Wednesday Rangers stuff
by Brett Perryman on Oct 7, 2009 12:21 PM CDT
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PrintThe big item today is an article from Jeff Wilson where he talks about offense being the big priority for the Rangers this offseason and includes this comment on Rudy Jaramillo:
Major changes to the coaching staff aren't expected, but neither Daniels, team president Nolan Ryan nor manager Ron Washington said Jaramillo is their guy for next season.
Wilson also quotes Washington on the importance of improving the hitters' collective approach. While I'm one of those who is underwhelmed by Washington's attitude toward the outfielders on the roster, this should be an area where he is a positive influence.
Evan Grant goes deeper into the scenario that the payroll stays at its current level.
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First
Question…where is AJM?
"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.
Usual
In court or in transit or something like that
by Brett Perryman on Oct 7, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
In A Hotel?
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
In the interest of quicker games Ron should just tell the ump he's pulling the Feliz card and the ump should rule the inning over.--Sherman McCoy on Sept. 4, 2009
Symbol for
International Airport, Houston.
"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
Evan Grant's latest great idea
resign Pudge, carry 3 catchers on the roster and use him at DH.
I think Evan is heading down the TR Sullivan career path.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
DH
If the rangers can’t do better than pudge at DH then they’ve got big problems
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
He also seems to be on the 'Borbon can't play center' train
and squarely in the ‘Get rid of Nellie and keep Byrd’ camp.
Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Quite a few folks are on the
“Counting on Borbon to play CF next year is risking next years playoff chances” train. I know I’m on it. From the Podcast, it sounds like Jamey is on it.
I just wonder if the FO is on it.
"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 can understand the apprehension
and grabbing an NRI, Stevie German-type vet CF’er to stash in OKC just in case make some sense to me.
But the org is set up to build from within with pre-arb guys, and in what should be year two of the plan really coming to fruition , we seem to be leaning towards overpaying for a mediocre vet to fill a spot that should be going to one of the kids.
One of the kids we gave a hefty signing bonus and stashed on the 40 for some time to play a very specific position, and now there’s naught but non-tangible talk that he can’t play that position.
I dunno. It’s weird.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
by Keynes on Oct 7, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
It depends
whether you think you are playing to win in 2010 or not. If you are playing to win, you get some more talent in here, and if younger players have to spend a little more time in AAA or riding pine, so be it.
"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
What is the best option for
2010 and beyond. It is not just about winning in 2010. Put Borbon in CF. If he struggles than move Hamilton back to center. But, do not resign Byrd just because you feel his defense is not good enough going into 2010.
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
and Byrd is barely average defensively
How much worse would Borbon be? I bet with his range, that his value at the end of the year would be average to above average.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Since 2007, it's mostly been about winning in 2010.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
OF
Anyone who wants to give Byrd a three-year deal to play a below-average CF, relegate Cruz to a part-time role, and trap Borbon in LF or at DH is simply wrong.
If the team is convinced that Borbon can’t play CF, they need to trade him, and do it now. And if he can’t play CF next year, then there’s no CF in the organization and they need to go get one.
Counting on Borbon for CF has some risks, sure, but it isn’t nearly as risky as giving Marlon Bryd a Rusty Greer-like contract.
by Darrell McKown on Oct 7, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep to you and Keynes.
The whole Cruz, Borbon, Byrd issue just gets curiouser and curiouser. With people i usually agree with, Newberg and DJCahill for example, hopping on the sign-Byrd-because-Borbon-in-CF-will-cost-us-the-pennant-in-2010 bandwagon, i just wonder what they are seeing that i’m not? I think AJM is absolutely right, Byrd is a luxury we can’t afford unless some money falls from owner heaven. Cruz > Byrd for one tenth the price.
Byrd
I don’t think Cahill is necessarily on-board with giving Byrd a big contract. He’s just not confident that Borbon is a solution either offensively or defensively, and doesn’t think he should be the only CF option we go into 2010 with.
