The Ranger offense in June
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 18, 2009 1:00 PM CDT
142 comments
| AVG | OBP | SLG | |
| David Murphy | .319 | .347 | .468 |
| Nelson Cruz | .216 | .298 | .510 |
| Ian Kinsler | .246 | .302 | .491 |
| Michael Young | .276 | .323 | .379 |
| Hank Blalock | .219 | .306 | .344 |
| Marlon Byrd | .255 | .288 | .340 |
| Chris Davis | .222 | .271 | .333 |
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia | .216 | .256 | .297 |
| Andruw Jones | .138 | .161 | .345 |
| Elvis Andrus | .129 | .270 | .129 |
| Entire Team | .232 | .285 | .377 |
So, that is the Ranger offense in June so far, sorted by OPS. I listed guys with at least 29 ABs...adding the bench makes things worse, not better.
I don't think I had grasped how bad the offense has been this month until I looked at this. Murphy and Cruz are barely above 800, Kinsler just below 800.
The next highest OPS on the team in June is Michael Young, at 702. No one else is above 650.
Good grief.
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Get on base or die, Salty.
"If you can't watch Holland and see that he's going to be awesome, you probably shouldn’t be watching baseball."
-Section 339
by lonestarJon on Jun 18, 2009 1:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
And of course
Get on base or die, Salty.
"If you can't watch Holland and see that he's going to be awesome, you probably shouldn’t be watching baseball."
-Section 339
by lonestarJon on Jun 18, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nick Johnson and Gerald Laird
Ugly dudes.
by cmkelly29 on Jun 18, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Josh Willingham kinda looks like the guy who plays Cromartie on the Sarah Connor Chronicles though.
That fact alone would energize our offense, I just know it.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"If you can't watch Holland and see that he's going to be awesome, you probably shouldn’t be watching baseball."
-Section 339
by lonestarJon on Jun 18, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Two completely different kind of nerds at odds here.
And no, Willingham looks nothing like “Beastmaster” Cromartie.
by JBP on Jun 18, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ahahaha
Two completely different kind of nerds at odds here.
Nothing like a nerd that will step in between and fix the problem. =)
¡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 18, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
who is THAT
Dukes?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 18, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nick Johnson
Great plan.
Now you just have to figure out who you are going to go get to replace him a month later when he’s out for the season with an injury.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 18, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Easy
Blalock. Oh, wait.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jun 18, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you could get those 2
to synchronize their DL visits …
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And give each of them a 3 year, $30 million extension
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 18, 2009 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
After trading
Davis plus a pitching prosect away for the privilege.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jun 18, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think anyone is seriously advocating trading Davis for Johnson
But I fully advocate sending Davis to AAA if you could acquire Johnson at a reasonable price.
It is very likely that Johnson puts up significantly better numbers than Davis for the balance of 2009.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
I’d assume you could get Johnson cheaper than that, but maybe they hold out for more.
At any rate, barring some miraculous change to Davis’ bat, I don’t see a big issue in sending him down if you can line up another bat to fill the lineup. This team has to get offense from somewhere, and 1B is the obvious place to do it.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wish we could go ahead and do the Saito-Blalock deal
by tyd3311 on Jun 18, 2009 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No shit. Saito is nasty.
¡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 18, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Josey
said in another thread that he’d trade “Crush Davis plus whatever else it took” to get Johnson.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jun 18, 2009 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whatever
No one serious. And I guess that is where the 3 year / 30 million extension came from?
You should stop encouraging Adam to straw man everyone’s arguments by projecting Josey’s logic upon them.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Adam's strawmen
are often entertaining though.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're missing the point of my post entirely
My post was referring to that other thread and a specific series of posts I knew Adam would recognize. I made a throwaway joke post and you’re taking it seriously for some reason.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jun 18, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm taking out my frustrations with Adam
on you t ball. And I’m sorry for that.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Understood,
but Adam is taking out his frustration with the idea that Nick Johnson is going to fix a slumping offense. I tend to agree with him. Johnson would be nice to have, but at what price? Probably better to just wait out the slump if it’s too high. Wait for Smoak and/or Max, Johnson and his hospital frequent fliers’ card don’t seem worth the prospects it might take.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jun 18, 2009 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Johnson would fit in great here
He’d be a huge boost to this offense.
