The Rangers must be thrilled
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 11, 2009 8:18 PM CDT
88 comments
The Rangers are supposedly already a bit put out with the Venezuelan WBC people, who assured Ranger management that Max Ramirez would be starting in the first round games, and then went with Ramon Hernandez behind the plate throughout round 1.
And now, for today's game against the U.S., Venezuela sat Hernandez...and started Henry Blanco at catcher instead. Although Ramirez is now in the game as a late-inning replacement for Miguel Cabrera.
Max has gotten almost no playing time during the WBC, a situation that, had the Rangers known it would be the case, I imagine would have resulted in Max staying in Surprise for spring training, instead.
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Ehhh, frak the WBC
Can we just tell them we want Max back if they’re not going to play him, or would that be too politically incorrect?
"You can have such a massive impact on a game even when you're not getting ground balls hit at you." - Michael Young
by lonestarJon on Mar 11, 2009 8:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hes at the plate now
His second PA.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on Mar 11, 2009 8:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
And by the way
While i was wondering where max was and the rangers are probably annoyed, in general the wbc has been great so far. Lots of competitive fun games.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on Mar 11, 2009 8:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The management of
the DR, PR and Venezuelan clubs has stunk. This little stunt with Ramirez is the sort of thing that could cost them his services in three years, when he could be one of their couple most important players.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 11, 2009 8:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
max probably
how about when they come calling for andrus or martin perez
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 11, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
are either of them venezuelan?
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 Mar 11, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
um?
you think I just guessed? Or I just went by skin color?
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 11, 2009 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Ya just did. Racist. I bet you think they like peppers and wear ponchos too??
"Well-well look. I already told you: I deal with the god damn customers so the engineers don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?"-Tom Smykowski Office Space.
by Section 339 on Mar 11, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
just figured you thought they were latin american
but didn know if you meant DR or venezuela
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 Mar 11, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
i reread Z’s post and realized that he implicated three clubs, not just Venezuela.
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 11, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
I was specifically pointing to Venezuela on the management of our player and potential detriment to their own interests. With D.R., it’s Alou’s ridiculous game management that I’d take issue with.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 11, 2009 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
"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 Mar 11, 2009 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i like that i hurt your feelings by calling you a dick
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 11, 2009 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well the actual response
Was a give up, obviously.
This one was just good-natured ball-busting.
by brettgardner on Mar 11, 2009 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i like that you busted my balls
wait…
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 11, 2009 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Andrus is born in Venezuela, signed out of the D.R. and JD said something about him going to school in the Bronx.
So I guess he has all sorts of options.
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hmm
i didn’t realize he was signed out of the D.R. I had just always known him as Venezuelan (and it came up again recently when they were talking about Vizquel being a mentor)
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 11, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't know he was Venezuelan until yesterday.
I should have assumed a light hitting shortstop with plus speed and defense was from Venezuela, but I didn’t.
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Venezuela
It’s a ploy by Hugo Chavez to bring down that capitalist Tom Hicks. Yep. Conspiratora de Caracas.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Mar 11, 2009 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i was actually thinking about this earlier today
and how if we did withhold martin perez and the WBC actually got big, how Hugo might pull a Fidel and block off all future talent and demand we return Martin to them. The Rangers would be at the center of a geopolitical conflict.
fun times.
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 11, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has PR really stunk?
They’ve seemed pretty logical from what I’ve seen.
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I assume you mean 4 years, btw, right?
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
are they going to every 4 years?
b/c the first two have been 3 years apart right? wasn’t the original in 2006?
Don't you ever damn call here again
by SaltyDawg on Mar 11, 2009 11:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, it's every four from now on.
I keep forgetting the last one was only three, but that’s a one time thing. Or at least that’s the plan at this point.
by philkid3 on Mar 12, 2009 4:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
MaxRam strikes out looking.
I blame the lack of PA.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Mar 11, 2009 8:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
And for some reason I feel the urge to buy a shamwow.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Mar 11, 2009 8:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If you like shamwow follow me
you’ll love our other products
"Well-well look. I already told you: I deal with the god damn customers so the engineers don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?"-Tom Smykowski Office Space.
by Section 339 on Mar 11, 2009 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I cant believe im rooting for Pedroia
"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 Mar 11, 2009 8:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
We just saw some seriously
balanced catching.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 11, 2009 8:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Was stealing there a good call?
"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 Mar 11, 2009 8:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
whats the reasoning?
It wasnt even a hit and run. Its not like he was the tieing run or is a great basestealer these days.
