Friday a.m. Rangers things
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 12, 2009 7:53 AM CDT
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PrintOnly one run yesterday, part of the continuing struggles of the Ranger offense, but Jeff Wilson notes that that one run was enough, thanks to Kevin Millwood and the defense.
Evan Grant runs down a list of ten key things from yesterday's game.
Josh Hamilton is expected to be out four to six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle, but he is planning on coming back sooner.
Anthony Andro has some notes about the Rangers signing Orlando Hernandez to a minor league deal, and an update on Dustin Nippert and Willie Eyre, both of whom threw live batting practice yesterday. I remain underwhelmed by the El Duque addition, and certainly hope we don't have to see him in Arlington this year.
Wilson writes about Ron Washington's option getting picked up for the 2010 season, and how it comes right as he's facing some significant challenges.
Randy Galloway has a column about Washington being the longest-tenured head coach/manager in the Metroplex now, among the four pro teams.
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Randy Galloway has a column about Washington being the longest-tenured head coach/manager in the Metroplex now, among the four pro teams.
so, stability is key? and JD is a beast?
i think so…
"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."
Galloway thinks...
…Ryan is a beast, and Jonny Donuts needs to go make some photocopies or fetch some coffee.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 12, 2009 7:59 AM CDT up reply actions
well
i was kinda referring to my old sig.
but i gotcha.
"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."
I don't think he actually believes this, though.
Believing that Golloway actually means all the purposefully inflammatory shit he writes is like believeing that, Oh my God! Stone Cold Steve Austin just hit the Undertaker with a car!
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 8:08 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
You doubting Stone Cold?
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
he's doubting the car
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 12, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Good God Almighty! For gods sake young man, don't do it!
Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays 10 PM - 1 AM on FM 88.7 The Choice, or online @ ktcu.net!
"Computers can’t measure the size of a man’s heart."
- Hawk Harrelson, MLB Guru/Analyst
Is that JR guy still around?
I’d love to see him do some playoff games.
“And Joe Maddon is coming out to the mound to have a chat. And… wait! What is this!? He’s signaling to the bullpen! Is that…? Yes! It’s David Price’s music! David Price’s music ladies and gentlemen! He wasn’t even supposed to be in the building tonight!!! Oh, good God! David Price is gonna come in the game! I mean, my God!!!”
He’d be like the anti-Joe Buck. I hate that monotone, soporific as fuck douchebag.
I have to listen to playoff games on mute cause of him.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I believe so. I'd love to hear J.R. during an ALCS
“It’s gonna be a slobberknocker tonight folks.”
Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays 10 PM - 1 AM on FM 88.7 The Choice, or online @ ktcu.net!
"Computers can’t measure the size of a man’s heart."
- Hawk Harrelson, MLB Guru/Analyst
Fox NEEDS to make this happen
So much better than the current playoff options. Plus, it’d be amazingly awesome.
When the Rangers make the playoffs, I don’t know how I’m going to watch it on tv without Josh and TAG, it won’t be the same. Maybe FSN can set up an outlaw broadcast streaming on the internet for us…
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
It's been shortened to just "Donuts"
Interesting that Howe was openly second-guessing Wash last year and that it was the pitching/bullpen coaches who were run out of here in early August.
How much freaking chaos was going on behind the scenes last year?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Are you going to try and make a point with this?
If the plan is to rant for a couple of hours and then run away after people call you out for your nonsense, just get it over with.
cstorm15
Nothing more than pointing out that there must have been much chaos going on than we were privy to last year.
I was surprised by the Howe firing but what Galloway says happened made sense.
Galloway also did a good job spitting on the Howard Bryant article from last week as well.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
The word
Galloway and the phrase " made sense " should never be used in the same sentence. Its just not grammatically correct. Its like a double negative or saying “aint”
Oh those Lil' Hillmans!
Kansas City has lost 23 of its last 30 games and have the league’s second-worst record.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
D'oh!
If you can't watch Holland and see that he's going to be awesome, you probably shouldn’t be watching baseball. - Section 339
He needs more time
Remember, this is only his 2nd year as their manager. Remember how Josey gave Wash a lot of wiggle room when he was in his second year as manager for this team.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
can we have Zach now?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 12, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Fair enough.
I was expecting you to try and spin last year’s “chaos” into another Josey-style rant, but I’m pleasantly surprised.
As an aside, did Galloway really use the word “Luv”?
Nolan made it clear that when he got here he
was going to observe for a year and then begin implementing change but I think he personally took the keys from Donuts after the AS Break last year.
He seemed to be quite involved in the trade talks (wouldn’t let this franchise take short-cuts or give away any more quality young arms) and then fired both Conner & Chiti for reasons (something with Hurley?) that have never been in print.
I remember reading the reaction from Donuts the next day and he expressed remorse for what happened, which seemed really strange..
Then Nolan decided to bring back both Wash & Donuts in September but then in October immediately ran Howe out of here and then hired both JMoore & MMaddux.
And oila’, the next year we’re sitting pretty in first place.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Maybe something with Hurley.
Almost definitely something with McCarthy.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
And here's the rant...
but I think he personally took the keys from Donuts after the AS Break last year.
You have absolutely no evidence of this. Can you even name a single move that Nolan mandated that JD was against? When Nolan was hired, everyone was expecting conflict between JD and Nolan, but it just hasn’t happened yet. You can keep hoping though.
He seemed to be quite involved in the trade talks (wouldn’t let this franchise take short-cuts or give away any more quality young arms) and then fired both Conner & Chiti for reasons (something with Hurley?) that have never been in print.
I remember reading the reaction from Donuts the next day and he expressed remorse for what happened, which seemed really strange..
What a leap of imagination. Under your warped world view, do you think JD wouldn’t have fired him unless Nolan was here? That’s absurd. And of course JD “expressed remorse”; Conner and Chiti had been in the organization for a long time, and I’m not sure how you can criticize the GM for firing two coaches and publicly expressing remorse about the situation.
Any more rants before you run off?
I only come by here every few days or so
But all I see in the comments is this idiot who doesn’t know the basics of how a front office works. Maybe most fans don’t know that, but I think smart ones do. If you read enough of the newspapers and now the internet you can sort of piece it together.
I’ll say this one time for “Josey Wales”. There is no one person in charge of things. There’s usually a guy (GM) who’s in charge of all baseball ops, and a President who in most organizations has some input on baseball ops but most of the time deals with how much does the popcorn and beer cost and shit like that.
Since Ryan is obviously a baseball guy I think it’s fair to assume that he is probably one of the more active Presidents on the baseball ops scene. But to suggest that he “took the keys” from the GM is stupid. Anyone who would say such a thing is stupid. Yes, “Josey Wales”, I’m calling you stupid in case you didn’t get that the first time.
There are many, many other people who have a say in baseball ops besides the GM and President. They are the team Manager. If the coaching staff has a high profile coach they are sometimes in the room. Directors of Player Development. Scouting heads. Assistants. All of these people sit in a room and talk about almost every decision that makes any kind of difference.
To give credit for the Rangers’ record now to Ryan is stupid. For one, I am not as emotionally vested in this team as some of you are, and I can say they’re not going to finish where they are now. There are always surprises but when I look at them I see a team that is in development and happens to be winning. They have big holes that will hurt them sooner or later. So when the Rangers are an even record team is Josey Wales going to blame Ryan? That will be interesting to see because he does have “the keys” in Josey Wales’ mind. The second reason its stupid I already talked about. He’s just one guy and he hasn’t even been with the team that long. Any fool should be able to realize that.