Of course none of that matters if the other 8 guys in the lineup still play like crap.
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
by Gdawg on Jun 18, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think Johnson is needed to fix a slumping offense
I think Johnson is needed to fix an offense that, even when “on,” cannot get on base. It isn’t ridiculous to say that OBP is a weakness of this team as currently constructed.
Johnson would be a valuable contributor to most offenses around the league. Saying that he’ll probably cost too much is a reasonable reason not to trade him, but no one is really saying that. It seems more likely, to me, that Adam, as well as many other people, is that they don’t want to see the team give up on Chris Davis for the rest of the season, and trading for Johnson essentially means doing that (since Blalock isn’t going anywhere).
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't want to give up on Davis yet
I’d give him until the ASB since some of his at bats lately have looked better, but he needs to start producing. And I’d rather have Johnson that rush Smoak unless they feel Smoak is really ready right now. The price is what concerns me, since Johnson really does have a ridiculous injury history.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jun 18, 2009 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't be too sure about Blalock not going anywhere
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
by Gdawg on Jun 18, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
JD is going to have
to pay someone to take him.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 18, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There was that Saito deal not too long ago
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
by Gdawg on Jun 18, 2009 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep,
I’ve posted the June stats a couple of times. Its almost unbelievable how bad the bats have been. Thank God you are posting them after the Astros series, they were even grimmer before.
One of the reasons I am confident with this team. This team may have offensive issues, but they aren’t as bad as we have seen this month. It’s just an amazing team wide slump.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yep, it will get better
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Jun 18, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you.
"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 18, 2009 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bad thing is
I think we are seeing the real Andruw Jones and he is being hidden by all the other terrirle June performances.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 18, 2009 1:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Why is it that people jump to the assumption that a bad month from Andruw Jones
is “the real Andruw Jones”
But three bad months of Davis and Saltalamacchia are nothing to do anything about?
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Might have something to do with the reason why Jones is here in the first place.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"If you can't watch Holland and see that he's going to be awesome, you probably shouldn’t be watching baseball."
-Section 339
by lonestarJon on Jun 18, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because he is still
even with the slump, a much better option than the worthless Cat?
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, because he was one of the worst players in baseball last year and LA ate his contract to get rid of him.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"If you can't watch Holland and see that he's going to be awesome, you probably shouldn’t be watching baseball."
-Section 339
by lonestarJon on Jun 18, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And yet
Davis has an almost identical OBP as Jones had last year, in an almost identical number of PAs as Jones had last year, yet folks figure he is going to snap out of it and become a long term asset for this club.
So I am amazed that some folks can’t believe you can have a small sample hiccup in the road in one case, and then say that another case is absolutely a small sample hiccup.
Maybe folks spend too much time making dino pictures and not enough time thinking.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm glad you wrote that response
I was about to post the nearly identical OBP numbers, but opted not to. And your post was far more snide.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was inspired
by finnerty.fans fine posting in Newberg’s post.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It might have something to do with the fact that Davis is 23 and Jones is 32 and at the end of his prime
But whatever. I am starting to come around to the fact that Davis needs to go down, FWIW. I’m giving him till the end of the month to seriously turn things around before I jump aboard the bandwagon with you though.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"If you can't watch Holland and see that he's going to be awesome, you probably shouldn’t be watching baseball."
-Section 339
by lonestarJon on Jun 18, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jones
He had a 505 OPS last season.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 18, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So, you are telling me
that the sample size for Jones last year is enough to make a determination?
