Tuesday morning Rangers stuff
The day after an offday, things are usually quiet out there, but a 7 game winning streak seems to have woken some folks up about the Rangers...
Jeff Wilson notes that the upcoming stretch of games, with the Rangers' next eight series coming against teams that have an aggregate .554 winning percentage, will go a long way towards determining whether the Rangers will be in the playoff hunt come September. But the players are saying that the team is playing well, that they can play better, and that they are just going to play a game at a time.
Brett Perryman takes a look at the challenges facing the Rangers with this series at Detroit that kicks off today. Texas, of course, has lost their last 8 games in Detroit, and the Tigers are currently in first place in the A.L. Central.
Jim Reeves runs down the five reasons the Rangers have been successful so far this year.
Gil LeBreton says this team is well-positioned to keep winning because of the solid pitching it is getting.
Kevin Sherrington says several folks deserve credit for getting the Rangers where they are right now.
T.R. Sullivan says Frankie Francisco is throwing a simulated game on Wednesday, after having a good bullpen session yesterday.
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CJ looks like he's doing
a jazz hands/thriller combo dance in that photo.
by jwiscarson on May 19, 2009 9:16 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Nice...
…that gave me my first genuine laugh of the day.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
I thought the Rangers were going to get some love on SportsCenter this morning
They were talking about the most surprising AL-leading first place team right now.
They showed a bunch of shots of the Rangers and Kinz leading up to the story, and then the analyst started talking about how the Blue Jays were the most surprising first place team in the AL right now. I was like, “Eff this network, and eff SportsCenter.”
She say she are the manager.
Well
I have to say, if you’d asked me before the season which team was more likely to win their division, Texas or Toronto, I’d have said Texas.
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2009 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed...
…the AL West would have to have been considered more winnable by ANY of the 4 teams in it than the AL East for TOR or BAL.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
Toronto is now 78-51 under Cito Gaston
which is a 98 win pace over 162 games.
This year they have the second best ERA, lead the AL in runs scored and are 4th in errors committed.
Pretty soon we’re gonna have to consider them legitimate.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
I think they're very much legitimate
and they’re a team who would be a contender in any other division. They have a good rotation anchored by an absolute stud. Their bullpen is solid, and better now that BJ Ryan isn’t their closer. They have a nice lineup – not super strong anywhere, but lacks any major holes.
The problem is that the three best teams in the AL are also in their division. I think any of Boston, NY, TB, and Toronto would run away with either the Central or West. And since Tampa Bay was a World Series team, and we have a long history showing the Boston and NY will buy whatever pieces are necessary to make it to the playoffs, there is an understandable hesitance to jump on the Toronto bandwagon just yet
(This is related to my point that the AL West isn’t bad, the AL East is just crazy stupid good this year.)
PhD
The Yanks have a lot of starpower
but that is an old, old team. They’ve been notorious for slow starts in the past but several of their best players are 33 or older.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions
do you think their pitching gets better?
at this point it HAS to get better
yankees players over 33:posada
jeter
posada
damon
matsui
arod (shouldnt be in the convo)
of those guys its not like your expecting MVP level numbers from any of them other than arod, and posada has been pretty solid when healthy
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions
AL East
The Jays have only played a handful of games against other AL East teams (I think a series against the Yanks and a series against the O’s). Tonight starts the first real foray into the AL East for the Jays. Over the next 12 games, they play the O’s three times, Braves three times, and the Red Sox six times. If they can hold their own against their division, then they are legit.
by Excel Hearts Choi on May 19, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions
BJ's were 37-35 in 2008 v. the AL East
I think it’s premature in most cases to certify teams as legit contenders before Memorial Day but I gotta believe this Toronto team (with good health) wins at least 90 games this year.
It may be a good thing in a subtle way for the Rangers because it may force the Yanks or Bosox to make a deal they don’t want to, especially for a catcher.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
so JW
you think that the jays pitchers are legit and will be this good all year
and taht the yankees pitchers are this bad and will continue to be this bad all 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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions
Thus far, the Jays look to be legit
all the way around and the fact that they played so well last year after Gaston took over bodes well.
As mentioned previously, I still like to see teams get to Memorial Day before I render judgment on their chances of contending.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Will the Yankees be this bad?
