Saturday morning Rangers stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 28, 2009 9:39 AM CST Comment 76 comments

The Star-Telegram has a story today on the situation regarding the sale of the Rangers. It includes a description of the process as a "difficult and complex situation" from Tom Hicks' spokeswoman Captain Obvious.

There's also this:

A source close to one of the three groups indicated that such remarks [about Hicks bidding on the team himself] are generating confusion and wondered out loud how MLB feels about Hicks emerging as his own "11th-hour bidder."

Jonathon Mayo has a story up about the Rangers' farm system and its impact on the major league team this year. He picks Mitch Moreland as the team's minor league player of the year, and splits pitcher of the year honors between Martin Perez and Zach Phillips.

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why cant it be febuary already? sigh

Nobody is perfect, i am nobody, therefore, i am perfect

by 34express on Nov 28, 2009 10:24 AM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

This is good stuff...

Every time I read about the farm system this year I get more and more excited. I guess I’m really hoping with some new ownership that we’ll be able to keep these prospects that make good in the big club long term.

by Tyler H on Nov 28, 2009 10:32 AM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Nice to see Zach Phillips get some lovin.

He could be a desent bullpen piece when CJ steps down.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Nov 28, 2009 10:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

decent

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Nov 28, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It wouldn't surprise me at all...

to see Phillips and Kiker in the Rangers ’pen at some point this year.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 28, 2009 11:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Think JD and Nolan are returning calls in regards to Evan's article?

Maybe they’re too busy to put an end to Grant’s speculation that things are worse than expected a couple of months ago.

OT1H, I think it would strategic advantage to have it all out in the open before the winter meetings. If the Rangers really can’t keep their payroll level from last year and can’t afford any FAs, what’s the harm in that? They just state publicly that they’re sitting out this round of the FA market, and FAs won’t be able to use them as leverage when the rumors start flying.

OTOH, if other teams know that, then they also know the Rangers limitations in the trade market. I don’t see any point in giving an ounce of leverage when discussing trades with other teams.

Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.

by rooster on Nov 28, 2009 11:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

who cares if teams use the rangers as leverage

There is at least a small degree that baseball is a zero-sum game; so getting other teams to commit more resources gives the Rangers more flexibility going forward.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Nov 28, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

If someone can use the Rangers as leverage to get a bigger deal from some AL team, it really only helps the Rangers out especially when they aren’t going to be that involved in the FA market.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.

"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Nov 28, 2009 2:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Further reason...

for me to hate Nick Swisher. The guy is a clueless assbag when it comes to college football too. He just picked the Cougs to beat my Utes. Fuck Swisher.

5 hours ‘til game time. It’s almost time for the Holy War. One of the top 10 rivalries in college football. GO UTES!

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 28, 2009 11:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Top of my Head

ND-USC
USC-UCLA
UT-OU
GA-FL
MIA-FL. ST
ND-MICH
TAMU-UT
Army-Navy
Auburn-Alabama

I’m sure I’m missing some good ones. Decided to stop at 9

by CS3 on Nov 28, 2009 12:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice list

And it kinda reinforces to me why Utah/BYU isn’t a big deal. Except for the 2 UT games you have listed I don’t have a rooting interest in the games but I still watch them for the rivalry/tradition aspect. There is no way I watch the Utah game today……it holds ZERO interest for me.

LoneStarBall....You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

by DaheelzCM on Nov 28, 2009 1:06 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Back in the day

OU-Neb. was a huge rivalry in the Big 8.

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

by boomer1 on Nov 28, 2009 1:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

TCU vs SMU

by Schultzy on Nov 28, 2009 1:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think that is more local than national IMO

by boomer1 on Nov 28, 2009 1:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Florida-Florida St.

When both have been good it was a must see game.

by boomer1 on Nov 28, 2009 1:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That is kind of like the OU-Ok. St. game

More local not to mention only OSU looks at it like a rivalry game.

by boomer1 on Nov 28, 2009 1:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

USC has two rivalries?