In that case, let’s send CD down to learn to hit, because we have enough of a sample size on him.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
His point
Is that you can pick and choose stats to make any player look awful (and with Chris Davis, it isn’t that hard). Saying that Jones has regressed to his 2008 form because of a slumping June where he has been as bad as almost everyone else on this team is silly.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
x
I don’t think his point was to illustrate the fact that you can cherrypick stats and make them support your argument.
by FuturePants on Jun 18, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My point was
that regardless of your SLG, 250 OBP is unacceptable, and won’t keep you with a major league roster spot long. However, in both players cases, we are only talking about 250 PAs, so there is a chance its just a bump in the road.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What if your SLG was 1.000
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
by Gdawg on Jun 18, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now see, there you go..
making everyone look up from their charts and tables for a sec. Shame on you. :-0
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 18, 2009 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Huh?
One bad month and three bad months?
There’s only been two and a half months of the season. Jones has been bad for one and a half of those months. Davis and Salty have been bad two and a half.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 18, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sorry my rounding isn't as precise as yours
Jones has only really been bad since May 30th. He was amazing for April, okay for the rest of May. But I guess we can split hairs however we like to support our claims.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
That’s hardly a “huh?”-worthy distinction.
by brettgardner on Jun 18, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Go checkout AJ's
2007 and 2008 seasons. And why bring up CD and Salty. Different players. Different positions. Different points in thier careers.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 18, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
but roughly
the same number of PAs as Jones had last year.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What, Andruw Jones was bad last year?
I had no idea. Gee. People look at past performance?
Go check out Andruw Jones’s April and then check out Chris Davis’s historically bad year.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Imagine what Davis' June would look like without those two multi hit games on the road
OUCH
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Jun 18, 2009 1:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Imagine what Kinsler's would look like without the Houston series.
by Athos on Jun 18, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Equally as bad
Although Kinsler hasn’t been atrocious the entire season so a couple good games aren’t the abberation that Davis’ are
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Jun 18, 2009 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
look at it this way
it can’t get any worse.
can it?
Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!
by SteveP on Jun 18, 2009 1:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think this bodes well
We can’t be this bad… the track record for everyone on the roster is better than this month and yet we haven’t tanked and slipped to 10 games under. We’re holding to .500 ball with a team wide slump/struggle. As the offense improves, as it has to based on history alone, then we’re looking at some fun times! We just have to hope that if we have a pitching slump that it comes when the offense is cranking.
by bstair on Jun 18, 2009 1:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
my sentiments exactly.
If August comes and we’re STILL slumping this bad, then I’ll look at these numbers and weep.
but the fact that we’re still clinging to a division lead, albeit a small one, is quite uplifting.
I say our offense will be to full strength in late july, but our pitchers won’t be doing as good.
and then come late september, all the way through october, all 3 aspects of the game will be firing on all cylinders.
by downsetgo on Jun 18, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, it's actually nice.
.500 ball used to be if everything was clicking. Now it is cause for alarm.
by bhudson on Jun 18, 2009 1:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
OT -- But, did Davis walk up to the plate with "my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard" last night?!
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on Jun 18, 2009 1:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, C.J. said he needed a change
So someone sent him to the plate with that.
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
I'm an Andrus-caliber catch. :-)
by baseballismyboyfriend on Jun 18, 2009 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So...a thong. That song. Handlebar mustache.
I believe we are watching the homo-ification of Chris Davis right before our very eyes.
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on Jun 18, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Could be why BBiMB dumped him..
Maybe she saw it coming….
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 18, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
what's BBiMB?
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on Jun 18, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
baseball is my boyfriend
who NOT what ha
by Michael Cave on Jun 18, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm...DUMB.
I knew that
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on Jun 18, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We may be going for a second round
I’m not completely over him
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
I'm an Andrus-caliber catch. :-)
by baseballismyboyfriend on Jun 18, 2009 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good pitching retires this offense.
Hindman hit on a partial fix in the podcast, and the timing is good.
If Justin Smoak’s healthy, bring him up.
The time it takes to figure whether he’s healthy is time enough to learn whether Davis needs AAA.
"[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 18, 2009 1:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Also Longoria's 1st 100 AB's.
