Daniels has capped off the winter meetings by putting on an absolute workshop on how to make your baseball team better without any visible assistance from team ownership. It's downright remarkable that he's been able to do anything of substance considering that he's wearing Tom Hicks' financial handcuffs. It's important to keep that in mind as you analyze JD's Jedi-like maneuvering over the past 48 hours or so.
about 2 years ago
Adam J. Morris
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perhaps we can call him “Jo-Da”
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
by txranger7 on Dec 10, 2009 6:04 PM CST up reply actions 11 recs
Love it. So much.
Genius.
I will do my part to get this to stick.
"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball
by rangerdanger on Dec 10, 2009 7:51 PM CST up reply actions
That's a very fair comment
As someone who was extremely frustrated with Daniels a couple years ago, the job he has done since July 2007 is remarkable. You could basically extent that comment to cover the last two years, rather than just the last few days.
That said, I think in a couple years we may be happy the team didn’t go spend a lot of money this offseason. A couple of one year deals to guys like Mike Cameron or Nick Johnson would have been fine, but I still believe that 2011-2013 are going to be much better seasons that 2010, and the last thing I think we want to see is a bunch of multi-year deals this offseason that come back to haunt us when the core of this team begins to get expensive in a few years.
by Darrell McKown on Dec 10, 2009 5:41 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
I agree...
Most multi-year deals we would have regretted although I sure would have liked to see what someone like Holliday could do in this lineup.
I’m actually not all that pissed about the financial situation as of yet because I’m assuming that by the time the ownership turnover process is over, there will be some money to play with come ST or trading deadline.
by slimshadty12 on Dec 10, 2009 5:46 PM CST up reply actions
multi-year deals we missed on were very hit-or-miss
Barry Zito, no thank you
Torii Hunter, yes please
Gary Mathews Jr., enjoy the pine
Mark Teixeira, well – we never had a chance with that extension, and it would’ve been money not-that-well-spent if you consider what his trade return was (but still good production for the money)
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 10, 2009 5:53 PM CST up reply actions
Hunter
I would pass on that contract as well.
by Darrell McKown on Dec 10, 2009 6:39 PM CST up reply actions
who has been the better player over the last 2 years?
I’d rather have Josh, but it would’ve been a great signing and we’d still have Volquez (injured or not)
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 11, 2009 2:42 AM CST up reply actions
Hmm
Ramirez, coming off of a down year due to injuries, is quite honestly on the verge of being lost in the sauce in an organization rich in catching prospects.
This organization is rich in catching prospects?
Go Rice Owls!
A little weird seeing Ben write about baseball.
Might take a while to get up to speed with the details.
they had to talk about baseball
when they were on the Fan… they actually weren’t bad compared to the Hardline. I used to think Rhynes knew something about baseball.
Don't get me wrong...
I like the Hardline… but D&M and Hardline don’t know anything about baseball and the Hardline used to sell themselves as the experts
I listen purely for entertainment value
with some sports talk mixed in.
I can’t stand the “serious” sports talk stations, bore me to death.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
+Agreed
Or somesuch
"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.
Telis and LDLS in the lower levels are pretty nice
A ways away but pretty nice
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.
They don't put Ramirez at risk of being lost in the sauce as a catching prospect.
That’s wholly due to his problems actually playing catcher.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Unfortunately,
This is what was said about MaxRam, Teagarden et al. Catching is the most unpredictable position out there. Just keep stockpiling every catcher you can and, hopefully, one will stick.
"If this video was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick." Clark
re: Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride, 4/17/09
yeah, what LiamP said
nothing we didn’t know already
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Dec 10, 2009 6:12 PM CST up reply actions
Basically read his column from today.
by LiamP on Dec 10, 2009 5:54 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Yep
Very nice to hear the praise live however.
"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.
Agreed
He was definitely jazzed by the happenings. You can absolutely tell a difference in EG since he came back to the DMN. New position, new responsibilities and definitely a new focus. Love the EG that doesn’t have the beat writer’s parameters on him.
"If this video was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick." Clark
re: Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride, 4/17/09
Lowell
Daniels said both teams are exploring other options. So while the parameters of a trade are in place, the trigger hasn’t been pulled.
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
sweet sauce
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 10, 2009 5:53 PM CST up reply actions
Sounds like the deal is expanding
I feel good about this deal if that is the case.
