Sunday morning Rangers stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 19, 2009 9:25 AM CDT
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PrintSo, really, there's only one story regarding this team right now, and it is its inability to score runs.
Anthony Andro notes that, over the course of the team's current four game losing streak, it has scored 8 runs. Scoring one run last night meant that Scott Feldman's fifth straight quality start was for naught.
Gil LeBreton writes that there's no point in making a big deal at the trade deadline right now, because the team can't score any runs, and adding Roy Halladay (or calling up Neftali Feliz) isn't going to change that. He has a bunch of quotes from Jon Daniels (who says that the team needs to have better ABs and a more consistent approach at the plate, and that the Rangers aren't going to be buyers if they aren't playing up to their capabilities).
Ron Washington says that, at some point this season, Neftali Feliz will be up in the majors, but it isn't likely to be right now.
Jim Reeves says the Rangers should play Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz every day, give Andruw Jones a week or two of consistent ABs at DH so they can get a read on if he's a solution there or not, and platoon Marlon Byrd and David Murphy in left field.
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Add this from JN to the kick-to-the-crotch collective:
In the American League, only Oakland and Kansas City have a lower team batting average than Texas . Only Kansas City and Seattle have drawn fewer walks. No team has struck out more.
And Rudy is still untouchable, I suppose.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Of course he is
Who else could have had that bunch of ‘roid invested Hall of Fame caliber players in the 90’s and early 2000’s hitting like that in the 2nd most hitter friendly park of the era?
LoneStarBall....You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
by LSBUser on Jul 19, 2009 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Rudy won't get fired
but the odds of him coming back next year are decreasing.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
See signature
Let’s be optimistic and get back on track tonight.
"Clearly, the season is over. Fire Daniels, fire Washington, fire Maddux, burn down TBIA." - AJM
by aggierangerfan00 on Jul 19, 2009 9:32 AM CDT reply actions
are you encouraging a new stadium?
like, with nice view of the Dallas skyline, at least when the retractable roof is open!
by kevinkinsler on Jul 19, 2009 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions
wait at least 20 years.
Alma para conquistarte, corazón para quererte, y vida para vivirla junto a ti.
Damn
I actually agree with Jim Reeves.
What do voluntary mean?
Well
He’s right up to the point about Jones. Andruw has started 13 of the last 18 games, and he’s hit .204/.291/.551 in them (and 1 for 16 since hitting his last homer in Anaheim). I would like to see Murphy and Byrd in more of a platoon role, but I don’t see how giving Jones even more playing time than he’s already getting of late is going to solve anything for this offense.
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
You mean the Andruw Jones
that has the fourth highest OPS (.917) for the month? That one? The guy that has played once since the ASB, and was 1 for 3 with a walk?
As far as offensive problems go, he doesn’t make the top five, and your fixation on him is fairly odd. I could see replacing him if we had better options, but right now, playing him makes as much sense as anything. He is one of the better offensive producers on this team, no matter how you slice it.
What the offense needs is for guys like Kinsler to pull their heads out of their asses, and play like they are capable of.
"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 Jul 19, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
If Andruw starts walking like he did in April again, he'll have some value
And to his credit, he does have 3 walks in his last 2 games, so if he can continue that and become more like Adam Dunn than Hank Blalock, his power will be a much bigger asset. But his right now OPS is heavily weighted by the SLG%, and not to go all Harold Reynolds, but in Andruw’s case that’s why his OPS isn’t giving you an accurate picture of what he’s done lately.
The .204 BA and more importantly .291 OBP are fucking terrible, and worse yet, they’re batting fucking cleanup. One of our problems is making too many outs during rallies and not extending innings, and Andruw putting up those kind of numbers in the cleanup spot is definitely part of that problem.
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
I understand the batting order
issues, but its not like we are swimming in better options.
"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
Hes got an almost 90 point spread in his BA and OBP
So if he could just raise his average to .250 over this stretch that sub 300 OBP suddenly looks really really nice to go along with a >500 SLG.
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.
"if he could just raise his average to .250"
I won’t hold my breath. IIWII.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
Good points by LeBreton
Every once in awhile he really nails it, and he just did it again. In the long run, I wonder if this offensive slump could turn out to be a good thing if it keeps us from blowing our prospect wad on a year and a half of Halladay.
