Tuesday morning things
by Brett Perryman on Mar 3, 2009 9:40 AM CST
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PrintT.R. Sullivan talks about Josh Rupe and Warner Madrigal and their efforts to make the staff. MLB.com also has a look at how Omar Vizquel is adjusting to life as a backup
Richard Durrett asks Brandon McCarthy about his change to the slider.
Anthony Andro has a Q&A with Ron Washington, and Washington suggests that we are to the point in the spring where some of the competitions for jobs will be heating up. Andro also has some injury updates.
And Kevin Sherrington thinks that the area sports scene could use a boost from a good Rangers team. I tend to agree, and given the relative states of some of the other pro franchises in Dallas, I'm not sure that the Rangers don't have the brightest outlook of the four for the next, say, three to four years.
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i still think the cowboys have a pretty good outlook
and given the fickle nature of the NFL, will be pretty close to the SB for a few years.
But the rangers are definitely have the best chance for a strong ascent.
"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."
by ab03 on Mar 3, 2009 9:42 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
When you're at the bottom
you certainly have the best chance for an ascent.
I'm just killing time until I'm reincarnated.
Yeah
The Cowboys window is still wide open.
"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
that doesn't seem to be the case
this offseason. but there are variables (future FA classes, players agreements expiring, salary cap expiring, etc) that I don’t know enough about to really judge Jerry’s actions (or inaction) so far. I am still just pissed we didn’t change head coaches.
I will not be supporting the Cowboys until they change the head coach.
Wade is a joke…….. He reminds me of Washington in that the players love him, but shouldn’t be running the team.
Adam J. Morris - "Murphy isn't that good. He is overrated by Rangers fans."
....How dare you, sir!! Take it back!!
oohh good one....
you’re so awesome…..idiot.
Adam J. Morris - "Murphy isn't that good. He is overrated by Rangers fans."
....How dare you, sir!! Take it back!!
Durrett
Good article by Durrett about BMac switching to the slider. Sounds like he is throwing it by just adjusting his grip on the ball and it is less stressful for him than the CB.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Ditto
That was a real good Q & A and answered a lot of the questions we’ve had here the last few days. It sounds like McCarthy is more comfortable both physically and mentally using the slider. Even if the slider is not usually less stressful on the arm than the curve, if McCarthy is feeling strain throwing the curve then he should either fix it or use something else. Given the problems he’s had with delivery tinkering I’d rather he use it a lot less than try to fix it.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Excellent interview
Very good questions from Durrett and well reasoned answers from McCarthy. I’d like to see a lot more like that both from the journalists and the players/personnel.
Nice to get some answers
on the change to the slider. It certainly sounds like he and Maddux have thought this thing through and it was not a knee-jerk reaction or quick decision. I’ve always held out hope that McCarthy can be a solid 2 or 3 in our rotation someday.
Good stuff from Durrett
Nice to see some more info on the switch to the slider finally.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
I'm not sure about the Rangers being the bright spot this year
You know the old saying, “It’s always darkest before the dawn”, and I believe the dawn isn’t until next year. Our pitching is our pitching this year, and it could be a rough patch.
However, I definitely like the Rangers chances over the next five years compared to the other professional franchises with Jerrah Jones and Cubes.
Get off my lawn.
IF "it's always darkest before the dawn"
Wouldn’t that fit the Cowboys perfect, right now?
"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
They had a winning record last year.
They are probably headed back to the years of 5-11 with Jerrah, Wade, and Jason. May take em a few years to get there.
Get off my lawn.
It's funny
A winning record.. with all the injuries, the terrible coaching, the horrible ‘chemistry’…
"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
Talent will do that, but long term it cannot overcome bad coaching and bad leadership. If you look at historically strong football programs, they tend to win even when their talent level dips. Conversely, bad coaching can turn talented teams into mediocrity very quickly.
That's precisely my thought.
The Cowboys might be the most talented team in the NFL; seriously. But the difference between very talented teams and great teams is coaching and leadership. The Cowboys, IMO, lack both of those.
They powered their way to a winning record last year by simply out-talenting the other teams; but it takes more than that to win the big one.
My 2009 New Years Resolution: Quit feeding the trolls.