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
Good.
It’s one thing to lock up a guy like Harden early. It’s another thing to rush into a trade for Mike Lowell when the market is still flush with Mike Lowell types scrounging for jobs.
by LiamP on Dec 10, 2009 5:57 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
yep,
seems like all the pressure is on Boston to get the deal done, because they want to move Lowell before Beltre signs elsewhere. The Rangers could sit on this deal for months.
by Randy Richardson on Dec 10, 2009 6:02 PM CST up reply actions
Yep
If Ryan Garko is supposedly gonna be non-tendered, why don’t we just wait and snap him up to fill the RH bench bat job? Or Adam’s boy Jonny Gomes, who still might not be coming back to Cincy?
The more I think about it the less excited Lowell makes me, because you can fill the same role without giving up Max. Plus I’d simply prefer a better overall hitter to a bench bat anyway.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
garko would be fine by me
Feliz says his greatest thrill was striking out Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz, one of his heroes. Yet, when he called to tell his parents, his mother had a request: Strike out New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, too.
"So when I did that," Feliz says, "I told my mom, 'There you go. There's your present. Don't ask me to strike anyone else out, OK?'
Yep
If Ryan Garko is supposedly gonna be non-tendered, why don’t we just wait and snap him up to fill the RH bench bat job? Or Adam’s boy Jonny Gomes, who still might now be coming back to Cincy?
The more I think about it the less excited Lowell makes me, because you can fill the same role without giving up Max. Plus I’d simply prefer a better overall hitter to a bench bat anyway.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
What does this mean?
Plus I’d simply prefer a better overall hitter to a bench bat anyway.
We aren’t getting a all-star caliber player for the money issues we have. Lowell, if used correctly, is a pretty good bat who also fills alot of the needs we have for backup players.
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.
Jack Cust could be non-tendered.
I’d rather acquire him rather than or even in conjunction with either of the two guys mentioned above than I would acquire Lowell.
I just feel like trading Max for Lowell is unnecessary for one thing, and for another I think Lowell is more of a marginal improvement than most people are thinking. As a guy who’d be getting most of his PA’s at 1B/DH, he’s only really valuable offensively against lefties. So all we’re really trading Max for is a backup 1B/DH/3B who’s only above average against roughly 30% or so of the leagues pitchers, and doesn’t actually offer that much of an improvement in the avoiding outs department. And we’re doing this when we could probably just wait for Ryan Garko to become available.
Meh.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
And then there's his hip
From what I read, it’s the equivalent of my 72 year old grandmothers. We’ll be worrying about that after every game the way Eddie and the gang shower…
Give me team chemistry and emotion over stats any day. Do you think 34,000 Ranger fans were screaming their asses off over Pudge and his .275 OBP?
even better.
Hopefully it also means the rangers are aggressively talking to their other targets since they don’t want to lose lowell as a backup.
the preceding post was a great success.
And next year when JD has money
I expect him to sign Joe Mauer and Carl Crawford. :)
|Space for Rent|
Are the other two guys
Blalock and Clint Eastwood?
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
And I'm pretty sure
Even the Hank elf has a fat dip in.
"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball
by rangerdanger on Dec 10, 2009 8:08 PM CST up reply actions
ROFL!
Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson
by SarasotaRanger on Dec 10, 2009 7:56 PM CST up reply actions
Where ya' at now Josey?!?
"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball
Please don't.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
Boston Globe reportrs
Rangers and Sox have agreed to deal in principle, have settle on the cash transaction, and the only obstacle now is the injuries, medical records are being evaluated…
TCU Frogs- #3
"THAT WAS MY SPECIAL MONDAY MORNING TAPE, SPECIAL, FOR YOU!
It's fucking Monday afternoon, you should get out of bed earlier."
by FormerLSBUser on Dec 10, 2009 8:17 PM CST reply actions
x
8:11pm: The Boston Globe reports that the Rangers and Red Sox have agreed in principle to a deal. The two teams have resolved a money issue and the Red Sox will pay some of Lowell’s salary, as expected. Now, the players must get medical clearance.
7:14pm: The deal is becoming “more of a lock,” a source tells McDonald and Barbarisi. The trade seems increasingly likely to go through, but it could take three or four days.