I don’t think that’s an unreasonable position.
by Darrell McKown on Oct 7, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah,
I’m not as locked in to Byrd as Jamey, but I think he has a point about Borbon’s fielding, which between jumps and arm is a question mark at best.
If we had a 4th OF who could play CF, unlike Murphy, that would help my concerns. My problem is if Borbon fails, you have the injury prone Hamilton, and then a bunch of guys who can’t play CF, like Murphy. I have no idea what the fallback is.
"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
Well,
You hve Boggs, Gentry, and Gholson on the 40- Boggs I think is a very nice option, both for his glove and his patience at the plate (plus he seems to have those Byrd intangibles, and he’s a black dude- maybe we could convince Face Boggs actually is Byrd and keep him happy?), and I think you could do worse then Gentry as a fifth OF.
And Gholson is… well… I betcha he has some nice pecs or something, and that’s nice.
I guess my point is if we roll with Boggs as our plan B to Borbon next year, I’m on board.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
by Keynes on Oct 7, 2009 3:57 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
So your plan B
for CF is similar to the Plan B for 1B this year. If Plan A fails we are pretty much likely to get nothing at that position all year. Thats pretty much what Boggs, Gentry and Golson are.
"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 don't think anyone would have seriously believed that CD and Hankles would both rock sub 300 OBP's
in fact, I’d think that having a contract-year Hank sounded might good this time last year.
But anyway, I might well be guilty o overrating Brandon Boggs, if that’s what you’re saying, but if we are committing to a Cruz-less OF, and we are committing to Murphy as an everyday COF’er, I think we could do well worse than Brndon Boggs as our fourth OF (sans Byrd) or fifth OF (with Byrd, supposing that in that case Borbon gets most of his burn as (ugh) a DH).
I’d certainly put a dozen donuts on Brandon Boggs rocking better than a 270 OBP if he was up next year.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
by Keynes on Oct 7, 2009 4:58 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Byrd received 599 plate appearances this season.
I think if Brandon Boggs received the same playing time nex year that Byrd received he would contribute every bit as much if not more both offensively & defensively as Byrd did this year.
Plus he’s younger, has upside and is less expensive.
"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 don't 100% agree with this
But I do think that the difference between Boggs and Byrd defensively would be negligible, if Boggs’ shoulder is healthy, and I think the difference in productive offensively between Boggs and Byrd wouldn’t be more than 15 runs, at worst.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 7, 2009 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions
And given the weaknesses of this team
are OBP and hitting lefties, and Boggs’ strengths are OBP and hitting lefties, he may be a better fit for the team than the numbers would indicate.
I could easily see Boggs being a 260/340 guy, and Byrd was, what, 280/320 this year? No doubt Byrd is going to slug a good bit more, but do we need that?
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
by Keynes on Oct 7, 2009 5:37 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
One big problem, Keynes.
Brandon Boggs is too smart to play for this manager.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Dude, AJM and you are agreeing
Let’s keep it focused on why Brandon Bartholemew Boggs is a solid choice to be on the 25 all season next year for now, k?
Put down the sword, let the healing begin, all that.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
by Keynes on Oct 7, 2009 5:45 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
There is no way in hell Brandon Boggs can match Marlon Byrds production offensively
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.
Give him 600 plate appearances and let him hit
clean up as much as Byrd did and he’d easily match Byrd’s production and have a better obp – if he’s healthy.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
He will be Andruw Jones without the slugging
Very low average, decent OBP. I have my doubts if he can play CF in the majors healthy or not.
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.
Plan B
would be Hamilton back in CF. Plan C might be Murphy and/or Cruz in CF. Plan D would be Boggs or Gentry.
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
I suppose the sandbox this tangent got started off on
presupposed that the org really, really doesn’t want Josh paying CF, and is resigned to the idea that Nelly’s getting traded (ugh).