I’d just moved to the area when Connor and Chiti were fired. Both are respected baseball guys and it makes me laugh to hear you guys talk about Connor in particular, but in baseball very often things just go sour with one part of a team and you have to change guys out. The Rangers pitching has been a disaster forever, so it shouldn’t be a suprise to anyone that he was told to leave. As for Chiti, I don’t know. Moore has been around forever and is a real good guy.
Maddux was a good hire. I’m not going to say who I am…I was not a big star or anything like that, OK? But I played with Maddux toward the end of both of our careers. If you would have seen him with the younger guys you’d know that he was confident that he knew what he talked about, that he loved to teach, and that for some reason he’s just one of those guys people listen to. I was very happy to see him do well with Milwaukee but not surprised. Connor does have a good reputation but I think people see Maddux a bit differently. Even if the Rangers were not struggling, if they had a chance to hire Maddux they should have. A lot of teams would probably like to.
by BoogPowell on Jun 12, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 10 recs
A lot of good sense, there.
But he won’t care. As to your Connor points, you’re right, but most of us need a scapegoat to focus our anger on at times. That’s just psychology or something, nothing unique to this blog or even to baseball.
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Boog Powell, you fat bastard -
I admire anybody that has the physical talent and make-up to play in The Show but it doesn’t give you any kind of a trump card in here when it comes to all baseball arguments.
Certainly, you’re going to have strengths where some of us will have to defer to your experience but you are new to the area and don’t know too much about the Jon Daniels Era and exactly why Nolan was hired.
So let’s move past the fact that you may have played in the major leagues and get to the gist of the argument.
Nolan was brought on board because this team was in a death spiral both on the field and at the gate and there was no immediate end in sight. Can we agree?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Jun 12, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions
I am not boog powell
I was drafted and “raised” by the Orioles and that’s why I’ve taken that name.
I don’t pretend to have a trump card as you put it. Let me say this. I like coming to this site because I enjoy what Adam writes. I do not agree with all of it, but he’s right about a lot of things. And the same goes with the people who comment. Fans are smarter about the game now than I think they were in “my day” which wasn’t all that long ago. And the people here seem smart about a lot of things. I’m actually very self conscious about writing here because of my spelling and grammar and language skills in general. But the point is I think most people here understand the big picture even if there are some misconceptions.
Anyway, I may be new to the area but there are certain things about baseball that most teams share. I can’t see the Texas Rangers being so different from the rest of the teams as to have their President pulling all the strings. I’m sorry, but that doesn’t make any sense at all.
But I may have some information that you don’t besides being around the game. You might be very suprised if you knew who lived across the road from me.
Anyway if my memory is right then Ryan used to have some kind of deal with the Rangers after he retired. He remained close to the front office. I know that attendance was bad but I don’t think the Rangers have been in a “death spiral” for a long time. There are issues with all teams though and I think he must have talked to Tom Hicks about them and was offered a job. Ryan is a very big name that not just fans look up to. He has also led kind of a model life as far as retired players go. So he loves the game, has some business experience, and a whole lot of experience when it comes to the game. I mean he played forever. After that he owned a minor league team and did very well with it, which is a challenge.
So he’s a great guy to have around for a lot of reasons but I do not think he was hired to bring the rangers out of a “death spiral”. He played for a long time, but he has no experience with a lot of the things a front office does. Scouting, signing players, drafting, running a whole organization from rookie ball to the majors. There’s just no way a man like Nolan Ryan can handle all that. I don’t think he’d want to. I’m sure he gives a lot of input and it’s probably very good input. But most of the pieces on this team were here before he was and you just have to accept that.
So should we put out the welcome mat
to Jay Powell?
Shares Boog’s last name, drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in ’93 and played with Mike Maddux for the Houston Astros in 2000. Also a former Ranger pitcher 2002-2004 after that as well. Welcome back to DFW, Jay.
Gawd, I love baseballreference.com.
I do think JD does a lot of the grunt work and is deeply involved in overseeing the draft, scouting, signing players, the vaunted “Latin American Program” etc..
What Nolan brought to the table was foremost credibility in the room with the players and to the fans (attendance down 600,000 after JD hired) and a screeching halt to the rampant dumbassery in the Ranger FO that was alive and well after 2007 season.
Whether it was symbolic or actual, his presence turned this franchise turning on a dime and everybody (including Donuts) in the organization started to become better at their job.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Jun 12, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions
*
turned this franchise on a dime
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Jun 12, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Good try
I know Jay but have never played for the Rangers or the Astros. I am a little older than he is but not by much. And I wasn’t a first rounder, either — I think he probably was. That’s all the hints you get.
I don’t think there was much “rampant dumbasserey” in the Texas front office. I guess that’s where you and I differ. There were a couple of moves that I really wondered about but EVERY team has those. Every one.
Dumbassery has been on the decline since
they stopped trying to patch things together year-to-year. No more Adam Eaton and Brad Wilkerson trades.
The Sosa experiment was weird, but there may be dividends paying off in the form of DR credibility from that move.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
Brad Wilkerson
I can’t remember what they gave up for him…was that the Soriano deal to Washington? He was a pretty good hitter. I remember seeing the stats in Texas and wondering what the hell happened to him. But Soriano wanted out, that’s all I know.
The Adam Eaton deal is the biggest one that sticks out to me. Pretty much everyone I know thought that was a mistake. Not because of that pitcher you guys sent over there but because of Adrian Gonzalez and the fact that Adam Eaton is a bonus baby nitwit who was always hurt.
Yep
Glad someone else recognizes that Adrian Gonzalez is the reason the Eaton trade was bad, not Chris Young.
Wilkerson was the return for Soriano. The problem wasn’t as much that Wilkerson was bad while here – he was disappointing, sure, but his numbers weren’t as bad as his reputation suggested – but that they couldn’t get more for Soriano.
Go Rice Owls!
Actually I think pretty much everyone
recognizes that Gonzalez is what made that trade so awful.
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You'd be surprised.
Lots of people still think of C-You as an Ace.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, pretty much everyone
here, is what I meant, though there probably are some steal home types that bemoan the loss of Young of the 1B.
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He doesn't need to be an ace
to make him better than Eaton and Aki. The fact that Young is better than those 2, and then you throw a guy having an MVP level season on top of it makes it pretty nauseating.
"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
Gonzalez
He’s a very, very good player and will be for a long time. I was always puzzled why they would trade him, especially in a deal like that. I saw him in the minors. He was very good.
I forgot about the Japanese relief pitcher. He was pretty good for you guys right? At least there’s that.
Aki was the second best player in that deal, imo.
He just got hurt, which obviously sucks for us.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I still think you're Jay Powell but anyways..
Ranger FO Dumbassery immediately leading up to, during and after 2007….
Hiring and then extending Wash
Spending $ 14 million on Gagne/Lofton (pitchers like Lilly & Meche available at $ 10 million per) and then trading McCarthy for Danks
Making Zito a 6 year / $ 84 million offer
Putting together an Opening Day OF of Wilkerson, Lofton and Sosa that Donuts even admits was “embarrassing.”
Signing off on Sosa receiving 315 plate appearances v RHs and hitting clean-up.
Making T Hunter a 5 year / $ 75 million offer
Signing JJennings, Broussard and Fukomori (while dfa’ing Galaragga).
