Friday morning Rangers stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Nov 13, 2009 9:21 AM CST
184 comments
So, the buzz today is from Ken Rosenthal's story that the Rangers are interested in free agent outfielder Vlad Guerrero.
Everyone knows Guerrero, and the initial reaction would probably be, great, bring him here, particularly at a one year, $3-4 million deal, which is what Rosenthal suggests will be Guerrero's price.
That said, Guerrero is terrible in the outfield now, and had just a .262 EQA in 2009. Guerrero had a .290 EQA in 2008, and prior to that, hadn't been below a .300 EQA since his rookie year.
Guerrero is going to be 35 next year, and be all reports looked like he was breaking down last year. On the other hand, prior to 2009, he was a potent righty bat, the kind of guy who would be a perfect fit in the cleanup spot for the Rangers, hitting behind Josh Hamilton.
I go back and forth on Guerrero...I think, he can't be as bad as he was last year again, and if he can hit like in 2008, he'd be a great pickup for $3-4 million as a DH. On the other hand, he's exactly the sort of hacktastic hitter we are claiming we want the team to move away from, and it may very well be he's simply done.
The problem here is that I don't know that the Rangers have the luxury to pay him a few million, bring him to Surprise, and see how things go. The Rangers need a potent middle of the order bat, and if they decide that guy is Guerrero and Guerrero is done, you're looking at having David Murphy or Max Ramirez or someone as your DH, and you're looking at an offense that has a big hole in the middle of it.
I don't have the answer here. I've compared 2009 to 2004, and I don't want to see the Rangers' big offseason move to be the new Richard Hidalgo, which Vlad may very well be. It comes down to whether you believe last year was an aberration, and that he's due for a bounceback, or whether you think that any bounce would be of the dead cat variety.
There's a piece up in the DMN on John Wetteland being hospitalized, although information still appears to be scarce.
And everyone's favorite polarizing prospect, Marcus Lemon, had a grand slam in the first inning of yesterday's AFL game, and is hitting .346 overall this fall.
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Not all that interested in Vlad.
Too much risk of age catching up with him. If the situation were like how Boston handled old pitchers, wherein they took a $3M flyer on a guy who bounce back at the back of the rotation, I could see it. But, to be an expected middle of the order guy…. Too much risk.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
.833 OPS from May 31st on for the washed up Vladdy
If he stays healthy, playing DH, he can still rake a little bit
Somebody get D.A. Tron on here to analyze the Marcus Lemon grand slam
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Internet greatness http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/11/10/1125340/will-carroll-calls-out-josey-wales
He got off to a slow start
in the AFL. Glad to see him holding his own inthe hitters league.
|Space for Rent|
Lemon has been raking over his last 9 games
he may have been adjusting to CF at the beginning of the AFL.
Teagarden on the other hand has gone 0 for his last 11 and has around a .182 avg. He is better than this, but his confidence has to be a little shaken at this point. WIth his poor 09 season, hopefully he can turn it around pretty soon. if anything just to improve his trade value.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Joey's take on Vlad
I hope this is actually true…
If, for example, a source learned that Jon Daniels and Guerrero’s agent — whom exactly that is, I’m not sure — chatted for two minutes and then dispersed, does that brief conversation constitute “interest”?
|Space for Rent|
That's about the level of thing
most of these rumors are based on. Someone’s name gets mentioned and a reporter puts it out there and fans run amok with it.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I have no problem with Vlad for that price
Best case scenario is he has one last breath in him and bounces back to a 310/350/500 type line.
Worst case is he comes in and it takes you about 6 weeks to realize hes done for good and you move on. In 6 weeks time possibly Max has refound his AA stroke and can come up and fill in the DH role. Or possibly Smoak has torn up AAA for a month and you can bring him up.
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 with this
is that RW and the Rangers have a history of over-playing under-producing veterans. There is no way they’d dump Vlad after 6 weeks.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Nov 13, 2009 1:01 PM CST up reply actions
Well recently
They have also shown they will cut bait with a veteran if a young prospect is ready to break into the majors. (Broussard and Padilla are examples of 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.
I don't think Padilla is an example of that
Padilla wasn’t cut because he was a vet who wasn’t producing. He was cut because he was a club house cancer.
And Sosa and Jones are more recent counter-examples than Broussard.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Nov 13, 2009 1:37 PM CST up reply actions
Padilla was more a example of willingness to cut someone regardless of salary
I agree his case was more clubhouse cancer than performance although his performance had wained (sp?) before getting cut.
Who was Jones and Sosa blocking from breaking into the majors? Jason Botts? Once this club went into full rebuild mode in the summer of 2007 Sosa’s playing time dropped sharply.