I’m thinking, again in our hypothetical universe, that the CF options next year are Byrd, Jules, or an outta left field FA or trade aquisition.
I think I’m also thinking that Byrd and Borbon won’t both be on the team- if you’re committing to Byrd, he’s your everyday CF and the value of Borbon is only as an everyday CF’er, so, you gotta trade him if he ain’t one, ultimately (as our patron saint and proprietor believes, as well).
It’s like the new Star Trek, man, it’s confusing. You’re like ‘Wait, Nellie’s not here, and Byrd kills Borbon, and there’s two Spocks, and they meet, and that shit’s supposed to be ok? The old Spock was all like ’Don’t tell Sylar-Spock about me!’
Anyway, yeah, go create your own imaginary alternate reality with that OF, and I’ll stick with mine with Boggs. In my universe, dinosaurs are still alive. Beat that.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
by Keynes on Oct 7, 2009 7:05 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
How many games
is Hamilton good for in CF. Murphy in CF is a disaster, might as well sign Andruw Jones and put his fatass out there.
"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
If we roll with Boggs as our plan B
We are not committed to making the playoffs.
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.
That's a bit dramatical, ain't it?
I mean, do you really think the difference in a playoff spot and another non-playoff year woud be the backup CF’er?
I mean, is there a backup/if-things-go-wrong-with-Borbon-and-we-let-Byrd-walk-and-eriously-we-don’t-want-to-play-Josh-there emergency option that you think would be worth two or three wins over Boggs?
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
by Keynes on Oct 7, 2009 5:13 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
If there was confidence
we had a good starting CF, it wouldn’t be an issue.
"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
Brandon Boggs is not a starting ML player on a playoff team
He’s at best a 4th OF platoon player who plays against LHP, meaning maybe 60 starts at most during a season
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's quite a few people who
who woud say the same thing about David Murphy, only he hits righties and isn’t s good of a defender (and in many eyes is no answer at all to the CF question).
My question still applies, if you have a name worthy of a 40 spot and the difference in pay between what a vet would make and a pre-arb kid who’s a solid bet to be a plus over Boggs in the event either of them would be the CF for a signifigant period of time, I’m all ocular organs to read it.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
by Keynes on Oct 7, 2009 5:42 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Well a guy who mashes righties will probably play 120- games or so
Just based on the fact there are alot more RHP than LHP in the majors
Until FA start declaring and non-tenders and the like I won’t even begin to think about names of guys.
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
if the org has determined that Borbon can’t play CF on a contending team, then they need to trade him because I don’t think you build a championship caliber team with a guy like Borbon in a corner or at DH. Of course, it would probably be easier to get good value for him if everybody in the org wasn’t broadcasting to the world that he can’t play good CF defense.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
Based On Four Games
So based on four games in CF in The Show, management and Wash have decided Bourbon can’t play CF?
How about we let him actually PLAY CF FOR A WHOLE WEEK before we decide he can’t do it?
I’m still trying to figure out why there’s this institutional conclusion that Bourbon can’t play center. I tried looking on Fangraphs for FP and RF/9 for his AA and AAA campaigns but I couldn’t find it.
Was his CF time in the minors a bloodbath or something?
Why is it that Borbon can ONLY be useful in CF?
Doesn’t Carl Crawford play LF for the Rays? Didn’t he play LF for the Rays in 08 when they went to WS?
Here was his 08 slash line: .273 .319 .400 .718
Here is 09: 305 .364 .452 .816
He averages about 50 SBs/year.
Am I the only one that thinks Borbon can easily match those #s? Moreover, when comparing the OPS of a guy like Borbon to say a LF like David Murphy (or Brad Hawpe or whoever), don’t you really have to add in his net steals?
I’m not saying Borbon shouldn’t be in CF – I think what Keynes said was perfect:
“But the org is set up to build from within with pre-arb guys, and in what should be year two of the plan really coming to fruition , we seem to be leaning towards overpaying for a mediocre vet to fill a spot that should be going to one of the kids.