Dunno but that ballpark and the overall age of their everyday players looks like a big challenge.
They’ve started out slow before so this is nothing new but they’re a lot older than in previous years.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
I think the Yanks
are an injury or two from finishing 3rd, or even 4th with that old bunch. If they stay healthy, though, they could win 100 games.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
do you think they are more likely to win 90+ games
or finish 4th?
90+ easily imho
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes, 90+
but that might actually mean anything from 1st to 4th place in that division this year. I’m predicting 2nd after Boston surges with that pitching depth. Toronto seems likely to fade, but you never know, and Tampa’s Pythag record is better than their current win total.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
if they win 90+
there is NO chance they finish 4th
zero chance the finish 4th…3rd, maybe. but 4th? no way in hell
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes, 90+
but that might actually mean anything from 1st to 4th place in that division this year. I’m predicting 2nd after Boston surges with that pitching depth. Toronto seems likely to fade, but you never know, and Tampa’s Pythag record is better than their current win total.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Cito Gaston
is a very underrated manager. How he stayed unemployed is a mystery.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
I think over the years...
…he developed a reputation of being difficult to deal with from a front office standpoint.
Also, at one point he became frustrated at interviewing for jobs without receiving offers and announced that he would only take a managerial job if he didn’t have to interview for it.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
by Chad Crudup on May 19, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions
im sorry, but no
do you expect richmond (3.64), tallet (4.68), romero (1.71), cecil (1.80), robert ray (3.60) to continue to have those eras?
or would you rather think that josh beckett (5.85), john lester (6.51), brad penny (6.69), dice-k (12.79) will keep up those high ERAs?
their offense is legit (worst hitter is probably snider, who is going to be a much better hitter as the year goes on), yes but you REALLY expect their rotation to stay that good?
also, they have yet to play boston or TB) and have beat up big time on baltimore/CWS/OAK so far (combined 13-3 vs those guys) — while we would be talking about them being legit in the AL central or AL west, their division is simply too hard for them to win unless they can keep this up all year long
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions
the jays
in reality they probably have no better than the 2nd or 3rd best rotation in the division, and at best the 2nd best bullpen (i like the bosox pen a lot)
offense-wise, are they better than boston in an ideal world? TB?
i just dont see how there is any chance at all that they finish first in that division…if (BIG if) halliday goes down they could actuallly finish last in the division…
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
On the other hand
the other teams can cannibalize each other to a certain extent. It would certainly be a surprise, but at this point I’m not ready to discount Toronto, they are pitching their butts off.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
if these guys
richmond (3.64), tallet (4.68), romero (1.71), cecil (1.80), robert ray (3.60)
end the season anywhere near +/- .25 of that they are the best team in baseball (or damn close to 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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions
To be fair to rockin_rangers
A quarter of the folks at ESPN probably don’t know the Rangers are leading the West, and another quarter probably think the Rangers have won the West for the last 5 years. The other half hear Rangers and think about the hockey team.
Whereas they’re in a panic thinking that the 7 more Red Sox – Yankees games they plan to telecast aren’t as important because of those pesky Blue Jays.
PhD
What is this "ESPN" you speak of?
Is it that channel that I occasionally tune to to watch Nationwide Series races?
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
The Rangers got plenty of attention on Sportscenter yesterday and over the weekend
They mentioned the Rangers outside of a highlight, and the highlights weren’t left until right before the top ten plays. What else can you reasonably expect?
This reminds of another point: there needs to be longer game highlights available online. Like, 5-10 minute game recaps. I should be able to go online and find a game recap that is longer than 30 seconds. Unlike Sportscenter, the internet doesn’t really have a time limit.
Have a question?
I have been on vacation and only really followed scores this weekend. Is there anything new on Josh? I just remember he came out of the game when he nailed the wall again and never heard what the situation was? Did we send him to the DL? Is he day to day? Does someone mind giving me the update?
Elvis has "shook up" Arlington!!
I'm too lazy to look it up but wasn't Reeves among the Granpa Urine crowd howling
about moving MY to 3rd? Now he’s tallking about since Young got over his snit about moving to 3rd. That’s rich
My recollection is that Galloway et al
were disappointed in the approach to MYoung and not necessarily with the idea of moving him to 3B.
