Thursday a.m. Rangers things
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 22, 2009 9:41 AM CDT
108 comments
Congrats to the Phillies, who advance to the World Series, and will likely play the Yankees.
What was expected became official yesterday, with Rudy Jaramillo taking a 3 year, $2.42 million deal with the Cubs to be their hitting coach. Former Rangers Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley had very disappointing seasons for Chicago last year, and while Bradley may be on his way out, I wouldn't be surprised if part of the appeal of Jaramillo for Chicago was to get him with Soriano. Soriano's 2009 was a disaster -- in terms of ratio of salary to production, he may have been the worst player in baseball -- and with several more years and many millions left on his deal, I suspect Jaramillo's job 1 will be to see if he can get Soriano back on track.
The Rangers met with Chuck Greenberg yesterday, and it apparently was pretty much the same deal as the meeting with Jim Crane the day before, since the press release was the exact same, except for Chuck Greenberg's name replacing Jim Crane's name.
Jason Grilli and Kevin Richardson cleared waivers and were outrighted, although both players have the option of declaring free agency, as they've both been outrighted before. Grilli will likely become a free agent, but Richardson, it sounds like, could simply accept the outright assignment. Either way, I expect Richardson to be back in the Ranger organization next year on a minor league deal, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Rangers offered Grilli a minor league deal with a spring training invite, as well.
And something I missed earlier this week...Ryan Jones takes a look at whether or not the Rangers should give John Lackey "A.J. Burnett money" this offseason as a free agent.
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Lackey would be an improvement, but if the Rangers spend Burnett money on him,
then the still need to find a Sabbathia. So….
Besides, I’m not really a fan of the way he plays or handles himself on the field. I can’t get excited about the Rangers pursuing him from either a performance or fanboy perspective.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on Oct 22, 2009 9:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I with you Rooster
Lackey would be a nice addition to the rotation. He is a solid inning eating pitcher that easily fits very nicely in the #1 or #2 spot of the rotation. The problem is given the price, expectations on him would be so higher than his ability. Like Milly people expect more for the money. Milly has been everything he could be here. Inning eating, solid pitcher, keeps the team in most every game he starts and gets more wins than losses. Neither Milly or Lackey are the same as Santana, that is a a true Ace.
Given the 40 man roster constraints in 2011 and 2012 I would advise to package a couple of young guns to get SP rather than sign a Lackey. OTOH I would not bitch if he was signed at Burnett type money as it would make the team better.
by Bigfan16 on Oct 22, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lackey is Millwood v2
Lackey could also be compared to Zito. He had a good few years, but he will continue to decline, and injuries are starting to pile up the last two years, so there is no guarantee he can stay healthy. That goes for most pitchers, and that is why you don’t sign pitchers to huge longterm contracts
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Oct 22, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think his declining strikeout rate is telling
05 : 8.57
06 : 7.86
07 : 7.19
08 : 7.16
09 : 7.09
That, my friends, qualifies as a trend. One that I wouldn’t want to buy into.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 22, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup
While its not a huge downward spiral its still a decline. Plus his injury he had early in the year and the fact that the guy comes off like the worlds largest dbag on the field makes me want no part of that contract
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Oct 22, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No news,,,, Is it good or bad news
The Yusei Kikuchi watch marches on. Multiple sources out of Japan are saying that the soonest we’ll see a decision from the promising lefty is Oct 24 JST, and Sanspo quoted Hanamaki Higaashi baseball director Hiroyuki Sasuga as saying "he’s having discussions with his parents in the next few days, and we’ll hold a press conference when he’s made a final decision on how to proceed." According to Nikkan Sports, Kikuchi has a self-imposed deadline of the 26th.
Daily Sports is reporting that many people around him are advising him to stay in Japan, and speculates that he’ll start his pro career in NPB. The fat lady is still warming up though.
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
by laxtonto on Oct 22, 2009 10:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Depends on how bad you want him to choose to come to the big leagues
It’s his life, and this decision needs to be made cautiously. If he decides to stay in the NPB, I’m fine with that. I wish him the best of luck with whatever he chooses.