Eh. Whatever.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
I still have high hopes
… of Lowell not passing his physical
Must kill Moe. Weeeeeeeee
by Baseball North on Dec 10, 2009 8:24 PM CST up reply actions
...........
8:30pm: MLB.com’s Ian Browne reports that the deal should go through, though it might take two or three days. WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford says the Red Sox want to make sure Ramirez’s wrists check out before making the deal official.
Dang Max hitting .234 so far? yikes
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
I was for this deal
now I’m against it.
Everybody is a better person for knowing that.
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
What in particular changed your mind?
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
The deterioration of Lowell's defense
If he can’t play 3rd anymore and is going to be a RH DH than there are better DH alternatives out there on the FA market.
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
This, and he'd be a backup 3rd baseman.
Limited value there, though, so mostly I think the evaluation’s got to come from his performance as a RH DH. My question is, what better DH alternatives are there on the FA market that will cost Texas $3 million or less in 2010?
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Ken Williams knew John Danks better (and BMac)
Jus’ sayin’
no lol
I dont like that argument either, but it fits. GMs don’t always know what they have.
Yes, but that's not the point.
I’m not talking about what Lowell costs overall. I’m talking about what it costs for the Rangers to get Lowell-or-better offensive production for 2010.
Because if the Rangers don’t expect to contend in 2010, and that’s not why they’re thinking about trading Ramirez for Lowell, I’m not sure what all this maneuvering is supposed to accomplish.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
I will posit the theory that
Arias is indeed the utility MIF if the Lowell trade comes to pass.
"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.
Bill James projects him at
.284 with 19hr and 84rbi.
Not bad.
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
It'll do.
It’ll have to. The AJM-style aggravation I was fighting off last night’s starting to creep in, but that’s life as a Rangers fan until the new ownership can start spending, I suppose.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Yeah, I'm sure John Henry & Theo
regret hiring Bill James. Only two titles in his first five years with the team…what a terrible hire!!!
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"Business as usual." - Tom Hicks on the Ranger off-season 11/19/09
uhhh
your reading comprehension skills need work
Reading comprehension has never been a big concern of Josey's
"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
You do know you could pretty easily track the reliability of the Bill James projections, right?
Regardless of the fact that what you just said is ridiculously unrelated to Adam’s post.
I would imagine the Boston FO was telling Theo
to make JD cough up Max so we could have the privilege of doing them a solid.
This entire Lowell saga is a really bad deal for the Rangers if Max has a productive major league career (regardless of what Lowell does this year).
Think about it…a team strapped for cash is giving up one of their top 10 prospects so they can pay a 36 year old with a bad hip to DH (while hitting 6th or 7th) for them.
The only way this deal is good is if Lowell is healthy/ productive and if Max doesn’t have a good career.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"Business as usual." - Tom Hicks on the Ranger off-season 11/19/09
I think JW's meds have changed
he has been extraordinarily out of sync and ADD with his schtick in the last few days… usually I can at least semi-connect the dots
Max' future contributions are irrelevant
I guess I’ve missed all those contributions Max
made to the big league club after he was acquired.
His biggest accomplishment to date is helping give the minor league system depth but he’s 25 years old now and hasn’t done a thing in The Show.
When he contributes meaningfully in The Show, we can give JD credit for a good trade but to this point it was a waste of $ 6 million by a team on a small market payroll.
"Dying ain’t hard. It’s living that’s hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"Business as usual." – Tom Hicks on the Ranger off-season 11/19/09
by Josey Wales on Dec 8, 2009 11:43 AM PST
"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
Why are his future contributions
in The Show irrelevant?
If you’ll recall I was holding back any praise for the Lofton Trade until we knew what Max was in The Show.
Justin Smoak and Martin Perez haven’t done anything in The Show either but that doesn’t mean they aren’t assets to the organization.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"Business as usual." - Tom Hicks on the Ranger off-season 11/19/09
If you hold back praise for lack of contribution, then you must hold back criticism for the same reason
And you should thus grade all trades “INCOMPLETE” until each and every player has had a sufficient number of plate appearances or innings in The Show to see what he is.
"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 was highly critical of the Lofton signing
because I know 40 year old CFs don’t help teams like the 2007 Texas Rangers improve and a team with a small market payroll giving him $ 6 million to do so was painfully foolish (and I was rrrrrrrrright).
