Thursday morning Rangers things
by Adam J. Morris on May 28, 2009 10:17 AM CDT
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PrintTwo crappy games against the Yankees, one good one. Not the way you want a series at home to go, but it is going to happen.
Evan Grant says that the Rangers are a good team that is terrible against other good teams -- particularly offensively.
Anthony Andro's game story says this was a learning experience for Derek Holland, who says that he had issues with his location last night.
Although Matt Harrison is having his start skipped, the team isn't talking d.l. right now, and Mike Maddux and Ron Washington both say the starting pitchers aren't being overworked.
The most current All Star balloting has Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton both getting in as starters. I'd be a little surprised if Kinsler maintained his lead, but I suspect Hamilton will get voted in.
Randy Galloway's column today talks about Tom Hicks now being open to selling a majority stake in the Rangers, Derek Holland's home starting debut, and the recent attendance surge, although I think he's a little cavalier on one point:
Wednesday night’s crowd of 38,409 was the sixth consecutive home date of drawing 33,000-plus, which is small-time in many baseball markets. But the Rangers have had one winning season this decade. Therefore, Wednesday was a gate landmark, of sorts, since the last time the ball yard hosted this many fans on six consecutive dates was 2001.
Calling 33K+ "small-time" seems a bit of a misnomer...the Rangers have averaged more than that only 6 times in their history, all in TBIA, the most recent being 2001 (when there was all kinds of excitement over ARod joining the club). Twenty teams are averaging less than 33,000 in attendance this season. If the team can draw like this -- particularly in the first two months, when school is in session and the races haven't heated up -- you have to be encouraged.
And Jeff Miller continues his stellar work over at Inside Corner with a great feature piece on Frisco infielder Adam Fox, and his journey to try to make the big leagues.
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And speaking of pitching...
…where can I get some of the peripherial information on Tommy Hunter in the minors for the year? I seem to recall from Scott Lucas’s e-mails that he has been struggling pretty mightily this year. Just curious where I can get a full view, or if anyone has any insight, with him starting Friday…
by FuturePants on May 28, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Per B
http://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/players/cards/?pl_id=62489
"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
Yeah, but almost 6 Ks per 9 and only 1.32 WHIP
Wonder what he’ll do. I basically read these stats as a major league wild card. Could be anywhere.
by FuturePants on May 28, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
And with the terrific defense they've had
maybe that’s a profile that plays well. I can hope.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Well it is vs the A's juggernaut lineup
so maybe it won’t be that bad
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 28, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
6 k's per 9 is pretty horrible.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on May 28, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Are we talking about Chris Davis?
I have an irrational hatred of Chris Davis because his Ks are way too ugly and irrational liking of Matt Harrison because he's a lefty - deal with it.
by JBImaknee on May 28, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
Bah! Hit post too soon.
Meant to add: Unless you think he can carry over the sterling walk rate, too.
6 k’s per 9 leaves very little margin for error when projecting on toward the big leagues.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on May 28, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Right
It’s all a package of K/BB; which is why I think he’s a total wildcard to project to the majors. Probably won’t strike that many dudes out, but can he keep the walks down? Dunno.
by FuturePants on May 28, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions
Guys like that can be real assets.
But they also walk a really fine line and you have to be patient when they get hit around every once in a while cause they can be made to look horrible sometimes just by “bad luck” because they get so many.
See: Sonnanstine, Andy.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on May 28, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Bob Tewksbury
Hunter’s stats are not terribly far off from Tewk’s career lines. Hunter’s allowed a few more hits, but also has a higher K rate.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
"If this rotation had 5 Sonnanstines, .."
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 28, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Not really
With that walk rate, its good enough to be at least a solid back of the rotation guy.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
I think we are in Agreeance
with Crops.
"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
Offense
I said last night that I was worried about the offense, and I am to a certain extent. But I realize, too, that a big part of the reason I am worried about the offense is that deep down I still don’t trust this rotation to be this good all year long. There are still going to be lots of times when the bats need to carry the pitching a bit. This is especially true if improvements aren’t made to the bullpen, which still seems pretty shaky.