Seems like a team should only have one rival

by oc on Nov 28, 2009 2:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Generally, I would agree

but I think there are times when two are ok. I didn’t go to Texas or A&M, but I would imagine that UT hates A&M about as much as it does OU. I went to ND and have a hard time figuring out who I would want to beat more between USC and Michigan. I know Michigan hates Notre Dame, but they still have their OSU rivalry, so there are times when two rivalries happen

by CS3 on Nov 28, 2009 2:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Cowboys have two rivals

Maybe three, although I don’t know that the Giants are on the same level as the Redskins and Eagles.

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 28, 2009 2:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They're not.

But still rivals.

by brettgardner on Nov 28, 2009 3:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Rangers have two, right?

Competence and the Houston Astros.

Italy's Number 107th Hardcastle and McCormick fan website!

by ghostofErikThompson on Nov 28, 2009 3:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This team is so bad we don't even have a real rival

The M’s and Angels, yeah… but those aren’t anything close to Cowboys-Redskins. Or hell even Spurs-Mavericks

by oc on Nov 28, 2009 6:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In terms of true rivalry hatred, I should say

by oc on Nov 28, 2009 6:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

NFL

NFL teams don’t have rivalries, at least not at the same level as college teams.

by Darrell McKown on Nov 29, 2009 7:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong.

by brettgardner on Nov 29, 2009 10:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

uh....

When fans of the Eagles started cheering as Michael Irvin lay on the field at veterans stadium, his HOF career ended and his life threatened by a devastating neck injury, it solidified my undying hatred for all things related to the Eagles. Not even Redskins fans are that callous.

by iblum on Nov 30, 2009 10:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't agree that USC-UCLA or ND-MICH

is a big time top 10 rivalry anymore.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Nov 28, 2009 6:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Civil War

Oregon – Oregon State is a much bigger rivalry game than either of those IMO. Winner goes to the Rose Bowl this year — first time that’s ever happened in the 100 years they’ve been playing.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Nov 28, 2009 6:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How so?

I agree that Oregon – Oregon State is a great rivalry and am not trying to put those two ahead of that, but are you downplaying the rivalry because the teams aren’t as good?

by CS3 on Nov 28, 2009 7:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's because lately

meaning the last 10 years or so, those have been very one-sided rivalries. Just because they involve once-huge programs doesn’t make it a top 10 rivalry.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Nov 29, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure about that

Notre Dame and Michigan have split the last eight games they have played against each other and while USC has won 10 of the last 11 with UCLA, the one they lost took away their national championship hopes and UCLA had won the previous eight games before USC’s recent run.

by CS3 on Nov 29, 2009 10:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Two mediocre teams

don’t make a top 10 rivalry in CFB. One great team and one mediocre team doesn’t make one either.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Nov 30, 2009 8:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're confusing

the difference between a great game and a great rivalry. Army-Navy probably isn’t going to decide who goes to a BCS game anytime soon, but I would consider that an amazing rivalry.

by CS3 on Nov 30, 2009 12:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hard to do this...

but here’s a shot at it:

1) OSU v. Michigan
2) OU v. Texas
3) Army v. Navy
4) Auburn v. Alabama
5) Florida v. Georgia

Then there are a bunch that I think are very close and could go in any order. Civil War, Border War, Holy War, USC v. UCLA, Cal v. Stanford, ND v. USC, Miami v. Florida St.

Fuckity fuck fuck fuck. I hate losing to BYU. It has to be the worst thing that can happen to me in the sports world. Now I get to hear how they were “living right” and how much God loves them for another year. It pisses me off.

I understand why some (Chris in this thread for example) don’t think it’s a big rivalry. After all it’s not like many could even watch the game because of our conferences shitty Mtn. network and how it’s not available in many places. You have to live here and experience it first hand to really appreciate it. You have to understand, these schools are 35 miles apart. Religion is heavily involved. It divides families. You will drive down a street and one house will have a Y flag up and their neighbor will have a U flag up. I’m not from Utah. I didn’t think much of it when I first came to school out here either. However the passion and desire behind this game is just unreal. It also helps that the teams go back and forth and not one team has dominated the series (10-10 in the last 20) and many games have been decided on the last play in the last ten years, including today.

