Thursday a.m. stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 23, 2009 10:43 AM CDT
224 comments
Isn't it kind of cool to have a stud pitching prospect come up to the majors, and immediately perform up to expectations? I liked that last night.
Jeff Wilson's game story focuses on Derek Holland's debut, who hit 96 mph on the gun last night, although he also talks about Darren O'Day's appearance on the mound in a Kason Gabbard jersey that he put on after arriving at the ballpark in the 10th inning.
Richard Durrett talks about Holland's debut, and also has some other links to comments from around the interwebs about Holland.
Beyond the Box Score has a pitch f/x analysis of Holland's debut up.
Andruw Jones and Willie Eyre both left the game with injuries. Jones' knee situation isn't though to be serious, but Eyre re-aggravated a strained groin, and given the nature of groin injuries and the state of the Ranger pen, I wouldn't be surprised if Eyre goes on the d.l. today.
And Bob Sturm throws a ton of questions out there to Evan Grant and Mike Hindman to answer on the Rangers.
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I have to question
using O’Day in that situation, that just seems comical. I understand Washington’s choices were limited, but that just didn’t seem fair to Odie. Seems like with Eyre’s status another pitching move might be made today.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 10:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I’m kind of belong to the “win at all costs” group, but really… sending the new guy just off the plane onto the field in the wrong uniform? He probably hadn’t even met Salty or Wash until he walked onto the mound.
I’d almost say that you’re better off bringing in anyone else in that situation
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who else though?
They aren’t gonna pitch Jennings back to back early in the season.
Frankie was probably only available in emergency duty only.
Which left eddie and oday.
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 Apr 23, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess using O'Day
was better than resorting to those options or using a starter. Bad situation.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ought to put Eyre on the 60-day
and pull up Vaughn. All he does is go out and throw scoreless innings and interview prospects for blogs.
Call him up already.
by bioaggie on Apr 23, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is what is wrong with Eddie
If you’re willing to use the guy who is literally first meeting the manager when he’s walking into the game over Eddie, why is Eddie on the team? LOOGY is an okay role for the 12th man in your bullpen. But he’s of very little use if you can’t rely on him to face a righty ever. This was basically an emergency situation. If you can’t use Eddie there, get rid of him
I think that R/L matchups, etc go out the window when you don’t even have a uniform for one of your options.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eddie is now a LOGY
Last option guy.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eddie
Why on earth would you take out CJ and bring in Eddie? They are both lefties do it doesn’t make sense. Wash had one choice last night.
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 Apr 23, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not saying I would put Eddie in there
I’m saying Eddie is a worthless option to have in the pen at all.
I probably would have stuck with CJ before bringing O’Day in there. Or, actually, I’d have probably brought Frankie in. I only read about the game later, so I wasn’t following how the inning was unfolding. But I don’t bring in the guy who doesn’t even have a uniform.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bring in Two Frank
Best case: shuts them down. Who pitches the 12th?
by mgb5 on Apr 23, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fx2 got five outs last night and was at 30-something pitches.
With that high of a pitch count (as closers go), I wouldn’t be using Fx2 the next day if I could get away with it.
by Inkara1 on Apr 23, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Understood and agreed
I was replying to the suggestion that Fx2 should have been brought in at that point. If you do bring him in there and he does get out of the inning with the game still tied, who pitches the 12th?
by mgb5 on Apr 23, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree bringing in Eddie made no sense
The other option was to stay with CJ, unless you decide he’s done (pitch count, nothing left, whatever). Not really any good choices, so I don’t have any big problem with the choice Wash made.
by mgb5 on Apr 23, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Wash may had been
keeping Eddie in case we took the lead so he could close the game. And bring Francisco in if Eddie got into trouble while he attempted to
by Mike E on Apr 23, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
like i read somewhere else online
“way to put your players in a position to do well ron washingtoN”
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 Apr 23, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So what would you have done there?
Stay with CJ? Bring in Eddie? JJ? Fx2? I don’t think Wash had many (if any) good choices at that point, so hard to disagree with the one he made.
by mgb5 on Apr 23, 2009 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
its just a SUPER tough position to put anyone in
that was my point, how many pitchers are going to do well in that situation?
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 Apr 23, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was worried
that Bob Sturm was abducted by aliens when I read his first, very succinct, question. Luckily he rounded into form by his 2nd question.
"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris
by DJCahill on Apr 23, 2009 10:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Even so, I'd far rather read Sturm asking the questions
than trying to answer them. His questions strike me as resembling what a fairly avid (but not LSB-or-NMLR-or-BBTiA-or-whatever-level-obsessed) fan of the Rangers might be asking themselves.
In my book, if Sturm avoids aspiring to become a baseball pundit on the IC, that’s a Good Thing.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Harrison
How many Holland performances before he displaces Harrison to AAA?
"[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 Apr 23, 2009 10:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think
both Padilla and Harrison should be looking over their shoulders. You just can’t be ineffective for a month at a time as a major league starter.
"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris
by DJCahill on Apr 23, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The difference between Benson and Harrison
Harrison has options.
As thin as the ML staff is JD’s not going to eject Benson so soon, maybe not even as soon as Harrison.
"[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 Apr 23, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The other guys
have a lead on him when it comes to sucking during starts.
"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris
by DJCahill on Apr 23, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's true.
But none of them should really be starting on a good MLB team.
Not that there’s anything to replace them with.
by brettgardner on Apr 23, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It really shouldn't take much
to seize a spot in this rotation.
McCarthy has been fairly mediocre, but he has a vice like grip on a rotation spot, barring injury. There is not much chance of losing a spot due to mediocrity in this rotation.
