Thursday a.m. Rangers things
by Adam J. Morris on May 14, 2009 8:22 AM CDT
291 comments
Great game last night. The Rangers now have the third-best record in the A.L. And I'll be heading up to Arlington today to see if they can complete the sweep.
Hank Blalock says he was looking fastball against Brandon Morrow and was just looking for something he could turn on.
Blalock's double gave the win to C.J. Wilson, who was a little shaky yesterday but who also would have thrown two scoreless were it not for a throwing error in his second inning of work. There was a lot of flaming of Ron Washington for leaving C.J. out there for two innings yesterday, but really, I don't know if he had a ton of other options.
Frankie Francisco wasn't available. Eddie Guardado and Darren O'Day had already been used. Derek Holland was probably not available after pitching the day before.
That left Jason Jennings and Kris Benson as your options out of the bullpen, and if you use Jennings yesterday, he's not available today. I think, given the situation, you have to run C.J. out there for two innings, and I think the complaints about him being out there for two innings run more along the lines of "C.J. sucks and shouldn't ever be out there" rather than any rational complaint about the bullpen usage.
In addition, C.J. now has a 4.20 ERA on the season, and a FIP of 4.54. He's not been great this season, but he's also not the disaster that some seem to think.
T.R. Sullivan says that Frankie, meanwhile, is reporting much improvement after a good throwing session yesterday, and he could be back in the closer role on Friday.
Jeff Miller has a detailed breakdown of yesterday's game, including Chris Davis's analysis of the two close plays at first that went against the Rangers, and Brandon McCarthy's thoughts on the three homers the M's hit against him.
Jeff Wilson has updates on Willie Eyre and Dustin Nippert, who are both on the d.l., along with this update on the team's TV ratings:
The Rangers on Tuesday drew their highest rating for an FSN Southwest game this season, averaging a 3.25 in Dallas-Fort Worth. It’s the best showing since Aug. 7, 2008.
The high rating follows a trend: ratings for 21 games on FSN Southwest this season have increased by 98 percent over last year, the largest spike among any major league team. The Rangers are averaging a 2.16, up from 1.09 in 2008.
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Rangers' TV ratings
Too bad that cheap SOB Hicks and stupid Jonny Donuts are driving the fans away with their incompetence. :)
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on May 14, 2009 8:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Touche`
The more this team wins, the more of this you’re going to see.
I fully expect a Rays-like bandwagon jumper-onner situation soon.
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 14, 2009 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its amazing that winning
drives ratings higher than a season where they were out of it by this time.
4/10/09 - Josh Hamilton's last walk.
by DJCahill on May 14, 2009 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
winning and Andrus
I think early on some tuned in to see this Andrus kid. They may be casual fans but they heard the MY flap over the winter and tuned in to see Andrus.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on May 14, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I suspect
winning is 95+% of it.
Individual players can fight for the other 5%.
by DJCahill on May 14, 2009 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
agree
"[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 May 14, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did anyone hear Magrane on the MLB Network last night?
He compared another SS to Andrus when talking about great SS play. IIRC, he said, “Well, it wasn’t like Andrus going up the middle for that ball, but it was a good play.” He wasn’t even referring to the play last night. Wow!
Query – Has he exceeded ALL expectations?
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
by Parman on May 14, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
His play is indeed exciting
and I love the little things he’s doing, especially at that age. The kid sprints out grounders, seems to be in the right place defensively for every situation, doesn’t try to be something he’s not at the plate…he’s a baseball player, pure and simple. Smart and talented goes a long way.
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by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And that play up the middle last night,
WOW……..
"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 May 14, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well its probably still a yes
but he has had a sudden flurry of great plays in the last few days that are boosting everything heh.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on May 14, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am officially saying
he is ready for the show
by BEW on May 14, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
even the attendance is going up
when a wednesday night game draws 27,000 in the month of May
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry
by NothinG on May 14, 2009 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep. Trust me, if I lived in or around the metroplex
I’d go to several games myself.
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 14, 2009 8:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I went both yesterday and Tuesday
and I almost went today but my boss just teased me instead.
HIM: “We should go to the ballpark today instead of work”
ME: :-)
HIM: “Nah, I really can’t do it today”
ME: :-(
by texasraider on May 14, 2009 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not sure but wasn't last night
$ 1 hot dogs?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thought every Wednesday was $ 1 hot dogs
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Josey, for the first time
I’m agreeing with you. LOL
Yeah, I’m almost positive that last night was the $1 dog night.
BTW..how are the $1 dogs at the BPiA? I know that here, for our minor league team, it’s best to stay away from the dogs on $1 dog night.
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 14, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
they aren’t the same as the regular price dogs. But not terrible or anything.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
by tricer on May 14, 2009 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love those Sherrif Blaylock dogs they've got going on
Those are delicious!
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 14, 2009 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are some things that you should not
skimp on and hot dogs are one of those things.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They suck.
All the hot dogs are terrible this year. They switched from Hebrew National (which tasted FANTASTIC) to some crap off-brand. I’m not eating another one until they switch back. My roommate concurs.
"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin
by utlonghorn24 on May 14, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
The Nathan’s hot dog stand across the street from my office puts ballpark hot dogs to shame.
They’re better than the hot dogs at AA center, though. I’ve had two dogs there, and both had stale buns.
by cstorm15 on May 14, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Go to New Flower Market
and get the sausage from the meat counter, yummy, especially the Cajun ones, and big enough for two buns.
"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 May 14, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I cannot imagine
deciding whether or not to go to a baseball game based on some mediocre hot dog. I can buy a whole package of equally average hot dogs for $1.
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by t ball on May 14, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, it completely boggles my mind
that it’s such a big draw.
"I'd praised catcher Max Ramirez two weeks ago, but after his continued struggles I'm increasingly convinced he's not going to pan out." - crops.mlblogs.com
by DJCahill on May 14, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Western New York
where I grew up has great hot dogs, like nothing I’ve found around here. Anyone going to Buffalo for any reason needs to eat three things:
- Chicken Wings. Duh, right? But don’t go to the well known places, just go to any dive, they’re great everywhere. My personal favorite is the Now Pizzeria in Hamburg. Much better than the Anchor Bar.
- Beef on Weck. “Weck” is a salty roll, they put beef slices and juice on that roll and it’s heavenly.
- Sahlen’s hot dogs. Find Ted’s Hot Dogs and eat there. I would go to a baseball game just to eat these hot dogs.
In short, Buffalo is a guy’s dream for game watching food. I miss home sometimes.