Like MYoung, Galloway holds JD in very low regard and thought another approach would have been more appropriate.
I could be wrong but that was my recollection.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
What sort of approach would have been more appropriate?
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't know.
I’m just relaying what I thought Galloway intimated and as mentioned previously, I could be wrong.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Galloway, Reeves, and J-JT
All basically took the position that Michael Young should have been asked if he wanted to change positions, and if he didn’t, then you don’t make him move.
I don’t know that that is realistic.
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions
As a matter of fact
one of the real criticisms you can level at the Rangers in the past is they weren’t hardassed enough to Soriano when he was here, and didn’t force him to the OF.
I think the front office showed a little more back bone this year, with MY, with dumping Cat, and with telling Andruw Jones if he was coming here, he was going to ride the pine a lot. Personally, I’m very happy to see it out of the FO. When you are in charge, you might as well act like you are in charge.
"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
Yep
The Rangers were too delicate with both Soriano and Teixeira – both who whined when the mere option of moving them was brought up.
There is a reason teams have managers. Pretty high up there is that you can’t have everyone run out to the field to whatever position they want to play. That stops working somewhere between the family reunion softball game and t-ball
PhD
Glad you brought up Teixeira...
…I was very disappointed they never tried him in RF with AGon at 1B. I think that might have worked out very well for all parties involved.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
by Chad Crudup on May 19, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
i agree it would have worked out
my memory is a little fuzzy, was adrian that much better than teix on defense?
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Adrian
was even slower and would have been even worse in the OF.
"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
i know that
but was he a better 1b than teix?
or was that the whole point of moving teix to the OF that adrian was that much slower than teix?
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions
Adrian Gonzalez
is an absolute stud on defense. I don’t think you can say definitively that either is better than the other.
Gonzalez couldn’t possibly play any other position though. I imagine Tex could play a passable corner outfield.
PhD
The JD defenders are going to bitch about it
but rather than do what he needed to do with Soriano (move him to LF), he traded him for the shit on somebody else’s front yard and then had to trade for a big bat (Carlos Lee) at the trade deadline. JD had very little credibility and nobody to back him in the FO. Oh yeah, it was a contract year and Soriano hit 46 bombs as a LF for the Nats.
This time, JD had Nolan to back him up and the move was not only made but it was ultimately accepted by Young.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions
Revisoinist History
(1) JD traded Soriano because he was a year away from free agency. He wasn’t going to stay in Texas even if he was in LF. JD also was hoping to prop up Soriano’s trade value by keeping him at 2b, which is a more valuable position than LF.
(2) Why on earth are you criticizing the Carlos Lee trade? We gave up a couple of months of Cordero (who we replaced with Otsuka as closer anyways) and got Nelson Cruz and two high draft picks (Beavan and Borbon, if I remember correctly). Given the circumstances, that was probably JD’s strongest deal: make a trade that helps in the short term (Carlos Lee) and the long term (draft pick compensation) without giving up very much (two months of Cordero).
Seriously.
I was happy when Coco left this team. A closer with a career WHIP of 1.36?
I prefer to not end every game trying to decide between dialing 911 and turning off the TV.
cstorm
Concentrate on the subject…the organization was able to get one of their best players to switch positions.
They should have done it with Soriano and they were afraid to take the hard-line stance that Frank Robinson took.
This time, with backing from Nolan Ryan, one of their best players switched positions.
Can’t remember where I heard it last night…either XM or possibly Vic Rojas on MLB but somebody said that Nolan thought seriously about having Young switch before the 2008 season (plugging Andrus in at SS as a 19 year old).
I haven’t heard definitively whose idea it was but I thought Nolan was sitting back and observing last year instead of implementing a major change like that especially with (at the time) a healthy Blalock returning.
I was under the assumption Nolan’s forte was pitching and that JD acquired the everyday talent.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Typical Buck passive-aggressive behavior
Don’t confront a player and try to make him do what you want to do if you can just trade him. Particularly a player you aren’t a big fan of anyway.
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Who was the gm that year?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
And that trade was for the trash
on somebody else’s lawn.
Wasn’t there initially talk that Wilkerson was going to play some CF for the Rangers?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Maybe not
Wilkerson played 2 games in CF for the Rangers.