There are a number of ways this club could be improved for the division race, and right now I’m not sure which one would be the most cost effective. An ace would cost the most. A bullpen righty would help a lot, but you might have some minor league options that could do just as well given that bullpen arms are often a crapshoot. Even something in the lineup might seem nice, though I’d look for that option well after the other two have been fully explored.
Maybe this is just perception, but trade speculation seems to be starting a bit earlier this year, kicked off by all the Peavy talk.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Offense
The offense is extremely concerning, but I think all of us here recognize that simply going deeper in counts and better pitch recognition would go a long way to helping things – look how they worked over Joba.
We have faced some poor bullpens – Yankees, Angels, etc., but if we are letting their pitchers dominate and not throw too many pitches (Hughes), it doesn’t matter. We all know this, and certainly Blalock will take a walk someday. Maybe. More likely he will simply continue to swing out of his cleats. Sigh.
by FuturePants on May 28, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't know
the offense has had to face a lot of good pitchers even though they’ve enjoyed a schedule against a lot of teams with losing records. Even when they faced Seattle and other clubs with poor records, they were facing Hernandez, etc.
A good club should have a better record against losing teams than winning teams. And at this point ascending on the contention curve it may be too much to expect the Rangers to beat clubs like the Yankees consistently.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Yeah, and weve made some bad ones look good
Like AJ last night, he wasnt that good and he has been bad most of the year
Rangers lineup is a cure to pitchers right now
Some guys in there just absolutely have to show better patience AND hit the ball better
im becoming somewhat concerned about the lineup, it just isnt producing
Totally
Byrd, Davis, Blalock are swinging at everything; we all know that. It’s frustrating when it’s happenning to so many guys – in such an extreme fashion – at once.
by FuturePants on May 28, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions
With all due respect
3 guys wont make a lineup look as bad as ours does
i think the problem is bigger
In addition to the guys he listed
I think Kinsler is pressing. 4 guys is a lot. You only get 9, and 3 of those 4 are probably in the lineup most days. If a third of your lineup is pressing, that’s pretty damn significant.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
if our offense is just slumping...
I love that argument:
2 games vs. Verlander
2 games vs. Felix
1 vs. Bedard
1 vs. Cliff Lee
2 vs. Edwin Jackson
1 vs. Greinke
1 vs. Halladay
2 vs. Danks
1 vs. Buehrle
1 vs. Saunders
1 vs. Weaver
1 vs. Burnett
That’s 15 starts against very good pitching. It would be nice to turn the tide in the 2nd half…
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 28, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions
16 games. I can't count.
and we’re .500 against those starters, 8-8. I would imagine our batting average, strikeouts at the plate, walks at the plate and those starters’ ERA/WHIP numbers are pretty ugly though. So yes, homework indeed for somebody else if they want to take a stab.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 28, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions
It seems like they've generally taken a better approach against those guys, though
It’s against the scrubs that they tend to pop out on the first pitch every at-bat and thus let the scrub with the 7 ERA pitch seven innings of one-run ball.
It's 'Goose' Gozzo' syndrome.
We’ve been infected since 1989. Trying to make a run at the division title after the Baines trade, and Mauro Gozzo made his ML debut against the Rangers on August 8th.
8.0 3 0 0 3 4
Hardly to be heard from again. I will find a Gozzo baseball card and perform a ceremony this weekend to rid us of this disease.
"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."
ok
Verlander against the Rangers
11IP, 0.81 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
Felix
13IP, 4.15 ERA, 1.23 WHIP
Danks
11.1IP, 4.86 ERA, 1.44 WHIP
Edwin Jackson
14 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.43 WHIP
Bedard
7IP, 1.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
Cliff Lee
5IP, 12.60 ERA, 2.2 WHIP
Greinke
9 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.78 WHIP
Roy Halladay
8 IP, 5.63 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
Buehrle
6 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
Saunders
5.1 IP, 12.35 ERA, 1.96 WHIP
Weaver
8.0 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP
Burnett
6.0 IP, , 0.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
Total ERA and WHIP from these starters …
3.92 ERA, 1.33 WHIP
by texasraider on May 28, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions
take out Cliff Lee and Saunders
and we were flat-out dominated…we just happened to have our starters throwing well against some of these guys
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 28, 2009 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions
We were flat out dominated?
