Friday morning Rangers things
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 2, 2009 9:31 AM CDT
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PrintThe Rangers have 86 wins on the season, ensuring they'll be no worse than tied for second place. With one win in the final series against Seattle, they will be in sole possession of second place. With a sweep, they'll have 89 wins, which would be the fourth-highest total in team history.
So Ron Washington, it appears, has done a good job with this team.
And yet...and yet...
He claims he's putting the best lineup possible out there, but he has Andruw Jones -- who has done nothing for a couple of months now -- hitting cleanup. He leaves Kevin Millwood out there for the 9th inning in a blowout game.
After three seasons, I think we've gotten a pretty good read on Washington as an in-game manager. And from the outside it appears he is, at best, baffling, and at worst, clueless.
In Jim Reeves' game story, Ron Washington says finishing second in the A.L. West means "everything."
Marlon Byrd, Hank Blalock, and Michael Young are all expected to be back in the lineup tonight. Nelson Cruz has a sprained ankle, so he may be done.
T.R. Sullivan has a story up about this being Blalock's final series with the Rangers, with Blalock himself acknowledging he's not going to be back next year. He also offers some p.r. on behalf of Blalock:
He is hitting .235 with 25 home runs and 66 RBIs. He has a .462 slugging percentage in 122 games and 459 at-bats.Those numbers are still respectable for a team looking for a left-handed power hitter. He also has a .277 on-base percentage and just 25 walks against 107 strikeouts. That's going to be the biggest mark against him in free agency. But he doesn't turn 29 until Nov. 21, and that could work in his favor.
"He's a streaky hitter, but the numbers are still there," hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo said. "He gets a lot of big hits, and he's had some big games. He always wants to play, and he always wants to be in there, and he's really conscientious about his preparation."
Scouts say Blalock still has value because of his power numbers and he has enhanced his value by being able to play first base. Among the teams that could be looking for a first baseman who is rated adequate-to-average defensively are the Mets, Orioles, Indians and the White Sox. The Mariners could be as well if they don't re-sign Russell Branyan.
It will be interesting to see where Blalock lands this offseason. I suspect he'll be one of those guys who doesn't sign until January or February, and who takes a one year deal for $3 million or so.
John Lackey yelled at Chris Davis yesterday for running too slowly after he hit a homer off of Lackey.
And Reeves has a column about Ian Kinsler needing to be -- and having the ability to be -- better than he has been this year, and has some quotes from Kinsler and from Washington about his struggles this year.
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Stay classy, John Lackey.
Yelling at a dude for running slowly around the bases after a homer because he’s hurt. Maybe, I don’t know, don’t give up a homer to him?
Go pour another 40 on Adenhart’s jersey.
"I love winning." - rockin_rangers, on May 16, 2009
Lackey's mouth...
is just as bad as Ian’s. The guy mouths off constantly at his own players and other teams players. Of course many write it off just saying he’s a “competitor”. I think that’s bullshit. If he gets to yell at his own teammates when they just committed an error because he’s a “competitor”, then they should be able to yell at him when he makes a bad pitch and gives up a 2-run jack because they want to win just as badly as he does.
Lackey is a douchebag.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Oct 2, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
This forever.
Lackey… douchebaggery at its finest.
Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson
by SarasotaRanger on Oct 2, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions
what an incredible complete fat and ugly as shit
douche bag. I dont know if i can have more utter dislike for a guys entire personage than Lackey. I dont even really hate him, its just more like that dude is just a complete piece of shit, why should i even care about you?
Feliz says his greatest thrill was striking out Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz, one of his heroes. Yet, when he called to tell his parents, his mother had a request: Strike out New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, too.
"So when I did that," Feliz says, "I told my mom, 'There you go. There's your present. Don't ask me to strike anyone else out, OK?'
You should start a LSB pool
on where Hank Blalock will end up.
Put me down for 5 on the Gints
Mediocre Power, check
poor batting average, check
wretched batting eye, check
Sounds like a Giant to me.
