Monday morning stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 5, 2009 9:36 AM CST
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PrintT.R. Sullivan has a story this morning about the Rangers' hunt for pitching help. He mentions Tim Redding as a possibility -- I can't say I'm real overwhelmed by that -- but basically concludes that things are just in limbo for the time being. Oh, and that money is tight. I know you haven't heard that before.
Also, Sullivan quotes Jon Daniels as saying the Rangers aren't pursuing Manny Ramirez.
There's an mlb.com Hot Stove Report on the BoSox that talks about their interest in Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden, but that also mentions that they don't want to part with Michael Bowden or Clay Buchholz.
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This post is just chock-full of breaking news.
Rangers hunting for pitching help?!?
Rangers not interested in Manny Ramirez?!?
Red Sox want Salty or Teagarden, but won’t give up top prospects?!?
Worst. Offseason. Ever.
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
by ghtd36 on Jan 5, 2009 9:46 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
sayanara wayback!!
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
Some rumors out there
from Heyman, that there has been a little interest in Young. I’ll believe it at the press conference.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
MLB TV
had a whole segment on tbhe rangers interest in trading young.
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
Heyman has no clue what he is talking about
Every Ranger rumor he has spread has been complete BS.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Bush family cat dies
<
WASHINGTON – A longtime member of the Bush family died Sunday at home in the White House: a cat named India, after a favorite Texas Rangers baseball player. . . . The family got the cat when the first daughters, Jenna and Barbara, were 9. Barbara named the cat after Rubén “El Indio” Sierra, the former Rangers outfielder.
>
I didn’t know they had a cat.
by Randy Richardson on Jan 5, 2009 10:01 AM CST reply actions
The scariest part of this off-season right now
is that JD’s worst moves were made when he was truly desperate and not holding the hammer.
The team that JD built last year committed 132 errors, the staff he built gave up 967 runs and he has no money to spend. Attendance is down 600,000 since JD was named GM.
It’’s the first week of January and only subtraction moves have been made. Everybody in baseball knows JD cannot come back with that same thing he built last year.
JD is either very desperate or is very secure in his job at this point.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Yeah I never knew JD was a cat killer
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jan 5, 2009 10:28 AM CST up reply actions
x
Everybody in baseball knows JD cannot come back with that same thing he built last year.
Bullshit.
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 5, 2009 10:36 AM CST up reply actions
every1 except tom hicks
who has gone to a complete economic halt. the expenses are literally frozen.
the team needs to move millwood and young and cut expenses. hicks doesnt even care if they compete this year.
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
And here's what I don't get
According to you, Nolan is the one calling the shots and making the moves, not Daniels. Daniels is just a message boy.
So why is it, now that it is nut-cutting time, it suddenly becomes Daniels who is under the gun and feeling the heat, rather than Nolan? I thought there was nothing to fear because Nolan was the one making all the decisions now.
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 5, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions
Adam, stop!
You’re making too much sense! It doesn’t compute for Josey!
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
Adam, who knows exactly what is going on
behind closed doors?
The Rangers may end up doing nothing this off-season which is testimony to the job security that JD must feel he has.
As voiced previously, I believe (but I don’t know) that JD takes care of all the relatively small details (trading Laird, letting Loe go to Japan).
When it comes to major deals, especially with young pitchers like say, John Danks or Chris Young, I’d venture that Nolan has final approval (per what Tom Hicks has told us).
Nolan doesn’t walk on the point on deals or shake down trees looking for talent or trades. That’s the job of his messenger boy.
I also believe that everybody in baseball knows JD is very desperate to improve his club (because that steaming pile gave up 967 runs, committed 132 errors and finished below .500 …again) and they are not going to offer him much in return (hoping that he’ll panic once again and make yet another bad trade).
If nobody makes you a good offer the best thing to do is nothing…which is probably the Nolan Influence right now. In previous years without Nolan’s influence, I’m sure JD would have made some kind of desperate move by this point.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
I disagree.
I also believe that everybody in baseball knows JD is very desperate to improve his club (because that steaming pile gave up 967 runs, committed 132 errors and finished below .500 …again) and they are not going to offer him much in return (hoping that he’ll panic once again and make yet another bad trade).
I sincerely believe that JD will make a move if it’s there, but he is in no way “very desperate.” He’s got arguably the best farm system in baseball that could start bearing fruit as early as September, at least three young, already ML-proven studs under the age of 28, and a cornered market when it comes to young, cost-controlled, talented catchers.
The idea that JD is desperate, to me, is laughable.
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
I agree
I really think that best thing that is coming out of this off season is that we havent really heard of any prospects just flat falling on their faces. In the developmental aspect of the organization this has been a very successful offseason.
by Michael Cave on Jan 5, 2009 10:56 AM CST up reply actions
Really?
Except for a few standout batting performances (Borbon, Max, Salty, Cruz, Harrison(?)) and Luis Mendoza’s pitching, I was underwhelmed with the news I’ve heard out of the winter leagues.
Brian Gordon put up some great numbers, but I don’t really consider the 30 y.o. a prospect.
