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Matt Purke and Nolan Ryan

Earlier this morning, I was listening to Houston Chronicle columnist Richard Justice on the radio...he was praising the job Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels have done in turning around the Rangers, both on the baseball side and on the business side...

Anyway, he was discussing Houston high schooler Matt Purke, who was drafted by the Rangers...he was talking about how Purke had scared a lot of teams off with his bonus demands.  Justice said that he thought that Purke's bonus demands were a ploy to get him to drop -- not to the Yankees, like many people thought, but to the Rangers.  He said Purke grew up a Rangers fan and really wanted to pitch for Nolan Ryan, and thus Justice thinks the price Purke wants to sign with the Rangers is a lot less than the price to sign with any other team.

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HOLY SHIT

JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook

by laxtonto on Jun 11, 2009 10:25 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

WOOOHOOO!

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Purke was on with Galloway yesterday afternoon

And he basically confirmed this, saying something to the effect of, “being picked by the Rangers makes me a lot more likely to forego TCU than if I had been picked by any other team”

"He's old school in that he give up his groin like that. It hurt me when he do that" -- Worsh on Chris Davis' stretch at first base to end the game vs. the Angels on 5/16

by tricer on Jun 11, 2009 10:27 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

hmm

wow, if that is the case, then wow, thats about the third most fortunate and awesome thing thats happened to us in the draft the last two years

"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"

by blalock84 on Jun 11, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yes

"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"

by blalock84 on Jun 11, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

seems legit

good news for sure.

I wish I would have heard Justice. The last time someone called in asking for Rangers talk in Houston, he basically got laughed off the phone by John and Lance (1560AM).

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Jun 11, 2009 10:30 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Wow

This makes me even more excited abou this pick. Would love to see this completed quickly. Still don’t think it will but that would be amazing if this were completed within the next month.

"There is the Vegetarian Hot Pocket for those of us who don't want to eat meat, but would still like diarrhea." Jim Gaffigan

by Suicide Prince on Jun 11, 2009 10:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Budford

is not a bad nickname though I do have a fondness for budhead myself

by BEW on Jun 11, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It can't wait until the 17th..

He’s already said TCU orientation is the 13th or 14th.

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 Jun 11, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i don't think they kick him out of school for skipping orientation

"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)

by ab03 on Jun 11, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

As soon as he attends a class we lose him.

Depends what sort of orientation it is, I suppose.

I don’t know what the rules are about stuff like that our what the TCU orientation would entail as far as meetings and whatnot.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Orientation for me was just taking an extended tour of campus

learning about your majors’ department, and selecting classes. Not really any class to attend, as far as I remember. That’s all I can offer as far as insight. He’d probably meet with Schlossnagle and discuss playing for TCU again.

 *breaks *

- ground.

Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays 10 PM - 1 AM on FM 88.7 The Choice
"Computers can’t measure the size of a man’s heart."
- Hawk Harrelson, MLB Guru/Analyst

by Maximilian on Jun 11, 2009 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I had this thought after seeing Purke's post-draft comments.

That’s a headline grabber: HS Pitcher prefers to get drafted by Rangers

Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D

by rooster on Jun 11, 2009 10:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Between winning/contending, Ryan and Maddux

and the defense being so improved, I think pitchers will start to stop spitting every time they hear TX.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think the Defense has a lot to do with it

Purke’s eta is probably 2013 as a full timer. Andrus will be approaching his prime and probably a Gold Glover by then (a legit one), Kinsler will be in his prime at 2nd. Borbon should be covering CF very adeptly. Salty or Tea behind the plate who are both good defensive catchers right now. Smoak playing GG defense at First. Most likely Hamilton and Cruz patrolling the other spots, if not Beltre and his plus D in left if Cruz or Hamilton have moved on. Third will still be a question, but that is it.

by Michael Cave on Jun 11, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Let's ponder this roster for a moment

C: Tea/Salty
1B: Smoak
2B: Kinsler
SS: Andrus
3B: Young
LF: not going to pencil in Beltre, let’s say random free agent X
CF: Borbon
RF: Hamilton
DH: Davis

SP: some combination of Holland, Feliz, Scheppers, Beavan, Perez, Purke, Boscan, Main, Feldman, Hurley, Harrison, etc.

Bullpen: we’ve got enough hard-throwing young pitcher I’m not worried about it

Yes, I believe I will take that roster.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I will as well,

I think it speaks to what the Rangers are doing when it comes to pitching. Just plain stockpiling it.

by Michael Cave on Jun 11, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, and I'd like to think I was being fairly conservative with the projected rotation

That doesn’t even mention possible “breakout” guys (e.g. future Feldmans and Hollands) or guys who may come quicker than expected. If those prospects aren’t in the rotation or bullpen by 2013, they’re probably not coming at all.

I wonder…how long before the organization starts seriously fantasizing about Feliz as a dominant, Rivera/Papelbon-esque shutdown closer? His ceiling is certainly highest as a starter, but when you’ve got TORG prospects stacked in every corner it’d be hard not to think about how you could take the hardest throwing of those prospects and make him the anchor for a dynasty’s bullpen. I could see Two Frank and Feliz as a Wetteland-Rivera type force for 2012-???

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That should have said 2010-???

Not 2012.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Definitely possibility

This is why i dont mind having Feliz throw predominantly fastballs. that is an 80 pitch, he needs to learn to command it. Hell, Rivera really only has one pitch but it is one of the best pitches of its kind in baseball history plus he very good control with it.

by Michael Cave on Jun 11, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, when a guy has an 80 pitch but is struggling to develop the rest of his arsenal

If I was an executive I’d be extremely tempted to just maximize the return on that 80 pitch and get him in the bullpen as soon as possible.