I'll put down $20 on
Josey’s bedroom.
Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson
by SarasotaRanger on Oct 2, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Millwood wanted to finish the game Adam, and said after the game he felt great
What is wrong with your “number 1” ending the season on a high note? You might wanna do a little research before running off at the mouth.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Because the season is basically over
and there is no need to put extra innings onto his arm when it doesn’t matter.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Oct 2, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
His next start is on
1232 days rest…who cares.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
considering how much he wore down this year, why bother?
wouldnt the team be better off seeing someone like moscoso more right now? analyzing players for next year?
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
An extra inning for Moscoso is not gonna tell you anything you didn't already know about him
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 agree
He should have gotten more than 1 inning. Hell he should have started.
What is millwood finishing strong with a complete game going to tell you about him?
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Its not gonna tell me anything
But its gonna let him finish his season on a high and hopefully carry over to next year. Pulling him when he says he wants to stay would have pissed him off and maybe instead of working out as hard this winter he sits on his ass and next year he comes to camp out of shape. Who knows but to make such a big deal over letting your veteran ace finish out his last game of the season is stupid to me
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 think it was stupid to let him start to begin with
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Oct 2, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well until we clinch 2nd place I doubt we will be benching any veterans for young guys
Like it or not thats how this thing is gonna play out
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Oct 2, 2009 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Lame
There is not a single good reason to risk injury for the sake of second place. This argument gives me tired head.
"Nothing we do here has a point" - Czar Morris
by inactive lsb user on Oct 2, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Its not an injury risk to let a guy like Millwood throw 125 pitches yesterday
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.
Millwood
has thrown over 100 pitches in 25 of his 31 starts. Over 110 pitches in 18 of those starts. So how exactly do you know how much damage another 120+ pitch start is going to do on his fragile frame?
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Like I said
hes averaged 31 starts a year in Texas. Thats the complete opposite of fragile. Hes a veteran whos used to pitching in 30+ games in a season so starting him yesterday is not like asking him to make his 40th start or something. Hes had alot of rest down the stretch. An extra 20 pitches is not going to do anymore damage than was already gonna happen, if something happens. Basically if hes gonna get hurt he was gonna get hurt regardless of if he stopped at 100 pitches yesterday or if he throws 125
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.
$$$
Second place actually gets a cut of the playoff money. Last year it was ~13K per Lewin yesterday.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
The problem with this thinking
is that you tend to miss out on a lot of those extra 1 inning chances for pitchers like Moscoso.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
I agree he could have gotten a couple innings throughout the seaosn in blowouts
But one inning at the end of the season against a team who has already clinched their playoff spot and is playing for nothing anymore means absolutely nothing. Letting your “ace” finish his season, which has been a pretty damn successful one, on a high note by pitching a complete game when he says thats what he wants to do is perfectly fine by me.
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.
3.67 in over 198 IP
Who the hell would have guessed that? Sure, a bunch of it was defense, but still…
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
I'm not saying it was a horrible decision
But it does seem kind of pointless to let him finish on a high note when other’s could use the innings and Millwood doesn’t look like he has much left. Who is to say that Millwood’s demands to always stay in the game for one more inning wasn’t the reason that he sucked so much in the second half. How many times has he stayed in that extra inning and blew it? Labeling a guy as the team’s ace doesn’t give him the right to decide when he leaves the game or not.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
I believe he asked out a few times cause he didn't have it
And again an inning or two for Moscoso or Strop is not gonna all of a sudden make them all stars. Whether they go out and strike out the side or give up 5 runs before recording an out it is not gonna change your perception of them.
Millwood should not get to decide when hes pulled but if he tells the manager he can and wants to go back out hes earned that right to finish the game. If a kid like Holland or Hunter had done that it may be different but Millwood, like it or not, as a veteran does get a little say in things like that in games like that
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.