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by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Western NY's dogs
exactly right. They are great.
by providence on May 14, 2009 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The owners of Ted's moved to Phoenix
and opened a Ted’s down the street from ASU. LOVE that place.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 14, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you can get those dollar hot dogs every night too
they sell the exact same ones in the captains coral kids thing out in center field.
exploding highfive
by sarnold on May 14, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But
I don’t think it’s every Wednesday.
by brettgardner on May 14, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yup, been that way for the last few years.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
by tricer on May 14, 2009 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm.
It only lists 2 Wednesdays a month on the schedule, but I’ll defer to people who have actually gone on Wednesdays consistently.
by brettgardner on May 14, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
there are usually only 2 Wed home games in any given month.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
by tricer on May 14, 2009 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duh.
Jesus. Gun is cocked and ready to unload in temple.
by brettgardner on May 14, 2009 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't do it
No hot dog controversy is worth that ;)
Doctor please. Some more of these.
by tricer on May 14, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't do it, man
You’re worth more than that.
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 14, 2009 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh shit.
You’re right.
But, still, they don’t have dollar dogs for the TV audience.
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 14, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
dollar hot dog night
all Wednesday night home game attendance should be astericked with the dollar hot dog night note.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on May 14, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
TV Ratings
you can’t question the undeniability of the DFW Metroplex needing to hear the sound of Josh Lewin’s voice.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
by mtex on May 14, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
how do the tv ratings work exactly
Is the 2.16 the percentage of households?
If so, does anyone know how many people that percentage is drawing from (and thus I can know how many people are watching)?
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on May 14, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
2.16 percent of households, yes
There should be a second number that’s not mentioned here, which is the percentage of TVs that are actually on at the time. If half the TVs in the market aren’t on at all, that makes it more impressive.
I’m curious what the ratings are in the Boston market for Red Sox games, in the New York market for Yankees games and Mets games, etc. Seeing where the Rangers’ ratings compare to other teams’ ratings would tell a lot, although nearly doubling the viewership is a great thing.
by Inkara1 on May 14, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Amen to that
Attendance is going to go up with winning, but the stench of Jonboy and Tom linger at the Ballpark even on a windy day.
by GhostofGaryHogeboom on May 14, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We have now..
won or tied 7 straight series.
Let’s leave no doubt by sweeping it today. To go 5-0 vs. the Mariners would give them a nice mental block against us.
by death of the cool on May 14, 2009 8:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
"The Rangers now have the third-best record in the A.L."
What a beautiful phrase… it almost seems too good to be true.
Enjoy it while it lasts I suppose.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 8:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah.
Have you seen the NL Central though? Holy hell. Tough division
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 14, 2009 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Francisco
crossing my fingers, hopes for a meaningful September are a lot better with him out there. The reports have been hopeful thus far this week.
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by t ball on May 14, 2009 8:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I haven't read a lot;
But last night on the broadcast, TAG said it was mild biceps tendinitis?
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That would be correct
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 14, 2009 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But in my world
‘Francisco’, ‘unable to pitch’, and ‘soreness’ should never, ever be in the same paragraph or fingernail biting and gnashing of teeth ensues. The guy has been one of the very best relievers in all of baseball thus far and this bullpen cannot afford to take its chances without him for too long.
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by t ball on May 14, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not to pummel Wash or anything
but 3 nights in a row with all the up, down in the Bully seems to have set the table for the injury if not created it. I’ll buy the “I hurt while working out,” but methinks it is to cover Wash’s narrow ass.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
by Parman on May 14, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would not have had
Francisco pitching that 3rd night, no way. I don’t think we can say it caused the problem, but regardless, I wouldn’t have taken the chance.
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by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
3 nights of pitching won't cause tendinitis.
Did it possibly exasperate the pain? Maybe.
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nor does lifting...
Isn’t tendinitis basically a repetitive strain injury?
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
by Parman on May 14, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
pitching the third night wasn't so bad because it was a save situation
pitching the second night with a five run lead was pointless. I admit that I was wondering to myself how they could blow it and lose 8-7, but I think using him there was counter productive and this is a result of that decision.
If you want some slack, bring your own rope.
by rangerfaninva on May 14, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
CJ
it’s not that “CJ sucks,” It’s the fact that you get Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde from him. You never know what you’re gonna get. Last night was not the good CJ.
Also, when, IF EVER, is Jennings gonna be able to go consecutive games? We are in mid-May.
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry
by NothinG on May 14, 2009 8:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Here's what you need to know about CJ
vs LHB: .222/.300/.222 (OPS+ of 34)
vs RHB: .300/.404/.500 (OPS+ of 129)
Basically CJ is back to carving lefties up like turkey this year, but righties continue to give him undesired conjugal visits. Wash apparently realized this a few weeks ago (brownie points to him on that, BTW) and started protecting him from the righties as much as possible, which is probably why his stats have returned to a palatable level.
The most interesting thing? Those splits above are pretty much the same as what he’s done career-wise.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
I think eventually this team can just move Guardado out and make CJ the LOOGY.
by DJCahill on May 14, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
CJ reminds me a lot of JC Romero
Who, by the way has almost the same same career splits.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Making him a loogy
would be a shame. I think he is pitching differently this season especially the last couple of weeks. He has been more economical, FB happy, using 1 BB, not being too fine, and working more aggressively in the zone. If he continues in that vein he is not a loogy and I’m willing to give him time to figure out a pitch sequence vs rh that works. Additionally, there really aren’t any other options at setup at the moment.
by Goyogringo on May 14, 2009 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It appears from fangraphs Pitch F/X that he's settled on a slider as his primary second pitch.
The game charts show inconsistent movement on his slider. Maybe he’s still refining it. It looks like a tough combo on Pitch F/X. They have similar trajectories until about 35-40 feet from home plate, and both have lots of movement.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
undesired conjugal visits
heh!
"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 May 14, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep, for anyone listening...
I’m the guy that last laughed out loud in my cube.
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 May 14, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Glad somebody caught that and enjoyed it.
My morning minute of funny.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He also has a
BABIP of .367 against righties which is high even for CJ.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 14, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde is a good description of CJ. He definately didn’t have the control necessary to get a good hitting team out and even then he needed Salty to block his junk that he was throwing just to get the crappy Mariner offense out.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on May 14, 2009 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde describes about 98% of all relief pitchers
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by t ball on May 14, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The thing is, when CJ is bad he is all over the place. When other RP are bad, they just throw BP.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on May 14, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uh
that seems like an awfully broad and vague statement. Wilson is really that unique?
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by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not that unique but more unique than 98%. His issues seem to stem from lack of control not a lack of speed or movement on his pitches which seems to plague most crappy relief pitchers.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on May 14, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
I think there are lots of relief pitchers with control problems, or at least occasional control problems.