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.
Breaking in or getting ABs
In 2007, Sosa got ABs that could have gone to: Botts, Diaz, Cruz
In 2008 Cat got ABs that could have gone to: Cruz, Max
In 2009 Jones got ABs that could have gone to: Borbon, Cruz
Admittedly, some of these guys didn’t pan out (Botts, Diaz), but the fact is they didn’t really get much of a chance because an under-producing vet was getting PAs. And sometimes its not that they are blocking a prospect from getting to the Majors; instead they are getting ABs that should be going to other players already on the roster. Cruz and Borbon sitting on the bench so Jones could get ABs is an example of this last year. Sosa got almost 300 ABs against RHP in 2007 that could have been reallocated more productively.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Nov 13, 2009 2:31 PM CST up reply actions
To who though?
In 07 Cruz sucked ass
In 08 Cruz wasn’t on the 40 man roster because he had sucked so bad the previous couple years and if we had brought him up and he sucked again we would have released him. He needed that time in AAA. Cat had maybe a couple dozen at bats as DH when Max was here. Are you really griping over a couple dozen ABs?
In 09 Jones didn’t take any ABs away from Cruz. Cruz was on pace to play 140+ games had he not gotten injured. With Borbon again we are talking about a handful of at bats.
And if those guys weren’t getting the ABs they just would have gone to guys like Murphy which would have opened up a whole nother case of bitching.
Who else was going to take Sosas ABs in 07? Matt Kata? Wilkerson? Jerry Hairston? Travis Metcalf? You are making it sound like we sat Ian Kinsler on the bench so Sosa could have ABs. One spare took ABs from another spare whoopdifreakindoo.
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'm not too big of a fan of that
Max looks like he’s going to take more than 6 weeks to find his stroke again and be ready for the Majors. I doubt Smoak will be able to come up in 6 weeks and do the same. In the meantime, we’re betting on Vlad, who has grown more injury prone in recent years, to not continue the decline he has seen over the past few years. Seems like a poor bet to take on a guy you want to be a middle of the order bat.
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
So if the choice
was sign Vlad (1 yr at 3 mil base with incentives could work it up to 4.5 mil) or do nothing, which would be better?
"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
I don't think "do nothing" is an option...
having Vlad would be better than doing nothing but the concern is that if Vlad has hit the wall, the Rangers would be in a world of hurt at DH…I think he’s worth signing if it’s for $3-$4 mil. As to his being hacktastic…the main difference between the Rangers hacktasicness and Vlad’s is that Vlad hacks and hits .300. That being said, his OPS has dropped every year since 2003 (except for a very small uptick in 2007)…high risk/reward in signing him.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by GhostofSteveFoucault on Nov 13, 2009 9:49 AM CST up reply actions
Maybe at the very least
Vlad will teach the other hitters to be better at hacking if they can’t change their hacktastic ways under Hurdle…
Why go for a veteran at all?
There has got to be a guy out there that could fill the DH hole with some upside, youth and affordability. If this were last winter, I would have singled out a guy like Josh Willingham but now the Nats have him and are hanging onto him. There have got to be some guys out there like that, not superstars but rather players who hit lefties really well and just don’t fit with their current teams. Most of you could probably name more people who fit this profile than I could but that is what I would like to see. No more Sammy Sosas, Hidalgos, Jones or Broussards please.
"When you play happy, good things will happen"-Elvis Andrus
Vlad
If the rangers could afford to take the 1yr 3mil dollar flier on him and cut bait if he stinks i’d be fine with it.
But given the owners financial problems and mlb having to approve the budget I just don’t think it’s a risk they should be taking right now.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Biz of Baseball
has a full list of arb eligible players from the MLBPA. They also take a guess at what they will/would get through arbitration. The Rangers…
Scott Feldman 3.091
Frank Francisco 5.053
Esteban German 4.069
Josh Hamilton 3
Brandon McCarthy 4.055
Dustin Nippert 2.14
C.J. Wilson 4.055
Overall I think their estimates are a little high. No way German and BMac get $4M. Besides, Esteban will likely be non-tendered.
|Space for Rent|
Just glad it's you and not me
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Internet greatness http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/11/10/1125340/will-carroll-calls-out-josey-wales
I think your first clue should have been
Esteban German getting $4mill. I mean, I like the guy and I think the Rangers should bring him back, but no way would he be near $4mill in arbitration.
I was trying to figure out in what world...
