Wednesday a.m. Rangers things
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 9:28 AM CDT
235 comments
So, yeah...at this point, I don't know what there is to say. Before, at least, you could say, the pitching and defense was there, but the bats just weren't going. Yesterday was awful all around.
Jeff Wilson says that, with the struggles of the offense, the Rangers needed a strong outing from Matt Harrison, but what they got was one of his worst starts of the season. While Matt Harrison's ERA on the year is now 6.11, he does have a FIP of just over 5.
T.R. Sullivan has an article up about Rudy Jaramillo's take on the offense:
Hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo has heard all the theories about what ails the Rangers offense. He sees the same things others see.The hitters are not patient enough at the plate. They try to pull everything instead of going the opposite direction. They swing at breaking balls and offspeed pitches that are nowhere close to the strike zone. They miss Josh Hamilton.
"I hear it all," Jaramillo said. "I've only been doing this 19 years. We've always made adjustments and will continue to make adjustments."
For Jaramillo, it all comes down to one thing. He is blunt about it. The Rangers are messed up mentally.
Evan Grant touched on one of the repeated problems the hitters have had in his game blog last night:
The word going around baseball right now is that the Rangers are the easiest team in the league to pitch to. If you get in trouble, just throw a changeup. They’ll chase.
Jeff Wilson also has a story up about the struggling offense, with Rudy Jaramillo being quoted in there as saying that if he were an opposing pitcher, he wouldn't throw the Rangers a strike, highlighting the impatient approach the Rangers hitters have had.
Jon Daniels says that if the Rangers make a move, it will likely be for bullpen help. There's also some discussion in that piece about Matt Purke's status and Chris Davis's struggles.
Kevin Millwood and Derek Holland are flip-flopping spots in the rotation this weekend, giving Holland an extra day of rest and Millwood the opportunity to make four starts prior to the All-Star Break, rather than just three.
0 recs |
235 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Harrison's line looked bad
I didn’t see/hear the game, but I imagine it wasn’t pretty. But at least he got a walk. His OBP is .500. He should get the prime locker in road clubhouses from now on just for that.
Of course, he could have pitched a complete game giving up only 3 runs and still would have lost…
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 9:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Harrison looked awful.
He was all over the place with his fastball — the walks weren’t even close.
When he did get it over, it was a crap-shoot as to whether it would be on the side of the plate he was actually throwing to.
He just generally looked like he wasn’t in sync with his release point.
by Trickman on Jun 24, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm not sure if it matters
but I think TT should be his catcher again.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Harrison really needs TT as his catcher to pitch well, he's even more of a headcase than I've been starting to think
But yeah, headcase gets what headcase needs.
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 24, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is there really much downside
in giving him TT? Its not like Salty is setting the world on fire.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really
But I hate to see a guy get it into his head that he needs a personal caddy or his game will fall apart. What happens if TT gets injured or traded?
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 24, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What if it isn't that Harry needs TT
What if it is Salty that has the problem? Maybe Salty has more trouble with younger pitchers who need more guidance (Harry, Holland)
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe so, who knows
I don’t subscribe much to the idea that who the catcher is makes much of a difference for a pitcher. It shouldn’t. From a game-calling/intangible standpoint, I think a good pitcher should be mentally sound enough to go out there and pitch his game whether it’s Johnny Bench or Humpty-Dumpty behind the plate.
I guess it could make a difference for a rookie like Holland, but Harrison has been in the bigs long enough to where he should be able to figure out how to make his way through a major league lineup by himself.
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 24, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure about this
but Holland / Salty need to understand that you dont throw everything inside to right-handers. When you hang something, you will get burned throwing inside because almost always that will remain out over the plate. In consequence, Holland has given up a ton of HRs this year. He throws inside way too much, and I’m not sure who is making that decision.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dutch
In his two full seasons in the minors, he gave up 10 home runs.
In 2009, he has already given up 10 HR’s, with 9 being in MLB.
So I have to think that the 1.85 HR/9 rate is going to regress, causing the FIP to improve.
Zips (update) has him for 1.40 HR/9 and a 4.86 FIP.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on Jun 24, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
TT also caught Vinny's last start, which was good.
It just seems like everyone but Millwood (because he’s been good no matter what) do a better job with TT catching.
"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"
by Bob Loblaw on Jun 24, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn't Greg Maddux have a personal catcher?
That seemed to have worked out pretty well.
by Topgun22 on Jun 24, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So did Billy Chappell
and he threw a perfect game in Yankee Stadium at the end of his career
by texasraider on Jun 24, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1, tr
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
at one point last night
(4th inning?) harry was pitching out of the stretch with nobody on base. I think his mechanics were screwed up.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 24, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am
now convinced he needs to head to OKC. In general, he has no confidence in what he is doing. Awhile back I argued for his staying in the rotation, saying he could get it done, but every start since has been miserable. Time to give Doug, Guillermo, or Neftali a shot.
This is our year.
http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/6/21/920707/lifes-a-piece-of-sh-when-you-look
by PM Productions on Jun 24, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Doug?
You mean the AAAA pitcher on our roster named Doug Mathis? Ugh.
If Harry has another of these starts, I’d probably agree with sending him down to AAA for the same reason I’ve been advocating sending Davis down since April 30th. I don’t think the big leagues is the place to be trying to fix a young kid’s sagging confidence that probably was hurt from what were initially very mild mechanical problems. I don’t send him down for short-term improvement of the Rangers, though – a bumpy Matt Harrison gives this team a better chance to win than Doug Mathis.