These days, the club seems to be doing a lot more of the logical things that run through LSBers minds on a daily basis. One would have to think they’ve had this same conversation, and I wonder if that’s been part of the thought process when Nolan said we’re likely to see Feliz in the bullpen later this season. If he starts dominating the 7th inning in September, turn him loose as the set-up man, then the closer, and don’t ever look back.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Big problem with this

Yeah, we have a ton of big time arms but the great majority of them arent available until 2011 or 2012 and later

therefore, you would be hurting the 2010 rotation that i think needs feliz and holland to be very good

we need to start getting pitchers into the rotation this year and next…not 2011 and 2012

by Horns130 on Jun 11, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good point

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fix that last sentence

We need to start getting pitchers into the rotation this year and next…AND 2011 and 2012.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

please no

Feliz as a starter for 2 more years…

Try him out in the pen if we are still in the playoff race at the end of this year, but give him all of 2010 and 2011 to see if he can stick as a starter.

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cruz

hasn’t done enough this year to earn your trust yet?

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Jun 11, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions   2 recs

+1

Must kill Moe. Weeeeeeeee

by Baseball North on Jun 11, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not sure if you're talking to me or Michael

I was factoring in that Cruz would probably be gone by then, maybe in a trade but more likely as a FA. But then I checked Lucas’ site and realized he’s not a FA until 2014.

In that case, barring a trade for a TORG, let’s pencil in Ham-Borbon-Cruz for the 2013 OF.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

sorry

i didn’t see the year of the projection.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Jun 11, 2009 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

he's gonna be 34 then

There’s a good chance a better option will have made itself known.

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If one guy is 6-7 years older than another, they can't ever both be in their primes

I

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

McBride, Erlin, and Doyle all pretty much confirmed this in their interviews w/ Cole

They all said they’ve heard great things about the Rangers organization, especially concerning development of pitchers. Nolan Ryan seems to be a big plus for just about everyone as well. It looks like we’re getting a pretty good reputation as an organization. Hopefully this will lead more of those prep pitchers to sign with us than might have in the past. I know I’d take a bit less money to pitch for Nolan Ryan.

by naropean on Jun 11, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

what's next, free agents?

well, we almost had Sheets…

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Purke

Ive also seen him quoted as saying he isn’t going to give a “pitch for nolan discount”

i wouldnt expect him to give much discount, but maybe loosen up on the ml deal demand

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jun 11, 2009 10:33 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Suh-weeeeeet

Now, can we get a Scheppers quote saying something like “I have just loved my time in the DFW area and can’t wait to sign with the Rangers”?

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by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 10:33 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

When did he spend time in DFW?

Are you thinking of Crow?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe he flew AA once...

…and had a really great layover at DFW.

I have no objection to man walking on the moon.

by Chad Crudup on Jun 11, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oops, Yep, thinking of Crow

in Ft. Worth. Oh well, Scheppers sounded pretty excited about getting into pro ball and pitching regularly after his long rehab so I’m pretty certain he signs.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

our only chance is that he HATED St. Paul

because of the cold weather…and wants the Texas heat. Coming from SoCal, it’s not likely he’s dreaming of being here.

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I would be the same way...

I couldn’t imagine pitching/rotting for another team.

I guess money helps in that aspect, but I wouldn’t feel right about it.

by cmkelly29 on Jun 11, 2009 10:34 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

the yankees are so two thousand and late...

"You can have my urine, my hair, my blood, my stool -- anything you can test...I'll give you back every dime I've ever made...I'll put that up against the jobs of anyone who writes this stuff...Make them accountable. There should be more credibility than some 42-year-old blogger typing in his mother's basement."

by Longhorn on Jun 11, 2009 10:34 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

The Rangers are so three thousand and eight

"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"

by blalock84 on Jun 11, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I read this as a way to assure the rangers that he wants to sign

so they should make him good faith offers. i still think he signs for a pretty penny

at this point, there is no way the rangers can justify not signing him.

"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)

by ab03 on Jun 11, 2009 10:38 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm not worried about either pitcher

I think that the Rangers had a clear understanding of the expectations of each and have a clear plan on how they plan to meet those. I am reassured that they seem to be taking slot level players in the rest of the draft.

Godwin's Law Version 2.0 (Rangers Edition)
"As a Ranger discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Danks, Volquez, or Young approaches one."

by LBBRangerFan on Jun 11, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Threatening teams in order to drop is bullshit.

This discussion dovetails with a post on Sickels site about Tony Sanchez to the Pirates.

A combination of hard slotting and/or trading draft picks lets the sanity of the market take over.

Here’s a good way to put it:

- Assign a specific amount to each pick, like the estimated slot. Say the #1 overall pick gets $6 million, no more, no less. Then #2 gets $5 million, #3 gets $4.5m, $4m, $3.5m, $3m, and so on.
- If the team in possession of the top pick wishes only to pay $2 million on their first-rounder, pass on the pick until #8 and take the best player available.
- That player has less leverage because the only way he will get more bonus money is if he goes higher in a later draft.

"[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 Jun 11, 2009 10:38 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

That would be the worst idea ever...

Not being able to go over slot for later round picks.

LOL Sorry the Sooners will score more that 14. - boomer1

by venturafearsnolan on Jun 11, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why is it bullshit?

Its no more bullshit than Draft systems in general.

Why do sports fans not want to embrace free agency, which is pure capitalism? Why do they enjoy socialism in sports?

"He (Padilla) shouldve gone back to Venezuela and watched on his Direct TV waiting to find out who his new team would be!!. ." - crops.mlblogs.com

by DJCahill on Jun 11, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good article about that very topic today at THT

Makes me think twice about scrapping the draft and the unintended consequences.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/abolish-the-minor-leagues/

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That is a good article

I personally think that other than the top high school guys, players are better off going to college than the pros. I think the players are obviously better off, and the leagues are better off long-term.

But I think baseball’s system is pretty strong – it’s hard to look at the other professional sports and say that their systems are any better. Football has a fancy draft and a very popular college level, but it is completely skewed against the players (talk about a system where players get exploited). Basketball is similar. The fact that college baseball isn’t a giant revenue source probably means that the students actually have incentive to benefit from their education (though this can be debated, of course) since many of them are paying for part of it themselves.