Ranger FO dumbassery was rampant, indeed and this thing was in a death spiral. A major leaguer that I knew personally told me in 2007 that he and his teammates could not believe what was happening to this franchise.
________________________
And then Nolan comes aboard says he’ll sit back and observe before implementing change.
A year after that, we’re sitting pretty in first place.
Calling me stupid will get you points with the LSB crowd but it’s not valid, Jay.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Jun 12, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Front-office dumbassery
“Hiring and then extending Wash
Spending $ 14 million on Gagne/Lofton (pitchers like Lilly & Meche available at $ 10 million per) "
Your opinion.
As for signing Meche, pretty much everyone except the Royals thought that one was a terrible deal at the time- $50 million for a guy with no more of a track record of success or health than say, Jason Jennings.
And I don’t know that Jennings is a Ranger now without signing him to an NRI deal last year.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
My thoughts
Washington was known around the league to be a good baseball guy and I didn’t think he was a bad choice. The players I know for a fact love him, but he doesn’t hand out awards for doing things they should be doing anyway. Managers, honestly, don’t usually matter a whole lot. Players are closer to their coaches.
Gagne I believe was coming off an injury and it cost them the minimum, didn’t it? He also pitched very well for the Rangers. Lofton was still a good player when they signed him, too. They traded both guys younger guys. I have no problem with this. It filled a hole and later they added some depth. Lilly isn’t that good and Meche is one of those guys who are always hurt.
McCarthy for Danks and the other kid looks pretty bad now, but I don’t think it was such a bad deal when it was made.
Zito was a very good pitcher for a long time. One of the best curves in the game. I wouldn’t have blamed any team for trying to get him.
Wilkerson, like I said, was a pretty good player for a long time. Who knows what happened. Maybe it was your miracle worker hitting coach that messed him up? Lofton probably shouldn’t have been playing CF at that point but there are worse guys to have out there believe me. Sosa I just won’t comment on. That was stupid and I would think it was more about putting asses in the seats than anything else.
Hunter was a good player.
Nothing wrong with signing guys to fill holes while you’re building and don’t have minor league players ready to come up. Every team does this. Jennings I thought was a very good sign. Broussard, too. He wasn’t that bad before. Fukomori I don’t know about. Galaragga though I don’t think is a big deal. I’ve only seen him in person once but he looks easy to hit. I don’t think he’ll have a long career.
A person like you should stop and follow another team for a year or two or three. You’ll find that they all do shit like this. But especially when they’re in that weird place while they’re trying to build from the minors, they will hit and miss on fill in guys. I would not say that was a death sprial at all.
You may not be stupid but you’re not looking at things from all the angles and you sound like that idiot columnist galloway,.
by BoogPowell on Jun 12, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Not looking at things from all angles.
Josey only has one angle: Desparately trying to spin every Ranger move to prove himself right.
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Gagne & Lofton combined to
make $ 12-14 million and there was no way in hell they were ever going to make THAT team worth a damn. It was a one year bandaid of mediocrity and a big waste of money.
Lilly isn’t any good? Really? He’s exactly the pitcher this team could use. Lefty who posts every 5th day and usually gives his team a chance to win.
Hunter is good but this team was rebuilding and has a small market payroll. How the hell were they going to rock a $ 70 million payroll with four players (all in their 30’s) making $ 55 million?
$ 9 million for JJennings, Broussard, Fukomori wasn’t bad when you’re rocking the small market payroll? That’s insane, Boog.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
It's not your money
I looked at their numbers while in Texas and even though that team wasn’t all that great it would have been much worse without them. There’s a lot of pressure to not lose 95 games, you know. If you can get players like that who are also good guys and it doesn’t keep you from doing anything else, what’s the harm? It may sound like a lot of money to you and to me but if you are in danger of losing 95 games it may be worth it to spend that money. Talking about Lofton and Gagne.
Lilly. I probably should say he’s not any good. I think he’s the type of pitcher you sign when you have most of your pieces in place already, though, and just need a 4 or 5 starter.
I never said I would have agreed with them signing Tori Hunter. I don’t blame them for trying to but they obviously bailed out when the bidding got too high. Either that or he didn’t want to come here and they knew that. It’s possible they were using each other to make the Angels spend lots of money. Look at how Boston and the Yankees fight each other for players because they’re in the same division. I don’t know that’s what was going on but it could have been and I think you have to consider that.
I think Jennings is and was a good gamble. I’ve always liked how he threw the ball. Broussard wasn’t a bad hitter. As I said I know nothing about Fukomori but sometimes you just have to fill holes.
Some of your numbers aren't acurate.
More dumbassery, I’d assume. Gagne and Lofton were signed for 6 million per makiing a total of 12 million (6 + 6 = 12, or were you there for that lesson?) Here’s another: Meche signed a 5 year 55 million dollar deal (divide and that comes to 11 million per year).
I’d assume that the Rangers passed on both because of the length of contracts wanted by both. 5 years is a long time for the oft injured Meche. Lilly has pitched pretty poorly in the AL.
And JD received decent value for a couple of over-the-hill players when he received Max along with Murphy in trade. Plus the Rangers only wound up paying just over 6 million for both.
We also didn't have to pay all of their contracts
since they were traded mid-season.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
I think that Nolan was brought in to keep Hicks from making stupid decisions.
Tom finally realized he couldn’t spend a boatload of money on one player and build a winning franchise. Why else would he bring in a guy who has succesfully started two minor league franchises?
Minor league teams
They are run by the major league teams as far as on the field stuff goes. What Ryan did was run the ballparks, promotions, or at least hired the people who did those things. And that is very good experience I would think.
I think you may be right that he was hired because he had a different opinion. This is ONLY a guess ok but I would bet that Nolan Ryan and Tom Hicks probably had dinner one night, Ryan told him what he thought, and that led to more dinner and eventually his job. From what I’ve read and what I’ve seen it doesn’t look like the Rangers are doing anything totally different than they were before Ryan came to work, but there are certain things like what is going on with the pitchers that all of you know about. And I’m sure there’s much more that none of us know about. But in the big picture it still looks like the same team it was before. I may not have lived here when Daniels was hired or promoted, but because of his age it was a very big deal in the news and among my baseball friends. So I and alot of other people have been watching from a distance. I think most people think the Rangers have been on the right track for several years. Every team makes mistakes and the Daniels front office sure made a couple of high profile ones, but their good work is making good for that and you see that on the field right now.
I know you said you're new here, so I'll cut you some slack..
We don’t make reasoned, logical arguments around here. We will be expecting your knee-jerking “Cut Chris Davis, Give Millwood the Cy Young, Saw Ian’s legs off at the knees” themed post soon, new guy.
"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"
Thanks for coming here to post
People who have actually been there offer a valuable insight. Big Boog was always a favorite player when I was a kid. That whole Oriole team in the late 60s – 70s was great
Last but not least the bitch slapping you gave Josey was the best in a while. It wont do any good, he’ll just keep on with his jackassery, but it was still good
I had some of Boog's barbecue when I visited Camden in 2006
Pretty decent pork sandwich. I’ll definitely get another one next time I visit the park.
Good posts, by the way. I don’t know your identity nor do I care to pry, but I like your perspective and really appreciate getting to see a little more of an inside perspective. It’s real easy to make assumptions about what we think happens in the front office or the clubhouse, but for most of us, they’re just that: assumptions. Some are right, some are half-right, and some are 110% wrong.
Good stuff, and I’ll be looking forward to more.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
Well
…in reality I just use this account to post during working hours every now and then. I’m a regular poster who shall remain nameless unless adminstration decides to out me.
