Thursday morning stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 22, 2009 8:21 AM CST
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PrintSo, yeah, as everyone knows, Eric Hurley is out for the year. He had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and frayed labrum, will resume throwing in 12-16 weeks, and won't pitch again, it sounds like, until 2010.
What particularly sucks about this is that there was the idea initially that you had five guys who, if everyone was healthy, were the likely rotation guys -- Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Harrison, Feldman -- and then Hurley as the standby in case anyone was hurt, struggled, etc.
Now, with Hurley out of the picture, the #1 standby guy would be...Dustin Nippert, I guess? Luis Mendoza? Tommy Hunter? Maybe Thomas Diamond? Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz you figure you want to be in AAA for the first three months of the season, all of a sudden, signing someone like Jason Jennings as insurance becomes more of a priority.
Jeff Wilson mentions Kason Gabbard as a potential rotation candidate as well, although I think he's probably headed for the bullpen.
Omar Vizquel signed a minor league deal with the Rangers. I think everyone is aware of that, as well.
And Jason Parks has a lengthy prospect mailbag up at BBTIA. Check it out...
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Duh
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
Hurley is now basically AJ Murray
someone who should only be counted on as a possible come back attempt and/or bullpen guy and not really be counted on.
Parks’ post is awesome.
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+1 to Parks' post
That thing is HUGE!!!
queue miles response
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Reaching for my pistol
Now, with Hurley out of the picture, the #1 standby guy would be…Dustin Nippert, I guess?
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
I'd say
signing someone like, oh, I don’t know, Ben Sheets, would be a much higher priority than a Jason Jennings.
Get off my lawn.
agree
there is a better chance of a surprise Wade Phillips firing by Jerry than the Rangers signing Sheets. Of course I don’t think Sheets helps this team anyways.
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 8:50 AM CST up reply actions
How does Sheets NOT help this team
when we are starved for an ace starter. Even if he only pitches 25 – 30 starts. Those are going to be much higher quality than anyone else we have on the roster.
Next Year! We Swear!
30 starts would be absolutely fabulous.
I don’t think anyone is scared of “only” thirty starts.
It’s the prospect of 10-12 starts and then a Leper in the Backfield-esque arm fall-off that we’re afraid of.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 10:00 AM CST up reply actions
But even if it happens
Its assumed only 2 guaranteed years are required. It would certainly be irritating and hurt any 2009 offseason potential signings, but it wouldn’t be a total disaster.
If the medical reports are worse than we know, I can understand shying off. But as of what is publicly known.. I don’t think it should scare anyone off from a 2+1 deal given our needs.
the preceding post was a great success.
Only three possibilities
I see for not pursuing him in a more determined fashion:
1. They believe his health is worse than we do.
2. The payroll situation is absolutely inflexible, which leads to…
3. They are hoping they can either deal away some salary and/or his price comes down enough that they can afford to take a chance.
I think though, that the Rangers’ FO feels like they should only sign him if his price comes way down, and that they’re content to let the prospects develop and contend next year. Given the projections for runs scored vs. runs allowed this year, it looks like a win total in the 78-80 range is a good bet. Adding Sheets would up that to, what, 81-83? If he stays healthy.
Yeah, the division could be had if everything broke right, but part of what I like about Daniels is that he seems to be leaving that part of recent Rangers history behind. He is not going to cross his fingers, he’s going to stick to a plan.
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if his
price comes way down wouldn’t that indicate some truth to your number 1 possibility above. SO it is my assertion that if Sheets ends up a Ranger one or all of the following must be true:
1. His health is horrible
2. We’ve traded Millwood or Padilla
Given those parameters I don’t see how Sheets benefits the Rangers. Add Sheets possible victory total minus the departed Millwood or Padilla’s and I dont think you’ve added much.
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 10:23 AM CST up reply actions
Misread my post
I meant 2 could lead to 3, not 1 AND 2 lead to three, sorry if that was unclear. I agree with your last paragraph. He’s much better than those two, but if he adds 4 wins (optimistic) and they add 1 or 2, you haven’t added much overall.
But if they traded Blalock to clear that room, that would be better since he can be replaced by a bat not too far different in value, and cheaply.
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Trading Blalock
to clear the room is pretty much a pipe dream in my opinion. I doubt you get much for him with his injury history, and available DHs on the FA market.
Once the Rangers exercised the Blalock option, they were basicly stuck with him.
Get off my lawn.
Yep
The market really shot any chance of him bringing much in return. Best hope is if he has about a .950 OPS through June with zero health questions. Might be able to entice a contender, but still would bring a minimal return. I guess we could hope for another Lofton trade.
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How'd we get Max Ramirez for Kenny Loften?
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
it's more likely
they get another return like the Moscoso-Melo package for Laird. Some risky guy at about AA and a lower level lottery ticket with upside.
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I'll take that
We need to start targeting the Melo’s and Feliz’s of positional players.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
But I guess we did that with Beltre.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
You stockpile the talent
It really shouldn’t matter if they are positional players or pitchers. These LA prospects are similar to draft picks in this sense where you take the best player offered.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Paisano
Feels like he’s been around forever, but he’s just a fresh 21.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
I think there were concerns that he wouldn't hit for power
plus the lingering concerns about his viability as a catcher, plus he was still in A-ball at the time, plus the Indians are pretty stacked at catcher anyway.
I guess Cleveland thought that an A-ball DH with questionable power was worth giving up to get an upgrade at the ML level. Of course, what MaxRam has done over the last year has probably allleviated any questions about his power developing.
"drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes."
"i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation."
-- both these genius remarks brought to you by our resident guru, bigsteve
I don't think it would be a disaster for '09
There will be so much money freed up for us to spend in ’09. And, our payroll is just ridiculously low for our market
Next Year! We Swear!
But isn't it pretty to think so?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 8:53 AM CST up reply actions
What are the chances we even make it out of ST with those 5 guys healthy, yet alone anywhere into the season
and i dont even like feldman to begin with.
the preceding post was a great success.
That Chris Davis post on minorleagueball
is a total beating. Jeezus.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
That whole site is a beating.
It could be a real asset to the SBN network, but it just isn’t.
If Sickels would delegate and bring a couple more dudes in as moderators/part time poster, there’d not only be a ton more info and good discussion topics on the main page, but (perhaps more importantly) you’d have more oversight in the individual threads so maybe you wouldn’t end up having 10-15 flame wars per day.
Call it the BeyondTheBoxscore model.
But Sickels insists on doing it all himself and so the site is super half-assed and the “discussion” there makes the whole world suck.
Oh well.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 8:51 AM CST up reply actions
What is with
all of the dynasty lg solicitations on that site?
by Michael Cave on Jan 22, 2009 9:15 AM CST up reply actions
i especially enjoyed
seeing King Billy Royal fuck Paul Thomas sans Vaseline and when Alskor responded to a post by simply saying “Your mom.”
Minorleagueball
We are part of the problem over there. That site is littered with extremely biased posts from a few teams’ fans, and that certainly includes a lot of homer “don’t say anything slightly less than awesome about my teams’ prospects” type crap from LSB posters.
LSB has a bad rep over there, and I can understand why. We are no better than the A’s fans over there when it comes to objectivity.
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I try to be objective
but many times people on minorleagueball don’t know our prospects that well, and say really stupid things.
Next Year! We Swear!
I don't think Rangers fans
were being unreasonable in that thread at all. But, sure, I know what you are saying.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jan 22, 2009 10:03 AM CST up reply actions
Right
I’m just saying that we are part of the problem. Part of that, though, is that the rise of the Rangers minor league system has happened in a pretty short time period — and that time period has coincided with a great increase in the number of regulars here who visit over there. It seems that Ranger fans descend en masse any time there is Ranger content posted. And a lot of those posts are simple knee jerk responses to perceived slights of someone like Davis or Holland, to name a couple of guys talked about a lot recently.
We can’t raise the level of discourse by stooping to the level of the very posters there we’re complaining about.
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it is a self perpetuating problem
there is a huge anti-Rangers bias among many of the posters over there who go out of their collective way to temper enthusiasm about Rangers prospects. In my experience most of the Rangers fans post intelligent commentary and share their thoughts on prospects they know much more about that any plebes over there. When their thoughts are dismissed or met with “whatever, you’re just a crazy, biased Rangers fan” then it fans the flames.
of course, in truth, I don’t really care what people on that blog think about people on this blog. to say that LSB has a “bad rap” over there is, at least in my mind, a little funny to think about, not unlike the Springfield/Shelbyville doppelganger. Of course, we do advocate cousin marriage here at LSB…
Heh
good 2nd paragraph, and I agree. I don’t really care what they think of me either, except in that I think it hurts good discussion. And I like hearing perspectives from other teams’ fans, because they know far more about their prospects than I do, just like I know more about Rangers kids than they do.
But I think the anti-Ranger bias has grown in direct response to the homerism displayed by a few LSB folks over there, and some of those same folks are the quickest to say how stupid the other teams’ fans are. There is a whole lot of pot and kettle going on over there.
Our lemon tree whoops the ass of their turnip thing, though.
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I agree
I don’t post enough over there to be one of those that you say are being too homerish I hope.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jan 22, 2009 12:36 PM CST up reply actions
I don't think
of any one person, it’s more of a collective.
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Wow, anti-Rangers...
the fact that there are anti-Rangers who are not Rangers fans makes me feel warm and fuzzy about this team
Jason Jennings
…could very easily come in here and surprise. We need to bring him in at the very least. People up in arms because Jennings would “block” a younger arm need to realize that any team that hopes to be respectable over the course of a ML season needs to be about ten deep on the rotation depth chart.
Also, I was pretty confident in my prediction that Holland would be in our ML rotation by May even before the Hurley injury. Now I am even more confident.
OT
“I promise you,” Romo said, “this football team is going to be a good football team next year.”
That’s certainly reassuring…….
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 8:57 AM CST reply actions
You know...
I do respect him for doing that interview and laying things out. He was getting BLASTED in the media and I’m sure some teammates were questioning some things as well. Good for him to at least come out and attempt at saying his piece, explaining himself and letting everyone know that he does, in fact, care.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Jan 22, 2009 9:25 AM CST up reply actions
God I hate that tool.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 9:15 AM CST up reply actions
he did
deliver, no?
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:18 AM CST up reply actions
Obviously.
He’s a great college QB.
One of the best I’ve ever seen.
A true force of nature who can win you games all by himself when he gets going. Up there with Michael Vick, Charlie Ward, Tommy Frazier and Vince Young as the beastliest game changing QB’s I’ve seen play. (And I’m probably forgetting some, of course.)
But the guy is a tremendous tool.
And the adulation people show for him and his Ra-Ra! style make me go a big rubbery one.
And, like I said earlier, I thought at some point during the NCG they were going to run out of hand-jobby superlatives to heap on him and would end up just cutting to a picture of his penis.