I also have to think from a talent standpoint that drafting 1000+ guys a year and signing several hundred more is the optimal way of bringing talent into the system. Guys who can play baseball aren’t skipped over – anyone who can play baseball decently is drafted at one point or another. It’s easy to see how other sports without full development systems will miss guys – especially in basketball where a good player on a mediocre team gets passed over in the two rounds of the draft and just leaves altogether.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jun 11, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i dont think its a very good article, it touches on aspects of whats important but leaves out a crucial example of free market system in sports

footy around the world is a totally free market system.

and it puts the player in the best position of power for deciding their future and being compensated fairly for it. there is no draft and a player can sign a professional contract with any club he chooses at a certain age 16-18 depending on the country. what this causes though is that the FW Cats have the same ability to sign a guy as the rangers and yanks do, you can only have about 40 guys on a footy roster even with a reserve club (their AAA), and a youth club (their A ball) b/c you need to be able to get them all time on the field. what that leads to is clubs like the cats or the crawdads or whoever signing talent that would otherwise be signed by MLB teams and stuck into the clubs’ system. without the minor league system and with roster sizes limited due to practicality, most of the talent these non MLB clubs would sign is/would be local and above the level they get right now, when an MLB club finds a player they want out of their system, they have to buy the player from the club and sign the player to a new contract. sounds reasonable right?

what effect does this have though? it breaks apart the absolute power of these league(s), if FWCats find, sign, and develop local guys to a level better than other clubs the higher richer clubs, they get paid handsomely for it, they build bigger stadiums, spend more on scouting and dev, and become more of a competitor with the lesser off but higher up clubs due to the increase in income. American sports would get into a jam b/c it would come to a point where a club not affiliated with MLB would have a chance to be a better off and more talented club than one of the 30 clubs in the league. which is how footy has gotten into promotion and relegation. that would never on earth happen in USA sports due to Anti-Trust exemptions and the firm grasp of socialism in american sports. they make sure that cant happen. but an argument can be made that it would be better off for the league (much less expense in developing their own talent and smaller rosters save money but, instead having to buy talent from other clubs as player develop outside your system as your clubs needs arise) the downside and the reason MLB isnt gonna is it would draw more interest to other non MLB teams who they feel would take money away and threaten the “success” of the teams in their league.

its interesting stuff though

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions   2 recs

That is a very interesting take.

I enjoyed reading that.

It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca

by bioaggie on Jun 11, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good post.

This is a situation where there’s no vacuum, and each hypothetical change has unintended consequences (especially a major one like this). Although you can’t predict with any kind of certainty what would happen, you may be more right than not. This is a good thought-provoking post.

by bhudson on Jun 11, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think

the Soccer system would be much more entertaining. I think it would be entertaining to see some of the current owners who spend less than league revenue sharing got relegated out of the league, and some team in Peoria got promoted up to the majors.

"He (Padilla) shouldve gone back to Venezuela and watched on his Direct TV waiting to find out who his new team would be!!. ." - crops.mlblogs.com

by DJCahill on Jun 11, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah, the best thing about the footy system

is that cheap teams and teams with front offices that are a disaster get sent to AAA to figure it out just like a player does now. teams like Pittsburgh now, and Tampa Bay in the past would be sent down while stronger clubs with a better direction going forward replace them.

that aspect wouldnt be bad at all

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

On the other hand

the draft pretty much decimated Puerto Rican talent.

I’m not convinced academies wouldn’t spring up in the US if the draft were abolished.

"He (Padilla) shouldve gone back to Venezuela and watched on his Direct TV waiting to find out who his new team would be!!. ." - crops.mlblogs.com

by DJCahill on Jun 11, 2009 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

We're all leaving out the obvious solution

Players rights are territorial. Overlaps with the highly effective tv rights framework. Players in Texas can sign with either Houston or Texas. Players in Iowa get their choice of 8 clubs. Alaska has to sign with Seattle

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jun 11, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'd rather see

the pure free market Soccer system. However, its never going to happen.

"He (Padilla) shouldve gone back to Venezuela and watched on his Direct TV waiting to find out who his new team would be!!. ." - crops.mlblogs.com

by DJCahill on Jun 11, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

agreed, unless for some wild reason the US Gov't ruled the draft was against free labor practices and illegal

it would never ever ever happen. and the owners contribute way too much to campaigns for it to ever really happen

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

A man can dream.

¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!

"Anyone who hangs themself during autoerotic asphyxiation is free game." - Curmudgeon

Colloquially, a person engaging in the activity is sometimes called a gasper.

by Chase Irwin on Jun 11, 2009 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Puerto Rico

I still don’t understand, although I hear this a lot, how the draft affected Puerto Rico’s baseball talent?

"[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 Jun 11, 2009 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think that once they opened up Puerto Rico to the draft

All the ML teams shut down their academies there with the thinking that it was counter productive to spend a bunch of money on developing talented teens, then have the fruits of that labor plucked away by some other organization when they draft your kids.

I think once all the academies shut down, there was less coaching and less places for kids to play baseball and interest basically waned.

"He's old school in that he give up his groin like that. It hurt me when he do that" -- Worsh on Chris Davis' stretch at first base to end the game vs. the Angels on 5/16

by tricer on Jun 11, 2009 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i give it a shot

prior to the draft in PR, it was really the first place of the academy. which is the same principle as footy in this way. kids under the age of draftable with any talent at all were all a part of an academy and would grow and develop their games under a pro environment even if they were just getting an education and 3 square meals a day. then when they reached draft age, they would sign with “any club” as i referenced above, but youve been with the dodgers or rangers academy since you were a kid so while you can sign with any club, they signed with the teams from the prior academy.

when the draft began to include these players the teams folded up shop on their academies, the talented young players werent groomed under professional eyes, and arent discovered as early, leading to less development time in an environment likely to produce talent, and the whole system fell apart.