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Magnum; Neutral Milk Hotel
by jdh90 on Oct 22, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of Bradley, Cubs don't think they will have to eat a "vast majority" of his contract
Multiple teams are in contact the Cubs about outfielder Milton Bradley, with one source saying, “You would be shocked at the level of interest.”
The Cubs remain confident that they can trade Bradley without assuming the vast majority of the $21 million remaining on his contract over the next two years.
New owner Tom Ricketts has set a limit for how much money the Cubs will include in a deal, one source says. The Cubs can take back a contract but pay only a fixed amount of cash.
Me thinks Rosenthal’s source is someone within the Cubs organization…
by cstorm15 on Oct 22, 2009 10:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Im sure there is a lot
of interest in Bradley at the right price. I bet several clubs have called to say they are interested but nothing more.
"More than likely JW never played sports above the youth level. It amazes me that he seems to have no concept on the common reactions of an adult athlete or their normal interactions between each other." - laxonto
by Michael Cave on Oct 22, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm interested in paying him $2 million a year.
And having the Cubs eat the rest. You’d be shocked at the level of interest I have at that deal.
by FuturePants on Oct 22, 2009 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seattle now has $16M to play with
and an offense that needs a big bat.
|Space for Rent|
by RangerMad on Oct 22, 2009 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still con't figure out why this organization is acting like bitches at the thought of bringing him back
Hank is 7 runs below a zombie replacement at first base. Do you realize how terrible that is? Zombie’s can’t think, they’re slow, and they’re often ejected from the game for eating opposing baserunners’ brains. - Ben quantifies Hank Blalock
by lonestarJon on Oct 22, 2009 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The funny thing about Soriano
is that he was a better without Rudy J than with him.
I thought Soriano was going to come here and hit 45-55 HRs per year and couldn’t understand how he hit only 64 bombs in 2 years (pouting because he was traded from the Yanks to the dregs of the league?).
Then he goes to Washington, one of the best ballparks for pitchers and throws up a 40-40 season with 30 Win Shares. He was a fairly disappointing player in Texas and polarizing to me because I don’t like bad defensive players (defense is about effort and intelligence) yet have always had a soft spot for speed balls with power.
I know AJM hates him and thinks he has the worst contract in MLB but if healthy he can still contribute to a winning team.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Oct 22, 2009 10:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't hate him
I just have never thought he was that good. People just don’t get that he wasn’t a big trade chip for the Rangers because he wasn’t that valuable a player, particularly on the eve of free agency when he was about to get $10 million per year.
Him and Vernon Wells probably have the two worst contracts in baseball right now.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 22, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One of JD's biggest mistakes
was being afraid to tell Soriano he was going to LF so Kinsler could play 2B.
Not having the onions to do that and then compounding the problem by making a hideous trade means you aren’t ready for that job.
I think Zito has a much worse contract than Soriano.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Oct 22, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think it mattered that much
Soriano had success in the weaker league against pitchers that were more prone to throw him fastballs…I don’t think that him being here in 2006 would have made that much difference, other than we probably wouldn’t have signed Kevin Millwood (since Soriano was going to make $10-12 million that season).
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 22, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Soriano also had success as RH hitter
in the old Yankee Stadium at a fairly young age (or at least on the doorstep of his prime). Before ARod, the number of RH hitters who hit more than 38 bombs at that place (I believe) is one. Guy named DiMaggio who did it twice.
Soriano did it twice at the old Yankee Stadium, in the tougher league when he was 26 & 27 years old.
Stop making excuses for JD. Soriano’s replacement in Texas was the sack of shit known as Brad Wilkerson and Soriano being here in a contract year instead of that sack of shit would have made a difference.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Oct 22, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not making excuses for Daniels
I’m saying that the Soriano deal wasn’t some franchise-crippler like you seem to be alleging.
Soriano wasn’t that good, he was about to be really expensive, and he had limited trade value. I thought the deal was a good one for Texas — it wasn’t, because Brad Wilkerson’s shoulder never was 100% again. So be it.
And I’m not sure why you’re so hung up on Daniels. Buck was the one who didn’t want Soriano around and didn’t want to deal with moving him to left field. Part of the reason Daniels moved Soriano was because he had a hard-headed manager who didn’t want to have Soriano playing left field any more than Soriano wanted to play left field.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 22, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It doesn't really matter what Buck wanted. His position within the hierarchy of the team was subservient to JD.