Scott Feldman and Josh Hamilton get 3 million and Esteban German gets 4.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Nov 13, 2009 10:16 AM CST up reply actions
Joe Sheehan on the AFL:
Tanner Scheppers was the most impressive pitcher I saw in my time there, catching his dominant fifth inning at the Rising Stars game. Scheppers topped out at 97 mph and looked for all the world like someone who could pitch the eighth inning against the Angels in six months. Two frames later, Dan Gutierrez was nearly as impressive with a fastball/curveball combination; Gutierrez was basically given away by the Royals because of behavioral issues, but if he can keep those in check, he’s going to rise quickly in the Rangers’ organization. Whatever optimistic noises I’ve been making about the Rangers were not quieted by what I saw in Arizona.
http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9766
I like steak.
This Gutierrrez fellow
Seems pretty good at baseball.
Losing Timmy Smith hurt, a little, but more and more it seems like we pulled off a mini-poopoo platter deal, and that’s awesome.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
by Keynes on Nov 13, 2009 10:39 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Rating Scheppers over Strasburg?
That is very very.
"[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 Nov 13, 2009 12:17 PM CST up reply actions
can you get a quote on that
I haven’t gotten around to renewing by BP subscription….
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
I might be reading into it...
I just based it on the above.
Tanner Scheppers was the most impressive pitcher I saw in my time there
Maybe he didn’t see Strasburg, or saw him on an off-night.
"[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 Nov 13, 2009 12:37 PM CST up reply actions
I'm okay with Vlad
Because while Nick Johnson, Bradley, or Dunn would all be better from and OBP point of view, there really aren’t that many of those guys out there. And I’d rather have Vlad in the lineup than Byrd or some other hacker.
So in other words, I wouldn’t sign Vlad today, but wait and see if getting an OBP guy can come through. If not, Vlad is a decent backup plan.
Go Rice Owls!
Yeah, I think that's where I'm at.
And the theoretical worst case scenario of him signing with one of our contenders next year for $3-4 million and then being 2008 Vlad doesn’t even bother me that much…the risk is very high.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Nov 13, 2009 10:14 AM CST up reply actions
waiting is smart anyway
i doubt the Angels offer Vlad arbitration, so if you wait through that deadline the Angels won’t recoup a supplemental 1st round pick. If someone else signs him early, fine, but I look to screw the Angels at any opportunity I can get.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Vladimir
I love the idea of bringing Vlad here. He, more so than Richard Hidalgo or even Sammy Sosa (at that point in his career), is someone that the fans can really attach themselves to. Vlad is a big name and one that has absolutely punished the Rangers in his career. I believe adding him would bring a lot of excitement and interest to this fan base. I seriously would consider getting a Vlad jersey if he joined the team just because I consider him to be one of the more interesting hitters to watch of this last generation. His hit radius is down-right ridiculous.
That being said, who knows what you’ll get. He, like Milton Bradley, looks to be injury-prone at this point in their careers. Can we take a chance on a guy like that? Well, at the very least it provides protection to Hamilton. It is a truth that this team needs to provide a legitimate threat behind him. I like taking this chance.
All being said, I think he’s no question worth the investment. This is especially true because we don’t have a true DH type knocking on the door ready to come up right now. Later on we bring up Smoak and platoon Vlad/CD. In a year Vlad is gone and we are full time with Crush n Smoke.
I'm not interested in a name the fans can attach themselves to.
I’m interested in the best option for the lineup, a guy that can get on base. Vlad is not the right guy at this time.
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but does he bring more energy?
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Idea for 2010 premium giveaway night at the ballpark -
Clackers that imitate the sound of Vladdy’s knees as he walks from the on-deck circle to homeplate.
Its hard to laugh at that when my knees do the same thing
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
Right
But the team might be. Teams need marketable players and Vlad would most likely be the most marketable player on the team. Combine that with a guy who is only two years removed from a very good season and his relatively low salary for his age and accomplishments and I think it is a reasonable risk. Unless he is downright terrible he’ll get a solid ROI.
Of course neither of us can prove either way
But I seriously believe that bringing Vlad would help overall attendance. Winning of course is the #1 way to attract fans. Good promotions are probably #2. Low prices are probably #3 (depending on how low). Marquee players are probably #4. If you can add a player who helps you do #1 and achieves #4 you’ve got a winner. I personally believe he would do that.
Unfortunately there is no tangible way for anyone on this forum to prove either way in this case.
Exactly
"It's kind of a new stat that's in vogue" - Joe Buck on OPS
"...he wasn’t a good hitter, just a good middle of the order bat that hit a lot of homers." - NYTXFAN on Mark McGwire
Funny to me
that people are worried about Vlad being an injury risk but are gung ho about bringing Milton Bradley or Nick Johnson aboard. Those 2 are huge injury risks as well.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Nov 13, 2009 10:08 AM CST reply actions
yeah
whoever the Rangers bring in will be an injury risk. When you want to pay $5 million for potential all-star production, there will be a 25-30% chance of getting nothing. Otherwise he wouldn’t be $5 million. People seem to forget this…
Go Rice Owls!
injury is a little different than being old
nick johnson and bradley are pretty good when not injured. with vlad, his injuries coudl linger the whole season.
but, point taken. it’s why all of these players are in our price range
This.