There have been plenty of blowouts this year
especially lately
That's why they call them business sox
Maybe because he's had injury issues in the past
and in a meaningless blowout, its not necessary to risk it? He’s going to be 35 soon and we’re on the hook for 12M next year. Maybe we should save as much burn on that arm as we can? Its funny how lately you’ve been bashing anyone that makes so much as a peep against ole Ron.
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Did you hear him on the postgame?
He desperately wanted to finish the game, and told Mike such.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Does it really matter what Millwood wants?
Isn’t it Ron’s job to realize that this is a meaningless game and you might not want to send out your 35 year old “ace” (who’s had stamina/injury problems in the past) to throw an extra 15-20 pitches when he already has well over 100?
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Sort of symbolic of the team's overall mindsight, no?
Don’t puss out. Finish your own games. Blah blah.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Oct 2, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
You realize Millwood probably isn't going to pick up a baseball again until December right?
those extra pitches are not gonna affect him that much
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 what if it does?
Why even take the risk? Was there really a need for him to go out there in the 8th and 9th and throw 125 pitches in game that doesn’t matter?
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Holy hell dude
Hes not a kid who has never pitched this much in his life. Hes a veteran. He wanted to finish the game out. I guarantee you those extra 20 pitches are not gonna all of a sudden make his arm fall off. Some of yall pick the most retarded things to bitch about. Just be fucking happy this team has had a successful season and is building toward something special.
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.
Exactly
he’s not a kid. So he shouldn’t bitch and cry and “sit on his ass all winter” just because he doesn’t get to finish a MEANINGLESS game. It was stupid and pointless to let him go out there and throw so many pitches after watching him spend 3-4 months falling apart physically.
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions
What good would bringing in Moscoso or Strop have done?
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.
Never talked about it being good for them.
It just prevents potential bad for a fragile Millwood.
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions
How is Millwood fragile?
Hes averaged 31 starts a season in Texas
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 random hamstring/gluteus problems?
the 3-4 months this year of obvious ineffectiveness (maybe due to injury)?
Why was it that there was an increased emphasis on him improving his conditioning this past offseason?
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah...
there have been conditioning issues, but I wouldn’t describe him (or his career) as being “fragile”.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
There was an increased emphasis on everyone improving their conditioning
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.
Being upset or bothered
by Milllwood finishing that game is pretty ridiculous to me.
by bdavison94 on Oct 2, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Seems like a petty complaint to me
Millwood struck out 8 of the last 15 batters he faced and the last 3 innings were 3 up, 3 down innings. You have to be looking for something to complain about if you have a problem with this.
by swampdonkey on Oct 2, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I didn't really
have a problem with Millwood getting the complete game. It was his final appearance of the season and the previous couple of innings before that he had been pitching lights out.
You just don't sit in a rocking chair, when you've built a revolution.
Marlon Byrd is coming back and it's guaranteed
Marlon Byrd missed essentially his third straight game Thursday with a strained right hip, but guaranteed he will be back in the lineup for tonight’s series opener in Seattle.
Are you kidding? RG said that Little Boy Donuts should be Executive of the Year
in late August.
The funny thing with Ron Washington is that the media (print & broadcast) are afraid to criticize him because they don’t want to be portrayed as racist.
Evan Grant thought he should have been a favorite for Manager of the Year a few weeks ago.
Can you imagine what The Ticket could do with all the comedy gold unintentionally provided by Ron Washington?
Wade, Jerry Jones, Dave (“obviously”) Campo, Chad Gailey, Johnny Oates, Cuban, Nolan, Tom Hicks, Michael Irvin, Newy Scruggs, Avery Johnson, Ken (“deedle, deedle”) Hitchcock all got the treatment from The Ticket but we don’t hear anything from them regarding Ron Washington.
Wonder why.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Hey Josey?
That list there includes a coupla black fellas.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
LOL
I was reading that list and thinking “hey maybe he’s…” then I get to the Irvin, Scruggs, AJ part and just shake my head. He doesn’t even understand his own logic.