Most of our top pitching prospects were not playing in the winter leagues, so I guess they couldn’t “fall on their faces”. The only ranked LSB Community prospects were Madrigal and Poveda (plus Moscoso) and I think you could say they fell on their faces, though with only 3 IP, its hard to judge Poveda.
by NorCalRangersFan on Jan 5, 2009 3:08 PM CST up reply actions
Why would Daniels be desperate to improve the club immediately?
Aren’t they in rebuilding mode? Isn’t the team looking to improve internally, rather than through trading “magic beans” for immediate help?
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 5, 2009 10:54 AM CST up reply actions
Adam, if this team was truly in "rebuilding mode" than why the
hell was a piece of crap like Gerald Laird allowed to start 39 of this team’s last 53 games?
Salty was very healthy and available to play throughout August and ditto for Teagarden in September but Washington (with JD’s tacit approval) was apparently very desperate to finish in second place.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
JD's tacit approval
It must have been very tacit. So tacit, in fact, that you have absolutely no evidence of even his thought-process.
I don’t think “rebuilding” means sitting your best players just for the sake of playing less-experienced ones.
by brettgardner on Jan 5, 2009 11:32 AM CST up reply actions
BG, So you think it's better for a mediocre low payroll team with no hope of
contending for post-season play to plug in vets with no upside or those who are going for individual glory (like Bradley) in September who won’t be here the following season?
Sounds like a really dumb short-sighted plan to me.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
If that was the case...
wouldn’t they have started Cat over Davis?
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
We have a winner
In the oddest of places.
by brettgardner on Jan 5, 2009 11:42 AM CST up reply actions
benmor...
Compare the stats of Davis & Cat on August 31 of this past season.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Umm
So you are saying the better player should have been playing? Look at Bradleys stats compared to any other ranger. Look at Lairds stats compared to Saltys.
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.
Well...
I’m just trying to understand your position here. If it’s policy to start the veteran to the detriment of the rookie, Davis, for one, stands as a glaring counterpoint.
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
Big Steve & benmor
The smart long-term policy should be to play the kids who have true upside over vets and if your team sucks like Texas, you should have as many kids as you can in the line-up even if it means you win only 68 games, piss off your veterans and finish behind Billy Beane’s Oakland A’s.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
So should
Feliz have been playing over Padilla?
by brettgardner on Jan 5, 2009 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
Don't be a dumbass, Gardner.
Pitchers are different than every day players – or am I going to fast for the faux intellectual?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Jan 5, 2009 11:57 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
You're absolutely right.
So Andrus should have been here, right?
by brettgardner on Jan 5, 2009 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
Gardner, Andrus is not ready yet.
If he was 23 years old with a good solid year of AAA behind him, I’d be open to him making the 2009 team.
That’s not the case.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
And round and round we go...
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
I find the juxtaposition...
of his feelings about Laird over Salty but Nolan over J.D. someone interesting, really.
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
Car crash interesting or beautiful woman interesting?
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
Fulminating disease...
interesting. Car crashes are over pretty quick.
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
Understood.
And agreed.
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
It's round and round we go
because every player & pitcher is different.
The simple concept is that if your team is going to be mediocre, play as many young players as you can.
Brandon Boggs is 26 years old this month…why did he start only 3 games this past September?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Wait! I know the answer!
Because Nolan said so! No, hold on…! Because Boy Blunder sold him for donut filling and Ron Wash’s sunflower seeds against Nolan’s wishes! No, wait…
Shit, Josey, do you like Brandon Boggs or not? Otherwise I guess I don’t know the answer.
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
But
Salty was definitely ready, though, right? I mean, he certainly had all those qualifications you just listed, didn’t he?
by brettgardner on Jan 5, 2009 12:02 PM CST up reply actions
Salty has 14 HR & 59 RBI
in 506 career ab’s in The Show. Until this year, in minimal appearances had always slugged above .400 as well.
His weakness is his defense.
Is he going to improve his defense and maintain his ability to hit while sitting behind Gerald Laird?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
So sitting Salty had nothing to do with injury?
Lets not forget the entire time Salty played while Laird was hurt he had a groin injury.
Between Salty’s groin and forearm, I am not surprised he a large portion at the end of the season.
"The ONLY Reason
the Rangers played Salty over Laird is so JD could justify his return on the Teix trade. 2nd place in the West was in his grasp. If this team EVER wants to get of this treadmill of crap, they have to learn how to win"
Whoa that was weird… i think i was channeling Josey in an alternate dimension
we did get somethign of value for laird
probably because we played him at the end
Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade
Laird
On some teams laird could still be considered a long term answer at catcher. And at the end of last year we still didn’t lknow what we were going to do at the catcher position. Would we trade Salty and Tea and go with Laird? Would we trade Laird and Salty and go with Tea? So since we didn’t know which one we were ultimately going to trade the smart thing to do is play the one who is playing best which was Laird.
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 believe it was Ryan
who did not want to trade people because he felt we were still competetive; Daniels wanted to deal players, Ryan wanted to deal for players…
I recall Ryan saying he
was “very disappointed” when no moves were made at last year’s trade deadline.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
right
disappointed that there were no moves to bring in pitching for a our playoff run
i dont recall that
all i recall is that he was disappointed that no moves were made at the winter meeting
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
rentz, Ryan definitely said
he was “very disappointed” about not making any trades at the deadline and then he promptly fired two pitching coaches.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
...wait....wait...
