Saturday a.m. Rangers stuff
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 8:14 AM CDT
127 comments
Rough outing for Derek Holland last night, coming in in relief of Scott Feldman. But then, that's part of the learning process with young players, particularly pitchers. And it is part of the reason you want to break them in through the bullpen when possible, although ideally, you don't want them coming in to face a future Hall of Famer with the bases loaded in a close game.
The bigger problem was the offense once again crapping out, this team going scoreless in the final six innings. It is incredibly frustrating to me to see Hank Blalock continue to channel his inner Josh Hamilton and hack at the first pitch continuously...Blalock is seeing only 3.3 pitches per plate appearance so far this year, which goes a long way towards explaining his 1 walk on the season and his .277 OBP. And he'll continue to periodically hit the ball a long way to right field, while more often he'll try to pull a first pitch breaking ball on the outside part of the plate and ground out to shortstop.
Jeff Wilson's game story focuses on Hamilton's trip to the d.l. and Scott Feldman impressive, if truncated, outing. Based on the quotes from Ron Washington, it sounds like Jarrod Saltalamacchia's unavailability played a significant role in the decision to make a move with Hamilton now.
Wilson's notes piece indicates that Saltalamacchia wasn't at the park yesterday, along with having some comments from Vicente Padilla about how he threw earlier this week and Derrick Turnbow's release.
Max Ramirez says he's here and willing to help the team however he can, but he may not even get into a game before he heads back down. I suspect once Saltalamacchia's eye situation clears up, Max will head back down and Brandon Boggs will come back up.
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I feel
so bad for Feldy, but at the same time, I feel more and more strongly that we have our 5th starter for several years to come in him… He’s got the kind of stuff that should continually give us 6 quality innings, which in todays game, is more than good enough to make him a good 5th starter
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 2, 2009 8:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I tend to agree
When his sinker and cutter work like last night he can be almost dominant and get tons of weakly hit ground balls. It is when he starts leaving them up in the zone, which he does too much, that he can get pummeled.
by CRUSHDAVIS on May 2, 2009 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Poor Scooter.
3+3+3+3+3+3=“Get the hell off the air!”
"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 2, 2009 8:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yep seems to always wind up being the bridesmaid even when lights out
A Rod you put the Bitch in Tits.
by BigGuns on May 2, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, it seems like he can get
through the lineup twice easily, after that he really fades.
"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 2, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
All Guillermos all the time, huh?
"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 2, 2009 8:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
why are you up so early?
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
blalock
why was he even in the lineup last night.
career 3-30 against Buerhle coming into the game.
by mo on May 2, 2009 8:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Well
There weren’t a lot of other good options. The bench last night consisted of Murphy, Vizquel, and Ramirez. I would have just as soon see Ramirez DH, but Wash is loathe to do that when he’s the only backup catcher.
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
MaxRam...
should have got the start at DH. Who cares if he is the backup catcher. If there was and injury you can go a few innings without the DH.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on May 2, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
exactly
Wash’s refusal to put out the best lineup drives me insane.
Blalock’s hacktastcness also begets violence.
by Hull Fan on May 2, 2009 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can see giving Wash some leeway on this one
Imagine the shitstorm if Max had DH’d, Teag got hurt and had to come out, and Feldman or Holland pull a Chien Ming Wang out there.
by Keynes on May 2, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Max would have moved to C
and we would have had lots of options to ph for the pitcher every time he came up.
Then you call up your next catcher in the system and he’s here for tonight’s game.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 2, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Next catcher?
So you had Pina or Richardson or somebody to the 40 and screw up all kinds of 40 man roster management decision?
by WestTxAg06 on May 2, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You don't paly guys...
assuming they will get hurt. Chances are that both would have played and there would not have been a problem. You deal with the 40 If anything did happen latter on. That’s not and excuse to not use the best options available.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on May 2, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
As to that point, I agree
But I’m not sure the situation last night warranted such a major move.
by WestTxAg06 on May 2, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i don't agree with any of that at all
and you look really stupid when it all goes wrong.
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yep you've got to be covered ...just in case.
A Rod you put the Bitch in Tits.
by BigGuns on May 2, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And how often...
would it “all go wrong”?
