Friday a.m. stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 6, 2009 10:08 AM CST
133 comments
T.R. Sullivan is bloggy this morning, and for those still wanting to see a Boston catcher trade, he has this tidbit:
The Red Sox have Jason Varitek but they are still interested in procuring a young catcher for the future. The Rangers wanted Clay Buchholz and were told he wasn't available. But the Rangers still like many pitchers in the Red Sox organization.
Sullivan also says the Rangers worked out Andruw Jones, but there doesn't seem to be a fit there.
Gil LeBreton says that after Tom Hicks had dinner with Casey Close and Ben Sheets, he ordered Jon Daniels to get a deal done, which is why there apparently was something in place before the physical came back bad.
Jason Jennings has reportedly signed a minor league deal with the Rangers. That isn't surprising, and while I expect there to be a fair amount of bitching about this move, I think he's a nice low-risk pickup and insurance policy, a guy who can go down to Oklahoma and possibly be this year's Sidney Ponson (without the bar scene and confrontation with the manager).
And Richard Durrett has a blog post up with an email from C.J. Wilson about his status...
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TR
The way he foregrounds that Boston note aaalmost sounds like a JD telegraph.
In any case, it reads as reportage. Maybe they’re even still talking.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Feb 6, 2009 10:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
That’s what popped into my haid, too, reading that. TR’s relaying info here.
The moves being made are too extra for my taste.
by shroomer on Feb 6, 2009 10:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Mine too....
but JD doesn’t seem to work that way. I would think that JD has been clear with Boston before he gave anything to TR. Just my guess though.
by bdavison94 on Feb 6, 2009 10:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
MLB.com's Rangers fantasy preview:
"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 6, 2009 10:14 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Joaquin Arias before Max-Ram?
How do they categorize these rankings?
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
by mtex on Feb 6, 2009 10:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Nathan freaking Haynes
before Padzilla, McCarthy and Scooter.
by coolaid on Feb 6, 2009 10:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Super...
…so Hicks is making player personnel decisions based on a hunch, a bottle of $300 red, and a 90%-separated flexor tendon.
Dreaming of 2009
by RangerMoto on Feb 6, 2009 10:19 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
$300 dollar bottle of red wine?
I thought Hicks was cheap.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on Feb 6, 2009 10:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Only with the Rangers' payroll.
It’s too bad that $300 bottle of wine didn’t turn into a $10M/yr contract for Sheets. That would’ve made the Rangers a mid-market payroll.
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
by rooster on Feb 6, 2009 12:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
It did, kinda
The $300 bottle had turned into a 2 year, $10 million contract before the physical nixed the deal.
Go Cubbies and Go Rangers!
by pbpsean on Feb 6, 2009 12:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I really hope this was one of those things
Where Hicks was just really on board with the idea to bring Sheets here and was willing to spend on it. Not a case of the front office being reluctant to make a move happen until Hicks forced their hand.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 6, 2009 11:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I have no doubt
that everyone in Arlington liked Sheets as a pitcher and wanted him here.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Hicks, Jr. didn't
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
by mtex on Feb 6, 2009 11:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
TR
Guardado only gets $100,000. He gets $200,000 if he’s the Comeback Player of the Year, which is curious because he pitched pretty good in 2008.
Man, I hate knowing good Engrish.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
by mtex on Feb 6, 2009 10:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
i don't think it is unreasonable
to expect high profile members of the local media to know proper English.
by clark on Feb 6, 2009 10:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Because it's Friday.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
by mtex on Feb 6, 2009 10:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
LeBreton
Fast becoming the only remotely credible columnist on DFW baseball…
Nah, noob.
by Brian Thomas on Feb 6, 2009 10:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Where's Grant these days?
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
by mtex on Feb 6, 2009 10:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
covering the cowboys
no…thank YOU DMN
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 6, 2009 10:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
and I agree with his point
that Sheets should give the Rangers credit for taking serious interest in him when other teams weren’t. I’d still expect Sheets to want to explore the market again, though, but with his health history he has to give serous consideration to signing a deal with a team now to get some guaranteed money in case his recovery takes him out next winter as well, or he might find himself in the same boat he’s in now.
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by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 10:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
why should sheets give the rangers credit?
foor being the only team who didnt see what he was trying to pull off? he tells teammates at seasons end that he thinks its torn, then proceeds to negotiate with the rangers and any team out there for months til its discovered that he is in fact damaged goods like he knew all along. If we dont catch that medical, we’re on the hook for him the next 2 seasons.
screw sheets, he knew exactly what he was doing, and if it wasnt for JD and Nolan, we’d be the chumps.