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by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that is why they are relief pitchers
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on May 14, 2009 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only trouble with CJ is that everyone wants him to be what frankfrankkkkkk is, and CJ just isn't.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That
And then there’s the fact that CJ thinks he’s Sidd Finch.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's not working so well.
Maybe he should try a Jenny Finch approach instead.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well, that would make those conjugal visits better.
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 May 14, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
CJ can definitely be frustrating.
His train wreck innings all seem to start the same way. First he gives up a dink hit or has an error behind him; then he always seems to make a really bad defensive blunder himself; then the BP pitch comes in and you start seeing sharply hit doubles. Last night when Young made his error and then CJ followed up with one of his own, I thought it was going to get really ugly. Props to CJ for not throwing the double play ball into center field.
by Athos on May 14, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Two more Blaze videos
Go Rangers...don't suck...
by Kinslerhomer on May 14, 2009 8:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Last night was the type of game the Rangers haven't won in a long time.
How many games like that have the Rangers blown in this decade? It seems like they would play a game like that, be on the fringe of winning and getting some real momentum going, and then they’d find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. So far, this team feels different. And you can definitely see the confidence on their faces-something that hasn’t been there in a very long time.
I hope they can sustain that over the long haul. Of course, this is still the Rangers. The wheels could come off at any time. Prayer is probably appropriate.
Dear little eight pound baby Jesus ….
by Athos on May 14, 2009 8:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I kept waiting for the McCarthy Meltdown
The wheels wobbled a couple of times and we didn’t get the shutdowns when needed but I can’t criticize him too much for his performance because he gave his team a chance to win (Game Score 57).
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keep waiting?
I thought he has been awful all season?
by brettgardner on May 14, 2009 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gardner,
The conversation we had pertained to him being awful in 3 of 4 starts. He was awful in those starts and I thought that conversation ended.
Why are you looking for an argument right now? Everybody is basking in the afterglow of victory and the Rangers are in first place. I’m not being critical of anything the team did last night.
I’ll throw down with you at any time but I think your bag is empty this morning.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Humor me, rhino.
Didn’t you say this:
To be kind, Brandon McCarthy has been a shitty pitcher this year for the Rangers.
by brettgardner on May 14, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
For the most part, McCarthy has been a shitty pitcher this
year for the Rangers. Last night gave me a dose of optimism.
Depends where your bar of expectations are but to me, McCarthy has been our 5th pitcher all year and should be the number one candidate to go to the bully when Holland gets in the rotation.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't believe I'm saying this...
But I agree. He’s the least dependable, doesn’t have very good stuff IMO, and isn’t going very deep into games. Long relief candidacy would be my vote.
"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin
by utlonghorn24 on May 14, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know..
it’s amazing how many people begrudgingly and publicly admit to agreeing with me when the Rangers win.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
People begrudingly admit to agreeing with you...
…because for most of us, it happens once every 5000 posts you make. It’s so shocking, that we have to acknowledge it.
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Future Pants,
I never changed my takes or how I thought about the Great Game or the Rangers.
The big change is that the Rangers are winning.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So they still suck
JD has to go and take Hicks with him. Good, glad to see you view things so open minded.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
by Parman on May 14, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Parman
JD is going to need to give up some prized prospects and help this team within the season and making specific moves surrounding pitching that help the major league club win has never been a strength.
Having Nolan around seems to have been beneficial for everybody concerned in this regard.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But your tone sometimes changes
so that you don’t seem to be pontificating to the unwashed masses and teaching us how to follow baseball. Then your baseball acumen is easier to see.
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by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn't I scream from the highest mountain-tops
thru the facade of last year that their starting pitching (inability to attain Game Scores of 50+) and defense (errors committed) were eventually going to catch up with that team and prevent them from winning?
I also talked quite a bit about needing to win more games when they scored 3 to 5 runs.
I also talked about the need for our starting pitchers to put up around 972 IPs if they want to contend.
Those things are starting to happen now and are a big reason we’re sitting at a very legitimate 19-14.
I hope my tone hasn’t changed because I was right then and this year has proved it.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The point is...
you keep saying JD sucks when the team has clearly been getting significantly better the past 2 years, and you won’t admit it. No doubt, the trades sucked, but JD has learned moved on. Seems like a good lesson for you to learn. No hate because you can be insightful, but dude you gotta admit when you’re wrong.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
by Parman on May 14, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
*has learned "and" moved on
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
by Parman on May 14, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Parman
This is still a three week window of good play in April/May and nothing more than that.
JD will get credit from me when he builds a consistent winning team. Right now, his team needs some help in the bully because Eddy G & Benson ain’t gonna cut it.
He became a wrecking ball to the immediate future of the team and is one of the biggest reasons this thing has scuffled on the field and died at the gate since his hire.
There’s quite a bit of making up to do before he gets my blessing and three weeks isn’t going to do it.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He inherited a team of ass,
a farm system of crap, poor Intl signings, plus many admin and systematic probs. He has made mistakes trying to fix the team, but has not repeated them. He’s corrected most of the problems plaguing this org. since the ’70’s that NO ONE else has been able to fix, and he did it in 4 years. If you don’t agree that this team and organization are in better place than when he became GM then I won’t bother to responding to you anymore because you clearly ignore the facts(hence my view that you are closed minded or inciting riots for attention).
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
by Parman on May 14, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Inherited a team of ass"
Really?
Bullshit.
That team was 13 months removed from winning 89 games with a young core of talent, lots of financial flexibility plus he got a 21% bump in payroll.
Kinsler (now a star), AG (now a star), Danks (damn good pitcher, CJ, Frank (pitched in 2004 but injured in 2005), Eddy V (17-6 last year), Laird, Boggs, Teagarden were all in the system and on the way.
He had a helluva trade chip in Soriano and he blew it.
JD has so much more to do before he can be considered at least an average GM and one three week period of good baseball doesn’t get him off the hook.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I won’t bother to responding to you anymore because you clearly ignore the facts(hence my view that you are closed minded or inciting riots for attention).
Have fun.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
by Parman on May 14, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
welcome back from the vortex
Call 1-800-DOCTORB. The B is for bargain!
by Panorama on May 14, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not close minded
at all.
This franchise was positioned quite well in October 2005 and we’re still paying the consequences for some of JD’s early moves.
It’s embarrassing to score 901 runs and finish below .500.
We’ll see what happens the rest of this year but I like the way this team is playing.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not talking about
The team is right now playing the best baseball they’ve played in a long time on all sides of the ball, maybe since 2004, maybe longer. I don’t remember the last time I trusted the defense this much. It wasn’t 2004.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
tball
The 2007 Rangers had something like a 46-31 streak in them after the horrific start and collectively they weren’t very good either.