My only goal was to make Josey look like the damn fool that he is.
I’m not BoogPowell
I’m not Jay Powell
I’m not Brad Pennington
I haven’t played baseball since the 11th grade, matter of fact.
I do feel bad about getting carried away, but in my mind it was all for a good cause. After getting an Email from Ben who was wondering what the fuck I was doing, I re-read everything posted here and felt a little stupid about it.
Anyway, screw Josey Wales and his presumptions.
You sir
are a budding scam artist ;)
¡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 inactive lsb user on Jun 12, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Ha, well done good sir!
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
And for the record
I sent an email to Adam this afternoon telling him to erase any posts from me that may have pulled the curtain back and exposed whoever this person is or was pretending to be despite the fact he said I didn’t know what the hell I was talking about and was in fact, stupid.
Isn’t that right, Adam?
And if it was a joke, congrats because that was a very, very obscure player that I don’t remember and I remember just about everybody and everything from the American League over the last several years.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Jun 13, 2009 12:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Sounds a little Fire Joe Morgan-ish in there at times.
The one thing that Nolan has is the power to veto. He is ultimately responsible for the business decisions, whether those decisions involve players or popcorn. He could have the power to initiate and ramrod an idea through the organization. I don’t see any evidence of that sort of thing happening to date. JD has never been quietly unsupportive of Nolan or vice versa.
It’s hard to prove that JD is the mover and shaker behind a certain move, because the only show of absolute power that can be made is Nolan’s veto. I don’t know if we’ll ever hear publicly an instance in which JD was pushing for something and Nolan vetoed it. Instead, we probably would just hear about JD moving along.
However, I think the Rangers have a group that is on the same page like no other group in the history of the organization. The skill sets and interests of the various key players also compliment each other very well. Sure does make apparent the dysfunctional mess the Rangers had in the Hart-Hersh-Buck days.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
I'm not sure what you mean in your title.
I honestly have no idea but I don’t know that Nolan Ryan has a veto over everything. What he says about something probably carries lots of weight probably. And he may have a veto I don’t know. I just wouldn’t be sure about something like that.
I sure didn’t mean him any disrespect when I mentioned popcorn. I hope that wasn’t taken the wrong way. I just mean that he’s involved in a whole lot of things.
From what I know I think they are on the same page, and I think that’s why we haven’t seen a huge change in the direction of the team. That’s not to say there aren’t arguments and heated ones. I’m sure there are. I’ve never been a part of a front office but knowing what kinds of decisions are made there and the kinds of people who have those jobs, it makes sense that there would be a lot of argument.
I don’t know a lot about the John Hart days. I’m guessing that’s when they were spending a lot of money and getting nothing out of it.
No offense on anything you've said. I think you've brought up some really good discussion points.
I’m beginning to think the Rangers FO success now is much more than just that of a single person. The Rangers really seem to have an organization with key players that have an incredibly diverse background and somehow are able to blend all of that into wise risks.
What they are doing better than most other clubs is management as a team it seems to me.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
Where do you come up with the word "chaos"??
All Galloway said was “But there were some strange dynamics in play last season that went beyond the normal and accepted second guessing.”.
I know you take his every utterance as pearls, but I think you’re seeing a puff of smoke and screaming “fire” a bit.
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
bking
Along with both pitching coaches getting their asses run out of here at the trade deadline with the team on the extreme fringe of the race we apparently had a bench coach second-guessing everything that Wash was doing.
Seems chaotic to me.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Still think you're trying to post up with a new meme...
now it’s “Second-guessing everything”???
Just spit it out – you think Ron was getting manhandled by all his coaches and Nolan has now cleared the decks and fixed the dugout too.
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
bking
I have no idea what was going on behind the scenes last year.
It does seem, as pointed out above by me, that there was quite a bit of chaos that we weren’t privy to that is now coming to light.
I didn’t understand the Howe firing at the time but what Galloway wrote makes sense.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Nice observation. I think you've caught on to the subtext of the move.
If El Duque’s mentorship works as well with Feliz as Omar’s has with Elvis, we’ll see Feliz in the second half.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
I hope not
Hernandez is pretty unique, I don’t want Feliz suddenly messing around with different release points, arm angles, etc. Wilson got himself into trouble by trying to be Gagne or something, Feliz just needs to be Feliz.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I think the Rangers already have plenty of that
in Ryan, Maddux, Millwood, etc. I don’t see any reason to sign another pitcher for that purpose.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Well, I don't think it's the sole purpose, obviously
But when do you think the last time Feliz talked to Ryan, Maddux, Millwood, or etc.? He get’s to see how a guy with 3 world series rings goes about his business on an everyday level.
It's just not a good analogy.
Vizquel is one of the finest defensive shortstops ever, and still makes a good utility player, so it made perfect sense to bring him on. The Rangers did not already have one of the finest SS gloves in baseball history around. But in Ryan, they already have a HOF pitcher, in Maddux they already have a terrific pitching coach, and Ryan HAS worked with Feliz. Also, don’t forget that OKC has a pitching coach who is a veteran, and they have a minor league pitching instructor, etc. It’s not like Feliz is without mentors.
It may be a side benefit, but I seriously doubt they considered it when they signed him. He’s there as a possible stopgap for the pen or rotation, not a teacher.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I would bet they considered it.
Those are all certainly nice people to have around, but none of them speak Neftali’s native tongue.
Yep, they both speaka the Spanish
I miss 1989. I miss 1996. Please make me miss another season in 2008.
Of course there are guys like Juan Dominguez who was so backwater ghetto that none of the other Spanish speakers could reportedly understand wtf he was saying.
I doubt this would be a problem with those two, though.
Just saying to say, I spoze.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Didn't Coco Cordero belittle him all the time because of it?
Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays 10 PM - 1 AM on FM 88.7 The Choice, or online @ ktcu.net!
"Computers can’t measure the size of a man’s heart."
- Hawk Harrelson, MLB Guru/Analyst
You may be underwhelmed by El Duque
but I think the Rangers have realized that after all the injuries they have sustained, they need better options than Doug Mathis.
"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
adam opposed to a minor league deal
I’m suddenly excited
"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)
El Duque may be toast
but we don’t appear to have many better options if Harrison isn’t ready to go soon.
I’d prefer to see Millwood, Padilla, Harrison, Holland and Feldman stay healthy and not see Hernandez, but I’d rather see Hernandez than Mathis. Its not like Mathis is a cog in our long term plans. The only place I could stand seeing Mathis is the garbage time slot that Benson used to have. I don’t want to see him except in low and no leverage situations.
"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
Has Adam been anything other than....
underwhelmed by the Jones, El Duque, Benson types? Some work, some don’t, but the risk is low and the reward can be nice.
Yeah,
I’ve rarely seen him happy about NRI type signings. Jennings is about the only one I recall him being very happy about.
It just seems to me a good way to get backup/bench type talent. As long as you have strong enough management to sweep them out of the way when they aren’t working, like we have seen this year, it just seems a good way to manage money.
"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
NRI signings
The problem I always have with them is the team seems to get enamored with a guy in spring training and then he makes the team over a younger perhaps better player. Then you have a guy like benson who was kept around too long.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Seriously asking....
who of importance have we really lost as a result of these types of signings? Our favorite Detroit pitcher of course but who else?
And don’t say Botts!
the detroit pitcher who shall not be named
but for me its mostly running out a washed up guy rather than giving the shot to a younger player.