…are you trying to tell us that you think the firing of Connor and Chiti is because Jon Daniels didn’t trade anyone?
And not because of the pitching staff’s (at the time) 5.27 ERA?
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
You are asking the wrong person, ghtd36.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
That just seems like absurd causality.
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
ghtd36, I said I don't know
exactly why the pitching coaches were fired.
Am I supposed to know that? I know Hurley went on the DL for the season right before that but not sure if it’s related.
I’m guessing Nolan pulled the trigger because JD sounded very remorseful after it happened.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Well...
…I think a reasonable human being would say that Chiti and Connor were let go because the pitching was awful.
It takes a special kind of WTF to suggest that they were let go as a result of the front office’s failure to make a move at the deadline.
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
So if Ryan wanted to bring in
vets and give away prospects to compete for a playoff spot, you would have to say that he cared less about rebuilding and more about winning. Said another way, your interests and JDs are the ones in alignment here, no? As one example, I think Guardado might have been traded earlier if not for Ryan’s interest in winning now.
Goyogringo, My interests and JD's interests
are not in alignment because of his manager and proclamation that “I AM A Ron Washington Man!!”
John Danks was traded because JD thought this thing was ready to contend. I said this team had 75 win talent when the trade was made and I’m nothing but a baseball hack.
I’m not really sure whose call it was on GLaird’s playing time but I have to guess that JD would have said something if he strongly disagreed with it.
So you see, our interests really aren’t lined up. JD has been trying to half ass a youth movement ever since he became GM.
If we’re really going to have a youth movement than have a freaking youth movement and if that pisses off vets like MYoung, MBradley, MByrd, GLaird and any other vet you can think of, so be it.
Get on with your future!!
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Still calling out people by name?
I give up. I tried, I really did.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Jan 5, 2009 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
never in a million
years would I have thought you a quitter, Ed.
Now’s not the time to start.
Well, there's quitting, and then
there’s hitting your head against the wall for no reason. Talking to Josey is like talking to a fence post. A fence post with an obnoxious idiot sitting on top of it who won’t listen to anyone and blames global warming on Daniels.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
you left out
the part where he slurps Billy Beane
jasonh,
You gonna be in our Fantasy Baseball League this year?
We’ll send you a limo if you can’t make the draft.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Draft? Shit!
I feel fortunate to get to change the lineup a couple times a week. WTF are you talking about?
I know this admission could get me crucified, but here goes…… What do you mean by “our”? Did you forget who invited you in the first place?
In all honesty, had I know you acted like an adolescent everywhere, not just in forum talk, the invite never would have left the keyboard.
As for fantasy baseball. That was my first attempt at fantasy baseball and I might do it again. Although I failed to see what all the hype was about. I also wouldn’t make any plans for a league you’ve got no say in, but hey, that’s just me. My mother obviously didn’t raise you. Emphasis on obviously.
Given what I've read from you,
I wasn’t surprised to see where you finished and to be really honest, I wasn’t surprised I won the thing.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Could you possibly be any more full of yourself?
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Gdawg,
A very famous pitcher once said “It ain’t braggin’ if you done it.”
You can look it up.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
You can still be a dick even if you've done it
apparently, good sportsmanship is not something you think highly of.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Agreed, Gdawg.
I’m a terrible winner.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
To answer G's
question. No, probably not, but does that surprise you?
Since it seems to have meant a great deal to you Josey, why don’t you tell me where I finished? I don’t remember.
This is really funny stuff. Great source of pride for you.
Let me ask you something. Is it great to be able to seal both sides of the deal by reaching down there and folding over your oversized, yet small for a penis-like clitoris?
Simply amazing what’ll do it for you.
It's early January little Jason,
tell me how my stats taste!!
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
I don’t think "rebuilding" means sitting your best players just for the sake of playing less-experienced ones.
when the less experienced have a higher level of potential, that is exactly what rebuilding is, but on the Laird scene, it was more about showing he was healthy so he could move him this offseason, IMHO
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
The hair on the necks of a lot of people in here are going to stand on
edge but did anybody check out what kind of line-up the A’s started throwing down in late August / early September?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/2008_lu.shtml
How valuable was that experience for those kids and for the Oakland A’s team?
On top of everything else, they almost caught the Rangers!!
If you really and truly are committed to a youth movement, commit yourself to it and don’t half ass it.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
they also didn't have the amount of quality players at certain positions that we did
which made it very easy…
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jan 5, 2009 1:03 PM CST up reply actions
I think that Saltalamacchia should have played more
but Gerald Laird isn’t a piece of crap and the degree to which he rebounded last year probably is repsonsible for you getting two decent pitching prospects for him. I’m not satisfied with that decision, but I don’t think that it’s been a disaster or anything, and I don’t think that it conflicts badly with the stated plan. I do think that the point that they are a little too concerned with “respecting” their veterans as a rule is valid, considering their situation.
by Brett Perryman on Jan 5, 2009 11:38 AM CST up reply actions
Zywica, Gerald Laird
had a grand total of 9 Win Shares last year. That’s exactly the same number of Win Shares that Jason Varitek had in a horrible, horrible season.