Announcer: Ladies and gentleman, there is nothing else to say here except… Tim. Tebow.
My TV Screen: * Penis *.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 9:31 AM CST up reply actions
I hate to get into the Tebow debate again but....
I don’t think he’s one of the top 10 college players ever.
Now if you quantify it like you did and say one of the best college qb’s then it gets more reasonable.
i think the tim tebow love in the “national title game” was much worse than the fellating madden gives favre.
You thought they’d cut to a shot of his penis, I thought at some point they’d cut to a shot of someone making like a seal around his groin region.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
dirk
i actually completely understand where you’re coming from. I wouldnt say i think Tim Tebow is a tool, but the media coverage, Hype and what not just makes me wanna shoot myself in the face. Its crazy disgusting how much pub that guy has gotten.
Blasphemer!
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
what the hell does "good" mean
we’ll nearly miss the playoffs again. we’d be considered “good”, but another dissappointment.
Next Year! We Swear!
I was under the impression
Hurley only had the rotator cuff worked on? At least that’s what I read from a quote that Meister (sp?) stated.
I also saw a blurb that said that things “were not as bad as they thought” once the surgery was performed. That has to be positive, no?
i read that the labrum
was frayed and had to be repaired as well, which bums me out. Rotator cuff and labrum problems seem to mean death to a pitcher. Hope i’m wrong.
"Never go with a hippie to a second location."
I wasn't sure
I saw that on the texasrangers.com, T.R. sullivan only mentioned the rotator cuff, I thought. I could be mistaken.
I do disagree with the poster below about the rotator cuff. I had mine fixed about 10 years ago and they told me that I was lucky that it was not torn all the way through. If the rotator cuff is not torn the entire way, it means it still is intact and can easily repaired. I believe I had more flexibility in my shoulder after having rotator cuff surgery than I did before. Maybe this was his case. Only time will tell for Hurley. I do wish him the best.
curious.....
were you an elite athlete who was able to return 100% to your former status?
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
No,
I was not an “elite” athlete. However, I did play sports well into my later years and never had another problem. I understand where you are going that it is quite different. I am just stating there is a distinct possibilty that if it was, in fact, only the rotator cuff and the tear wasn’t all the way through, there is a good possibility that he will be able to bounce back even better than the level he was currently at before the injury.
allforone,
Did you play baseball/softball after tearing your rotator cuff?
If so, could you continue throwing with any kind of accuracy?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Jan 22, 2009 12:58 PM CST up reply actions
Josey,
I actually did play baseball again for two years after the surgery. Keep in mind, my rotator cuff was not torn all the way through. I never had another problem with it after the surgery. However, an accident that occured off the field to my right leg is why I had to eventually give it up. I coached for about 12 years after I quit playing.
I did not lose accuracy when throwing. As a matter of fact, while coaching, I threw the majority of the team’s batting practice.
having
a minor surgery on your rotator cuff is like having a minor case of AIDS, there is no such thing. This thing is full-blown my friend.
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 10:28 AM CST up reply actions
Educate me.
I have a love for all things Dallas, especially the sports teams. I have equal passion for the Cowboys, Stars and Rangers yet sometimes I ashamed to say I don’t follow the Rangers as closely as I do the Cowboys and Stars. I get spread a bit thing I suppose. Also, writing for the Cowboys and now starting the Dallas Stars SBN site has left me even less time to really indulge myself in the Texas Rangers.
So then I’m reading the Q & A on BBTiA and it’s mentioned that if Andrus plays at the major league level all season he would easily have the most errors in baseball. Okay…I also understand that he’ll be batting ninth because his play at the plate isn’t that great either.
So what’s the upside to Andrus, other than he’s promising? Is he so talented at short and will make such great plays that we just live with the errors and the poor plate presence? And is it expected that his bat will eventually come around?
By the way…not bashing JD, Andrus, the Rangers or anyone for this decision. Just looking for clarification.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog: easy to use, free to join.
He was young for his level
at every stop in the minor league!
As near as I can determine, that’s the number one positive I’ve heard about Andrus.
Get off my lawn.
good question
For the life of me I can’t figure out the hurry. His play certainly does not dictate that he be on a ML roster.
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:04 AM CST up reply actions
As a point of reference,
the best SS any of us have seen play was Ozzie Smith.
His first full year was 1978 (23 years old) and he made 25 errors with a .623 OPS.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Omar
That’s what he’s here for.
I need to think something lasts forever, and it might as well be that state of being that is a game; it might as well be that, in a green field, in the sun.
Q:
If Kinsler gets hurt would we role with Omar at 2B? I personally want to see Omar on the opening day roster, even if Elvis is the starter.
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:36 AM CST up reply actions
Wait
So, let’s say Kinsler is hurt. You would want an infield (1B to 3B) of Davis, Vizquel, Andrus and Young? What would that IF’s average OPS be? .690? That would suck.
by FuturePants on Jan 22, 2009 10:46 AM CST up reply actions
who would you play at second
Cat, Arias? Your not going to come close to matching his Offensive production either way so why not throw some world class defense out there?
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 11:02 AM CST up reply actions
If Kinsler goes down Duran will play 2B
Or possibly Vallejo
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.
how
did I ever forget the great German?
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions
The hurry
Improving infield defense.
The FO is saying Michael Young at 3B with Vizquel and Andrus at SS wil work better than last year’s model.
Andrus’s glove alone positions him as SS of the future.
