Turnbow out of the bullpen mix

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 30, 2009 9:32 PM CDT

Evan Grant has an update on the pitching situation, with Ron Washington saying he wants Josh Rupe and Kris Benson on the Opening Day roster, and Derrick Turnbow appearing no longer being part of the equation:

The Rangers also communicated to Turnbow, who could ask for his release Tuesday under the terms of his minor league contract, that he was unlikely to make the Opening Day roster. They’ve asked him to stay with the organization, but the next decision is Turnbow’s.

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yay or nay?

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

by iorange555 on Mar 30, 2009 9:34 PM CDT reply actions

If he pitched well this spring when he had something to prove, I might be mad about this.

But he didn’t, so I’m not.

by Inkara1 on Mar 30, 2009 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

i like how JD is doing bidness so far...

also, haven’t’ finished watching the entire show, but this chick, Olivia on 24 needs to be b-slapped by the prez.

Stability is key, and JD is a Beast.
Jindal - 2012
"AMMIITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABHH!!!"

by Longhorn on Mar 30, 2009 9:39 PM CDT reply actions

Benson

I just don’t get this. He hasn’t pitched in two full years. When he did pitch he wasn’t awful, but still wasn’t good. He had one good season ten years ago and has been just below average since then.

Granted this team could use a below average starter to pitch 180 IP, but that was Benson in 2004-2006. I have a hard time believing he’ll do that in 2009.

Sure, Hurley going down hurts, but is Benson really the answer for a 5th starter?

by gr7070 on Mar 31, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Good Riddance

another NRI hits the dust.

Free Frank Catalanotto

by egriffey on Mar 30, 2009 9:40 PM CDT reply actions

Pieces are almost in place

for opening day. Can’t get here fast enough.

"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.

by sprite on Mar 30, 2009 9:40 PM CDT reply actions

+1

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

by boomer1 on Mar 30, 2009 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions

+2

"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.

by Kinslerhomer on Mar 30, 2009 9:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I certainly wouldn't have been too comfortable

seeing him come into a contended game, at least early.

Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam

by Brett Perryman on Mar 30, 2009 9:43 PM CDT reply actions

also

seeing diamond not seize this opp when it seemed like the rangers where wanting to put him in one of the bullpen spot kinda upsets me. He better get it going soon in AAA so we can call him up asap…

Stability is key, and JD is a Beast.
Jindal - 2012
"AMMIITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABHH!!!"

by Longhorn on Mar 30, 2009 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Just finished a podcast

And were discussing that very issue…

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 30, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Having seen him late last year

it was really hard for me to imagine that he would be ready to pitch in the major leagues in April. I know the Rangers acted like he was knocking their socks off, but I can’t muster much surprise.

Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam

by Brett Perryman on Mar 30, 2009 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions

same

by Mike E on Mar 31, 2009 2:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Seriously

Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays 10 PM - 1 AM on FM 88.7 The Choice
"Computers can’t measure the size of a man’s heart."
- Hawk Harrelson, MLB Guru/Analyst

by Maximilian on Mar 30, 2009 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

didn’t seem like they gave him much of a chance.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 30, 2009 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions

damn

i wish we would have signed Juan Cruz. This team has exactly two relievers I have any confidence in, and I don’t even have a great deal of confidence in either of them.

I agree with most that money and assets should not usually be spent on bullpen guys, and that a good bullpen is usually made up of one or two studs and then a surrounding cast of shrewd NRIs and failed starters. But this has basically played out as a worst case scenario for the team because we really needed one of Diamond, Turnbow, Donnelly, Madrigal, etc to step up and claim that 7th inning role, and no one has. Instead we are going into battle with Frankie, CJ and a bunch of long reliever types. I mean, Warner Madrigal is going to make this bullpen as currently constructed. So is Eddie Guardardo. I know ST is a small sample size, but those guys have put up double digit ERAs for chrissakes.

by clark on Mar 30, 2009 9:58 PM CDT reply actions

Obviously,

Texas has always rolled by the strength of their bullpen…

The fact that we wouldn’t cough up a couple million and a 2nd round draft pick to get Cruz is quite depressing. Yeah I get that we’re building for the future and all, but in all reality, when is a 2nd round draft pick from 2010 going to contribute? Yeah I get the fact that his peripherals lead to questioning, but for crissakes he’s a lot better than most of our current options.

I without question think that if we would’ve brought 2 or 3 GOOD middle relief arms in here then we could contend…..as in legitimately contend.

I feel dirty for questioning the “plan” dammit.

My cool sig.

by Ryin A on Mar 30, 2009 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions

when Cruz finally signed

we were reading a lot about how good Turnbow and Donnelly and Madrigal looked in their bullpen sessions. If we knew then what we know now, there probably would have been longer consideration.

But the sad fact is that Hicks is going to wait to see this team begin to actually turn it around at the big league level before he seriously commits any more money to the team. We can read all day about not wanting to spend just to spend, and that is true to an extent, but upon reading this Gammons fluff article on the Royals’ chances in ‘09, I realized that the perennial punching bag of the midwest is actually spending over $90M this year, and they still get lauded for competing as a small market team. I’m sure many already realized that disparity, but I didn’t. That officially makes us members of the “Robert Sarver” club for fans of franchises with owners who should die in a fire.

by clark on Mar 30, 2009 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions

And what will the $90M get the Royals?