Here is the thing that people always forget about Harrison and Davis. They are 23 years old! In the major leagues in front of millions of people. You can’t expect them to be as psychologically durable as Millwood out there. It is natural that a bad performance will linger in their heads, making them overthink their next time out, making them do badly again. It can quickly become a virtual death spiral – which is what we’ve seen from Davis and what Harry’s could turn into.
Some 23 year olds have that good baseball memory (forget last at bat immediately) already. I think Elvis does, and he’s not old enough to buy a beer. But people are different, and it may be that Harry and Davis need to be removed from their current situation to regain their confidence.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Harry is here to stay
until El Duque is ready.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 24, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not if they make a move to acquire a top end reliever
and move Jennings into the rotation
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not only a walk; he scored.
That is the only thing good I have to say about Harry last night.
by FuturePants on Jun 24, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So
do we go back to matching Harrison with Teagarden?
The Ranger FO strategy on rectifying the offense appears to be – keep doing the same thing no matter how inefficient, let Chris Davis drown and wait for Josh to get healthy.
Isn’t it Wednesday?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 9:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
it better be Wednesday ...
don’t be trying to sneak an extra day into the work week AJM
by texasraider on Jun 24, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What else is the FO supposed to do right now?
We could send Chris down but his replacement isn’t gonna be much of an upgrade. And if they play Blalock everyday people will bitch. And if they play Jones at 1B people will bitch.
If you panic that leads you to overpay in trade. I would hate to see us in panic mode give up the farm for a Nick Johnson type.
Shuffling the order is the managers job if he so chooses.
I don’t really see what else the FO can do right now. There isn’t anyone at AAA tearing it up who would significantly improve this club right now.
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 24, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
bigsteve
It is incumbent upon this front office to get Davis out of here now (it’s killing the offense, Wash continues to use hime, who knows what it is doing to his long-term development0 and roll with a vet like Blalock. I don’t know how much power Donuts actually wields in the organization these days but I would assume this falls under his job responsibility.
Blalock (started 5 games in the last 15 days) hasn’t been great but his OPS is above .800 and he’s not going to kill you defensively.
Who gives a damn if people bitch about Blalock? The current strategy is not working.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Josey Donuts
of course it falls under Jon Daniels’ responsibility if it is something you disagree with.
by Michael Cave on Jun 24, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
either way
I do think, as many here do, that Davis should start to work this out in the minors. We are almost half way through the season and he is regressing. I had hopes he would turn it around, in fact, I still do, but that needs to happen in the minors.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do agree with that
He needs to get his head right. Another voice maybe? Less pressuer?
by Michael Cave on Jun 24, 2009 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually last nite was improvement for him
but pitcher threw him an off-speed pitch over the plate that he hit for a single. Big mistake on his part.
by diamond_dave on Jun 24, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im not disagreeing that Davis needs to go down
I just don’t see it helping this offense as much as everyone else thinks.
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 24, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock's OPS is 150 points better than Crush
150 points in OPS is going to make a HUGE difference.
Right when Blalock started to turn the corner, he suddenly started spending more time on the bench and not so coincidentally, the offense went into the biggest slump it’s been in (which is saying a lot).
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thats what happens to the DH in interleague play
They sit the bench alot. Blalock will be an improvement over Davis I am not arguing this. But I don’t think its gonna be the kind of improvement that turns this ship around.
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 24, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
x
Right when Blalock started to turn the corner, he suddenly started spending more time on the bench and not so coincidentally, the offense went into the biggest slump it’s been in (which is saying a lot).
“Not so coincidentally.”
So, according to Josey, the offense falling apart is because Blalock isn’t playing.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock not playing AND
Crush playing is one of the biggest reasons this thing has been sucking.
One of the reasons, not THE reason but nice try, counselor.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
disagree there
everyone is to blame, although I would put emphasis on the top of the order, not the bottom.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How does anybody give a pass to Davis at this point?
Last 7 days:
2 for 15 – .133/.188/.333 (.521 OPS!!!)
Last 14 days:
5 for 32 – .156/.229/.313 (.541 OPS)
Last 28 days:
12 for 67 .179/.236/.299 (.535 OPS)
Anybody out there wanna claim that Davis should be in the line-up instead of Blalock?
C’mon now, Donuts…
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Against a LHP...
…I’d rather have Davis out there than Blalock.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They're both about equally useless against LHP's
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 24, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why?
Blalock is .200/.214/.364 against lefties
Davis is .147/.216/.309
You’re losing either way. But opting for Davis can only just be a personal preference
And why do you always respond to Josey?
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They are both terrible against LHPs
But at least Davis gives you defense at 1B. Blalock gives you nothing.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Currently
Blalock has the higher UZR/150 at 1B
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Go look at last year' stats.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 24, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
last years numbers or this years numbers
doesn’t matter, they are both small sample stats.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
huh?
Josey is that you?
So you are telling Adam that Blalock has a better UZR/150 than Davis using this year’ stats but then you say it doesn’t matter because of SSS?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 24, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm saying
that when you look at the numbers, the likelihood is that the real number is somewhere between the two, and Blalock’s massive batting advantage outweighs any puny defensive advantage that Davis has.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He doesn't have a massive batting advantage against lefties though
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 24, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's played 7 games there.
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 24, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
and CDs defensive numbers aren’t super great anymore.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No they're not
But I really doubt 7 games worth of data is enough to generate a meaningful UZR/150 number one way or the other.
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 24, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think arguing about Blalock's UZR is missing the point.
Davis is a better defensive 1b than Blalock. It is foolish to try to use a handful of games worth of already fishy defensive stats to try to argue otherwise.