When healthy, those guys have shown that they can be great hitters. With Vlad, its no guarantee that he’s ever healthy enough to hit like that or that he can hit that well when healthy.
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
Really?
With Vlad, its no guarantee that he’s ever healthy enough to hit like that or that he can hit that well when healthy.
OPS above 885 the last 11 years prior to last year.
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.
wow. just wow
Yes, I’m sure that a guy entering his late 30s is going to do exactly what he did the last 11 years despite showing a clear decline in health and performance in recent years.
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
Yet you are willing to bet on guys in their mid 30s who have missed significant amounts of time recently
Last year was the first time in the last 6 years Vlad has played under 140 games and he still played in 100 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.
What guys in their mid 30s?
Milton Bradley is turning 32 next season and will be 33 in 2011.
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
Glaus is 33
Bradley being 32…close enough
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've pretty much only been advocating Bradley
And being in your early 30s isn’t the same as mid-late 30s. I’m willing to bet that a 33 year old (Like Bradley would be in 2011) won’t hit the wall when there really hasn’t been any significant reason to suspect a decline rather than a 36 year old who has seen a significant decline over the past few years.
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
You should start selling
Bigsteve Math™ calculators. I bet they’d be a big hit in the corporate world.
"It's kind of a new stat that's in vogue" - Joe Buck on OPS
"...he wasn’t a good hitter, just a good middle of the order bat that hit a lot of homers." - NYTXFAN on Mark McGwire
Vlad is way down the list.
I’d rather have Bradley, Johnson, Glaus…There’s just no point in pursuing an aging hacker.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Concur...
I’d rather see those three guys or Dye before Vlad.
He’d be better than nothing at that price, but there certainly are better options out here.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Why do you think
he wouldn’t be as good as Glaus, who’s seen barely any ML pitching in the last year and half? I think Glaus may still have something left, but I’d say he’s a much bigger risk than Vlad.
A few reasons...
1) He’s at least a couple years younger than Vlad (I’m not sure if Vlad is really 35 or not)
2) I know Glaus has missed a lot of time, but before this year he put up an OPS > .850 in 3 of the last 4 years.
3) He has some defensive value as he can be a backup 1B/3B.
4) I think he will cost less than Vlad. Not sure what the market will be, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Glaus only got the veteran minimum when he signs with someone. Perhaps I’m wrong here though.
Either way, with the Rangers financial situation these are the type of players the Rangers are going to have to gamble on right now. Yes it sucks, but they have to try and find lightning in a bottle somewhere. Like I said, Vlad would be better than nothing, but his sharp decline this year scares me a little more than Glaus’ injuries.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Glaus has good plate discipline
won’t cost too much and has a career .957 OPS (with a .399 OBA) against lefties. There you go.
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And Vlads career OPS against LHP is 1000
With a 407 OBP and a 83 point spread between BA and OBP
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.
And Vlad
is older, might cost more, and is a hacker. Even if Glaus and Vlad were to put up exactly the same OPS I’d rather have Glaus’s approach on board than another hacker. If the Rangers are ever going to change their hitting profile they need to start by not signing hackers.
Vlad would have been awesome to have a couple of years ago, not so much now.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Who cares if hes a hacker
If they both are gonna put up 360ish OBP why not go with the guy whos gonna hit closer to 300 with a much better slugging percentage? I want the best team on the field regardless if they hack away. If you hack and can hit 300 go for it. Its when you hack and only hit 240 that it becomes a problem
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 have less confidence
that Vlad is going to bounce back, basically. The guy looks even older than he is, he’s falling apart. I think he’s going to hack and hit .260, I don’t see him hitting .300 next year. Vlad’s OPS dropped significantly two years in a row, he’s obviously in decline. Glaus’ OPS was stable before his injury, and plate discipline is a skill that ages well.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
He hits well against lefties
but he doesn’t suddenly turn into a different kind of hitter. He’s a hacker. A good one, but a hacker.
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walk rates in his career
vs LHP: 12%
vs RHP: 7.8%
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.
A good point
but…OBP against lefties:
2007 – .432
2008 – .355
2009 – .276
That’s ugly.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Well...
we all have our opinions. No big deal.
Like I said, signing Vlad would be better than nothing. I’m not completely opposed to it. I just feel there are better options.