If JD couldn’t stand up to him at that time and tell him that he was going to play Soriano in the OF, he wasn’t ready for the job.
What was this team missing from April thru July 2006? A RH power bat.
What does JD do at the trade deadline? Trades for a terrible defensive player who was a big hitter named Carlos Lee.
What JD should have done is trade Cordero before the season (and probably received a nice haul) so he had financial room for both Millwood & Soriano and then find a closer within the organization.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Oct 22, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting discourse here
We have one poster who is notorious for blaming JD for all the world’s ills and another poster who holds Buck in the same light.
by twinkilling on Oct 22, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The fact that JD was Buck's superior in 2006
doesn’t seem to resonate with AJM.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Oct 22, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even though Daniels was his boss
why wouldn’t he have thought it better just to deal Soriano? Wilkerson just was a more valuable player in those seasons. Trading Soriano was not a bad idea, it just didn’t work out. Look at those links I posted below, look at the wOBA, fielding, and value data. Wilkerson was a better player overall in those years right before the deal.
Pick another battle, because this one just doesn’t make Daniels look bad. He’s not a fortune teller.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Claiming Wilkerson was a more valuable player or better overall player is stupid.
Trading Soriano for Wilkerson was the first of many dumb early moves by JD.
Immediately evident after trading Soriano is that this team needed a RH power bat which is why JD went after Carlos Lee.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Oct 22, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Oct 22, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did you even bother to look up the data?
Wilkerson was a more valuable player from 2003-2005 than Soriano using widely accepted statistical measure of offense and defense that I linked below. I’m sorry it doesn’t support your agenda of Daniels bashing, but it’s the truth.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Claiming it was a good trade and lauding JD
for making it is brain-dead.
It was among the worst trades JD has ever made and that’s saying a lot.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Oct 22, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How many times have you complained about OBP?
It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.
by WyoRanger on Oct 22, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Prove to me that Wilkerson
was not at least as good as Soriano those years. Prove it using statistical data other than counting stats. Prove it using data that Bill James would approve, like wOBA, runs created, win shares, or something.
You do not get to just repeat your bald assertion. Prove something, jackass. Hindsight is not proof in trade evaluation, it just isn’t.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
t ball !!!!
Remember that when you wrestle with pigs you get muddy and pigs like getting muddy.
by Bigfan16 on Oct 22, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not wrestling
calmly pointing out facts to a sulking tantrum thrower.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why on earth
would you worry about me? I’m enjoying myself or I wouldn’t be here.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Glad to hear you having fun
I do that too sometime just. That is argue with an idiot just cause I want to argue. Just remember you can’t win when wrestling with pigs :)
by Bigfan16 on Oct 22, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You notice
he never did come back with any data as proof. His only skill is obstinacy.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If only the world were so black and white.
|Space for Rent|
by RangerMad on Oct 22, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Wilkerson represents just that much more evidence against Jaramillo
His walk rates dove and his K rates rose after coming to TX. Prior to that he was a valuable player, and a strong defensive outfielder. Wilkerson was a more valuable player than Soriano in the 3 seasons prior to the trade. There’s no getting around the facts.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=847&position=2B/OF
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=804&position=OF
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ugh.
That Wilkerson deal really should have worked out better. Really, the one big warning sign was that his BB rate and his slugging rate dropped a lot the year before, but his K rate stayed the same. He was already starting to go from being a poor man’s Adam Dunn to a bad player. The problem was 2005 wasn’t an aberration, but the start of his decline.
There seems to be a certain type of player whose walks aren’t quite as stable long term. We don’t normally think of BB% as a skill that crests and then wanes, but I think there may be a certain type of player for which it really does. Travis Hafner is another example.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Oct 22, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The problem was that he was hurt in 2005
And never got healthy again
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
by Gdawg on Oct 22, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Daniels really should have known
that would happen.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He needs to make himself
A Donut Crystal Ball…
"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.
by Rodney on Oct 22, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Crystal Donut Hole?