That said, it is fully possible and reasonable that Davis’s EXTREMELY HORRIFIC hitting is beginning to affect his defense. His head is probably still trying to calculate how many K’s he has this year once he takes the field. If his slump is even part mental, it is only a matter of time until it spreads to his defense.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, I'm not trying to say he should remain at first base
I’m way past that.
I’m just saying that we’re gonna take a defensive hit by sticking Blalock there instead, and there’s no use trying to deny it based on 7 games of UZR data.
But you’re right, the offensive benefit is the real point here.
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 24, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
lets not forget the 34 games
he played at 1B last year and posted an outstanding -16.9 UZR/150.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 24, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nor is the thirty some odd games
last year any better.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's fair
I read your comment as an opinion about who you’d rather see actually at the plate.
Frankly, arguing that Davis is better than Blalock versus LHP is somewhat missing the point (though admittedly Josey’s the one bringing up the comparison). If you have two horrendous options against left handers, neither should be playing first base when a southpaw is on the mound.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
JB
Has Blalock shown the ability to hit leftys in the past?
He was fine against them last year, when given much more of an opportunity to bat against them.
This year he has something like 50 ab’s against them.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm fine with Blalock being a platoon player
If the team had someone who could actually hit lefties instead of Blalock, I’d prefer to see him there instead of Hank.
I don’t think Chris Davis should see another major league pitch until he gets his act together in AA or AAA, but I’ve been saying that since the beginning of May. That opinion has nothing to do with Blalock.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
JB
When not being jerked around and when healthy in 2008…
Blalock had a .903 OPS v. leftys in 83 at bats.
Maybe it’s time to quit jerking Blalock around and just let him hit while Davis goes to OKC.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Davis is optioned
and Blalock became the full time 1b, I wouldn’t complain.
I wouldn’t be holding out for a .903 OPS vs LHP. But I’d imagine anything he put up would be better than what Davis would have, so the marginal improvement is sufficient for me.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock career OPS
v. leftys is .652 and I would expect something above .700+ if allowed to play every day against them.
.700+ (or even.652) is much better than what Davis has been doing.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would agree with that.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why would you expect something above 700 if he played against them every day?
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Career OPS of .652 v. leftys, has become better with age (when healthy)
killed them last year (.903 OPS) and is in a contract year.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i say we release blalock
just to see what new cause Josey will fight for.
Other than JD of course, we all know that one as well.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has being in a contract year
helped him at all this year?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 24, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's not been better with age
And being in a contract year this season hasn’t produced impressive results thusfar.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ajm
Have you blocked out Blalock’s .903 OPS v. leftys last year?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No
I don’t think that has a ton of meaning, though.
I’m not sold on the notion that he suddenly figured out how to hit lefties last year, and only stopped him them this year because Wash benched him against them.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ajm
It doesn’t hold meaning to you because your lack of rational thoughts encompass both Crush & Hank.
Blalock bothers you , period.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, Blalock bothers me
He bothers me because he’s gone from being a terrific professional hitter who had a good approach at the plate, drove the ball to all fields, and played good defense, to a guy who is a platoon DH or tries to yank every ball out of the park.
But you know what? If he were a 900 OPS guy while doing that, it would be fine. He’s not, though. He’s a low OBP guy who doesn’t hit lefties, and the fact that I’m not going to drink the Kool-Aid and believe that he’s suddenly a weapon against LHPs based on 89 ABs last year isn’t the product of some bias. It is being realistic.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well then,
somebody needs to tell the emperor he’s not wearing any clothes or that on this particular issue, you’re being blindly stupid.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My reply
was to the great and powerfule ajm
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock
has been marginally more productive this year against lefties.
He may suck, but Davis sucks more.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's not the argument
I think Davis needs to work things out in the minors, but Blalock does not solve the problem the entire lineup is having, especially the TOP of the order. Everyone is hacking at everything, something that Hank is famous for. Is that what we need right now?
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well,
pulling Davis out of the lineup is a net positive, regardless of how you look at it, and the bonus is that Davis can be getting his game together in the minors, and getting back on track.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it is a net positive
because we would be looking long-term success, and at what is best for Davis is what is best for this team in the future. Doing this to make the offense better now is not the point.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But he had two good games earlier this month
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 24, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, Blalock everyday will get him about 8 extra at bats per week
which will get Blalock on base 1 extra time per week but how much in the way of fielding does this cost you. As poorly as Blalock plays defense I think it is safe to say at the very least 1 play per week, which translates to no real improvement. Probably not the answer but we need to try something to get Davis going even if it hurts short-term.
by diamond_dave on Jun 24, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
quote the stats of the rest of the offense during the last 28 days, please
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really?
Mikey Baseball and Ian Kinsler both have OPSs of 770 in the month of June. That’s because of Blalock and Davis?
Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s OPS is the same in June as Davis. Is Davis sucking and Blalock sitting the reason why Salty has been bad?
Jones and Byrd are barely over 600 in OPS. Nelson Cruz has a 650 OPS. Hank Blalock has a 650 OPS.
The offense is sucking because everyone in the lineup, top to bottom, has been underachieving, and because Hamilton is out.
Unless you want to argue that everyone is struggling because they can’t deal with Davis in the lineup and Blalock sitting, your argument is bullshit.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't speak for everybody else
but Chris Davis and his .583 OPS in the month of June (and Wash’s refusal to play Blalock, who is demonstrably better) is a big reason why this thing currently sucks.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blalock
He DHs just about every game there is a RHP on the mound. He has no business being in the lineup against lefties.
So what is the problem?
Yes, Davis is a big reason why the offense is struggling. So is Blalock. So is Salty. So is Andrus. So is the bench. So is Jones. So is Byrd. So is Hamilton.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Adam
So even though the Davis numbers suck far more than anybody else (find a worse hitter in MLB over the last 28 days), his blame is equal to everybody else?