The Lewinskys then predictably charged the mound insisting that JD had made a killer haul for Lofton and that the plan all along was to flip him at the deadline.
A) Boy Blunder thought this team was going to win (see article in Dallas Observer titled “Boy Blunder”) before 2007 and that a 40 year old CF would help the Rangers do so.
B) Per the killer haul that JD supposedly made by getting Max. That was TBD when or if Max was a good player in The Show (which is why I held back praise on the Lofton Trade).
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"Business as usual." - Tom Hicks on the Ranger off-season 11/19/09
by Josey Wales on Dec 11, 2009 10:15 AM CST up reply actions
Move forward to 2010
Max is no longer a top 10 prospect in the Rangers organization. He’s been passed by a lot of other guys. (and he’s regressed considerably).
Losing him is no longer an OMFG issue.
Elvis Andrus had the second-worst zone rating among qualifying AL SS last year
by Joey Matschulat on Dec 10, 2009 8:50 PM CST up reply actions
Yes, well, we all know Andrus was overmatched last year.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
No, it's not useless.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
We were talking about UZR,
but it got called “zone rating.” So then we were talking about ZR, but now we’re talking about UZR again.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
(Hope that clears things up.)
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Yeah, I'd like to apologize to all my fans out there for the confusion.
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
This whole discussion got jargoned by Joey.
Great job. =)
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Mangum; Neutral Milk Hotel
Elvis was second to only Jack Wilson
not second to last. I’m going to assume that’s a typo, Joey.
Anyways, judging a fielder by one years worth of UZR isn’t smart.
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Mangum; Neutral Milk Hotel
Is Joey using ESPN ZR?
There’s a zone rating on ESPN, which supposedly comes from STATS, but it looks beyond borked right now…. Anyways, in that listing Andrus comes up second, but the numbers don’t even look like they’re real numbers:
ZR – Zone rating. The percentage of balls fielded by a player in his typical defensive “zone,” as measured by STATS, Inc.
Andrus – ZR = 5.109!…… I’m not sure how they get that number….
Also, Jeter is the highest at 6.480….
Anyways, whatever it is, it no longer is a percentage, so I’m inherently suspicious of what the ZR actually is…..
So, I think Joey and sprite were talking about 2 different stats…..
That said, I don’t trust ESPN’s morphing of the ZR stat that they had….
R
On top of that
the ZR readings that WERE there in previous seasons are no longer there…..
So, something definitely seems borked about ESPN’s ZR….
R
I don't know which one he is citing, but knowing Joey
from his blog, he only cites UZR and +/-.
This ESPN ZR thing has me intrigued.
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Mangum; Neutral Milk Hotel
My guess is Joey saw "zone rating" and went with ZR
so as to illustrate why it’s not a happy stat. I think, though, that sprite meant UZR all along, so this was most likely a miscommunication.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
I was looking at UZR/150
maybe that’s why
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
Bleh....
Should read:
“Andrus comes up second to last”
And to be clear, I think Joey was bagging on ESPN ZR which I think he assumed sprite was using since sprite said “zone rating” instead of UZR…..
R
Honestly.
ZR’s definition is so vague and it looks like there is no data used other than fielded balls.
So, since Elvis quite often left his “zone” to field a ball, wouldn’t that hurt him?
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Mangum; Neutral Milk Hotel
Correct, I should have given sprite more credit than that
ZR and UZR are two entirely different things, however, and I know that ZR still gets quoted here and there, so …
by Joey Matschulat on Dec 10, 2009 9:44 PM CST up reply actions
I still love you
I didn’t know there was a separate ZR, if I did I would have been more specific.
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
It's a Bill James creation from, like, the very first Abstract ever.
At the time it was a revolutionary look at defense. Not necessarily because it was entirely accurate, but because it was someone actually challenging just looking at errors as a way to evaluate fielders.
So, like, it’s useless now with much better advancements, but it has an important place in the history of baseball analysis.
BtB has an overview of the
Rangers’ moves at the winter meetings.
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/12/10/1194985/btb-analysis-rangers-deal-kevin#storyjump
|Space for Rent|
But you could read some other folks' commentary on the deal before writing, right, Tommy?
SInce I don’t follow the team closely, I’m not sure one deal officially led to another, but for a team that has money issues the timing seemed coincidental.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Claudius, is that you?