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
Win what?
Win the division to get creamed by a much better team in the playoffs? Hey, I’d love the accolades and the statment just winning the division would make for this team, but the fact is our offense sucks, and there’s no sense in making go-for-broke moves if your team is funtamentally flawed. That’s how this org has shot itself in the foot in the past.
Stick with what we’ve got for now, and if we win the division, yay, bragging rights. If we don’t… we’re still exactly where we expected to be after 2009, which is poised for 2010 and beyond.
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
by LSJ on Jul 19, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
x
Win the division to get creamed by a much better team in the playoffs?
Because the Rangers, of course, have zero chance of actually winning a game or advancing, were they to make the playoffs.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 19, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions
You really think they'd go anywhere with this offense?
Playing for keeps with a fundamentally flawed team just to roll the dice on playoff odds is pretty stupid, IMO.
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
Well at this point...
I think if we make the playoffs, that means the offense would have had to have woke up.
Ron Washington...giving hope everywhere to the kids who eat lead paint chips of being a big league manager when they grow up since 2007.
by rangers85 on Jul 19, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Point is
making the playoffs and getting bounced in 3 games has a HUGE value to any baseball club, especially one that has not been there in forever. That would dramatically raise the season ticket sales, putting mucho dinero in the owner’s (whomever) pockets.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Oh, I know that
I’d just rather not expend the resources it would take to get Doc to do it. If we can get there on our own, or maybe with a more practical move or two, that’s fine.
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
score runs
why don’t u ppl give the other pitcher a little credit u got the rangers already in the hof
Because...
…the Rangers haven’t had 2 months worth of great pitching that they’ve run up against.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 19, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Really?
So you are saying that the Rangers have faced every #1 and #2 pitchers for the last 2 months? Our offense makes even spare pitchers look like CY Young where other teams kill that same pitcher. You get credit for the most stupid post today.
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
This team makes me sad....
And I don’t see it changing anytime soon.
FUCK!!!!!!!!
Let's hope the second half will be as good as the first half has been.
by b.pate on Jul 19, 2009 9:58 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Did I hear correctly...
that as a team they have a .233 OBP since June 1st? That can’t be right, is it?
Just checked and apparently I didn't hear correctly...
BA must have been what they said.
No that's their BA since June first.
.233/.296/.402 team line since the beginning fo June.
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
a sub .300 OBP since june first
holey sheet
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Well, they had a .288 OBP for the month of June
It’s back up to .312 this month (yay?).
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
At least we have dirk's prospect rankings
that’s the only thing that’s not depressing about this team.
Alma para conquistarte, corazón para quererte, y vida para vivirla junto a ti.
Roy H. Trade
I think 10-12 newspapers have a story line about Roy and their team this week. I don’t think the Rangers ever were serious about it. Which means, the recent hitting slump did not save us as much as it provided timely P.R. cover.
Stick with the Plan. We’re a year away. So be it.
Will this offense be better next year?
Realistically, we’re talking about switching out at 1B with a rookie, CF with someone who will be probably have a worse OPS (though hopefully a better OBP) than the OF he replaces, and maybe DH?
MaxRam for DH? Or do you look externally? I know hindsight is 20/20 and money is short and all that, but it’s fun to think about what Bobby Abreu would have looked like in the lineup.
by GhettoBear04 on Jul 19, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
The hope is
Smoak and Davis nail down 1b and DH.
What do voluntary mean?
Or Nick Johnson
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
NO
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 19, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions
Not even for a 1-year Abreu-like deal?
I’d love to have him as our DH if the price is right.
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
Maybe
I just felt like saying no;)
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 19, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions
id rather go after thome
1.000+ career OPS in arlington. he would just be a DH, but a damn fine one, and someone who gets on base now and then.
by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Jul 19, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions
No Thanks
"Clearly, the season is over. Fire Daniels, fire Washington, fire Maddux, burn down TBIA." - AJM
by aggierangerfan00 on Jul 19, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Damn...
looks like all of us Directv viewers (outside the DFW area) are going to be screwed tonight. Can’t watch the game.
Of course, who cares. It’s not like I wanted to watch Liriano and Holland pitch anyway. Fuck.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Can we score negative runs tonight?