"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris
by DJCahill on Apr 23, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have a hard time saying...
…that of Padilla, Harrison, Feldman, and Benson, not one of those guys should be a starting pitcher on a good MLB team.
That overstates the quality of starting pitching that is out there.
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 23, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oops
I didn’t mean to include Padilla in that.
He definitely has a role on a good team.
by brettgardner on Apr 23, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
there's plenty to replace them with
just not the smartest thing to start doing so at this early point of the season. And with the state of the bullpen, who knows where some of these guys go…Diamond looks like a ’pen option. Moscoso? Are we going to (gulp) see Mendoza again in this rotation? or the pen?
Feliz looks more and more likely to start for this team at some point this year. Before September callups.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feliz is probably going to get on track. Control hasn’t been an issue enough to otherwise explain early season mechanical issues.
BP inadequacy alone should justify bringing him up in the next couple months.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Apr 23, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feliz K rate
has been going down and his walk rate has been going up at each step. He needs to get his walks in check and develop his offspeed assortment. I would say he needs to get 2 other good pitches other than his fastball if he is going to start in the major leagues. Big league hitters can hit a fastball. Feliz just turned 21, so I don’t think we need to rush him.
The "Fire Wash Watch" is on. I say he's gone by April 26th.
by NothinG on Apr 23, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
why what?
not the smartest thing to bring replacements up yet?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"there's plenty to replace them with" ???
Like who? Poveda, Moscoso and Bannister are on the 40 but down in AA. Maybe one will help the team in Sept. Hunter is rehabbing and should probably spend a good amount of time in AA. Diamond is destined for the bullpen and just reached AAA this year. Vaughn and Gordon are relievers who are pitching well in OKC but not on the 40. Madrigal was just sent down because he had trouble throwing strike and he needs an out pitch. Feliz is not ready. Mathis has had 3 quality starts but he is not on the 40. Mendoza is on the 40 but he walks too many.
I just don’t see much quality pitching depth in OKC for the Rangers. If Eyre goes on the DL today they call up Diamond simply because he is on the 40 and didn’t pitch last night. I think Harrison has about 3-4 more starts to prove himself. or he gets replaced by either Benson, Holland or Mendoza. Just my 2 cents.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on Apr 23, 2009 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Diamond has done nothing
above AA, sucked in ST, and got converted to the pen as a result. He doesn’t merit a promotion over Medoza or Mags.
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I personally think
Vaughn should get called up. But who gets dropped from the 40?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on Apr 23, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Millwood and McCarthy are the only pitchers carrying their weight
two weeks from now, I would say a drastic overhaul is not out of the question. We currently have 44 on the 40 man and 5 of those occuplying DL spots. When Benson comes back healthy, drop him. Put Mendoza in the pen. If Guardado shows he cannot be effective and consistent, drop him.
In a month, the starting rotation should look something like Millwood, McCarthy, Holland, Feldman and one of Padilla/Harrison/Nippert – whoever’s getting it done. If Feldman isn’t cutting it after 2 months, get him out of here.
The bullpen should look something like Francisco, Wilson, Jennings, O’Day, Diamond, Mendoza and one of Eyre/Gabbard/Mathis/Vaughan and further down the line should include Strop and Moscoso. If Mendoza isn’t cutting it after a month in the pen, get him out of here. If you want another lefty, use Gabbard or find somebody else. When will Beau Jones be ready?
If you’re worried about the 40, this team should not carry Vizquel, Andrus, Kinsler, Arias, Duran and Vallejo on the 40 at the same time. So the obvious man out is either Duran or Arias. Find a trading partner. Get it done. And I know it’s a slump, but this team has too much depth at OF for David Murphy to keep this up. I was a believer. I am not anymore…
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll just say
that I ’m grateful that JD is the GM
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hear you
I’m sure I’d be a horrible GM…I’d go with my gut too often
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i dont know that i dont disagree with a lot of this
that said in 6 weeks or so (longer timline) i would like to see a rotation of millwood, mcarthy, holland, padilla, nippert/harrison/feldman/whoever and a bullpen of Frankie, CJ, jennings, and then any of o’day/diamond/mendoza/eyre/diamond/moscosco/vaughn/any other DFA’ed player
the rangers are already going to have a 40 man crunch, so why not find out what you have in some guys. there is simply no excuse for the rangers to have 6 middle infielders/utility guys on the 40 man
then look at the pitchers:
john bannister, willie eyer, kris benson, eddie guardado, tommy hunter, luis mendoza, nippert, o’day
hopefully by the end of this year you know what you have in THOSE guys
the rangers are exactly the kind of team that should be taking chances on players like o’day, morilio, nippert, etc and im glad we have taken a chance on some of them
that said, if the bullpen is this bad in 6 weeks or so (say June 15) and still is made up of essentially the same guys it should be interesting. and if everyday eddie is now only a LOOGY, i have a hard time believing that theres no one better out there, either in the system or via trade/sign/pickup thats no better than he is…hell get DRH back for arias lol and give him a shot
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 Apr 23, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think any of them could be starting on a good MLB team
but they’d all be a #5 starter on a great team, maybe a #4 on a decent but not great rotation..
It isn’t good when they’re our #2, #4 and #5.
The problem with all of them (well, excepting Benson, who is still an enigma) is that they are inconsistent. All of them have had lights-out, dominant starts in Rangers uniforms. But all have had outings where they have no control and get lit up.
I prefer Harrison to the bunch for two reasons: he’s a lefty and he’s young. Maybe as he matures he’ll challenge the hitters at the right times and improve his control.