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Puerto Rico got the draft

most of the clubs pulled out of the Academies there, because there is no point in developing talent for other teams. Now you don’t see many Puerto Rican major leaguers and it used to be a hot spot for talent.

"He (Padilla) shouldve gone back to Venezuela and watched on his Direct TV waiting to find out who his new team would be!!. ." - crops.mlblogs.com

by DJCahill on Jun 11, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Free market

I think it’s fine for buyer and seller to have mutual interest, eg Purke and the Rangers. Still a free market. This is probably what goes on in LA, too…a kid wants to sign where he’s seen his countrymen do well, eg.

If Purke has to use a smoke screen to get to #14, the draft is inefficient. If other teams want Purke, but don’t think he’ll sign, then trade picks with the team he wants.

By the same token, if Baltimore wants Hobogod, and he’s going to be available later, let them trade down from their premium spot.

Most players who want to start their pro careers just let the league know (via agents) and then find a suitor and a price like normal. The Matt Harveys (and Purke?) – high draft picks who reject an earnest suitor – are few and far between.

"[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 Jun 11, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

in a free market

you’d have about 6 teams located in NY

Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!

by SteveP on Jun 11, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And 2 or 3 of them

would be hemorrhaging money.

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by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And eventually...

you’d end up with one. I’ll let you guess which team would choke the others out of existence.

by bhudson on Jun 11, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

doubt it

People love baseball in NY.

by chief of the fuzzers on Jun 11, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I meant

as much through competition and mediocre management as anything. It’s a huge market, and I think it could easily support 3 or even 4 teams, but it’s not unlimited. Those teams would have to build stadiums and minor league systems, it’s not like they can just pay a franchise fee and start selling tickets.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's fair

Really, I think the greater NYC area could support probably 4 teams. Mets and Yankees, a Brooklyn team and probably a team in Jersey. A Jersey team could play at the meadowlands and I think you could probably find a place to build a stadium somewhere in Brooklyn.

With savvy ownership and early success both would find an incredibly loyal following within 10 years.

by chief of the fuzzers on Jun 11, 2009 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'd love to see it

as long as it meant two franchises moved there instead of yet more expansion.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I like for the simple fact that the teams with the worst records get the best draftees

Right now signability is such an issue that many crappy teams don’t draft the best talent because of their contract demands. This would also force teams like the Marlins to stop living off of MLB welfare as much.

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Jun 11, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

For something like this to work

I think you’d have to allow trading of draft picks (which I am fine with.) The problem I see is that this system (and the current system to some extent) still penalizes teams that have the top picks but can’t afford to sign the BPA.

by Bandire on Jun 11, 2009 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hmmmm ....

So say you have the top pick and you pass because you don’t want to pay $6 mil. Does the team with the #2 pick now have to pay their player $6 mil? Or will no player earn $6 mil? If so then it seems the logical thing would be for all teams to agree to pass once and then the top pick would be paid the price of the first pick in the second round.

Either way, this idea needs some more thought.

by northtexan95 on Jun 11, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

the draft should stay the same...

…but draft pick trades should be allowed. That would help teams that don’t want to spend that money to drop later in the round.

"Dear dumb ass folowers of FSMism,

There have been a lot of weird things that i have seen in my life before, but this tops them all. Do you really believe that there is/was such a thing as a flying spaghetti monster? Seriously, how fucking old are you? I know there’s such a thing as freedom of speech and expression, but this kinda shit should be banned. Theres is only one God and one Holy Word. Why dont you people get that? How much sense does it make to say that decreasing numbers of pirates lead to an increase in average global temperature? Is that science or some fifth grader trying to sound smart?"

–Sincerly,
ANONYMOUS

The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster (http://www.venganza.org/)

by 8legs2fangs on Jun 11, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

drafts are great

unless your the player enslaved to a certain team who owns your rights for no other reason than to protect health of the league.

then the draft sucks and shouldnt be legal.

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

your right

im a 100% free market sports guy, it absolutely puzzles me how drafts are remotely constitutional

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Justice

there’s a voice you can trust.

Not.

I’d love him to be right, though, and the comments Purke made yesterday had me thinking the same thing…the kid did want to drop in the draft…to the Rangers!

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Jun 11, 2009 10:52 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I actually suspected something like this may be the case

First, the Rangers aren’t taking a guy who is a complete long-shot to draft. JD and/or Nolan had to have talked with him before the draft and gotten some positive feedback
Second, TCU is a great school and all, but it isn’t UNC or Texas when it comes to developing future major leaguers. That seemed like a sign that he wanted to be in DFW.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jun 11, 2009 10:53 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Same here

This theory really hit me yesterday when I read that Purke is repped by the same agency as Nolan, an agency in which Nolan’s buddy Don Sanders has an ownership stake. Under those circumstances, it seemed to me that the Rangers should have a better idea than any team as to Purke’s real bottom signing dollar. And then I wondered, just what if he wanted to pitch for the Rangers and Nolan all along…

Someone posted that Purke said he won’t give a “pitch for Nolan” discount. I wouldn’t expect him to do that, but I do think that evidence suggests that when it gets down to August 17, he’s not going to ultimately pull a Gerrit Cole/JD Drew when it’s his favorite team and favorite pitcher on the other side.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He just seems like a kid

who wants a fair offer plus 10%-20%. I think he will get good money and be an interesting case however I do NOT see these negotiations getting nasty or anything like that.

by Michael Cave on Jun 11, 2009 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

no "pitch for Nolan" discount
But he may never have been asking for as much as rumored before. Drop the name Porcello and people will pass on you.