Again, defense.
Defense.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Jan 22, 2009 9:45 AM CST up reply actions
Andrus
He very well could make the most errors in baseball. But he will also get to more baseballs than we have seen a SS get to since possibly Arod. Most of those errors will be the kind where he is trying to make a spectacular play. Where in the past it would be an easy single through the hole now it may be an error on the throw because he gets to the ball. Those errors can be fixed as he matures and continues to learn the game. I’ll take those errors anyday from a 20 year old kid.
Also all this talk about his error totals in the minors needs to be tempered a bit. Combine the general field conditions along with the official scorers in the minor leagues and its easy to see why he had so many errors. There will be some growing pains for sure but Elvis is a true prospect.
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.
except
I believe people who have seen hm play suggest he will mishandle the routine play, no?
Using AROD as an indicator of Andrus’ range is discouraging, although I’m hoping when you said “we” you were referring to Ranger fans.
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:12 AM CST up reply actions
I was referring to fans
I imagine his range will be better than Arods. It will be light years better than Youngs. Like i said as he matures you will see less and less of the mental errors. Like the routine plays. Ones where instead of charging the ball a little he waits for it to come to him and then has to hurry a throw. Or when he gets to that ball in the hole he may hold on to it instead of trying to make the miraculous play. All that will come as he matures and gets older and learns the game a bit more.
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.
Errors
Simply looking at the number of errors as an indicator for defensive upside is not a good measure of skill. Look at it this way – if there is a ball hit up the middle that Michael Young has no chance to get to, it would be ruled a hit. If Andrus can come to where it goes off his glove, there’s a real chance it is scored an error. Add in immaturity and simply learning the game at the ML level and there is bound to be more errors. That does not mean his defensive rating should be lower than Young.
The upside to Andrus is his range and speed, which easily trump Young. With a premium defensive position such as SS, you need a rangey guy, and Young simply does not have the range.
Thanks guys for the perspective.
It will definitely be nice for a change to see some potential shortstop highlights from the Rangers for once.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Jan 22, 2009 9:11 AM CST up reply actions
Basically
he’s young and needs time to grow into the job. The team apparently feels like he might as well start doing that now since the 3B options sucked, so moving Young was done sooner rather than later.
If Andrus handles the promotion well, and doesn’t cave when he struggles, he might be in much better position to contribute in a big way in 2010 when the team is more ready to contend.
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I wanna know
why he’s got so many caught stealings? a simple product of honing his craft? I didn’t look it up but I seem to remember his ratio of stolen/caught was not that great.
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:22 AM CST up reply actions
Having speed and being a good basestealer do not necessarily go hand in hand
There is an art to it. I don’t know why he was caught so many times but I would imagine he is not getting good jumps.
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.
But you can learn it.. and his 2008 was much better than his previous years
53:16 is a very solid steal ratio, especially for a 19 year old at the time.
For reference, at 19 jose reyes stole 58 and was caught 24 times.
the preceding post was a great success.
Yeah you can learn it
I think he is. I don’t think he will ever be a 50 steal guy in the majors mainly because I don’t think we will use him that much but i could easily see him swiping 35-40 bags a year for his career.
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.
I don't see why he wouldn't steal 50
if he can get on base consistently. The game of baseball is trending more toward speed than it has in recent history. I think Wash is all for guys stealing bags, and I don’t see why you wouldn’t use Andrus’ main tool – his speed. That’s just my opinion
Next Year! We Swear!
Pettis
I think he is really good at teaching the art of the stolen base, Kinsler has sure thrived in that area under his tutelage. Andrus certainly has the skill set to steal a bunch, maybe 50 if he gets on base at a decent clip.
"Unless you have good speed and can be a weapon on the basepaths your bat is the best weapon you have. Now by no means am i saying go up hacking at anything and everything but drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes." -- bigsteve
I never realized how much of stealing bases was a teachable skill until I read an interview with Ricky Henderson.
I mean, yah, it helps to be fast. But plenty of dudes are fast and can’t steal for shit.
Apparently a good teacher really can make a difference.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions
stealing is more about learning
a pitchers tendencies and reading their movements. that’s what Rickey was so good at. Of course, he was the greatest of all-time stealing bases.
Next Year! We Swear!
That's not what the interview said.
I mean, learning tendencies is great. It helps.
But what he talked about was learning how to shift your weight faster to get up to full speed faster, how to slide “better” and other mechanical issues of stealing bases that allowed him to go from being a fast guy who was good at stealing bases to the best thief of all time.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions
Some guys are slow with a high % of success.
Look at Young.
by FuturePants on Jan 22, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions
Gary Sheffield
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
Carlos Lee
300 pound man with 75% success rate.
"drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes."
"i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation."
-- both these genius remarks brought to you by our resident guru, bigsteve
Yeah
That’s ridiculous
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
Its really hard to judge how fast a 300lb man is moving.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Borrow from avalanche measurement technology?
Maybe not, avalanches don’t stop at a designated spot.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Jan 22, 2009 12:29 PM CST up reply actions
Judging by lee's outfield play
He isn’t too good at stopping at a designated point either.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Well
Isn’t the general thought on Lee that he does it at times when you wouldn’t expect a steal, catching them off guard?
Still impressive that hes successful of course, but I don’t think carlos lee is stealing 2nd base as the tieing run in a close game, which I’d trust kinsler to do.
the preceding post was a great success.