Oh well, usa is in the second round anyway.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on Mar 11, 2009 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
On a side note:
I really like this new HD player on MLB.tv
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Mar 11, 2009 8:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
what an effing stupid Manager
absolutely moronic. Whoever it is, he’s almost as bad as Maddon now…
Stability is key, and JD is a Beast.
Jindal - 2012
"AMMIITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABHH!!!"
by Longhorn on Mar 11, 2009 8:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
WBC
does anyone even care about this shitty tourney?
by kumizi on Mar 11, 2009 8:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Have you watched any of it?
They are least have the competitive edge that ST lacks even if its an unproven tournament. And the games have been competitive, I’ve enjoyed it a lot.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on Mar 11, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones who start
To mold a new reality
Shitty it is not
Shitty it is not
The blacksmith and the artist
Reflect it in their art
They forge their creativity
Shitty it is not
Shitty it is not
by shroomer on Mar 11, 2009 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've watched just about every game.
even the games from Japan at 4 am…
Serenity now, insanity later.
-Lloyd Braun
by Kevin McBrayer on Mar 12, 2009 12:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its been great so far.
You should watch it.
by JBImaknee on Mar 12, 2009 2:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um...so I just saw Jeter thrown out...
How far behind am I?
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Mar 11, 2009 8:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Nevermind...game over.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Mar 11, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I noticed he wasnt playing and was kind of pissed as well.
Furthermore, its not exactly like they have Brian McCann in front of him…give me a break
by Horns130 on Mar 11, 2009 9:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Since I appear to be one of the few people who actually likes the WBC and wants teams to field the best team possible. . .
. . . I couldn’t care less.
Though I do think Max is better than Henry Blanco, Blanco’s rape fest today notwithstanding.
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 9:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i look at it
like the pro bowl. although the upset last night was pretty cool. maybe id care about it more if i had mlb network
btw anyone watchin south park right now? pretty funny
go here to view my blog: http://dirtfromd.blogspot.com
by studcrackers on Mar 11, 2009 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I definitely don't look at like the Pro Bowl.
And the more it’s treated like the Pro Bowl the more upset I’d get.
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've missed sout park while it's been gone
Not a bad comeback, I like when people go after disney.
Don't you ever damn call here again
by SaltyDawg on Mar 12, 2009 12:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
in the grand scheme of things
I don’t think it matter too much of MAx isn’t playing in the WBC. He is headed to OKC no matter the number of ABs he were to get in ST.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on Mar 11, 2009 9:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I didn't watch the game, but:
In a game where we threw out 8 pitchers, why did we allow Guthrie to give up 7 hits and 2 walks?
by BuckyB on Mar 11, 2009 10:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If the WBC is going to be taken seriously...
MLB teams need to step out of the way.
I realize it’s during Spring Training, but if a player is on his national team, that should be his team, with no interference from the major league club. And definitely no promises or “understandings” between ML teams and national teams about at-bats, pitch counts, etc..
by AmnGuest2006 on Mar 11, 2009 10:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Sovereignty
As far as I’m concerned, the WBC should be about each country trying to prove its dominance.
With the outside interference, instead of “my country is better than yours”, it becomes, “my major league management is less anal than yours”. At some point, MLB string-pulling will affect game outcomes, if it hasn’t already.
I understand that in reality the whole tournament is just a massive international marketing campaign. But I just want to see all of the baseball decisions made on the field. The less guys in suits that involved, the better.
by AmnGuest2006 on Mar 11, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Meh.
MLB is much more important. Nothing wrong with WBC being subservient.
by brettgardner on Mar 11, 2009 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, the MLB is more important.
And I think that’s his point. Not that the MLB shouldn’t be, but that it can’t be for the WBC to really be taken seriously.
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm confused
Are you/he saying that the only way the WBC is legitimate is if it’s essentially a MLB World League?
by brettgardner on Mar 11, 2009 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's already legit to some level, just not as legit as it could be.
And I think it would reach that level if the only considerations were putting together the best team possible with all players wanting to participate and teams only worrying about how they can win the game they’re playing.
I certainly don’t think that’s going to happen, though, nor does it have to for me to at least enjoy the WBC.
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess
A round robin tourney would never convince me that Team A is unquestionably better than Team B, and that therefore Country A is better than Country B.
Accepting that, I think it’s just a nice little distraction with a few good players. More than anything, it’s baseball before baseball, and that’s all it has to be for me.
by brettgardner on Mar 11, 2009 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh shoot, no short tournament is ever going to convince me of who's the best.
A tournament a terrible way to determine the best team on any level.
It’s about entertainment more than actually deciding who’s the best. In baseball the regular season is a whole lot better at that than the playoffs, but I still like the playoffs.