In bensons case he took a rotation slot from feldman at the start of the season
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Benson making the team
was the reason Feldman started the season as a relief pitcher. Not the end of the world, but that hurt the team a bit.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
I'm not sure it did
Maybe Feldman wins 1 game extra that Benson lost in Detroit. Maybe he is like every other Rangers pitcher and gets a loss in Detroit. Other than that game, I can’t see anything Benson cost us.
He wasn’t good, but most of his useage was low or no leverage situations in relief.
"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
Not sure how much of a negative effect it had on the team
But Benson made 2 crappy starts (one the team won and the other it lost) while Feldman made 3 crappy relief appearances (2 were in 1 run losses while another was a win). Its definitely possible that Feldman against Detroit still gets a loss while his replacement in the bullpen still gives up a lot of runs, but there isn’t any denying that there was nothing positive about those 5 appearances from the two pitchers.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
Chicken-egg semantics, but...
I think the reason Feldman started in the pen was (a) they felt he was better suited there than anyone else at their disposal, and (b) they had a rotation stopgap in Benson.
Now, clearly both of those assumptions fell flat as hell, but I don’t think Benson pushed Feldman to the pen. Semantics I know..
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
I think the Rangers did a good job using Benson
they basicly only used him for no leverage garbage innings. My only problem was when they had him in for garbage innings, they didn’t have him pitch enough innings.
Realistically I’m not sure Benson cost the team any games. He won half his starts, and the game he lost, it was in Detroit.
I don’t think Benson got on the team because of Spring Training, I think Benson made the team because the injury to Hurley and others made our major league ready pitching depth very shaky, and adding Benson was planned to give us more depth to endure the inevitable McCarthy injury, and the other 15 day DL stints you usually see in a season.
The fact that we are running Doug Freaking Mathis in there shows that we currently do not have enough starting Depth to cover all the injuries in a season.
"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
Benson
I’m glad they cut bait with him, but i just would have assumed they cut him sooner and give the junk innings to a guy like mathis or hunter.
Also on mathis, I doubt hes going to get many starts. I’d rather they just let moscoso start, or bring hunter back up.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Here's the problem with giving junk innings to Hunter or Mathis
You’d have people screaming bloody murder that a talented arm is just sitting around out there, kind of like the whining heard around here when Mendoza was the last guy in the bullpen for two weeks and got one batter.
Go Rice Owls!
Mendoza
I’d be perfectly fine with him as the last arm in the pen. It’s not quite the same as stashing say… holland in the pen to get a few innings every 2-3 weeks
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
I don't care who that last guy is
Mendoza, Mathis, Benson, heck, bring back Chan Ho Park or Mitch Williams.
Those guys have no future on this team. Who cares how you use them. They’re only coming into games when the team is up or down by ten runs just to keep the actual important arms in the bullpen from getting overused. If it is a player who you actually care about for the future, a category for which I think Hunter belongs, then you don’t do that.
It still doesn’t make sense that seeing Benson’s name on the roster would make people’s blood boil.
Go Rice Owls!
Yeah,
I would hate to have an actual prospect be the last guy in the pen. They can go over a week without being used.
Now if its some guy like Doug Mathis, who really isn’t a prospect, I don’t care.
"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
Benson
Never said it made my blood boil, I just didn’t like the signing to begin with. And really they werent even using him when the situation called for a junk arm sometimes.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
I don't get Adam's hate about those guys either
The only possible explanation is a hang-up on the Jason Botts “disaster” (which wasn’t even a disaster, other than his ABs).
I can understand saying “signing El Duque doesn’t count as an actual move – don’t go give JD et al credit for fixing the team just by signing him to a minor league deal.” And maybe he’s grumpy that the some people acted like the pre-season NRIs like Turnbow compensated for not signing his recent cause Juan Cruz.
Go Rice Owls!
It'd be easier to get worked up about Botts
if he wasn’t being yo-yoed in Japan as we speak between the Ham Fighters and their minor league club. He apparently isn’t good enough to hang in the Japanese 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
El Duque
I’m not sure how you could think this move is bad.
It’s not even really a move he’s signed to a minor league deal and is going to be stashed down there. I’d much rather see him used in an emergency than the likes of benson.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Juan Cruz
He’s having a utterly craptastic year so far.
"Was this really necsarry?" - cowpoke/hurler hurley
Yep...
What a shock — too many walks!!!
"[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 12, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions
And Kyle Farnsworth has been an absolute beast.
Who the hell saw that coming?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Its only because his manager is stupid
and lets him walk everyone.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
39-44
If he’s closer to 39, I’ll be a little happier. He wasn’t a total power pitcher, but I doubt a 44 year old not named Nolan or Johnson will hit 90 on the radar gun. Doug Mathis personifies sparedom at this point…
by GhostofGaryHogeboom on Jun 12, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions
First Place Mother Effin' Texas Rangers!!!
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
by Rodney on Jun 12, 2009 8:09 AM CDT reply actions 10 recs
REC
You know Rodney you should consider putting the little tm trademark thingy on the end of that, I’ve seen a few people try to rec cash in on your glory when you weren’t around.
It’s not right I tell ya!!!
This way maybe you can sue them or somesuch… for impinging on your RECS and/or cleverness…
"You're going to love my nuts"
Vince from slap chop
Hmm, perhaps I should consult my legal team...
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Yep
Otherwise, there’s gonna be a bunch of knock-offs running around, like “First Effin Mother Place Texas Rangers,” “First Place Texas Mother-Effin Rangers,” and “Frist Place Mother-Effin Texas Rangers.”
And nobody wants that. :)
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
lol
Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays 10 PM - 1 AM on FM 88.7 The Choice, or online @ ktcu.net!
"Computers can’t measure the size of a man’s heart."
- Hawk Harrelson, MLB Guru/Analyst
no sir ...that's second rate..
I felt so dirty the other day I Recced one and realized after I did that it wasn’t Rodneys…of course I had to take my Rec back.
"You're going to love my nuts"
Vince from slap chop
First Place Mother Effin' Texas Rangers...
Don’t be fooled by cheap imitators.
If you can't watch Holland and see that he's going to be awesome, you probably shouldn’t be watching baseball. - Section 339
You should definitely consult your legal team.
I think everyone on this board except me and you and a dog named Boo is a lawyer
I wrecked that shiz!
After a 1-0 shutout by Milly and Co. last night, I couldn’t wait for your rally cry this morning!
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on Jun 12, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions
I like the The Duke-A signing.
If it turns out that he’s more worn out and thoroughly done than an attractive Morris family cousin after a big family reunion, then that’s fine, we lose nothing.
But The Duke-A seems like the kind of trickster who could pitch effectively for a few more seasons and might even be decent in the ’pen if we wanted to go that direction.
As everyone here has already noted, he can’t possibly be worse than the f’ing Asian Kid.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
This was my reaction in yesterday's thread
I think he’s got a chance to be the kind of deception delivery success that O’Day has been for a few weeks in the bullpen. He can serve his purpose and then be put aside. Of course, we’ll have to wait and see how he pitches and if he has anything left at his mysterious age.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I just think it's rather funny
That immediately after Josey gets done bitching about Doug Mathis being the 8th or 9th string starter and having to (gasp) make a spot start, JD goes out and fixes the problem.
If you can't watch Holland and see that he's going to be awesome, you probably shouldn’t be watching baseball. - Section 339
Could it be that they are... the... same... person???
Seriously, has anyone ever seen Josey and JD in the same room?