But the difference between very talented teams and great teams is coaching and leadership
and this is the one and only reason i support trying to get someone like ray lewis here – or some other vocal leader.
the cowboys have romo (FAR from a leader), TO (even further) and guys like witten/ware/newman that seem to be quiet types
they need that outspoken leader quite badly, because lets face it – wade isnt going to cut it. garrett isnt going to cut it (and i would rather see martz here than garrett personally) – what i wouldnt do to have BP back lol
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 3, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions
It needs to be DeMarcus Ware's team.
He’s the guy who needs to step up.
"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
ware is no ray lewis
and from what i understand/have read about his perosnality hes a pretty (very?) quiet guy
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 3, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions
Leaders don't come in a single mold.
"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
when was the last time a player as quiet as he seems to be was a “team leader”?
ware seems much more like FOTF to me than ray lewis (leadership wise)
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 3, 2009 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
Yep
Those guys are extremely valuable in the clubhouse, but they can’t be expected to take control of things, that’s just not their leadership skill set. Whether it’s the head coach or a player, you need a Will Clark who will storm in, kick over the buffet table, and scream at everyone to get their butts in gear.
That’s what made me such a Milton Bradley fan last year, he was a much-needed addition to the clubhouse. He and Kinsler got to be pals, I hope that his vocal leadership abilities rubbed off on Kins.
Keith Law: (1:45 PM ET ) I think Michael Young should shut his mouth and move to third base.
yuup
will clark, BP, ray lewis type guys are always needed!
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 3, 2009 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
Agree, but...
There has to be some sort of “louder” leadership coming from somewhere. When a team has a coach who clearly runs the ship, the vocal leader amongst the players isn’t necessarily required. A coach like Cowher and a bunch of “do your job and lead by example” types can be a perfect match.
But when there is an absence of leadership and authority coming from the coaching staff, just having a bunch of “quiet leaders”on the team won’t do.
Keith Law: (1:45 PM ET ) I think Michael Young should shut his mouth and move to third base.
i wish we had cowher
:(
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 3, 2009 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
Except
Jerry can’t be upstaged by hiring competent people who want to be in charge.
Get off my lawn.
Nail meet hammer.
Yep, and ‘this thing’ is headed the way of the Raiders.
"...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
TO
the only reason TO isn’t a vocal leader is cause anytime he opens his mouth it makes national headlines
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.
the only reason TO isn’t a vocal leader is cause anytime he opens his mouthit makes national headlineshe talks about himself, or relates it back to himself or complains about something
he is a great player, but he is about as mature as a 6 year old.
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 3, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions
Well,
generally speaking, vocal leaders don’t insinuate that their quarterback is gay.
"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
TO was how old when that happened?
mid 20s?
I think TO could be an excellent vocal leader on the Cowboys if he was allowed to be without all the criticism by the media anytime he opens his mouth.
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.
okay
"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
T.O.
You know what would make him a better leader?
Not bitching so much about how many touches he gets, especially when he drops the ball as much as he does. If you’re going to complain about not getting enough passes thrown your way, at least catch the ones that are.
And he also needs to stop feeding negative info to his buddy Deion any time he gets his little feelings hurt.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
+1
on the bitching, i woudl like to see the percentages of plays that went to each of the players this last year + the percentage of those plays that were dropped
and then compare witten/bennett/TO/crayton/austin/MB III/felix/etc
then tell TO to shut up.
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.
McCarthy's arsenal
So we have a guy equipped with a high eighties fastball that is straight as a string and that he struggles to command (about 1.25 k/bb the last couple years), a good but not great changeup, and a breaking ball that he is throwing for the first time ever. Unless this slider develops into a legit plus pitch, I just don’t see B-Mac having the arsenal to be an effective ML starter. He just doesn’t have anything that is going to fool or overpower or finesse anybody with.
If you just focus on what he brings to the mound, it’s really pretty clear that expectations should be kept to a bare minimum. Personally, I like Nippert’s chances better to be honest.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
when healthy
he seems to be the sort of guy who can sport a 4.50 ERA, and so that is all I really expect out of him this year. this is a gross overgeneralization, but it seems like he posts a lot of six inning, three run performances, and while those aren’t terribly sexy, at this point, I’ll take them out of him.
Nippert, on the other hand, has historically been the sort of guy who has strong stuff, but for every dominant seven scoreless outing he has, he seems to have a three inning, five run meltdown.
