Monday morning things
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 16, 2009 9:53 AM CDT
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PrintRangers win yesterday. Yay!
Derek Holland impressed, and Chris Davis homered, as he seems to be coming out of his funk. Jeff Wilson says that although Kevin Millwood allowed 4 runs in 5 innings, he didn't allow a well-hit ball off of him, which would be encouraging.
The Rangers are off today, and when play resumes Monday, Hank Blalock will be back in the lineup, despite coming out early in Sunday's game with some quad tightness.
Evan Grant has a plethora of notes up, including talk about Marlon Byrd's role on this team along with discussion of Kevin Millwood, C.J. Wilson, and Derek Holland, among other folks...
Jeff WIlson writes about the longer spring training this year, and how it is impacting preparation.
Wilson also has some notes up, including some quotes from Dustin Nippert about trying to make the team.
Tommy Hunter has a right groin strain, so he'll likely be on the shelf for a little while.
Richard Durrett talks about the catching situation and how playing time should be split between Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden.
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catchers
Im perfectly fine with a 100/60 split between Salty and Teagarden this year. And if Salty continues hitting like he has in spring then I wouldn’t be opposed to bumping him up to 110 or 115 or so games. I think offensively Teagarden will be most effective in shorter stints while if Salty is swinging a good bat his offense can make up for whatever deficiencies defensively he has.
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.
Salty Tea
I say give Salty the brunt of the work the first half of the season with Tea spelling him once or twice a week. Let Salts do his thing, get in a groove, refine his defense and look all pretty for another club and hopefully by then a club will be in need… voila… a quality starting pitcher nugget is before your eyes. Trade Salts …Tea starts the majority of the games in the second half with Max spelling him.
What's the Nef tally??
Why would you trade the younger of the two
Especially with Teagardens injury history. If Salty is in a groove offensively he is much more valuable to us. I don’t want to see us turn into a small ball club. Im all for not allowing the other team to score but why should we sacrifice our own offense, especially in the park we play at. The difference defensively between Teagarden and Salty isn’t big enough to offset the difference offensively (if Salty realizes his potential).
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.
If he's doing his thing and in his groove (channeling Disco Stu a bit today, LAMF?) then why would we want to deal him?
Assuming he’s performing up to his talent Salty’s the one we should keep.
He’s got the highest ceiling by far.
Best case scenario the quality starting pitching nugget is gonna be young and unproven, probably an AA or below guy.
If Salty is performing up to his potential I’d rather have him here over the long haul than send him out for another young promising minor league arm to throw against the wall.
I mean who would you rather have, Salty performing up to his tools, or a really nice young arm like, say just as an example, Jarrod Parker?
Given the makeup of this system and where we’re trying to go in the next two years… I’d prolly take Salty.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I love you, Marcus Lemon.
"I don’t have any respect for anybody on here. Everyone on here is a fucking asshole who thinks they’re god compared to everyone else." -iorange555, throwing one of his patented sandy-vagina'd hissy fits.
by thedirkatron on Mar 16, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Max Ramirez read this post and started crying.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Mar 16, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
why would i want to trade him?
ummm quality pitching… you know the thing that’s been missing from the equation for ummm going on 30 plus years now.
What's the Nef tally??
I'd much rather have Jarrod Parker (or someone similar)
but that’s just me.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
Even if he's doing a pretty good Brian McCann imitation come July?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I love you, Marcus Lemon.
"I don’t have any respect for anybody on here. Everyone on here is a fucking asshole who thinks they’re god compared to everyone else." -iorange555, throwing one of his patented sandy-vagina'd hissy fits.
by thedirkatron on Mar 16, 2009 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions
btw .. Salty + an outfielder ...
or whoever to get the quality pitching… not alone
What's the Nef tally??
well ...
a) Tea IMO is going to be a pretty good offensive player not as good as Salts but given the difference in defense I’d be quite happy with him here long term.
b) Salts has yet to prove he’s going to be all that good defensively…when I say refine his defense i mean make an improvement on what is at the moment not all that great.
quite honetly I wouldn’t mind having either one of them but for a change it would be nice to see defense take the lead, tons of offense over the years has gotten us nowhere.