My hope – probably misguided – is that the Rangers had a very clear idea of what it would take to sign him and it isn’t a matter of negotiating big numbers at this point, only figuring out when to slide the above slot amount past Bud.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jun 11, 2009 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

$12.57, I think

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think so too

I don’t think he seriously expects Porcello money (nor do any of the other pitchers who dropped his name, well maybe Matzek does but that guy’s a d-bag). I think you’re very realistic in believing the Rangers have a clear idea of what it will take to get a deal done. The connections between Purke and the franchise/Nolan are just too strong to suggest that they went into this thing blind.

JD, Hopkins, & Co. haven’t ever operated that way in the draft anyway.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

well

the one theory (that I think Adam posited) for taking a guy that was a complete long-shot was that the Rangers financial woes were real and they just really didn’t want to spend on a high priced draftee. Purke would have been a good way to save face.

"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)

by ab03 on Jun 11, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe the gain in attendance over the last month has helped. Revenue looked really dire in April.

by 3Bagger on Jun 11, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I buy into this line of thinking...

the team’s up for sale, so they take one guy they might not be able to sign for financial reasons because the team’s held hostage financially right now…so he doesn’t sign, and we get an extra pick next year when there is a new owner willing to spend that money.

Additionally, they took Scheppers knowing he will be as valuable of an arm as Purke, moving through the system much faster, at a far more reasonable price…but with injury concerns to make the negotiating easier.

Makes sense.

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Baloney

This whole line of thinking came about from a misquote of someone’s tweet on Tuesday. Ridiculous. Will Carroll said something about hearing that theory, but then said he did NOT believe it, and he was subsequently quoted as saying he did. It was like a game of internet/tweet telephone.

Instead, Brett Perryman’s post today over at the DMN blog makes more sense. The Rangers took two very high profile boom or bust guys at the top of the draft. The rest of the draft are mostly guys who will either sign easily at slot or not sign at all, concentrating their budget at the top end instead of spreading it out. I just do not see any team actually planning to not sign a guy, least of all the Rangers front office team.

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/06/mlb-draft-two-days-down-one-to-go.html

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The whole line of thinking had more than one source

Adam posed the same theory tuesday about an hour after the pick, which I believe preceded the Carrol misquote:

http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/6/9/904192/rangers-pick-matt-purke-with-their

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Perhaps

though lonestarjesus mentions the Carroll quote just a few minutes after Adam’s post. But I don’t think Adam isn’t just quoting Carroll there. I still cannot imagine ANY team drafting a guy without planning to do their damnedest to sign him. They would not bring the kid to Arlington to work out in front of Ryan and Daniels just for grins.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm definitely in agreement w/ you on the feasibility

It seemed pretty unlikely, and definitely ran contrary to our recent M.O. I posed the question to Brett on the DMN page shortly after the pick.

But that bastard Adam is usually right, and annoyingly tends to think of a couple things I hadn’t considered, so there’s that.

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Indians did it a few years back.

But in this case I think you’re 100% right.

No way this is true.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Who was the pick

for the Indians?

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 12, 2009 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

UT

UT is an overrated school (Most annoying fans too). TCU has developed pretty good pitchers the past few years with Lance Broadway and Andrew Cashner. Its nice having a state of the art stadium baseball college stadium in Fort Worth just can’t wait till they build the new Amon Carter Stadium too.

by Monkey Brain on Jun 11, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't forget Jake Arrieta too

It’s not like UT is a MLB factory or anything…at least not for the last 10 years or so.

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Jun 11, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Clearly UT is overrated....

Or, and more likely might i add, you are either ignorant or stupid….ill let you pick

by Horns130 on Jun 11, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Its Overrated

You are ignorant my friend. UT is all hype every year with their annoying fans.

by Monkey Brain on Jun 11, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

you mean the hot liberal drunk chicks who live in austin?

yeah they suck….

and blow and are liberal with their ass as well, and raise hell and smoke grass and goto a hell of a school, and are the hottest chicks in texas

your right that is annoying, wait what?

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

come on...

they’re not THE hottest.

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yes, they are

there is no question

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

No I'd question it.

The sheer amount of hot girls on TCU’s campus is insane, especially considering there’s only 8 thousand undergrads here. I’m not saying UT doesn’t have hot girls, but it’s definitely arguable.

Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays 10 PM - 1 AM on FM 88.7 The Choice
"Computers can’t measure the size of a man’s heart."
- Hawk Harrelson, MLB Guru/Analyst

by Maximilian on Jun 11, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah just listen to corby davidson

he went to tcu, he’s been around hot women all his life

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jun 11, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

There's not a woman in the world hot enough to make me listen to Corby Davidson

He should borrow some coke from Greggo so he would be more interesting

by BEW on Jun 11, 2009 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!

"Anyone who hangs themself during autoerotic asphyxiation is free game." - Curmudgeon

Colloquially, a person engaging in the activity is sometimes called a gasper.

by Chase Irwin on Jun 11, 2009 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

TCU is just a an over-priced, extended little high school

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Proving My Point

UT Fans are annoying. Thanks!

by Monkey Brain on Jun 11, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

There there

{ pats Monkeybrain’s head, musses hair }

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yup

We all call it “Big Kid Day Camp”

"You'll meet them again on their long journey to the middle." -Lester Bangs

by BAC on Jun 11, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

in all fairness

UT is the largest school in the USA we have more people, its not even close. it would be like the eastern front in WW2 and we’re the russians.

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Misconception

You’d have to surpass Ohio State, Minnesota, CUNY, Arizona State, and a bagfull of enroll by wire schools. Not on this list, but Michigan is also pretty big.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_United_States_universities_by_enrollment

"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 Jun 11, 2009 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Better link, campuses only

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_United_States_university_campuses_by_enrollment

"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 Jun 11, 2009 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe he meant

by weight? Size of ego?

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

definitely ego

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

when i was at texas

they had surpassed OSU in enrollment but both schools were going out of their ways to reduce size of their undergrad enrollment

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

same with A&M

I think Texas and A&M both did a lot to reduce the amount of incoming true freshmen

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dont you have to be top 10% of your class

to have a prayer to be admitted these days?