Probably a record ne better than the Rangers. It is not how much you spend but how you spend it.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 30, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions

that is a tired argument

there were FA this year who could have improved this team.

by clark on Mar 30, 2009 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions

that would have signed with the Rangers?

besides cruz, who have you got?

by BuckyB on Mar 30, 2009 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions

well Cruz definitely comes to mind

and one of the many lefties out there could have probably been easily added. I would have liked to see them get Kawakami because a) I think he can help a big league team as a solid middle of the rotation guy, b) he didn’t cost a draft pick and c) I think it would have paid additional dividends down the road.

Imagine this same team, only with Kawakami inserted into the middle of the rotation for a 3 yr/23M contract, and with Cruz and Beimel in there for 5M instead of Eddie and Jennings. Taking what those three make, and then subtracting out what the three guys will make if they make the team, we would have spent an additional ten million, putting our payroll at, what, 75M? Still around 15M less than the Royals.

by clark on Mar 31, 2009 7:29 AM CDT up reply actions

And what you suggest

sounds reasonable. I am not sure the Royals $90M payroll is spending money the right way.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 31, 2009 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions

I suppose the Twins could run away with the division, but as it stands now, the AL Central isn't all that good.

by oc on Mar 31, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions

The Twins, Injuns and White Sox would all be dangerous as hell in the West.

Prolly they’d be the favorites now that Lackey and E-San have gone down faster than Brian Thomas on a hot guy.

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.

by thedirkatron on Mar 31, 2009 7:11 PM CDT up reply actions

at this point

all i can really hope is that either Eyre or Nippert can come back by opening day. i keep hope alive that the team can pull of a deal for someone like Merkin Valdez.

On a possibly related note, I read today that the Reds have a need for a left handed bench bat (that spot is currently held on their team by Laynce Nix). They actually appear to have legit pitching depth this year, and if the Reds can do it, have faith, Rangers fans.

And finally, the Onion’s AV Club has put out a “Guaranteed pop-culture laughs” article that is ripe for debate. The heavy hitters seem to be Monty Python, Arrested Development, Futurama and Mr. Show.

by clark on Mar 30, 2009 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Cat > Nix

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 30, 2009 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions

exactly

and they actually hope to contend this year. AND we have already scouted their system a bit from the Laird talks.

by clark on Mar 30, 2009 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions

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 30, 2009 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions

speechless?

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 30, 2009 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe.....

Turnbow will stick it out in AAA. I don’t see any MLB team keeping him on the ML roster, and with the state of our righty RP he will probably get his chance within a few weeks.

Of course alot of this may depend on his injury today…

by death of the cool on Mar 30, 2009 10:23 PM CDT reply actions

Will Ohman

Still unsigned, I believe, and asking for 2 mil. I wish Hicks would loosen the purse strings and sign him, and cut Guardado. I fear he is going to get pounded

"Who died and made you King?"

by randyd on Mar 30, 2009 10:38 PM CDT reply actions

He will get pounded.

And it pains me to say that.

My cool sig.

by Ryin A on Mar 30, 2009 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions

yup..

From what I’ve ‘seen’ this spring..I don’t have much faith in Guardado anymore at this point.

by Mike E on Mar 31, 2009 2:20 AM CDT up reply actions

he signed with the dodgers today

i believe.

by clark on Mar 30, 2009 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions

if so

ANOTHER solid signing for them

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 30, 2009 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Seems like we have to trade for a reliever at this point...

We have Francisco, Wilson, Guardado, Madrigal, and Rupe… add Feldman if Benson is the 5th starter and then we still need another arm. Jason Jennings or somebody new? And really, I’d rather see Madrigal start in OKC too.

So now what?

by Wemedge on Mar 30, 2009 11:41 PM CDT reply actions

You know, as bad as we are about keeping sub-replacement level, add-nothing veteran NRI hitters around to steal PT from our young studs, we're equally good at cutting bait on similar pitchers.

The discrepancy is perplexing.

If Ben Broussard had been a pitcher he’d been gone by the second day of camp.

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.

by thedirkatron on Mar 31, 2009 12:49 AM CDT reply actions

they probably think Rudy can turn all those around

but we never had a pitching coach with a reputation like that. Hopefully Maddux fixes all =P

by Mike E on Mar 31, 2009 2:23 AM CDT up reply actions

except

he has made no overtures about fixing people. In fact, I wonder if he isn’t the driving force in saying, “nope – that guy’s done.”

Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder

by ab03 on Mar 31, 2009 7:21 AM CDT up reply actions

I have no problem with that

If the goal is to get on with the future and figure out who is here opening day 2010 or 2011, then that’s the right way to approach things IMO. Maddux’s job isn’t on the line based on April performance so he can also afford to do things like that. Of course, I have no idea if Maddux is doing anything like that even.

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

by Gdawg on Mar 31, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Sheffield is available

And the Tigers just ate his contract…

If we want an over-the-hill power hitter who will be cheap with clean-up experience isn’t Sheffield>Andruw JOnes?

"It takes a big dog to weigh 1000 pounds"

by Heebs on Mar 31, 2009 9:13 AM CDT reply actions

hi ST line

.178/.378/.387 with 3 homeruns

id rather go with jones. and i still don’t have any problem with jones over cat as a reserve player, i just don’t want jones to be gifted a lot of at bats.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Mar 31, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions