Sunday morning Rangers things
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 13, 2009 10:31 AM CST
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PrintYesterday was the deadline for teams to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players. You can see the complete list of non-tendered players here.
Along with the guys we talked about already, some other interesting names include John Buck, who the Rangers supposedly have interest in and who has been the Royals' regular catcher the past few years; Jack Cust, the A's DH; and Neal Cotts, a hard-throwing lefty reliever whose control abandoned him last season.
The Boston Globe is reporting that the Max Ramirez/Mike Lowell deal is being held up over concerns about the health of Mike Lowell's thumb.
Evan Grant says that being aggressive in negotiations with Rich Harden, rather than waiting and seeing how the market shook out, resulted in the Rangers getting Harden away from teams with more money to spend.
Jon Paul Morosi writes that the A.L. West is the most "captivating" division in baseball right now, with three teams that will head to spring training with a realistic chance of winning the division.
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I'm very interested.
Did he have a bad season last year? I was surprised to see his name among the non-tenders.
Jack Buck, Catcher
I think I remember us running on Buck (with ease) one series during 2009. I’d still like to have him though.
Can anyone breakdown the latest Salty status?
John Buck is not a great defensive catcher, (or offensive for that matter).
Jack Buck the announcer is no more.
Neal Cotts
has never been a hard thrower.
by ElMerkoMuffley on Dec 13, 2009 10:49 AM CST reply actions
So...
it looks like Chapman is is going to be getting Strasburg type money.
Could the Rangers pull out of the Lowell deal and offer Aroldis a 5/20 deal? Obviously that doesn’t help the team this year as Chapman is probably still a couple years away, but is he worth that kind of money? I know it’s not going to happen, but how nice would it be to get another guy with that kind of talent in the farm system.
Perhaps the Rangers could still sign a veteran RH bat like Garko, Glaus, or Gomes to fill the need for this year. Damn do I hate the fact that this team is cash-strapped right now.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Something I read on Chapman suggested that he's going to get way more money than he'll end up being worth
I forget the exactitudes of the scouting report (maybe only 2 pitches?) but it sounds like he could be another one whose Cuban defector is greater than his ML-quality skills.
"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
by WestTxAg06 on Dec 13, 2009 4:15 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Meh
We have Nippert and Mathis
"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 13, 2009 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
You know
even if we had normal Rangers Astacio type money, this year would be amazing
this list: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/2010-mlb-free-a.html
It’s just so big, you know there is some talent out there and probably not so much competition in trying to get it. Really the wrong year to be flat broke.
yeh that list makes me sick and forces me to stick more needles in my Tom Hicks doll
So who's todays mistress? They're coming out of the Woodswork!
Looking at the entire list
There are no players that I see on it that would have even a medium impact on a contending team. No starters (for a contending team). No stars. Unless the Rangers can pick up one of these guys for an NRI I don’t see much reason for them to pursue anyone here.
Well
If there were a star on that list, that person wouldn’t have been non-tendered.
The idea isn’t that there are stars on there…it is that there are guys on there who can be contributors.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 13, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions
Gomes
Career .889 OPS against LHP; coming off a very good year; has always hit very well in Arlington
I’d just as soon have him (or Cust, for that matter) as Lowell
by brianphayes on Dec 13, 2009 11:29 AM CST up reply actions
Cust is frustrating
but could be a good fit
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 14, 2009 1:27 AM CST up reply actions
That's what I was going to say.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Dec 13, 2009 12:22 PM CST up reply actions
not looking hard enough
they might not be a fit for the rangers but there are some #4-5 caliber starters who could possibly give you #3 production
there are several slightly older position players that if they give you consistent production or production from a year ago, they would be solid contributors.
what annoyed me was did anyone read the comments left by the braves fan, complaining how theyre just with only 100 million payroll. we could only dream of that right now
Nobody is perfect, i am nobody, therefore, i am perfect
by 34express on Dec 13, 2009 11:11 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Meh
Don’t particularly want Lackey.
And Bay…you want to give $18 million per year for 5-6 years for a guy who isn’t an elite hitter and who is either a DH for you, or a liability in LF?
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 13, 2009 11:38 AM CST up reply actions
I'd be so pissed if we did that.