Feldman is young too, but not as young as Harrison, and he’s a righty. But I agree he has potential. But I don’t trust him that much.
Padilla is a head case out there – he’s what CJ Wilson will be in 5 years.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Five years?
I’m not so sure that, in his own special way, CJ isn’t already as much of a head case as Padilla.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
I miss 1989. I miss 1996. Please make me miss another season in 2008.
by Chaim Witz on Apr 23, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is still hope for CJ
but I can see his career taking a very Padilla type path (though obviously as a reliever).
Prior to the 2011 season, the Rangers would consider non-tendering Wilson, who’d probably be in line for a 4-5 million contract. They trade him for a bucket of balls a day before the non-tender deadline.
He goes to some team, gaining focus for his embarrassing failure in Texas, determined to prove himself. He wins the closer role for them, and does quite well. (People demand JD get fired for trading him.) He signs a 3 year, $27 million contract after the season, being the next great lefty closer.
He then becomes, well, CJ Wilson out there, and by 2014, is one of the most expensive LOOGYs in the game. No one gives JD credit for dumping him.
I really can see this working out this way.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
As predictions go,
that sounds reasonably likely.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree with your Padilla point if only because
I think Padilla’s stuff is far better than CJ’s.
by jwiscarson on Apr 23, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't need
to look over your shoulder on the 15 Day DL much. Not much you can do to change your odds.
"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris
by DJCahill on Apr 23, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Adam
Would you be willing to create an offer centered around (I guess) Feliz + other tops to get Webb this summer?
by brettgardner on Apr 23, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think...
JD can afford to trade anymore pitching prospects and have them go to other teams and succeed.
I can’t see the Rangers dealing away Feliz, Holland, Main, Perez, etc.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Apr 23, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If that's
How tenuous a grip he has on his job, we might as fire him right now.
by brettgardner on Apr 23, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Indeed.
If we had a chance to grab a fully healthy ace (meaning: I don’t think Webb is that guy due to the concerns raised recently regarding the strucural health of his arm) and the price was reasonable to the point where JD wanted to make the move from a baseball standpoint, but felt that he couldn’t make that move because he’d get fired if he dealt another pitching prospect who ended up doing well in his new home… then there’s no point in having him be GM at that point, cause a handcuffed GM is pretty much useless.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
"I guess it’s tough to look good when you play on the same team as Marcus Lemon." -Trip Somers.
"Congratulations, Mr. Somers. You just made THE LIST." -The Newberg, after reading the above comment.
by thedirkatron on Apr 23, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The compromise:
Deal Smoak.
He can get away with trading some offense. Too bad the catcher route didn’t work…
I don’t predict it, but it probably wouldn’t get him fired like another Eaton deal would.
"[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 Apr 23, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Smoak's unlikely to bring a fully healthy ace in return
without some young pitching included.
Smoak might get you a young, unproven pitcher with ace potential, but if he is the real deal, I’d rather the Rangers keep him and hope Davis finds himself. Then make Davis the centerpiece of that sort of deal…
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
disagree
Smoak is viewed in a very favorable light by the rest of the league and all scouts from what I’ve read (granted, it’s limited).
We could get almost any young pitcher out there dangling Justin as the bait
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which fully healthy young aces
do you think the Rangers could get for Smoak, straight-up?
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right
You’d have to add something to Smoak to get “almost any young pitcher”.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not just something.
Significant pitching prospect something. (Possibly somethings.)
I have high hopes for Smoak, but let’s be realistic about the costs of fully healthy young aces.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
by something I meant Feliz, Main, Perez. If you’re trying to get a Halladay, Smoak is going to be one of 3 or 4 players, and at least one of the others is going to have to be at his level.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not talking Halladay
more like a Buchholz…of course that’s not a “sure thing” these days. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I think there are plenty of young promising arms we could get for Smoak without giving up one of our elite pitching prospects in addition.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Buchholz is a prospect with a high ceiling
not a “fully healthy young ace,” and not “almost any young pitcher.”
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't like Buccholz
I don’t see him being a top of the rotation guy. Don’t get me wrong, he has potential, but he has not been very good, and his performances in the last two years have been less than inspiring.
The "Fire Wash Watch" is on. I say he's gone by April 26th.
by NothinG on Apr 23, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fair enough.
But whatever his flaws, Buchholz is still a prospect with a high ceiling. That’s why you might be able to get him for Smoak ~ except, of course, for what hightowersmith notes below.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lars Anderson
If he wasn’t in the Boston system I’d have to believe Smoak’s name would come up in the Buccholz conversation.
It’s a shame a deal couldn’t get done around some catcher-led package.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Apr 23, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
concur
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um... none
Smoak is ridiculously overrated around here.
It isn’t like a full third of the league passed on him when given the chance to draft him last year. But I’m sure the White Sox would still leap at the opportunity to trade Danks back to us for him.
And he plays a position that no other teams have good prospects/players at.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
BA has him at 23nd overall
Goldstein at 22nd.
he is consistently mentioned by both Rangers homers and national coverage as the 2nd (or sometimes 3rd) best prospect on the # 1 ranked farm system in all of baseball.
being taken lower in the draft has nothing to do with how he’s viewed now.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it is just impossible
to deal with an ace without including some top flight pitching prospects, unless you are talking about a half-season rental. Usually, you have to give up a top-flight near ready pitching prospect, plus a really high upside guy that is farther away.
And on trading Davis, I’m not sure that we didn’t miss out on dealing him at his highest value this past offseason.