I’d like to see them both kept on, and I think both have higher upsides than Feldman.
Bmac
When healthy he is capable of an ERA in the mid 3s. Back in 06 aside from his horrible three start stretch in April he had an ERA in the upper 3s even with all his injuries
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.
That was with his CB however
we’ll see how the nuevo b-mac fares with his new slider and new elbow
McCarthy is not a high 80s fastball guy
This isn’t Barry Zito we’re talking about. He’s a low 90s guy who over the past couple of yeasr has gone through injuries that brought hit fastball down a bit.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
as a starter the last couple of years
his average fastball velocity is 89 mph. So maybe you could call that “a low nineties guy that throws a high eighties fastball” or something like that, but the fact is that his average velocity hasn’t cracked 90 as a starting pitcher in Texas, and I don’t see any reason to expect that to change.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
If healthy you still don't expect that to change?
I mean the guy was never hurt until he got here so I don’t think we have seen the real BMac yet over an extended period of time.
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
he's been mid to high eighties
for over 2 years now, so unless I see it or hear about it, it seems naive to just expect increased velocity to show up out of nowhere.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
but he has also been hurt the last 2 years
that has to be taken into consideration imho
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 3, 2009 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
hmm
low 90s maybe not
career average is 89.8 according to fangraphs
so it would appear that both of you are right, upper 80s and lower 90s
that said, his high is 90.8 (the last year he was with the chi sox)
equally its not like john danks throws a LOT harder than bmac – career FB avg is 90.5
also, in 2007, dollar value wise (also fangraphs) he was the rangers 4th best pitcher behind millwood, benoit and loe — so lets not sell him TOO short
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 3, 2009 11:03 AM CST up reply actions
Danks is sexy though
Just ask The Outlaw. BMac is a big steaming pile.
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
Who isn't ready for The Show.
But I guess we can let him play The Great Game at The Ballpark.
My 2009 New Years Resolution: Quit feeding the trolls.
GHTD
I have one thing to say to you, in the immortal words of P. Diddy
Take that take that take that
Take that take that take that
by SaltyGoesYard on Mar 3, 2009 12:08 PM CST up reply actions
Exactly my point
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
how many pitchers
are hurt for 2 years, never have surgery, and all the sudden come back more effective and with greater velocity? I guess there may be some guys out there that fit that description, but it seems an unlikely thing to hope for.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
I don't know but...
I think BMac is better than you are giving him credit for. Our scouts swas something they liked about him. These are the same scouts that went to Atlanta and recommended Jones, Feliz, Andrus, Harrison and Salty. Not to mention if BMac was drafted as a Ranger and he put up those numbers in the minors he did for Chicago all of our baseball pants would have been going crazy.
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
sorry
i thoguht his avg was in the 92-93 mph range before he got hurt i was wrong
if he can get back to the 90-91 mph range thats fine
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 3, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions
How many pitchers have gone through what McCarthy has gone through?
If you can point to guys with the same injuries he has had in the past 2 years, then you can compare him with other pitchers. Otherwise, you have to trust the doctors and pitching coach to make the right call on his health. He was looking much better when he came back at the end of last season, bulked up this offseason, and now looks like he is ready to go out and pitch a full season this year.
And I don’t think he’ll be more effective or have greater velocity than he has ever had. I simply think we’ll get the pitcher we traded for. That’s not a pitcher who works in the upper 80s but works in the low 90s and probably can reach up a bit higher than that a few times during a game.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
How many?
>>>you have to trust the doctors and pitching coach to make the right call<<<
How many BMacs have they seen?
In answer to your subject line: a lot
It’s just that most guys that have a chain of shoulder/elbow/forearm/finger injuries caused by pitching aren’t guys that we remember, because they didn’t pan out.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
not really
Are you seriously debating that baseball history is littered with high profile pitching prospects that didn’t pan out due to injury?
Doctor please. Some more of these.
