Friday a.m. stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 13, 2009 10:29 AM CST
71 comments
Okay, what do we have...
Ben Sheets had surgery on his elbow, and is targeting a return after the ASB.
Anthony Andro has some notes from Surprise, including a rave about Justin Smoak's power display yesterday.
Randy Galloway carps about the offseason, and suggests that John Hart has still been running things on the baseball side through Jon Daniels. He also doesn't seem happy with Nolan Ryan not doing more to shake things up...
Richard Durrett walks through the Rangers' options at catcher...meanwhile, with spring training kicking off, I continue to be baffled as to why there's no Evan Grant on the Rangers blog. As far as I know, he's still with the DMN, and I have to wonder whether he's opting not to talk about the Rangers, or if the Belo Corporate Overlords have banned him from writing about the Rangers, even on the DMN blog.
The Boston Globe has a story on Clay Buchholz, for those who still think the Rangers can get him when the BoSox panic over their catching situation.
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MY
So what is the over/under on the number of players that report to ST ahead of FOTF? 38?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on Feb 13, 2009 10:33 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Sheets
Any chance of the Rangers still signing him?
by Michael Cave on Feb 13, 2009 10:33 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Very little imo...
unless the Rangers are contenders after the ASB.
Of course I don’t think he will pitch at all in ’09 so it may not matter.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Feb 13, 2009 10:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
From his perspective, the surgery may have been a really good thing for his market value.
We all know that if all goes well during Sheets’ rehab, there will be a massive bidding war for him around the ASB. The Rangers have a chance only if they’re in contention. Just win baby!
It would be really cool to give him a rehab + 1-year contract, but he would be nixing the possibility of a big payday. He was looking for that all offseason, so I don’t see him looking for anything less. There is almost no chance of Sheets signing here this year. Looking ahead to next offseason, he has to be one of two potential targets being closely monitored, with Lackey the other.
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
by rooster on Feb 13, 2009 11:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes. He still probably won't be all that expensive
and should be looking for just a half-year contract if he’s smart
by Mike E on Feb 13, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
hmmm
if one or both of Millwood/Padilla are traded, McCarthy’s knee explodes, Feldman sucks and/or Holland and Feliz aren’t ready…and we’re somehow winning games…I think we might. otherwise, doubtful.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Feb 13, 2009 5:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
WTF do you continue to link the Galloway shit?
You know it’s going to be the same stupid drivel out of him….
Why?
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
by Rodney on Feb 13, 2009 10:33 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Galloway must be even more out of touch than I thought
if he thinks Hart is still materially involved with the team in such a meaningful way.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 13, 2009 11:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty sure Hart helps answer the phone at the trade deadline.
So he’s got that going for him.
by FuturePants on Feb 13, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Wow. Just wow.
I read a Galloway about once a month, and this time I was struck with how he is exactly, precisely like Josey. I’m not talking a resemblance or similarity, but exactly f’in the same stuff I read here everyday. All that’s missing is a statement about attendance.
by WyoRanger on Feb 13, 2009 11:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll say this, I may not agree with Josey on almost anything but he seems way more coherent than galloway.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Feb 13, 2009 11:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
At least Josey
actually watches/attends games.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 13, 2009 11:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Here's my explanation
We call BS on Josey and then he gets to respond – oh, does he respond – and then we can piece together his thought process. Galloway gets to lay a big turd on the paper and we’re just stuck with his idiocy.
by WyoRanger on Feb 13, 2009 2:24 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Yep
Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.
by lonestarJon on Feb 13, 2009 3:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
This is what MJH said:
“The DMN will maintain their Rangers blog, but Evan will not be a part of it because he was transferred to the Cowboys beat (cuz lord knows, you just can’t have too many Cowboys beat writers in the spring).”
To me that sounds to like he’s not allowed to post on the Rangers.
