by t ball on Sep 6, 2008 9:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

umm,

I know that i probably would be more inclined to match whatever Sabathia wants at this point rather than Sheets. I’m not too excited about the prospect of signing Sheets. We don’t need another injury prone pitcher. Sabathia on the other hand probably won’t sign here unless we made a move to prove we were serious about winning. I think if we brought in Doc or Zack, CC might be more inclined to sign here.

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 4:04 PM CDT 0 recs

This is reality

not a video game…

by Rodney on Sep 6, 2008 4:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

+1

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Sep 6, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

x

Sabathia on the other hand probably won’t sign here unless we made a move to prove we were serious about winning.

Sabathia won’t sign here unless you offer him something like 8 years, $200 million.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 6, 2008 5:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

he's

NOT an A-Rod type talent.

by texaschief on Sep 6, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

What Adam is saying

He won’t want to pitch here so it will take that to get him here.

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Sep 6, 2008 5:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm betting he gets somewhere around those figures

He’s the only dominant starter on the f.a. market, he’s young, and there are a bunch of teams with a lot of money to spend, starting with the Yanks, who have a new stadium opening up, a need for a top of the rotation starter, and a team that won’t make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.

How much do you think it would take to get him to come to Texas?

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 6, 2008 5:54 PM CDT up 0 recs