If you take the worst pitching staff in baseball, then add Kris Benson and Jason Jennings, what do you have???
surprise!!! You have the worst pitching staff in baseball, that's what.
by tricer on Apr 23, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
first sentence
should be "deal for an ace
If you take the worst pitching staff in baseball, then add Kris Benson and Jason Jennings, what do you have???
surprise!!! You have the worst pitching staff in baseball, that's what.
by tricer on Apr 23, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup.
Though I still think that Davis will find his stroke and have the potential to serve as a potential centerpiece of a trade for pitching. Of course, Smoak has to be the real deal for that scenario to play out.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's a lot of potential in that post.
Urk.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
Davis’s value peaked in November 2008
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's early.
And Davis is, what, 23?
I think it’s too soon to be talking about peak values with any certainty.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just don't think his value can get higher
I don’t necessarily think it’ll go down.
But a young guy with that rookie season? I can’t see how it possibly goes up.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if he puts up
numbers this year like he did last year, it will be even higher. there were a lot of skeptics around baseball after his eye popping numbers last season.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Apr 23, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But
It is far more likely that he doesn’t put up numbers as good as last year.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Far more likely, yes.
Certain? No. Which is why I think it’s too soon to be talking about peak values with any certainty.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course nothing is certain
Why do people always try to put certainty into anything?
Murphy’s value could be higher than Feliz’s in August. Its possible. Not very likely at all, but who knows.
It is conceivable that Boston offers Buchholz for Blalock in July. I’m not holding my breath though.
And it is of course possible that Davis hits 40 home runs in 2009, topping his half season breakout performance in 2008 and being the most valuable Ranger player.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I must've misread your comment
I thought you wrote, “I can’t see how [Davis’ value] possibly goes up.”
I don’t think Davis winding up with 30-35 dingers, ~100 RBI, and something like a .270/.330/520 season is so terribly unlikely.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Especially since his rookie season
was really a rookie half-season. If Davis manages to put up a full season of 2009 numbers close to those he posted in a half-season’s work in 2008, his value will be higher this next post-season than last.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with this statement...
but felt that he couldn’t make that move because he’d get fired if he dealt another pitching prospect who ended up doing well in his new home… then there’s no point in having him be GM at that point
Unfortunately I think that may be the case with JD. I don’t agree with it, but he has drawn enough critcism for some of the deals and decisions that he has made and I think another one could be big trouble for him. Like it or not I think that is in the back of his mind.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Apr 23, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who gives a shit how well they do on another team
He will be judged for how well what he gets back in return do for the rangers.
by SaltyGoesYard on Apr 23, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow...
Who gives a shit how well they do on another team
I do. It obviously matters what the Rangers get back, but I don’t want to see another young Rangers pitcher go to another team and wonder what could have been.
Stay the course, keep developing the young players and bring them up when ready.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Apr 23, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What im saying is
If say you traded Feliz, and he ended up sucking, and the guy we got back ended up dominating.
Would you still be mad we traded him?
by SaltyGoesYard on Apr 23, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I refuse to accept...
any scenerio where Feliz ends up sucking.
This team has been built by developing young players. You continue to do so and be patient with those players and give them a chance when ready. I’m not saying you can’t trade anyone. However the biggest prospects like Feliz, Holland, Smoak, Perez, etc. need to stay with the Rangers and not be traded away imo.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Apr 23, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's kinda what sucks about having JD as the
GM because he has to win his next trade for survival, especially if a young pitcher is involved.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I almost wanted to agree with you
Since I could see anyone making a desperation move, and those never work out. But I think everyone knows that JD couldn’t survive a failed trade of Feliz or Holland, he’ll not screw this one up. Basically, he’s not giving up one of those two unless it is an obvious no lose deal.
JD’s future with the Rangers rests on two arms, one a lefty, one a righty. I love JD as a GM, but even I acknowledge that his future with the team is dependent on one of those two making it as a Ranger
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would make a deal for Halladay
that includes Feliz and a whole cadre of other guys. Especially since the only team Halladay can’t beat would be the one he’s joining.
Webb is injured too much and I just don’t see him as the type of horse this rotation needs pitching through August.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
how many years does he have left?
Halladay – at a high level?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
His contract only runs through 2010
and he’ll certainly be good that long, I’d think. I wouldn’t mind trading for him and either letting him go at the end of 2010 or extending him a couple of years, but no longer than that.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Halladay
just strikes me as the type of pitcher who’ll be good for a long time. His stuff doesn’t seem to be of the variety that fades away with age.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I see him as
the perfect guy to lead the staff next year, and then you decide how long you want him around after that. But as a transition guy to bridge the gap until the prospects are ready to lead, he’s perfect. Maybe a 3 or 4 year extension makes sense, but he’d serve a valuable purpose even if only here for one year.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Halladay is available at the deadline
do you go ahead and push the chips in, even if the Rangers aren’t a strong contender and you would have to bid against teams that are?
If you take the worst pitching staff in baseball, then add Kris Benson and Jason Jennings, what do you have???
surprise!!! You have the worst pitching staff in baseball, that's what.
by tricer on Apr 23, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
right.
see, I’ve seen people saying it will take 3 or 4 of our top prospects. Which I agree with. Feliz, Main, a catcher and an IF prospect…?
not sure I want to go that route. not sure I even want to consider it.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
especially when you consider
what Santana and Harden both brought in return. Feliz and Main are better than any pitcher they got back in those deals. I’ll throw Perez in there as well. Of course, I don’t think they trade Halladay unless they get a pitcher who can help them now, and I think JD would be less likely to deal away another top pitching prospect to have that bite him again.
The "Fire Wash Watch" is on. I say he's gone by April 26th.
by NothinG on Apr 23, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd wait until the end of the season
if the team is out of contention, and try to build a deal around Davis instead of Smoak, whichever of Main/Perez/Beaven/Font looks bright instead of Feliz, and maybe some low value MLB players like Murphy or maybe include one of the catchers and use a lesser pitcher.