Got it.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Find a worse hitter in MLB?
Just on the Rangers, Salty, Byrd, and Andruw have been as bad as Davis since June 1, and Elvis has been worse.
As have Vizquel, Teagarden and Boggs, which is why I lumped the bench in there as well.
The entire offense has sucked. Which is why I don’t get your obsession with Chris Davis “killing” the offense. You act like if we just get him out of there and run Jones and Blalock out there every day, that will fix everything.
The problem with This Thing goes way beyond Davis right now.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Josey
People always say this about others responding to you, but I’ll say it here:
Why are you responding to/baiting Adam about Chris Davis?
He’s completely unreasonable when it comes to Chris Davis. He’s in total denial that Davis is bad this year; he expects that tonight he’ll be back to the Davis of old.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
JB
It’s a combo platter for the great & powerful AJM.
He hates Blalock and can’t be rational about Crush.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And that's also bullshit
I’m not in denial, and I’m not unreasonable about this.
I think saying that Chris Davis is killing the offense and that running Hank Blalock out there every day at first base is going to fix everything is stupid.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
AJM, I didn't say it would fix
everything but it would be a huge step in the right direction.
This thing isn’t adding payroll and Smoak isn’t ready.
The solution to fixing offense at 1B is Hank Blalock and you need to embrace the concept or just relax and let it happen.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
x
The solution to fixing offense at 1B is Hank Blalock
No, it really isn’t the solution, particularly given that he already plays every day against RHP.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 24, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i feel for you
put in a position to bash blalock because of dumbasses who refuse to accept that he sucks against lefties.
It was a pretty arduous journey for you to come to those terms. To have to now defend that position against people saying you hate blalock must really suck. my ban button would be out in full force
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
by ab03 on Jun 24, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right that Davis isn't killing the offense
The whole team is sucking right now. Josey’s wrong about that point.
But there is a difference between saying Blalock isn’t the answer at first and saying that Chris Davis is a far better option.
Realistically, neither should be in the lineup against lefties. Sign Richie Sexson to league minimum for all I care.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The whole point...
Is that Davis + Blalock (Typical 1B, DH) to Blalock + Jones (new 1B, new DH) equates to an increase in OPS of .100 in one spot of the lineup, holds the other spot the same, and decreases the defensive efficiency of the infield.
So, the change is fairly negligible in the grand scheme of things, as that increases the lineup’s total OPS by .012.
I don’t think the difference between a .712 OPS and a .700 OPS is going to suddenly make us win games like last night’s nightmare, or even the SF games.
It needs to be done, but saying Blalock in for Davis fixes a major hole is an extreme overstatement.
by Trickman on Jun 24, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
EXACTLY
thanks for wording it in a way i didnt/couldtn
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on Jun 24, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
a big reason?
did you read AJM’s comment.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So your solution to an offense that can't get people on base
is shifting ABs to someone else who can’t get on base. BRILLIANT!
I agree Davis should be sitting more or off the MLB roster, but Blalock;‘s OPS isn’t as good as it appears because the most important number is low.
What do voluntary mean?
by JKolar on Jun 24, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who is Josey?
All i know is Josey Donuts
by Michael Cave on Jun 24, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you don't always have to refer to people by their full names
by Mike E on Jun 24, 2009 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know
Im just making sure Josey Wales’ new nickname sticks :-)
by Michael Cave on Jun 24, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You mean Josey Donuts' new nickname
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 24, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Davis looked pretty freakin' good last night
after his first at bat…seemed to get more and more confidence
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I could've sworn
I’ve heard that story before.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
please don't give away the ending
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 24, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I look for every glimmer of hope
it was a good game…he had 3 at bats in a row it seemed that went for 8 or more pitches and got on base twice, with a semi-hard hit lineout to the outfield being the only out
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but we have heard
after good games before how Davis had straightened it out because he was going the other way. I’ll believe it when he strings a good week together, something he has been unable to do all year.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm getting closer and closer to wanting Davis sent down
but until the rest of the offense starts doing something, I’m going to look at any signs of hope from anyone. There is no one on this team right now that is doing well so every little bit counts.
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 24, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The question is at what point is him being up here
actually hurting him and his development? I don’t want to ruin him long term.
I thought it be all warm and shitty, but it just tasted like normal beer. It was still cold.
by RA Dickey on Jun 24, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've said before that I'd like to see him up until the AS Break
At that point, you re-evaluate. Its getting closer and closer to that time and if Davis isn’t making any significant improvements, he probably needs to go down just to try something to get him out of this funk.
Overall, I don’t think it hurts his development to keep him up here longer than that, but I think at that point, its just pushing back the time table on when he’ll be able to start hitting well again. Especially if you want him to do something productive offensively this season, he most likely can’t stay up all season getting dominated by opposing fastballs.
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 24, 2009 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is exactly how i feel about davis
there isnt that much difference, overall, between davis and blalock or davis and jones — therefore you might as well hope davis snaps out of his season long slump until one of the other 2 actually represent an upgrade over him
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on Jun 24, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well,
what the Angels did with Howie Kendrick is to send him down, even though they didn’t really have better options. They aren’t getting tons better production without him, but he appears to be getting his head back on straight in the minors.