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
There's a stupid enter key?
mine just has a regular enter key
Phew. I'm glad someone appreciated that...
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
I'm assuming
with the Lowell deal essentially done the Rangers are finished with the offense and are going to focus on the pen?
Likely still kicking around the catching situation, too...
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
No way.
Just in case you couldn’t tell by the Harden signing, JD clearly believes that dreaminess is the new OBP, and John Buck is not dreamy.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
"Especially stinkbeetles!!!" -God.
by thedirkatron on Dec 10, 2009 9:07 PM CST up reply actions
I can't explain my crush on Misty May.
But it’s severe. She’s not clasically beautiful or anything, but somehow she just gets my blood going.
You must have a thing for generous bootays
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 10, 2009 10:49 PM CST up reply actions
I scored a pair of Dwight Schrute
glasses last week. They’re most excellent
I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan
My parents both carry Dwigth K. Schrute business cards in their wallets.
With the “to the” crossed out.
I might have to make some
though I think my classmates are getting tired of me asking whether or not different toxins can be used to hunt bears.
I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan
"Jim, tell Andy that I am shunning him."
“Andy, Dwight says he does not know one single fact about bear attacks.”
“Jim! Tell him that’s not true! Jim, tell him bears can climb faster than they can run. JIM TELL HIM!”
“Andy. . . he’s too far.”
“Damn you.”
by philkid3 on Dec 10, 2009 11:25 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I know what you mean, philkid
"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
Yeah
but that’s more important for defense as they aren’t likely to get a good hitting catcher with all of them looking for two year deals.
Thanks a lot Washington
True. But with all the arms the Rangers have,
I’m thinking the catching situation is the focus prior to the ’pen.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
I'd hope not, personally
But yeah, probably.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
JD's embiggened our team with his cromulent performance.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
"Especially stinkbeetles!!!" -God.
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
My own biological grandfather.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
"Especially stinkbeetles!!!" -God.
by thedirkatron on Dec 10, 2009 9:08 PM CST up reply actions
5 points to anyone
who knows what Turanga Leela’s name came from. Don’t look it up.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
5 points please.
That is Katy Segal’s cyclops character in Futurama. Hottie little animated body. I’ll take my 5 points in Zhu Zhu pets for the yung ’un.
"If this video was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick." Clark
re: Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride, 4/17/09
I think the Futurama part was a given
I believe the points were going towards who could come up with it being a take off of a symphony by Messiaen.
Give me team chemistry and emotion over stats any day. Do you think 34,000 Ranger fans were screaming their asses off over Pudge and his .275 OBP?
Bingo.
spelled Turangalila. Pretty out there music, not exactly easy listening.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
So
Best Katey Segal character: Peg Bundy, Leela, or Gemma Teller?
"Just remember what ol' Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, and the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big ol' storm right square in the eye and he says, "Give me your best shot, pal. I can take it."
You've been missed Dirk
Who else would I have jeered when Todd Dodge was fired? Oh wait…
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
Have you peeped the new stadium?
If Villarealleal can pull that off maybe the Green could actually be Mean some day soon.
Fouts licks my grundle.
Not making excuses for Dodge specifically, but there’s no way you can build any sort of a winning program with that sort of a facility.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
"Especially stinkbeetles!!!" -God.
by thedirkatron on Dec 10, 2009 9:39 PM CST up reply actions
No I haven't
I think they broke ground on it last month or so, should be ready by 2011. Seats around 30k, it should help with recruiting.
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
Question...
Perhaps this was addressed in one of the threads analyzing the Millwood and Harden deals, but I didn’t follow all of them until the end.
Why didn’t Baltimore just cut the Rangers out of the equation and sign Harden themselves? Was it just that they didn’t want to take on Harden’s injury risk?
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Dec 10, 2009 9:10 PM CST reply actions
In Baltimore, it's being said that the Orioles wanted a steady, inning-eating, veteran presence.
Lots of talk about taking the pressure off of Guthrie & Co. and whatnot.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Also, lots of struggling restaurants in Baltimore.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
by Snark on Dec 10, 2009 9:16 PM CST up reply actions 9 recs
Are you implying that Harden turned the O's down because they were not contenders?
And he went with the Rangers because he thought they were?