Danks, Jackson, Halladay, and Buerhle all had 4.50+ ERAs too. 6 of those guys dominated us, 4 of them pitched decent but winnable games (for the Rangers), and 2 of them got dominated.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
holding a "powerful offense" to 3 runs
through 6 innings is a pretty good job. not shut down, not flat out dominated, poor choice of words…but doing more than enough to win more games against the Rangers than lose…especially if they have a competent bullpen.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 28, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions
well we worked Burnett pretty well
he should’ve been gone after the 5th if he was any other starter. And we gave ourselves 3 innings to get back in the game. But by that time, down 8-0, it was just too much. It would’ve been nice to have capitalized on the 7 baserunners we had while he was in the game.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 28, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions
I think this team needs a jolt
Up to now, I think the team has been lucky that their bats and their pitching have been in phase – the bats were on when the pitching was so-so, and the days the bats are off, the pitching has been great. But that can easily slip out of phase like it did against the Yankees, where the pitching is icky and the offense doesn’t show up.
The offense simply has to get more consistent. They can average six runs per game or seven, but if all those runs are coming in bunches and not uniformly distributed across games, this team isn’t going to win anything. There are quite simply too many all-or-nothing guys in this lineup right now. We all keep harping on the same issues – working the count, getting on base, etc. But until this team actually does some of those things, I’m not going to be comfortable with them.
I have an irrational hatred of Chris Davis because his Ks are way too ugly and irrational liking of Matt Harrison because he's a lefty - deal with it.
Jolt
What would you do?
After seeing the frustration Crush had last night when he busted his bat in half, I might sit him for the weekend and roll with AJones at DH and Blalock at 1B and then reevaluate.
I’d also get Murphy a lot of ab’s. Not a big fan of his but he’s somebody who has just a little bit of patience.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 28, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
What I would do
1> I’d only play one of Davis and Blalock on any given day. Any 3K (or maybe even 2Ks) day means they are sitting the next day.
2> Conversely, Jones needs to be in the lineup more.
3> Agree about Murphy. I’m not a huge fan either, but he works counts and at least isn’t up there trying to hit home runs every at bat.
4> Impose the Julio Franco treatment for some of these guys. I remember a season where he didn’t even lift the bat off his shoulder for the first pitch. Right now, there is no reason for any opposing pitcher to throw anything half-way hittable on the first pitch, since there is a strong chance whoever is batting is going to swing at it.
The frustrating thing about this team is that almost every player on the roster should be at least a league-average hitter. Most of them are pressing in ways that they aren’t used to, and their frustration feeds the frustration of the others. They are of the mindset that they have to hit home runs to make up for their poor starts and the bad at bats of other guys in the lineup. So I think the key is to simply give guys playing time based on their approach. If you have bad at bats, then you get benched for guys who have good at bats.
I have an irrational hatred of Chris Davis because his Ks are way too ugly and irrational liking of Matt Harrison because he's a lefty - deal with it.
Doing what, exactly?
He has already stated he did not want to DH, will not play 1st, and he sucks ass in the OF.
No thanks.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
no exclamation this morning?
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
Nah, I'm depressed today.
And it’s an off day.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
fwiw rodney
IIRC the nationals didnt want dunn at 1b for the WBC (he has played 5 games there this year)
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on May 28, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions
ditto, always ready to read his work
He’s been a nice surprise bonus over there. Who could have imagined Grant being forced out at DMN would work out so well for Rangers coverage?
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Great story on Fox
Hope that guy cracks the lineup for a big league team some day
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
I think it's high time to change the lineup order....
1 – Elvis
2 – Kinsler
3 – Jones
4 – Cruz
5 – Hammilton
6 – Young
7 – Murphy
8 – Salty
9 – Davis
I’m certainly no expert when it comes to stat analysis but I do think the lineup needs some major shuffeling. My main objective would be to get Kinsler out if the leadioff spot and get Jones hitting in the 3 hole for the forseeable future. Ideas for a more productive batting order? Murph, Cruz, and Jones seem to be having the best at-bats right now and Elvis always seems to work the count. Would like to see him bat leadoff and hopefully create a litre disruption on the basepaths. Forgive any typos etc as this post was typed from an iPhone while doing cardio.