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes, I realize there are more than a couple of "black fellas" on my
list.
Why can The Ticket make fun of them but not make fun of Washington?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
If The Ticket really
did a dead-on impersonation of Washington would it be viewed as (vomit blood, liberal cliche about to happen) “mean spirited”?
If that’s true, maybe Ron Washington really is a dumbass.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Have you not heard
Their Avery Johnson impression? I thought that one was pretty dead-on, and didn’t come across as mean-spirited.
Hell, they constantly make fun of Newy’s weight. So I don’t think it’s out of fear of coming across as mean that they don’t have a fake Washington.
Maybe you should ask the Ticket boys.
"I cannot believe how fucking off base I was about Tiny E before this season. The Kid is great and is going to become a star."
- Wails
I just don't think that Wash
is an interesting enough person to make fun of.
Like making fun of the retarded kid or something
by kevinkinsler on Oct 2, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
The DFW media
doesn’t go after Washington for the obvious reasons because they’re afraid of being painted as racist.
Evan Grant said he was a serious candidate for manager of the year….are you fucking serious? Don Wakamatsu took over a team that lost 101 games last year and his team has a chance to catch the Rangers this weekend yet Ron Washington should be a candidate for manager of the year?
I guess you gotta do and say a lot of crazy things to get a check from the Texas Rangers.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Josey, I have a serious question for you.
Why do you like the Rangers?
You said you like the Dodgers, why do you have to have 2 favorite teams?
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
My Wonder Years were spent in So Cal
and then moved to Texas for Billy Martin’s first year in ’74. I root for both teams and love it when they hook up for interleague play.
I’m still a Raiders fan, but I also still like the Dodgers and Lakers (when not playing Mavs which I know is unstable).
One of the reasons I’m so tough on Ranger ownership/management is because I haven’t been dumbed down like so many Ranger fans have been thru the years. I grew up watching the O’Malleys run a first class joint that made money and won games (and championships).
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
The DFW media
Ripped the hell out of Avery Johnson.
And Mike Sciosia said (link in TR’s column today) that Wash is his pick for Manager of the Year. I guess he’s on the Ranger payroll as well…
"I cannot believe how fucking off base I was about Tiny E before this season. The Kid is great and is going to become a star."
- Wails
DFW was hard on Avery
but Avery never came across as uneducated or stupid.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
agree
wash comes across as both
"He do what he do" - Ron Washington
by dustinvandeman on Oct 2, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
The Ticket doesn't bother making fun of the Rangers.
They let them do that on their own.
by oc on Oct 2, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah i don't understand why letting Millwood finish the game is a bad thing
Its his last start of the year, hes your horse whos gonna be back next year. if you use Frankie or CJ or Feliz in that situation you are retarded. So basically it kept a guy like Moscoso or Strop from getting an extra inning or two against a team who doesn’t care anyway. The Angels have already clinched.
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.
With CD nursing his hamstring
and Blalock’s headache, who else was Ron going to put at 1B?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Yup
But really, it’s so much more fun to make a big fuss about it, and throw logic out the window.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
What do you think of Ron Washington...
…as a tactical in-game manager?
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 2, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
I think he is still learning
He’s obviously not the best, but many of his crazy ass moves work out well. Which brings it back to the real point—-it’s all about the performance of the players. I think in-game moves change very little over the course of 162 games.
And don’t forget, he has the Nolan-the-Demigod’s hand-picked octogenarian sitting next to him on the bench, supposedly guiding him.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
but how far is the learning curve really gonna take him?
I think any manager would tell you they they’re still learning. I’m more concerned with what he thinks he’s learning. Just because AJ hit three jacks in one game doesn’t mean he’s good for the lineup every day…
by kevinkinsler on Oct 2, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
AJ has started 10 games since Aug 17th
Next straw man please.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
And yet when
he is in the lineup, our manager views him as a cleanup hitter.