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Dec 10, 2009 11:01 PM CST up reply actions
Not the sole reason
He also has ties to the Rangers starting with Washington dating back from their Oakland days.
Played JuCo with Kinsler
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
by Kinslerhomer on Dec 10, 2009 11:27 PM CST up reply actions
ESPNDallas said he called him
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
by Kinslerhomer on Dec 10, 2009 11:29 PM CST up reply actions
More simply
Baltimore and Texas had different needs for their rotation. Baltimore has some young stud pitchers, but not a lot of depth, so they are looking for more of a LAIE who can anchor their rotation.
Texas has young stud pitchers, but they have a lot of depth. They also feel that in Hunter and Feldman they have a couple of innings eaters. What they lack is a “Stopper” or “Ace”. That one guy you turn to when you NEED a win. when you just need a 6 inning, 3 hit, 1 ER, 4 BB, 12 K performance. After this year (or next year) that could easily be Feliz or Holland (or both…) But for just this year, we aren’t sure what we are going to get with Feliz and Holland, so Harden is a great fit. If he gets hurt, we have plenty of depth to cover it.
I think that's an excellent, succinct analysis of Texas' pitching situation and why Harden makes so much sense
"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
Considering how JD was able to get water from a rock this week
I’m expecting a trade tomorrow sending B-Mac to the Twins for Mauer and a player to be named later.
You know who has been missing in all of this excitement.
OC, where is that guy?
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Mangum; Neutral Milk Hotel
Probably smoking out with Timmy Lincecum.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
by LSJ on Dec 10, 2009 9:42 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
mlb.com's Ian Brown
Lowell will play a tremendous role in Tex clubhouse. He’s proven winner. A lot of guys will see from him what it takes. And he’s bilingualvia mlbtr
"And he's bilingual..."
I did not know that. Spanish, I’m assuming?
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
('Cause, you know, Swahili's not going to be much use in the Rangers clubhouse.)
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
yup
Born in Puerto Rico….
If you want some slack, bring your own rope.
by rangerfaninva on Dec 10, 2009 9:52 PM CST up reply actions
With Cuban parents. Huh. I had no idea.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
That's one great thing about this move
gives the Rangers another outstanding veteran influence so MY doesn’t have to shoulder it all.
so, we have a new
FOTF?
"If this video was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick." Clark
re: Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride, 4/17/09
BILINGUAL?
Oh well that fucking tips the scales then.
heh.
"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball
by rangerdanger on Dec 11, 2009 1:40 AM CST up reply actions
WOOOOOOOOOO Intangibles!!!!
Well, I’m just totally fucking stoked now. This makes up for everything.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
Sorry, I must've missed it.
What everything needs to be made up for?
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
You know, the fact that we're giving up Max Ramirez
For production we could probably just go get someone like Ryan Garko or Jonny Gomes to give us.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
Jonny Gomes? Really?
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Hey, that's AJM's idea
The dude does kill lefties, and all Lowell really is to us is a glorified bench player…
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
Lowell?
.290/.337/.474 is kinda meh for a DH/1B. Which is where we’ll be using him, mostly.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
Still
He’s a veteran bat for the middle of the order, which is what this team needs with Byrd as good as gone. Not to mention he buys time for Smoak at AAA.
Pedro Feliz could be a veteran bat for the middle of the lineup too
but I wouldn’t put him in the 4 or 5 spot either. This CAN’T be the only offensive addition.
Zero money
This is our reality at the moment, hopefully ownership will change in time to land a better bat.
Pedro Feliz signed for Houston
Also, we don’t need a “veteran bat”…we just need a good bat. Pedro Feliz is terrible offensively.
It's better than what Garko can give you
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
29 doubles and 17 bombs in 119 games
Not outstanding in the home run department by any means, but he should still provide some protection for Josh in the middle of the order.
Lowell's power is actually gonna be sapped a little by playing in Arlington
Sounds funny, saying he’ll lose that coming to our park, but the RBiA really doesn’t favor righties that much and the Green Monster helped him a lot in that dept in Boston.
He’s not a middle of the order bat anymore, not that he really ever was outside of a couple individual seasons in his career.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
True about the monster
but RBIA has better power alleys and the jet stream helps righties capable of driving the ball to the Rangers pen.
No, it doesn't sound funny.
Because Fenway Park is like a create-a-park from a video game made by some bored kids who want to laugh at crazy hits doing crazy things.