Minn 8
Tex -3
by death of the cool on Jul 19, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Won't be able to watch on MLB.tv either.
"Clearly, the season is over. Fire Daniels, fire Washington, fire Maddux, burn down TBIA." - AJM
by aggierangerfan00 on Jul 19, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Kwitcherbitchin
Watch it here :)
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Thank you!
"Clearly, the season is over. Fire Daniels, fire Washington, fire Maddux, burn down TBIA." - AJM
by aggierangerfan00 on Jul 19, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Who's watching the game tonight anyway
The ESPY’s is on!!!!
by robert_d_wilfong on Jul 19, 2009 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
There's a free preview of the MLB Extra Innings package for DirecTV people right?
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 19, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions
With money being so tight this year....
as has been reported (we can’t even afford 5 mil for an ace)
I don’t see anyway this offense improves.
We could bring up Borbon to play CF and move Hamilton to a corner, but would Old School Brotha play him over Byrd or Jones? Doubtful…and being a rookie he might struggle some himself.
Davis could get called back up, but he was the poster child for this terrible offense for a few months…I am not sure replacing Hank or Jones with davis will help much.
Smoak has struggled at AAA, and they probably don’t want to panic and get his clocked started…
.500 here we come.
by death of the cool on Jul 19, 2009 12:12 PM CDT reply actions
Here's the question for next year...
Bring back Marlon Byrd – yes or no?
"Clearly, the season is over. Fire Daniels, fire Washington, fire Maddux, burn down TBIA." - AJM
by aggierangerfan00 on Jul 19, 2009 12:27 PM CDT reply actions
Hell No.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 19, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions
My choice would be no, but it makes me wonder if we're gonna stick in David Murphy regularly against LHP
"Clearly, the season is over. Fire Daniels, fire Washington, fire Maddux, burn down TBIA." - AJM
by aggierangerfan00 on Jul 19, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions
He should be the 4th OF next year:
CF Borbon, RF Cruz, LF Hamilton and Murphy is how they should do it.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 19, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Looks beautiful
Where’s Boggs? You know Adam will want to know.
"Clearly, the season is over. Fire Daniels, fire Washington, fire Maddux, burn down TBIA." - AJM
by aggierangerfan00 on Jul 19, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Either him or Golson could be a 5th OF'er I guess.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 19, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions
i have nowhere near the vitriol for byrd that some here have
but i dont think we should. his OBP has really been lacking this year, and he doesnt make sense for a team watching its budget, when we have younger players coming up that can fill his role adequately for much cheaper.
by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Jul 19, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions
No.
We need to take as many of Ron’s toys away as possible.
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
Major Uniform Fail
"Clearly, the season is over. Fire Daniels, fire Washington, fire Maddux, burn down TBIA." - AJM
by aggierangerfan00 on Jul 19, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Major team name fail, too
Making it a double fail.
"You know, I’m playing entirely too much." - Andruw Jones
"After intense analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Neftali Feliz throws fucking hard." - John Sickels
i think we have gotten to the pt that it is time
to start using our amazing minor lg pitched depth to acquire a hitter.
Honestly
dont know and the right piece may not present itself til the offseason.
by Michael Cave on Jul 19, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions
It seems
Like there’s a limited number of guys who have high OBP and could conceivably be traded.
The Hawpes, Willinghams, and Johnsons have already been discussed quite a bit. Would you want Gomes or give up something shiny for Seth Smith?
by brettgardner on Jul 19, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions
I dont think
Hawpe is getting traded. Not big on Willingham. The guy I would prefer the most, Holliday, is not going to get traded to us. The position the Rangers are in kinda sucks. I know the saying goes that you can never have enough pitching but this yr the Rangers hitting has failed them They really need an OFer (rather have an OF thinking towards next yr because im still holding out hope that Davis and Smoak will take the 1B/DH jobs) who has a good approach. you are right though, those are few and far between. Of those, very few are available. Also, most of us want Hamilton/Borbon/Cruz in the OF with Davis and Smoak at 1B/DH, the rest of the IF is set.
Thinking about it, i know i want a trade as do a lot of ppl. However, our lineup is fairly set. Our hitters just need to learn a better approach but can they?
by Michael Cave on Jul 19, 2009 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions
I dunno
I think I’d rather trade either Smoak or Davis in the offseason as part of a pitching upgrade, have Hamilton DH more, and do a Volquezish trade with CO for Smith.