Make not mistake about it, many may not care about it, but BYU v. Utah is a big time rivalry. Like it or not.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 28, 2009 9:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

no one cares.

by ElMerkoMuffley on Nov 28, 2009 9:27 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

You did enough to post that...

and bdavidson did, that’s why he asked me.

And who are you again?

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 28, 2009 9:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

good one.

Nobody outside of the state of Utah has ever said “Hey man, come over, we’ll bbq and watch that Utah-BYU game, should be a great one!” Those words have never been uttered before. Ever. Utah-BYU is exciting to nobody. “Man, I can’t wait to see this BYU-Utah game, the winner goes to the Poinsettia Bowl!” They have absolutely zero relevancy on a national scale. You say religion is involved? Whoopity doo! I’d rather watch Baylor-Notre Dame. Atleast, they involve religions outside the “great state of Utah”

Watching BYU-Utah is the equivalent of watching the Royals play the Orioles. “Hey let’s go the bar tonight and watch the big game. Steve Trachsel’s pitching againt Jeff Suppan, goddammit we gotta see that!” Steve Trachsel = Utah, Jeff Suppan = BYU.

Your rivalry stinks.

by ElMerkoMuffley on Nov 29, 2009 9:40 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Wow...

you clearly know what you’re talking about. How can I argue with that.

So you don’t care about that game, and I don’t care what you think.

Anything else that I’m missing here?

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 29, 2009 10:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rose Hulman vs. MdKendree ?

They even have a mini-Aggie bonfire, or used to …..

There are dozens of local hot wars. Lehigh-Lafayette, Coe-Cornell, Simpson-Central, Grambling-Southern, Harvard-Yale etc. Some draw interest outside their localities, some don’t. But each goes back years and years, and is a confrontation regarless of talent level (or lack of it).

"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 Nov 29, 2009 3:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough...

and BYU v. Utah is still working on drawing interest outside of the state. I understand that. However there is no lack of talent here anymore and 2 of the last five games have had BCS bowl games on the line in this rivalry. Utah has been a top 5 or 10 program in the country the last 5 years, and you can’t deny that. Again, I understand they still have a ways to go to establish that long term history that some other schools have though.

None of those games you listed are close to the Holy War. The one exception could be Yale v. Harvard I suppose, but neither are very good in football. I don’t even know if they are 1A schools.

Just because everything isn’t OU v. Texas doesn’t mean it’s not a big rivalry. In fact it sounds pretty snobbish to assume that no one cares about football on the West coast or outside of Texas which is how I feel many Big 12 or SEC fans think.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 29, 2009 5:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Swisher was right

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

LoneStarBall....You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

by DaheelzCM on Nov 28, 2009 6:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fuck off...

it’s nights like this that I wish I drank so I could just go drown my sorrows away.

That shitty ending to a good game hurt. Bad.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 28, 2009 9:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm the Yankees may get Halladay...

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/comments/halladay-would-waive-notrade-clause-for-deal-to-new-york-yankees-300699.html

So that's how Michael Phelps can eat 10,000 calories a day!

by BigGuns on Nov 28, 2009 11:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The fuck?

“Boston is interested, like the Dodgers, Seattle and Texas,‘’ Scutaro said. "They have just called to say they have interest, but they haven’t made an offer yet.

by UNTJosh on Nov 28, 2009 12:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Whoa....I missed this nugget

Baker mentions that the Mariners and Texas have contacted Scutaro about playing third, which makes you wonder what would happen with Michael Young.

by UNTJosh on Nov 28, 2009 12:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I bet the Rangers have contacted about utiliy infield

What do voluntary mean?

by JKolar on Nov 28, 2009 12:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not at that price.

"Nothing we do here has a point" - Czar Morris

by Chase Irwin on Nov 28, 2009 12:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, Scutaro should have a pretty nice payday

by tyd3311 on Nov 28, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He probably gets a 1 or 2 year deal

for 4 million each would be my bet. Unless someone goes stupid.