His drop of this year really scares me. That’s my biggest concern.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I know Glaus has missed a lot of time, but before this year he put up an OPS > .850 in 3 of the last 4 years
And before this past year Vlad had put up an OPS >885 each of the previous 11 seasons with 10 of them being >930
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 Nov 13, 2009 12:02 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
and yet
out of that group, he’s the one who stays consistently healthy. He’ll be fine, he had nagging stuff last year, first time in a while he was out significantly…34 isn’t really THAT old…he’ll have a bounce back year in Texas.
I’d sign him, put him at DH, not worry him about putting him in the field…
usa
Did any of you see the SBNation headline on the sidebar about the Yanks making a move on Halladay?
Halladay would certainly do the job of fortifying that rotation, giving the Yankees one of the best 1-2-3 combinations in baseball. However, at what cost?
That might be a bit of an understatement. I think CC-Halladay-Burnet would almost assuredly be the best 1-2-3 combo.
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Internet greatness http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/11/10/1125340/will-carroll-calls-out-josey-wales
Wondering if that's more about making Boston overpay more than actual interest...
on the otherhand, I’ve learned to never underestimate the Yankees.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by GhostofSteveFoucault on Nov 13, 2009 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
Would their new GM really trade Halladay to the Yankees? Or the Red Sox for that matter?
A team that would almost assuredly resign him and then they would have to face him numerous times over the next several years?
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 read that also
But no one will call for a salary cap of any kind. A part of me died this Fall when the Yankees won the World Series with a cleanup hitter who went 3 for 22 or whatever. You aren’t supposed to be able to score 6-8 runs a game in the World Series when your clean up hitter hits below .200. For the Yankees, wasn’t a problem at all. To me, that just proved how ridiculous their payroll and lineup is.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Nov 13, 2009 2:13 PM CST up reply actions
OT: Bill Simmons Review
More a review of the guy and less a review of his book – but I found this to be very close to my opinion of Simmons (via Deadspin):
First thing I thought of when I read the headline...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR594Kkxmzg
Wasn’t aware of the Paglia ref…
"[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 Nov 13, 2009 12:21 PM CST up reply actions
Vlad will not be a good player in the future
The Rangers should stay away. His skill set does not age well and his production dropoff will be precipitous.
I didn't know what a mancrush was. Derek Holland showed me.
Let's just hope this is
bullshit.
My gawd, do these people not remember what happened to This Thing after 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"
by Josey Wales on Nov 13, 2009 11:13 AM CST up reply actions
That does it
I am now absolutely, positively, definitively convinced.
We should sign Vlad.
Richard Hidalgo
is not a good comparison. Hidalgo in his best years couldn’t sniff Vlad. Hidalgo’s best year was in 2000, 5 years before the Rangers signed him. Vlad’s bad years are an abberation whereas Hidalgo’s good years were the abberation. Comparison is null and void.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Nov 13, 2009 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
ok?
FWIW I agree with you, but I’m guessing you meant this for somewhere else?
I posted it here
because it was in response to Josey’s This Thing after 2004 comment which had a lot to do with signing Hidalgo as the big offseason offensive move of the year.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Nov 13, 2009 12:09 PM CST up reply actions
Curious...
JD was Hart’s right hand man that off-season – wonder how much influence he had on Hart in either recommending we sign/don’t sign Hidalgo.
My recollection is that Jermaine Dye went for close to the same amount of money as Hidalgo and went on to become the World Series MVP and have a nice 5 year run in Chi.
"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 Nov 13, 2009 11:46 AM CST up reply actions
Dye
Dye signed with Chicago instead of Texas. When they struck out on Dye, they signed Hidalgo.
by Adam J. Morris on Nov 13, 2009 11:50 AM CST up reply actions
Didn't Dye sign for close to the same amount of money but
went with Chi because they gave him a 2 year 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 Nov 13, 2009 11:51 AM CST up reply actions
Don't know
I just know that Dye was the first choice.
by Adam J. Morris on Nov 13, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions
From what I read
Texas actually made the stronger offer on a per-year basis, but I couldn’t determine whether they were offering a comparable deal in terms of length.
by Joey Matschulat on Nov 13, 2009 2:41 PM CST up reply actions
Whatever happened
to “Josh needs to DH at least half the time to save him from injury”. I don’t necessarily buy into this line of thinking, myself. Others do, though, and I don’t know how this quest for a DH type hitter fits in with their thinking. Could anyone please clarify this or the rest of us will think that their point of view (needing to dh Josh most of the time) is not well thought out?
I don't know that I necessarily agree with the argument
but its about decreasing the number of times he will go crashing into walls or diving to make catches. Fewer attempts = lower probability that one of those dives will be the one that breaks him.