What's the Nef tally??
Teagarden
If by pretty good you mean low average with decent power and walks alot then ok hes good. But Salty looks to be a better offensive player. Better average, similar OBP, and more power. Saltys offense IMO makes up the difference in their defense and given that we shouldn’t be trying to be a small ball club offense is pretty important.
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.
you really can't go wrong with either..
right now I think you have to do whatever you have to do to get top notch pitching, this is not a new development.
What's the Nef tally??
Depends how much offense you sacrifice
If its Salty + an outfielder, who is that OF? Nelson Cruz? Murphy? Boggs? Thats alot of offense to give away. If people think we are going to become a team that wins 3-2 games constantly I think thats crazy. It would be nice to be able to win those type games on a regular basis but with our park the way it is, the benefit of a good young pitcher isn’t enough if you give away guys like Salty and Cruz or whoever.
We have plentyy of good young pitching on the horizon, very close might I add. This isn’t like in the past where we haven’t had 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.
I doubt if there will be many ..
3 to 2 games with Hamilton, Young, Kinsler, Davis, Cruz, Murphy and Smoak on the horizon.. even if it was Boggs for instance. At some point you have to get some pitching in here….the same ole heavy handed offensive theory has lead to a big bag full of poo.
What's the Nef tally??
Cruz hasn't proven he's worth a ton.
I hope he can put it together outside of September 2008, but so far he hasn’t shown that he contributes “alot [sic] of offense.”
by FuturePants on Mar 16, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Holland
makes my pants happy.
"Come on man you have to admit the average guy in a baseball clubhouse...... is relatively a douchebag." BGL.
The 2008-2009 Dallas Mavericks are the biggest teases in the world.
you need to check your sources adam
hank blalock is out for the season. lsb reactions told me so
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 16, 2009 11:41 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Millwood
although Kevin Millwood allowed 4 runs in 5 innings, he didn’t allow a well-hit ball off of him, which would be encouraging.
Isn’t that the prototypical Millwood start? He goes out there, pitches six or seven frames. No big innings, no balls hit to Neptune, doesn’t walk everyone he faces, and yet somehow at the end of the sixth, the other team has 4 runs on the board?
I thought about that, too
Milly never seems like he should be losing or allowing that many runs, and yet, there they are.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
This explains Alot...
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:5qQl5jcNwmoJ:roundingbases.blogspot.com/2008/12/kevin-millwood-good-idea.html+milwood+fip&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a
Rocky Mountain Ranger
Its because he just isn't that good anymore
He never gets hit that hard, but he doesn’t do much to help himself out either.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
so what do people think of arias's chances of starting in the majors?
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
50/50
Looks like right now he’d beat the tail of Omar Vizquel.
If the numbers don’t fade dramatically the odds improve.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Mar 16, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Chances he is a Ranger come August 1st?
"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
His chances of starting for a Major League team at some point in his Major League career
I’d go with 75. The chances of him being a regular starter on a year-year basis is 15. The chances of him doing that for the Rangers is 0%.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
I thought the question was whether he breaks camp with the Rangers, either as starter or util.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Mar 17, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Jamey on The Fan
-Ben and Skin talking intangibles: Michael Young is the unambiguous leader; Hamilton is more media savvy; Hamilton’s story is amazing.
-Mostly a young clubhouse.
Two callers:
“Who’s generating buzz like Hamilton last year?”
Jamey: that’s a huge rarity, but Jarrod’s great; B&S suggest Holland
“How long before Holland’s a FA?”
Jamey: 6 full years
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
B&S: When will the team get some pitching?
Jamey talks about pennant teams who had Ken Hill; now the philosophy is to reduce bullpen workload by getting a consistent 6 innings from starters.
B&S: Who’s behind Millwood and Padilla?
Jamey: Harrison’s a good 3/4 candidate; McCarthy they’re counting on to take the next step; Feldman figures at 5 but could easily switch to long relief when Holland’s ready.