Probably too many moving parts, though.
by brettgardner on Jul 19, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions
I do like the idea for Smith
but I’d keep Smoak and Davis. Those two guys can provide a lot of power to this lineup next year if Davis gets corrected and Smoak lives up to expectations.
They Don't need an OF...
Once Borbon gets called up to stay (next year), they have an OF of Cruz, Borbon, Hamilton. That is plenty good enough to get it done assuming all are healthy. Murphy as a 4th OF that can play all 3 positions decently and Boggs as a 5th who can do the same.
The most extensive problems this season have come from 2B, C, and 1B. 2B, you just hope improves, 1B you have Smoak or Davis one of which will certainly pan out. C is very interesting. A ‘positional strength’ is a black hole this year. Hope it gets better or trade? I vote for ‘hope it gets better’. Lastly, DH. Least of our worries, though I hope very much that they stop bringing in reclamation projects for fucking Rudy. These have not turned out well and it is time to stop them.
The biggest problem with this IMO
Is that there just doesn’t seem to be room to add anyone. Between Hamilton, Byrd, Murphy, and Cruz, the OF is set and there isn’t any room to add anyone to it. We’re obviously sticking with Elvis, Kinsler, and Young in the IF and the catching spot is what it is. 1B and DH are the only “open” spots for a new hitter to come in and play and that means getting rid of Blalock and/or Jones. Unfortunately, that just doesn’t look like its going to happen by the trade deadline. With Blalock, he either looks horrible out there and is hacking at everything or he manages to go on a nice streak and looks like a player that this team can’t afford to give up. And since Jones is just a part time player, it looks like the thinking is that he doesn’t play enough to have that negative of an impact on the team.
Right now, I think the best addition to this team that we can hope for is for Davis to get his act together in OKC and come back hitting like he did last year. There just doesn’t seem to be any other bat that will be brought in that could have any kind of significant positive impact on the offense.
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
you're right
The only way they make any significant change is if the bring up Borbon and commit to playing him in CF. That will only happen if/when they fall out of the playoff race.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
I agree as well
i said as much above. As presently constructed the Rangers will have to depend on Borbon, Smoak and Davis to come up and perform either at the end of this yr or for 2010.
by Michael Cave on Jul 19, 2009 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Trades....
If the Rangers are trading with 2010 in mind, I think they should forget about the hitters. BUT, I think the Rangers are long-shots because the Jays seem to be lining up suitors who have a SS ready to go at the ML level.
If the Rangers are trading with 2009 in mind, well a hitter is the way to go, but then they blow their wad on a hitter to reshape their lineup for half-a-season and limit the likelihood they can trade for an Ace should one come available this offseason.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
Trade talk
Interrogative: Who are the kids in our system that might have more perceived value to others than to us?
Discuss.
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
Interesting stuff on Wash's pre-game show last night...
Nadel commented about the Twins’ approach with 2 strikes, how everyone (including Mauer) shortened their stroke…Wash talked about that was the way the Twins taught it, from the bottom of their system to the top. Then he lamented that the Rangers didn’t do it that way. I wanted to scream loud enough for him to hear, "Why not??!!!
Either this is the most stubborn 25-man roster ever, or the most stupid.
Ephesians 3:20-21...and I can only imagine
Yeah, I heard that too.
Which is why I have been alluding to Rudy leaving. He and Wash don’t seem to be able to get on the same page.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
It is funny
that two of the surprises in the system do exactly that. Tim Smith and Mitch Moreland
by Michael Cave on Jul 19, 2009 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Wash lost any say he had in the offense
when Mark Teixeira blew off a take sign back in June ’07.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
hell, that's grounds
for getting rid of Rudy right now, if that’s the case.
Never argue with a fool. Onlookers might not be able to tell you apart.
No it isn't
Rudy is a mechanical engineer, not a philosophy professor.
This isn’t football, where you can blame the O.C. for the plan of attack. Rudy fixes their swing; he doesn’t talk them through why they swung at this pitch and layed off that one.