There have been no indications that Hamilton
would not play the field. I think a goal was to get him out of CF and if Borbon can handle the job, mission accomplished. CF is much more taxing than the other 2 OF positions being as you run on every ball to the OF. Last year, Hamilton got hurt sliding into 2nd base, so that had nothing to do with the field. He is an asset defensively at the corners and although being a DH may help him stay healthy, keeping him out of CF may help as well. There are no guarantees.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Actually Hamilton hurt himself a couple pitches prior
I assume you are referring to the one late in the season. The sliding into second I think pushed it over the edge but a couple pitches prior he pulled something and had to do some stretches at the plate real quick
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.
And he did run into the wall earlier in the year.
Pure speculation on my part, but I think that affected Hamilton for rest of the year.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
I've been back and forth on Vlad too.
Right now I’ve been convinced he’d be a worthwhile pickup. Especially for 3-4mill. I think his best years are behind him, but I also think he’s got something left in the tank, and with the exception of Bradley, will still give you more production than other guys who’s names have been thrown out there like Thome and Glaus. Vlad’s also still a presence in a lineup and would provide good protection hitting behind Hamilton. And he’s no more of an injury risk than Milton.
I guess my other thought on this is
How big a hit will his numbers take by not getting to face the Rangers 17 times a year?
OT: football pickem
Adam apparently didn’t make a pick for last nights game, even after nannying us about the fact there was a game.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Nov 13, 2009 11:03 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
in his defense
he was trying to remind us of a nonexistent game on Wednesday.
Crap
I put up San Fran with a “3”. I don’t know why it didn’t accept it.
by Adam J. Morris on Nov 13, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions
You and me both
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Nov 13, 2009 11:22 AM CST up reply actions
We went to the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco and they actually
make one from scratch at a soda fountain. I had one out of curiosity…very different than the stuff from the bottle.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by GhostofSteveFoucault on Nov 13, 2009 12:09 PM CST up reply actions
I'm a DieHard Coke Classic man myself.
In fact, I think it’s about time for one now….
Good man...
Coke is the best soft drink.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by GhostofSteveFoucault on Nov 13, 2009 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
Does anyone remember the drink Rondo?
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by GhostofSteveFoucault on Nov 13, 2009 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
is that Eric Roberts??
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Nov 14, 2009 11:59 AM CST up reply actions
looks like him
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
Ginger Ale is damn good, but which do you order on the airplane? (No wrong answer).
"Nothing we do here has a point" - Czar Morris
by inactive lsb user on Nov 13, 2009 1:31 PM CST up reply actions
Cranberry juice
And if I’m with my wife she gets a seltzer water and we mix. The perfect soda: lightly carbonated, not too sweet.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Nov 13, 2009 1:34 PM CST up reply actions
Fascinating combo. I'll try to arrange that on my next flight.
"Nothing we do here has a point" - Czar Morris
by inactive lsb user on Nov 13, 2009 1:44 PM CST up reply actions
From the fountain....
From a can, I prefer Cherry 7-up or Wild Cherry Pepsi, and I prefer nothing out of a plastic bottle
I used to drink 2 DPs every morning
before a few cups of coffee.
Gave up DP for Lent one year and broke the habit.
I’ll still have one if I have a particularly bad hangover. Best cure for a brutal hangover is a great sweaty workout followed by Mexican food and a DP.
"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 Nov 13, 2009 11:36 AM CST up reply actions
fried food and orange gatorade
makes the hangover go away
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 actually prefer Diet Dr Pepper to the regular stuff.
What do tigers dream of when they take a little tiger snooze? Do they dream of mauling zebras, or Halle Berry in her Catwoman suit?
concur.
Has nothing to do with the fact it’s diet, it just tastes better to me.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
Gag, surely you jest
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Internet greatness http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/11/10/1125340/will-carroll-calls-out-josey-wales
no jestin' my man, I speak the truth!
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
Caffeine Free Diet Doc for me
I can drink 3-6 a day. The L.E.S. (lower esophageal sphincter) won’t allow caffeine anymore. Ulcers suck.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
police were called to his house
he came outside saying he needed “help” and is now checked into a hospital for mental health issues. I don’t think they actually said “suicide” anywhere, but its inferred.
I don't know what's going on.
He was taken to Denton Regional which, to my knowledge, does not have a “Psych Floor.”