What an awful player he turned out to be for us.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions
yeah. I remember that.
He was hyped as being able to play all 3 OF positions – and walk a lot, too. Bah.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
After he sucked...
…do you guys remember the newspaper article in the winter about how Wilkerson had given up beer (even during his beloved Florida Gators Championship game) and that he was yet another Ranger in the “best shape of his life,” yet when the season started, he was still fat, slow and terrible?
by FuturePants on May 19, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions
when will people realize that being in the
“best shape of teir lives” rarely is true/has an effect on the player lol
thousands of fantasy players are caught up in that every year lol
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
clearly trading for a 28 year old
who had played all 3 OF positions and 1B, had a good eye and was a 35 2b/15 HR guy was a horrible trade
you use hindsight all the time as reasons for “bad trades” but at that point in time it was pretty well regarded as a good deal for the rangers, as was the danks-mccarthy trade
NO ONE saw sori hitting for 40+ HR at RFK and stealing 40+ SB (that was his career high in HR and 2nd highest ever SB — he has a total of 42 SB in his ~1300 AB since then and hasnt come anywhere near 40 HR either) — he had a CAREER year in washington and was forced to play LF – which in hind sight was pretty dumb since they went with good ole jose vidro at 2b that year and sori would have def been traded at the deadline if he was considered a 2b
find me one site/person that said soriano would have 40 2b, 40 SB and 40 HR, have his carreer high in OBP, SLG and OPS for washington and ill drop the whole issue…but you wont find one.
oh yea, and he went from a hitters park (TBIA had a park factor of 106 for hitting and 106 for pitching vs RFK’s 94 for hitting + 95 for pitching) to a pitchers park
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Remember that post AJM had about Ben Grieve
The one where he mentioned that young guys with old guy skills don’t age well?
Baseball reference similarity score #2 for Wilkerson: Ben Grieve.
The problem with any player whose value is propped up by one facet of the game (Wilkerson’s ability to take the walk) is that guys can adjust their game to match it. While in the Nats/Expos lineup, you may as well walk Wilky, since he has some power and no one else on the team can hit. In the potent Texas lineup, you don’t want to walk him, so you challenge him, knowing that his low batting average will mean you’ll get an out quite often.
In retrospect, we should have anticipate that. I was excited at the time of the acquisition. Oh well.
PhD
Conversely
(and without doing the research to back it up), Soriano is a player who should age well because of his speed/power combo.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
But there was no motivation to move Soriano before
They were going to trade Soriano anyways. It doesn’t matter if he was at 2b or in LF. He was a year away from free agency. Are you saying that you wish we could go back in time, move Soriano to LF, and then give him $136 million to stay?
Why would you try moving a player from 2b to LF when he was on the trade block anyways? This is totally different from the Young situation, when we know Young is going to be here for the next 6 years.
to say that elvis was anywhere near ready for the majors
at age 19, after playing 30 games at A+ is one of the stupidest things that could have been done or thought of in the history of the texas rangers
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
I heard that on Galloway yesterday
when I was flipping through at Hardline breaks — only stopped b/c they were talking Rangers.
That is one of the stupidest things I’ve heard. I’m sure Nolan thought he could probably handle himself defensively at the ML level last year — but I seriously doubt he WANTED to promote him at age 19.
I think this is a case of Grandpa Urine taking a a quote or offhand comment and twisting it to fit his argument that bringing Elvis up is really just Nolan’s idea and not boy blunder’s.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 19, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions
That's right, it was on Galloway's show.
Maybe somebody knows differently and can prove it with a link but I don’t remember Galloway ever saying moving Andrus to SS was going to be an epic fail. The person who did that was me.
I seem to remember most of the criticism from RG having to do with the approach the Rangers (specifically Boy Blunder) used with Young to tell him this.
I also don’t think Galloway would make it up about it being Nolan’s idea to do this. I’m sure he’s had lots of off-the-record conversations with Nolan.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Nolan, JD, the Face, and Andrus
I’m curious about something- you’ve criticized JD for his handling of the Young to third move yet you also assert that:
- JD isn’t respected by Young
- JD pretty much can’t do anything major without Nolan’s approval and/or oversight
So what gets me is- if you’re right about Young not respecting Daniels (and surely Nolan, being JD’s boss, would know this) then doesn’t Nolan look like an idiot for sending JD to deliver the message to Young?