He does it smart
Like you said, Lee steals bases when the pitchers aren’t paying attention to him. He is a huge guy who isn’t very fast so they aren’t that concerned about him. He then goes and shoves that right back in their faces. Of course, he really can’t steal that many bases or else he won’t be too successful anymore.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
steals
Part of the reason i don’t think he will get 50 is our manager. With Elvis hitting 9th like we all expect and Kinsler leading off I doubt Wash will give Andrus the green light enough for him to get 50.
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.
Washington seems like the type
of manager who wants to play small ball with the right personnel even if the situation doesn’t call for it.
I think we’re going to see lots of unnecessary sacrifice bunting and stolen bases from Andrus plus he will be pinch-hit for a lot in the late innings.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Jan 22, 2009 10:22 AM CST up reply actions
Why wouldn't Wash run with him?
Wash has been for the SB here. Kinsler, if he played a full season, would have probably been around 30-35 bases last year. Give Wash Andrus and Borbon to work with and I don’t think Wash would hesitate to let them have the green light to go when they feel they can make it.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Certain situations
With Elvis batting 9th that means Kinsler and the top of the order are following him. I think if there are 2 outs or we are in a position where we need a rally I think he would err on the side of caution and not kill a rally on the basepaths. Now once Elvis hones his skills on the bases that may change but currently I don’t see him getting close to 50 for a few years.
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.
In certain situations, I can see that
but those situations don’t come up that often to where Andrus won’t be a 50 SB guy. Even if he played a full season next year, I wouldn’t expect 50 while he is still trying to just get on base, but I think in the near future, its more than possible for him to constantly be in the 40-50 range of SBs.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
I don't know if I agree with Jason on that one
He’ll make more errors than most, but I think he’s going to be cutting down on the mistakes from last year,
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Working with Washington will definitely help.
It’s exciting to think about the quickness and range the Rangers might have in the middle the next few years.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Jan 22, 2009 9:17 AM CST up reply actions
working with Washington
has done wonders for the whole team defensively, especially Kinsler. and Hank is the next Chavez, except he doesn’t play the field anymore.
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:23 AM CST up reply actions
Here's the review from someone that has seen Andrus
Jason Parks from BTiA (link in the post).
Andrus is going to make plays that absolutely blow your mind. His range is pretty insane and he always seems to know where the ball will be hit. That said, if he plays a full season he is going to make a lot of errors. On some plays he will look like Omar Vizquel, and on others he will look like a 20-year-old making the jump to the majors from AA.
I need to think something lasts forever, and it might as well be that state of being that is a game; it might as well be that, in a green field, in the sun.
Yeah, I saw that after my first post.
It will definitely be exciting to watch this kid, no doubt.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Jan 22, 2009 9:29 AM CST up reply actions
You can't teach range
The saying in basketball was that you can’t teach size. Coaches could fix bad technique, so you always draft a guy with size regardless of technique. The same is true for Andrus. You can’t teach athleticism and range, but you can coach em up in regards to the errors. Once he fixes the errors, he’ll be one of the great defensive short stops in the game.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Jan 22, 2009 9:49 AM CST up reply actions
Gammons
on ESPN’s Mike & Mike said that he believes Sheets will sign with Texas.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
is he
healthy? , and I’m talking about Gammons…….
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:06 AM CST up reply actions
I hope
you get your hop back soon. As for Mike & Mike, I’ll just wait for the press conference, thanks guys.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
awesome another injury prone SP
sweet!
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
big difference
Sheets is an injury prone pitcher that is actually very good when healthy, compared to the injury prone pitchers that suck when healthy, which is what we are used to.
"Unless you have good speed and can be a weapon on the basepaths your bat is the best weapon you have. Now by no means am i saying go up hacking at anything and everything but drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes." -- bigsteve
Yeah it is a big difference
when healthy sheets can be pretty awesome. If the contract is low enough to offset the injuries then it’s cool.
But man do the rangers love them some injured pitchers/
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
All pitchers are injury prone.
At least this one balances his hyper-injury proneness with a healthy dose of aceness.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 10:21 AM CST up reply actions
Sheets
JD’s typical risky short-term signing, writ large.
2 yrs and less than $20m is an absolute no brainer.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Jan 22, 2009 10:26 AM CST up reply actions
if you can sign him for 2 years
and less than 20M, that would be an absolute steal. I assume it would cost at least 2/26 to get him here.
Next Year! We Swear!
Non-linear cost per win
Basically a calculation comparing 2008 wins to payroll to what it should actually cost to get that many wins. According to this, Rangers were the 13th most efficient team.
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/1/21/729767/non-linear-cost-per-win-pa
I need to think something lasts forever, and it might as well be that state of being that is a game; it might as well be that, in a green field, in the sun.
an erection lasting
more than 4 hours………….
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:13 AM CST up reply actions
Standby starter
I think this is getting blown out of proportion a bit. Nippert was going to be the first standby starter no matter what. By that I mean if a guy has a case of the flu or twists his ankle and misses a start. Basically any injury or illness that doesn’t require a DL stint would mean Nippert would fill in. To have brought Hurley up from AAA would require a roster move. You don’t do that for a single start due to illness or such when you have a capable guy available already on the roster.
Now I agree our depth doesn’t look as good as it did with Hurley. But just looking at guys already on the 40 we have Hunter, Mendoza, and Gabbard with ML experience. And Diamond and Poveda who could make emergency starts without having to add anyone. I am for signing Jennings to a minor league deal ala Sidney Ponson last year. If someone goes down for an extended period of time he would be the first to get the call. Holland shouldn’t be even mentioned as a possible starter until June at the earliest and Feliz not until August IMO.