Well you brought up McCarthy's injury history
and asked about the likelihood of him coming back from those injuries. There have been many pitchers that have gone through a variety of injuries and never recovered from them. McCarthy though had a stress fracture in his shoulder in 07 which wasn’t supposed to be a problem in the future and then had elbow inflammation last year when he was able to pitch in the last couple of months of the season. You can’t just say that because pitchers in the past have had injury problems and never recovered that McCarthy has no chance of recovering.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
eye witnesses
This is perhaps because it is still so early, but it seems like there aren’t many eyewitnesses reporting from spring training this year. We get the usual fluff stories about players changing positions and/or roles, the occasional gem like Durrett’s McCarthy report today, but I haven’t heard many day to day scouting reports. What has the Lizard been throwing that has made him so effective early? Is it just luck that he has had three effective appearances in a row? What about Joe Torres? We know Harrison had a better box score line yesterday, but was his stuff much sharper than his first outing? Are these things being reported, and if so, where?
When are the normal Rangers blogosphere pundits heading west? I depend on them much more this time of year than the snippets we get in the traditional media.
Can't wait
Will you be blogging while there?
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
Probably not
Just observing, interviewing, and pretending to be a scout. I’ll have detailed accounts up when I get back home. I might post some notes after each game, though.
Cool deal...
I know you will probably be pretty busy down there, but anything you are able to fill us in on while there would be greatly appreciated Jason.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
2 thoughts
1) its awesome your going
2) PLEASE post some notes, were starved for info
3) i presume that you will be slowly putting the info out there when you get back
4) who are the 3 players your the most excited to see at ST?
(wish i was going)
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 3, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions
woohoo!
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 3, 2009 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
Poveda...not a popular choice
I hope you find plenty to like with the player. I know he was taking my votes early in the community polls.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Mar 3, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions
I'm on board
Don’t care much for his delivery, but pitchers that feature a plus change up in the minor leagues can sometimes be undervalued. At least there is a case to be made for that.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
Poveda really seems like a forgotten man in the Rangers system
I’m really hoping for a good year from him because his stuff can make him a pretty good pitcher for the Rangers.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Yes Yes Poveda yes!
It’s like we get to start over with Brandon McCarthy
Could you get a reading on BMac for us.
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
pitchers park
Rudy and climate change
http://tinyurl.com/rudy-climate-change
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
awesome quote
You know all this [expletive deleted] that’s going on around the world, weather-wise, well, we’re seeing it in Arlington [location of the Rangers Ballpark]. The jet stream at The Ballpark ain’t what it used to be. That’s changing. I think it’ll help our arms.
-Rudy
“Global warming?” he sniffed. “Well, whatever.”
(kinsler)
“It depends on where you hit the ball and what time of year it is,” said Kinsler. “Rudy is right in that balls you think you tagged will sometimes get knocked down at the warning track. But a lot of days early in the season, the ball jumps to center field, then by June, from the edge of the berm all the way around past our bullpen [in right field], you can go for several weeks at a time when anything hit in the air will fly out of there.”
and from the comments:
The jury is still out on the World Baseball “Classic” as many of the top players are passing on the tournament in order to concentrate on the club game. So for now, saying the winners are world champions is every bit as valid as saying Zenit St. Petersburg are the European champions … no more and no less.
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 3, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions
Well, springtime has actually had an increase in storminess, illustrated by wetter conditions north of Texas..
So, not sure what Rudy’s point might be, other than it “ain’t what it used to be”. Is anything ever what it used to be. The jet stream shift northward due to climate change won’t be significant for another 20 years or more, anyway (which is referenced in another link talking about the similarity to the launching pad in Atlanta). But, you know what else “ain’t what it used to be”, the right-handed power hitters on the team. I wish I could make an on-the-spot funny out of this, but I just get dazed and confused when I read comments that reflect such a weird understanding about climate variability.
Kinsler’s observation is interesting. We all know it’s a ballpark built for lefties, but I haven’t heard about the ballpark effect being seasonal, and that’s definitely what he’s saying.
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
wetter conditions in North Texas?
You realize we’ve had an extremely dry 3 months Dec. -Feb. right? We’ll see what springtime brings, but I might buy the increased volatility, but it has not always meant more rain overall in spring the last few years.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
"north of Texas", meaning Kansas and northward, not northern Texas.
Windy conditions in Texas during the spring would be associated with rain/snow north of Texas, since springtime weather systems are fairly large and can stretch across the entire central US. The Midwest and northward has had a marked increase in number of rainy spring days and rainfall, meaning more weather systems in the springtime. So, I’m not sure what Rudy’s thinking. Does he think the wind has changed or gone away or what?