"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.
by Kinslerhomer on Feb 13, 2009 10:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
What's funny is that espnews had Grant on to talk about the Arod situation
It said Evan Grant, MLB Columnist
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
by tyd3311 on Feb 13, 2009 10:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
x
Well, regardless of what Grant’s doing now, he was the beat writer during the A Rod years.
by FuturePants on Feb 13, 2009 10:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
JJT and Timmy Mac can still write about the Rangers, but not Evan?
Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.
by lonestarJon on Feb 13, 2009 3:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
the notes from surprise
Say Anthony Andro at the bottom
by bushe on Feb 13, 2009 10:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Andro's notes
Hearing about players actually partaking in baseball activities just makes me so happy.
Fire Ron Washington
by pblack on Feb 13, 2009 10:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
“it” moved when I read about ST activity
by BEW on Feb 13, 2009 11:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm Number 5!
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
by Rodney on Feb 13, 2009 11:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
funny first comment on Buch Article
This is a classic plant article. The Sox get a beat writer talk a guy up so his value gets a nudge. This is a classic plant article. The Sox get a beat writer talk a guy up so his value gets a nudge.
by Sluggosan-1 February 13, 11:08 AM
Report Abuse
by Goyogringo on Feb 13, 2009 10:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Goyo
I am glad you caught that comment because it’s a good comment. It makes me glad you caught that comment because comments like that are good…
by bigskinny on Feb 13, 2009 10:55 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
No, bs,
I’m only grateful that you caught that good comment before me and setting the scene so well with your own, good, comment….
by Goyogringo on Feb 13, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
HH is posting over there now huh?
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Feb 13, 2009 11:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Umm...
If the Sox aren’t going to trade him, why do they need to pump up his value? And do you really think a nice little article in the globe is going to get another GM to significantly increase an offer for a player?
Call me crazy, but it could just be an article for people to read, rather than part of the far reaching counterintelligence operations the Sox regularly run…
"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.
by OCD SS on Feb 13, 2009 11:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Heh
Well said.
Slightly unrelated, I can’t wait to see if Jorge Posada is unfit to start at catcher. Surely the Yanks FO would have tabs on that, but I doubt his health is a fully known quantity.
This Ranger catcher subplot could easily stay in play through ST.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Feb 13, 2009 12:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
could just be an article for people to read, rather than part of the far reaching counterintelligence operations the Sox regularly run…
That’s probably why he described it as a funny first comment.
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
...at the time, I wasn’t being truthful with myself. How could I be truthful with Katie Couric or CBS?
by Brian Thomas on Feb 13, 2009 12:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Adam, can't you just email Evan and ask him?
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
...at the time, I wasn’t being truthful with myself. How could I be truthful with Katie Couric or CBS?
by Brian Thomas on Feb 13, 2009 11:15 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I'll try not to waste too much energy on Galloway
But two things warrant mentioning:
1) How can he assume Hart is telling JD what to do when JD has not in any way operated during his tenure like Hart did during his. Hart oversaw a collapse of the farm system, JD has made it his mission to assemble the greatest collection of minor league talent in this club’s history. JD has made moves and pulled the trigger on deals both good and bad. Hart never made a deal.
2) Criticizing the decision to exercise Blalock’s option is the ultimate in hindsight being 20/20. At the time, it seemed a consensus that it was a decent decision based on the current roster construct (didn’t want to lose Blalock’s power with Bradley leaving) and a decent value considering what similar bats were likely to get on the open market. I don’t think ANYONE thought that the free agent market (beyond the CC/Tex/Burnett tier) would collapse like it did, forcing hitters like Abreu and Dunn into taking cheap deals in February. Expecting a depressed free agent market was reasonable, but no one saw a complete collapse coming.
Keith Law: (1:45 PM ET ) I think Michael Young should shut his mouth and move to third base.
by WestTxAg06 on Feb 13, 2009 11:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
below is for you, I suck
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
...at the time, I wasn’t being truthful with myself. How could I be truthful with Katie Couric or CBS?
by Brian Thomas on Feb 13, 2009 11:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Love for Hank
The guy can hit.
Since coming back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he has hit .292/.352/.537 with 17 HR & 55 RBI in 84 games. His .889 OPS would rank him in the top ten in the AL over a full season.