I can see why it’s a good thing to respect some of your vets but only to players that are going to be here long-term and also when the team actually performs well enough to merit that treatment.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
How do you know
that Nolan didn’t command from above that the Rangers should do everything they could to finish in 2nd place, to make him look like a good President who turned things around?
JB,
Using all of your common sense, would that be your guess as to why they played Laird that much?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
I agree they played Laird to win more games
Frankly, Laird was a better catcher than Salty last season. So they played Laird more.
The question is who made the decision to play for wins over playing for the future?
Obviously Washington benefits by playing for today. And since there was some long-term benefit of playing Laird (i.e., trade value), JD and Nolan may have just told Wash to do what he felt was best
But if someone else were to command Wash to play veterans – who would it be? JD who acquired Salty as his catcher of the future in his signature trade? Or Nolan, whose effect on the team will be measured by attendance and public perception – something that a nice 2nd place finish will help. Seems that if anything, JD’s interests are best served by having a very successful Saltalamacchia.
JB, I imagine that
Wash was told to “do what he felt was best” because that gives a lot of cover to the people above him.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
But if JD is just a puppet
Then it was Nolan that made sure Laird played. Glad we cleared that up.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jan 5, 2009 12:39 PM CST up reply actions
I don't think anybody tells Wash who to play.
Because if they did, somebody above Wash greenlighted giving Sammy Sosa 315 plate appearances against RHP in 2007.
Even I don’t think JD is that dumb.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Can you please give us a list
of when it is OK to blame JD and give Nolan the credit — and when it is OK to blame Nolan and give JD the credit?
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jan 5, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions
Someone make one of those arrow circular charts
showing that everything points to Daniels being at fault, lucky, or just doing Ryan’s bidding.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Bad calls go to JD
Good calls go to Nolan
and whatever happens Josey predicted it last year
by BEW on Jan 5, 2009 1:35 PM CST up reply actions
Laird was healthy at the end of the season and salty wasnt
what the hell is this debate about?
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
Jayslick,
Salty was healthy throughout August & Teagarden was healthy throughout September.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Particularly given...
…the reports that Nolan was pushing to try to win now last season.
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 5, 2009 11:48 AM CST up reply actions
Adam, What "reports" are you citing?
I remember Nolan saying that he was going to sit back, observe and let his people do their jobs.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Except when...
his cool hand was needed to keep JD from making stupid trades? No, wait, JD is just an errand boy. So Nolan was just sitting back and observing, and JD is just an errand boy, who’s running the goddamn ship?
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
benmor, I'm only a fan
but coincidence or not, the dumbass infamous Boy Blunder moves seemed to stop at exactly the same time Nolan became his boss.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Are you familiar with the concept of doublethink?
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
Yup.
July 31, 2007: Mark Teixeira traded by the Texas Rangers with Ron Mahay to the Atlanta Braves for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Beau Jones (minors), Elvis Andrus (minors), Matt Harrison (minors), and Neftali Feliz (minors).
Feb. 6, 2008: Nolan Ryan hired as Rangers president.
But don’t let facts get in your way. This is fun.
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
ghtd36, JD
will get credit for a good trade per Tex if the magic beans ever become anything in The Show.
The only thing the trade has done right now is improve the Rangers Baseball Prospectus organizational rankings.
Whether or not those players acquired ever have a part in the Ragners winning is a whole different question.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Well
Its already produced a 9 game winner in half a season and 14 HRs from the catcher. And those are the 3rd and 4th best pieces acquired in the trade. Id say its looking pretty good right about now.
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.
Big Steve,
As mentioned, I will have to give credit to JD if the trade works out and the Rangers win because of it.
That hasn’t happened yet.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Then what about the Gagne trade?
David Murphy had a 106 OPS+ last season.
/ducks AJM’s fury
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
But wait
I thought the team was stupid for not playing one of those magic beans that JD got in the Tex trade. Aren’t you a huge Salty supporter? But wait, you led the Teagarden bandwagon last May when no one else in the world thought Teagarden was worth a damn. But none of these guys are worth anything because they’re magic beans.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Laird had to be worth something
giving him the starting job, officially, let him get his trade value back up. and gave us time to get the other guys a little bit more prepared. it was the smart thing to do. plus, we were trying to win games. it’s not like you just sit back and throw 9 rookies into the field, plus all rookie pitchers, and say, “let’s see if we can beat the Detroit Tigers’ futility record from a few years ago…”
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jan 5, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions
damned if you do damned if you dont
he makes a move its panic, he doesnt make a move and he’s not improving the team.
but not making a move is also nolan the voice of reason speaking.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
And if he does make a move...
…he didn’t make the move, Nolan did.
by Adam J. Morris on Jan 5, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions
Well only if
it was a good move. If it was a bad move, run JD out of town!!
by Michael Cave on Jan 5, 2009 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
Heh
I think it’s very telling that Josey, in one breath says that nobody knows exactly what is going on behind closed doors, then he proceeds to tell us exactly what is going on behind closed doors. Josey’s favorite activity on this blog is to contradict himself.
[Adam, who knows exactly what is going on behind closed doors?]
You, Josey Wales!