Caller: What prospect pitcher is most worthy of attention? Diamond?
Jamey: He had a chance to maybe win a job in middle relief; at this point, he’ll go to AAA and still be on the 2009 map.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Mar 16, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions
JD on Ben and Skiin
B&S: Everything’s going cool
JD: blah blah blah
B&S: There are young guys making hard decisions for you…Smoak, eg. Who’s making it tough on you?
JD: It’s all about the bullpen, those are the decisions they have to make. Young players have stepped up, but Smoak isn’t a decision they have to make. He’ll make an impact, but it’ll be later.
B&S: With Smoak, if he did play this year in the majors, is he a 25-HR guy already?
JD: Might be, he has the ability to hit ML pitching.
B&S: One guy everyone’s curious about is Holland…seeing him yesterday he looks like a…young guy, like a dude at the Y. But he’s wowing everyone.
JD: It’s all been positive. Andrus is following Young around, and Holland’s absorbing everything from Maddux. He’s got an advanced approach, feel for 3 pitches, but developing breaking ball and change, but he can compete with what he’s got. He’s really athletic.
B&S: Amazing it gets swept under the rug, but you’ve got good chemistry, good vibe in the org. Good character guys. How much emphasis do you put on that?
JD: We talk about it with scouting and development, they do classroom sessions. And so on.
B&S: Do you like Wu Tang Clan? (serious)
JD: I think I did an interview right when I got the job, said it’s in my iPod. I think Wu Tang Clan’s the best thing Staten Island’s given the world.
B&S: Does Nolan like the Wu?
B&S: [so much of a softball I couldn’t catch it…something about the minors system’s really good]
B&S: What’s Maddux’s impact on the staff?
JD: He has easy intelligent conversation with everybody…
B&S: Is your phone ringing off the hook with the minors system here?
JD: It’s fun to get asked about the young players, don’t want to give up these guys…
B&S: Would you rather have the best minors system or an owner who spends $300m?
JD: The system, it’s tried and true.
B&S: How many deals don’t happen?
JD: [talks about how it spikes at certain times of year, then talks about the system of considering packages.]
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
I think that question about the minors that you didn't catch
Was the one where JD said the short term goal a couple of years ago was to develop the best minor league system with the long term goal being to win a WS. He said that now the short term goal is to win a WS and the long term goal is to keep the minor league system as a strength while still competing with the Major League team.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Uh...
Give me the owner willing to tolerate a 300mm payroll.
Yankees vs. Rays
Which team do you think has the brighter future?
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Neither team has a $300 million payroll
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 16, 2009 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Its not an exact comparison
but its pretty much the best comparison out there right now. The Yankees and their 200 million dollar payroll vs. the low payroll Rays who have built one of the strongest farm systems in baseball.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Let's say you were a GM and had to win the most possible World Series over the next ten years.
You had the choice of taking over The Yanks, with an owner willing to spend 200+ million per year, or The Rays a cash strapped org with a good young nucleus of talent and a good farm system.
Personally I’d take the Yanks.
They have WAY more margin for error.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I love you, Marcus Lemon.
"I don’t have any respect for anybody on here. Everyone on here is a fucking asshole who thinks they’re god compared to everyone else." -iorange555, throwing one of his patented sandy-vagina'd hissy fits.
by thedirkatron on Mar 16, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep
and with that kind of money you can spend lots on player development, scouting, international signings, injury depth/replacement players, quality bench, look at what Boston did this winter with rotation backups, holy crap.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
...
That’s not really the point of the question or at least how I interpret the question. Ideally, you take the 300 million dollars and use that to build a strong Major League team and a top farm system. But if given the choice between signing another Tex and CC each winter vs. starting the season with the top farm system in baseball, which one do you take?
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Also
The #4 farm system versus the #15 isn’t really a have/have not situation.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 16, 2009 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Long term? The Yankees.
The Rays basically need everything to go right from year to year to stay competitive.
The Yanks can go out and buy the two best players in FA every year if they want.
Plus this question kind of glosses over the fact that if your owner is willing to spend like that you can pretty much buy the best farm system in the league if you want to.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I love you, Marcus Lemon.
"I don’t have any respect for anybody on here. Everyone on here is a fucking asshole who thinks they’re god compared to everyone else." -iorange555, throwing one of his patented sandy-vagina'd hissy fits.
by thedirkatron on Mar 16, 2009 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Don't take the question B&S asked too literally
There is no team in baseball that has 300 million dollars. Also, yeah you can buy the best farm system in baseball, but its kind of like asking someone if they had 3 wishes, what would they wish for. Yeah, you can say I’d wish for a million more wishes, but that’s not really the point.
The Rays don’t need everything to go right from year to year because they always have good internal options. When you have the top minor league system like the Rangers have, you are going to have new high ceiling talent be ready for the Majors each year. If someone goes down, that just creates an opening for one of the young guys to come in and prove themselves.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
You really think the Rays have as much margin for error as a free spending team like the Yanks?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I love you, Marcus Lemon.
"I don’t have any respect for anybody on here. Everyone on here is a fucking asshole who thinks they’re god compared to everyone else." -iorange555, throwing one of his patented sandy-vagina'd hissy fits.
by thedirkatron on Mar 16, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions
They don't
I think a team depending on the top minor league system will probably end up with a couple of down years in a 10 year period when you have some extra busts (in addition to the usual busts each system goes through), bad luck with injuries, or just a small gap between waves of talent. A team like the Yankess though will always manage to win at least 87-89 games a season. I still would bet on the team that has the players under the age of 30 and the depth in the minors to deal with in-season injuries over the team filled with guys near the end of their prime or well past it and already have years of wear and tear on their body.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
How many championships have the free spending Yankees won?
How many did the home grown Yankees win?
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 usually try to just ignore you, but this is just so ignorant, even by Big Steve standards.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I love you, Marcus Lemon.
"I don’t have any respect for anybody on here. Everyone on here is a fucking asshole who thinks they’re god compared to everyone else." -iorange555, throwing one of his patented sandy-vagina'd hissy fits.
by thedirkatron on Mar 16, 2009 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Good comeback
doesn’t change the fact that they haven’t won a WS title since 2000 and when they were in the midst of their 4 titles in 5 year run they were a team with a core of young talented players that had come up through their farm system. Supplemented by veterans who were acquired either thru free agency or via trade using that farm system to acquire them. Once they started trying to just buy replacements wherever they needed they became merely a good team who underachieved.
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 don't even know how to respond when you say shit this mind bendingly ignorant, Big Steve.
I try to start writing a reasoned argument about how the teams of the late 90’s were largely mercenary and how their 2001+ teams have won an average of ~95+ games per year and been perilously close to a couple of World Titles and how one or two games which could’ve gone one way or another in a post season is a really unfair way to judge the success of one philosophy versus the failure of another… but all I keep coming back to is wanting to hurl insults at you for being such a fucking dipstick.
Reading your “thoughts” on this blog I’d swear you were illiterate… but then, how do you know what I’m saying?
Are you having this comment read aloud to you?
I bet you are.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
I love you, Marcus Lemon.
"I don’t have any respect for anybody on here. Everyone on here is a fucking asshole who thinks they’re god compared to everyone else." -iorange555, throwing one of his patented sandy-vagina'd hissy fits.
by thedirkatron on Mar 16, 2009 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ah the good ole blog bully
I must have missed the part where we all have to bow down to your excellence. Well you know what, I say fuck you. You’re not better than me. Trust me you haven’t done half the shit I’ve done in my life. Come talk to me when you find your balls and get a life. Until then you’re nothing but a little bitch who thinks their online personality makes them cool. And I guarantee you you wouldn’t be saying anything to me face to face. You’d cower like the little bitch you are.
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.
Here's your answer
Basically everything went right for them in their run, and since then a lot has gone wrong. Luck has played a part, and once you get to the playoffs, anything can happen, it doesn’t matter how many games your team won during the season.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
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