While we are still dicking around with CD, I’m sure Kendrick will be back up and productive.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
cahill
they had better options in sean rodriguez (currently a better option) — howver they are rolling with izturis most of the time now who really isnt that much of an upgrade over kendrick anyway
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on Jun 24, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And
Kendrick will be back up and productive before Davis is hitting, I’m sure.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
to be fair
kendrick has been a better (actual) hitter than davis at every step of the ladder
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on Jun 24, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Apparently
the Angels believe that you can actually have a hitter improve when you send him back down, and the only option isn’t riding it out at the major league level.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Angels developing hitters
not really an organization that inspires confidence.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The last Angels top hitting prospect that became a productive big leaguer was Troy Glaus.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
by WestTxAg06 on Jun 24, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the angels
somehow also screwed the pooch with dallas mcphearson, dude should be getting MLB at bats somewhere — may be the new russell branyan
i woudnt mind bringing him in and letting him have some of the DH at bats at all
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on Jun 24, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im not advocating keeping davis up
I think he needs to go down. But I also don’t think that sending him down is gonna be the magic elixir that all of a sudden makes us start scoring 6 runs a game again.
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 24, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I honestly don't care
if we get more production from that spot.
At this point in time, its more about straightening Davis out, because I don’t think there is a solution with him staying in the majors listening to Rudy.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Although i don’t think its necessarily Rudys fault. Did Chris change his swing between last season to this one. Cause I hadn’t heard anything like that.
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 24, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
like I said yesterday
I think he’s having a problem keeping his head down – his eye on the ball. If you watched last night, his first at bat he kept pulling his head. His next 3 he did it once or twice while swinging through pitches, but when he made contact, he had his head down and eye on the ball.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How do we know Rudy hasn't worked with him to fix that?
The teacher can only do so much. Once you step in that batters box the teacher can’t help you anymore. If you revert back to old habits theres nothing anyone can do
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Jun 24, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
as true as this may be
we don’t know anything. I just see what I see, and I’m no pro.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
nothing in and of itself is going to be a magic elixir
But, damnit, that doesn’t mean that you just give up and don’t do anything. Davis sucks right now and him being up isn’t good for the team or the player. Sending him down doesn’t cure the whole offense, but you do it because it is the right thing to do.
I’ve got a lot bigger problems in my life than the length of my hair and getting a haircut isn’t going to solve all my problems, but I’m still going to get a haircut.
There's more to the picture than meets the eye.
by tricer on Jun 24, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Again
I am all for sending Davis down to help him out.
However don’t be suprised if once he goes down this offense still struggles. Thats all I am saying
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 24, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great analogy, Tricer
If the Ranger FO had hair growing out of their nose and ears, they’d just sit there and hope it went away or that that particular look suddenly became the rage.
Their current solution is to just sit there and piss all over their legs while everybody else tries to win (how the F are the M’s 2.5 games back?!!?!?).
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so you are blaming the FO
that the Rangers are tied for first place and the Mariners are only 2.5 games back. Ok. gotchya.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What did the Ms do?
As I and Adam have tried to say, I am for sending Chris Davis down to the minors to work on some stuff and get his head right.
However, if you or anyone thinks that doing so will automatically turn this club from the 3 runs/game it is right now back to the almost 6 runs/game it was you are crazy. No matter how bad Davis was doing or how good Blalock will do its not gonna make that big of a difference.
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 24, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think the FO listens to the people bitching.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 24, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im sure they don't
But by sending Davis down its only gonna give you a marginal improvement offensively and people are gonna be bitching because we are playing either Hank or Jones at 1B.
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 24, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
people have a difficulty looking long-term
but I do think most people watching the games would understand why Davis would need to be sent down.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they should use TT as Harrison's catcher
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I turned the game off after it got to 6-2
glad I didn’t see the run scoring on a bad throw back to the pitcher. My remote would be lodged in my TV screen right now.
by texasraider on Jun 24, 2009 9:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Lol
Yeah, I just sighed and flipped off the game when that happened.
Our offense had no chance to come back anyhow with how overmatched they were by the mid 90s heat.
by Trickman on Jun 24, 2009 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
mid 90's heat?
they are overmatched by Zito and Tallets mid 80’s heat! You’d expect major league hitters to be able to hit a mid 90’s fastball, let alone a mid 80’s fastball. They can’t hit anything, and it’s because they swing at everything.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When Barry Zito takes a no hitter into the 7th...
…we’ve got issues.
by FuturePants on Jun 24, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Closed door meeting
Anyone else think its time for one of these? I think Micheal and Ian and maybe even Andrus Jones should get everyone together before or after the game and just have a good old fashioned closed door meeting.
Let everyone know they are in this thing to win it and have a prime opportunity to win 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 24, 2009 9:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
who is Andus Jones?
sounds like a great young short stop that used to be a gold glove outfielder
by texasraider on Jun 24, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
I don’t know what happened there. Andruw Jones is who i meant
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 24, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What happened was the "S" button is right below the "W" button on your keyboard.
Happens to me too.
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 24, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Andrus Jones
would be the best player. EVER.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wait
So a “good old fashioned closed door [meeting’s]” purpose is to let us all know that they are in it to win it? Shouldn’t the point of a meeting be to benefit the people in the meeting?
by FuturePants on Jun 24, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
By that I meant they should emphasize the fact they are tied for first and have a chance to win the division this year but they have to play better. Basically the season starts anew today.
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 24, 2009 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But who cares if we know they are in it to win it?
Wouldn’t you rather them get on goddamn base than feel good about yourself as a fan? I sure would…
by FuturePants on Jun 24, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Huh
Being more patient at the plate and doing better would be the whole point of the meeting. The fact they are in a playoff race would be another that would hopefully help them improve and get better.
The point of the meeting would be to get the to start playing better
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 24, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You would think
the high dollar, face of the franchise could do it, but I think he is busy making outs when Runners are in scoring position.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But so is everyone.