Say TT or MaxRam got hurt. Then you have to put Richardson on the 40 or sign someone like Melhuse. So what, DFA Eddie. I don’t think I would look really stupid if that happened at all.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on May 2, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wait a second
How does this go from “you can’t DH Max because Teagarden might get hurt” to a discussion about the 40 man implications of two hurt catchers leading to Adam Melhuse coming on board?
I don’t see the connection.
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's one hurt catcher
and you need a backup. but really a catcher can get hurt at any point
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A couple people...
said you don’t DH the backup catcher because if something happens then you have to bring up another backup who isn’t on the 40 already.
Come on AJM, follow the hypothetical situation along here.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on May 2, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And really...
that wouldn’t have even mattered here because chances are that Salty is going to be available today or tomorrow anyway.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on May 2, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the question isn't how often
it’s the impact of it going wrong and it’s just a stupid thing to do – and the reason no team does it.
and the whole discussion is stupid anyway. you want to hit maxram over blalock at DH? this is the rub? the fact that maxram hasn’t done anything great in AAA and hasn’t seen major league pitching yet but is going to get thrown to buehrle right away doesn’t matter? and you’re going to do all fo that AND risk your backup catcher and the (however remote) possibility of losing your DH and possibly screwing up the 40?
all because you think blalock is so terrible and will never break out of his slump?
Even if you think all that, you’re going to continue to argue this like it’s absolute fact and the opposite view is categorically wrong and wash is an idiot for taking it? really?
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How does DHing Max possibly screw up the 40 man roster?
That makes no sense.
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it doesn't
disregard.
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The 40 entering into the argument
was Josey saying
Then you call up your next catcher in the system and he’s here for tonight’s game.
Which is fail on many levels, as you know.
by Keynes on May 2, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, that's the only reason I brought up the 40
With Salty unavailable, if you use both TT and MaxRam, your “next” catcher is someone off the 40, presumably Richardson or Pina.
by WestTxAg06 on May 2, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't understand this at all
Are you worried that MaxRam may get hurt DHing? Because that is the only reason to be worried about 40 man implications.
One of MaxRam or TT will be catching. So there is a non-zero shot there may be an injury, forcing an emergency 40 man move the next day regardless of whether the other one DHs or not.
by JBImaknee on May 2, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not worried that MaxRam could get hurt
I’m responding to the “oh it doesn’t matter if he gets hurt, you just call up another catcher” train of thought.
by WestTxAg06 on May 2, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But if Tea gets hurt last night
you still have to call up another catcher
by JBImaknee on May 2, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you're overreacting
The net loss in runs from losing a DH for a couple of innings HAS to be negligible.
I’ve come around on this idea and I think it’s wise to get the best lineup out there, regardless of positions.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on May 2, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
which is still debateable whether maxram at this point is better than blalock
and I really don’t think losing your DH is negligible. you can’t let pitchers hit and we don’t have enough bench bats that can be good PH’s. And we do have a few holes in the lineup.
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok
assuming that MaxRam is better than Blalock, which is still an assumption at this point …
We should do this when the squad is fully healthy, no?
I’m drawing a blank right now, but this team and every team seems to have an emergency 3rd C around ..
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on May 2, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i don't know who that is
vizquel? byrd? (I’m really just throwing out random names)
Lets assume we don’t have one.
I’m going through the scenarios and if you lost your catcher early enough, you are really hamstrung by what you can do. I’m don’t think it would be worth it to have to repeatedly PH there, losing PH opportunities in teh bottom of the order.
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right
I guess my argument is that if you extrapolated over 162 games, it would be worth it to do it.
Sure you might have an injury, but the other opportunities should outweigh that.
Surely BTB or someone has already studied this with greater detail.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on May 2, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, I wouldn't be suprised if that was the case
but I think given the holes in this lineup and the bench players we carry (and given what our bench was yesterday), you would be especially inclined not to do it.
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can agree with that
But once this machine is greased up again ..
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on May 2, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Andruw just
bought catchers gear.
"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 2, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on May 2, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
now that would be
amusing, I think id just start laughing if he came out there at C… wow, that picture in my mind is just making me laugh
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 2, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of that
Who is our “emergency catcher” right now?