In the 84 games prior to his TOS surgery dating back to early August of 2006 he hit .252/.305/.415 with 9 HR and 36 RBI. It was in late July 2006 when he started having shoulder problems which turned out to be TOS. If you recall he got off to a hot start in ’06 after down but not bad ’05.
Being the regular DH versus right-handed starters he would diminish the chances for injury and let him focus on hitting.
He could have a huge year!
by Evil Monkey on Feb 13, 2009 11:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
re: Hart never made a deal
The Urbina and Everett deals were pretty good.
But yeah, I rememember scuttlebutt that he failed to make deals in the summer after the Uggy & Dino-denyer swaps because people felt he was looking for lopsided screw jobs.
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
...at the time, I wasn’t being truthful with myself. How could I be truthful with Katie Couric or CBS?
by Brian Thomas on Feb 13, 2009 11:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Hart
Yeah, the Urbina and Everett deals were good.
But like JD, Hart has one indefensible clusterfuck of a trade on his Rangers’ resume: Hafner for Hair on Fire Diaz. At least he was able to flip Diaz a year later for Chris Young. Who, oddly enough, was involved in JD’s one indefensible clusterfuck of a deal. The Soriano and Danks deals, while they’ve turned out poorly, were at least defensible at the time the trades were made.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on Feb 13, 2009 11:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I forgot about the Urbina and Everett deals, which worked out
However, the consistent theme during Hart’s tenure, at least to me, was a failure to actually make something happen that would materially change the fortunes of the team. We were in a position where we a) weren’t really good enough to compete with what we had, and b) we weren’t nearing a point where we’d see a huge influx of talent from the minors (as we are now). The worst thing we could do was stand pat, leaving the team stranded in the gray area known as “mediocrity on the big league front with a crappy farm system to boot.”
So what did Hart do? He largely stood pat. He didn’t blow it up to rebuild the farm system, he didn’t improve the big league club in a way that would help a long-term plan to contend, and he left JD with a mess on both fronts.
Keith Law: (1:45 PM ET ) I think Michael Young should shut his mouth and move to third base.
by WestTxAg06 on Feb 13, 2009 12:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Another update:
Overnight temperatures that dipped into the 30s produced a frost in Surprise, and the fields at the city’s Recreation Campus are wet. The players in camp have been working out in some capacity, and others have been trickling in to the clubhouse for the start of their spring stay.
Of note so far …
Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia seems mildly concerned that he isn’t as heavy as he would like to be. He said he weighs 230 pounds, about 10 fewer than he feels is his prime starting weight. He said he normally sheds around 10 pounds at spring training.
Left-hander Kason Gabbard said his left arm feels great after surgery last season, and he threw of a mound for the first time Thursday. He had thrown off flat ground a few times prior to that session. He’s also wearing a new number: 30. He surrendered 13 because, he jokingly said, “some guy needed it.” That guy? Omar Vizquel.
— Jeff Wilson
"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.
by Kinslerhomer on Feb 13, 2009 11:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I really like Gabbard
I hope he can surprise some people this year with his great performance.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 13, 2009 12:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If he has a great performance, I'll be damn surprised
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
...at the time, I wasn’t being truthful with myself. How could I be truthful with Katie Couric or CBS?
by Brian Thomas on Feb 13, 2009 12:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Well
I do love that photo/cat.
But in this instance, I just don’t see how you can be high on a soft tosser with poor command and the constitution of a meals-on-wheels shut-in to boot.
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
...at the time, I wasn’t being truthful with myself. How could I be truthful with Katie Couric or CBS?
by Brian Thomas on Feb 13, 2009 1:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I too have very little confidence in Gabbard
I just really like the Grumpy Cat.
by FuturePants on Feb 13, 2009 1:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
LMAO
I just don’t see how you can be high on a soft tosser with poor command and the constitution of a meals-on-wheels shut-in to boot.
Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.
by lonestarJon on Feb 13, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not high on him
I’m just rooting for him to surprise everyone with great performance
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 13, 2009 4:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I have more confidence in Luis Mendoza suprising people this year with his great performance.
Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.
by lonestarJon on Feb 13, 2009 3:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
so if Gabbard
is just pitching off the mound today, he may not pitch in a game until what mid March (just a guess)? Seems a lock for AAA if that is the case…
Strop is another guy who is not quite ready, perhaps throwing off the mound around 3/1 and starting the season in AA. I hope however that we see him by midseason. As for gabbard, I can wait a lot longer to see his 85-89 fastball and iffy control…
by Goyogringo on Feb 13, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I thought Gabbard...
…was more likely headed to the pen as a long man? Wasn’t that the general concensus(sp?)
by FuturePants on Feb 13, 2009 1:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
After signing...
everyday Eddie my guess is the ’pen in OKC to start the year. He needs to show he can stay healthy and be a ok LH option out of the ’pen before the Rangers call him up I think.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Feb 13, 2009 1:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Juan Salas
was outrighted by TB to clear room for Brian Shouse. For some reason I think he is the pitching version of Nelson Cruz. One of these years his minor league stats will carry over into a breakout ML season.
by clark on Feb 13, 2009 12:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
So, he was a 3B until age 25?
That’s pretty amazing that he pitched in the majors by age 27.
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
by rooster on Feb 13, 2009 1:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
yes
despite the fact that he is 30, his arm has very little mileage on it and he has only been pitching for a few years. i am not sure if he is worth a spot on the 40, but some team will claim him just for the live arm. This just shows how much talent is packed on that Rays 40.
by clark on Feb 13, 2009 1:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Another update:
The day has come to a close as Rangers players scatter to area golf courses or seek other forms of afternoon entertainment. A few notes, though, before the Star-Telegram leaves, too.
• Left-hander C.J. Wilson will throw off a mound Saturday for the third or fourth time — he didn’t know an exact count — this off-season. He said he can tell his control is better after having surgery on his elbow in August. Asked what his role is on the team, after being its closer last year, he said, “baseball thrower.”
“I feel great about coming into a season 100 percent healthy,” Wilson said. “I was definitely going into the season last year knowing there were issues in my elbow.”
• Prized prospect Justin Smoak said he has been in camp since Tuesday and is busy trying to soak up as much as possible during his first big-league spring training. Manager Ron Washington said he has gotten to know Smoak some this week and said he is the baseball equivalent of a gym rat.
"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.
by Kinslerhomer on Feb 13, 2009 2:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I'll go ahead and say it
Should we be concerned that BGL is calling himself a thrower instead of a pitcher?
Keith Law: (1:45 PM ET ) I think Michael Young should shut his mouth and move to third base.
by WestTxAg06 on Feb 13, 2009 3:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Don't be silly.
It’s just his way of answering the question nicely. IOW, he isn’t making waves about not being the annoited closer.
Actually refreshing, to me.
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
by Rodney on Feb 13, 2009 3:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I think he would have done much better last year if he was a “baseball thrower” instead of a pitcher, myself.
Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.
by lonestarJon on Feb 13, 2009 3:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I saw these in the ST blog, but not on DMN
Rangers’ Spring Training TV schedule
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 Feb 13, 2009 3:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
OHMYGAWD!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for that link. Ahhh, the “Whack” of the bat again….I got goosebumps!
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
by Rodney on Feb 13, 2009 4:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+ 1
Have any Ranger pitchers gone on the D L today? O K I'll check back in 10 minutes.
by BigGuns on Feb 13, 2009 4:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I just looked at it again and....
now my goosebumps have goosebumps!
Have any Ranger pitchers gone on the D L today? O K I'll check back in 10 minutes.
by BigGuns on Feb 13, 2009 6:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+2
I heart Justin Smoak even more now. Yeah…
Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.
by lonestarJon on Feb 13, 2009 4:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+3
"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.
by Kinslerhomer on Feb 13, 2009 4:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Damn video is gone
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Feb 14, 2009 10:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Really, that sucks. I linked it
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
by Rodney on Feb 14, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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