Chan Ho Park all over again. Lackey aint that great. I don’t know why people consider him to be an ace.
x
I’m pretty sure the issue now is that he’s old and in decline, and that’s not the guy you want to give a gigantic contract to.
But there’s no reason to wonder why people have liked him a lot.
by brettgardner on Dec 13, 2009 11:57 AM CST up reply actions
Please no.
The wish I keep wishing down from the depths of my Ranger-lovin heart is: next offseason, Joe Mauer.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Dec 13, 2009 12:25 PM CST up reply actions
ok
do you really think minn lets him walk? he’s on the fast track to being kirby puckett or harbon killebrew. i don’t think that state lets him walk.
Twins
have a smaller payroll than 22 other teams (including Texas). Do you really think they can moneywhip Maurer into staying?
i don't think they need to moneywhip in
in the sense that they need to overpay by a large amount to keep him. they just need to be competitive. And i do think they will open the purse strings for joe mauer. it’s literally a once in a decade move that i think they can afford. we found money for michael young.
They will have a brand new stadium to pay him with
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
no chance he takes a discount
but he might count Twins dollars the same as say, Yankees or anybody else
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 14, 2009 1:29 AM CST up reply actions
The one I would think about is Wang.
If you can get him cheap there’s a very good chance that, especially with our up the middle defense, that he can be at worst a Millwood replacement for us. I would think a split NRI or a low salary, both with an option year, could be interesting. But I would bet that a lot of other clubs are thinking the same thing.
If what Jamey floated out there this morning is accurate and players are respecting our medical staff that combined with our defense could be something that would push us over the top with a player like Wang.
And I will be one of the first to admit that I do worry a lot about his peripherals, mostly strikeout rate.
What do voluntary mean?
I have a feeling
this team will look long and hard at Wang, and that the chances of the whole Lowell trade falling through just went up last night. We can pay as much lip service to Lowell’s leadership as we want, but if we aren’t 100% convinced he’s healthy then we will walk away and spend that $3M on one of the three very viable RH options that just landed on the market.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
I hope we don't
Because I’m already tired of it.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 13, 2009 3:04 PM CST up reply actions
I'm tired of reading Wang and thinking Wang ZhiZhi
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
ditto
I loved it when we had him here, especially when Nash said, “I just love playing with my big Wang”
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 14, 2009 1:30 AM CST up reply actions
attaboy JD...let's get every possible x-ray of Lowell's wrist...
until something better comes along :)
So who's todays mistress? They're coming out of the Woodswork!
Any1 notice Rangers Ads in the fws today?
Xmas gift list was also rangers gear related. This ad in particular screams to me of Hicks last efforts to rape the profits from dangers ticket holders and fans.
If You Wanna Support the Rangers, Dont Buy Any Tickets or Gear Untill After the Sale is Complete. Til then, it all just goes into hicks debt ridden pocket. Don’t Buy.
I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT
by Jayslick on Dec 13, 2009 11:26 AM CST via mobile reply actions
Because increased ticket sales and merchandices
Increased our budget from last year so much…
Umm that’s exactly how the business of ownership in sports works. You don’t think the 20% decrease due to the boycott by SOS of Hicks other club LFC make difference on his bottom line? You don’t think the stir from delayed playoff return was from the thought those may end up being paid off by the next regime? You don’t think MLB gives a monthly check to teams based on MLB sales of merch the previous month? And when they do, do you think hicks is reinvesting that into the club.
The ownership is not reinvesting profits back into the club. Is that the kind of behavior you wanna reward by buying a $50 tshirt that that ownership group will profit from.
How do you think business works?
I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT
by Jayslick on Dec 13, 2009 11:56 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
ok
aside from all that you wrote that is wrong…
he’s selling the club. HSG is going to get money not from ticket sales but from the other ownership groups. it’s not like the ticket sales money is trickling down to hicks’ pocket.
but without going into detail, you really think hicks is getting merchandising money considering the financial situation he is in right now?
If the club has been profitable for some time like all reports say
Where were those profits we were all contributing going? To redistribution among hicks other clubs rather than the rangers? Nooooooo….
Where the hell do you think the season ticket sales dollars have gone? Your club? Where do you think your last $30 hat percentage went to? Your club?
Is it more likely the next ownership group rewards strong tickets sales with more investment in the rangers? Certainly.
So what exactly am I failing to understand?
Please enlighten me.