I’m enjoying this because we’ve watched so much fugly baseball over the past 9 years but I’m still leery and need to see so much more.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right
the team has had hot streaks in past years, but not with this kind of defense behind a momentarily hot pitching staff. I don’t remember pitching and defense carrying the offense so much in recent years. I don’t know if they’ll keep it up, but having the defense make such a big step in the right direction is a very hopeful sign for the future.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
May 2008 was Awesome
Fueled off of Josh Hamilton and other such things, but the defense still stunk it up.
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Regarding my tone
yeah, I’m arrogant when I know I’m right and I will also plead guilty to rubbing noses in dogshit afterwards.
So what?
People do the same thing to me when I’m wrong.
Do you think if this team goes 93-69, Elvis wins ROY and (all-time vomit blood) JD wins Executive of the Year that people in here and at NMLR are going to give me a pass?
I don’t.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No they won't
but they’re reacting to your long history of accusing them of being Daniels’ ball washers just for praising the Teixiera trade. I don’t see why you’re surprised at the reaction your posts generate, and I don’t see why you’ve so long held this you against the foolish world stance. Many here have gone overboard lately in baiting you, but I can’t say it surprises me.
All-time vomit blood, that cracked me up.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nope.
His performance is typical of #4-5. There’s nothing wrong with letting a young guy develop as a #4-5. The point is that he needs time to develop.
If this were Benson or Jennings, I might agree that Holland should be moved to the rotation and the vet. to the pen. Because, this year is about development for 2010. It’s a nice surprise that the Rangers are in first, but this year is really about 2010.
The Rangers need McCarthy to develop into a rotation mainstay as much as they need the same from Holland.
We should all blame the decision to put Benson in the rotation ahead of Feldman for this awkward situation with Holland. If Benson had been in the pen and had an injury, someone other than Holland would’ve been called up to replace him. It’s pretty clear by management’s moves that Feldman is far exceeding their projection for him. And, it seems to me they expected to move Feldman back to the pen after a couple of starts.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, many times, yes.
All McCarthy needs to be successful is many consecutive turns in the rotation. The last thing I want to do with a lanky guy with iffy mechanics is put him on an unpredictable bullpen schedule. Right now, I’m not touching the rotation for a while, they’ve all earned the chance to keep their jobs for a while.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
See, I think this is what
McCarthy will always be and I don’t see a lot of room for improvement. He’s rocking a fastball that sits at 88-90 mph. That’s Aki Otsuka territory.
This is his 5th season in The Show, not his first. Yes, three of the seasons were somewhat truncated by health and the fact that he came up in 2005 after a couple months on the farm but this is not some fresh faced pup.
After seeing him in 2007 I was very steadfast in saying he should be a long reliever and very occasional spot starter because that’s where he tasted success in Chicago.
There’s nothing wrong with having a pitcher like that on your staff and the fact that he was traded for such a promising arm in Danks should not factor into the equation.
We need to do what’s best for the team now.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It may very well be what he is
but they should leave him out there for 25 starts and make damn sure of it unless he just blows up.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
completely agree
Consider this thought:
Is BMac capable of pitching any better than he did last night? His curve couldn’t have been any better and his fastball “is what it is.” We say McCarthy’s upside last night. I fear that’s the best result we can ever expect from him.
In conclusion, Feldman over Bmac.
by ncrangerfan on May 14, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feldman over BMac.
Ok. I might be convinced of that.
That still isn’t justification for pulling BMac from the rotation. It just means both should stay in the rotation.
BMac’s change has always been an important out pitch. He didn’t have it last night. When he has it, he’s much better than last night, see his May 2nd start against the White Sox.
Consistency with pitches comes from pitching many innings. His fastball is straight and average velocity. He has to command it to avoid HRs. But, his change up when working well has a similar release and trajectory until within 20 feet of the plate. Against the White Sox, Pitch F/X suggests the trajectories were very similar until within 10 feet of the plate. Consistency with pitches comes from pitching many innings. He needs to be in the rotation, and he is productive, even if it is as a #4-5 guy.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wish there were something more original I could think of to describe McCarthy's mechanics, but
I can’t get past ‘stork’. To me, he is the human version of a stork throwing a baseball.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha, I never looked at him that way
But, now that you mention it, I expect him to be chewing on a pickle during every outing now
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 14, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holland.....
how long before he supplants McCarthy or Feldman?
by providence on May 14, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When they become injured.
If you can predict that, you have your answer.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Furthermore
I wonder if people call for Holland to get replaced when he struggles
look at other great pitchers out there who are young and struggle….I guarantee that Holland doesnt just sport a 2 ERA every day of his career
people are too impatient/impractical about the entire ordeal
by Horns130 on May 14, 2009 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
people are too impatient/impractical about the entire ordeal
God, it’s about time someone posted that.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's just a very average pitcher right now
You see flashes of brilliance, like the 7th inning, but then you look back and see the bonehead high fastballs that haven’t landed yet. I haven’t seen so many high “fastballs” since Helling was here, trying to throw 90 mph belt-high pitches. Just maddening.
by GhostofGaryHogeboom on May 14, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
CJ
Would have not given up a run if not for the error, but Salty bailed him out about three times with some pretty impressive stops behind the plate, as well.
"Was this really necsarry?" - cowpoke/hurler hurley
by trza on May 14, 2009 8:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Salty
was a beast behind the plate last night. He saved CJ’s hide alot.
Lots of people to give the “game ball” to but I think he deserves it as much as anybody.
It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca
by bioaggie on May 14, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Salty has been good this year.
His defense has been amazingly improved. And when he comes to the plate I don’t go looking for something else to do anymore. Slowly but surely he’s making a convert out of me.
by Athos on May 14, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd like to see the strikeouts come down some.
But he looks much better this year.
by providence on May 14, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Elvis: the move
as small a file size as I could get it
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on May 14, 2009 9:07 AM CDT reply actions 5 recs
Any way to slow it down?
Maybe it’s my broswer, but that thing’s moving like a Charlie Chaplin movie on fast-forward.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice though.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you can find all of them
at the video links at the Rangers’ site
by Goyogringo on May 14, 2009 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hmm, im not sure
to me it looks a little fast.. but I don’t think I would describe it that badly at all.
this is slowed down 33%, does it look better?