Smoak isn’t guaranteed to be a quick fix
by tyd3311 on Jun 18, 2009 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But if you look at his first 75 or so ABs
he was a 900+ OPS guy.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its tough to see
Smoak giving the team less than CD has with a bat.
I assume he’ll at least make fairly consistent contact, albeit with less power. His BB and K rates look much healthier long term.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm just saying, there will most likely be an adjustment period
And the actual difference will probably be pretty minimal at first. Could pay off in August/September, though.
by tyd3311 on Jun 18, 2009 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When the alternative
is giving you bad and declining performance I don’’t see it being an issue. The worst part of the Davis story is that he is basicly not really getting any better, and in fact his OPS is going backwards.
April 0.200 /0.273 /0.429 0.701
May 0.189 /0.238 /0.442 0.680
June 0.222 /0.271 /0.333 0.604
living through an adjustment period doesn’t seem to daunting.
The adjustment period isn’t a bad deal.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm for bringing up Smoak only if Smoak is ready based on Smoak's development
I’m not for rushing Smoak up because Chris Davis is struggling.
So if Smoak is ready, let’s do it.
by tyd3311 on Jun 18, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In the past I would agree
But not this year. This year the Rangers have a strong chance of winning the division. So if you need to rush someone to make the team better and help win the division, do it this year. If it doesn’t work out, send him back to AAA and try someone else.
by Mark from OC on Jun 18, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we are nearing the point
where we need to start making decisions about what is best for the ML team, rather than individual prospects. We look to be situated squarely in a pennant race and getting a productive bat at 1b needs to be a priority. If Borbon and Feliz and Smoak can reasonably be expected to provide more value to the ML team than the players that they would be replacing, then it’s almost time to start getting those guys up here. Winning the West this year would be a pretty big deal.
And I don’t see how facing ML pitching a few months ahead of schedule could do any harm to Smoak anyway.
"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 18, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't see JD
making a trade to “fix” the 1B or DH problems. I think Borbon gets called up shortly after the deadline and Hamilton gets significant ABs as the DH.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 18, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not saying that we shouldn't look at winning the division this year
but based off the interviews and Q&A’s with JD that we’ve seen, it looks like he’s putting the future and development of the players ahead of this year and winning the division.
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
by Gdawg on Jun 18, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
do you think it would hinder the development of Justin Smoak
for him to be in the ML this season?
"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 18, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think if they felt Smoak wasn't quite ready,
I’d be down for throwing Max out there and see if he sticks.
by tyd3311 on Jun 18, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you,
please please please send Max up before Smoak.
beneath the paving stones, the beach!
by oklib77 on Jun 18, 2009 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't say for sure
I’d trust the team to make the right call on that one, but we’re talking about a guy who has had 55 minor league games to his name and is now DL’d with an oblique strain. That’s being pretty aggressive with a guy and asking a lot from him. You’re not putting him in that good of a position to succeed.
I don’t think it would ultimately cripple him in any way, but it takes away some 40 man flexibility and more importantly, doesn’t allow the team to sneak that extra year out of Smoak next season. Again though, if the team calls him up, that’s a strong sign of how they feel about him and being able to handle the Majors.
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
by Gdawg on Jun 18, 2009 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope this is not true
The Rangers have their best chance to win a division in many years. The future and development of the players is not as important as winning the divison.
by Mark from OC on Jun 18, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What?
The future and development of the players is not as important as winning the divison.
Im sorry but huh?
