He’s too good and too cheap to throw away after one “sub-par” season. If 30/30 is the worst we can expect from him, this is just silly to even talk about.

who voted for him to go? I’d like to hear their reason(s) why.

It would be pretty stupid to cast Kinsler off right now. If you look around the MLB and see all the hot garbage other teams are rolling out at 2B, you would have to get a huge haul back to even consider moving him. It better fix your SP and your offense in my opinion.

I can’t imagine support for this by anyone in the universe

THIS IS A STUPID POLL. FUCK YOU.

heh ;)

link

Smoak at #2

Smoak is another of the league’s top prospects who was gone before everyone got a good look at him, earning a promotion to Triple-A and then playing in the IBAF World Cup. He ended up taking MVP honors at the event, hitting nine home runs with 22 RBIs in 14 games as Team USA won the gold medal.

A complete hitter who should hit for both average and power, Smoak shows a great deal of confidence at the plate. He’s patient and shows a good approach and pitch recognition. Smoak has Gold Glove potential at first base but is a below-average runner who never will be an asset on the bases.

Kiker at #11

11. Kasey Kiker, lhp, Frisco (Rangers)
Age: 21. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 5-10. Wt. 170. Drafted: Rangers ’06 (1).
Kiker spent the whole season in Double-A at age 21, leading TL starters in strikeouts per nine innings (8.5) while finishing second in opponent average (.219). He still lacked some consistency but impressed managers with his toughness.

At his best, Kiker works with a sharp 90-93 mph fastball, though he pitched more at 88-90 later in the year. He posted a 9.47 ERA in August, then struggled with his command pitching for Team USA in the World Cup, walking 14 in 13 innings. Kiker’s changeup is a legitimate plus pitch, and he flashes an average curveball. Managers also liked his willingness to work inside.

Skeptics see Kiker as an undersized lefty who will end up in the bullpen. He has issues with his angle to the plate, so he sometimes leaves the ball up in the zone. He’s developing better touch and feel, however, and is such a strong competitor that he should continue to improve.

…no, I’d like to keep an All-Star second baseman, thank you.

… just keep him at 5 or 6 in the lineup and Borbon and Andrus 1 & 2.

since he was reluctant to change his uppercut swing and still reluctant to even recognize it. the guy is one of the top talents in baseball, yet he took a terrible approach at the plate this year for a few more HRs. I think we are harder on Kinsler because we have higher expectations. If he doesn’t improve his approach next year, then perhaps Kinsler will be destined to be the next Hank F

doesn’t mean they should trade him

I know sometimes meatball subs draw some criticism for not tasting super awesome by some people who have probably never eaten a meatball sub, so I could just say “screw it” for lunch and starve myself. What do you think?

I never thought this was even remotely considered by anyone.

Gilbert wouldn’t make big changes to Rangers front office

Prospective Rangers owner Dennis Gilbert won’t make wholesale changes in the front office if he wins the team. There has been internet speculation that he’d hire longtime friend and confidant Kevin Towers as general manager, but it is believed Gilbert would keep the current regime in place.

Gilbert heads one of three or four groups bidding for the Rangers, who are expected to go for close to half a billion. Howard Greenberg and Jim Crane are two other known bidders, and according to sources, Greenberg has all but locked up Texas legend Nolan Ryan to join his group. Ryan is the current club president so it’s presumed the baseball operations department also would be left alone should the Greenberg/Ryan group win.

With speculation out there that Gilbert would bring in Towers and his own people, there’s been some concern among the folks currently in power. The former superagent who’s now a consultant for White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is a longtime friend of Towers and it isn’t farfetchecd to think Gilbert would want the ex-Padre GM involved. Towers was let go in San Diego when new owner Jeff Moorad, also a former superagent, decided he wanted his own man. So changes are anything but unusual under these circumstances.

However, Daniels and his people have done an excellent job, beginning with the franchise-remaking trade of Mark Teixeira to the Braves, which netted them AL Rookie of the Year candidate Elvis Andrus and ultra-impressive right-hander Neftali Feliz, among others. The move of Rangers star Young to third base to accommodate Andrus worked wonders, while the hiring of Ryan’s friend Mike Maddux as pitching coach seemed to transform the young pitching staff.

Beyond being known for getting Barry Bonds the then-record $43.75 million contract and representing an array of stars, Gilbert, a minor leaguer in the Red Sox’s organization, is well known for his Scouts Foundation, which has for years raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for scouts in need. Gilbert’s group is believed to have the support of commissioner Bud Selig, which is occasionally a plus in seeking to own a team.

LINK

I have proof that there are 33 very, very stupid people on LSB, or at least 33 very very stupid people and sock puppet accounts.

his best defensive year ever.

Every player should go for the right price (at least all of our players) and most players should stay for the wrong price.

If the choice is between having Kinsler or not having Kinsler, I vote to have him. But don’t too many people join me on this limb, its wobbly already.

500 votes during the early dull days of the offseason is a pretty surprising total.

eom.