Teams always have someone designated to be that guy in the event all hell breaks loose. Wasn’t Cat the emergency catcher before?
by WestTxAg06 on May 2, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Half joking here
Eddie? He’s chubby & unathletic.
by Keynes on May 2, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He'd probably be better as a catcher now
but alas, he’s a lefty. And Wash would never go with a left-handed catcher
by JBImaknee on May 2, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sigh...
I never said anything about Blalock being terrible. He has struggled against Buehrle and you have a good RH hitter in MaxRam available. I thought he was a better option, that’s all. I never said anything about the opposite view being categorically wrong. It’’s just my opinion.
As far as Wash being an idiot, I’m one of the few people here who has defended him a lot of the time. I disagreed with a couple things he did yesterday, but never said he was and idiot.
Just agree to disagree ab.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on May 2, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We'd've had Muprh and Vizquel available to pinch hit
Which could’ve meant pulling a good pitcher out of the game. Which could’ve lead to a gassed BP.
See also WesttxAg’s point on the 40.
by Keynes on May 2, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Add also, Blalock.
Still my point about pulling Feldman or Holland out and going deeper into the pen applies.
by Keynes on May 2, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No
we would have had lots of options to ph for the pitcher every time he came up.
No, we would have had Vizquel and Murphy as options. That’s it.
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock would have been on the bench and not starting
so he would have been a helluva ph option but thanks for chiming in.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 2, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock = helluva ph option
considering the Sox depend on Jenks as their closer.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 2, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Assuming that...
…that spot you want to PH for the pitcher at comes up in the 9th inning.
Prior to that, if you’ve got the pitcher’s spot coming up and Murphy, Blalock and Vizquel on the bench (and realistically, they wouldn’t use Vizquel), you’re likely going to have Guillen bring in Matt Thornton.
Blalock as a PH against Thornton isn’t a helluva PH option.
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thornton
has he not got one of the smoothest deliveries in baseball?
I know Feliz is considered “effortless”, etc. But that guy just tosses it up there and next thing you see is 97-98-97.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on May 2, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Weird scenario...not sure if substitution would work...
Could Max have started at 1B, with Davis DHing?
Max could then slide to C if something happened with Tea, and Blalock could have come in at 1B?
"[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 2, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or there's the possibility of sliding Andruw to 1B
and bringing in Murphy. Did Max play any first when he was up last year?
by Keynes on May 2, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
3 games, and his first start was at 1B iirc.
"[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 2, 2009 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which removes the argument
that he’d never played first for Wash, so Wash didn’t trust him there.
by Keynes on May 2, 2009 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting
any reason why that wouldn’t work?
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on May 2, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it would work
but not sure I’d want Max’s defense at 1st. but if we’re talking just for one game every so often then i’d be fine with it
by Mike E on May 2, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that is probably why Washington didn't play Max
but that’s a dumb reason.
It also went against everything the Rangers have been preaching (pitchers going further into games) to pull Feldman.
It seems as though they were looking for any reason they could to pitch Holland.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 2, 2009 9:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hell is upon us
Josey makes a mostly salient point. I don’t know about any reason to pitch Holland but I will say Wash told Feldman he doesn’t trust him. It also says a lot about CJ and Eddie.
The only choices should have been, stay with Scooter or warm up CJ to pitch to Thome. Putting Holland out there again with the bases loaded just seems like setting him up to fail and wasting a great start by Scott.
Choosing to have a lineup with Blalock’s career 3 for 30 rather than Ramirez is also a failure.
by Hull Fan on May 2, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that...
…they were looking for a reason to use Holland.
They don’t care if Mendoza ever gets into a game…they’d probably be fine if he never pitched.
But Holland, I think, they want to get a few innings every 3-4 games. And I think they saw this as the perfect opportunity…he was going to come into the game after the 6th anyway, and when the bases were loaded with two outs against Thome — a guy with pretty significant platoon splits — I think they figured they’d make the move then.
C.J. would have been a better option, but that would have involved getting him up and warming a few batters earlier, and I suspect that Wash didn’t think that far ahead.
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate to sound like a
drooling prospect lover, but do you think that Wilson is a better option than Holland at this point?