You do!
by Jamey Newberg on Jan 5, 2009 11:26 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Jamey,
Without going into any detail, can you estimate how many phone, email and one-on-one conversations you had with JD in 2008?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Nevermind, Jamey.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
I don't want to damage any confidentiality
you may have with JD but I thought you might have a better idea of what goes on behind closed doors than the masses.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
I get the sense
that you wouldn’t have any problem doing any damage if it helped you make a point.
by Jamey Newberg on Jan 5, 2009 11:55 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Where JD is concerned...
I suspect he wouldn’t have any problem doing damage even if it was not even tangentially related to his point.
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
like egging his car?
yeah, I don’t think that is beneath him
Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade
... while
dumping sugar in his gastank and pooping on his petunias, I’m sure.
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
Jamey, I wouldn't have backed off
if that was the case.
It was a reflex question and upon further review, I retracted.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
+1
and slightly rewrite the same tripe to post anew every day
Goyogringo,
The narrative will change when the performance of the team, the manager, the GM and the owner change.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
That's what makes you so awesome, Josey
Is that you refuse to acknowledge improvement or good moves at all by JD.
Future Pants,
Trading for and signing Padilla was a good move.
Pulling Marlon Byrd off the scrap heap for nothing was a good move.
Signing Milton Bradley was a good move.
Josh Hamilton? I need to see more and I need to see complete sobriety. So far, so good.
Gagne Trade was decent.
Lofton Trade might be good.
Extending Kinsler was a great move.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
So that is...
…by my count, a great move, three good moves, a decent move, and a “TBD” move.
And so JD sucks because…? Two bad moves? Two bad moves > five great-good-or-decent moves?
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
Future Pants said
I would refuse to acknowledge good moves by JD.
Simply not true.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Well then kindly explain to me...
…how two “bad” moves outweigh five “great/good/decent” moves and a potentially franchise-altering move (Hamilton).
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
You might acknowledge them,
but you will qualify it by saying obviously it was Ryan that made it happen or that he got lucky.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
A lot more decisions need to be made
before this thing can be close to contending so that (the effect of Nolan Ryan) will play itself out.
Coincidence or not, what cannot be argued is that a lot of the pure dumbass moves this organization was making ended when Nolan Ryan was hired.
A year ago, JD thought it was a brilliant idea to bring in JJennings, Fukamori and Broussard to the tune of $ 8 million and oh by the way, Galarraga had to be DFAd.
In summation, we don’t have any money to spend this off-season and our starting pitching stunk last year – thank you, JD.
Then Nolan was hired.
Me, one of the harshest critics of this organization can’t find too many poor decisions made other than bringing back Ron Washington (which is a HUGE mistake).
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
A huge mistake...
…which was solely on Ryan.
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
If that decision was made by Ryan
and not by Tom Hicks not wanting to spend money on a third manager in 2009, yes it is a mistake by Ryan.
I’m not covering up at all for Ryan. He may be responsible for this and it is a giant mistake.
If this team really felt like Washington was their manager of the future, why didn’t they extend him?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
That's a very true statement
Because no matter what this team does, they will never be a good team in your opinion because of your blind hate for anything Tom Hicks has done. We can win the next 10 WS and you would still be saying prepare for the apocalypse because donut boy still has that stupid manager and the team is still run by satan.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
you do understand the concept of a 5 year plan, right?
and how far into that plan we are?
isnt that crystal clear.
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
Josey Wales
it would be easier for you if you just switched allegiances.
The narrative will change?
No, it won’t. When the Rangers contend you will just say some combination of Ryan did it with Daniels as the errand boy, and/or Daniels got lucky.
Everything runs through the prism of your hatred for Daniels. You have zero objectivity when it comes to him and your doublespeak on every point in this thread should embarrass you.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
tball, what doublespeak?
My premise is that I want this team to be fully committed to a youth movement if that is the real plan and nothing half ass.
Half-ass is playing Laird as much as they did and having Boggs on the bench in September.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
do you really think boggs has a future beyond
a 4th outfielder? What does this matter.
You need some veterans to help the youth. It isn’t a bad thing to mentor youth.
Wait 'til the year after next
I like plate discipline,
good defense and smart ballplayers.
I’m intrigued by Brandon Boggs and wish I could have seen more of him in September.
After slumping, he began to find it in mid August (had a .791 OPS) but when the hard charging Oakland A’s showed up at the door, Boggs went to the bench.
Is he more than a 4th OF? Possibly but that has to play out. I could tell more if he wasn’t riding the bench.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
i agree plate discipline is
an important tool for any hitter. Don’t get me wrong. I like Boggs, especially some of the throws and plays he made in the outfield, but I still don’t see him having much of a role on this team unless Byrd is traded
Wait 'til the year after next
Hard-charging Oakland A's? Really?
The A’s went 2-10 from the All-Star Break until the end of July, while the Rangers were busy going 6-7. The A’s then lost their first seven games of August while the Rangers were going 4-3. For the rest of the month, Oakland went 10-13 and the Rangers went 7-15. Total for August: Oakland 10-20, Texas 11-18. Sept. 1 through 10, the A’s went 4-4 and so did the Rangers. The two teams then split a four-game series against each other from the 11th to the 14th. Oakland went 5-1 over its next six, Sept. 15 to 21, while Texas went 2-4. Texas then won two of three against the A’s, and after that, Oakland got swept by Seattle and Texas won two of three against the Angels.