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 22, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I had him penciled in 65-70 HRs a year
It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.
by WyoRanger on Oct 22, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good luck with the Soriano thing
Soriano’s two years with the Rangers were subpar, with noticably bad home and away splits that year and a significant dip in wOBA. I doubt Jaramillo is the answer for him. It makes one wonder what the market for Soriano would have been like if he had performed as well as his previous two seasons with the Yankees.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 10:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
David Brown at BBTIA takes a look at Danny Gutierrez
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Oct 22, 2009 10:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice read, as usual, from David.
I’d guess he could handle about 100 innings next year.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, a scouting view posted on goyo's site.
Jason Churchill over at Prospect Insider is in Arizona covering the Mariners’ AFL contingent. His AFL coverage is free (right now – it is a mixed free-pay site like Cole’s) if you want to go check it out. I asked him what he thought of Danny Gutierrez during his tete-a-tete on Tuesday against Mike Leake:
Me: Jason, what was your impression of Danny Gutierrez today, opposite of Leake? Unless he was working solely on his FB command today in lieu of anything else, he seems to be pitching like a reliever with 49FB, 8CB, and zero changeups. That is now 2 changeups over 2 starts and 7 innings.
JC: … better stuff than Leake, for sure, he pounded fastballs all day and touched 95. Good life, too. He pitches like a reliever because that’s probably what he is. His control and command both aren’t good enough, or at least haven’t been to this point in his career, to close or start right now. The velo is there, the delivery is more conducive to relief work — wasn’t repeating well, but he wasn’t a mess. Some effort there, though, but Leake has that issue, too.
In his start last night, Gutierrez ran out of gas in the 4th. His fastball velocity dropped from 93-95 to 90-91. The Rafters also batted for awhile in the top of the 4th. But, really, the big thing for Gutierrez is command. He was all over the place, especially when he tired in the 4th.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on Oct 22, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's awfully premature
to call him a reliever. The guy just hasn’t been on the mound enough to polish secondary stuff.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree. Gotta think, though, if he improves his control this year, he's a prospect on the level of
Hurley in his high-ranking days.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on Oct 22, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did the Sturm pitching wrap-up get missed too?
"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.
by Rodney on Oct 22, 2009 10:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
John Lackey as a Ranger
just the thought of it makes we want to take a shower.
by SteveP on Oct 22, 2009 10:47 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Regarding Lackey
Does anyone know what his numbers are when he pitched IN Arlington? I think that matters more than people normally give consideration.
by Mark from OC on Oct 22, 2009 10:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Couldn't get the link to work before earlier
Now that it does, I would say no to Lackey in Arlington. Even though the Rangers batters have some effect on his overall numbers, it is difficult to believe his poor performance in Arlington would suddenly dramatically improve.
On top of that, I don’t see MLB allowing the Rangers to sign any big ticket free agents until the ownership situation comes to a wrap. Hopefully that is very, very soon.
by Mark from OC on Oct 22, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
84 innings only
I wouldn’t trust that sample size, but it’s not encouraging. He’s too expensive for what he’d bring to the table.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Signing Lackey ....
would we lose a draft pick?
by shroomer on Oct 22, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Oct 22, 2009 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One more reason
it’s a bad idea.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Richard Bleier randomness:
He totalled 167.2 IP last year. WOW. Dat’s a lotta innings for a first full-season stint.
Overall – 125 Ks, 24 BB, 2.24 GO/AO – Yet … he can’t break glass with his FB.
Got that from BA – Tim Murphy = worst ERA in minors
by shroomer on Oct 22, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I saw that the other day
and had the same reaction, wow. But in 2008 he had 150 innings between college and Spokane, so I guess he’s ok. One reason I like him is he looks like a horse who gets ground balls, and has stellar walk rates. Few baserunners will be the key for him since his K rate is so underwhelming.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: Matt Holliday
I saw that Boras wants to get him “Teixeira money”.
I hope the Angels don’t get him.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 22, 2009 11:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If he gets Teixeira money
I hope they do.