The flip side is that if it were raining a lot in Texas during the spring, the Midwest would stand a better chance of being windy (north wind) and very cold.
Texas has had seriously large variability in rainfall. The aquifers were hit hard through 2005 and recharged over the past couple of years. Drought is the story now, though.
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
the weather
I’m still waiting for the super-tornado to hit DFW.
It can’t be worse than those damned tornadocanes, especially since they figured out how to commit human crimes like breaking and entering and identity theft…
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
Check out this movie
"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
Heavy Weather
I’m familiar with the album, but not the book or the film.
Tornadoes fascinate the shit out of me. Me and my parents just missed being hit by one of the Super Outbreak tornadoes in 1974 when we were living in Huntsville, Alabama. The tornado went through our section of town, but barely missed the trailer park we were living in at the time.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
You might be interested in the
VORTEX-2 field study that will commence this spring.
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
I still think the lineup composition has the biggest impact, but I also agree that
a detailed wind analysis should look first at local structures, then weather variability. No Juando or ARod since 2003 might make it seem like the " jet stream at The Ballpark ain’t what it used to be."
I think Kinsler’s observations are astute. A ball is headed due south when it clears the wall in right field. During the summer months, the prevailing wind from the south is much weaker, meaning the absence of wind would make it easier to hit one out to right relative to earlier in the season.
Galloway’s article just goes to show how easy it is to get eyeballs when “Global Warming” is in the headline.
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
The jetstream
Supposedly the reason the jetstream goes out to right especially during the summer is because wind comes in from the south but hits the Gold club (or whatever they are calling it these days) and turns around and heads out to right.
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.
Yeah. I do know about that idea.
I just don’t buy into it, and I haven’t seen anyone actually measure it. It always seemed to me that the reasons for home runs during the summer had more to do with the heat/humidity and lack of wind. That lack of wind later in the season would seem to have a more pronounced affect to balls hit to RF than LF.
Also, if there is wind coming in and slamming into the gold club, I don’t see why it would bounce back toward right field, except under just-right conditions. An analogy would be a hose spraying water against a wall. The water bounces off in many directions, not right back into the stream or right beneath the stream. It’s a little more complicated in the case of a ballpark, of course, but I don’t even recall anecdotal stories about how nice and cool the breeze in the right field bleachers feels on those hot summer nights. So, I’m still really skeptical.
Unfortunately, alot of the links that discuss the wind study are no longer valid. Here is what was posted on LSB. Here is what the MLB Rangers site reported.
The only part of the ballpark that is known to greatly alter the effect of wind on home runs is the screen of advertisements above the business complex in center field (warning: PDF file).
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
I'd look at a much finer scale
I wonder if there have been any construction projects or changes in the architecture of the park/surrounding area that would influence local scale wind patterns.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
You're talking about that $1 billion stadium being built down the road, right?
Pretty sure you’re being sarcastic, but it’s hard to tell.
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
Jetstream
The Hardball Times picked up this story also. This comment had be LOL.
Several thoughts immediately crossed my mind as I read the entry.
1. Now Scott Boras will be able to include a section on ‘One of the top five pitchers to pitch in a ballpark that has been impacted by global warming’.
2. The conspiracy theorist in me wonders if George Bush’s environmental policies were influenced by his desire to see his former team have a better chance at attracting top pitching FAs.
3. How strong of a wind is necessary to blow some common sense into Tom Hicks?
by NorCalRangersFan on Mar 3, 2009 12:40 PM CST up reply actions
If the southerly wind really is such a factor, I'd like to see the Rangers put up some wind turbines to generate
electricity for the ballpark and to get sponsorship from some wind turbine company like GE Energy.
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
that
idea needs some traction…..
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain.
by red shoe ranger on Mar 3, 2009 8:17 PM CST up reply actions
GE
I think GE only has the windmill type of turbines. They would look hideous on top of the ballpark. I saw this kast year sometime on the Learn Channel or something…
http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/rooftop-wind-turbines-ready-for-commercial-use.html
or these… http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2252/86/
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Ok...
so I look up at the top of the blog and see a link that says “initial thoughts on the O-Cab signing.”
Can we please stop calling players by their first initial and first three letters of their last name. This shit is getting really annoying. “O-Cab”, really? That’s just fucking stupid.