One of the kids we gave a hefty signing bonus and stashed on the 40 for some time to play a very specific position, and now there’s naught but non-tangible talk that he can’t play that position.
I dunno. It’s weird."
That being said, tell me again why putting Borbon in LF is wrting off any chance to be competitive? I don’t buy it.
Btw, if the thought is that Borbon needs a season/partial season of seasoning before he can play CF, then its a no-brainer. You roll with Hamilton in CF. You milk what you can get out of Hamilton before he gets too expensive, because you AREN’T giving that guy a multi year deal. In fact, I see right now if can get Boston or NYY to pay full retail for the guy (Melky Cabrera and Phil Hughes or Joba for Hammy?)
Jack Daddy
well you can have a team that makes the WS with a slap hitting COF
But I just don’t think it’s wise to try and build a team that way. I’d argue that the Rays made the WS last season in spite of Carl Crawford, rather than because of him.
Also, I think this team already has 2 solid to outstanding COF options in Hambone and Cruz, to try and shoehorn Borbon into one of those spots would seem to be a downgrade.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
Mike Cameron?
Might be too pricey…
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
To expand:
Mike Cameron, age 36, this year is a 4.5 WAR player (worth $20.3 million) who has signed one year contracts the past 2 years. The age would suggest he isn’t looking for a long-term deal, but he might be looking for starter time. If they trade Cruz though, that would be a nice replacement.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
why not keep Cruz, let Byrd walk, trade Borbon, and sign Cameron?
If Borbon can’t play CF, he’s really not that valuable IMO, but another team might look at him differently and give good value for him.
I think an OF of Hambone, Cameron, and Cruz would be one of the better ones in the AL. Plus you’d have an extra draft pick for Byrd and surely a good young player you’d get for Borbon.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
I don't want to trade Cruz.
I want to be able to buy a Rangers shirt with his name on it. If only the FO would let me…
The problems with that Borbon route is that Cameron won’t be the leadoff hitter than Borbon could be next year and that the whole scenario is a lot more expensive. Wish I knew what to expect from Hamilton last year.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
I think you could probably get Cameron on a one year deal for less than what Byrd would get annually, but I could be wrong about that.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
Probably wrong
Cameron got 10 mil this past year. I don’t see him getting that much but on a one year deal I think he could command 7-8 million.
I don’t see Byrd getting that much annually
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'd rather pay more per year (within reason)
for a one year deal than I would lock into a multiyear deal.
"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 would to. Just don't know if we have room for it in the budget
With a multi year deal you can pay less up front and backload. Byrd may average 6 million per year but only get paid 4 in the first year. That extra 4 mil may be a budget breaker for us
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
I don't wanna trade Borbon but I agree with the sentiment
he needs to play every day in the OF instead of DH.
I don’t want Juan Pierre types as the DH of my 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"
What does he plan to do with Nellie?
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
I think it's largely a side effect of being a beat writer
They hear so much directly from the organization it’s sometimes hard to use what they hear as foundations for their opinions instead of using their own two eyes.
Honestly
Its starting to get more than ridiculous on some of the stuff he’s spewing out. It was dumb that he wanted to dump the farm for Halladay. It’s really dumb that he wants to dump Nellie and resign Byrd longterm. But its beyond stupidity (new word must be invented to describe) to say that Pudge and Borbon should share DH duties next year. Sheer stupidity.
EG officially now is relegated to the kids table
don’t forget he would rather have Feliz in the bullpen instead of starting which is ridiculous. Who would you rather have on your team Verlander or Rodney (their closer)? I think we all know who we would take. EG is spewing such idiocy lately that I wonder if he is being fed this or if he just isn’t really thinking things through.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
WTF?!