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
Nolan's tenure with the Rangers hasn't been flawless
but his hiring was a masterstroke by Hicks.
Nolan has made mistakes but those mistakes pale in comparison to what JD did to this club.
What cannot be argued is the big picture.
The Ranger FO dumbassery (alive and well throughout that off-season up until February 6, 2008) came to a screeching halt and the record of the team is much better.
If you think it’s coincidental, you’ll fooling yourself.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions
"you'll fooling yourself" = fail
should be “you’re fooling yourself.”
Great post fumbled at the one yard line.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
"Great post fumbled at the one yard line."
Genius.
LOL.
"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."
BEW- my mistake was bad but
you muffed the punt!!
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
You don't even make it past the coin toss
because you think your opponent is Jon Daniels.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
ive posted this before
but if ron washington staying this year was dumbassery
and JD keeping his job is, in your mind, dumbassery
and keeping in mind that NOLAN is over both of them
doesnt that mean that, techincally, nolan is a part of that dumbassery?
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions
knockoutking
If you’re not sure, just check the standings.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions
then what was the problem last year?
nolan was in charge then as well IIRC (Feb 2008)
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Nobody really knows
but Nolan said his executive style was to observe and evaluate the first year and then implement needed changes.
He’s doing exactly what he said he was going to do.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
thats a pretty bad executive style
and i doubt that is the way he handled his minor league franchises
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Can you argue with Nolan's results?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Can you argue with JD's results?
Check the standings.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
all i see are the standings
and how well he did last 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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions
So
Was there an answer to my question in there, or just another attempt to deflect and change the subject?
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
RCCook
I don’t know how it all went down so I’m not sure it’s fair to call Nolan an idiot.
Perhaps it wasn’t well thought out by everybody concerned. I’m sure JD thought that since he was the GM, this was one of his job requirements.
Upon further review, everybody (Nolan & JD in particular) concerned probably didn’t realize how little credibility JD carried in the room.
I wasn’t avoiding your question at all and yes, Nolan has made mistakes. If this was his decision, yes, it was another mistake although I’m not sure he had enough information (concerning JDs credibility) beforehand.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Nolan has made mistakes
what mistakes would these be (this is the first time i have ever seen you say 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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions
He has said it many times
Bringing back Wash and Johnny Donuts was a huge mistake.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Yes, yes he would
I also don’t think Galloway would make it up about it being Nolan’s idea to do this.
It’s such a throwaway statement to 99% of the people listening to him on his show that nobody will ever call him on it.
The point about him spinning that his way was not to criticize JD — it was to give Nolan the credit because “he wanted to move Elvis first.”
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 19, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions
lol
Nolan wanted Andrus to start 2008 as the Rangers SS. Man, I’m sure you would have loved that move. After all the posts of “HE’S NOT READY!”, I can just imagine how much you would have trashed JD for bringing up a 19 year old who has never played above high A.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
if that was the case it would have been 100% ok
becuse it ws nolan’s idea
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree with Josey about Soriano
They botched up that situation. That also wasn’t entirely JD’s fault – the precedence in dealing with him was set by the previous administration, if I remember correctly. Nevertheless, they settled for a deal with poor odds that ended up not working out at all.
I think it’s pretty clear by now that the Rangers would have been better off had they not traded Soriano at all and taken the draft picks a year later (or settled for a deadline move).
I don’t get the Carlos Lee reference either, but whatever.
PhD
JD traded Soriano and then found
himself needing another big bat to put behind Tex at the trade deadline.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
So?
I’m pretty sure regardless of the motivation, the Lee + Cruz for Coco + Mench + Nix deal has been a pretty obvious win for the Rangers.
I do agree that they’d have been better off either keeping Soriano or trading him for someone other than Wilkerson. But that is pretty obvious to everyone in hindsight.
PhD
I'm bullish on Nelson Cruz this year (unlike previous years)
but it’s been since 2006 and we’re still waiting for Nelson Cruz’s first full productive season in The Show.