It’d be one hell of a way to drub up support for yourself.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions
how many runs
did the five teams in our org score yesterday? 5? I know its one day, but still, thats pretty ugly. Just because we want to focus on developing pitching doesn’t mean we have to become the Oakland A’s (zing).
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
i'll give you credit
when you decide you want to bitch about something, you don’t hesitate. Props.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jun 12, 2009 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions
NMLR this morning...
Great read.
"[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
Step 5 is here earlier than expected.
I think the Rangers are still at step 4.5, with a small nudge toward step 5 coming very soon and culminating in something big this offseason.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
Gagree
I’ve said for a while that this team reminds me of that first JJ-led Cowboys playoff team – competing just a bit ahead of schedule, but poised for a long run.
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
3.5
I see the Rangers being between step 3 and 4. They are still trying to get some youngsters feet wet and figure out who should be locked up longterm.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
Probably right. 750 AB and 100 IP not yet attained by Andrus, CD, Salty, Tea, Harrison, Holland.
Feldman just went over the 100 IP mark last year; Cruz went past 750 AB about a week ago.
So, lockup candidates: Hamilton, Andrus, Cruz?, frankfrank?
Could basically jump from 3.5 to 5 this offseason.
BTW, is there a step 6, as in how to continue to ingest young players when the core is in place?
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
BTW, has anyone noticed the Rangers need to hit LHP better?
Nick Johnson this year against LHP: 73 PA, .365/.452/.587
In 2006: 170 PA, .303/.438/.500
He was injured in 2007 and coming back during 2008.
I’m not at all in favor of dropping Davis to AAA to increase Blalock’s playing time; I could be talked into it if the Rangers picked up Johnson, but I’d much rather trade for Blalock for a lottery ticket and go the rest of the way with Davis and Johnson than send Davis to AAA.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
I'm at the point
I’d love to see the Rangers get Nick Johnson. If we have to, we can make room at the expense of Blalock or Jones. With Hamilton down, another good bat would be nice.
I’m close to being ready to sending Davis down. Although he has had a few decent recent games, so I’d probably still give him til the ASB to break out.
"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
It would not be smart to send Davis down now
It is beginning to pay off by just riding his slump out. Since New York, Davis has been producing. He is going to strike out alot. His double to the opposite field last night showed me that he is back for awhile. Instead of demoting him, he probably needs to be moved up in the order. Lately, when he has been making contact, everything has been a laser.
by trgordon723 on Jun 12, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Well if he
comes out of his slump before the ASB, I wouldn’t send him down.
I’m not popping the corks on him being out just yet though. He has had weeks like this in the past.
"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
what qualifies being out of a slump for him?
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
The sarcasm tag didn't show up in the subject line.
Of course I realize that everyone realizes the inefficiency of the Rangers’ offense. Not that it is impotent, just inefficient.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
Anyone read Newberg's report today.
About the five steps to building a playoff team.
Well, hightower just beat me to it.
I disagree strongly with the biggest need being an 8th inning guy. The Rangers probably have that guy at AAA, if they want to use him that way.
I think the one thing that could prevent the Rangers from making the playoffs is more likely to be the offense. Their lack of an Ace may prevent them from advancing, but the offense really needs a boost to sustain this season’s success. I agree with FOTF on that front — they need some energy.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
One part of the study
that I noticed which I believe
90 percent of hitters reach their career norms after amassing 750
at-bats in the big leagues
* 82 percent of pitchers reach their career norms after logging 100
innings in the big leagues
I definitely believe this. I know a lot of folks say you have to be really patient with players, but for the most part, I think you know what you have with a starter after about a half year, and you know what you have with a hitter after a full year. It doesn’t take years and years of major league time to know what you have. If they aren’t near league average in that time, there is a good chance they will never be consistently good over a long period of time.
If the numbers hold true, we are gonna know what we have with Chris Davis in another couple months.
"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
I didn't think the threshold for pitchers would be that low.
That number kinda shocked me.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
I had looked at a lot of good pitchers previously
and I noticed they showed signs of being league average starters in their first full year.
You will sometimes see folks publish numbers that show some awful first seasons, but a lot of times they were late season callups, and ended up being a quarter season or less of stats.
"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
League average will let you contend
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
So are you saying
that we could contend with league average oitching?
What he's trying to say,
is that if the pitchers would perform at league average, this team will contend. Stop trying to twist it into something else.
By the way
when was Harrison’s 100 IP?
Oddly enough it was the inning in the game against Baltimore where Maddux went out to the mound and he changed from crap pitcher to dominant pitcher for awhile.
"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
Wow, could there BE a better conicidence?
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
Maybe thats what Maddux said
“There is an 82% chance the way you pitch now is the way you are going to pitch the rest of your career”. :)
"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
Haha, perhaps that explains the baffled look on Harry's face.
Wait, that’s always there…
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
So if there was really some grandiose plan in place
put together by Donuts & Thadwick, why did they make an 8 year/$ 140 million offer to Tex?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
this is actually a good question
"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
No it's not.
“STEP FOUR: Lock in the core.”
by brettgardner on Jun 12, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Step One
Cut a hole in a box.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on Jun 12, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
if you haven't seen the follow up to that video masterpiece
I highly suggest you view “MotherLover” on Hulu……funny stuff.
If you want some slack, bring your own rope.
by rangerfaninva on Jun 12, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions
Motherlover
I’ve seen it. Susan Sarandon still looks amazingly good…
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
Some of their digital shorts are actually quite funny.
Though I don’t know why anyone would actually watch the whole show anymore.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
yup, the digital shorts are the only funny part
and you can catch them on hulu or youtube
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
OT: So... have you decided against it?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions
He offered me a million dollars for 1 night in vegas
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Pssssh. Like Eric Rentzington has ever been with a woman.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Disagree.
Andy Samberg’s popularity boggles my mind.
by brettgardner on Jun 12, 2009 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions
I dunno.
I think he’s kind of annoying, but Lazy Sunday, Lazer Cats, Space Olympics, Mark Whalberg Talks to Animals, Jizz in my Pants and others are funny to varying degrees.
Dick in a Box is pretty dang funny, too.
But I could definitely see where you find Samberg annoying to the point where you come to hate everything he’s in.
He’s definitely got a lot of annoying douche in him.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions
I just checked it out.
Meh.
Pretty straight forward.
Not really very clever.
Chicks aren’t very funny as a rule. And hot ones almost never.
Weird Al would’ve done better.
I assume you’ve seen The Slow Jerk. That’s prolly my favorite short from the last few years. There’s plenty of greatness out there, though.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
No, you never make them touch!
Never finish! You never ever finish!!!
Still makes me laugh every single time.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
So creepy,
yet so funny.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
stop making eye contact thats creepy!
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
re: Digital Shorts
I think they are the best part of the show at this point, and find Dear Sister. Holy God do I find that one funny.
by FuturePants on Jun 12, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions
agreed
but this bit made me laugh. The only context that I can stand Alec Baldwin.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/57938/saturday-night-live-wii-guys
If you want some slack, bring your own rope.
by rangerfaninva on Jun 12, 2009 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions
So you think if they'd signed Tex and made him a
part of the core that the small market payroll would have been bumped accordingly to accommodate his salary?
I don’t.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
I think
They made a fair offer knowing he’d probably turn it down and then they could begin the process of trading him.
But that’s not to say that it was a phantom offer—if he’d accepted, it would have still provided the team with several years of peak performance, and a trade could have happened at any time.