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
by Jayslick on Feb 6, 2009 12:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Sheets' master plan
is pretty stupid. It seems obvious that Sheets and his agent were stupidly hoping for the best, not trying to snow anyone. If they were just interested in snowing a team they would have accepted arbitration and taken a big guaranteed contract for 2009. That way, even if he can’t pitch he has a whole year to recover and reenter the market.
He is not a criminal mastermind, he just made a very stupid decision.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 12:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
wow...
…I’ll get out of your head now.
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
by TheJeezus on Feb 6, 2009 12:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Heh
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by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree, wonder what that means
I have nothing to say
by rldwb on Feb 6, 2009 4:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
So
You think Sheets knew he needed surgery and, rather than take arbitration and a payday, decided to take his torn tendon on the market and gamble that nobody would notice in hopes of getting a contract that might approach 12MM?
I don’t think there was any maliciousness on his part….just stupidity.
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
by TheJeezus on Feb 6, 2009 12:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Moneyball: The Movie
Brad Pitt to play Billy Beane.
http://tinyurl.com/moneyball-themovie
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on Feb 6, 2009 10:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
What a dumb idea for a movie...
They truly are out of ideas.
Click Here for Hot Rangers Blog Love
"They say brevity is the key to wit, so shut the f*ck up." Dad
by RangerFloppy on Feb 6, 2009 10:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Moneyball the movie beats
re-making crappy 70s movies over and over again.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 6, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
It says rumored
Nothing’s guaranteed yet
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 6, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Willl it have the classic Hollywood Ending
where Brad Pitt is carried off the field by all his OBP guys holding the World Series trophy, just like happened to Billy Beane?
by JBImaknee on Feb 6, 2009 11:31 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
you sir
are rec’d
"Dear dumb ass folowers of FSMism,
There have been a lot of weird things that i have seen in my life before, but this tops them all. Do you really believe that there is/was such a thing as a flying spaghetti monster? Seriously, how fucking old are you? I know there’s such a thing as freedom of speech and expression, but this kinda shit should be banned. Theres is only one God and one Holy Word. Why dont you people get that? How much sense does it make to say that decreasing numbers of pirates lead to an increase in average global temperature? Is that science or some fifth grader trying to sound smart?"
–Sincerly,
ANONYMOUS
The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster (http://www.venganza.org/)
by 8legs2fangs on Feb 6, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
At least Josey...
will have a movie to rub one out to.
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
by benmor78 on Feb 6, 2009 1:12 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Finally, after all these years of using a picture of himself
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 6, 2009 3:29 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
CJ
I’ve been throwing on a normal schedule out in Southern California with a big smile on my face.
Is that like David Murphy’s expression he used to have on his face when he was at the plate?
We may suck as a team, but at least we’re in a good place mentally.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
by mtex on Feb 6, 2009 10:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Breaking Down the Sheets Breakdown
Joey’s take. Good stuff.
by jparks77 on Feb 6, 2009 10:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Andruw
I think that Jones’ best fit might be back at the buffet table:
by biff pocoroba on Feb 6, 2009 10:46 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
It's Antonio Alfonseca
If he grew a beard….and another finger.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
by mtex on Feb 6, 2009 10:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
one of those is harder to do than the other
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 6, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
His helmet is all one color. >:(
You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?
by oc on Feb 7, 2009 8:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Jason Jennings
not quite as exciting as Sammy Sosa, but almost.
Get off my lawn.
by DJCahill on Feb 6, 2009 10:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
If Jennings
can be half as productive as Sosa was, I’d be very pleased. I’d also look forward to Adam’s daily rants about how Jennings is keeping Dustin Nippert from getting a fair look.
by JBImaknee on Feb 6, 2009 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Hicks is willing to drop some $, that's a little encouraging
by BuckyB on Feb 6, 2009 10:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
too bad it wasnt at the beginning of the offseason when we coulda gotten some1 to help
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
by Jayslick on Feb 6, 2009 12:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Jennings
will suck it up like he did last year
by icouldusesomebaseball on Feb 6, 2009 11:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
have we ever had a poll on here
that gauged our collective feelings about a Salty for Bowden and Bard deal? I know many want to hold out for Buchholz and others feel two near ready arms would be more than fair, but I am just curious to know the numbers in each party.