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's exactly the sort of package
for front-line pitching that I wouldn’t mind seeing the Rangers put together. Not sure it gets the job done, but it’s a start.
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't deal Main or Perez
or Feliz or Holland. In most deals. I’d like to say for ANY deal. But that’s me personally.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Halladay is available
I’m on the phone, even if I don’t think he’ll help me win this year, because I know what he’d mean in 2010. Of course, you give yourself a limit as to the price, but he’s worth a lot for a year and a half. He’s worth a Teixeira-like package and Toronto will be expecting that. It would be very difficult to pull it off because obviously he’d be at the top of the list for several teams in contention.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
would rather keep feliz
and sign sheets.
by SteveP on Apr 23, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
done.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm advocating for Danks.
He’s as close to a perfect fit as this team can find.
If we’re talking about dealing Feliz, forget Webb, Halladay, Beckett, Kazmir, Cain and use Feliz to bowl over Kenny.
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
by rooster on Apr 23, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
nononono
BIG injury questions
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 Apr 23, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
lots of foul balls
off of Holland’s fast ball. they just could not square it up at all. impressive.
by SteveP on Apr 23, 2009 11:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I didn't realize the movement his fastball has until I saw the pitch F/X data.
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
by rooster on Apr 23, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I loved that
Matt Harrison got to have a seat and watch the guy who will soon force him to look for a job at a tire plant. That will be our biggest move the addition by subtraction of the suckfest that is Matt Harrison, forever.
Also whats up with all former Ranger catchers just dominating us?
Holland looked pretty beastly, I kinna had a inner reflection on how I knee-jerk about our prospects if they suck one time, but with Holland last night actually doing good I found myself saying “Its just 2 innings, lets see how he does with a full start” Something I will have to work on
by SaltyGoesYard on Apr 23, 2009 11:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh trust me
First bomb Holland gives up. The experiment is over.
by SaltyGoesYard on Apr 23, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That might take a while
Last year he pitched 150 innings and gave up a grand total of 3 home runs. and that includes 31 innings in the pitching hell which is Bakersfield.
by iblum on Apr 23, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
we need a graphic for this
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 Apr 23, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Matt Harrison doesn't suck.
He was rushed last year to a gross extent and that has done him a great injustice. He doesn’t have the raw stuff that Holland has that would allow him to succeed in the majors before he is ready. He is a pitchability guy, so his margin of error is slimmer, and he needs more time in AAA to work on his pitch selection. According to fangraphs, he is using three pitches this year either for the first time or far more often than he did last year. When that is the case, a young pitcher is going to struggle. He needs to be in an environment more conducive to learning how and when to throw new pitches…AAA ball.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Apr 23, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
For any worries about "ruining" Holland by promoting him now
my concern is more about what the Rangers might have done (and perhaps are still doing) to Harrison.
By all accounts, Holland’s stuff and testicular fortitude make him a great candidate for the approach the Rangers are taking with him.
Harrison, on the other hand… is there a “book” on Harrison’s mental toughness? How much of this can he take?
by Snark on Apr 23, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd
For testicular fortitude
by SaltyGoesYard on Apr 23, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Testicular Fortitude
Name of my next album…
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
Dykstra has all the money!
ElectricOkra.com
by WhipSmart on Apr 23, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he learned the cutter
he should be mowing em down like danks.
by SteveP on Apr 23, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Huh?
he threw at least 4 an probably 5 (if you include a 2-seamer) pitches last year. The cutter is the only new pitch. His problem last night was that he had zero confidence in his secondary stuff, particularly his changeup, and that he and Salty refused to throw inside despite that fact that he was sitting at 92-93 on his 4seam. The hitters were not off-balance in any way. I think pairing Salty and Harrision together is a bad combo as both need to learn far too much at the same time to be effective together.
Just a question, why not bring in Jennings or even FranFran instead of Oday with the game on the line?
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wash says
he was saving FX2 in case the Rangers took the lead…
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
Dykstra has all the money!
ElectricOkra.com
by WhipSmart on Apr 23, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
right I know that
I’m questioning the logic here- do people agree?
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
tough call
I’m all for getting O’Day into the game if he was ready. And he didn’t look BAD. Not good though. But at the same time, getting to the game in the 10th inning, having Kason Gabbard’s jersey, not knowing your teammates, being in another country and in the 11th inning of a game your team fought hard to come back into contention…I can’t blame O’Day. Need to see more from him, hope he wasn’t mentally f#cked from this.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i am only going off of fangraphs
and they have him throwing a curveball, slider, and two-seemer far more often than he did last year. They also show that he is throwing six different pitches at least 5 % of the time. That seems high to me. My only point is that if he is experimenting with new stuff, he should be doing it in AAA ball.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Apr 23, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The differences
are because he is struggling; his curve is just a show pitch.
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Night before
Frankie had thrown a lot of pitches. 1.2 innings with a couple of hits and a walk. Radio guys were talking about how he would probably be last resort.
by texasbuckeye on Apr 23, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
D'uh
forgot about that. This “jennings can’t pitch back to back” thing is getting old. If he can’t really be a reliever then put him in the rotation for Benson or Harrison.
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
this
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 Apr 23, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If its still happening a month from now then i'll agree with you
But right now I have no problem being cautious with a guy who has been injury riddled the past few years and is right now our second best reliever.
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 Apr 23, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just throwing it out there for consumption...
Let’s say Harrison scuffles for the the next three starts and Holland continues to impress.