At the All-Star Break, the A’s were 51-44 and 1.5 games ahead of the Rangers (50-46) in the standings. Then, Oakland went 24-40 after the break and Texas went 29-37, and the Rangers ended up 3.5 games ahead of the A’s (who played 161 games instead of 162).
The 2002 A’s won 20 games in a row at one point in the second half and went 53-21 after the break. Those would be the “hard-charging Oakland A’s.” the 2008 A’s? Not so much.
I do.
I think Boggs can be a very decent left fielder on a contender, especially with a center fielder that can hit like Hamilton and a right fielder that can hit like Cruz (if he maintains)…of course, you would need a pretty good 4th outfielder as well on that team.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jan 5, 2009 1:10 PM CST up reply actions
do you play Boggs over
Byrd or Murphy then? I just don’t see that happening unless they get hurt
Wait 'til the year after next
am I trying to trade Byrd?
if so, I play Byrd. I think Boggs has the POTENTIAL and has already shown the defensive prowess to be an average-at-worst with room to grow starting left fielder on a playoff team in this league. If he raises the BA and OBP a little bit, which his minor league numbers say he always could, I would have a hard time picking Murphy over him. The only thing holding me back would be Murphy’s production in his year and a half of major league ball…during which he has done nothing but produce.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jan 5, 2009 1:19 PM CST up reply actions
There is no long-term future with Byrd.
He won’t be getting better when or if this thing improves. Byrd will be in decline.
Get him out of here, especially if you have an intriguing youngster who keeps improving like Brandon Boggs.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
If Byrd brings back draft pick compensation
Then yes he does have long term value to us. Thats what we are going for here. For one Byrd has been one hell of a ballplayer while here. If nobody is willing to give up the right value for him then you keep him and get the draft picks he will bring as a free agent and those can turn into potential long term fixtures for you. You don’t simply dump him off on someone so you can run a bunch of rookies out there.
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.
brandon boggs had a career .257 average in the minors
The .226 average in the mlb may not be much of a fluke.
If you get the chance to play him sure, but I don’t think hes the kind of prospect you have to trade away players to get in.
The rangers were very wise to give cruz his last chance to play in september rather than boggs.
Byrd was coming off a 1.095 ops august, theres no way on earth you are sitting him down.
the preceding post was a great success.
DSheppard,
Where do you see MByrd in 2011?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Another team
But so what? I don’t see Boggs in the starting lineup in 2011.
I also don’t see millwood, padilla, various relievers, etc. still with the rangers, should we release them all? You put your best team on the field unless it blocks top prospects, not 4th OF types who you hope can get by if you had to play them everyday.
the preceding post was a great success.
I will now make the official announcement
that everyone is so bored with the off-season that they jump at the opportunity to allow Josey to sucker them into one of his circular logic frustration fests. Please take 3 Aleve and stop the madness.
mcgee48c,
There wouldn’t be a circular logic frustration fest if this team, this manager, this GM and this owner would do something different.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
he's trying to draw you in mcgee
don’t let him do it….dont you let him do it
Wait 'til the year after next
And lest anybody say that I all I do is bash the Texas Rangers...
you should have seen me waving my red n’ blue pom poms before and during the 2004 season.
All that young talent in The Show plus Danks, Eddy V, Diamond, Hurley CYoung, AG et al in the system not to mention all that financial flexibility we had available.
And then the owner closed his wallet.
When the direction of this thing legitimately changes, so will the narrative.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
i agree about some bad moves
Would signing Sheets rectify some of those feelings about Hicks and his wallet? It would for me (well, maybe).
Wait 'til the year after next
the direction has changed immensely
I think people would accept you a lot easier (I may be VERY wrong there…) if you would at least agree that Daniels has stockpiled this system with a deep, consistent and exciting amount of prospects for the future, and that while we may not be improving in the Win/Loss column and playoff race in 2009, we are taking significant steps to build a long-term contending machine, a la Oakland, that will have the financial flexibility to sign key veteran pitchers when the time comes, a la Anaheim.
And that we have such high-ceiling, exciting names as Salty, Feliz, Andrus, Main, Beavan, Max Ramirez and Beltre because of the diligence of Jon Daniels in the wake of his failed prior attempts, and not because of Nolan Ryan?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jan 5, 2009 3:44 PM CST up reply actions
"this manager, this GM and this owner would do something different"
Hmm, who are we missing?
Nothing pithy here. Please move long.
Of all Rangers players to be named after?
Ruben Sierra? At least the cat had more longevity than Ruben, which is actually saying something.
im pretty sure the cat had less seasons than Ruben
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
True but
Cat’s tend to stay on the payroll, even if they bat left handed and can’t play a position.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Jan 5, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
cue the drums...
nice, Ed. very nice.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jan 5, 2009 1:11 PM CST up reply actions
Around the time the twins were 9,
Ruben was a pretty big deal around here.
R.I.P. little Ruben kitty.....
you are in a much better place now……..than this fucked up world!!
t ball on MY - "hate the contract, don't hate the player"
The Rangers beat writers
really need to start reporting that the Rangers are kind of interested in Buchholz, but they aren’t willing to trade Salty or Tea for him.
Its more a comment about how the Boston reporting is somewhat silly
Having a report out that says they want one of our catchers but aren’t willing to give up anything remotely useful is just stupid. If Boston isn’t willing to give up even Bowden, then they really aren’t interested in Salty or Tea. Having “interest” in a player without being willing to pay even the minimum possible price amounts to not really being interested in a guy. By that standard, probably 29 other teams out there are “interested” in Salty and Tea.
I can fully understand saying Boston would like to trade for Salty, but they think Buchholz is too much to pay. But Bowden? Seriously? That can only be Theo using the reporter to try to manipulate the market.
Okay, didn't know how literally you meant it
Boston reporting is typically silly here, no doubt. From a practical standpoint I’m confident that Epstein’s obvious media tricks aren’t going to have an impact on this. Daniels can be criticized for certain things, but he isn’t dumb, nor is he naive to this part of the job. I took his performance at the deadline in 2007 as all the evidence that I need that he is up to dealing with the propaganda game. Remember the silly media antics the Yankees and Red Sox both pulled during the Gagne negotiations? And I would say the same thing about the other GMs invoved, like Josh Byrnes.
by Brett Perryman on Jan 5, 2009 11:52 AM CST up reply actions
RTFA
But the Red Sox might have to give up a pitching prospect, such as Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden, to make such a deal a reality, and Epstein has thus far been reluctant to do so.
That’s the actual quote. That reads a little different than the Sox are unwilling to give up Bowden. It’s also the sort of well researched, insightful analysis I’ve come to expect from MLB.com.
"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.
Are there any
Ranger beat writers?
Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year
by RangerMad on Jan 5, 2009 10:59 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Why is Heyman still going with the Manny story?
It’s the lead on SI.
Fire Todd Dodge. Seriously. 45 given up in the 1st quarter. Wow. But still we're better than Washington! Oh and, SUCK IT WESTERN KENTUCKY! 1-10 baby!
Heyman being Heyman.
"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
by octoberty on Jan 5, 2009 11:31 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Now Boston doesn't want to
part with Buchholz AND Bowden!
Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year
i'm pretty sure masterson and bard are probably untouchable as well
they are probably offering other beau vaughns for salty or tea. I hate Boston and NY. Baseball needs a salary cap.
Wait 'til the year after next
I'll agree...
but it is pretty funny to watch the Yanks spend $200 + mil a year and miss the playoffs. that just makes my heart happy
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jan 5, 2009 1:13 PM CST up reply actions
I think the Sox would be willing to part with SP Abe Alvarez, 2B Chih-Hsien Chang, C Jon Egan and OF Mitch Denning for Salty…
"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.
Yep...
I’m glad Boston would be willing to do that because Texas sure as hell wouldn’t.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Really?
1. A soft tossing lefty who’s legally blind in one eye and was released by the Sox earlier in the year.
2. A 2Bman so bad that he’s going to be tried in the OF even though he hit like a pitcher for Taiwan in the Olympics.
3. A C who quit baseball to go be a roofing contractor after a lot of off-field problems (including being busted for cocaine possession) and who is also no longer with the Sox.
4. A small framed OF who’s a spray hitter but can only play 1B or the corner OF spots.
You’re sure that’s not enough? What Theo throws in a Nicaraguan Lobster-man?
"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.
What point are you trying to make here?
Yay! We should just throw around names of random crappy prospects all day!
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
No, I was attempting to make a joke on the idea that now the Sox also don’t want to deal Michael Bowden; which is either terrible/sloppy reporting or terrible/ sloppy GM’ing on the part of Theo.
I may not think Salty is worth Buchholz, but I’m a little annoyed that suddenly every SP prospect we have is too precious to trade.
I realize that sarcasm doesn’t always translate on the internet, but I thought this was pretty obvious…
"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.
given some of the trade proposals we’ve seen from other teams fans and even ranger fans it is hard to tell when someone is being sarcastic.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
yeah
sorry about that, but I thought you were actually being serious.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
well I was pretty much agreeing with what you said
and on top of that, wanted to apologize for a jerk reply.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Looks like Burrell is out of the cards for the Rangers.
He’s going to the Rays.
2 years 16 mil.
Fire Todd Dodge. Seriously. 45 given up in the 1st quarter. Wow. But still we're better than Washington! Oh and, SUCK IT WESTERN KENTUCKY! 1-10 baby!
I woulda liked to see Burrell come here..
.. but not for 2yrs/16M.
I dunno
that seems like a very reasonable contract to me.
by JimCrankshaft on Jan 5, 2009 1:14 PM CST up reply actions
why not?
isn’t that what we were willing to pay Bradley? I’d have certainly done that for Burrell…if Hicks would write the check.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jan 5, 2009 1:14 PM CST up reply actions
2/16 is a steal
for Burrell. The guy hits 30 – 40 Hrs a year. How many guys on this team do that? Hamilton? anyone else?
Wait 'til the year after next
In '09 you can add Davis and the Cruz Missile to that list.
But, yah, it’d’ve been nice to add Burrell as our DH for this year and next for a cool 8mm per season.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
A few things..