But as to your question, there’s really no reason to doubt it.
by brettgardner on Jun 12, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Gardner
You think the payroll would have been bumped to the $90-100 million range?
I don’t.
Hicks has been adamant about keeping the payroll below $ 70 millon for several years now.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Jun 12, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't really care about the number.
I care about what you’re getting for what you’re spending.
The team is doing well now with a relatively low payroll. That’s fine with me.
On the other hand, Hicks has shown a willingness to spend big money if he believes the benefit outweighs the cost (which he has not always been right about).
Getting a headache because of an isolated number, rather than a contextual sense of how the money is being spent, seems pretty futile to me.
by brettgardner on Jun 12, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
I think it's a mixture of that
maybe one last chance to make Teixeira part of that core going forward, or maybe they just got cold feet.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jun 12, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
brettgardner: reread Jamey's email
what was step 1? divest at the top, the whole plan is built around the premise that you trade away a star and start building with the returns of trade.
Teix was the central element to step 1, if this process is believed to have been in place. He can’t be considered part of the step 4 if he is the central element in step 1.
You are smarter than this.
"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
All teams
are trying to be in steps 2-5 continuously most of the time (except Houston, which seems to be locked in steps 4-5). Going to step 1 to start over is the toughest decision a franchise can make. It is most definitely not impossible to keep a player of Teixeira’s caliber and still embark on the plan, it’s just much, much harder because you don’t have your biggest trade chip and you have to increase payroll. NYY and BOS can do this, TX probably cannot sustain a $100M plus payroll and still afford step 2 adequately. I suspect that at that time Hicks and Daniels might have been tempted to try, though.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Ugh.
Levine has referred to this phase of the plan as a "strategic teardown," a move to part with a very popular but overly expensive player – whether because he’s past his prime (Murphy was 34) or overpaid based on his productivity – no matter what the P.R. implications might be.
Tex was neither past his prime nor overpaid based on his productivity. In fact, the Rangers believed he was worth a lot more than he was making at the time. He was traded because it became painfully clear that he would not re-sign with Texas. Thus, he doesn’t fit the traditional “divest at the top” paradigm Levine describes. The reality is a bit more complicated, as it tends to be. It can’t always fit into “Step 1” and “Step 2.”
I believe that was a scenario of trying to lock down a core guy, which failed, and then moving on to “divest at the top” by getting the maximum return possible at that point, not because he wasn’t worth the investment, but because a group of prospects was better than relying on one compensatory pick.
And please, spare me any future douchy comments if you actually want to engage in conversation.
by brettgardner on Jun 12, 2009 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions
But it was well before the Teixeira injury, and the milestone draft, that Daniels and Levine and their crew of advisors had taken a close look at Step One of the five-step plan and determined, with management’s green light, that Teixeira was going to be the subject of a difficult, unpopular decision.
"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
Cool
You confirmed what I just said.
Awesome!
by brettgardner on Jun 12, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions
You aren't as smart as I thought you were
…and not nearly as smart as YOU think you are.
Anyways, I’m moving along.
"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
Cool.
Feel free to continue being a douchebag with banal insights. If you’re ever feeling saucy again, please drop by and leave a comment about my intelligence.
by brettgardner on Jun 12, 2009 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe one way of looking at it
is that Teixeira was more valuable traded than staying. He wasn’t overpaid in terms of productivity nor particularly expensive. But he was far more valuable to a team near contention than the Rangers who were far away from contention. When a guys “trade value” is that much greater than his “build around value,” you’re far better off dealing him.
So in that respect, Teixeira was a Step 1 move. But I agree the “overpaid/expensive” labels are inappropriate.
Go Rice Owls!
My main reaction
Completing Step 3 will go a long ways to addressing Step 5.
The lineup lacks OBP, correct.
Might a healthy Max and/or Smoak address that?
Neither will get 750 ABs this year, but they will by next year’s trade deadline. And the only payroll cost (vis a vis Martinez or Hawpe) is sitting Blalock.
I’d still be willing to part with Max in a package for a BP arm or a starter. Even in that event, it makes sense to play Smoak before 2010, mixing him in at DH and 1B with Davis (or swapping him for Davis around the ASB).
"[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 12, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm not all that excited about Hawpe.
Though, I did wonder if the reports from KLaw that the Rangers were sniffing around on Street (it was KLaw, wasn’t it?) actually was misguided and the Rangers were really there watching Hawpe. If they were actually watching Colorado. I didn’t read the report, so I don’t know if it was in response to someone seeing Rangers scouts in attendance at Rockies game.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
It was Stark
"[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 12, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions
Because, unlike some of these schmucks
Hawpe actually gets on base. And does it at a pretty frequent clip.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
He's been a pretty reliable 12-13% walk rate guy, which is very good.
But as usual you have to look at the home/road splits of an Rockies hitter and be a little worried.
1.247 home ops this year.
.884 road.
Though it’s worth noting that over the last three years combined he’s .915 at home and .889 on the road.
Just don’t get him thinking he’s anything but a DH. Fangraphs has him at -37.2 last year. That’s beyond terrible. I think I could literally do better than that, and I’m just some dude.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions
When's the last time you calculated your on-base percentage?
Not talking about with the ladies…
"[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 12, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions
When we're talking about getting an OBP guy...
Why are we checking out his OPS?? The discussion wasn’t about getting another slugger.
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
Sigh...
I honestly don’t know how to respond to lazy like this.
You don’t think the two are related?
Fine, jackass.
.493 obp at home.
.364 away.
Happy, pappy?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions
lazy *logic*.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes, I am now......
and I’ll take a .364 road OBP thank you very much.
Thanks for showing that he’s a good pickup.
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
From a DH?
Did you read the bit about his Kevin Reimer-esque defense?
What would you do with Hank when you’re facing a righty?
Say what you will about this team’s need to take more pitches, Hankles and his mid .900’s OPS versus righties shouldn’t be sitting.
And to say that because “we need an OBP guy” we should completely ignore things like his slugging and his other contributions/limitations is ignorant ,myopic, and stupid.
You should stop being those things if possible.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I will when you stop being an pompous ass...
which should give me quite a while before I have to change.
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
So you'll stop being dumb when I stop pointing out when you're being dumb.
Seems like it’d be a lot easier for you to simply stop being dumb, but, what do I know?
I’m just a pompous ass.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Do you think this offense
as currently constructed can make it to the playoffs? I am not sure they can with Blalock and AJ as their DH.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
I think an AJ/Blalock platoon at DH and a Myrd/Murphy platoon in LF will be perfectly fine assuming Hambone doesn't rush back and actually comes back fully healthy.
Blalock hits the crap out of righties. (.273 .326 .602 .928 )
The only problem is Jones. He was great out of the gate but stumbled quite a bit in May and so far in June. Assuming he can be decent against lefties I have no problem with this.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 12, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah. I'm much more interested in Johnson.
In part, because the Rangers wouldn’t have to have Johnson next year. I don’t want Hawpe for anything more than a stretch run, and even then he’s not a good fit with all of the OFers already on the roster. In the case of Johnson, if CD gets injured or demoted, Johnson can at least stand at 1B and catch a ball or a grounder.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
Cool Write-up in the USA Today Sports Section by Paul White
No ‘magic pills’ for sputtering, nicked-up Angels
This is where the American League West race was supposed to change. Pardon the Texas Rangers if they’re not paying attention to the script.
The division-leading Rangers, in fact, are sticking with their new pitching-and-defense theme and if any changes are coming in the division race, that’s apparently something the Los Angeles Angels are going to deal with.
“There’s no magic pills of guys getting healthy,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Thursday after an 11-1 loss at Tampa Bay that dropped his team back to .500 and into a second-place tie with Seattle, 4 1/2 games behind the Rangers.
The guys getting healthy are members of the Angels rotation, but that’s hardly been the consistent answer the team was hoping for. Starting pitchers John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvin Escobar began the season on the disabled list. When they returned, or so the conventional wisdom went, all would be well.
Oh, and Texas couldn’t possibly continue to win as much because of its pitching and defense as with its vaunted offense — like in Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Toronto. That was just Texas’ fourth 1-0 win in the 16 seasons in their hitter-friendly home ballpark.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: New York Yankees | New York Mets | Chicago White Sox | Philadelphia Phillies | Texas Rangers | Toronto Blue Jays | MLB World Series | Mike Scioscia | Athletics | Torii Hunter | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Ron Washington | Coco Crisp | Josh Hamilton | Mark DeRosa | Kenny Rogers | John Lackey | Kevin Millwood | Jered Weaver | Ervin Santana | Kelvim Escobar | Joel Zumaya | Cody Ross | Joe Saunders | Shin-Soo Choo | Raúl Ibáñez
Kevin Millwood blanked the Blue Jays for 7 2/3 innings, lowering his earned run average to 2.72. That’s uncharted territory in Texas, where no starter has finished a season with an ERA under 3.00 since the stadium opened and only five sub-4.00 seasons have been posted by a member of a Rangers rotation — three of them by Kenny Rogers.
“We’re going to get it together offensively,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said of his team, still fifth in the league in runs per game and second in homers despite having center fielder Josh Hamilton on the disabled list and first baseman Chris Davis batting just .205 and leading the league in strikeouts (88 in 57 games).
Right now, the likelihood of the Rangers snapping out of a funk that has seen them score 11 runs in the past five games looks better than the Angels finding that consistent pitching.
Santana, making his sixth start of a season that began late for him because of an elbow injury, was Thursday’s loser for the Angels, not surviving the fifth inning and bumping his ERA up to 7.47. John Lackey, whose season also started late because of injury, is 1-2, 6.61 in his first six starts. And Escobar’s return is taking a detour to the bullpen.
Escobar, whose start last weekend was his first in the major leagues since shoulder surgery last July, continues to have discomfort in the shoulder and Scioscia says medical reports indicate Escobar hasn’t recovered sufficiently to be able to handle the pitch counts necessary for a starter.
So, he’ll be limited to pitching in relief, probably for the rest of the season. That puts Matt Palmer, who was 5-0 as a fill-in, back in the rotation.
Thursday’s loss was another example of the inconsistency and uncertainty surrounding the Angels pitchers. Santana came within one out of a complete game in his previous outing, a 2-1 victory at Detroit. That after allowing a combined 15 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings in back-to-back home starts.
Beyond the results, Santana said he couldn’t pinpoint the difference from the Detroit game to Thursday’s performance.
But Scioscia sees plenty — about his entire team — and he’s not happy. Nor is he particularly patient at this point. He held a post-game meeting Thursday, the contents of which center fielder Torii Hunter described as “well-deserved” and then the manager told reporters, “If the guys in that room aren’t going to do it, then we’re going to have to look at some changes. … It’s an ongoing thing. … We’re failing miserably in many areas.”
Still, until the starting pitching steadies, making up ground on Texas will be difficult. If not for Jered Weaver, whose 2.31 ERA is third in the AL, the Angels would be struggling evern more mightily to keep up. Instead of Lackey, Santana and Escobar, the current “Big 3” in Anaheim is Weaver, Joe Saunders (6-4, 3.94) and Palmer.
The Angels’ next 15 games are against National League West teams but when that stretch ends, it’s off to Texas and the first 16 games that remain against the Rangers.
How much will have changed by then?
Josey
Have you ever gone to one of the many Q&A sessions Daniels does during the year? Why don’t you confront hima nd ask him all the tough questions you want? He’s usually very good about answering honestly, no matter the subject.
That would require him to come out from behind a computer and ask a REAL person a tough questions face to face.
There are many people that do this. I was there last year and JD welcomed many questions that were “why did you do this bc it so obviously failed”. He answered them as best he could. I can promise you that there are not too many GMs out there that will do what JD does on Newberg night! It is one of the coolest experiences i have ever had as a ranger fan!!!
Elvis has "shook up" Arlington!!
From "Rumblings and Grumblings" on ESPN.com
• On Nelson Cruz: “I never was a Nelson Cruz fan, but I’ve got to give the guy credit. He’s made himself a better hitter. He’s always had power. I never denied the power. He’s hit some of the longest home runs, off mistakes, that I’ve ever seen. But they were mostly off mistakes. But he’s made adjustments, and he looks like a different hitter. I look forward to seeing more of him.”
Drunk White Girls.
Wow, that was an instant classic. LOL
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
IKE on the Ticket,
NOW!
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Ian
i like what he said about fans paying attention and not doing the wave in the 9th when up by 1 run
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Bleah...phone call right before he came on.
I caught the last 15 secs.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
he thanked larry walker
that was good times
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
BoogPowell
So, if you’ve listed what you think the holes are in the current roster I missed them in the epic discussion with Josey. What are your thoughts on what the team’s missing?
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
Someone to get them to take pitches.
That’s going to be their biggest weakness. I think they have hitting talent but their hitters waste their talent many times. So I agree with most of you about that. What you guys call small ball we used to call team hitting, and the Rangers don’t do anything to move runners along when they get them. It seems like every guy they have swings hard until they’re way down in the count and the pitcher owns the at-bat at that point.
Other than that, I think their starters are eventually going to come back to Earth and the team’s bullpen might be a little questionable. If they were scoring runs it wouldn’t be as big as an issue…its not like I’m saying the rotation will just collapse. Late in the year I just don’t see the team changing their hitting approach. They will stick with what they’re doing now and unless they end up with a bunch of guys slugging homers everywhere I just don’t see them making up for the pitching troubles.
The one area that this team is very strong is in its defense. I don’t think that will change and if it does, it may be because Young improves at 3rd. They are fun to watch.
Jaramillo
How much would you say he’s truly responsible for the team’s impatience at the plate?
"[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 12, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions
The play where Elvis went into the stands and got the foul pop
behind Michael sort of says it all. It was a classic baseball story in an instant.
A kid comes in at 20 years old and moves a veteran off his position. The veteran has worked his ass off for years and has made the most of his talent, but he’s just not as good as the kid. Michael knew when it happened, and he was embarrassed, but as he does with just about everything, he took it well, pulled Elvis out of the stands, and gave him a pat on the butt.
Baseball is such a great soap opera. That’s what I tell my wife when the game comes on…it’s time for my stories. I think I’ll always remember that play.
yeah I though there were some interesting subtleties to that play
Face kinda tip toed over there and didn’t really appear interested in actually making the play, while Andrus had a bead on the ball the whole way and looked like he wasn’t about to let a little thing like a concrete wall stop him from making an out on the play.
"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
It was shameless Jeets-copying.....
but I did notice the same thing about MY. He did a good job of letting that fan box him out, whereas Elvis crashed the boards from half court.
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
I thought it was even cooler...
that the fan was holding onto him to make sure he didn’t drop the ball after he caught it.
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