8
Adam Lambert is indeed a rock god,so suck it.
by red shoe ranger on May 28, 2009 11:09 AM CDT reply actions
Why are people
so anxious to put a light-hitting, 20-yr. old SS in the leadoff spot? I’m as impressed as anyone else with Elvis, but you don’t put a guy with a .324 OBP in the leadoff spot. You just don’t.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Elvis at 9
is surely divine,
but put him at one
and score fewer runs.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
We should not err
And put him up there.
Cause Elvis at nine,
Has worked out this time.
by FuturePants on May 28, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions
He has yet to choke
but if it ain’t broke,
no need for a switch
less you want him to pitch.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 28, 2009 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions
With the glove he is king,
with the bat, young as spring,
so leave him at nine
’til he comes nearer his prime.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Chill at the plate,
almost never needs a date,
if he can master the dish
we’ve got some kind of fish.
He’s made a splash in the field,
boy is that wrist looking healed,
Elvis keeps stealin those bases
so we smile and sing his praises.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 28, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions
I guess
my main desire has less to do with getting Elvis to leadoff and more to do with getting our #1 OPS hitter out of the leadoff spot. When, if ever, do you see Kinsler being moved down into the “meat” of the order?
Obviously there are a zillion variables…..but don’t you think we would have scored more runs this season if Elvis was leading off and Kinsler was hitting 3rd?
The more I think about it:
Elvis
M Young
Kinsler
Hamilton
Jones
Cruz
Murphy
Salty
Davis
If you don’t like Elvis at the top I’d be willing to go with Murphy at this point. For an offense struggling to score it seems to make little since to have your “best” hitter hitting lead off.
Adam Lambert is indeed a rock god,so suck it.
by red shoe ranger on May 28, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions
meh
while i like some of your thoughts (young to 6 for one id like to see this kind of lineup:
kinsler
elvis (or FOTF – w/ elvis hitting 9)
hamilton
cruz
jones (should be getting the majority of DH/1B at bats above blalock)
young (if hes hitting 2, you shift everyone else up)
murphy/byrd
salty
davis
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 28, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions
So apparently Tommy Hunter's starting for us tomorrow:
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=tex
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 28, 2009 11:14 AM CDT reply actions
think it's Feldman
with McCarthy Sat.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
With McCarthy
going forward, if he requires an extra day of rest after throwing 124 pitches, he doesn’t need to throw 124 pitches in a game any more this season.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 28, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I think its the Rangers not wanting to risk anything with him
more than him not being able to pitch Friday. If one extra day of rest prevents him from having to go on the 15 day DL or even worse, then you give him that extra day off.
Also, no pitcher needs to be throwing 120+ pitches regularly.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
not sure what the gameplan was
last night for pitching to their big righties. i don’t remember them coming inside off the plate at all. everything “in” was still over the plate, and they did that repeatedly with the fastball and slider.
Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!
Attendance...
I doubt the Rangers will keep this high attendance surge up over the course of the season. Keep in mind the 6 games Galloway is referring to were against the Angels and Yankees. And we have yet to reach triple digit temperatures.
topgun
The weather only becomes a problem when the team sucks.
If they’re winning, people will flock to TBiA. See 1998, quite possibly the hottest summer in DFW other than 1980.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on May 28, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
attendance
i will absolutely disagree with you regarding attendance. 33k for dallas is small-time… when you are talking about six games… when three of those games are against the new york yankees in their only appreance this year… when the team is in first place… when there are no area sports distractions in terms of stars, cowboys, mavericks… and when one of the six was memorial day.
the place looked relatively empty last night under the circumstances. once we left the diamond club (which was an absolute disaster), the crowd was inconsequential – at least for a yankees game.
if the rangers start their “summer” (NY/BOS/TOR/LAD) going 4-10, then it could completely rob the momentum at a critical time for ticket sales – when all of the negative factors you mentioned become relevant.
they didnt' average 33K
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
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