by clark on Feb 6, 2009 11:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Bard
Bard just doesn’t do it for me. Way too many walks. Even last year in his good year he was still walking too many people at his higher stop. 26 walks in 49+ innings is just too many to survive at the MLB level anytime soon. I’d almost want to have him be something like a PTBNL and you get till somewhere around mid season to determine on whether to take him or someone else. I’d want to see if hes going to drop the walks to somewhere near the level he had them at in A ball last year. If he did then theres hope. Otherwise, its just too much of a risk I’d say.
by JKolar on Feb 6, 2009 11:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
i guess my feeling is
Bowden alone could make the deal worth it, as I think he could come up this year and perform as a legit mid-rotation guy. He has a Danksian quality of adjusting to each new level of competition and getting better the longer he is there (instead of the league adjusting to him), and his make up is reportedly off the charts. Bard is the sort of high risk/high reward guy you nurture along because IF he puts it together, he has the stuff do be utterly dominant.
by clark on Feb 6, 2009 11:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Someone is drinking the Boston Kool-aid
by JBImaknee on Feb 6, 2009 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Well
The Rangers current rotation is like 6 tequila shots, Bowden’s a decent looking girl, and there are enough prospect lists acting like your cadre of friends yelling at you, “Do it, it’s been so long since you’ve gotten laid, just do it!”
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Feb 6, 2009 11:53 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Bowden to Texasa is interesting
becuase he’d barely crack their top 10 prospects, but he’d probably slot right into their ML rotation.
"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.
by OCD SS on Feb 6, 2009 12:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Doubt it
He’d probably start the season in OKC while we roll with the rotation we currently have. Nippert would get some spot starts if there was an injury and then if there was a serious hole in the rotation, I think the team will end up considering Holland for that spot.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 6, 2009 12:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Bowden
is projected to have a better 2009 than any current Rangers pitcher. I’m not so certain I’d be upset if Salty brought back a solid mid-rotation guy. Buchholz has the higher ceiling, but Bowden is probably the better bet to reach his.
I can see the Rangers accepting Bowden with another intriguing lower level arm or two. But I want them to hold onto the catchers until summer and let things shake out a bit.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
On the other hand
Wouldn’t it just taste so sweet to do it now, and at least have something to look forward to, other than hoping McCarthy stays healthy?
Obviously you’re right, but I can’t help but yearn for the unknown.
by brettgardner on Feb 6, 2009 12:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm there with you
on that. If I knew that Bowden was coming this way with a couple of A ball or Rookie League high ceiling types I’d be excited. I think Bowden could be a solid #3 for years.
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by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 12:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Me too.
I can count on one nub the number of solid young #3 guys I’ve seen here the last few years.
by brettgardner on Feb 6, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
hmm
a fly ball pitcher without dominant stuff in our ball park. that sounds like a recipe for disaster. I just think that a potential all star level catcher, our hill of magic beans, is better than the #3 starter and someone who might be a late innings reliever.
by JKolar on Feb 6, 2009 12:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think his flyball tendencies
are overstated. He throws strikes, has been very consistent in his minor league career, and has maintained a low HR rate – half that of Eric Hurley, and lower than Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Harrison, Main, Beavan.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 12:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Do you think
that is something that is maintainable? Last few years he had GB% hovering around 40%, that’s pretty bad.
by FirebatM3 on Feb 6, 2009 12:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
we haven't even been able to produce a young #5 in about a decade
Certainly don’t see how we can turn our nose up at a young #3.
In other words, I agree that Bowden would be a pretty good fit as the headliner coming our way. One or two decent secondary pieces should be a good fit for both teams. I may be in the minority, but I see Buch as having a pretty high probability of complete flame out, while Sickels and others that I respect seem to think Bowden is almost guaranteed to be a rotation contributor in short order.
"drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes."
"i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation."
-- both these genius remarks brought to you by our resident guru, bigsteve
by tricer on Feb 6, 2009 12:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Bowden
is also a heavily flyball pitcher with mediocre stuff and steadily falling K rates as he moved up last year. Do we trade Salty for the second coming of Brandon McCarthy? (Without the advantage of height, at that)
by FirebatM3 on Feb 6, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Have you seen
Bowden’s ZIPS and Pecota? His career HR rate is 0.6 per 9, hardly worrisome. No way would I be happy with Salty straight up for Bowden, but if you throw in some lower level guys I don’t see it as a bad deal.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 12:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Can you link me to something that says his stuff will translate to a #3 in MLB?
Cuz everything I’ve read leaves me a little meh.