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.
our rotation sucks
and when we have to start dipping into the Gabbard/Mendoza/Diamond group, things will be very ugly.
"Unless you have good speed and can be a weapon on the basepaths your bat is the best weapon you have. Now by no means am i saying go up hacking at anything and everything but drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes." -- bigsteve
we will
be dipping into that group half way through spring training……
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:16 AM CST up reply actions
Is there legitimate hope
to be optimistic about Diamond as a starter this year?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
IMO
none of that group offers legitimate hope for a ML starter.
"Unless you have good speed and can be a weapon on the basepaths your bat is the best weapon you have. Now by no means am i saying go up hacking at anything and everything but drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes." -- bigsteve
Would Diamond project more as
a good middle relief bridge in the bigs?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
others are more optimistic on Diamond
But he has struggled mightily since he was promoted to AA, he has never had good control, much less command, and he is injury prone. Usually those are not indicators for ML success. If he becomes an above average middle reliever, I’d be pleasantly surprised.
"Unless you have good speed and can be a weapon on the basepaths your bat is the best weapon you have. Now by no means am i saying go up hacking at anything and everything but drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes." -- bigsteve
He had good command in Bakersfield.
I’m convinced he was hurt far earlier in his Frisco days than others think, but that’s been argued a thousand times.
I’ll just say that I’m really looking forward to seeing him back on the mound and fully healthy this year and think he might be a real bright spot for us this year.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 9:58 AM CST up reply actions
I would so love for you to be right
but to me he just seems like someone that didn’t handle the jump to AA very well. I’ve never seen him pitch, though, so I’m not set in stone with that judgment.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I fully realize I'm in the minority in my assesment of Thomas N. Diamond.
And I’m already braced for the inevitable chorus of toldyuhsoez from the gallery here if he falters this year and is done for good.
I’m just saying is all.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 10:03 AM CST up reply actions
You and Trip (noname)
are the two who seem to be most certain he’s for real. I hope I get to tip my hat to both of you later this year.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
If you've ever met him,
he does not seem the type to not handle a jump to AA. His determination/focus could bore holes through trees.
As dirky said above, I think he was hiding an injury/didn’t realize it—-prolly due to the aforementioned dtermination/stubbornness.
"...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
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Was it No Name On Card that was messianically into Diamond? He seemed to speak from first-person info.
Going by the typical TJ rehab storyline, Diamond’s going to be at full strength in 2009. If true post-TJ control returns, he’s about on pace to see the ML.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Jan 22, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions
Diamond doesn't really belong in that group, imo.
Not that he’s better or worse, just a much different animal, imo.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 9:17 AM CST up reply actions
Diamond is
the least likely contributor from that group. Dude CAN NOT throw strikes.
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:25 AM CST up reply actions
Recalling names like Mendoza and Jennings
and saying losing hurley is blown out of proportion in the same post… heh, its at odds to me.
The way I see it is that anyone in the mlb rotation should either be able to contribute now (be it by a good ERA or eating enough innings to save the pen), or conceivably be able to do so in the rangers competition window.
Hurley/Hunter provided 2 level depth that meets this criteria. Cutting it in half is a problem to me, amplified by the fact that with a rotation so poor it is almost inevitable that multiple guys will go down. Is it hard to see a scenario where BMac gets hurt, Feldman does so badly he needs to be bumped, and one of Padilla/Millwood is on the DL for a few weeks with some random strain? The rotation would be a travesty. Hurley was very key in the depth chart to me, and even before his injury we needed to push everyone down a slot with an acquisition.
the preceding post was a great success.
agree
and that is why I have NO idea how anyone see’s us competing this year……
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:38 AM CST up reply actions
just to let you know
I think your takes the last couple of days have been spot on.
"Unless you have good speed and can be a weapon on the basepaths your bat is the best weapon you have. Now by no means am i saying go up hacking at anything and everything but drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes." -- bigsteve
Can anybody realistically
project that McCarthy will be healthy enough to take the hump 30 times and give the team 150 IPs?
Yes, he worked with Nolan and had a 25 lbs. weight gain, but I just don’t see it.
Then you have Feldman. His (minor & major) IPs went from 69 in ‘07 to 151 in ’08 – that’s not good.
Between those two pitchers, we’re running down the stairs with two pairs of scissors and a case of nitroglycerin in our backpack – it’s inevitable that something bad is going to happen.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
did you mean
to say “hump”? I read it as bump but am just curious if “hump” is indeed what you meant.
BTW, Millwood has been asking around about a supposed 25 lbs he lost. I will direct him to B-Mac’s locker……
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 9:48 AM CST up reply actions
blown out of proportion
That comment was in reference to the people who believed that Hurlye was going to be the guy who was called on whenever anyone missed a start. That simply wasn’t going to happen. Nippert is and was going to be the guy who would make those spot starts whenever someone was ill or had a hangnail or something. That doesn’t change with this injury.
Now losing him does hurt us if we get hit by injuries like we have the last couple years. Theres no questioning that. But then again i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation. Millwood and padilla have done it in the past and could do it again. I think McCarthy will be healthy and have a big year this year. And Feldman looks to be a rubber armed guy who may not post the most sexy stats but takes the ball every 5th day no questions asked.
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.
damn dude
I can’t update my signature fast enough to keep up with your unadulterated genius.
"drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes."