Grant advocates using “Murphy in left, Byrd in center and Hamilton in right with Julio Borbon as the DH against right-hande rs and Pudge against lefties.” Where the hell does he have Nelson Cruz and is Borbon at DH really the best use of him? It’s one thing if you don’t want to put him in CF, but isn’t he still better than Murphy in LF?
Listening to the podcast last night...
Evan & Jamey were really big on bringing back Marlon Byrd for his “leadership qualities.”
Marlon Byrd turns 33 years old next season and this team is on a small market payroll. No thank you, this is the kind of player you let go and I didn’t see a whole lot of “leadership” being exhibited by anybody with This Thing when it mattered in September.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Dang it
I hate to agree with JW. Sure, it doesnt happen often, but still….
by BEW on Oct 7, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions
As much as it pains me
I totally agree with your second paragraph.
08/03/2009 A day that will live in infamy for the rest of the AL West.
It doesn't pain me at all
That’s pretty much what everyone here has been saying for months, he didn’t come up with some new wisdom.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Just pains me to agree with JW
i realize that is the popular opinion around but when has JW’s opinion and the LSB opinion meshed?
08/03/2009 A day that will live in infamy for the rest of the AL West.
LSB
has slowly and painfully come around to the fact that Tom Hicks is the biggest problem This Thing has faced since 2004.
"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 you look around
you will also see that LSB is coming around to the fact that Evan Grant (who actually seems to be a good guy) is in fact, much more a member of the Texas Ranger Marketing Department than a writer who gives his readers honest / critical opinions of the 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"
no mention of what ajm thinks of byrd?
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 7, 2009 2:07 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Aren't you on the fence with Byrd, 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"
Did you listen to the podcast?
Or read the roughly 5000 words I wrote about Byrd last week, spelling out why he shouldn’t be re-signed?
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 7, 2009 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Something Major
When you really stop and listen to a few of the things Daniels has said:
1. they recognize they are too LF,
2. their main goal is reshape the profile of the lineup,
3. they don’t have the $$ to chase a major free agent,
4. they have a better feel now for what the puzzle looks like (their own talent)
5. it might mean moving a player that they really like
AND combine that with JD’s demonstrated willingness to both trade, and to make trades that weren’t expected (both the volquez and Danks deals came out of left field),
to me, its clear that we are looking at a fairly major trade. I don’t know who goes, but I predict 1 or 2 of these guys are moved:
1. Hamilton
2. Davis,
3. Hunter,
4. Feldman.
My sense is that JD balances the seamhead side of things with the scouting side. I think he looks at the seasons that Feldman and Hunter had and (a) believes they are solid major leaguers that can be part of a championship team and (b) believes they probably have the highest value they will ever have RIGHT now and are probably worth more in a trade.
Jack Daddy
reasons for hunter/feldman
you know milwood is starting, barring trade, and his K makes that unlikely. You know Holland is too (you don’t roll with him in a pennant race and then bail 6 months later). They have said Feliz will star (do you see him failing to lock down spot?). If you have Hunter and Feldman as the other 2 spots, then your depth is McCarthy, Nippert, Harrison, Moscoso and Hurley. None of those 5 guys have any trading value. So if you want to use your depth to bolster the offense and you don’t want to cut loose your 2 prize arms (why would you?), that leaves moving either Hunter or Feldman. When you look at their peripherals, it makes sense to get somebody to pay for their W-L record and ERA.
Jack Daddy
if trading one of Feldman/Hunter
I’d much prefer to see Hunter be dealt. Feldman’s stuff is far superior.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
if trading one of Feldman/Hunter
I’d much prefer to see Feldman be dealt. Feldman’s value is higher, Hunter is much younger, and has more of a “bulldog” mentality which will allow him to get the most out of his stuff for the longest.
if given a choice, I'd rather move the guy
with the bulldog mentality and fringe starter stuff while hanging on to the guy with the wicked movement on 93 mph fastball and 90 mph cutter.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
you don't trade either
they are under control long term and should not be traded at this point. you don’t trade pitching, unless you are Boston and can afford it.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Why are you yelling, you're a foot from me?