Anyone know what our team slash line is since game 1 of the LA series?
by FuturePants on Jun 24, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
.235/.300/.414
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 24, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That fucking sucks.
Maybe I shouldn’t have asked. Thanks for the info, though!
by FuturePants on Jun 24, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
YW.
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 24, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sigh
I know we don’t want to out and blow a huge wad of prospects at the trade deadline this year, but if Fx2 is healthy again I really don’t see what makes the bullpen such an area of dire need, especially with Feliz in the minors.
Won’t somebody at least start a fake rumor that the Rangers are interested in Josh Willingham just to humor me? Please?
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 24, 2009 9:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
bullpen
Yeah if Frankie comes back I don’t see that as an area we need to focus on. Especially if the FO envisions using feliz later in the season out of there.
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 24, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, healthy Two Frank or no, I think there is a valid concern with wearing out DOD and Ceej
Right now, they’re the only two reliable 7th/8th inning guys we’ve got. Jennings has been fine when he’s been in that role, but they need him to serve as the long man. You don’t want to have O’Day’s arm fall off mid-August, nor do you want to overexpose him and allow teams to finally figure out his deception. I’m as big a Guardado fan as there is alive, but he’s done at this point and needs to be the last guy out of the pen at best: as long as we’re running him out there in critical situations, there’s a bit of a depth issue.
If they were to add one more arm to the setup mix, then all of a sudden the problem goes away: you don’t have to overwork/overexpose DOD and Ceej, you can leave Jennings in the long role, you don’t have to trust Eddie, and you don’t waste bullpen spots with guys like Mad Dog and Spanish Willie who Warsh won’t trust except in the lowest leverage situations.
Whether that additional arm is Feliz, Heath Bell, Josh Lewin, or somebody else, I don’t know, but it would certainly change the look of the bullpen. Right now, we’ve got a solid bullpen subject to running short of depth now and again, but adding one arm could make it a dominant bullpen.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
by WestTxAg06 on Jun 24, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the cost for Heath Bell would be much too high
I’m for seeing what Josh Lewin can do
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
95 MPH Seinfeild references can be devistating.
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 24, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well, it appears the club has chosen the 100 mph heat over the Seinfeld references
I’m a little disappointed.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
by WestTxAg06 on Jun 24, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we make a deal fine
But it shouldn’t be what we are spending the majority of our time trying to fix. That should be the offense which unless we panic and overpay, i don’t think gets fixed by an outside source anytime soon.
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 24, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're not gonna believe this.....
I just got off the phone with my brother, and his girlfriend’s uncle works with a guy whose college roommate is friends with a girl who is dating a guy that lives in D.C. Anyway, this guy says he heard from his buddy that a “reliable source” says the Rangers are trying to trade for Josh Willingham., and ther’ll probably be a press conference today at 3pm.
by Topgun22 on Jun 24, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That'll work
Thanks, I feel much better now.
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 24, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Think about it for a second
What do you think the Rangers would have to give up to get Washington to trade Willingham a full month before the trading season gets into high gear?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 24, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, he is just fresh off the bereavment list
Hit a HR in his first AB back though. But still, it might not be the greatest time to trade for him if we could get him at this exact instant.
But by the time the trading season heats up, we should be on him like white on rice.
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 24, 2009 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
a month from now
with Hamilton back in the line up, the complexion of the offense could be totally different. Everyone might be saying that the Rangers need a SP or RP more than a bat.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jun 24, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We'll still need an OBP anchor who can split up Hamilton and Cruz a month from now.
I don’t want Willingham because I think he’s they key to snapping our current slump, I want him because I think he’s the key to preventing another one in the second half.
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 24, 2009 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
another bat doesn't solve the problem
of the entire team having a bad approach at the plate
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is great news!!!! Just what I wanted to hear!!
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
by WestTxAg06 on Jun 24, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I mean no disrespect
but ill believe it when i see it.
by Michael Cave on Jun 24, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah really.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jun 24, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought about trading for Josh Willingham in my fantasy baseball league...
but he’s on the waiver wire, and I realized I don’t really want him.
Is that any good?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This could be the last day of the "angriest" tagline
Haren is another Cy Young candidate that is going to most likely shut us down tonight
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
And Lady Luck's boytoy Joe Saunders goes for the Angels tonight.
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 24, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What will the new tagline be after Haren shuts us down?
Just a long string of expletives?
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
by WestTxAg06 on Jun 24, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was fun while it lasted
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 24, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lone Star Ball: back in familiar territory
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 24, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe we should revert to little league to describe this team
“swing batter batter batter, swing batter batter batter, swiiiing” and we strikeout
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's also a Trace Adkins song.
Maybe “Swing” should be the official theme song of the Texas Rangers.
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 24, 2009 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it isn't the Rangers theme song in the Rangers Podcast in Arlington (RPiA)?
I think they jinxed this team with that
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so jaramillo finally says something
and it’s pretty self absorbed with the 19 years comment and seems like he’s deflecting blame to hitters’ psyche.
thanks asshole
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
by ab03 on Jun 24, 2009 11:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I got that impression myself,
with an admittedly biased view of Rudy. I guess it’s human nature, when everyone raves about you, you’re slow to accept any blame.
"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."
by scoop16 on Jun 24, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What I think is funny
Isn’t it his job to fix the hitters’ psyche?
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't think too much of it
he said they need to be more patient. isn’t that what you wanted him to say?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd rather get the idea that he's actually TEACHING patience.