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on May 14, 2009 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Much.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's still too fast for me
maybe it’s my ’pooter
by texasraider on May 14, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ok i just opened it in firefox
and in there its definitely going at superspeed
ignoring the milisecond per frame tags from fireworks. crazy.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on May 14, 2009 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
FF does funny shit with gifs for some reason.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also cartoonish speed
on Opera browser I use at work.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The two gifs look to be at the same speed on Safari.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh funny
i was just about to post a fanshot with all of the video highlights or Andrus’ glovework from MLB. Nice summary work.
by Goyogringo on May 14, 2009 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
heh don't tlet a .gif stop you
elvis’s greatness deserves a fanshot with the full quality vids easy access.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on May 14, 2009 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you.
This highlight reel goes great listening to Hydroponic Sound System’s ‘Lone Star Uprising’
by oc on May 14, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I keep imagining it set to the Nightswish clip they use on YTMND for their "epic maneuver" clips.
Yo DShep, there’s an idea for ya…
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Captain. Jean Luc Picard.
OF THE USS ENTERPRISE.
by SaltyGoesYard on May 14, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What is love?
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
for the record
could anyone confirm for me that this is working at a proper speed for them?
not that it matters, I’m just having trouble figuring out what went wrong..
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on May 14, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
found the problem, deleted the ones in the original post and later obviously.
here ya go.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on May 14, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
This is much better
THANK YOU
Godwin's Law Version 2.0 (Rangers Edition)
"As a Ranger discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Danks, Volquez, or Young approaches one."
by LBBRangerFan on May 14, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Andrus play from yesterday gets cut in half. He doesn't follow-through on the throw like he does in the gif above.
by oc on May 14, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
intentional
just trying to cut out some frames since it wasn’t one of the top couple throws. also I had originally shown the same play from the same angle twice so I had to get rid of that.
although ive updated it a few times so I don’t know which version is in your cache.
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on May 14, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
very, very nice.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
how about just reliving the video
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry
by NothinG on May 14, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't recall
ever seeing a SS throw a guy out from one knee, a couple of yards on the outfield grass, in the hole. Tremendous play.
by providence on May 14, 2009 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so beautiful
should have sent….poet
Derek Holland-2011 AL Cy Young
by Martijn1309 on May 14, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has anyone noticed that BMacs
average velo the past 2-3 games is 2 mph slower than normal at about 88~ and only flashing 90 a handful of times? HIs control has been much better though. I could swear he was pitching low 90s to begin the season.
by Goyogringo on May 14, 2009 9:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Also looking a fangraphs
he is not throwing many changeups for some reason, which could be the reason he is not keeping hitters off-balance and on pace for a 40hr season.
by Goyogringo on May 14, 2009 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I fully agree. When Washington says "McCarthy didn't have his stuff tonight", I take that to mean
he couldn’t throw his change.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He threw
a lot of changes last night… the 77MPH pitch that breaks straight down is his change, and is pretty effective.
This is our year.
http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/1/29/739765/the-socket-joint-rotator-c
by PM Productions on May 14, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. I noticed that last night.
Inconsistent mechanics, maybe. Washington did acknowledge BMac didn’t have his best stuff last night. At least, he didn’t have a meltdown over not having his mechanics lined up perfectly.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I want to see
more of the BMac that we saw in the 7th inning last night. He was like a man possessed. That actually gave me a glimmer of hope.
It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca
by bioaggie on May 14, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe Harry lit a fire under his ass.
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 14, 2009 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Man, you could really see it.
Sneer, body language, and attitude.
I likey!
"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 May 14, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Once we start
Learning how to manufacture some damn runs we are going to be dangerous. Until then though, we will still fade.
by SaltyGoesYard on May 14, 2009 9:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
From Jeff at LL
Elvis Andrus is incredible. I don’t care if he’s a Ranger. I love him. You can get mad at a pitcher for celebrating after a strikeout, and you can get mad at a hitter for showboating after a home run, but I don’t think you can ever get mad at a defender for making a magnificent play. If Andrus turns into the guy we thought Yuni was going to be, then that’ll make him one of the more underrated assets in baseball.
"Was this really necsarry?" - cowpoke/hurler hurley
by trza on May 14, 2009 9:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
so would it be trolling to post the .gif over there =p
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on May 14, 2009 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No
just giving him the Elvis elixir that he obviously craves so much with his morning coffee and bagel
by Goyogringo on May 14, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really
But right now it might be construed as such. LL, especially Graham and Matthew seem to just be waiting for the next LSBer to show up over there so they can goad him right now.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I made a pretty inert comment over there last night. I tried to make another one and it said I had been banned. I wasn’t flaming at all. Pretty sensitive losers over there at LL.
It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca
by bioaggie on May 14, 2009 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
The LSBers who went over there and started the original flamewar on Tuesday night have to kinda take the blame for this stupid little affair. But at this point it is kinda true, the LL guys have flung themselves to the ground and are playing “victim” right now.
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph
by lonestarJon on May 14, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They have every right to be sore losers. They also have every right to say whatever they want about Josh Hamilton.
Especially on their own turf.
by oc on May 14, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never understood the flame war passion
why should I care what they are saying over there, much like I don’t read the DMN comments. I think Jeff is usually a very funny guy and I like his reports, but other than that, don’t worry about it.
Godwin's Law Version 2.0 (Rangers Edition)
"As a Ranger discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Danks, Volquez, or Young approaches one."
by LBBRangerFan on May 14, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I read LL for Jeff’s frontpage posts. I don’t even bother with the comments – half of them are going to be bitter Hamilton-is-on-crack types of comments, anyways. Waste of energy.
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Precisely my position, too.
I always enjoy reading the other side, win or lose. Jeff at least has a sense of humor in his front page posts, even if he’s a little bitter sometimes.
Let's change the Constitution so that Elvis Andrus can be our supreme overlord.
by ghtd36 on May 14, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeff Cracks me Up
And I like the win expectancy charts with his photoshopped additions. Loved our last series where he had a Michael Young with horns and fangs, breathing fire, holding a gold glove. Funny shit.
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
and it’s awfully boorish for any LSBer to go over there right after a win and gloat. It has obvious affects on anyone from here trying to subsequently make a legit post. LSBers have given themselves a bad rep over there at times, and over at minorleagueball as well by being reactionary homers.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh.
I’ve got to admit, I love the fact that it’s now common knowledge over at Minor League Ball that if anyone ever says that a Ranger prospect is anything less than the next Sandy Koufax or Albert Pujols, it’s on like Donkey Kong.
Reactionary? Absolutely. Homerish? No doubt. But hilarious? Also yes.