Realize Nelson Cruz is older than Hank Blalock
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
If the Soriano trade
made the Lee/Cruz trade necessary, would you be willing to look at it as a package deal perhaps, considering if we still had Soriano we wouldn’t have traded for Cruz and Lee (Borbon/Beaven). Happy compromise? In that case, what do you think of trading Mench, Nix, Cordero, and Soriano for Cruz and got the draft picks from Lee.
I'm not even sure what you're criticizing anymore
Concentrate on the subject…the organization was able to get one of their best players to switch positions.
If that’s the subject you’re trying to concentrate on, then why are you wasting time talking about the Carlos Lee deal? It has absolutely nothing to do with anything.
Then again, if you were somehow capable of supporting your arguments about the Soriano trade, then you would have responded to my questions.
Then again, you have developed a habit of avoiding me when I call you out.
Why do folks bother
"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 19, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
What's your problem, Cahill?
We’re just kicking the ball around on the Rangers Galloway was talking about Elvis & Nolan yesterday and I had no idea he was pushing for Elvis to be here in 2008.
The new dynamics of the Ranger FO are fascinating and very much up for discussion.
Perhaps you’d like more discussions centered around the stink-finger you received from that girl back in the 8th grade?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
That's because he wasn't
and I had no idea he was pushing for Elvis to be here in 2008.
Galloway pulled that one out of his ass.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 19, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
cstorm
I don’t answer every question posed to me for a variety of reasons.
Some of the questions I don’t see, some of the questions are rabbit holes, some of the questions are really dumb and not worth the time.
You’re under that umbrella somewhere.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Enlighten me, oh sage one
In that post, I linked to four posts that you have ignored, including one in this thread that undermines your whole premise regarding moving Soriano to LF. Whether you choose to admit it, you’ve seen these posts, and you are still free to reply if you’re so capable.
Or you can continue to destroy what credibility you have left by blatantly ignoring people who consistently destroy your arguments.
by cstorm15 on May 19, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I just read this post
and considered what you said, cstorm.
So then I wondered should I read what he wrote to see if he has merit and am I really going to lose credibility?
Then I thought, who really gives a bleep what cstorm wrote or thinks?
As God is my witness, I have no recollection of what you wrote or what your position is on this topic and I also don’t care.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
You're no Josey Wales
Josey Wales wouldn’t run and hide, right?
Maybe you should run off to the DMN blog comments where you can say nonsense without the fear of being challenged.
If you're going to be a jerk
you’re going to get the tsunami of indifference treatment.
I love talking all things Great Game and if somebody can beat me in an argument I’ll tip my cap.
Let the game come to you a little bit more and maybe we’ll have a nice discussion down the road.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
If I'm a jerk for destroying your arguments...
then I’ll accept that title. I’m sorry if I bruised your fragile little ego.
And if you’re not going to respond to my counterarguments (even after I repeatedly point them out to you again after you “missed” them), then I at least deserve that cap tip…
you think they traded for carlos lee at the deadline so they had a big bat?
i guess you would rather have a do-over on that deal right?
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Soriano/Wilkerson. Really?
It never ceases to amaze me when all of the arm chair GMs come out to chastise JD for the Soriano/Wilkerson trade. It was obviously a bad trade, but that is speaking with hindsight on your side. At the time we were trading a defensive liability who had thusfar been a disappointment in Texas and was about to command a ridiculously big contract for a guy that was a consistent hitter, got on base at a much better clip, and played better defense. Further, teams weren’t exactly kicking our door down to acquire a guy that hit home runs but did little else. Nobody could have predicted that Wilkerson would flop when he came to Texas and nobody could have predicted that Soriano would have a career year if he moved to Washington. Let’s not now pretend, in the sober light of hindsight, otherwise. At best it’s disingenuous.
Which makes his "Time to eat a little crow" statement funny.
He should be eating a LOT of crow about the Young move, about Andrus being ready, about the Rangers needing to go and sign a big name free-agent pitcher. It’s going to be funny watching all these guys try to position themselves on the bandwagon if the Rangers keep on a roll.
Letting Prince Mike...