Why not flip their roles and spoonfeed Harrison innings out of the pen as a long man until he gets up on his feet?
Harrison wasn’t very good last year and BP projects him (I believe) to have an ERA of 6.00+ this year but he’s going thru what most young pitchers go thru and I wouldn’t want to give up on him at all plus leftys are more successful in Arlington.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly
I think he just needs time in AAA unless the Rangers move him into a permanent role as a reliever. If he’s going to be a starter, he probably needs time to work on his stamina and focus on some pitch development type stuff.
We promoted him super fast last year, and I think the only reason he stuck is that he won so many games despite giving up an absurd amount of runs.
by jwiscarson on Apr 23, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Without doing the research
it seemed like Harrison dominated a very depleted Oakland team three times last year along with a couple of good outings v. LAA (pre-Teixeira) and TBay along with a boatload of run support along the way.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would have no problems with that
and we could release Guardado when Harrison goes to the pen
The "Fire Wash Watch" is on. I say he's gone by April 26th.
by NothinG on Apr 23, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember when Benoit was the scourge of fans (maybe 2004-05?) and
we needed a long arm out of the pen so they moved Benoit out of the starting rotation and the guy carved himself a nice role with the Rangers.
I think Harrison has a chance to eventually be a decent pitcher and given that he’s a lefty, we need to keep giving him opportunities as long as he doesn’t stunt his development and can see a few windows of success.
Right now, he’s very Paul Koronka and he has more talent than Koronka.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's all about walks
if he cuts those walks down, he’ll be fine. if not, he’s toast.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT. Darren Oliver to the DL.
"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 Apr 23, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I had the Angels winning 86-87 games and winning the AL West but that
looks like a big stretch at this point.
Baseball just keeps kicking that team in the nuts this year.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They'd been leading a charmed life
last few years. It was bound to catch up to them.
"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris
by DJCahill on Apr 23, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very true.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
by Rodney on Apr 23, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Angels pitching staff is in shambles
I’m telling you, this was a big motivation in the O’Day claim
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What's killing the Angels more than
anything is their bully (ERA significantly worse than Ranger bully) which didn’t make a whole lot of sense since they have Arredondo & Shields.
They’re also making an obscene amount of errors in the field.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess their manager is a dumbass
Errors = bad baseball = bad managing right?
At least that’s how you talked about Wash last year.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Apr 23, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Escobar also had a setback
his ETA has now been moved to June
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's not shocking
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Apr 23, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm only about four hours away from Anaheim... maybe I should go down there and see if they'll let me pitch.
I’ve never pitched before, ever, but I could sure learn and would happily take the pro-rated MLB minimum. They obviously need the help, too.
by Inkara1 on Apr 23, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Eyre has to go on the DL
Should we claim Shell and DFA Duran. He should slide through waivers
by CRUSHDAVIS on Apr 23, 2009 11:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I just can't see Duran sliding through
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
there is quite a market out there
for utility infielders who can’t do anything well.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Apr 23, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
take a look at some of the top prospects in the system
who also started the first 2 weeks hitting below .200
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the list gets smaller
when you look at who is batting below .060. but i am not basing my opinion of Duran based solely on this year.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Apr 23, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No he won't
I’ll take Mendoza for his turn in the pen after his strong start a pitcher of the week award and keep duran.
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just don’t see someone thinking that Duran is good enough right now to justify taking a roster spot on many, if any, teams
by CRUSHDAVIS on Apr 23, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he has options
and was ranked around 15th in this system last year so yeah he is better than most other guys on other teams 40 and they control him for 2 more years.
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
good enough right now?
Its two weeks into the season. The question is whether one in 29 teams thinks that Duran will be good enough ever. Someone will see something interesting there.
If you DFA Duran, you’re saying bye. That seems a little much for yet another pitcher out of options who we can’t fit onto the 25
by JBImaknee on Apr 23, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed.
and I don’t want to lose Duran. but we don’t NEED him. we NEED pitching. If we found a golden egg of a reliever to plug in right now, I say do it. otherwise, like was said previously, use Mendoza in the pen now – the only place he should ever pitch for us again.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Arias
I’d DFA him before Duran.
I’d rather have the power stroke and some OBP abilities.
"[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 Apr 23, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Call up Beau Vaughn!
He is currently kicking some AAA ass.
by bioaggie on Apr 23, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not on the 40
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then send Eddie to Japan.
Problem solved.
by bioaggie on Apr 23, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just don’t see someone thinking that Duran is good enough right now to justify taking a roster spot on many, if any, teams
by CRUSHDAVIS on Apr 23, 2009 11:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
KLAW on Holland
Took him awhile…
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=26121
Taylor, Alabama: How about Derek Holland’s debut last night? He threw hard and threw strikes. You like the idea of him starting out in the pen for the Rangers?
SportsNation Keith Law: (1:37 PM ET ) Yes, especially given how quickly he reached the majors. The temptation to plug him into the rotation will be there soon enough; I hope they resist it for a few months.
"[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 Apr 23, 2009 12:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
and this gets me very psyched
Steve (DC): Given the economy and its impact on attendance/revenues, do you think some teams will go back to paying slot and there will be a return to guys falling to big money teams like the Yankees, Sox, etc? Any players jump out at you as serious signability/slot concerns? PS This is not a Strasburg question, I can’t imagine they don’t sign him.
SportsNation Keith Law: (1:40 PM ET ) There are too many guys in this draft with high (expected) bonus demands for us to have nobody fall. Andy Oliver looked like a top 10 guy but he’s sliding. Brian Goodwin probably just slid out of the first 50 picks by choosing Boras as his adviser, and Levon Washington might slide all the way to college. Wil Myers goes in the top 20 picks, but I don’t think he signs for sandwich money. I’m just guessing on these – no one is allowed to discuss dollars at this point – but that’s my impression.