34 year old players with a career OPS below 100 don’t usually make the long term big bucks.

What do voluntary mean?

by JKolar on Nov 28, 2009 12:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I do doubt we have contacted someone to play Young’s position who is a year older, has a weaker offensive track record, and is usually a utility player to take over for the highest paid player on our team.

I guess the one monkey wrench there is if we already have a trade in the works for Young somehow.

What do voluntary mean?

by JKolar on Nov 28, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why would he take a Util job

He’ll easily be able to start for someone next year. This is concerning.

by UNTJosh on Nov 28, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He wouldn't

That’s the exact point. IT sounds like someone using Texas as a Stalking Horse yet again, but this time it makes zero sense.

What do voluntary mean?

by JKolar on Nov 28, 2009 12:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Aren't team names usually leaked to a writer?

This time the player came out and straight up said Texas contacted him.

The writer might be wrong in saying they talked about 3B only, but Scutaro himself said the Rangers calle which is different.

by UNTJosh on Nov 28, 2009 12:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I still suspect its just BS

We would offer him a util job, but as you pointed out hes going to want, and get, more than that.

I’d still bet its a non starter as a rumor.

What do voluntary mean?

by JKolar on Nov 28, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thats

gotta be wrong. The organization wouldn’t dare upset The Face again.

by Schultzy on Nov 28, 2009 12:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Are the Rangers

the team to just throw into the mix to get a few extra bucks from someone else? It’s like teams still remember the A-Rod/Chan Ho deals and panic if they hear Texas mentioned….

"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)

by Arlington Stadium Legend on Nov 28, 2009 12:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

yeh but everyone knows the Rangers are flat ass broke...

so I doubt it has quite the same effect.

So that's how Michael Phelps can eat 10,000 calories a day!

by BigGuns on Nov 28, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is coming directly from the player himself...

so I don’t think this is one of those situations where the Rangers are just thrown out there for leverage. The Rangers have the least amount of leverage they’ve had in years. Honestly, it’s early in the off season, I’m sure the Rangers are exploring a ton of avenues they could go down.

I mean, think about Michael Young as the right handed DH they’ve been looking to acquire and Scutaro fitting into the infield defense rebuild with some OBP skills. That could be the thought process.

Italy's Number 107th Hardcastle and McCormick fan website!

by ghostofErikThompson on Nov 28, 2009 12:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Id wanna put young in the situation for someone better and younger than scutaro

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Nov 28, 2009 1:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

give me a great defensive above average offensive player replacing Young.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Nov 28, 2009 1:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That is...

Scutaro.

I’m not saying I think it will happen or that I even want it to happen, but I could see that being why the Rangers might contact a player like Scutaro who doesn’t appear to have a position at first glance.

Italy's Number 107th Hardcastle and McCormick fan website!

by ghostofErikThompson on Nov 28, 2009 1:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Are we still talking about Marco Scutaro here?

by LiamP on Nov 28, 2009 1:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Doh.

That was meant for GoET.

by LiamP on Nov 28, 2009 1:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes...

Italy's Number 107th Hardcastle and McCormick fan website!

by ghostofErikThompson on Nov 28, 2009 1:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Scutaro is neither great defensively nor above average offensively.

by LiamP on Nov 28, 2009 1:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He actually has been...

both of those things. At least the last two years.

Italy's Number 107th Hardcastle and McCormick fan website!

by ghostofErikThompson on Nov 28, 2009 1:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

x

Scutaro hasn’t played enough at 3B for any of us to say whether or not he’ll be good defensively. Single-season statistics aren’t good indicators of whether or not a guy is truly good on defense, and that’s especially true for utility guys. If you look at his numbers between 2005-2009 at SS, he’s basically been average.

Using any offensive metric, he’s been poor basically every year apart from his 2009 peak (at the age of 33). It would be a pretty big leap of faith to sign him and expect him to approach those numbers again.

by LiamP on Nov 28, 2009 2:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs