Wednesday morning things

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 18, 2009 10:54 AM CDT Comment 47 comments

The Rangers beat the snot out of Cliff Lee yesterday, but the most interesting performance may have been from Derrick Turnbow, who, Evan Grant notes, has allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk in his last three outings.

Scott Feldman was roughed up in the fifth yesterday, after 4 solid innings, but feels good about the progress he's making. Jeff Wilson also notes that C.J. Wilson and Luis Mendoza threw long toss yesterday in their efforts to return from blister problems.

Wilson also says that Warner Madrigal has a spot in the bullpen pretty much nailed down, and runs down the candidates for the remaining bullpen spots. Of note is that Wilson suggests that the Rangers will have an 8 man bullpen until April 16, when they need a 5th starter...that would mean that Matt Harrison would have to be optioned to AAA to start the season.

Andruw Jones is looking at his options, as it appears he isn't likely to be added to the Rangers' roster by his opt-out date. Marlon Byrd, meanwhile, has come back strong after early injury issues, as Grant talks about in a lengthy set up notes from yesterday.

0 recs | Comment 47 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Strop

What’s the timeline on him?

AA to start out, maybe some ML this year? Seems he’s fully recovered.

"[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 18, 2009 11:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's what I'm hoping for

I hope he can be on Frisco’s active roster to start the season.

by Brett Perryman on Mar 18, 2009 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why Frisco instead of OKC?

Just curious since there was some talk of him being in the ML bullpen to start the season if he was healthy.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Mar 18, 2009 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that that talk was misguided

He has seven innings above A-ball and not a lot of innings period, only 88 for his entire career. AA just seems natural to me, especially since he hasn’t pitched in a game for almost a year. I guess I wouldn’t be stunned by him starting in AAA, but AA makes the most sense to me. It’s not like he has to stay there for long if he hits the ground running.

by Brett Perryman on Mar 18, 2009 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He has had only 7 innings in AA

and is coming off an injury year so It makes sense to go slow. I guess he has been working out with the minor leaguers since camp opened and he should get into a game any day now. His trajectory is exactly the same as Madrigals, a fellow position player turned pitcher, and could very well reach the bigs by the end of July.

The x-factor, if he proves healthy, is that the rangers are tinkering around with his mechanics so he might need more time…

Profiles,Rosters,Rankings: To Iblum with Love

by Goyogringo on Mar 18, 2009 8:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm cautiously optimistic

It is a good sign when I read “the Rangers are tinkering around with his mechanics” and I don’t feel like that is the death sentence for a young pitcher like I felt last year and in season’s past.

Doctor please. Some more of these.

by tricer on Mar 18, 2009 8:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh

I’m excited to see (or hear) this guy at least once before Frisco opens. He has a really odd delivery, the kind you might look at and really want to fix, while maybe you should actually be thinking, nah, just keep doin’ what you’re doin’. Hopefully, someone will give a more detailed update on what they are trying to do with him and how he is or is not taking to it.

I’m glad Evan is back, as he manages to dig up that kind of dirt, the kind of interesting stuff that the FWST misses…

Profiles,Rosters,Rankings: To Iblum with Love

by Goyogringo on Mar 18, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Littleton claimed off waivers by Brewers

Not sure if everyone saw this, Kinslerhomer had it in fanshots.

"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels

by Randy Richardson on Mar 18, 2009 11:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep

No second player from the Red Sox now.

Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."

by boomer1 on Mar 18, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought I remembered

talk of another player if Littleton made the Red Sox opening day roster. But when I looked it up earlier, this press release said:

The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Beau Vaughan from Boston in order to complete the November 28 trade that sent right-handed pitcher Wes Littleton to the Red Sox.

I’m assuming when they say “complete”, that the deal is settled.

"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels

by Randy Richardson on Mar 18, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he was the first player

I think when they say complete they mean if Littleton didn’t make the 25 with Boston it would be complete. If he made it to Opening Day there would be another player in the deal.

Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."

by boomer1 on Mar 18, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

PTBNL was included, IIRC.

Give me Sheets or give me Offseason Blues Part III.

by Chase Irwin on Mar 18, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is what I thought

Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."

by boomer1 on Mar 18, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Harrison

The only thing that worries me is pitching on the 12th and then again on the 25th its gonna be hard for him to maintain a normal rhythm early on. Either he goes down to the minors and pitches on 3 days rest ( most likely on a strict pitch count) to get on rhythm or he pitches on 6 days rest in the minors which may mess him up.

If there was a way to push him back to the 26th that would allow him to go down to OKC and pitch on the 16th (3 days rest with a strict pitch limit) but then get in rhythm and pitch again on the 21st under normal rest and then have 4 days rest before the 26th in the majors.

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 Mar 18, 2009 11:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

if it is so terribly important to have an 8th man in the bullpen, then send Harrison to AAA and use someone else on the 12th. Otherwise, put him in the rotation regularly

Me – I’d use Feldman as a long reliever, spot starter until the 5th starter is actually required. Harrison is better than Feldman. Treat him that way.

by JBImaknee on Mar 18, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ditto

that is exactly how they should handle it imo as well

by Horns130 on Mar 18, 2009 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

After looking at it more I would use Nippert as the starter on the 12th and send harrison to OKC to start the year. he would pitch on the 10th (their 2nd game), 15th, and 20th before being called up and pitching on the 25th here

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 Mar 18, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That makes so much more sense

than bouncing Harrison around

by JBImaknee on Mar 18, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

guaranteed bullpen spots

why does anything have to be guaranteed yet? what if Mad Dog gets pummeled in his next two or three appearances? And why isn’t anyone talking about Rupe’s all but guaranteed spot because of his lack of options? What about Nippert? He has looked good AND has no options. Mad Dog has options and far less pitching experience, so why commit to him on March 18th when the club still has two to three weeks to make that determination.

And why the hell is Eddie Guardardo guaranteed a spot? That kills me. He has looked utterly hittable this spring (in a limited but possibly tellingly small sample size). He is too old to be a workhorse and will need to be used very sporadically to maintain any effectiveness, and his durability was really where his true value was as a reliever back in his prime. why take someone else off the 40 when we already have a guy in Gabbard on the 40 who can step in as a loogy? the team liked Gabbard enough to be the number three starter breaking camp last year, and now he isn’t even under consideration for a bullpen spot by March 18th because we have a “sure thing” in Eddie Guardardo?

If we are going to kill 40 spots on aging, one year guys, I would rather take a chance on a guy like Turnbow, who has shown the occasional ability to truly dominate.

I feel like I am on crazy pills.

by clark on Mar 18, 2009 12:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rupe didn't sound good yesterday, either.

(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."

by mtex on Mar 18, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he hasn't looked sharp

but we all know this team won’t slide him through waivers. JD can’t afford another Galarraga scenario and Rupe has the stuff to make this team pay.

by clark on Mar 18, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mentioned this in another post...

Turnbow’s spring:

2-28: 1 inning, 1 hit, 0 walks, 1 K, 0 earned runs
3-5: 1 inning, 0 hits, 3 walks, 2 Ks, 1 earned run
3-9: 1 inning, 0 hits, 0 walks, 0 Ks, 0 earned runs
3-14: 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 K, 0 earned runs
3-17: 1 inning, 0 hits, 0 walks, 3 Ks, 0 earned runs

1 bad outing, 1 absolutely dominant outing, 3 more very good outings

I think Turnbow is looking like a lock barring a couple more outings like his March 5th. I am fine with Madrigal making this team if he doesn’t implode…the best options, vs. those without options, I say. If Eddie didn’t have a history of coming through with consistency, I’d cut him. But he’s a pretty reliable veteran. Let’s see if he has anything left

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Mar 18, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

if you listened to the broadcasts/read the GDT, what was clear is that he was fooling hitters with his BB but had terrible FB command so those #s are deceiving. His last 2 outings have been better but it wouldnt surprise me if all of his Ks came on BBs and not FBs yesterday. If he can’t command his FB then he is going to get hammered once the games matter.

Profiles,Rosters,Rankings: To Iblum with Love

by Goyogringo on Mar 18, 2009 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You never PLAYED the Game.

Therefore, your opinion is useless. I mean, how can you talk stats and pitches if you never PLAYED the Game???

"...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 Mar 18, 2009 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh

I’ll put you down for “NO”.

I will say, however, and, I’m going to go out on a limb here: I am more of a ball player than Evan Grant.

Oh wait, I have a better one. When Evan Grant asked Chris Davis what he thought of Bill James’ optimistic power projections for him, he replied: “Bill Who?”

Profiles,Rosters,Rankings: To Iblum with Love

by Goyogringo on Mar 18, 2009 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

2009 Turnbow : 2008 Franklyn German

Doctor please. Some more of these.

by tricer on Mar 18, 2009 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

one more HSO

retread relievers that can’t throw strikes suck, ST results be damned.

Doctor please. Some more of these.

by tricer on Mar 18, 2009 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gabbard wasn't the #3 starter breaking camp last year

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 18, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OT * Breaking Octumom good/bad news* OT

The good news is Octumom has finely moved into her 2500 square foot $564 thousand new home after being thrown out of that other dumpy home that a pig would be embarassed to call its’ sty.
The bad news is that one of the 14 children was lost in the transfer. When Octumom was asked about this she replied “No biggie. I’ll just have 8 more and we’ll be up + 7 and then we can get a new bigger house!!”

What's the Nef tally??

by BigGuns on Mar 18, 2009 12:03 PM CDT reply actions 5 recs