"i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation."
-- both these genius remarks brought to you by our resident guru, bigsteve
Ok
Aside from McCarthy are the other three that big of stretches?
Millwood made 29 last year and has averaged over 31 per year since coming to Texas
Padilla made 29 last year even with all the fluky shit he had going on. Hes averaged over 28 per year since coming to Texas
And feldman made 25 last year even though not becoming a full time starter till May and with us trying our damndest to shut him down toward the end of the year.
I acknowledge counting on BMac for 30 starts is a stretch but i have always liked the guy. I think he could become a top of rotation guy who anchors this staff going forward.
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.
Milly and Padilla
are good bets to approach 30 starts at the major league level. There is no one else on the 40-man right now we can say that about.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I feel pretty confident Feldman will get there
Hes not going to win any Cy Youngs or put up gaudy stats but he seems like the type of pitcher who simply goes out every 5 days and gives you 6+ innings and gives up 3-4 runs an outting. Nothing spectacular but something most clubs wouldn’t mind having
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.
The truth is that most teams
Would love to have a Feldman in the 5th spot and more than a few would take him in a higher spot.
I remember an idiotic argument on the DMN blog last summer where someone claimed no pennant contender would have Feldman in their rotation, not even in the 5th spot. In about 14 seconds worth of research on baseball-reference I discovered that not even World Series champs have reliable 5th starters. Heck, the 01 D-Backs ran a two-man rotation out there during the playoffs and gave starts to the likes of Albie Lopez, Nick Bierbrodt, and Armando Reynoso.
Keith Law: (1:45 PM ET ) I think Michael Young should shut his mouth and move to third base.
Projected 5th starters
Orioles: M. Hendrickson
Redsox: Penny, Smoltz or Buchholz
Yankees: Hughes
Rays: A. Sonnanstine
Jays: S. Richmond
Whitesox: C. Richard, Poreda or Broadway
Indians: Anthony Reyes or Jeremy Sowers
Tigers: Willis/Robinson/Miner
Royals: Horacio Ramirez or Luke Hochevar
Twins: G. Perkins
Angels: Mosely or Adenhart
A’s: Outman or Dallas Braden
Mariners: Silva or Rowland-Smith
Rangers: Feldman
Ill stop before the NL as its taking too long.
I’d take Feldman a number of those guys, but I don’t think he could be viewed as a significant upgrade (or whatever would make teams love to have him) over too many.
the preceding post was a great success.
Some guru/expert on the national scene
had a massive article with heavy research late last season? that evidenced the fact of how little most teams got from their 5th starter, and that upgrading that position alone would have put 6-8 bubble teams into the playoffs.
"...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
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
I bet that would be a fascinating article
DSheppard,
Sure, those are the projected 5th starters right now, and that’s a bunch of mediocre (or unproven) pitchers. Examine the entire season to see who is producing in the 5th slot, once injuries and ineffectiveness take their toll on the rest of those rotations, and you’ll find a whole slew of pitchers who could best be described as crappy. Don’t get me wrong, the Rangers are liable to have a whole bunch of crappy production from 5th slot guys like Nippert and Mendoza this season, but that just means they’re in the same boat with at least 25 other organizations. The Red Sox are likely the only team that can suffer a major injury in their rotation and still have an effective 5th starter.
Keith Law: (1:45 PM ET ) I think Michael Young should shut his mouth and move to third base.
the fifth spot isn't what will kill the Rangers
it is the top four spots that are a real problem.
The good news is, all it takes is an ace, then everybody else slides down a notch and things start looking much better. Millwood/Padilla/Harrison is a joke for the top 3 spots in the rotation, but as 2/3/4 it seems closer to reasonable.
"drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes."
"i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation."
-- both these genius remarks brought to you by our resident guru, bigsteve
Agree totally
If we could just upgrade at the 1/2 spots, or even just at the 1, we’d be set. We’ve got more than enough depth for filling out the middle/back of the rotation. The problem is not that we have those guys (anyone attempting to contend has to have those guys), just that we’ve been using them for the front, middle, AND back for too long.
Keith Law: (1:45 PM ET ) I think Michael Young should shut his mouth and move to third base.
Does JD realize how much excitement a Ben Sheets signing would create?
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
i bet he does
but im equally as confident that Hick’s payroll restrictions will keep any offer under 5 or 6 mil
Chris (NJ): I am personally offended at how you ranked a prospect from my favorite team, even though I do not know said prospect, nor have I ever seen him play. In my opinion you only have your job because, like your employers, you have an unholy bias towards my favorite team’s rival. Also, you’re short.
Keith Law: You’re right. I am short.
Were you not suggesting feldman was an above average 5th starter?
I know those guys were mostly unreliable mediocre pitchers.. and I don’t think Feldman is the worst of them.. I just think he slides right in with them.
the preceding post was a great success.
I don't know that I was necessarily suggesting that
Just that he’s not out of line for what you would expect out of a 5th starter. My point really more to the fact that, just like it would be foolish to suggest at this point that Feldman is the answer for a 3/4 spot in the rotation, it’s no less foolish to say that Feldman can’t be this team’s 5th starter, or even worse (as the DMN idiocy I referenced said), that no contending team would have a guy like Feldman as their 5th starter.
Looking at that list again, I would say that Feldman is probably right in the middle, with the chance to move towards the top half. He doesn’t have the upside of a Hughes, Reyes, or Hochevar, but he’s probably got more upside and reliability than the likes of Hendrickson and Miner.