Nah, noob.
by Brian Thomas on Feb 6, 2009 12:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Bowden in 2009
according to ZIPS – 4.49 ERA, 104 ERA+
Pecota comps – Slowey, Suppan
Marcel – 4.02 FIP
Chone – 4.81 FIP
No unanimous, but the aggregate is league average and he’s only 22.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
No one
is accusing him of not being average, but the question about him is that how much better will he get?
by FirebatM3 on Feb 6, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
As I said elsewhere
straight up for Salty he is obviously not enough, but with another interesting prospect or two I’m ok with it. I don’t expect him to get much better than a #3, but hell, a solid #3 under team control for the next 6 years is pretty valuable.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 1:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
BA says he has a chance to be a 3
Are other people calling him close to a lock?
Nah, noob.
by Brian Thomas on Feb 6, 2009 1:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think the general take
is he has a lower ceiling than Buchholz, but is more likely to get there. I think he’s probably a #3-4, and in TX maybe a #4 level guy. If the Rangers dealt for him I’d want another guy or two added to him that had a chance to be real special down the road.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 1:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I would want Hagadone
Even with him coming off the injury, he’s probably still got as good a chance as Bowden of being a mid-rotation guy or better. Boston might be reluctant to give them both up, but they’d probably at least think about it long and hard considering they’d hang onto Buch and their precious Kam Loe clone.
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 6, 2009 4:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think
that’s sustainable. With all due respect to Bowden, when you compare him with guys with similar GB, we should see a HR of about 7. Bowden’s career HR% is about 4%.
I don’t think avoiding HRs is a skill (at least not for guys with heavy FB tendencies), hence I worry about his numbers and how they’d translate to Texas.
by FirebatM3 on Feb 6, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd expect his HR rate
to climb a bit in TX, but I like the way he has adjusted to league level after promotion. He was young for his league at every level. After a mid-season promotion his stats suffer, but then improve with time while still being young for level. That happened 3 years in a row, with his K/BB, K and BB rates, and everthing else looking solid after some time at the new level.
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by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 1:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not talking about
HR% rising because of changes in home park. I’m talking about how much of his HR% is due to luck. Given his GB, you’d expect a much higher HR. I don’t think his current HR% are sustainable because of the amount of FBs he gives up. Therefore, I expect regression not only because of venue and better competition, but regression to the mean as well.
Do you believe his MiL HR% is sustainable?
by FirebatM3 on Feb 6, 2009 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That is some pretty consistent luck
and again, his HR rate drops the longer he stays at a level. I do think he might have benefited from some luck, but I don’t think it’s a huge factor. Do you have any idea what the park factors are like at Greenville and his other stops?
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 1:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Having said all this
for the sake of argument, I still want the Rangers to aim higher, from Boston or another team. I would be ok with adding a piece to Salty to get a higher ceiling guy than someone like Bowden if necessary. But for now, I really want them to hold their ground.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 1:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
No, he's not a heavy flyball pitcher
Where did you get that info? It’s being repeated here and it simply isn’t true.
"drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes."
"i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation."
-- both these genius remarks brought to you by our resident guru, bigsteve
by tricer on Feb 6, 2009 12:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
he is a pretty heavy FB pitcher, including two instances of below 40% GB in the last 2 years and an average of around 40%. That’s pretty bad relative to other minor leaguers.
Brandon McCarthy, for example, had higher GB% during his ML career than Bowden has in his MiL career. Bowden’s numbers are comparable to guys like Javy Vazquez – well known FB pitchers.
by FirebatM3 on Feb 6, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
K rate
8.03 at AAA. Pretty damn good.
"drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes."
"i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation."
-- both these genius remarks brought to you by our resident guru, bigsteve
by tricer on Feb 6, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
oops, my bad
K rate was 8.03 for the year, at AAA it was 6.42 – so you do have a valid point there. My apologies.
"drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes."
"i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation."
-- both these genius remarks brought to you by our resident guru, bigsteve
by tricer on Feb 6, 2009 12:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm really not sure
how well the K rates of guys like BOwden translate. Guys like Yusmeiro Petit also had high K% in AA and AAA, but it certainly hasn’t translated to the majors. Kam Loe’s K% in AAA was hovering around 19%. I’m just not sure if we can count on a guy like Bowden translating his AAA performance to ML pergormance
by FirebatM3 on Feb 6, 2009 12:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
would people do a...
Salty/Poveda for Bowden/Bard/Hagadone?