.. Bradley is a much bigger offensive threat than Burrell. I’d be ok going 2yrs+1 for Bradley. Burrell is a 30Hr guy, not a 30-40 (more like 30-32). His BA is declining and his defense is horrible.. that makes him a DH-only. For the money, I’d rather see that go into a FA pitcher and give the DH bats to a guy like Max Ramirez. I don’t believe the offense is going to take as big of a hit as most ppl here do.
Burrell is good for 150 games
per year and won’t beg out of a couple of games in July v. the Yankees / Red Sox so he can play in next week’s AS Game like say, Milton Bradley did last year.
Great, great move by the Rays.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Bradley -
in his career has played over 100 games in a season only 3 times since 2000. The highest 141 in 2004, and then last year he had 126 games played. Bradley is not a good long-term investment due to his injury history. I loved him on the rangers and I think he was a great teammate.
My memories of Bradley here will be of him toweling of Hammy at the Homerun derby and the sliding around on the wet tarp at Shea. Plus he hit pretty well here.
Wait 'til the year after next
sorry.
I know there are people here that believe Bradley can be replaced internally. I am not of that group, and I think this offense will regress unless Kinsler and Hamilton can repeat their performances, Blalock and Young improve from last year, Cruz and Davis repeat their limited 2008 ML success and one of our catchers firmly establishes themselves as a viable offensive threat…
So I look at our DH, and instead of seeing an opportunity to keep Max-Ram from learning behind the plate in AAA, and instead of plugging in a guy we HOPE can hit 15 HR/75 RBI with a line of .275/.350/.450, plug in a guy we KNOW will hit 30 HR/100 RBI with a line of .260/.385/.505 and take a considerable amount of pressure away from everybody in the lineup
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jan 5, 2009 3:52 PM CST up reply actions
uh.. 2/16 is lower than anyone could realisticly hope for.
What, you’d sign him for 1 year 2 million?
good signing by the rays.
the preceding post was a great success.
I would have been fine with a 1 yr deal
but we need to spend on pitching vs hitting. I’d rather take a flyer on Ben Sheet’s shoulder vs a slightly above average RH power hitter with no defense. How much better would Burrell hit vs the next guy we slot in there? His BA is AVG, OBP and SLG are good, but most likely not 100 points better than a Max Ramirez + other dude combo.
yeah that's a no-brainer for me
if given a choice, I sign Sheets every time over anybody else out on the market.
but that’s not the case. the case is deciding if we sign Burrell for 8 mil per, set off that gain in contract by trading Hank’s 6 mil per, in addition to keeping an eye open for Sheets, trading Millwood or Padilla should we be fortunate enough to land him. trading Cat (if anybody will take him) would also be a way to alleviate some of the cash load
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jan 5, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions
Is Burrell going to DH or play LF?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
The Rays
Got their RH power bat they wanted.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Jan 5, 2009 1:14 PM CST up reply actions
Rays
That’s a fantastic deal for them. Easily the best value signing of the offseason so far.
by Randy Richardson on Jan 5, 2009 1:15 PM CST up reply actions
The rays have done a great job
at signing players on the cheap lately.
I think their Longoria extension is going to bode well for them for years and years.
Wait 'til the year after next
The AL East is just getting scarier
What do you do if you are Boston now? We all know what the Yankees have done, and the incredibly talented Rays filled their biggest hole now while getting one year more mature overall.
The Red Sox biggest move this offseason has been getting Penny, letting Varitek go (probably a net plus), and signing Josh Bard (who’ll be a negative if he makes the team).
If I was Theo,
my main concern for ’09 would be that they have 4 key position players that have age and/or injury concerns – Ortiz, Lowell, Drew, and Varitek (if re-signed). That would make me lose sleep.
by Randy Richardson on Jan 5, 2009 1:39 PM CST up reply actions
The Red Sox
will end up resign Varitek. Like Randy syas below, they still need another big bat.
Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year
Yeah it
is going to be qutie a battle between the store bought Yankees and the developing Rays. What is really scary is that now the Rays are a team full of playoff tested guys. Just adding Burrell makes the lineup a little scarier along with a full healthy season from Longoria. Add Price into the mix and the Rays look like a 95-100 win team again.
The four R's
I’d love to see the American League postseason populated by the Rays, Rangers, Red Sox, and whatever Rabble comes out of the Central division.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Jan 5, 2009 1:26 PM CST reply actions
Great if they can do it
Heh … good thought.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Jan 5, 2009 1:27 PM CST up reply actions
Question?
What kind of manager is Ron Washington in regards to the players. We know Buck was a disciplinarian, no non-sense type. With the Cowboys we know Wade runs camp cupcake while Big Bill was the commander-in-chief.
I just find it strange that after 2 years Ron doesn’t seem to have an identity(at least that I can tell). I know he’s thought of as a defensive tactician, and a person who perseveres but I am interested to no which side of the “players coach” pendulum he falls on. He seems like he would be a players coach but he sure did ruffle Laird’s feathers regarding his play at catcher. CJ is another guy who seems to have been at odds with Wash at certain points.
"You’re the worst poster here I think."--- brettgardner
CJ
Just because of the ball incident? Wash stuck with CJ until the injury made him go, CJ doesnt have a reason to have anything against wash. Im sure he realized he shouldn’t have flipped the ball.
Wash definitely has a rep as a players manager.
the preceding post was a great success.
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