I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT
by Jayslick on Dec 13, 2009 12:18 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
From all accounts the "profits" from the last few years have just been used to pay off the overleveraging he did when he bought Liverpool
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.
last try
the mlb has loaned HSG money. There’s all sorts of other debt that HSG has. you think in that environment, Hicks is allowed to collect merchandising money sales.
you think MLB would allow Hicks to cash that check when they are already loaning him money. do you know other lenders that would let him do that?
Ticket sales
Those are sales of future goods or services. They aren’t revenue until the games are played — they are a liability.
So the idea that somehow buying tickets means that that money is profit for Hicks reflects a lack of understanding about basic accounting — the money that comes in is booked as an asset and as a liability, with no effect on the bottom line until 2010.
So saying that buying tickets before the team is officially sold means more money for Tom Hicks is like saying that if the Rangers were to borrow $10 million from some bank right now, that would be $10 million more in Tom Hicks’ pocket — it doesn’t work that way. It is an asset offset by a liability, that will be shifted to revenue in 2010 as the games are actually played.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 13, 2009 12:45 PM CST up reply actions
Everytime you post
You seem to make a case for being the dumbest poster on LSB. Congratulations.
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
Yep
Not a bad middle relief guy.
"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."
I'd like Matt Capps
but he would be too expensive.
Really mentioning any FAs at this point, they are too expensive.
ONLY 2 MORE DAMN DAYS UNTIL “OWNERSHIP BID 2009” IS CHOSEN!! Just get it over with Hicks and stay out of it you freakin’ leech!
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Thats not when the sale is final and the wallet opens up
Thats the day Hicks has to give his recommendation to MLB so who knows how long until the owner is chosen.
And as some here have theorized Hicks could use tomorrow to give the recommendation of the guy who he knows won’t get approved to give himself more time to weasle his way into a minority role with another group
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 know that isn't the day that the wallet opens up
but at least we should know more about who is the winning bidder as Dec. 15th is the deadline set by MLB for Hicks to make a decision.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
and when this happens
it will feel like 1 step closer to Hicks being gone. I hope he is unable to get involved with any of the ownership groups but I assume he is trying to negotiate his way into remaining a leech
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Blue Jays sign John Buck
Kinslerhomer has a fanshot up about it. So what’s the next catcher target?
I didn't know what a mancrush was. Derek Holland showed me.
with Buck going to Toronto
That leaves Jose Molina, Yorvit Torrealba, and possibly Barajas. Torrealba is asking for a Pudge like contract from the Rockies which means he’s not coming to Texas. Jose made $2M last year and will probably want something similar if not a two year deal for $4M.
I didn't know what a mancrush was. Derek Holland showed me.
Meh...
at this point I’d rather role with what we have.
Unless there’s another option out there via trade.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Rod!!!
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Dec 14, 2009 1:35 AM CST up reply actions
AL West
You could see it coming. Angels front loaded their roster. M’s got an insightful GM. Rangers built the best minor league system in years. A’s find ways to get extra miles from vets and rookies. All this makes it a hard division to win, less so now because of Angels’ multiyear run of exceeding pythag reasonability but moreso because of incisive work by some good GM’s.
I hope the Rangers ownership question is answered before the 2010 season shapes up. One more premium pitcher now looks as important as the guessing game on who to pull in for run production.
"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 Dec 13, 2009 4:27 PM CST reply actions
Elite Medical Staff
Brandon McCarthy, Eric Hurly, and Matt Harrison would like some of your time.
Didn't anybody tell you how to gracefully disappear in a room
by red shoe ranger on Dec 13, 2009 4:46 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Just think how bad off they would have been
if they weren’t with the Rangers…
Their arms might have fallen off or their careers could be over by now.
Are you disputing the quality of the medical team?
Our guys seem to get universal acclaim from people inside the industry, yet LSB posters will bash them as if they have more inside knowledge.
"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
Elite Medical Staff
Brandon McCarthy, Eric Hurly, and Matt Harrison would like some of your time.
Didn't anybody tell you how to gracefully disappear in a room
by red shoe ranger on Dec 13, 2009 4:46 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Sorry
For the double post.
Didn't anybody tell you how to gracefully disappear in a room
by red shoe ranger on Dec 13, 2009 4:47 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
So the Angels, Mariners, and A's have a realistic chance of winning the division?
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?
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