"Dear dumb ass folowers of FSMism,
There have been a lot of weird things that i have seen in my life before, but this tops them all. Do you really believe that there is/was such a thing as a flying spaghetti monster? Seriously, how fucking old are you? I know there’s such a thing as freedom of speech and expression, but this kinda shit should be banned. Theres is only one God and one Holy Word. Why dont you people get that? How much sense does it make to say that decreasing numbers of pirates lead to an increase in average global temperature? Is that science or some fifth grader trying to sound smart?"
–Sincerly,
ANONYMOUS
The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster (http://www.venganza.org/)
by 8legs2fangs on Feb 6, 2009 12:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
In a heartbeat
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
by TheJeezus on Feb 6, 2009 1:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
How about?
Salty/Poveda for Bowden/Hagadone/Reddick?
by sftxfan on Feb 6, 2009 1:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think
Boston would give up 3 of their top 5 prospects for Salty and Poveda.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on Feb 6, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Screw Bard
Don’t really even want him. One-pitch relievers with histories of major control problems do not impress me much. Tell Theo we’ll settle for Bowden and Hagadone, or he can suck it.
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 6, 2009 4:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Bowden's
numbers in the minors are excellent. I think he’d be a decent return for Salty. I’ve always heard that Salty is an above average hitter for a catcher, but after watching him last year and reviewing his minor league numbers I don’t see that he is a monster-in-waiting.
by texasdoc on Feb 6, 2009 11:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
The Rangers wanted Clay Buchholz and were told he wasn’t available. But the Rangers still like many pitchers in the Red Sox organization.
I would love to see a Salty for Bowden + Bard trade. I could also see Masterson included instead of Bowden. The above is enough to give me hope that I’m not going to be looking at Tek for 75% of Boston’s games.
However I could also see the above quote as a rephrasing of the “2 of Masterson/ Bowden/ Hagadone”, which is just as much a non-starter as Buchholz.
"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.
by OCD SS on Feb 6, 2009 11:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
OK, Hagadone
He’s a lot within any package. Real high ceiling, with a bit of risk.
As to the others, Law had something yesterday that comes to mind…
I don’t think that player values are linear – two three-win players do not equal one six-win player.
Justin Masterson or Michael Bowden headlining a deal…just doesn’t wow me. Even if it’s both together.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Feb 6, 2009 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The Keith Law quote
I think that’s how JD is viewing this whole thing.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 6, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Especially considering
How many prospects the Rangers have that project to be #3, #4, #5 starters. We need more potential aces, especially considering the 40-man cluster-fuck that’s approaching in a couple of years.
by BuckyB on Feb 6, 2009 2:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
We're going to see a lot of nice talents
get picked up in Rule V drafts or have to be traded away early just to get something in return when that time comes up.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 6, 2009 3:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think what Law says is accepted fact, but the difference is that Salty doesn’t project to be worth that much more (if any at all) than either Bowden or Masterson. CHONE has him at ~1.5 WAR.
Young, cost controlled starting pitching is always at a premium, and I don’t see any team giving up more than one in a deal for another unproven player.
"I'd like to f*ck Sandra Bullock." - Pedro Martinez, explaining his secret ambition to Sports Illustrated for Kids.
by OCD SS on Feb 6, 2009 12:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
None of this is short-term
The Rangers and Red Sox are both looking for long-term answers. Looking at CHONE projections for this season just doesn’t matter nearly as much as what these two teams project for these players after next year.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Feb 6, 2009 12:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Masterson appears to be an effective bullpen pitcher. He doesn’t have the repertoire to retire LHH consistently.
An everyday offensive catcher is worth more than that. Literally, Masterson only makes sense as a secondary piece. Might just be my take.
Bowden is an unknown with flyball tendencies drawing, at best, mixed reviews. That’s not a premium.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Feb 6, 2009 12:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Bowden's flyball tendencies
For his career he’s allowed 41.8% GB and 41.1% FB. Last year he had a slight FB tendency, but it doesn’t look like he has exaggerated FB splits at all.
"drawing walks is an overrated trait in my eyes."
"i do believe we could have 4 30 start pitchers in the rotation."
-- both these genius remarks brought to you by our resident guru, bigsteve
by tricer on Feb 6, 2009 12:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That's pretty exaggerated
relative to other minor league pitchers. I think it’s one of the lowest among the top 100 prospects.
by FirebatM3 on Feb 6, 2009 12:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
But JD might like a deal
with a 3-win player ready now and a couple of guys years away who might become 6 win players.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Feb 6, 2009 12:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Probably the only realistic possibility
if Theo just will not unclench his fist from around Buchholz.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Feb 6, 2009 12:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
This discussion simply won't die.