"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
by DJCahill on Oct 22, 2009 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Oct 22, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think an expensive contract would cripple the Angels
and Holliday is a very good player.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 22, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah,
the Angels have a ton of money coming off the books this year, so we’ll see what they go spend it on.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Oct 22, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
plus they aren't as limited in the payroll dept. to begin with
a large contract isnt going to hurt them much, look at gmj
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Oct 22, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
exactly, I was thinking that the GMJ contract hasn't really stopped them from doing anything
Plus, for the past 2+ years, I’ve been buying into the Rangers as contenders in 2010 and moving forward. I don’t want to see the Angels adding elite players that will make them tougher during the window that Texas is supposed to be winning some division titles.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 22, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I will be surprised if the Angels don't get either
Holliday or Bay.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Oct 22, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well they also have Figgans and Abreu that I expect them to resign
plus Lackey and Vlad, so it will be interesting to see who gets added/subtracted to that roster.
I really want the Rangers to be better than them next year, but I’m not real confident that can happen.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 22, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think they'll re-sign Figgins
they have Brandon Wood waiting in the wings to replace him
by MikeEl on Oct 22, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You will have to pardon me if I'm not
brimming with confidence that a move will be made that addresses a blatant weakness.
The current mo seems to be if you can’t trade a HOF player in his prime for a nice haul, you simply hope things will get better or make your hitting coach a scapegoat.
Hopefully I’m wrong and Nolan will help JD make a much better deal.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Oct 22, 2009 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What's funny about this..
Is that you’ve already (correctly) recognized that the current ownership isn’t willing to increase payroll to meet team needs going into next year, and yet you still insist on blaming JD for any inability to get a deal done in the offseason. It’s patently stupid.
by JDT217 on Oct 22, 2009 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is a difference between a GMJ contract
and a Holliday contract. $130 million worth.
"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
by DJCahill on Oct 22, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That should have been
and a Teixeira contract.
"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
by DJCahill on Oct 22, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I saw something about Holliday
getting (or wanting) 7 years/ $ 120 million.
I’d go 6 years/ $ 100 million. That extra year wouldn’t be worth it to me.
I wonder how Jason Bay’s deal will compare to Holliday’s?
Boras also seems to think J Damon is due another nice payday.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Oct 22, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holliday>Bay>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Damon
but I think this is obvious to everyone
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Oct 22, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the difference between Bay and Holliday
is actually pretty significant, mainly due to the ~ +20 defensive runs that Holliday gives compared to Bay.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 22, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't believe...
…the difference between Bay and Holliday, defensively, is 20 runs.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 22, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is, actually, using UZR.
I’d like to see the plus/minus on those two.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
For their careers at LF
Holliday is +6.2 per 150, Bay is -7.8, although Bay’s impacted by playing LF in Boston, which skews the numbers downward.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 22, 2009 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fenway
That is a good point about Fenway likely hurting Bay’s fielding numbers. Come to think of it, the big outfields that Holliday has played in might be propping up his defensive numbers a bit as well.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 22, 2009 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holliday deserves Teixeira money
a lot more than Lackey deserves Burnett money. Burnett doesn’t even deserve Burnett money.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Oct 22, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pop Quiz
What is this:
.285/.353/.454
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 22, 2009 12:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
In fact...
…I’m going to make this a front page post.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 22, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A slash line.
I really dislike that term “slash line”.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on Oct 22, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
KLAW
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/28940/mlb-insider-keith-law
Ryan (Chicago)
What can you tell me about Mitchell Moreland? His numbers are real good, but I have not really heard any hype about the guy. Thanks Klaw.
Klaw (1:33 PM)
Liked the swing, fluid, repeats it, good approach, above average raw power. Better prospect than I thought he was before the trip.
"[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
by hightowersmith on Oct 22, 2009 12:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's nice to hear.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moreland
Seems like he does nothing but sneak up on people. Brings out the doubting Thomas in you…
Thought that was pretty encouraging, too.