"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels
by Randy Richardson on May 2, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't speak for Adam
but I see no reason to put Holland in that situation. If CJ fails, well hell that’s just one more reason to trade him this summer or off season, but why would you put your stud pitching prospect in a situation that he’s never really faced before except the last time he pitched with the bases loaded and oh yeah allowed a run.
Besides this isn’t the bottom of the order against a scrub batter. It’s Jim freaking Thome, borderline HOFer. Why send Holland out there in that situation? Aren’t the bad things that could happen probably inexcess of the good ones?
by Hull Fan on May 2, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think the
goal is for him to never fail.
Also, Jim Thome career splits
vs RHP 1.049 OPS
vs LHP .764
That has to be one of the largest splits ever for a guy with that many ABs
"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels
by Randy Richardson on May 2, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea, very true
although, this would have been one time for Wash to use his ‘feel’ and not have put anyone in over feldman. I cant blame wash for what he did, but im fairly certain i leave Feldman out there by just the way that game had been going
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 2, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay, CJ is still a better option
than Holland. Although I’m still of the opinion that Feldman should have been given the opportunity to face him though. I’m just not a fan of that move.
by Hull Fan on May 2, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Question
When should Wash have gotten C.J. up in the pen and warming up?
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
we you tell your starter to fake an injury
so he can warmup on the mound
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 2, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
facing reality
there is almost no way CJ gets into the game right there.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 2, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The beginning of the 6th.
"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 2, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if CJ was brought in wtih the bases load
this board would have shut down completely from gif’s and expletives.
you absolutely know that is fact
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
(not the board shutting down - the conniption fits)
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
*conniptions - ugh
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
True dat
I might have just turned the tv off and walked out into traffic had I seen BGL trotting in with the bases jacked and Thome at the plate.
by WestTxAg06 on May 2, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok...
but if they want to get Holland a few innings every 3 or 4 days or so why not stick with him? You trust him enough to bring him in with the bases loaded against Thome, but not enough to leave him in after giving up 1 run and only pitching 1 inning and throwing about 25 pitches or so?
They way they used him yesterday makes little sense to me.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on May 2, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT Mr. Las Vegas passes away...at 52
http://www.tmz.com/2009/05/01/danny-gans-dies/
Sorry Rodney, I know you’re usually the angel of death. This guy was super talented.
A Rod you put the Bitch in Tits.
by BigGuns on May 2, 2009 9:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i think this is him
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/G/Dan-Gans.shtml
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeh he played miinor league ball for the Royals
A Rod you put the Bitch in Tits.
by BigGuns on May 2, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I see your point
But B-Mac and Feldman have proven that they have a hard time getting through the big inning, both of them seem to get very shaky in innings 5 and 6
Keepin it Classy Gentlemen
by Hamiltons Homey on May 2, 2009 9:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Feldman had cruised all night long, had a low pitch count
and had handled Thome with ease in two other ab’s (weak grounder to SS and a K).
Yes, Holland is a lefty but that shouldn’t have played too much into our thinking. Feldman had been very, very good up to that point and should have been allowed to face Thome.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 2, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And even if he gives up a huge hit
He’s still having a pretty good game and is one out away from ending the 6th. And he’s still well under the 100 pitch mark
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 2, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This sumerizes how I feel about this game
by Hull Fan on May 2, 2009 9:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
How well did Feldman pitch?
If Holland gets Thome out and no runs score, Feldman gets a Game Score of 65 which is outstanding.
As it was, Feldman got a 53.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 2, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feldman was great
I think only two balls were hit hard his entire night. If Feldman screws up that’s not good but putting the kid who’d been in the majors all of 15 or so days just seems stupid. He could start the next inning with a clean slate. Sticking out there again with the bases loaded against one of the best hitters in the game just reeks of poor management.
by Hull Fan on May 2, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
in my mind
it was one of the more dominating performances by a Ranger pitcher all year. Maybe Milly’s opening day start was better.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 2, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel sorry for both Feldy and Holland
Feldman had a great outing; had trouble in the last third of the sixth. Should have let him finish out the inning. I don’t think he could have done much more damage than the 3-run, ground-rule double that Holland gave up.