Until I see the guys in the lineup actually laying off of bad pitches and working counts, I’m going to be hard to convince that Rudy is actually advocating a more patient approach. The players all rave about Rudy and how great he is at fixing their issues. If that’s true, and he’s really preaching patience, then we ought to be seeing some results on the field. So far that hasn’t happened.
by Athos on Jun 24, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh, I was underwhelmed.
Rudy speaks!
But says squat ..
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
by Chase Irwin on Jun 24, 2009 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Former Rangers Prez Tom Schieffer running for Governor
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jun 24, 2009 11:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
New headline for LSB after tonight when we are in 2nd Place....
Our team collectively hits like Craig Monroe.
I thought it be all warm and shitty, but it just tasted like normal beer. It was still cold.
by RA Dickey on Jun 24, 2009 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Our team collectively hits like Craig Monroe
that is greatness
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Jun 24, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If only the Grand Poobah & Supreme Vicar of the Rangers would do something.
Why doesn’t he just put this team in a headlock and tell them to hit the damn ball, or take a freakin’ walk? What kind of front office dumbassery is he endorsing here? Why doesn’t he tell that dumbass Rudy to do something about this steaming pile of shit offense?
WHERE IS THE GREAT NOLAN???
"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 24, 2009 11:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If this is true
what exactly are Donuts’ responsibilities?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
" I don’t feel like arguing with laxtonto about it for the same reason I wouldn’t argue with him if he said the earth was flat. He’s a person who is happy with his head up his ass so why should I make him sad?"
by Josey Wales on Jun 24, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Composing the roster.
"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."
by scoop16 on Jun 24, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Improving the team is not Daniels' responsibility
according to you, since anything that goes well you automatically give credit to Ryan for.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jun 24, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He does blame Donuts for the lineup.
And for seemingly not putting Blalock in every day over Davis.
by FuturePants on Jun 24, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did I miss this?
Just said on the Ticket that Feliz is moving to the bullpen for OKC to see about promoting him to that role.
"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."
by scoop16 on Jun 24, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That'll fix the offense :)
But this move makes sense. It’d be nice to have another effective arm in the pen
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow.
HUGE.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
EG's twitter feed
Rangers are moving Neftali Feliz to the bullpen in hopes he could help the big league team there soon.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jun 24, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This is dumb
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jun 24, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why?
He’d almost certainly break into the majors in a bullpen role anyway. And I’d rather him get used to it in OKC
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I what him to start at OKC for the rest of the year(till September) and develop
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jun 24, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's fair
I’d rather him be in OKC all season as well.
But I’d rather bring him up in July than to trade Michael Main for a rent-an-arm for the bullpen
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
im with you kinsler homer
at leaset give him hal fa year of starting (till ASB) then shift him
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
Scout to KG: On Sandoval: "Man, that fat [expletive]-er can hit."
by knockoutking on Jun 24, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's freakin' awesome
save innings on his arm, he can throw winter league to get more experience
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just got an email from Jamie
And i know most of us here get those, but for those who dont, Feliz is moving to bullpen in OKC i hopes to help the big league club in the near future.
Elvis has "shook up" Arlington!!
by thad728 on Jun 24, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Feliz
to the pen in OKC per Newberg
Adam Lambert is indeed a rock god,so suck it.
by red shoe ranger on Jun 24, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I've heard
Feliz is being moved to the pen in OKC.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jun 24, 2009 11:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Feliz may be moving to the bullpen in OKC
I thought it be all warm and shitty, but it just tasted like normal beer. It was still cold.
by RA Dickey on Jun 24, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
BREAKING NEWS: Feliz to the OKC bullpen!
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
by WestTxAg06 on Jun 24, 2009 11:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
All Star Game
At this point i think that Millwood should be the only Ranger to go to the All Star Game, maybe a snub of the others (like Kinsler) will shock them into re-learning how to play the right way, right now to me Kinsler does not deserve the ALL Star Game, nor anyone else on this team except Millwood or Frankie
Larry Parrish Was Da Man!
by TRFAN on Jun 24, 2009 11:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You'll be disappointed
when Millwood doesn’t go, but Kinsler, Young, Hamilton all do.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Jun 24, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
any chance they'll move a guy like...I don't know...
Feliz, to the pen?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 24, 2009 11:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I was looking at team stats on Fangraph,
and it doesn’t matter whether pitchers throw the Rangers strikes or not because they swing in the zone and out of the zone. The problem is that it doesn’t matter where the ball is thrown, they aren’t making contact, but when they do, a majority of them are flyballs.
by Redcaps on Jun 24, 2009 12:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Coaching
So Rudy’s heard it all in 19 years as a coach and they’re going to continue to tinker.
Is anyone else bothered by the self-absorbed, resigned nature his comment? Whatever happened to coaches…you know…coaching? Are we sure it’s only the hitters that are messed up mentally, Rudy?
It’s no wonder that on any given night either 3/4 of the lineup or the whole lineup couldn’t hit water if they fell off a jet ski when their hitting coach displays no sense of urgency on the matter.
Take a wide receiver who doesn’t run good routes. If he has a good position coach, he’s going to learn how to run good routes. If he doesn’t display good route running in games, he doesn’t play. Same thing with an offensive lineman who has shitty footwork. A good o-line coach will work with him to improve his footwork. If he’s still got two left feet, he’s not going to see any playing time.
I understand position coaches in football and how the player-position coach dynamic works in football. I don’t understand how it works in baseball with hitting coaches and pitching coaches. It seems to me, however, that when Mike Maddux tells his pitchers to throw strikes and pitch to contact, they have done so. So what gives with the disconnect between Rudy and the hitters?
by Mister Naxal on Jun 24, 2009 12:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hitting a baseball is the single hardest thing to do in professional sports
Rudy works with players to get them in the best possible position to hit the ball. Whether or not they can actually make contact is not his area. Thats on the hitter. he gets their swing in rhythm and the mechanics right so all they have to do is make contact.
So the question becomes is are all the players out of whack mechanically or are they just not hitting the ball? I personally don’t have a problem with a guy swinging early in the count if he is swinging at a good pitch. Generally a hitter will only get one or two good pitches to hit per at bat. Alot of times one of those is on the first or second pitch of an at bat.
You can say the problem is their approach at the plate. But again, how much does the hitting coach control that. With a football team you may have 4 or 5 WRs on the team with 2 or 3 on the field every play. In baseball you have 4 maybe 5 OFs and 3 of them in the field every inning and maybe another DHing so you can’t just bench someone for swinging at the first pitch or whatever. The coaches can tell the players to be patient and not to try and yank a homer every time but once that batter steps in the box its all reaction and their instincts kicking in. They see a fastball right down the middle on the first pitch they are gonna swing and try and hit the moon. If they pop out theres really nothing you can do but say do better next time.
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 24, 2009 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So, which ones are you going to put on the bench?
All of them? Let the pitchers hit?
by Redcaps on Jun 24, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I
guarantee the Rangers will win today.
"I can wake up out of the bed and play outfield. It's easy." --Milton Bradley
by coolaid on Jun 24, 2009 1:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Well...
now that you have gone and done that. That a little look at who is pitching for Arizona tonight.
Care to retract that statement yet?
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jun 24, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know who
is pitching. I stand by my guarantee.
"I can wake up out of the bed and play outfield. It's easy." --Milton Bradley
by coolaid on Jun 24, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wish I had your optimism right now.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jun 24, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sans specifics
About individual players or any potential moves to make:
I had a very, very late night last night, and after checking scores etc slept in quite late. Had this awakening thought.
If you had been sedated on March 1, and kept in a coma until the wee hours of June 24, and woke up to find your Rangers tied for first with the Angels, what would you think?
"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 24, 2009 1:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
But sports/life is not held in a vacuum
We were not in a “coma” since march 1 and we have seen that this team is “capable” of doing. The past 2 months might be some sort of aberration but it at least shows what this team CAN do. They have the potential to play strong, solid baseball and they just are not doing it right now. Some have not done it all year long but have been backed up by players hot streaks (Kinsler, Cruz, Jones, Andrus). They are at a point right now where no one is playing good baseball from the offense side, and it is beginning to effect the defense side as well. Hopefully they pull their heads out and get back to what they are capable of doing. IMHO, i put much of the blame of this on the coaches. When you do not perform up to your potential, it is your fault, but also the fault of the person that is in charge. Just my thoughts without too much analytical stuff, but this team will get better, or they are just not a good team yet. I am of the opinion of the first.
Elvis has "shook up" Arlington!!
by thad728 on Jun 24, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think everyone knows my thoughts on that.
So damn much negativity around here, sheesh.
This team is tied for 1st place on June 24th, try to enjoy it a bit, it may never come again…
"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 24, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So I wonder how this affects El Duque?
It makes me think he isn’t considered a real option for the ML pen.
El Duque had 2 K’s in his first inning today btw.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jun 24, 2009 1:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll take it!
"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 24, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoops
wrong thread, oh well.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jun 24, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
just got back from hiking the appalachian trail....
did feliz get moved to the bullpen?
by sam in so cal on Jun 24, 2009 3:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That made me laugh.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Jun 24, 2009 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT
lol: sex for chips!
Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan was on the same pitching staff with Danny Darwin during the 1986 through 1988 seasons. Both were described by Milo Hamilton as "tall, tough Texans." It was a source of debate amongst Astros players and fans over who would win in a fight, Ryan or Darwin. Though Astros pitcher Bob Knepper attempted to set up a fight between the two during spring training in 1988, manager Hal Lanier stopped it before it could commence. Many experts, including Astros shortstop Rafael Ramirez, felt that Darwin would win because he "looked like someone no man would want to mess with."
by gossamer on Jun 24, 2009 3:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It was you, wasn't it, Mr Lays?
"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 24, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
my sams club card
is good for something
Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan was on the same pitching staff with Danny Darwin during the 1986 through 1988 seasons. Both were described by Milo Hamilton as "tall, tough Texans." It was a source of debate amongst Astros players and fans over who would win in a fight, Ryan or Darwin. Though Astros pitcher Bob Knepper attempted to set up a fight between the two during spring training in 1988, manager Hal Lanier stopped it before it could commence. Many experts, including Astros shortstop Rafael Ramirez, felt that Darwin would win because he "looked like someone no man would want to mess with."
by gossamer on Jun 24, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wonder what i could get
for a box of krispy kremes
Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan was on the same pitching staff with Danny Darwin during the 1986 through 1988 seasons. Both were described by Milo Hamilton as "tall, tough Texans." It was a source of debate amongst Astros players and fans over who would win in a fight, Ryan or Darwin. Though Astros pitcher Bob Knepper attempted to set up a fight between the two during spring training in 1988, manager Hal Lanier stopped it before it could commence. Many experts, including Astros shortstop Rafael Ramirez, felt that Darwin would win because he "looked like someone no man would want to mess with."
by gossamer on Jun 24, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A job
As General Manager of an American League baseball team.
"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 24, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- How a Chicago guy learned to love Albert Pujols of St. Louis
- Bud's All-Star tie tops our non-steroid controversies of decade
- D12: Revisiting the Twins decision of Mauer over Prior (again)
- After locking up of AL MVP, it's time for Twins to lock up Mauer
- November means R&R for Raiders fan CC Sabathia and others
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