"[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
by hightowersmith on Oct 22, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've never doubted him
but I’m very pleased to see how he’s kept improving this year as he moved up levels, and how the scouting reports seem to be improving, too. He’s going to be a big leaguer for a good long while.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moreland
From what I saw of him in Frisco he’s probably mostly cut out for DH and COF/1B in a backup role, not that it’s a bad thing.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Oct 22, 2009 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I could see him
being the DH and 1b/of backup, and his splits aren’t bad either.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is encouraging. I was down on Moreland a bit because the one time, yes SSS, I saw him
I thought his swing wasn’t all that great, especially when compared to Smoak. Mostly, it seemed to me that Moreland got out on his front too much and was more of a slide toward the ball than a swing (ie not staying back). I’m really encouraged to see Klaw note a fluid swing.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on Oct 22, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
James (Houston)
Is Scheppers a starter or a reliever? We all know about the FB, but how does his secondary stuff grade out?
Klaw
(1:53 PM)
Starter. Breaking ball is an out pitch.
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
by laxtonto on Oct 22, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still can't believe the Rangers were able to draft Scheppers.
It makes me so happy. So far, only one small scare, which was the other night during his outing when gameday had a note about an injury timeout, but so far I’ve heard no word that it had to do with Scheppers.
I’m so optimistic now that I have the Rangers top 5 prospects as Feliz, Smoak, Scheppers, Perez, Font.
I’m feeling so excited by it all that I’m even willing to think about the implications of this:
Tim (Durban South Africa)
Could Nationals go with Taillon or Ranaudo over Harper?
Jim Callis
(2:12 PM)Sure they could. I’ll do a column on this at some point, but I don’t think it’s far-fetched to conceive of Bryce Harper falling out of the first round. It’s going to be almost impossible to live up to the hype, and if he falls short and is looking for big money—is Strasburg’s contract a starting point—he may scare off clubs, who know he can re-enter the 2011 and 2012 drafts and still have lots of leverage. It’s also possible that after spending $15.1 million on Strasburg, the Nationals don’t want to spend huge money on another No. 1 overall pick.
From a recent Jim Callis chat.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on Oct 22, 2009 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he has a poor year in college
he’ll drop, but I don’t see him dropping out of the first round altogether just because of bonus demands. If he hits someone will take him and try to sign him.
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by t ball on Oct 22, 2009 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
would you be willing to waste the comp pick from Purke
on another toss up pick?
I have a hard thinking he would slip out of the first round unless his demands are so far over the top that he prices himself out of everyone’s budget.
The funny thing is that as long as you can offer him more than what the projected first overall pick would get in the new hard slotting system, he really has no real options to try and demand more
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
by laxtonto on Oct 22, 2009 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking the late 1st round pick or supplemental.
I don’t feel much like risking the Purke pick. However, if the gap between Bryce and everyone else on the board is really large, I could be persuaded.
After the Rangers draft at 14B, the teams with big money bags are Cubs and to a lesser extent Braves. So, if he has big bonus demands, I would be happy with risking pick #21.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on Oct 22, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
good strategy there
That would also prevent him falling to the big, big money teams like NYY, Bos, and LAA.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 22, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you have to play it somewhat safe with that Purke compensatory pick
You don’t get another freebie if you can’t get this one signed.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 22, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
we better get whomever signed then
with new ownership I hope that won’t be a problem.
Bryce Harper won’t fall out of the first round unless he really underperforms or gets hurt. It would probably take both of those to make him fall with all the hype
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Oct 22, 2009 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
South Africa, huh?
Well, Goodday Mate!
"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.
by Rodney on Oct 22, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Righty-o!
"Nothing we do here has a point" - Czar Morris
by Chase Irwin on Oct 22, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vlad
Does anyone know if we have the ability to sign Vladimir Guerrero? I know it seems weird and he has been hurt, but he’s still fairly young, only 34, and I’m pretty sure he only will want a 1 or 2 year deal….
by iblum on Oct 23, 2009 11:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah hes only "34"
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 23, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
34
Abreu’s 35.
and Vlad’s coming off the worst year of his career, and its still better than anyone on the Rangers put up last year except MYoung.
and to be honest, he looks like a HOFer as far as his stats go. even with just a 14 year career.
Ira
by iblum on Oct 23, 2009 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was referring to the fact that its not certain that he is 34
He looks close to 50 and I think his knees are closer to 70. I wouldn’t be surprised if hes actually 36 or 37 years old
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 23, 2009 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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