I was listening to the podcast, reading other cyber nuggets related to the Great Game and half-ass watching the Stars play Crude last night so lighten up, Francis.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
all right
i assume this meant to answer ajm’s jab at you re/ byrd and did you not listen to his podcast. if not, then i’m confused (including by the notion that anyone smart enough to be so die hard of a baseball fan so as to waste time blogging here would even consider wasting 5 seconds watching hockey).
Jack Daddy
Jack Daddy
You are correct, my answer was to ajm.
There was nothing else on television and I’d already watched the replays of Entourage & Curb.
Used to be a diehard Stars fan (season ticket holder 95-03) but the strike pissed me off and because I hate Tom Hicks, my NHL interest has begun to dissipate.
I’m beginning to wonder if my NHL flirtation happened because it was the trendy thing to do in DFW in the 90s but those games at Reunion back in the day were a lot of fun.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Byrd doesn't turn 33 until near the end of next season
and the 2010 season will be regarded as his age 32 season.
If I recall, Byrd is 33 in August
no matter what he’s “regarded.”
Cruz turns 30 on July 1 (older than Hank F) but he’s “regarded” as 29 next year.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Well
Cruz will have 3 months of next season as a 29 year old and 3 months as a 30 year old. Its harder to really say which one he is. Byrd on the other hand will have 5 months of next season at 32 and 1 month at 33 so its alot easier to say next year is his age 32 season
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.
Cruz starts next season at 29.75 years of age
while Byrd starts next season at 32.6 years of age.
They’re both a helluva lot closer to 30 & 33 than they are 29 & 32.
"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 don't understand the logic, either.
If they bring back Byrd, they already have a DH in either Cruz or Hamilton. No need to get Pudge to be a DH.
BTW, Grant estimates Byrd will cost only $6M. That seems very optimistic.
The biggest improvement on this team can only come via a trade. They don’t have the money to buy an improvement. If the Rangers get Cruz 2009 and Hamilton 2008, that would probably be the biggest internal improvement they could hope for.
I think Holland and Feliz will improve, but it’s always so hard to predict whether that will be a sudden or gradual (multi-year) improvement. Also, improvement by Holland and Feliz could easily be offset by less spectacular years from Hunter and Feldman.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
This nonsense has to stop.
Just because we like Byrd and Murphy as people does not mean (a) they deserve to be starters here next year and (b) we have to destroy the rest of the roster to make them starters.
Murphy deserves to start against RHP
Which means he probably starts 100-120 games
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.
Fine, but that puts the team in a roster crunch.
That’s fine, but the team also has Hamilton, Cruz, and Borbon to start against RHP. There’s your OF/DH alignment right there (oh, and that means Borbon in CF). You also have Davis at 1b.
What do you do with this roster against LHP? We’d need 2-3 platoon guys, and there just aren’t that many roster spots.
Making room for Murphy to start against RHP makes the team worse against LHP because of the roster crunch. If the team is serious about improving the offense by adding an impact bat, then there isn’t room for Murphy to be a starter.
Its no secret we need a guy who hits LHP
But Murphy has shown and proven he deserves to play everyday against RHP.
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.
You're missing the point.
Try putting together a 13 player offense (starting lineup plus bench) that (a) includes Murphy as the starting LF against RHP and (b) doesn’t completely suck against RHP.
Why 13 player?
Lets step out of the box and recognize that this is a team that really doesn’t need to carry 7 relievers on its roster.
The main issue I see is a relative dearth of right handed outfielders out there who can bash lefties. Where have you gone Pete Incaviglia?
There are a few names out there. One is a John Mayberry out in Philly.