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
that is something i never understood
all DAMN year, yet he benches Cruz, our best power-hitter and most consistent bat other than MY. I don’t get his lineups 1 bit.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Nelson Cruz
Cruz has been benched for 15 games this season. Thats it. 3 times hes come in late in games as a PH and another two times he came in early in games as a PH. So basically had he not gotten hurt he would be on track to play ~140 games. Will people please stop bitching about Nelson Cruz being benched. Yall act like hes played as often as Omar Vizquel or something
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 problem is the quotes that come along with Cruz missing 15 games
Do you see Young missing games when he’s not hurt? Would Wash ever bench Kinsler if he wasn’t hurt? Cruz is right there with those players in needing to be out there everyday. Yet, we still see him benched, hitting in the bottom of the lineup, and hear quotes from Washington about how he needs to hit more RBIs. Its not like Wash is just giving Cruz a day off.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
Kinsler did get benched for a couple games
If Cruz’s days off had been spread out over the course of the year it wouldn’t be a story. Also you got to remember he has played baseball pretty much non-stop for a few years in a row now.
I don’t consider Cruz the automatic everyday player alot of people do. Hes a really nice player and this year was one of our best offensive weapons. But I would like to see him raise his average a little. I don’t agree all the time where Cruz batted but it was hardly the travesty so many made it out to be.
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, that's Cruz's problem
his BA…
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
David Murphy?
Who was also taking balls there earlier in the year?
More importantly, though, that wasn’t what I asked…I was wondering why he was hitting cleanup, given that he sucks.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 2, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions
cleanup
Because AJ’s veteran presence allowed the Rangers to score 11 runs yesterday. So reasons Ron Washington.
German could have started in the OF and Murphy at 1B.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Murphy hasn't played 1st base since high school
and starting German in the OF so you can put Murphy at 1st base would seem to only accomplish having two guys playing positions they haven’t recently seen much playing time at.
German has played there too.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Oct 2, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Blalock
It will be interesting to see where Blalock lands this offseason. I suspect he’ll be one of those guys who doesn’t sign until January or February, and who takes a one year deal for $3 million or so.
If so, it’s based on age and the belief he can be fixed, or else will magically achieve previous slash lines he hasn’t managed to hit in 5 years.
No surprise here if he only gets a minor league deal. Your hitting coach is going to have to fix his approach, and even then the player’s hurt most years.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
Even craptastic players
like Broussard get more than 1 year 3 million.
I don’t think there is much doubt someone will roll the bones on him for a 1 year 1B/3B player. I’ll just be glad to see him go.
Nothing has frustrated me more than seeing a guy who some thought might be a George Brett type player decay into the hacktastic mess he has become.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Right there with you...
…I was never as excited about a player coming through our system as I was about Hank. He became my favorite Ranger the minute he put on a big league uni. So his last three or four years have been really disappointing for me.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
fangraphs has Blalocks value this season
at 300,000. Negative three hundred thousand.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
So he should have written a check to the Rangers...
…in March so they would let him play? That would have been funny…"So Hank, we can’t let you go with the team to Opening Day. Your check hasn’t cleared yet.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
Blalock
I think a team desperate for an affordable LH power bat will be interested.
If whatever team that signs him plays him when he’s hot and sits him when he’s in a slump they will probably get their money’s worth.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
The real question
is wherever Blalock lands is Josey going to follow him?
You just don't sit in a rocking chair, when you've built a revolution.
by Escher on Oct 2, 2009 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nah
Blalock was (is) just a trojan horse to open the doors for ctitique of Chris Davis, who in turn is a symbol for JD’s (?) incompetence. The circular logiic has a hub and spoke support system.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912) also -
"Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance."
~Ambrose Bierce
by Ed Coffin on Oct 2, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions
x
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
My take on Hank F always was that he was a better option for the line-up
than Chris Davis in 2009. I’ll follow what he does but unless he’s with the Dodgers (my other fave team), I’m done with him as a fan but please, the war is over so let the healing begin.