You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?
by oc on Feb 6, 2009 7:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Jayson Stark on Eddie's contract:
We’ve seen limited no-trade clauses in our day. But we’ve never seen one quite like the clause — or clauses — in Eddie Guardado’s new contract with the Rangers.
First off, Guardado signed only a minor-league contract. So none of this even comes into play unless he makes the big-league team (which, of course, is likely). But this has to be the most creative trade/no-trade provision in any minor-league deal in history. Ready? Here goes:
• If Guardado gets traded to an AL Central or NL Central team, he gets paid an extra 100,000 bucks.
• If he gets traded to an AL East or NL East team, he’ll collect $250,000.
• He can also pick four teams — from any division — that would generate an even bigger bonus — i.e., $500,000 — if the Rangers trade him to any of those destinations.
• But if he gets dealt to an AL West or NL West team? That nets him zero dollars.
So what does this tell us about Every Day Eddie? He’s a home-body.
“At this stage of Eddie’s career and life, he doesn’t want to play too far from home,” Rangers GM Jon Daniels told Rumblings. “He’s got three young kids. So he doesn’t want to be too far from them, on the west coast.”
Good to know. So just keep all this in mind in case the trading deadline comes around and Guardado is being rumored to land in New York or Philly, OK? You’ll need to remember his division-by-division breakdown. There’s going to be a quiz.
"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 6, 2009 12:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I bet not trading him to a division rival also has something to do with that
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Feb 6, 2009 12:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think that we're going to be too worried
About sending Guardado to a division opponent… Not exactly a deal that would restructure the face of the AL West
by BuckyB on Feb 6, 2009 2:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Very Interesting
but I don’t think this effects his tradability at all. The bonus payments seem to match up pretty well with the ability of the receiving team to pay. A trade to the East gets him more money – which Boston, New York, et al. would be more than willing to pay. A trade to the Central gets him less of a bonus, which makes a trade to MN easier to sell. Seems like a well-drafted contract for both the Rangers and Eddie.
by Jack Nicholson 1974 on Feb 6, 2009 12:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
at least he has this shit up front in his contract
and he does the very rational thing of compensating himself instead of just having no trade clauses. There is a price for everything. If you think your kids will be traumatized by you not being there for them for the next 3 months, use the extra 200K you get and buy them hoverbikes
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Feb 6, 2009 12:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Rounds 21-25 with Rob Neyer taking Cruz at 88:
"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 6, 2009 1:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Wow, if this has been posted elsewhere, I missed it
Hi there, I’m Matt Fuckin Bush, and I’m a colossal jackass:
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/feb/06/1s6bush03277-padres-cut-ties-matt-bush/?padres
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=2271
I love this quote: “I just have to stay humble and work hard.” It juxtaposes so well with " ’I’m Matt (expletive) Bush,’ and ‘(expletive) East County,’ before driving over a curb in his Mercedes when leaving the campus, according to the witness."
Ill give him one thing: East County does kind of suck, except for the casinos.
Nah, noob.
by Brian Thomas on Feb 6, 2009 1:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
The Rebirth of Leaf
How big of a douche do you have to be to be a #1 pick and, four-plus years after the fact, be fighting with high school lacrosse players?
He sounds like baseball’s version of Ryan Leaf.
by Mister Naxal on Feb 6, 2009 1:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Do you think T.R. just copy/pastes this every couple weeks?
“The Red Sox have Jason Varitek but they are still interested in procuring a young catcher for the future. The Rangers wanted Clay Buchholz and were told he wasn’t available. But the Rangers still like many pitchers in the Red Sox organization.”
by MeanMr.Mustard on Feb 6, 2009 2:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Naw
I think he’s just getting a little senile, and forgets every couple weeks that he’s already reiterated that several million times.
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 6, 2009 4:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Can someone smarter than me explain this?
Why is it that the Brewers aren’t getting any picks in return for Sabathia?
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
by TheJeezus on Feb 6, 2009 2:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Thats wrong
They won’t receive any first round picks but they will get a supplemental for CC and a 2nd rounder from the Yankees. The Angels will get NYs 1st rounder.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Feb 6, 2009 3:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
hot stove
was saying the rangers were still offering him some form of a 2 year deal/
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on Feb 6, 2009 7:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Hey Shep
Shoot me an email, I got a question for ya.
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 6, 2009 9:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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