…fill out the lineup card according to his wishes each day.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
dont you know AJM
instead of telling MY he was moving to 3rd, they should have first asked that he move to 3b out of respect for the player and when he refused (i just won a GG /FOTF ) then told him he was moving
thats what i got out of the whole thing at least
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Please reveal
How well you know Mickael Young and what he thinks personally about JD? "Like MYoung, Galloway holds JD in very low regard " is a made up sim9ile at best. You may actually know Galloway (or be a relative) but I can assure you that you don’t know Mike Young.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912) also -
"Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance."
~Ambrose Bierce
by Ed Coffin on May 19, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions
He talked to Mench's wife once
She told him that Young takes a leak on a picture of JD every night before he goes to sleep
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Yeah Ok... Ahh, I'm also going to need you to go ahead and move to 3rd base, too.

by lamron on May 19, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
nice
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Sherrington fact check
Maddux couldn’t have been in the Millwood come-to-Jesus meeting since it happened at the end of last season and Hawkins was the pitching coach then. Otherwise pretty fair piece.
by JPenn on May 19, 2009 9:46 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I'm actually kind of excited to see McCarthy pitch
In what could be a turning point in his Ranger career. The look he had on the mound finishing the 7th inning last outing, I had never seen before. I’m cautiously optimistic, which is something new for me regarding McCarthy.
Oh, you & me both
He had a look in his eyes, like a crazy person.
He was ready to rumble.
I can’t wait to watch that continue. Go Hulk-BMac!
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 19, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions
that's about as optimistic I can be about McCarthy
cautiously optimistic
I missed the crazy look but I’m excited about it
Per McCarthy
He’s been really, really bad on the road this year.
3 outings, 8.40 ERA, 1.013 OPS.
If we get 5 IPs and a Game Score of 50, I’ll be happy.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Lackey didn't kill his team's chances with that outing
but he didn’t do very much to help them win.
He was a wrecking ball to a very weary bullpen.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions
you confuse me with this comment
Lackey didn’t kill his team’s chances with that outing
but he didn’t do very much to help them win.
He was a wrecking ball to a very weary bullpen.
he didnt kill their chancees of winning, but he made their already weary bullpen pitch 9 innings, which sure as hell kept them from winning
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions
If you're confused
that’s not my problem.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions
His bullpen was exhausted
after pitching way too many innings over the previous couple of weeks, and especially the last few days. Making them pitch 9 full innings wasn’t hurting them? Wow.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
clearly they had a good chance to win
like all teams, fresh bullpen or not, when they have to pitch 9 innings with their pen
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions
How did he not kill his team's chances?
His bullpen had been overworked the previous two games and now were going to have to get all 27 outs. How does requiring an overworked bullpen to get all 27 outs not kill his team’s chances?
As bking mentioned (and I agree with him)
Game Scores need to taken into consideration with other stats.
Saturday was a perfect example. Lackey had a Game Score of 46 but when taken in conjunction with number of innings pitcheds there’s going to be a problem.
One of the flaws in the stat is when you have a pitcher that only throws to one batter but how ofter does that happen?
If you have a problem with Game Scores, well, the advanced writings of Bill James aren’t for everybody and perhaps a funny movie from benmor is more your speed.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions
Discourse with Josey
is kind of like practicing basketball against dummie defense.
Yeah, they’re there [often, to make you look good], but you never really take them seriously …
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 19, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions
never saw your response about game scores
with lackey gettting nearly the same game score for 2 pitches as padilla got for 8 IP, 3? ER
IIRC a 3 pt game score difference
what was 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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Pitchers that give their teams Game Scores of 50+ greatly
enhance their team’s chances of winning.
Lackey not only killed his bullpen but he didn’t enhance this team’s chances of winning.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
*
his team’s chances of winning.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Game scores are a nice stat used in conjunction with others...
But every stat probably has outliers and oddball exceptions that make it look bad at times.
Games scores have become something I watch more closely now as part of the big picture, and props to Josey for bringing it to my attention.
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
Game Scores serve two functions to me
1) Teams that receive Game Scores of 50+ from their starters have a much better chance of winning.
2) Pitchers like oh say, McCarthy & Feldman who routinely pitch less than 6 innings may not get credit for a Quality Start but that doesn’t mean they didn’t pitch well or give their team a chance to win.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Without doing the research
I would guess that within this latest Ranger hot streak of going 19-7 that they’ve received close to 19 Game Scores of 50+.