It will be very interesting to see where he lands next year and he would seem like a very good risk for a 1 year / $ 5 million deal. His obp this year was an aberration and the fact that he had an OPS above .840 in 3 of the 4 months he wasn’t being platooned/buried in shows you there is still a lot of talent left.
Before the dumbasses come out of the woodwork, no he’s nowhere near as good as Abreu but the economy is better and he’s also a player still in his prime. Somebody who is shrewd will make a good deal for Hank F.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Not necessary.
Everybody being cordial, logical and rational right now.
The War is over, it’s a time for healing.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Any more barroom gossip to share, Little Queen?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
The war is indeed over.
Both sides killed each other and nobody won. Great.
Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson
by SarasotaRanger on Oct 2, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions
What bothers me about Blalock leaving
is him getting away from Rudy’s ‘grip it and rip it’ philosophy. After Blalock got into the HR derby in 2005 (or was it 2006), all he’s done is try and pull everything and Rudy has obviously done nothing to correct this. The quote from Jaramillo above doesn’t say anything but Blalock can get big hits, but doesn’t say anything about quality at-bats.
If Blalock goes elsewhere and he starts to hit for average and walks more while still getting 20+ HRs, I’m gonna be even more pissed at Rudy than I am right now.
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
Dykstra has all the money!
ElectricOkra.com
Maybe he'll take Rudy with him
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
x
After three seasons, I think we’ve gotten a pretty good read on Washington as an in-game manager. And from the outside it appears he is, at best, baffling, and at worst, clueless.
Yup. Spot on.
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 10:19 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs
The biggest knock about Ron
I’m not sure you can say the team played hard for him in August and September.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
I think they lost some of their spirit,
when the two big dogs went down. Is/was this enough of a veteran team to play through that? Evidently not, sadly.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
I agree.
Its even harder to say that considering we’ve had some awful stretches of baseball where the team didn’t even look like they were trying. Being shutout for 42 consecutive innings and falling out of a playoff race when your two biggest competitors play .500 ball doesn’t happen to a team thats playing hard.
by behindthebag on Oct 2, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
They didn't play hard for
Ron Washington in August / September 2008 either (finished season 19-29).
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
I've always been pretty neutral about Worsh ...
but he’s lost me here recently. Between Worsh, the team leadership, the franchise money tribulations, the unknown sanity of whoever the next owner is, and my continued watchful neutrality torward J.D. – it’s really hard to invest emotionally in this team right now. Sure, they are going to get better, but will its potential be squandered by peripheral azz-hatery? My genetics go back to Missouri, so … show me state time.
The Rangers will never have success because Wash is their manager...
…the best they can hope for is to have success despite him.
He is a stupid, stupid man and I don’t just mean that fractured English he spouts. That in and of itself does not matter. It’s just something that would entertain us if he were a good manager but tends to be a lightning rod because he is a poor manager.
The stupidity of his that matters is all about his lineups/batting orders, etc.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
I don't think he's stupid,
but the ONLY thing he seems to have going for him is that the players like him. So I think you have to ask yourself, do Mike Scocia’s players like him? Some do and some don’t but that’s so secondary to what he does. The job he did with that team this year was amazing. He did exactly what Wash couldn’t do. He gave the team a great chance to perform and win under much-less-than ideal circumstances. Vlad, Lackey and Hunter were all out for extended time, Santana and Saunders were both very hit and miss and Adenhart died. My opinion, Wash and Rudy need to go. Keep Maddux and Pettis at all costs.
start emailing Norm or Bascik some hard hitting questions to ask.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
I think Washington is fine as a manager. He's a poor tactician, but that
won’t cost the Rangers much, the players believe he is fair and clearly like to play for him, and his eager support for great defense sets the tone for what has amounted to the most important improvement in the team’s performance over this past year.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
I can't believe I would rather the Rangers did not sign him. He is the most obvious answer
to their need to improve the top of the rotation. I just can’t handle his attitude. I don’t think I could follow a single game that he was pitching without feeling embarrassed.