The way this club and its farm system are set up we are not looking at a one year wonder. The division would be nice this year and I am all for doing whatever it takes to win it EXCEPT for doing something that will hurt the long term outlook on it. Just like I would not trade Feliz or Smoak or Perez for a 3 month rental I would not rush anyone either. If they are ready thats a different story but if they aren’t I would rather keep them in the minors and go acquire someone who is ready.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Jun 18, 2009 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I completely disagree
If Feliz, Smoak, or Perez are better than someone currently on the roster, they need to be on the 25 the 2nd half of the year. If they succeed they will have an incredible first major league experience on a pennant winning team. If they fail, they will get another shot in spring training. It’s all about winning when you can win, within reasonable limits – obviously you aren’t going to pitch your best starter every 3rd game; however, when it comes to the playoffs, that’s what teams do.
by Mark from OC on Jun 18, 2009 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This club looks to be in contention for several years to come
Not just this one. Trading away guys like Smoak, Feliz, and Perez would diminish that long term outlook. I have gone long enough without the playoffs that I can wait another year if I have to if it means we are in a position to compete for 5 or 6 years in a row. This year has been great don’t get me wrong and i would love to see us in the playoofs this year. But I would love it more to see us in the playoffs and world series’ for the next 5 or 6 years with guys like Feliz, Smoak, and Perez even if that means we miss the playoffs this year
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Jun 18, 2009 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought that
person would be Holland or Feliz, & honestly, they don’t look like the Championship phenoms like K-Rod & Lackey were for the Angels when they won the title.
I just don’t believe we have anybody like that in AAA or AA, incl Smoak. Any Ranger playoff appearance or success this year will be helped, I believe, by a deadline trade, i.e. John Burkett in 1996.
beneath the paving stones, the beach!
by oklib77 on Jun 18, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Coddling your young kids is all well and good when you’re not contending. But there isn’t anything wrong with fielding your best 25 man team when you’re into the 2nd half of the year in contention.
And right now Chris Davis is not one of the 25 best players in this organization (or 13 best position players, at least). Smoak may well be. If you have good reason to believe he is the better option at 1b, then you have to seriously consider using him.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
1B solution
1. Send Davis down to Frisco over the ASB. Let him DH there and work with a different hitting coach. If he gets his swing and confidence back in those 2 weeks then bring him back up. He could only miss 10 games.
2. Hank plays 1B while CD is gone. Maybe playing fulltime gets him going.
3. If Hank and CD are still struggling, trade for a firstbaseman.
4. While one, two and three are on going, Justin Smoak needs to prove he is healthy and hopefully get some AAA at bats. If one, two and three fail, bring up Smoak.
5. If 1-4 fail: Royce Huffman
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 18, 2009 1:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I generally agree with this
I see no advantage of “waiting out” Chris Davis. You have to do something. I suspect that Davis won’t need that long if it is just a confidence issue (and if it isn’t a confidence issue and something more substantial, he needs to be in the minors anyway).
I’m pretty sure the world won’t end if Hank mans 1b, and he may well do better by playing regularly.
The sooner they do this the better – best to know if you need to trade for a 1b earlier rather than later when the price may go up.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its especially not worth waiting out
when his OPS is showing a month to month decrease. There aren’t many signs that anything is turning it around at the major league level.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
5. If 1-4 fail:
Eat 9mm.
"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 18, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i hope Huffman gets a September callup
he deserves a taste of MLB
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Jun 18, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's real sweet, but were trying to win a division
by tyd3311 on Jun 18, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the 40th man on the roster
does little to help or hurt a team in the playoff hunt.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Jun 18, 2009 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you time it right Davis would only miss about 7 games
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Jun 18, 2009 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you guys think Salty is relieved to have Chris Davis on the team?
Salty would be getting the brunt of the criticism of Davis was playing better.
They’ve both been garbage offensively.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Jun 18, 2009 1:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I can't see how Ranger fans aren't used to it.
As Rangers:
Rod Barajas .253/.294/.444 OPS .738
Gerald Laird .255/.306/.383 OPS .689
Salty This year. .247/.298/.391 OPS .689
Its eerie how similar those numbers are. Outside of Rod Barajas having 50 or so more points of slugging, they are essentially the same.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fine, but
Salty has more offensive potential than either of those guys had and he’s still young (especially for a catcher). What I’ve noticed, though, is that catchers who spend a lot of time working on their defense seem to slump at the plate. Maybe Salty’s bat picks up over the next year as he gets more comfortable with his habits on defense?