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
I'd rather have Jermaine Dye,
2mil + incentives.
by Randy Richardson on Nov 13, 2009 11:45 AM CST reply actions
in terms of what they'll contribute in 2010
seems like a coin flip. I guess there’s a better chance dye stays healthy but their numbers are pretty similar with vlad having better production the last few years.
if the rangers really are serious about contending this year, they’re going to need to do something more than sign someone from the 2-6M range
well,
I’d prefer to have Matt Holliday, but that ain’t gonna happen.
by Randy Richardson on Nov 13, 2009 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
I'm sure he would
rather have 5-6 mil, but I think 2mil is much closer to his market value.
by Randy Richardson on Nov 13, 2009 12:19 PM CST up reply actions
Nahh
with all the teams looking for a corner outfield / right-handed bat, he’ll get at least 5mill, probably more.
he's basically a platoon guy
who should never again set foot on the grass part of a baseball field.
by Randy Richardson on Nov 13, 2009 3:20 PM CST up reply actions
I am also becoming very worried that Nolan Ryan is
becoming less and less involved with This Thing.
Sure seems like we heard a lot from him thru the media and on various radio talkshows last year at the end of the season and beginning of the off-season.
The only voice we hear now is from JD. I wonder if Nolan became a little disgusted over the Purke thing (took a big backseat after that) and is quite leery about any new ownership that may be coming in.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Why would he be disgusted over the Purke thing?
by Adam J. Morris on Nov 13, 2009 11:51 AM CST up reply actions
Because the team that beats on their own chest and brags about their own system and the virtues of
building from within was unable to sign their own number one draft pick.
It’s difficult to know exactly who was at fault on Purke but it had to realy gall Ryan this didn’t get done.
A team like the Yankees can bypass on number ones that want too much money but teams like the Rangers who have very limited avenues of talent acquisition can’t whiff with their picks otherwise you become the Washington Nationals.
"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 Nov 13, 2009 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
Nolan wanted him here
but the kid wanted too much money, it wasnt going to work out unless Purke and his agent/family were willing to come down, and they werent. Nolan is a businessman, I have to believe he saw this as a bad business decision by the organization in taking a guy who wasnt going to budge on his demands. But that decision was made by all the front office, not just JD, so Nolan has some of the “dirt” on his hands too…
TCU AD/PR Student: I Need A Job
by PM Productions on Nov 13, 2009 12:01 PM CST up reply actions
So why didn’t Nolan get it done?
by Panorama on Nov 13, 2009 12:08 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
You mean the number one pick who Nolan personally talked to and told the organization would sign
The number one pick who has the same agent as Nolan?
If Nolan is pissed maybe its because hes realizing he needs to work on the business side of things and leave the personnel decisions to the guys with experience in that field
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.
Funny
It’s difficult to know exactly who was at fault on Purke but it had to realy gall Ryan this didn’t get done.
If there was even a chance that this wasn’t on Nolan, you’d be saying unequivocally that it was JD’s fault. But since Nolan is the one who said Purke was signable, it is “difficult to know”
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Nov 13, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions
If you're going to blame Nolan for not getting Purke signed
he then gets credit for Smoak, Ross and Scheppers and everything coughed up from Ye Olde Latin American & the Pacific Rim Job as well.
Choose your poison but I don’t know what the correct answer is.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Nolan couldn't find the strike zone against Purke.
No matter which way you cut it.
"Nothing we do here has a point" - Czar Morris
by inactive lsb user on Nov 13, 2009 1:38 PM CST up reply actions
You blame JD for everything that goes wrong and credit Nolan with everything that goes right.
No one here except you has ever tried to paint it as black and white. Now, all of a sudden, on something that went wrong and is pretty clearly to be blamed more on Nolan than on JD, you say that it is gray.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Nov 13, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions
Not true at all, NorCalRF
Nolan Ryan fucked up big-time by not firing JD & Wash after the 2008 debacle.
The reason we found ourselves at 23-42 in 2007 and having to rebuild again with young players (four years after we had begun to rebuild) is because the stupid sonofabitch GM traded several of his best players & pitchers for the shit from somebody else’s front yard.
In 2008 we had the worst pitching and worst defense in MLB and fans began to turn their back on the product being presented to the tune of 600,000 less tickets sold than in 2005. The reason all of this happened was because of the stupid sonofabitch that replaced John Hart didn’t know what the hell he was doing.
I can be highly critical of Nolan Ryan and his failures to terminate both JD & Washington is a giant boil on the ass of this franchise.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
So...I (we're) still waiting for them both to get shitcanned this offseason..
when’s that going to happen to them sumbitches?
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
Nope...
Nolan really shit the bed on Purke.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I disagree
I still defend it as the right choice to make with the draft pick. Purke was the best talent left on the board. I don’t think anyone reasonable would have imagined him dropping the ball on a way above slot offer because it wasn’t the exact offer he wanted.
I mean almost everyone sets the bar absurdly high, knowing that they will have to come down on it. Its just that Purke was delusional enough to pass it up. More power to him.