Personally, I love watching Greg Golson play centerfield. Never seen an arm like his. How about a platoon of Golson and Borbon in CF. Murphy and Rajah Davis in LF and Cruz in RF. Think Oakland would do a Hamilton for Davis and a prospect?
back slowly away from the crackpipe
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
And I thought me throwing Gholson out there as a fifth OF'er on the 25 next year was some HSO stuff...
That’s just… damn.
I feel like that post was in ‘House of Leaves’ somewhere.
JMJ? Platoon Shed and Jules? Trade Hams for Rajai Davis? whuwhuwhuwhut?
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
So trade him.
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
Only if you get the equivalent
of a starting player for him. If all you get is 4th OF value for him, which you likely will, you might as well use him as a 4th OF.
Considering how much flak Byrd gets, and Murphy is a markedly worse player, I can’t imagine he has a lot of trade value.
"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
as a long time ranger fan
it worries me that management is going to make that mistake. you don’t build up the farm to sign Byrd. That is not sticking to the plan. That would be the same old temporary fix. Borbon needs to play the OF every day, and if Byrd was on this team, even as the “supposed” 4th OFer, we all know he would play everyday because he is a Wash guy. There is no way Byrd and Murphy would both sit for Borbon in Wash’s lineup.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
LSB 2.0 is freaking out
hitting z marks the comments as read, but on the lsb homepage they still show as unread comments.
Lame.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
same
couldn’t load any SBN site earlier today
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
it is related
The new comment function has been turned off while they address the server issues
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 7, 2009 2:09 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I've read this whole thread twice!
"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 really starting to believe...
That opening up next year we will have Scott Coolbaugh (OKC Hitting Coach) as our batting coach with Rudy taking a year off
Bill Simmons: "I will tell you right now, if the Boston Red Sox traded Clay Buchholz for Justin Smoak, I will run around my neighborhood naked...celebrating for an hour. I love Justin Smoak"
Doubt Rudy would sit out a year
If he’s not here, someone will pay him
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Who's going to pay him in this economy?
The only team I could see paying him that would be the Mets because of Rudy’s relationship with Omar
The only other team with an opening at batting coach is the Rays, and it would shock me if they paid up for Rudy
So it wouldn’t surprise me if Rudy took a year off to look at the market and see whats good for him
Bill Simmons: "I will tell you right now, if the Boston Red Sox traded Clay Buchholz for Justin Smoak, I will run around my neighborhood naked...celebrating for an hour. I love Justin Smoak"
Astros whole coaching staff has been told they're free to look for other jobs
Rudy was in Houston before, I could see him going back there.
why did Tampa fire
their hitting coach? Maybe he deserves a look if they don’t bring back Jaramillo.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
lack of situational hitting
sort of the same problems the Rangers had
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
B.J. Upton sucking all year
Bill Simmons: "I will tell you right now, if the Boston Red Sox traded Clay Buchholz for Justin Smoak, I will run around my neighborhood naked...celebrating for an hour. I love Justin Smoak"
Is there some way to just let RW and EG that we don't need to hear anything from them...
…until
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
Whoops, hit reply too early. Part II...
…until spring training? Their thoughts on next year’s roster and how to utilize it are beyond silly.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
EG
why would you think you have better info on the Rangers than EG has? Isn’t he the one that has lockerroom access and you don’t? Why do you think his opinion is worthless because he differs from some here?
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
His opinion is worthless because he thinks that a platoon of Julio Borbon and Pudge Rodriguez is acceptable at DH.
There’s no defending that opinion. None.
by LiamP on Oct 7, 2009 2:39 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
So, it is not competition with the DMN’s and LSB?LSB is really freaking out to day
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
What?
Neftali Feliz says sit your 5 dollar ass down before he makes change...
Hi, Keith. Is this the year Edinson Volquez finally wins RoY?
He knows how to report news about the team.
He is absolutely clueless when it comes to actually analyzing that news. He has horrible Wash-level opinions on how this team should be run. So yeah, his opinion on those things are worthless.