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jun 18, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, the memories
of endless post after post about why Buck should be fired for preferring to play Popup.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 18, 2009 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Same song, different verse isn't it??
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
by bking on Jun 18, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What was funny about Adam leading the
villagers with their torches was that he championed Laird, who was basicly worse in his time here.
That generally is a recurring theme with fan sites. The young and unknown are always better than the old and thouroughly average.
For all the hating of all 3 at times, average for a C is pretty much .255/.320/.400 or thereabouts. Saltalamacchia is simply not that far below average this year. This year he is .255/.306/.383 OPS .689 and league average is .254/.317/.404 OPS .720. He gets a big power game or 2 and he is probably league average.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Young and unknown is better than old and thouroughly average
When you aren’t really competing.
And of course, Laird was hitting much, much better than Rod that 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
by Gdawg on Jun 18, 2009 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the problem with young and unknown
is that they are usually “Young and full of suck” when they are adjusting to MLB. That’s why managers normally stick with old and thoroughly average when their job is on the line, and it usually is.
"Go post a dinosaur in a gameday thread."-Finnerty.Fan
by DJCahill on Jun 18, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can understand that from a manager's perspective though disagree with it from a fan's (or GM's) perspective
In the specific Laird vs. PopUp argument, Laird was playing much better. If Buck wanted to save his job, playing the better player at that time would have helped them out more.
Of course, nothing was going to save Buck’s job short of a playoff berth.
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
by Gdawg on Jun 18, 2009 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but look at the
amazing strides he has made behind the plate. I had more faith in Davis’ upside than Salty’s in March. It is June & Davis looks like Dave Hostetler now, & I think Salty will improve. Salty might not be as good as advertised but I think he could be a serious fixture here.
beneath the paving stones, the beach!
by oklib77 on Jun 18, 2009 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A co-worker asked me today if Nelson Cruz is in a contract year
I said “no,” but then I second guessed myself. Is he?
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
I'm an Andrus-caliber catch. :-)
by baseballismyboyfriend on Jun 18, 2009 1:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Through 2013 I believe
He only had a little more than a year of service time coming into 09
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on Jun 18, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is right
He’s a free agent 2014 per Scott Lucas’ website…
But tyd3311 is effectively correct, the last three years of those he’s playing for next year’s money (unless the team buys out some arb years.).
by bhudson on Jun 18, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for all the responses
Said co-worker was just stunned because Cruz has doubled his HR total from last year. I told him that could be because he wasn’t in the majors the whole season last year.
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
I'm an Andrus-caliber catch. :-)
by baseballismyboyfriend on Jun 18, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was Davis's swing this 'long' last year?
Jim Deshaies commented on how long CD’s swing was last night and it looks that way to me too. It looks like he’s not able to catch up with even moderate fastballs, but last year his bat looked so quick. What happened?
by jcAustin on Jun 18, 2009 2:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Instruction
From Rudy
"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 18, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually
Without the dismal quip – it’s like golf. If you think about your swing when you are trying to execute a good swing, you are hosed. I’d bet he’s thinking about what to do, about watching each ptich more carefully, etc. Thinking too much when in the box is usually a bad thing.
"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 18, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ugly.
pretty amazing feat to be in 1st still…with a bit of a cushion
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 18, 2009 2:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Sub 400 ops for elvis there
ouch
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on Jun 18, 2009 2:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Elvis is the last player I focus on when it comes to offensive numbers
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Jun 18, 2009 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not complaining, just observing...
the preceding post was a great success.
by DSheppard on Jun 18, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
offense
more like offensive.
I can’t believe no one’s thought of that.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Jun 18, 2009 3:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe everyone had their dad joke filters engaged...
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 18, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah
It would just lead to posting the primary offenders and making a “most wanted” list (again). Deduction deja vu.
"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 18, 2009 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a minor
miracle that they haven’t lost more tha two games in a row during this stretch.
"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels
by Randy Richardson on Jun 19, 2009 1:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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