Let's change the Constitution so that Elvis Andrus can be our supreme overlord.
by ghtd36 on May 14, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeff at LOL on Andrus
Elvis Andrus is incredible. I don’t care if he’s a Ranger. I love him. You can get mad at a pitcher for celebrating after a strikeout, and you can get mad at a hitter for showboating after a home run, but I don’t think you can ever get mad at a defender for making a magnificent play. If Andrus turns into the guy we thought Yuni was going to be, then that’ll make him one of the more underrated assets in baseball.
by texasraider on May 14, 2009 9:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
any idea how the weather's
looking in arlington right now? just got done thundering and lightning for 30 minutes here in allen.
weather says scattered t-storms happening in arlington around 3 today. i just wanna get this game in
go here to view my blog: http://dirtfromd.blogspot.com
by studcrackers on May 14, 2009 9:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Davis at Inside Corner
He was pretty gracious about the umpires on those two close calls, but the first one where he was “off the bag” on that stretch was just a blown call, period. Replays clearly showed that his foot was dragging along the bag for a significant amount of time after he caught that ball, but the Ump called him off.
Johjima!
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 9:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
those calls were pretty significant
gave the Mariners 3 runs out of their 5.
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry
by NothinG on May 14, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love Griffey
But Griffey said of his night, "I just sucked."
by texasraider on May 14, 2009 9:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
x
I wonder if he is going to make more ties today that say “Best Teammate in the World” like he did a couple of weeks ago?
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
With the Mavericks dead
the TV ratings and attendance will only go up.
by JTodd on May 14, 2009 9:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
from BBTiA
Texas has reportedly discussed the possibility of promoting minor league first baseman Justin Smoak from Double-A Frisco to Oklahoma City, but will likely refrain from doing so until after the Texas League All-Star Break (July 1st).
Why do they want to wait until July?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
by RangerMad on May 14, 2009 9:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
and why just Oklahoma City?
Let the Smoak screen continue south.
by SaltyGoesYard on May 14, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not yet
you don’t need him this year. and, i would like to wait until a month into the season next year. You gotta also think years of service.
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry
by NothinG on May 14, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
because I was thinking about driving to Frisco to watch him
but I’m waiting on Feliz to get demoted
by texasraider on May 14, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How does it help the big club
this year to fast-track Smoak?
Keep him in Frisco until July 1 and if he warrants a promotion then get him to OKC.
From what we know right now (and this is a fluid situation that could go south in a hurry), this team will be contending for the division in a league with no obvious juggernauts.
That means Millwood, Padilla, Blalock all stay and that we look to our vaunted minor league system to upgrade the team, meaning players like Smoak (or Crush) & Max are trading chips.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he warrants a promotion?
I think he’s about ready, but I’m not going to cry about waiting until July 1. I’m hoping to see Smoak hit lefties better in the meantime. Then they can move Moreland up to Frisco at the same time, that guy needs to be challenged.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
tball
Who do you trade if the Rangers are making a serious run at the division and need a couple more pieces?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock. Blalock. Blalock.
Half a season for a bullpen arm for half a season of blalock. Perfect match.
Promote Smoak.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You think bringing an unproven rookie up to replace a vet
on his way to hitting 30+ bombs (actually projecting to hit 50 right now) in a pennant run is going to fly well in the room?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we can trade him for a solid arm, yes.
"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin
by utlonghorn24 on May 14, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wondering on how you feel about this comment now?
" I had no problems with shifting Michael Young to 3B. I just don’t think Elvis Andrus is ready for The Show this year. " – The Outlaw on 4/28
If you want some slack, bring your own rope.
by rangerfaninva on May 14, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's a chance I may have swung and missed
but let’s see the season breathe a little bit more.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know
that quote could have come from many, many posters here until the day they announced the move of Young to 3B. Most here expected it next offseason and expressed the opinion that Andrus needed at least another year in the minors. That opinion is valid even if Josey has it.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree but...
that comment was made nearly a month into the season, not before it.
If you want some slack, bring your own rope.
by rangerfaninva on May 14, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Out of all the things Josey has said
that is hardly one of the more outrageous and not one I’d pick to quote as some sort of proof he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I said the same thing.
I thought it was a horrible mistake to bring Andrus up. I also had never seen Andrus in person. He doesn’t act or play much like a 20-yo.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he keeps this up
and continues to play good defense with an OPS in the low .700s you’d have to say that was a big surprise and more than we could expect. ROTY would be quite possible if he does that.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think his OPS would have to probably be higher.
Defense won’t win anyone ROY, unfortunately – even Andrusing balls left and right every night.
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe, but
writers love guys who “play the game the right way” and defense is very fashionable these days. A SS doing what he’s doing with all those highlight plays could win with a reasonable bat as long as the error total stays relatively cool.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It'll be errors that negates the sublime Defense
It’s retarded, but they are baseball writers, after all. You can’t expect them to make reasonable choices for ROY (see also: Volquez last year – not a rookie).
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well like rangerfaniva said
It came well into the season after we all could clearly see Elvis wasn’t being overmatched. Also, the Outlaw’s reasoning for it was that Andrus makes too many errors and wouldn’t help out on defense. Even if someone is comes to the right conclusion, I don’t have to agree with their horrible reasoning. Its like people saying Young is having a great season this year because he’s been so clutch.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 14, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't say Andrus wouldn't help
out on defense, jerk.
I thought his plus range would be negated by him making 35-40 errors and that we wouldn’t be able to overcome his .550-.600 OPS.
Errors committed do matter and if they didn’t teams that lead the league in errors would finish above .500 more than they do.
Elvis looked like shit in Arizona when I saw him and was having trouble driving the ball with any force past the infield. He also had an OPS of .630ish when everybody else was knocking the hell out of the ball.
If my projection ends up being wrong, so be it.
I also said that I thought if Elvis was a decent player this year, we may have an eventual star on our hands.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sorry for my misunderstanding
I thought his plus range would be negated by him making 35-40 errors
Apparently in Josey world, when his plus range is negated by his errors, we still come out with a positive.
# To make ineffective or invalid; nullify.
And I’m going to love seeing you give credit to yourself for claiming Elvis would be an eventual star. Even though you said that there was no way he was ready, I have no doubt in my mind that you’ll wiggle out of that and start talking about how you knew he would be a star.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 14, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
20 year olds that play well in The Show
are usually very, very good major leaguers.
I said he wasn’t ready this year but I didn’t say he would never be a successful major leaguer.
Who gives a fuck about me wiggling out of anything? I’ve been right enough in the past to not worry about anything.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The problem is
that you seem to have a tendency to wiggle out of plenty of things which kind of “negates” the times you’ve been blindly right.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 14, 2009 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No.