It is a coaching failure to a degree, I’ll grant you that, but if you were to put it on anyone, it’d have to be on Worsh, and whoever he and JD had delegated that responsibility to, and I have no idea who that is, but it very well might be someone who isn’t on Worsh’s immediate staff. Still, I think there is a pervasive attitude in Baseball that this is something that is on the players to iron out (which is dumb, IMO).
It definitely isn’t part of Rudy’s M.O.
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
by Brian Thomas on Jul 19, 2009 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions
x
Rudy fixes their swing; he doesn’t talk them through why they swung at this pitch and layed off that one.
What are you basing this on?
by brettgardner on Jul 20, 2009 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions
Rudy
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
by Brian Thomas on Jul 20, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions
His own words, that is
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
by Brian Thomas on Jul 20, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm thinking a little stubborn and stupid...
except for Elvis and Murph. Everyone else is hacktastic, and I think its because they listen to Rudy too much. Any surprise that the offense was a good as it was last year with Rudy being out for half the year? Yet when he is here for a full year we suck?
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
Or...
Nobody ever tells them that. It’s not like the 2009 Rangers is the first roster that has had that same approach at the plate. IT’S BEEN THAT WAY FOR OVER A DECADE!!!!!
LoneStarBall....You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
by LSBUser on Jul 19, 2009 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Between Kinsler and the 7-8-9 spots sucking
this team has no hope of doing anything.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
Andrus is far from sucking compared to these guys.
Probably the only guy on the who can take a pitch.
David Murphy says hi
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.
He likes taking strike three. :)
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
Approach
is the lack of org. focus or is it Rudy’s fault? Does Rudy make the org. philosophy?
I think it's more the players than the coaches.
For example, Giambi walks wherever he goes, regardless of the hitting coach; Ichiro hits his way on board.
So, there’s that baseline to work form. Maybe shortening a swing with two strikes can help guys make contact a little more, but the main thing is to either hit the ball before you get to two strikes, because hitting with two strikes is a horrendously difficult task, or layoff more of those out pitches thrown with two strikes.
If the Rangers want a different type of offense, they have to get a different type of hitter. There is plenty of precedence for guys to have high OBP under Rudy. The guys with that ability and mentality were able to do it just fine: ARod, Maclemore, Rusty, Tetleton, Teixeira.
To rebuild the offense, the Rangers have to say goodbye to Hank and Jones, but it’s not an easy thing to do if the team is unable to eat salary. They need to evaluate whether Chris Davis fits their idea of what the offense should be able to do.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
"If the Rangers want a different type of offense, they have to get a different type of hitter"
I don’t agree. The Ranger’s (taught by Rudy) are aggresive at the plate. They want to swing at the first “good” pitch they see. Hank had a very good OBP in the minors and his first two full seasons with the Rangers. They all have the ability to put up a better OBP if they were willing. Just look at last year.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
Not trying to argue at all
but are you saying that last yr the Rangers had a better approach in spite of Jaramillo? If so, what was the cause of the better approach last year? Milton Bradley’s influence? If it was then dont we need to bring a hitter such as the rooster mentioned Giambi, Helton, Dunn or Holliday? I know I may get crushed for this on the board but im beginning to that Holliday should be our main target this off season. He has been a good defensive OF and while at CO he did hit better at Coors however he still had around a .800 ops. It is probably moot because we wont be able to sign up him.
by Michael Cave on Jul 19, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Bradley
I don’t think anyone would deny Bradley had an influence last year. And it baffles me to see that they are back to thier 2007 form after he leaves.
2007….263/.328/.426 #5 runs/gm
2008…..283/.354/.462 #1 in runs/gm and it wasn’t close
2009 ……255/.316/.452 #6 in runs/gm and dropping
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
Only a very small difference
The OBP dropped by 38 points, and the average dropped by 28 points — so the patience is not dramatically different from either 07 or 08.
The OBP for 2008 was really only ~10 points higher, which could probably be entirely attributed to Bradly.
On an alternate note, the SLG this year is way up (if you were to add all singles to bring the averages together, we would be at ~482 instead of 462.)
So, my guess would be that our BABIP this year is lower, probably due to having more fly-ball, fence targetting free-swingers this year.
???