The Rangers are also 8-3 in games where they’ve scored 3 to 5 runs during this streak as well.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd disagree that pitchers who ROUTINELY pitch < 6 innings are really giving their team a chance to win..
On a game-by-game basis, they can certainly do so, but not when it’s routine. If 2 out of every 5 games you’re asking the pen to give you 3 innings, that’s 130-ish innings by the pen right there.
Again, that’s why the stat has to be part of a bigger menu of stats when evaluating the staff.
BTW, has everyone noticed that the Rangers are now up to 9th in all of MLB fielding Pct. Now that the left side of the infield has begun to settle in, one could suggest that the defense seems to be becoming what RW is supposedly good at.
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
Any word on Hamilton?
Last I heard he was day to day after that catch on Sunday.
"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
Aren't we all day-to-day really?
It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca
I believe Charley Steiner...
…would agree with you.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
by Chad Crudup on May 19, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions
My gawd
Norm is talking about the Cowboys in his first segment.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
I don't know what station it was
one of the teachers had it on in their room this morning and I was only in there for a moment… but they said, and this is an exact quote “And speaking about the Rangers, Felix Jones is ready for camp..!”
Ridiculous…
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
Dykstra has all the money!
ElectricOkra.com
Not only he is talking about the Cowboys
but specifically, Pac-Man Jones.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Oh, and more NFL talk at 10:50 to look forward to, true appointment listening.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Hmmm...
Does Josey live in Ohio with his 28-year-old son?
I believe there is some missing dialogue :
Josey : “I told you to clean up your damn room.”
Son : “No dad, I told you I’m not going to do it ’til the Rangers lose a game.”
Josey : “This is bullshit, you know they can’t keep up this shit in the show.”
Son : “I told you Andrus was ready.”
Josey : “Shut up and eat your fucking green beans already.”
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I thought you were a part of the Ignore Script Club, slc
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions
Is that your new thing
When are you going back to asking if they are part of a recipe club?
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
thats me
in in the recipe club, since — ya know the ONLY think talked about on this board is what happens between the lines with the rangers
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Reeves doesn't know who Harrison is
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
Dykstra has all the money!
ElectricOkra.com
Ben Sheets...
Hadn’t seen this posted anywhere yet, from Buster Olney’s chat yesterday:
Jason (Ellicott City, MD): Will we ever see Ben Sheets pitch again?
Buster Olney: Jason: yes — for the Rangers late this season, or next year.
No one posted
FIRST PLACE TEXAS RANGERS!
this morning. Have we failed as Rangers fans?
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
Sorry, very busy morning.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Sorry to hear that
Don’t let us down again, Rodney!
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
Stat check
Did a quick check through 37 games last year and the Rangers have actually given up an almost identical number of earned runs (167 vs 170). The big change is unearned runs (179 vs 195). Have to think that does wonders to a pitchers confidence only having to get three outs in an inning instead of four. Backs up some of the talk about improved defense has helped the pitching. Through 63 games last year they gave up 51 unearned runs….ouch!
If you want some slack, bring your own rope.
dang. so our pitching still sucks?
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
yea but with league average pitching, ___________
by trgordon723 on May 19, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Wait for it..................
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
First Place Mother Effin' Texas Rangers!!!
"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 19, 2009 12:55 PM CDT reply actions 5 recs
THERE
we go
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Green it someone
Or else the win streak comes to an end.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
i like it quite a bit
where did you find it?
although wtf is the deal with the "OF in the bottom left corner…ummm talk about strange positioning?
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.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 19, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions
It was on the Beckett Magazine blog, part of a preview of the 2009 Topps Series 2 cards which were just released the past Monday. I love how the shot really features the Ballpark.
That is a nice ballpark
backdrop.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
looks like he's favoring that knee.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
Hellz yea....
Why is Josh smaller than the others??
Looks like the economy is even affecting bobbleheads…… sigh.

Ian Kinsler..... yea, he's good at baseball.
just wait till they do the Padzilla bobblehead

(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
Going into the series with the Angels
they were right there with the Rangers as the hottest teams in the league. You’d think a sweep of them would say they’re at least playoff contenders.

by 



