Keith Law: (1:45 PM ET ) I think Michael Young should shut his mouth and move to third base.
Feldman make 30 starts?
Hah. He pitched too many innings last year, he’s a prime candidate for a DL stint. He could do it if he stays healthy, but it would be crazy to count on it.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Innings
Well his inning total jump was big but it was a different kind of inning jump. Its one thing to be a starter and jump from 60 innings to 150. But to go from a reliever to starter almost assures you of a significant jump. Plus the fact he was in somewhat of a normal routine probably helped it. It wouldn’t suprise me to see him on the DL at some point this year but then again he strikes me as one of those rubber armed guys who can throw a bunch of innings but may not have the stuff to put up those glowing stats. We’ll see I guess.
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.
Yeah
To me the crystal ball says Feldman gets hurt this year – either one big injury where he’s on the DL for a significant time, or more likely, a lot of smaller nagging injuries which all add up to significant DL time.
I dunno.
Does he throw hard enough to injure himself?
I’m not kidding. Well, okay. I’m only half-kidding.
His delivery looks pillowy soft.
Not that you can’t get hurt throwing like that, but I’d worry a lot more about him if he threw with more of a max-effort kind of way.
The Verducci effect is something to watch for with Feldman, but I’d say that if he fails this year it’s much more likely to be because he sucks than because he gets injured.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I hate Michael Young.
"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith
by thedirkatron on Jan 22, 2009 11:31 PM CST up reply actions
We've had around
a dozen pitchers starting for around the last 20 years.
I’d be stunned if this year was any exception.
Get off my lawn.
Maybe I'm just too much of a pessimist on Feldman
But I think he fails to reach 30 starts because of performance, not injury.
the preceding post was a great success.
If he fails to reach there because of performance
It will only be because someone else has been performing that much better than him to push Feldman out of the rotation.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Well, thinking about it more
Ill back off that statement. With the thin rotation and feldman’s ability to give 6 innings more often than not, which the rangers need… yeah, he probably sticks if the Rangers don’t acquire any more starters.
I’ll try to put away my dislike for him and let him enter a season as a starter with a better IF defense behind him and see what happens.
the preceding post was a great success.
McCarthy
making 30 starts seems like a pretty big pipedream. I’m all for it, – just seems a little premature. Let’s see the guy last a month first eh?
Next Year! We Swear!
BMac
30 innings would be a better bet than 30 starts.
"drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes."
"i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation."
-- both these genius remarks brought to you by our resident guru, bigsteve
Sickels has an excerpt from his book on Teagarden
Taylor Teagarden, C, Texas Rangers
Bats: R Throws: R HT: 6-1 WT: 200 DOB: December 21, 1983
The trade of Gerald Laird opens up a spot for Taylor Teagarden in 2009, assuming he can stay healthy enough to take advantage of it. Durability has been an issue…he is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery now, but missed time with a wrist injury last year, which hampered his hitting at Frisco and Oklahoma. It was better by September and he thrived for Texas, but do NOT expect him to hit .300+ in a full season. He’s more of a .240-.250 hitter I think, though with above average power and a reasonable walk rate. He’s an excellent defensive catcher with a strong throwing arm, good mobility, and highly-respected field generalship skills. I have liked Teagarden since college at the University of Texas, but I think he is going to be rather erratic with the bat…capable of dominating for stretches, but also going through long slumps. His glove will keep him in the lineup even when he’s not hitting well, and he should have a long career provided more injuries don’t intervene. Grade B.
"No... JD has been exposed as a kid who trades his remote-controlled helicopters for paper airplanes, then fails to consider the feelings of the paper airplane when he refolded it into a hat." -Telegraph.
yep,
"No... JD has been exposed as a kid who trades his remote-controlled helicopters for paper airplanes, then fails to consider the feelings of the paper airplane when he refolded it into a hat." -Telegraph.
by Kinslerhomer on Jan 22, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions
Hurley
The final relevant thread regarding Hurley……. He will be missed .
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
"Because he's the worst poster here I think."--Chase Irwin
by red shoe ranger on Jan 22, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions
Tek
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/01/varitek_talks_m.html
Representatives for the Red Sox and Jason Varitek are continuing to talk in the wake of the catcher’s meeting with owner John Henry last week, but the sides appear no closer to a deal than they have been for weeks.
Though the Sox are not believed to have increased their offer to Varitek following the meeting between their captain and owner last week, the club is believed to have a proposal on the table for the catcher.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Jan 22, 2009 12:15 PM CST reply actions
Here's some idiot San Fran blogers take on Visquel and the Young situation:
"No... JD has been exposed as a kid who trades his remote-controlled helicopters for paper airplanes, then fails to consider the feelings of the paper airplane when he refolded it into a hat." -Telegraph.
ha
that was awful
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jan 22, 2009 12:40 PM CST up reply actions
god damn it...
I guess we should have traded him
"Dear dumb ass folowers of FSMism,
There have been a lot of weird things that i have seen in my life before, but this tops them all. Do you really believe that there is/was such a thing as a flying spaghetti monster? Seriously, how fucking old are you? I know there’s such a thing as freedom of speech and expression, but this kinda shit should be banned. Theres is only one God and one Holy Word. Why dont you people get that? How much sense does it make to say that decreasing numbers of pirates lead to an increase in average global temperature? Is that science or some fifth grader trying to sound smart?"
–Sincerly,
ANONYMOUS
The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster (http://www.venganza.org/)
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