My new gotta-have-him pitcher is Ricky Nolasco. I’m starting to believe in that kid, and I’d love to see Maddux teach him how to through a two-seamer.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
Are you talking about Lackey?
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.
Situational baseball needs to be improved, sez Wash
I agree.
Milly & Feldman in the roto in ’10, all other spots up for grabs.
Sees Happy as a key peice in the BP, but thinks he could be a top of the roto pitcher too. Team will discuss options over the winter.
Wish list:
RH bat to handle lefty pitchers, sez other teams stacked the pitching vs. the Rangers
Established SP
Situational BP lefty or another power arm
Concerned about money/Hicks situation
Thinks Smoak needs to prove himself in AAA after hitting .240 there
On Josh: Thinks he goes to a corner if Byrd is resigned, if not, he is the CF next year
Byrd definately wants to stay here, Wash would also like to resign Pudge…but he is leaving the budget up to JD, Nolan, and Hicks.
Wash says he improved in communication this year, and delegating to coaches, and got better at handling the pitching staff. Acknowledged that some people differed with his pitching choices sometimes.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
OT: Does anyone think the day will come...
…when the MSM stops using the traditional “Triple Crown” stats to describe players offensive contributions? A day when they at least move to the slash stat line (Avg/OBP/Slg)? It’s frustrating to me when I read articles that still use BA and RsBI as key measurements.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
I think RBI can be the plural of RBI
similar to MPG standing for miles-per-gallons
by kevinkinsler on Oct 2, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
I've seen a few broadcasts use OBP. The YES Network I think.
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball has an OPS graphic
by oc on Oct 2, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm tired of the shit that players like Ron Washington
I would rather the players respect a coach than like him.
"He do what he do" - Ron Washington
definitely
looking back on high school, all the coaches who made an impact in my life were never my friends
and we were always better teams when we didn’t have friends as coaches. If teenagers can respond to ‘respectful’ coaching then grown men should be able to get by.
I think the key element between players and coaches is trust
and I think the players trust Washington.
like
can you hold my wallet, trust?
or, ’it’s ok, even i’m sucking balls at the plate, I trust Ron to keep letting me play over Cruz?
Article on PETA and Omar
Anyone see the article on PETA sending a letter to Omar about his off-season plans. Apparantly last year he went Anaconda hunting, and this year he’s planning on doing some Bull-fighting. http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1654587.html
You know, add a beard and a Dos Equis and he’s like that commercial: “The Most Interesting Man in the World” “I don’t always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis (as long as there’s no Negro Modela around and I have to drink Mexican beer. Man, that’s some good beer. well, ok beer. Lets just face it, anything as long as its not a Corona).” (that last part of the statement was edited out of the commercial).
I think if Omar does retire from baseball, he’ll do it to join a La Mans or Formula 1 team. Then, just for good measure, he’ll sign up to box against Floyd Mayweather. Of course he’d have to lose about 15 pounds first.
what a frickin stud
i bet Omahh just kind of had a happy grin on his face reading that letter. He’s too sure of himself to be bothered by that.
Feliz says his greatest thrill was striking out Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz, one of his heroes. Yet, when he called to tell his parents, his mother had a request: Strike out New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, too.
"So when I did that," Feliz says, "I told my mom, 'There you go. There's your present. Don't ask me to strike anyone else out, OK?'
What a bunch of candy asses.
He’s not even going to kill the bull, he didn’t kill the anaconda.
Get over it.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
PETA, good God. Get a life people.
PETA = People Eating Tasty Animals
Ron Washington is a tactical imbecile.
John Lackey
he’s a fat fucking douchebag. He yells at his own players on the field in a demonstrative manner when they make a mistake. Why should anyone be surprised he yells at an opposing player? Go back to the buffet, you fat piece of shit.
Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson
by SarasotaRanger on Oct 2, 2009 5:22 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
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