And yet no one in the media seems to spend significant time and space diminishing the Sawx offensive contritutions. . .
They used to that
before the Sox won the World Series. The argument was that they would build their offense to score a lot of runs at Fenway, but couldn’t win on the road. Sound familiar? A world series will fix a lot of what ails a franchise (or at least the perception of what ails it).
I didn't know what a mancrush was. Derek Holland showed me.
by DerekSTheRed on Dec 11, 2009 8:45 AM CST up reply actions
So
you’re saying there’s no way that Mike Lowell outperforms Johnny Gomes next year? Or you’d be willing to waste 200 odd ABs next year to find out?
I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan
No
I’m saying Gomes or Garko could provide similar production vs. lefties, and we could still acquire someone like Cust who gets on base a ton vs. RHP’s. Which is really what we need.
Like I said, I don’t see Lowell as much more than a glorified lefty-masher, and there are other avenues we could take to get that.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
They certainly could
I’m asking if you’re willing to use 200 or so ABs from Gomes or Garko to find out? Because they can certainly do much worse, as both as proven by their inconsistency in their careers.
Mike Lowell gets you a pretty consistent hitter who plays pretty consistent defense in 2 positions, providing health. I’d take that before Gomes.
I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan
See, I'm a MaxRam fanboy
So I’d rather keep him and take my chances on Gomes or Garko in that role than lose him for Lowell, who I don’t think is all that much more relaiable b/c of his recent injury history.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
Why would you point out your own bias?
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Mangum; Neutral Milk Hotel
Because
he has no shame in his biases or how they impact his analysis.
I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan
Which is a good thing, mostly.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Exactly I mean just look at that quote on your sig
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
Both those are handily whittled down to be taken out of their actual context.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
In his defense, we're talking about prospects here.
There’s always going to an element of “I think he’s going to be good/great but obviously I can’t prove it”.
Look at the people who had aneurysms when some were OK with trading Feliz for Halladay before the trade deadline.
Because a big part of my whole point is I'd like to keep Max
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
It's all a dollar thing.
How much to sign Garko or Gomes? Lowell is about $3M.
"If this video was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick." Clark
re: Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride, 4/17/09
Remember when you were a Salty fanboy? Those were the days. How quickly you turn on 'em.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
62 point plummets in OBP are among my turn-offs.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
Assuming this deal goes through,
how many G/PA/AB do you expect Lowell to register this year for Texas?
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
I'm not gonna throw out some random number
But I fully expect him to be overused by Wash.
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
I'm just trying to figure out why you think he'd be a glorified bench player.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Because
His overall offensive numbers aren’t good enough for a DH’s, and he had a 784 OPS against righties last year, a .754 in 2008 and a .798 against them career.
His value in the middle of the order only exists against LHP’s, so at age 36, what really makes him better than Garko or Gomes in that aspect?
I failed my LSB ethics test.
"WHAT A SHITLOAD OF FUCK" - LL's "Poochie" on Rich Harden signing with Texas over Seattle
Against LHPs or overall, exactly what Firebat notes above.
I’m not saying I’m overwhelmingly excited by Lowell, but I think you (and apparently AJM) are much keener on Gomes and Garko than I am, and you definitely seem to have more conviction that Ramirez is going to be a regular at the MLB level.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Just to make it clear
Garko and Gomes would be great investments, if we were looking for a risk/reward longterm righty masher.
But the thing is, Lowell is probably a better value next year because of consistency, defensive flexibility and the fact that he only has 1 year left on his contract.
I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan
Agreed, and agreed.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Garko's gonna be non-tendered, so...
But I do see the validity of having Lowell as a backup 1st/3rd/DH reliable type dude for ’10.
"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.
Wha???
Garko was not very good in SF, or were you “wowing” my other point?
"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.
Aha! That's where that "Wow" went.
Mispost. Meant to go below (where it did, eventually), but I’d apparently accidentally clicked reply here earlier, and so…
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
(And no, I'm not surprised
that Garko would be non-tendered.)
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
If all we're looking for is a lefty masher
give me Garko over Lowell.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Dec 11, 2009 8:12 PM CST up reply actions
....
9:49pm: The Red Sox will pay $9MM of Lowell’s salary, with theRoyalsRangers paying the remaining $3MM, according to Bradford.