"He (Padilla) shouldve gone back to Venezuela and watched on his Direct TV waiting to find out who his new team would be!!. ." - crops.mlblogs.com

by DJCahill on Jun 11, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

if you are a white male,

then yes.

"He's old school in that he give up his groin like that. It hurt me when he do that" -- Worsh on Chris Davis' stretch at first base to end the game vs. the Angels on 5/16

by tricer on Jun 11, 2009 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

But the problem is UT is actually admitting too many people with that system as well

the problem is that too many students in texas want to go to texas….they dont want to go to shit like aggie and other schools in texas

by Horns130 on Jun 11, 2009 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, no one wants to go to A&M

That’s why they had something like 26,000 applications for 8,000ish slots last cycle.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

There are certainly many crazy hicks who want to go to aggy

ill pose the situation like this

which school needs the top 10% rule revised b/c they have too many students being admitted via the rule

clue: it isnt aggie and their cult of crazy

by Horns130 on Jun 11, 2009 11:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't disagree that the 10% rule has absolutely screwed Texas

But if you think the only reason students apply to A&M is because they’re “crazy hicks”, I’d say you need to grow up and actually examine reality. I, for one, don’t mind admitting that Texas is a great university with lots of excellent programs.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 12, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Meh

Im a UT student, so of course im going to mock aggie

aggie has some solid qualities but ultimately theyre just weird and cultish at the end of the day imo

like the holy grass stuff…cmon….i remember being there when i was young and being scolded by some jackass old guy when i had half a foot on the grass

simply put, aggies are weird and things they do are weird and the only ones who seem to defend them are aggies

by Horns130 on Jun 13, 2009 12:33 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

true

Most colleges are an extremely mixed bag of plusses and minuses on every possible front, girls included.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Except A&M, we have only pluses.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

except black people not on scholarship

you dont have that, but then, most i know who went to ATM are® who figured that was a plus.

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You need to meet more Aggies then.

Entrance requirements are the same for all no matter what color they are.

It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca

by bioaggie on Jun 11, 2009 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

This

It’s impossible to expect A&M to change overnight from an all male, all white, military institution to the most diverse university in America. But given the time, the school has come a long way towards its goals in that regard.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Exactly

On a scale of 1 to 10, the Aggie tradition of bigotry and Jethroesque elitism was a 2.5.

Thus, they deserve major props for bootstrapping themselves up to a somewhat less egregiously offensive 4.2.

Gig.

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why would a black person...

…go to a school that sold versions of their school initials with a confederate flag as the background?

by GhettoBear04 on Jun 11, 2009 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

This...

…is decidedly wrong. Unless you meant their dress size, in which case you’re spot on.

by GhettoBear04 on Jun 11, 2009 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

A&M

isnt a school as much as a cult

by BEW on Jun 11, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

in some regards

but that “cult” feeling has slipped a lot in the last decade…Bonfire really stunted the community feeling in a lot of ways

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep, it's a shame

I was still in high school when Bonfire fell, but I have heard from numerous friends who were there before 11-18-99 that will tell you the campus isn’t even remotely the same as it was.

Re: the cult comments, I’m the first Aggie to admit that some of the things we do are weird and that oftentimes we bring the jokes upon ourselves. However, even though the old “from the outside looking in…” comment is beyond cliched at this point, it’s as close as you can come to explaining what makes the school so special for those that attended.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah. my sister went there from 93 to 97

and I went for a semester in 2000, then finished up from 2002 to 2004.

I would’ve loved it a lot more if I was more involved, but coming from the Air Force Academy, I didn’t want to join the corps or a frat, and had a long distance GF so I was doing that and focusing on school and working out more than anything.

But when I visited back in 1997, everybody said “Howdy” wherever you went…the Chicken was full of smiles and people having a damn good time…and football games were awesome. When I was there in the early 2000’s, nobody said anything to anybody else on campus, the Chicken was full of frowns and people trying to act hard, football games sucked (we were winning less…).

But the one thing that never changed was how many hotties there were. They were EVERYWHERE. I was ashamed to have a long distance GF.

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You are right about the hotties everywhere

There were multiple times I walked across campus and thought “wow, that’s the hottest girl I’ve ever seen” only to see an even hotter girl 10 minutes later.

I think the attitude on campus is better now than it was in the early 2000s. Part of that is because back then were so many people on campus who were there in 1999 and were traumatized and forever changed by the Bonfire collapse. Now that those students are gone, they’ve been replaced by students who are “happier”, for lack of a better term, because they never lived through the Bonfire nightmare. But, while they’ve got a more positive attitude, it’s a different attitude than the one that used to pervade the campus and in my opinion, not necessarily a better one.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That is complete horseshit.

I went to A&M, and that place was like living in conservative redneck heaven. I’ve never seen so many stereotypes come to life. It made me ashamed to be Texan.

by JBP on Jun 11, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

UT

UT is over-exposed perhaps. The way the Yankees are over-exposed. But UT is obviously not over-rated.

by 3Bagger on Jun 11, 2009 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So i was watching the TCU v UT game the other day

And it brought up the stat of Regional and CWS appearances.
                 Regional CWS
UT ~84 ~30
TCU ~8 0.

Im not willing to say UT is overrated, at pretty much anything.

Elvis has "shook up" Arlington!!

by thad728 on Jun 11, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lance Broadway?? Really???

Nice line he has with an ERA of 5.06/ERA+93 and WHIP of 1.750? Thats what you are basing this off of

Elvis has "shook up" Arlington!!

by thad728 on Jun 11, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

it's the name, really

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Big state schools are always overrated a bit

That’s life. We could go down a long list of advantages the UT’s and A&M’s have over the TCU’s and Rice’s – and then discuss how amazing it is that the Frogs and Owls can compete at their level in one or two sports. I’d even be happy to chime in with snide comments about how they can pay their players without getting punished whereas our schools would be SMU’d.