And I don’t need the WBC to be more to enjoy it, I just understand the original post of the dude who started this tangent and would like it even more if it was more.
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
MLB is definitely is more important to me, but I'm not the target demographic.
But say a national team has 10 major leaguers. If each player’s playing time is dictated by a different major league club, it’s not going to work. The goal should be to win the tournament, not to make execs happy with your decisions.
When a player is on the Venezuelan team, he should be strictly a Venezuelan player at that point. Not a Texas Ranger who is temporarily wearing another uniform in order to sell MLB to the world. The real popularity increase will come from the international pride aspect of the tournament, and not so much from the star power.
If that means you need to go with amateurs to make it really about the competition, so be it. I’d rather watch players going all out than stars dipping their toes in any day.
I’m an unapologetic purist, by the way. F*ck the DH, more small ball, and all that. So that’s where I’m coming from.
by AmnGuest2006 on Mar 11, 2009 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've never understood
Why small ball is purity.
But I’d be fine with all amateurs as well. As I said, it’s all just baseball to me.
by brettgardner on Mar 11, 2009 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
did Babe Ruth play small ball?
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 11, 2009 11:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd love to see
How much small ball took place in Murderer’s Row.
by brettgardner on Mar 11, 2009 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Home runs are like field goals...
If you have a kicker who can kick 60 yard field goals, you only have to play a small amount of the game. And it’s boring. Grind it out for 20 yards to get into position, and kick it.
Whereas if your kicker sucks, you have to get creative and make things happen. More movement, more excitement, less predictability.
I’m not against home runs, I’m against relying on them to the point that if you aren’t hitting them, you’re not scoring.
BTW, if I was running the sports world, I’d narrow the goalposts by 50%.
by AmnGuest2006 on Mar 12, 2009 12:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You have to be the only person in the world
Who thinks small ball and ball-control offenses are not boring.
The field goal analogy is pretty inapt since a HR is an integral part of the game and can happen at any time, while a field goal, no matter the distance, never happens except as a last resort when the offense has failed.
by brettgardner on Mar 12, 2009 12:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't understand what makes it purity, either.
I would think pure baseball is just doing whatever it takes to win within the rules.
by philkid3 on Mar 12, 2009 5:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I don’t think purity = “the way we did it a long time ago.”
If the steroid era had come first (meaning lots of homeruns, not necessarily the drug culture) — that would be considered “pure.”
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Mar 12, 2009 7:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's just an untenable position
the MLB pays these players huge guaranteed salaries. They can’t have some dipshit manager (and many of these managers are proving to be dipshits) extending an arm out in early march.
The business of baseball is much greater than any supposed world baseball sovereignty.
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 11, 2009 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the alternative is no MLB stars and a joke of a tourney.
right now it might not be established but its a reasonable success.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on Mar 11, 2009 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
While it will never happen for logical reasons.
You’re right it needs to happen for the WBC to really be what people want it to be.
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 11:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really?
I’m fine with the way it is.
by brettgardner on Mar 11, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm "fine" with it, too.
I’d love it more if it was really the best competition putting together the best teams with their best attempt to win and no considerations put towards other leagues.
I understand the reason it’s not that way and I’m not suggesting a radical change or anything, just saying it would make it the most legit it can be.
by philkid3 on Mar 11, 2009 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its a work in progress
I don’t think its fair to expect things to gel together perfectly in only a couple of tries. Already, this year’s tournament is far stronger than 2006’s, with the double elimination brackets instead of round robins.
Some of the teams are definitely improved in style & seriousness. In the last tournament, it was pretty clear that Korea, Japan, and Cuba were the teams that took it the most seriously, and thus it wasn’t surprising that they did really well. This time around, more teams look ready to play. Puerto Rico and Venezuela have both been impressive, and so has the US. The players look more prepared in general. Last time, it seemed like the professional players just showed up like they would the first week of ST and thought they’d do well.
I think there is a grumpy demographic who wants to see this fail because they think any international competition is lame, or they have ultra-high expectations that just aren’t realistic. It won’t ever be the same caliber as the World Cup – but it is already far more interesting and relevant than Olympic baseball or even basketball has ever been. Baseball is the team sport after soccer best suited to widespread international competition. Lets embrace that.
by JBImaknee on Mar 12, 2009 2:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was extremely skeptical about this working out
But this year has shown me that it can be a success. Its just like you said, its still a work in progress, but as long as players are coming prepared to play, it looks like it can continue being much better. Teams like the DR who are supposed to be favorites are learning that they can’t come in like its ST and will have something to prove the next time around. That’s just going to make it a better product next time around.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Mar 12, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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