The Royals FO might actually be stupid enough to do that
by chrisR on Dec 10, 2009 10:11 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
x
KANSAS CITY, MO—During a Monday conference call with the media, Royals GM Dayton Moore confessed he had “no idea” he was permitted to make player transactions between baseball seasons. “I guess that makes sense. I was always a little surprised when teams came back the next spring with different players,” said Moore, adding that he just assumed most teams made the last of their personnel decisions during Game 7 of the World Series. “I’ve already contacted the agents for Hideki Matsui and John Lackey to try and convince them to play here for free, and I’m working on a trade for Jason Varitek. He’s got something to prove.” Moore said the revelation that he would be working through the winter gave him all the more reason to look forward to his annual October vacation.
by Panorama on Dec 11, 2009 2:06 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Outstanding
"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
Ohh, Excellent
I put 16 on Cle to cover.
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
I put 16 on Pitt
I think for the rest of the games, I’ll pick them as i normally do, then go back and flip every pick when i’m done.
Steelers
lost to the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns in a 4 week span. Damn
I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan
I thought they were getting ready to "unleash hell" in December
Woops.
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
Losing to the Browns does that to you
Was there anything said in particular?
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
I'm off to SBN's Browns blog to see their reactions.
I’ve been going to their Steelers blog lately because I hate a lot of Steelers fans in my life and Pittsburgh losing makes me giddy. But, the SBN Steelers blog is actually pretty reasoned and intelligent, so it started making me feel bad.
How many TD's did my mancrush Quinn throw?
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Mangum; Neutral Milk Hotel
I wonder what Nolan and Maddux's impact on Harden will be.
I hope the insistence of throwing deep into games bites us in the ass, but I’m hoping that Harden responds really well.
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Mangum; Neutral Milk Hotel
Eh, doesn't bite us in the ass, lol.
"Blister please, with those wings in your spine.
Love to be with a brother of mine.
How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth,
In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep,
Wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep." ~Jeff Mangum; Neutral Milk Hotel
x
Y! Sports Winners and Losers from the Winter Meetings
You can pretty much ignore most of the article since it’s terrible, but here’s the interesting part:
The Rangers spun off Millwood for reliever Chris Ray(notes) and signed free agent Rich Harden(notes), risky moves because Harden and Ray both have histories of injuries. Harden has more upside than Millwood and Ray might regain his closer-worthy stuff, but both could just as easily end up on the disabled list. For what it’s worth, Dennis Gilbert, who would become CEO if his ownership group is successful in purchasing the Rangers from Tom Hicks, wasn’t thrilled by either move.
Given the stark difference in how the Millwood for Ray/Harden move has been viewed by the different schools of baseball thought, I think this is a pretty good indicator of how Gilbert thinks when it comes to player evaluation.
well then maybe Gilbert needs to get on top of Hicks ass,
and ride it to the bank. Wrap it up and then you can have say in it asshole. The more I read on Gilbert the less Im liking by the way.
The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ
This makes me nervous.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
good
he should withdraw his offer
"Elvis Andrus has just preformed a MIRACLE!"
-Eric Nadel, 5/4/09
by Jason Brynsvold on Dec 10, 2009 10:25 PM CST up reply actions
Not worried either way
Greenberg/Ryan has local investors and apparently more money. MLB loves both local investors and money. Not to mention Hicks at least has a spot at the table with Greenberg, not the case with Gilbert.
x
I believe that both sets of bidders have resubmitted bids since it was rumored that Greenberg/Ryan submitted a higher bid. It’s entirely possible that Gilbert submitted more in the first place since, really, who knows?
Either way, Gilbert’s a popular guy in baseball circles who’s chummy with Reinsdorf and Selig, and he’s one of two remaining candidates. He is absolutely someone to worry about.
The Reinsdorf angle continues to worry me.
The man’s a fucking-over-the-Rangers machine.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Greenberg's camp has more money?
I haven’t read that anywhere. Where did you see it?
Neftali Feliz says sit your 5 dollar ass down before he makes change...
Hi, Keith. Is this the year Edinson Volquez finally wins RoY?
by Brian Thomas on Dec 11, 2009 8:46 AM CST up reply actions
There have been several comments that Greenberg has financing well in place while Gilbert was still lining up investors
"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