But that really isn’t my point.

My point is that from a posturing point of view, a commitment to UT is scarier to organizations because almost every player who goes there goes to eventually become a pro. As a feeder to the pros, UT is a bigger threat to keep a kid than TCU is. UNC is a bigger threat than East Carolina. It is somewhat telling that Purke used TCU. I don’t think I’ve ever heard that commitment make a guy fall before.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jun 11, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

A lot of commitments are made just to help raise the school's profile due to a relationship with the coaches

There was no way in hell Josh Beckett or Clayton Kershaw would forego their draft position to go to A&M, but they committed to A&M as a gesture of friendship, appreciation, whatever you might call it.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

can you imagine?

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I swear....

I read this theory before the draft. I had in my head when they called his name that if the theory was true that it worked.

by bdavison94 on Jun 11, 2009 10:56 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Sweet!

This is awesome and makes me like this guy. This is the kind of thing that a lot of us as fans would do. I know I would play for the Rangers for a lot less than any other team…although I’d probably play for any team since I’m not so much good at baseball.

by Big50 on Jun 11, 2009 11:03 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

niceeeeee

Go Rangers!!! Go Sooners!!!

by mchang4 on Jun 11, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I love Blake Beavan.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Would I...?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

unlimited.

would ya?

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It depends. Would a real mysterious French guy be watching?

Cause I’d do darn near anything if a real mysterious French guy was watching.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Better than last year, not as fast as high school

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't quote me, but I think that's about right

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

espn insider article had him 90-93 this year

by mikeTCU on Jun 11, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

MJH says 91-93

Link

"[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 Jun 11, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So has Beavan

passed Main on the prospect map now?

by Michael Cave on Jun 11, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Absolutely.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

what is the deal w/ Main?

Haven’t kept up much with the minors, but what the hell is going on with him?

by erikj07 on Jun 11, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes

but if Main were to now rip off half a dozen drool-worthy starts we’d all probably second guess that. I think, though, that Beavan’s performance over the last season and almost a half has been good enough that we should be excited. He may not be what we thought he was on draft day, but look at that damn walk rate.

He’s Bob Tewksbury with more K’s. I like that.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think Bob Tewksbury with more Ks would slot VERY nicely into the middle of our rotation for 2011+

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And his K rate

has been ticking up, the 6.3 per 9 he had in Bakersfield was higher than Tewks had in any season in the minors or majors. He may be growing into a different comp, like Halladay or Lowe. Check out Halladay’s minor league stats. Right now Beavan has a higher K rate and lower BB rate than Doc.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fascinating

I think it might have been in the Hindman interview with Danny Clark where I read that the organization thinks his K rate will continue to improve as he matures as a pitcher.

I’ve got to say, I don’t know whether it was just something specific to Beavan or something that we’ll see with other pitchers, but I LOVE the way the Education of Mr. Beavan has transpired: first, don’t walk ANYBODY. Utterly dominate with control and ground balls. Then start striking guys out. That’s a path to dominance.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

first, don’t walk ANYBODY. Utterly dominate with control and ground balls. Then start striking guys out. That’s a path to dominance.

Seems to be helping Rick Porcello in his career…

"[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 Jun 11, 2009 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

We should have a slider-off between Purke and C-Wun to see whose is more dreamy

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

When do the short season teams start

I’d really like to see our first day picks signed and ptaying in the short season. Scheppers I’d love to see at either Bakersfield or Frisco.

Do you think they’d slot Purke for Spokane or keep him at extended and work on his mechanics which I really don’t ge the knock on. Beaven was an obvious mechanical overhaul but I don’t see that much of an overhaul with Purke.

And btw… move the big canadian (Werniuk) to the 3rd base side of the rubber and watch him dominate.

by bstair on Jun 11, 2009 11:21 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

prospect rankings...

so, people are already putting Purke ahead of Perez…

Why? That seems ridiculous…

I’m not saying he shouldn’t be ranked high in our system…but he hasn’t even pitched in pro ball yet.

"Dear dumb ass folowers of FSMism,

There have been a lot of weird things that i have seen in my life before, but this tops them all. Do you really believe that there is/was such a thing as a flying spaghetti monster? Seriously, how fucking old are you? I know there’s such a thing as freedom of speech and expression, but this kinda shit should be banned. Theres is only one God and one Holy Word. Why dont you people get that? How much sense does it make to say that decreasing numbers of pirates lead to an increase in average global temperature? Is that science or some fifth grader trying to sound smart?"

–Sincerly,
ANONYMOUS

The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster (http://www.venganza.org/)

by 8legs2fangs on Jun 11, 2009 11:51 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm not sure that

if push came to shove I wouldn’t rank Perez ahead of Purke right now. But the “hasn’t even played pro ball yet” argument – at least as an absolute for HS players – holds very little water for me. Could we not rank Stephen Strasburg ahead of Tommy Hunter because Hunter has started major league games and Strasburg hasn’t played pro ball yet? Tyler Matzek ahead of Hector Nelo? Obviously we could, so obviously it is a relative judgment. And the argument with Purke is that it’s not like you know nothing about him. You don’t have the advantage of having seen him against other 18 or 19 year old kids, but you do know a lot about what he’s capable of.

I can certainly relate to ranking Perez ahead of him, wouldn’t have any problem with anyone doing that. But I don’t view the flip side as absurd at all.

Arlington, TX: home of The Blue Blur

by Brett Perryman on Jun 11, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

agree to some extent

Strasburg is not really relevant to the argument…

But pitching against other HS’ers, even in good competition is not the same as what Perez is doing in Low-A.

I do understand what you’re saying though.