When are we going to learn about the LA results? I just remember an obscure blog post saying the Rangers would be aggressive again this year…
"[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 Apr 23, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
signings can occur throughout
the year as long as they are 16 but the principle signing date is 7/2
by Goyogringo on Apr 23, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the only problem is
that the Rangers might be one of the teams that previously didn’t shy away from going over slot, but due to financial concerns they might be more conservative this year.
"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels
by Randy Richardson on Apr 23, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
With the whispers floating around regarding our aggressiveness going after several of the top LA guys this year, I'm not too worried about that.
I think the money is going to be there to spend on amateur acquisitions, as that was one of the cornerstones of their long term plan when it was implemented.
They’d be fools to let that well dry up right now.
I mean, even with our reluctance to spend on guys on the FA market this off season we still heard all about us going hard after Ynoa and Tazawa, and apparently we just missed on some of the other big name bonus babies out of LA last year so you know we were at least making big money offers even if no one accepted them.
And it’s this willingness to spend in the amateur market that keeps me off the “Hicks is a cheapskate who only cares about the bottom line!” bandwagon.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
"I guess it’s tough to look good when you play on the same team as Marcus Lemon." -Trip Somers.
"Congratulations, Mr. Somers. You just made THE LIST." -The Newberg, after reading the above comment.
by thedirkatron on Apr 23, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And...
….even as late as during spring training (IIRC), Hicks pretty much praised their drafting and LA signing efforts and reiterated that they would continue to funnel plenty of money there. I don’t think we need to worry about them doing a 180 on their drafting plan.
by FuturePants on Apr 23, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
despite the rumors and reports of how much trouble he is in he did say that. I think he must have enough money to fund player acquisition for the draft and LA, and he prefers to focus on that instead of free agents. Cuts come in the free agent money first, anything else later.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think...
….he’s bee pretty clear that he would rather put money into draft picks than free agents.
by FuturePants on Apr 23, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
which is a pretty damn brilliant idea
think about what 6 mil in the draft/latin america (catt) would have netted the last 2-3 years…def worth it
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 Apr 23, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's pretty clear that Hicks would much rather put money in his own
pockets than spend it on his baseball team, even at the expense of winning.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hicks knows that if the team wins , he will get more money
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 Apr 23, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Signing draft picks overslot
and spending on a new DR academy and LA signings is putting money into his own pocket?
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley and Lou Piniella had a little chat on Thursday, and the end result was the outfielder being benched until he’s 100 percent healthy, and when he is, he’ll be bumped to sixth in the order.
. . .
Bradley was getting treatment after his conversation in Piniella’s office, and not available to the media. He has not talked since collecting his only hit, a home run on April 10 in Milwaukee. Does he have a responsibility to address the press?
If the bleacher bums turn on him, this could be a real ugly situation. This was an incredibly risky move for the Cubs – they should be worried at this point.
"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels
by Randy Richardson on Apr 23, 2009 12:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
lets just hope theres no need for this image
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Apr 23, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Ice to see you."
The 40 Trumps All!!!
"I guess it’s tough to look good when you play on the same team as Marcus Lemon." -Trip Somers.
"Congratulations, Mr. Somers. You just made THE LIST." -The Newberg, after reading the above comment.
by thedirkatron on Apr 23, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice.
I’m cautiously optimistic about Mendoza.
He keeps the ball on the ground and in the park, which is always a keep thing. If he can just limit those walks and keep the Padillaesque implosions to a minimum he could be a really nice boost to us this year and perhaps beyond, hopefully as a starter.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
"I guess it’s tough to look good when you play on the same team as Marcus Lemon." -Trip Somers.
"Congratulations, Mr. Somers. You just made THE LIST." -The Newberg, after reading the above comment.
by thedirkatron on Apr 23, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ack
Only if his sinker is working. Last year Mendoza’s sinker looked alot like a belt high 87 MPH fastball with T-Bones hanging off it. (in other words, dead meat!)
by iblum on Apr 23, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm... Well, he still managed to get 50% gb's versus 29% fb's with his "belt high fastballs" in '08, so if he can improve on that then he'd likely be a big plus for us, cause that's some serious worm killing shit right there.
Anytime you can get 50% groundballs and keep the walks down you’ve got a pretty good shot at being at least a LAIE.
Like I said elsewhere, he was comically unlucky on balls in play last year (.385 babip!), but what do expect from a groundballer pitching in front of our ’08 defense?
If that number normalizes a bit and he keeps the walks around 3/9 (or hopefully lower), he should be a nice addition to the staff.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
"I guess it’s tough to look good when you play on the same team as Marcus Lemon." -Trip Somers.
"Congratulations, Mr. Somers. You just made THE LIST." -The Newberg, after reading the above comment.
by thedirkatron on Apr 23, 2009 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
heh
clearly the remaining 19% of his pitchers were HR and not included ;)
i keed i keed
im happy to see mendoza up, and equally happy to see gabbard gone before mendoza. hes a player with whom we need to “find out what we have” and either fish or cut bait with imho
should be interesting to see how much better this defense is than last year and how much more that helps him this year…
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 Apr 23, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Amusing
On CJ’s Facebook, he said that tonight every time we score, the bullpen is going to chant “U-S-A! U-S-A!”
Stupid Canadians.
by FuturePants on Apr 23, 2009 1:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Meche dealing grief on the Tribe today.