I think it was a right call by Ryan/JD on that one.
What do voluntary mean?
x
What do tigers dream of when they take a little tiger snooze? Do they dream of mauling zebras, or Halle Berry in her Catwoman suit?
I listen to this every time it's linked, so perfect as his theme
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Internet greatness http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/11/10/1125340/will-carroll-calls-out-josey-wales
LOL, He finally got new material
Now when this Thing fails next season, its because Nolan was less involved. If they succeed, then this post (and likely series of posts) is never going to be mentioned by him 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
Pretty pathetic President if he's not involved.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Nov 13, 2009 2:18 PM CST up reply actions
if a bad year from Vlad at $4 mil
brings us .290/.350/.475, I’d sign him as long as he passes the physical
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Nov 13, 2009 11:59 AM CST reply actions
Especially
when considering that he was banged up in the beginning of the season and was posting a .246/.279/.333 line through May. After his stint in July when he went back on the DL he went from .290/.319/.415 to .295/.334/.460.
That is remarkable improvement as he got healthier across the year. Yes he can’t play OF and yes he might have some injury concerns but the guy still hit well and improved across the course of the season.
I’d much rather spent $4mm on Vlad and role with CD at first than go with many of the other alternatives.
What at all makes Milton Bradley better in any way than Vlad. Cost, injury risk, and production favor Vlad or are a wash.
Vladdy
So just between Vlad and Milton…
We could get Milton for 2 years and about 5 mill per year guaranteed…
Or we could get Vlad for 1 year, 5 mill plus incentives…
With everything going on with these guys, from Vlads body breaking down to Miltons brain breaking down, who do you want? With Miltons injuries you have to DH him, no? I would say, the potential ceiling for Vlad is better, and is the finances for the two guys are the same, then you go with the guy who has the opportunity to produce more… And if the Rangers flounder, I think Vlad could have much better trade value in July then Milton.
TCU AD/PR Student: I Need A Job
by PM Productions on Nov 13, 2009 12:01 PM CST reply actions
getting Milton for two years also creates a logjam with Smoak and Max in the upper minors
It won’t be hard keeping them down for half a season or until August/September but if we had Milton here we would most likely have to keep them down until next year
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.
Vlad
No. Just no.
Plus, isn’t he really like 40 and not 35?
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
Dykstra has all the money!
ElectricOkra.com
in dog years
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Nov 13, 2009 12:45 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
heh
"Nothing we do here has a point" - Czar Morris
by inactive lsb user on Nov 13, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions
His age was already corrected by a year when he let his real birth year slip in an interview
Its not like people can’t get banged up in their mid 30s, he doesn’t “look” 40 anyway.
Anyway hes a mediocre option at this point. I’d prefer him to a variety of cheap options or going in house, but hes not on the top of my list either. But I won’t panic if we sign him, he is a likely HoFer one injury year removed from solid DH numbers. Hes at least highly unlikely to completely suck, his talent is too great.
So uh, yeah.. whatever. Hopefully JD can work out something better but it wouldn’t be a disaster imo.
the preceding post was a great success.
OT: Derek Jeter to be shot
Jeter washed up and shot in upcoming movie
As much as I can’t stand Jeter, I think I can get behind a movie that shows him as a washed up has-been that gets shot for carrying around a bat.
As an interesting tidbit
Vlad had a .404/.433/.579 line in 60 PAs last season against the Rangers.
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
So...
you’re telling me if I use BigSteve math and take out Vlad’s AB’s against the Rangers then he had a really bad season?
I just don’t know about Vlad. He was once a great offensive player. I just don’t know if he can get back there again.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Nov 13, 2009 2:15 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I can't lie
I’m a little concerned about his stats as a Ranger when he doesn’t get to face our pitching. He seems to always be in the Rangers heads while not having the same effect on other teams.
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 love how people talk about how great Vlad is historically at RBiA
They use this as the reason he should be brought it, like it is some magic zone he gets in when he is in the stadium. I think it is much more likely that he has historically hit well here because the Ranger’s pitching has been historically bad.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Nov 13, 2009 2:35 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, I tend to have the same thought...remember that 2001 pitching staff post Adam had yesterday
Heck, I’d look good hitting against Aaron Myette and Rob Bell.
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Internet greatness http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/11/10/1125340/will-carroll-calls-out-josey-wales
I worry about Vlad
He would be a 5 million or so dollar reclamation project that is slated to hit heart of the order. I just worry that could be a move that would sink the season if it failed.
At least Vlad is only a type B. Of course I think that also goes to show that Vlad isn’t the Vlad he used to be.
What do voluntary mean?
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