"Dear dumb ass folowers of FSMism,

There have been a lot of weird things that i have seen in my life before, but this tops them all. Do you really believe that there is/was such a thing as a flying spaghetti monster? Seriously, how fucking old are you? I know there’s such a thing as freedom of speech and expression, but this kinda shit should be banned. Theres is only one God and one Holy Word. Why dont you people get that? How much sense does it make to say that decreasing numbers of pirates lead to an increase in average global temperature? Is that science or some fifth grader trying to sound smart?"

–Sincerly,
ANONYMOUS

The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster (http://www.venganza.org/)

by 8legs2fangs on Jun 11, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not the same as Low-A

True, but Purke has been very heavily scouted by people who know talent when they see it. It’s not like we’re just going on rumor and hearsay. I’d still rank Perez ahead of Purke, but not by a huge margin.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jun 11, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed on both counts.

I’d take Perez over Purke no question, but the no pro ball yet argument holds no sway with me.

That said, I have to think if Perez had been in the draft Tuesday he’d’ve gone second or third overall, no question.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

everything I've ever heard regarding Marteen

would lead me to believe he’s a better bet at this point than Purke. But in 2 years, that could change either way

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

SNTS

It is a few days after the draft and the new toy syndrome runs rampant until the results start rolling in.

by bushe on Jun 11, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not sure I buy it

Nolan only checked in on his signability recently, much after his high dollar bonus demands had been made well known. I guess he could have been checking into him on the down low for awhile b/c of the agency connection, but it is equally feasible that Purke is just bullshitting us.

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 12:27 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

While looking over some draft analyis and such

I’ve seen many people preferring Purke over Matzek. Just saying.

Does Zach Phillips have to choke a bitch to get to Frisco?

by sprite on Jun 11, 2009 12:43 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Didn't Goldstein say Purke was the best lefty in the draft?

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Purke and Matzek

From what i’ve noticed it seems to be that ceiling wise they both are about the same, purkes mechanics knocked him down to some.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jun 11, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

plus he's a douchebag

and some people like that characteristic

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 11, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Red Sox are douchebag central.

And all they do is win and win and win.

Papelbon and Beckett. Ugh.

Being a cocky shit has its benefits when your job entails occasionally fucking horribly in front of tens of thousands of people and then having to go out and try to do that same thing again.

The natural self-awareness and introspection that makes most people not be douchebags is actually a detriment in sports.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If we signed robots

we wouldn’t have to worry about self awareness or introspection.

"He (Padilla) shouldve gone back to Venezuela and watched on his Direct TV waiting to find out who his new team would be!!. ." - crops.mlblogs.com

by DJCahill on Jun 11, 2009 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

JD's next scouting frontier..

Photobucket

¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!

"Anyone who hangs themself during autoerotic asphyxiation is free game." - Curmudgeon

Colloquially, a person engaging in the activity is sometimes called a gasper.

by Chase Irwin on Jun 11, 2009 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I played that game a lot when I was a kid

Not as much as RBI Baseball 3, Tecmo Super Bowl, Dick Tracy, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Manhattan Project, but it got plenty of my attention.

"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel

by WestTxAg06 on Jun 11, 2009 9:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's sign that you might be typing cuss words too much

When you type “occationally fucking horribly in front of tens of thousands of people” versus
“sucking horribly in front of tens of thousands of people.”

But what do I know? Might not have been a typo at all.

Remember Red, hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.

by WyoRanger on Jun 11, 2009 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Speaking of typing fail

Remember Red, hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.

by WyoRanger on Jun 11, 2009 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Heh. I was thinking he just forgot to type the word "up" after fucking

Easy to leave a word out when you are laptoppin and boob tube watchin and spouse pretend listenin and cocktailin and whatnot…

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 7:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And if you disagree, fuck you you fuckin fuckwit

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Heh.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

scheppers

has to sign. he can’t turn into another Herrington.

by mo on Jun 11, 2009 1:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

that guy

makes all kinds of bank now

by heckler101 on Jun 11, 2009 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah...

I gave him a big tip when he mounted new tires on my rims last week.

by bhudson on Jun 11, 2009 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

what was the tip?

next time you have millions in front of you take it?

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jun 11, 2009 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You do know he got his money, right?

Insurance policy he took out after the first time he got drafted.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

really?

i don’t remember that being in the article that came out not long ago

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jun 11, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yuppers.

Insurance policy and lawsuit against Tanzer.

Link.

Excerpt:

But there is one part of the story that most in Palmdale don’t know: Despite everything that went wrong, Matt Harrington still became a millionaire. A few months after Matt was drafted in 2000, the Harringtons took out an insurance policy for loss of skill with Lloyd’s of London. Matt collected on it a few years later, after he had shoulder surgery and it became clear he would never regain top velocity. The details of the settlement are sealed under court order, and Matt says he can’t discuss it. He and Tanzer also settled their lawsuit, which charged Tanzer with mishandling the negotiations. “What happened happened, and it is what it is,” Tanzer says. “I’ve made my peace with these people.”

I doubt he made the 4.9 or whatever, and we’ll never know cause of the gag order, but he got rich.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah i doubt it was anywhere near the money he left on the table

but i guess somethings better than nothing

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jun 11, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Understating it a scintilla or two there, friend

If your boy got dumped by Halle Berry, but she said she still wanted to come by for “late dates” once a week, would that be your response?

Yeah. Sigh. I guess that’s better than a poke in the eye w/ a sharp stick.

Think positive, bro, this downward spiral is gonna turn around. Things’ll pick up.

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Scheepers....

Never seen him pitch, but the reports say 95-98 with a “power curve”. So, what’s his ceiling? If he hits it, who’s he comparable to? Verlander?

by Topgun22 on Jun 11, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Scheepers Batman

Remember Red, hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.

by WyoRanger on Jun 11, 2009 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Joba.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.

by thedirkatron on Jun 11, 2009 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

carol?

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Jun 11, 2009 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

please don't start that

I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.

"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales

by Brian Thomas on Jun 11, 2009 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

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