And, Holland. The rookie. The kid. Why in the hell, after everything that has been in the papers, in the interviews, why would you want a kid that you’re trying to “protect” and not let his confidence shake, come out with a bases loaded, 2 out situation against a very powerful hitter? That was ridiculous, I think.
But, hey, I’m not Wash…
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 2, 2009 10:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't feel sorry for either of them
They are big boys. They had a job to do. Feldman did his, for the most part, but didn’t get a win. It happens. I’d wager he got more than one win last season when he didn’t do his job too well, but the offense kicked ass.
As for Holland, I don’t feel sorry for him either. It is part of the learning process.
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Lesson #1
Don’t throw meat down the middle of the plate to a guy with 545 home runs.
LoneStarBall....You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
by DaheelzCM on May 2, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's a good lesson to learn early
maybe i’ve gotten over the loss quicker than others but I’m kind of glad that happened to him.
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still feel like
Somebody made the wrong call on that pitch, he was up 0-1, Thome saw his FB and had it timed, i think you have to throw a slider there. I was saying that before the second pitch was even thrown, Thome is just too good of a hitter to throw two straight fastballs right by him
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 2, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
live and learn
not the first time a pitcher trusted his fastball too much
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
see, i think that call is either from the dugout
or from TT, I dont think Holland is shaking off signs in that situation
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 2, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the other hand...
…you’ve got the school of thought that says, go with your strength, you are throwing 95 mph fastballs, throw them until Thome shows he can hit it.
He throws a slider on 0-1, misses, is 1-1, comes back and Thome gets a hit, and he’s getting killed for not staying with his strength and what is working.
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well, it was just what i was thinking
Also, I think once you show him the slider it makes the batter just a little bit more uncomfortable, especially in a lefty lefty matchup. Its not so much getting the count to 0-2 as it is throwing his timing off. I think if he had it back he’d definitely throw a slider there than trying to locate his FB somwhere else. Making a hitter like Thome just a tad bit uncomfortable makes all the difference in the world
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 2, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you remember correctly
Feldman go screwed out of more than a few wins last year… The guy is just flat out cursed
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on May 2, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I went back and looked...
…and every win last year, he pitched well.
So nevermind that last comment of mine.
by Adam J. Morris on May 2, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's not like it won't ever even out for him
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it was feldman's game
he was dealing. a couple of soft singles and a walk and he gets yanked. crazy.
by SteveP on May 2, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feldman 1st 18 outs=.267 BAA
After that, .333 BAA.
"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 2, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is that just pulled from last night
Or his line from last year?
by Keynes on May 2, 2009 10:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Reply fail
Should be replied to Rodney’s post above
by Keynes on May 2, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last year.
"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 2, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some minors moves per Lucas...
Oklahoma City shipped Hyatt back to Frisco following last night’s start. Pitchers Tommy Hunter and John Bannister are Redhawks. It’s Bannister’s first assignment to AAA, whereas Hunter has already pitched at every level.
"[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 2, 2009 10:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It really must be posted again
10) Jared Hyatt is a pitcher who is from Georgia Tech like Kevin Brown was a long time ago for the Rangers and he just pitched his first game in AAA Oklahoma City this week and he did a great job — better than Neftali Feliz did even though he’s had a few games at AAA already. Not a lot of guys do great at AAA right away like Jared Hyatt did this week and I think that means he’s probably going to be really tough for a long time. Really? His ERA at AAA is just 1.59? Remember that you heard about Jared Hyatt here first. He’s a sleeper who I like a whole lot and you should too in my humble opinion
That’s Crops #10 prospect you’re demoting, JD. You’re sure you want to do this?
Side note- if you google crops.mlblogs, the first hits are back to LSB.
Second side note- I actually think Hyatt’s a good guy to have in the organization, and I kinda feel like I’m making fun of him instead of crops. I think you’re a swell organizational soldier, Jared, and I hope your cup of coffee, be it here or somewhere else, is good, long, and tasty.
by Keynes on May 2, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
side note, was maxram available last night?
i assume he was
Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder
by ab03 on May 2, 2009 10:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
OT: I Want Revenge scratched
damn.