Up 2-1 thru 7. Maybe Hillman handles his bully correctly today but it’d help if his 1B doesn’t screw up like he did on Sunday v. the Rangers.
KC is 8-6 and going home for 7 games v. Det & Tor with Greinke pitching two of those games.
I heard Gammons say the other day he thinks they’ll finish .500 or above and I can’t argue with him.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
KC was my sleeper team of the year
their lineup is sneaky good and the pitchers may not be household names, but they get the job done. Grienke and Meche is one of the best top ends of the rotations in baseball. The only things holding them back in my eyes is injuries and Hillman’s mismanagement of the bullpen.
"If you can't get up for this kind of game, Lord have mercy, you might not have a heartbeat"
-Jerome Bettis
by Mizzou12 on Apr 23, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
HIllman sent Meche out to start the 8th
(he retired 16 straight) and Garko ripped a double. Cleveland announcers are saying that Meche is looking at Hillman “Like you’ve gotta be kidding.” Hillman went to the mound and made a quick U turn.
Sac bunt, Meche throws ball in the dirt and gets past 1B, Callespo backs up play and throws out Graffanino at the plate.
Trainers now looking at Meche but he stays in the game. No Farnsworth in sight.
KC is making a lot of subtle improvements and I noticed their 18-8 finish last year while playing a lot of young talent as well.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Depends on how many games Farnsworth appears in
If he has 40 appearances, that’s 40 losses right there. If that happens, the rest of the staff had better not lose 42 or more combined or else Gammons will be wrong.
by Inkara1 on Apr 23, 2009 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who gives a shit...
go cheer for the Royals on their board. No one here cares about Hillman. He isn’t the Rangers manager, and all the HIllman crap was 2+ years ago.
Let. It. Go.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Apr 23, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hafner pinch hit single, runner goes to 3b.
Meche has given up 3 hits in a row and Hillman is riding him.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Callespo kicks a grounder and the Royals
growing pains continue. Tie game, two men on and one out.
Hillman has the hook for Meche.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
2 batters too late
"If you can't get up for this kind of game, Lord have mercy, you might not have a heartbeat"
-Jerome Bettis
by Mizzou12 on Apr 23, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mahay comes in game to face Sizemore
who promptly goes yard for the 3 run Jimmy Jack.
5-2 Tribe.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just become a Royals homer and move on
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
http://tinyurl.com/ranger-rage
by boomer1 on Apr 23, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wasnt that you who wanted us to sign mahay?
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 Apr 23, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
horrible.
aren’t they considering my fantasy team in all of this?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Apr 23, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grady Sizemore
is a fantasy god.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pujols is two fantasy gods
just hit his 2nd homer of the day and has a stolen base. 3 for 3 today
The "Fire Wash Watch" is on. I say he's gone by April 26th.
by NothinG on Apr 23, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He'
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Apr 23, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
damn, hit post too soon
I was going to say:
He’s no Ian Kinsler.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Apr 23, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And yet again, Josey doesn't know what "reply" means
Way to stay on topic there, champ.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What??? Isn't this the Royals GDT???
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
by bking on Apr 23, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
bking
you should be ecstatic for Tom Hicks once again.
Forbes shows that although the Rangers continue to have the same $ 68 million (or so) payroll they’ve had since 2006, they pulled $ 176 million in revenues last year which is $ 21 million more than they pulled in 2006.
How could I have ever doubted you when used to defend Tom Hicks and his desire to win with such passion?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Apr 23, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure
Because payroll is the only expense an owner 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.
by bigsteve on Apr 23, 2009 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure
why fans should be sympathetic to an owner that is in financial trouble because he mortgaged a franchise that used to be unencumbered with debt up to its eyeballs so he could buy another franchise in another sport.
4/10/09 - Josh Hamilton's last walk.
by DJCahill on Apr 24, 2009 7:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Josey has his own list of topics
If the current discussion isn’t on that list, no biggie. He’ll just post his thoughts on it anyways.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on Apr 23, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
On that note
I really like scallops.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Apr 23, 2009 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So did Sybil
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
by bking on Apr 24, 2009 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that would be quite a scene
fightinengineer told me that Ceej was responding to some fans that were taunting him yesterday. pretty funny
"If you can't get up for this kind of game, Lord have mercy, you might not have a heartbeat"
-Jerome Bettis
by Mizzou12 on Apr 23, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I like this.
Stupid Canadian baseball. Who do they think they are?!
by FuturePants on Apr 23, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But what
is he saying on his twitter?
"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris
by DJCahill on Apr 23, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
EG is all over it
believe it
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Apr 23, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
last friday
during the blowout loss some kids behind me kept trying to chant USA, pretty annoying bunch but that was certainly the oddest of their escapades.
by bushe on Apr 23, 2009 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pitching Staff Changes
So, we have Benson out with an injury, Feldman into the rotation, O’day claimed. Also now we have Eyre out with an injury, Mendoza up.
FF is still untouchable as closer
CJ seems to be back to setting up for him.
Jennings is probably the 7th inning guy.
Guardado is certainly the short man,
Holland will be the LHanded long man, and Mendoza is the right handed long man, and O’day is then left with the RHanded short man position. which, given his sidearmed arsenal, would be a good place for him.
On another note. Anyone notice that the direction of the break on Holland’s fastball was right, not left. Which means that he’s throwing a 96 MPH fastball which bores in on right handers. I’m not sure he’d make all that great a LOOGY, but he’s going to be pretty successfull since he’s essentially throwing a 97 MPH cutter to go with his occasional slider. The slider (I’m guessing) probably looks more like a forkball to these major leaguers.
by iblum on Apr 23, 2009 3:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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