The OBP dropped by 38 points, and the average dropped by 28 points
You don’t think that is a dramatic difference? They were 3rd in BBs in 2008. Now they are 12th in 2009.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
hmmmm
3rd to 12th in BB
avg dropped 28 points
obp dropped 38 pts
team ranks 3rd from the bottom in total pitches seen
slg % is way up
Wonder if they might be swing for the fences a bit?
Never argue with a fool. Onlookers might not be able to tell you apart.
Meant that as OBP relationally not that different.
What I meant by that was that their OBP – AVG only decreased by 10 points.
Their walk rate isn’t as high as last year, but is not particularly different from 2007.
What is particularly different are the AVG and SLG. The AVG has plummetted, and is even lower than 2007; while their SLG has increased relative to their average.
To me, this suggests that they are swinging for the fences in an extreme manner inconsistent with the last two years — and seeing as Jaramillo was here for those two years, I don’t think the blame can be significantly pinned on him.
My point (in a shortened, unclear form) was the Rangers need to be more patient and start believing in singles and walks, and give up on the HRs a bit and that it’s not clear that Jaramillo is the cause.
i agree with most of that
but i’m just not sure how to explain how we have so many players with a significantly lower OBP than their career marks.
Byrd (-.018), Blalock (-.032), Salty (-.024) Hamilton (-.059), & Kinsler (-.028) are all getting on base rather infrequently compared to what they have done in their careers. And those are guys counted on to be cogs in our lineup. The only regulars outpacing their career OBPs are Young (.014) and Murphy (.016). Cruz is too, but he had terrible numbers there to begin with.
Either something has happened to make our hitters have a less patient approach, or we are just a victim of an insufficient sample size. i’d like to see us acquire 1 or 2 OBP type guys, but i also would like to see our existing regulars approximate their solid, though not spectacular, career ability to get on base.
by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Jul 19, 2009 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions
It's up to Holland to stick in the rotation
That’s what I gathered from Washington’s remarks:
Manager Ron Washington has liked the progression from Holland and said Sunday’s start could be the lefty’s opportunity to receive consistent time in the rotation.
“His last two times out, there has been improvement in his pitchability,” Washington said. “He’s come a long ways, and he’s learning fast. This might be the time he stays in the rotation.”
I think this means they are challenging him — the team wants him to step and make them leave him in there. If he seizes the opportunity, he’ll stay in the rotation.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
holland will dominate from here on out
and the rangers bats will destroy!
Michael Young > Steve Garvey.
Nelson Cruz >Greg Nettles.
Elvis Andrus > Willie McGee.
Ian Kinsler > Darryl Strawberry.
i dunno, that's just really random.
Rangers lineup
Ian Kinsler, 2b
Michael Young, 3b
Josh Hamilton, dh
Andruw Jones, lf
Hank Blalock, 1b
Marlon Byrd, cf
Nelson Cruz, rf ◄◄◄ wtf?
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
LOL
Cut/paste fail!
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
wait,
the “wtf” was actually in the lineup?
Wow, Ron doesn’t even know what his gut is doing
by kevinkinsler on Jul 19, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Think RW will EVER
move Kinsler out of the leadoff spot for a few games?? And one more question-didn;t Byrd hit well in the 4-hole when they had that little resurgence a week or so before the ASG, or am I mis-remembering?
Never argue with a fool. Onlookers might not be able to tell you apart.
Kinsler
Only when the Rangers drop out of contention and JD calls up Borbon and tells RW that Borbon will be the CF and leadoff man.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
If that were to happen
would Kinsler throw a MY hissy-fit because “I’m a leadoff hitter”?
Never argue with a fool. Onlookers might not be able to tell you apart.
This EXACTLY!!
The answer is Marlon Byrd hitting cleanup instead of 23 HR, Nelson Cruz!! The benefits are obvious…more protection from the fearsome Byrdman for Hamilton, a cleanup hitter hoping to ground a ball past 3rd base for a double, a cleanup hitter who has never hit 20 hr and that walks almost never!!
This is the answer!!!
Dude, you need to chill!
My question was: Did he hit well there? Never claimed it to be an “answer”. Since you have the answer, would you mind sharing?
Never argue with a fool. Onlookers might not be able to tell you apart.
BTW
Career-67 games a cleanup hitter
319/385/517/902
Never argue with a fool. Onlookers might not be able to tell you apart.
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