"if my kid said 'uhh' that much, i would say, Hey! ... stop saying 'uhh' that much..." - dennis miller
by Longhorn on May 2, 2009 11:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The A's should bench Holliday with his .294 OBP
Ichiro, Carlos Lee, Alex Rios, Russell Martin, Geovanny Soto, Howie Kendrick, David Ortiz, Derek Lee, Alexei Ramirez, Jimmy Rollins, Adrian Beltre, and JJ Hardy too should be benched, they all are sucky sucky baseball players.
by tyd3311 on May 2, 2009 11:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
All have OBP's hovering around .300
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on May 2, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sure it's Blalock support.
He loves him some Mendoza too. Odd creature, eh?
"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 2, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm guessing this is a reply fail
from someone up there saying not to play someone because they’re starting off cold.
by JBImaknee on May 2, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not directed towards you or anything specific. And not a reply fail.
I’m just saying, while I too am frustrated with Blalock, were less than a month into the season. And to me the problem is bigger than just Blalock.
Cruz has an OBP of .270 his last 10 games, Kinsler .213.. pair that with Blalock and Hamilton, and we’ve been a pretty easy offense to pitch at the last couple of weeks. The progress this team made with seeing pitches the second half of 2007 and last year seems to be lost. I think sweeping the Indians the way we did was the worst thing that could have happened to this offense, it went straight to their head.
by tyd3311 on May 2, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn't paying much attention to the game last night when it got out of hand
But it seemed like Wash managed it perfectly well.
Feldman loads the bases in the 6th inning. Thome up. Feldman has a history of having trouble 3rd time through the lineup later in the games – its smart of Wash to make a move there with a heavy split lefty up. If he’d left Feldman in, and Feldman gave up that hit, I’d be calling for Wash’s head.
This is why you have left handed relievers. Given that Holland was probably told he’d be going out there for the 7th, he was both mentally and physically ready to go. And we’re all hoping he becomes a real pitcher. Not a babied, only in perfect circumstances pitcher. But a guy who can pitch out of jams. I think that’s an ideal learning experience for him.
As for Blalock/MaxRam – the whole “can’t DH or pinch hit your backup catcher” thing is stupid and overblown. But they hired an old school manager – of course he’s going to play that way. I will say that JD and Nolan need to have a serious conversation of what MaxRam’s role in this organization is. Because it doesn’t seem all that clear.
by JBImaknee on May 2, 2009 11:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This pretty much my take as well..
The book on Feldman seems the be that somewhere around the 6th inning he either (a) tires or (b) gets figured out. I really didn’t see any reason to question the decision when it was made. He was scuffling; not just a couple of hits, but a WP that REALLY hurt tactically. He had “he’s done” written all over him; if he were “part of the future core” he might have gotten a chance to work himself out of a jam, but when a fifth starter begins to implode, he doesn’t get much rope.
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 2, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feldman
Last night might have also been because hes still getting his stamina back from moving to a reliever. I said after his last start it would probably take him another 2 or 3 starts to be fully back to starter stamina and last night he may have tired earlier than normal. I think this year he will be able to get through the order 3 times much better than last year.
So far Feldman as a starter has been pretty good. Gotta wonder why they went with Benson when Scott was having such a good spring.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on May 2, 2009 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: Manny Acta
Not sure if this has been posted, but I found it quite amusing ..
“They’re just walking themselves into trouble, over and over and over and over and over,” a clearly agitated Manny Acta said. "Walking guys after 0-2 counts. Walking guys in the bottom of the order. I don’t know why.
“You shouldn’t be afraid. You’re pitching for a last-place team in a half-empty stadium. What can be intimidating right now?”
“Plan Z, maybe?” Acta said. “You just have to keep throwing them out there, continue to move them around until something clicks.”
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on May 2, 2009 11:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I wish he was the Rangers manager
I’d love to hear his comments about our bullpen
by JBImaknee on May 2, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ed, here's the pitch f/x from yesterday's game
click view image to see the bigger versions
And here it is broken down by pitch type:
At least in yesterday’s game, it doesn’t look like he was throwing in one location too much. His fastball was all over the strike zone.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg on May 2, 2009 12:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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