I still think it’s the right move. Smoak can play as a DH platoon to break him in for 2010, letting AJ and Byrd (when Murphy is in left) have the bulk of the DH duties.
2010 is the goal. Like it or not, the roster was configured with that in mind from day 1. Actually, it’s been configured that way since about the time they ‘asked’ MY to move. I think promoting Smoak fits that goal.
As much as I want the Rangers to trade for a TORP, I just don’t see anyway that one will be available at the ASB. Peavy won’t come here, and I don’t want him anyway. Cain might be available, but then the Rangers would need to trade Blalock plus another ML-ready slugger (like Cruz) that can be under the Giants control for a while. I like other young pitchers quite a bit more than Cain.
So, at this moment, it appears to me the best use of Blalock is to shore up the bullpen. This is counter to the argument I posted a few days ago when I said I didn’t want a trade for vet. bullpen arm at the ASB, but that’s because I was thinking Blalock could be used to fetch Cain. I’m just becoming less enamored with Cain the more I think about him, and even though I still think he’s the most likely of the young TORPs to be available, I just wouldn’t be all that excited about obtaining him.
But, alas, I don’t really see any trade partners emerging. The Giants are the obvious candidate, but I really only like Wilson in their pen, which would be a really bad trade for them, unless a young power bullpen arm were included with Blalock, like Mad Dog, Strop, or Moscosco. Even with the addition of a nice young arm for the future, a Blalock-MadDog trade for Wilson leaves their pen quite vulnerable for the stretch run.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on May 14, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
bolstering the bullpen
I think the bullpen arm that everybody will be gunning for at the deadline is Heath Bell. He has a nice track record, has been dominating this year and he is under team control for 2010 and 2011. I’m not sure what it would take to get him, but I am of the opinion that if your going to shore up the bullpen, you need to do it by adding a dominant arm, rather than just a decent one. Prices will be inflated for either, may as well pay the extra to get quality rather than some old mediocre mid reliever type.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
by tricer on May 14, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, I think that depends a lot
on who the other team is, and how big a target you’re pursuing. There are so many ways they could go. They have lots on the farm, a catcher or two. Blalock might bring a decent bullpen arm back. It will be very interesting to see how they handle this. Go for it? Sit on their hands and wait for the farm? Straddle the fence and trade away pieces not important to the future (seems most likely)? The game may come to them if a team really likes someone like Davis or a catcher.
And, obviously, if the team has a losing streak and LAA gets hot, the trade focus becomes much more clear.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It might be a mix of not trying to rush him
since there is no need to and just rewarding him for having a great season.
Bianucci and Moreland though need to move up though which kind of makes that suck a bit.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 14, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i love how the AP caption
specifically mentions that Kenji Johjima is from Japan.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on May 14, 2009 9:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Life is good.
This calls for a BIG AMERICAN PARTY!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QliI9ZRUIKg
Let's change the Constitution so that Elvis Andrus can be our supreme overlord.
by ghtd36 on May 14, 2009 10:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Doesn't Chris Davis celebrating in that picture look exactly like Jamey Wright celebrating that
classic walkoff photo from last year? Someone’s got to put those 2 side by side.
by slimshadty12 on May 14, 2009 10:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Haha I was like how the hell did Jamey Wright
get in that picture…then I realized that was Davis.
by slimshadty12 on May 14, 2009 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: Anyone catch the White Sox shenanigans last night?
Dye and Guillen got ejected.
Guillen was thrown out for arguing a pitch in his favor. Classic.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
by mtex on May 14, 2009 10:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
chance or rainout today?
how are things looking in arlington? i was going to go out today since im super bored.
by kumizi on May 14, 2009 10:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm about five minutes west of the ballpark
and it’s beautiful . . . but we have that cool wind that usually comes before a good amount of rain
haven’t looked at the radar though
by texasraider on May 14, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's about to get ugly
in downtown Dallas. Forecast thinks it will all move out by the time the game starts. I actually took off work to go with my mom and my sister (who’s in town this weekend).
"You got a guy coming up there who can’t hit water if he fell out of a boat." - Tom Grieve on Richie Sexson, 5.8.2008
"I’ve been a Rangers fan all my life and I can tell you there’s been plenty of fucking crying in baseball…" - WhipSmart, 6.3.08
"When it comes to Jeff Mathis, the story ends with us putting one in his earhole." - AJM, 7.7.08
by lisa w on May 14, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's already starting to clear up downtown
The little people walking on the sidewalks have put away their umbrellas.
by cstorm15 on May 14, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hmmm
ill keep a tab on it. im by smu and it has been raining continuously for a while.
by kumizi on May 14, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pouring like hell in N Dallas.
"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 May 14, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dark in Grand Prairie, but no rain as of now.
"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin
by utlonghorn24 on May 14, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It just stopped raining here, and the birds are chirping.
Which means the rain is gone, btw.
Perfect! Off to the clubhouse for some starbucks we go…
"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 May 14, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
2 Miles North of RBiA
Rained some about an hour ago, but not right now. Looks really good outside now. Hopefully it’ll stay that way.
by Topgun22 on May 14, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Day games at the end of the week
Going to the ballpark on such days should be encouraged and allowed by every business owner in the area.
by texasraider on May 14, 2009 10:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i remember
the last time i went was when nipper outdueled felix hernandez near the end of last year
place couldnt have had much more than 5000 people
by kumizi on May 14, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does the Texiera trade make up for JD's past blunders?
It’s starting to look like one simple trade of an overrated malcontent, whose numbers were inflated during meaningless blowout losses, have saved Daniel’s job. Andrus is simply amazing, even at such a young age, and heaven forbid Holland turn into something special. Who else did we get for Tex?
by GhostofGaryHogeboom on May 14, 2009 10:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think you mean Harrison.
"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin
by utlonghorn24 on May 14, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Teixeira trade
Salty, Feliz, Andrus, Harrison, and Beau Jones. A tremendous haul. But that’s not the only reason to respect what Daniels has done while also acknowledging he’s made a couple of terrible trades. The overhaul and integration of the scouting department, the drafting and signing of international free agents, and the trades made since mid-2007 – all areas of talent acquisition are on a huge win streak. Daniels deserves credit for hiring the right people and getting Hicks on board with the long term plan. If you’re going to lambaste a GM for bad moves, you have to give him credit for good ones. All moves, good and bad are group decisions for a baseball organization, but Daniels is the fall guy.
All of that scouting and organizational stuff is much more important to the long term competitiveness of the team than any trade or signing.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've said ti many times before, and see no reason to change my tune.
Once JD stopped trying to make “quick-fix” trades and signings, and went into the mode of building with “utes”, his success rate has gone WAY up. Not only the Tex trade, but his pretty high success rate on signing “flippable” guys are all contributing to the major league club on a regular basis.