Thanks for saying it better...
…than I did. That’s pretty much what I was thinking.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
That's a gross overstatement
Reporters spend time in the clubhouse, get to know these guys, and perhaps partly as a result of that put a little too much stock in clubhouse presence, chemistry, etc. Bloggers, especially those of us a long way removed from our playing days, spend no time in the clubhouse and a lot of time looking at numbers and we probably as a result put too little stock in those things.
The answer is somewhere in the middle.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
The answer is a whole lot closer to the blogger's mentality
than the one that puts a whole lot of stock in clubhouse chemsitry.
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've always felt
the best thing for clubhouse chemistry was winning, so the best way to build clubhouse chemistry was to try to put a winning team on the field.
So the best thing for clubhouse chemistry, is a TORP and a big bat or two who can cover some of the holes at 1B, C, and DH. That’s my theory, anyway.
"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
similar to any other work environment
Working with a bunch of great buddies is alright, but I believe that most people, if given the choice, would prefer to be in a work environment that allows them to reap the rewards of success, even if they have to work with a bunch of assholes to do so.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
True that.
I imagine the rest of the 2002 SFO Giants didn’t mind riding on Barry Bonds steroid-riddled body to 100 wins and the World Series as long as he produced.
Same with the early 70’s A’s / late 70s Yankees with Reggie Jax.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Yep, I'd rather work with assholes
if they could get me 10x the bonus of working with “good guys”.
"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
Absolutely
Been there, done that. Even assholes have a mutual survival instinct.
"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 8, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions
If leadership is what we need,
Eric Young is still available.
Keepin it Classy Gentlemen
There is, in fact, a manly and lawful passion for equality which excites men to wish all to be powerful and honored. This passion tends to elevate the humble to the rank of the great; but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level, and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom.
-Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
After listening to the podcast last night
And reading that EG peice today, I think it’s official: Evan has gone batshit crazy again. This Byrd love affair reminds me of his incessant pounding on the MY/GG/SS gong last winter.
I’m starting to think EG picking the completely wrong side on a key offseason issue becoming some kind of seasonal event, perhaps brought on by the cooling weather, the lack of baseball and leaves falling off trees. Somebody buy him a sweater and a minature Evergreen for his office, and maybe things will return to normal.
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
question to the masses
Define what a “young player” is?
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
A player
25 and under, in my opinion.
"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
Either under 25 or with 2 years or less MLB experience
26-29 is a guy in his prime, 30 and over seems to be when the “veteran” label gets applied by the media.
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 LSJ on Oct 7, 2009 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think
experience has anything to do with young.
If you want to talk about players without experience, you normally talk about inexperienced players, or rookie players, or sophomore players or whatever.
"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
Your definition means
Nellie and Hamilton are not young players. I think in baseball talk, young is synonymous with inexperienced.
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
Nellie and Hamilton
are not young players.
I don’t see anything wrong with saying that.
Young is not synonymous with inexperienced.
"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
Pre-Arb and Arb-Eligible is a decent marker
But I suppose there’s some who would cite Thad Levine’s theory that 90 per cent of players conform to their career averages at 750 PA’s/200 IP’s*, so anyone under that most likely has a lot of projection left; problem is, under that system, Elvis wouldn’t be a young player anymore around the ASB next year (and don’t look now, but Salty’s done crept past that. I’m telling you this in the morning ’cause that crap might keep me up at night)
So, I’d define a ‘young player’, in most terms, as a cost-controlled one, and use that 750 PA threshold as a secondary qualifier for some purposes (mainly projection and excuse-making. Hey, Davis has, like, 30 PA’s ‘til he hits that point. Jussayin’sall.)
- Not 100 per cent sure that that’s the marker for pitchers, but you can check Chuckles Newberg’s ‘5 Steps’ manifesto to confrim for me. I’m lazy.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
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