The only player that should be allowed for is ARod.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I'm not that big of a fan of it
but its much easier to type and everyone knows who you are talking about
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
I wouldn't mind getting fewer "I'm sorry" reactions to my rangers jacket.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DShep on Mar 3, 2009 11:52 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
you play the mlb game that came out yesterday? 2k9?
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 3, 2009 12:07 PM CST up reply actions
yes
NOTE: When I preview this it takes away the formatting and repeats the text 5 times. Hopefully it will be right when I hit post, otherwise… weird.
I got it at midnight (at a halo wars launch).
Its.. alright. Still nowhere near the show. Had some balls go right by fielders, glitched through a wall, slid through the catcher, there still arnt many features, and in an online game half the hits were homeruns.
Its.. alright. Still nowhere near the show. Had some balls go right by fielders, glitched through a wall, slid through the catcher, there still arnt many features, and in an online game half the hits were homeruns.But the players/lighting/stadiums look good, the hitting engine as far as variety of hit types (on a good difficulty level anyway) is good, the controls are good, it has some nice presentation aspects…..
Its.. alright. Still nowhere near the show. Had some balls go right by fielders, glitched through a wall, slid through the catcher, there still arnt many features, and in an online game half the hits were homeruns.But the players/lighting/stadiums look good, the hitting engine as far as variety of hit types (on a good difficulty level anyway) is good, the controls are good, it has some nice presentation aspects…..Some of the animations have poor transitions and speed up/slow down at times though, and while the general player model looks good, the likenesses of the faces arn’t very good.
Its.. alright. Still nowhere near the show. Had some balls go right by fielders, glitched through a wall, slid through the catcher, there still arnt many features, and in an online game half the hits were homeruns.But the players/lighting/stadiums look good, the hitting engine as far as variety of hit types (on a good difficulty level anyway) is good, the controls are good, it has some nice presentation aspects…..Some of the animations have poor transitions and speed up/slow down at times though, and while the general player model looks good, the likenesses of the faces arn’t very good.So uh.. im not overly impressed or anything, but its better than 2k8 anyway, not terrible. Just needs more features and to get rid of the remaining glitches.
the preceding post was a great success.
thanks
im thinking of getting it since its the (only) PC game right now thats non text-based
also, OOTP 10 pre order for 29.99 which means im probably going to get that at some point for the preorder price, then not play it until june 1 cuz of GRE stuff lol
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.
I was thinking of getting it as well
for the PC. Right now I’m relegated to MVP 2005 still but I wanted to see if 2k9 had a better franchise sytem (which is what I’m really interested in). BTW, you can pick this up at BestBuy for $19.99 on the PC.
+1
19.99 – sweet
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.
2k8
Honestly, I mostly liked this game because it was the only baseball game for the Wii, and using the Wii-mote for batting is awfully fun.
Whenever I move back to the States, I’m hoping the newest iteration of the game will be better but just as Wii-licious.
by JBP on Mar 3, 2009 8:11 PM CST up reply actions
Phil Hughes vs Team USA
on MLB network if anyone is interested. He looks sharp so far.
Check the stats, absolutely, but look at the face.
-Bruce Jenkins
Brett Gardner is 3 for 3
plays a good center field too. He’d look good in Ranger red or blue or whatever they’re wearing these days
Free Frank Catalanotto
Fuck Brett Gardner.
"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.
brett gardner
is he better than melky?
heh
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.
Well Duke went down today
1 down 4 to go. Fuck the A’s and Halos.
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
Ain't that a bitch. They lose their ace and still have a better pitching staff.
I have fulfilled all my prophecies; all my predictions are up to date.
My train is right on schedule.
by oc on Mar 3, 2009 3:43 PM CST up reply actions
Do they though?
"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
Yes they are better than the M's staff.
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
I guess the Dodgers didn't want him Nomar.
I have fulfilled all my prophecies; all my predictions are up to date.
My train is right on schedule.
by oc on Mar 3, 2009 4:59 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Rich has video and more thoughts from Nolan:
"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.
Big D will be a baseball town in 2 years....GO RANGERS!
….well….maybe
Another one bites the dust! And another one, and another one, and another one bites the dust!
CONVICTION!!
…kinda…
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
Manny on the verge of signing?
"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
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