This may well be like that first Jimmy-led Cowboys playoff run, where it’s “a year too early”, but it’s a boatload of fun to watch, and is only likely to get MORE fun as time goes on.
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 May 14, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yup.
For me, the outstanding question is still how well Daniels and the rest of the front office and field guys will fare in filling in the final pieces, once the time comes for that sort of thing. It’s the organizational area in which I have the least confidence at this point.
by Snark on May 14, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And I should add
that it remains to be seen if Daniels can add the right pieces to the roster during the contention window as it starts to crack open. He’ll have to handle all those resources correctly if the team is to fulfill the promise of its talent-rich system.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And to answer your question:
We got Saltalamacchia, Andrus, Harrison, Feliz and Beau Jones from Atlanta in that trade.
"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin
by utlonghorn24 on May 14, 2009 10:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Something weird happened there. Meant to reply to GoGH.
"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin
by utlonghorn24 on May 14, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thursday a.m. Rangers things PT2
Coming soon…..
lol
"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 May 14, 2009 10:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Do you guys ever do actual work during the season?
I’ve been at the office now for 29 straight hours…in that time I’ve:
Watched a baseball game on MLB.tv. Followed along in the GDT. Tried to keep up with commenting here and there. Watched the Mavs lose. Eaten three separate meals from Wendy’s. Slept 3 hours.
And somewhere in there I’ve worked on fixing the gigantic mess several military contractors have managed to put us in.
I don’t know how you guys do it.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on May 14, 2009 11:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
how do you get your games over NMCI
I am unable….
If you want some slack, bring your own rope.
by rangerfaninva on May 14, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah ha!
I have non-NMCI computers as well.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on May 14, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im a college studen
so…. I simply dont study when baseball season starts.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 14, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Couple things
1. The TV rating is a good sign, as it is an indicator of the bandwagon loading, and renewed interest like we saw last August with the NY series.
2. This will help the sponsors of both FSSW and the Rangers a lot… much much revenue can be garnered from having a high TV rating in a big media market.
3. If you trade Blalock in July for a reliever arm, and you are in first place in August-September and looking at winning the division, do you bring up Smoak if he had been having success at AAA? Do you bring him up in September and put him on the playoff roster to get the expierience, let him see a pennate race…
This is our year.
http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/1/29/739765/the-socket-joint-rotator-c
by PM Productions on May 14, 2009 11:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
the trade Blalock for a RP scenario
I don’t see how this would play out. Blalock is on the last year of his contract so only the only teams that would seem to have any interest would be those in contention this year, and any team in contention is not likely to be pawning off bullpen parts.
I think most relievers available at the deadline are going to be coming from team’s buried in the standings, and I don’t see why those teams would want a FA to be like Hank.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
by tricer on May 14, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Most teams in contention around the trade deadline
are not going to have excesses of pitching, particularly relievers they are going to want to deal.
You may be able to catch somebody (small market payroll team looking to get young) out of contention who needs a bump in offense that will trade you a nice reliever.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 14, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
good point
Wish I would have thought of that.
Doctor please. Some more of these.
by tricer on May 14, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
I don’t like the chances of getting a great RP in a trade for Blalock, but there is going to be some team needing offense and all we really need is someone that’s as good as CJ or O’Day.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 14, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Three (or more) team trade a possibility...
… if you can’t find a direct match. For example, find a team in contention looking for a bat (but not looking to deal away or acquire a ML bullpen arm) and a team out of contention looking to move a ML bullpen arm. See if you can piece together a deal. Admittedly, adding more parties to a transaction makes it tougher (more complicated) to reach a deal.
by mgb5 on May 14, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You arent gonna trade Blalock for a RP
its gonna be a guy like Vallejo, Arias, or Golson that gets dealt for a RP to a non-contending team. There are plenty of solid to good RP we can pick up from a non-contender for one of our overflow MIF likely
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 14, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did anyone catch
Cj using Elvis’ name as a verb in the interview on d magazine? When he went to get that one ball, he said he tried to “Elvis Andrus” the ball.
by aZn Steve on May 14, 2009 11:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
When someone's name becomes a verb
it is the ultimate compliment or insult as the case may be. I am BEW and I support turning Andrus into a verb
by BEW on May 14, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
x
I am going to say “Kinsler just Andrused that ball!” or something to that extent from now on. That rules.
by FuturePants on May 14, 2009 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dave Cameron credits the defense . . .
This isn’t an accident. The Rangers made a conscious decision over the winter to upgrade their defense, and it’s paying dividends early on. They might not win the AL West, but they’re better than most people thought, and they’re headed in the right direction.
"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels
by Randy Richardson on May 14, 2009 11:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I know people were disappointed that the Rangers didn't make more moves
and there was a lot of skepticism that this defense would be transformed so much, but it really was just as simple as adding Andrus to the mix and moving some people around.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 14, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have a question: how much credit are we giving to Ron Washington for
- Davis’ scoops and stretches at first
- Saltalamacchia’s blocks
by oc on May 14, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
great question
and I’m not sure how much of a difference he has made personally for their improvement, but whoever it is deserves a bunch of credit because it’s substantial
by texasraider on May 14, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I only ask because both of these guys were projected to be defensive liabilities
by oc on May 14, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They weren't supposed to defensive liabilities
Maybe before this season, some of the projection systems thought they would be and others agreed with that, but Davis was supposed to be at least average at 1B and Salty’s defense never got bad reports before the trade.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 14, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even if he has nothing to do with it,
He deserves praise, if for nothing else, the blame he receives when it ain’t working.
"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."
by scoop16 on May 14, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jamey Wright
He’s killing us on the KC road trip out west. Look at his last two appearances.
by shroomer on May 14, 2009 11:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The Rangers need to up their stipend.
Obviously the Angels are paying him more.
"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 May 14, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When it rains it pours for Seattle ...
by shroomer on May 14, 2009 11:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Doesn't sound too serious
but wow.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on May 14, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bedard missing a start?
You don’t say…
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 14, 2009 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopeless in Seattle:
Please get healthy quickly, Erik, so that we can trade you as soon as possible.
by Snark on May 14, 2009 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hello 93 loss season!
Greatness
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
by boomer1 on May 14, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Francisco update
Frank Francisco played catch for seven minutes Thursday and didn’t have any problems. Pitching coach Mike Maddux said the Rangers would push things Friday, but didn’t say for sure that Francisco would throw a bullpen. Manager Ron Washington hopes Francisco is available Saturday.
"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels
by Randy Richardson on May 14, 2009 12:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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