Nolan Ryan chat at DMN at 11 a.m.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 20, 2009 10:28 AM CDT
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PrintThe DMN Rangers blog is hosting a live chat session with Nolan Ryan at 11 a.m. today.
This is a good chance for folks to throw some good questions out there for Ryan. Check it out...
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First up:
[Comment From Adam J. Morris]
There is a lot of talk in the media about how the Rangers have implemented a philosophy where they ignore pitch counts, both at the major league level and the minor league level. This has caused a lot of consternation among fans, who are worried about Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland becoming the next Eddie Correa and Jose Guzman. However, based on what is happening this season, that doesn’t seem to be the case — it appears that there is more of a focus on pushing certain pitchers beyond the 100 pitch mark, and making decisions on an individual basis, rather than just disregarding pitch counts altogether. Could you clarify what the organization’s stance is in regards to pitch counts, particularly for players in the minors?
11:06 Nolan Ryan: We basically have a pitch count for our kids that are 18 and 19 years old where we have them on a lower pitch count than our older kids in the minor league system. That is somewhere around 100 pitches for starters. On our kids that are in AA and AAA, we expand that number and can go up to 110 or 115, could go to 120 at AAA. Then what we try to do on the ML level is let the pitching coach, manager and pitcher’s ability plus whatever his personal situation is (how many innings he’s worked, what he did in his last start, performance that night as far as where his pitches are distributed and whether he had an easy time or if he struggled) that would impact how many pitches he might throw in that game.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
I find it funny
how Adam gets mad at the “pitch ’em ’til their arms fall off!” straw man of Nolan painted by the national and certain local media people, even though it was pretty clear before and especially after that direct answer that that isn’t the team’s philosophy. And Adam knows that Nolan isn’t ruining these pitchers and that it is just a dumb interpretation of the team’s actual strategy. Yet he’s really mad about that straw man.
Go Rice Owls!
I don't know
It seems like you are always bring it up when articles wrongly talk about how Nolan is going to stop pampering these kids and turn them into 250 innings/year workhorses. Like it’s some sort of pet peeve of yours.
I’m happy with what the Rangers are actually doing, and really don’t care if the perception of them in the national media is wrong.
Go Rice Owls!
weird interpretation
i think he set up the “straw man” so nolan could knock it down and thus hope that the national media catches on.
"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)
but who cares if the national media is wrong about that?
I guess that is my point. Whatever.
Go Rice Owls!
oh
still it is worth addressing when you have the man at the mic.
"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)
fair enough
it is always good to get the big man on record. That is, I suppose, what the media should do, and it is somewhat ironic that a fan blogger actually asks the question as opposed to the ESPN etc folks that just make an assumption and run with it.
I give AJM big credit for coming around from his initial skepticism on Nolan and recognizing that he’s been a plus for the organization (and I don’t mean that in the Josey way, but in the real “he’s turned out to be a good president” sort of way). As we know, most people who report or comment on the Rangers are either a) rarely critical or b) willing to admit when their past criticism no longer applies.
Go Rice Owls!
nolan
he has been up to this point an excellent manager. identifying talent, sticking to a plan, seeing what works and what doesn’t is definitely a smart route.
"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)
It is you
who have set up the straw man here, about Adam’s supposed straw man.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
maybe
you’re setting up a straw man about my straw man about Adam’s straw man…
I really wasn’t trying to make a big deal about this, and I didn’t mean it to be critical of AJM. I just found it amusing, nothing more.
Go Rice Owls!
Fuck
Before you know it we are going to have all of Emerald City full of straw men!
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
emerald city only had one straw man
your concern is a straw man
"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)
Emerald City played at my prom
In case anyone gives a flying monkey
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
I'm not setting up a straw man
The initial reports were that pitch counts were going out the window. That is scary, and would be very bad.
As I point out in my question, though, that’s not what appears to be happening. The national media stories I criticize because I think they are inaccurately portraying what is happening.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 20, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Believe it or not
that is exactly the question that BaD radio asked last friday while filling in for The Hardline. I was surprised as the type of questions they were asking. Pretty good. Nolan said something to the same effect. Basically, if the pitcher can handle 120 pitches then great, if only 105 then make sure they are economical.
by Michael Cave on Jul 20, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions
WOW...Really?
Comment From Jamie in Forney]
Good morning Nolan – Thank you for taking time to chat with us. First, as a lifelong Rangers fan I have to say that I am very excited with the direction that both you and Jon Daniels have laid out for the future. With that said, can you share with us your assessment on where Feliz is in his progression? Also, can you share with us the next 2-3 pitchers in the organization that you believe will have an impact, either this season or next season? Again, thanks so much for your time.
11:23 Nolan Ryan: Feliz would be first on that list and Tommy Hunter could also be on there. Then Martin Perez blockquote>
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
Yeah that shocked me as well
I don’t think there’s anyway that actually happens though. Maybe he just read an updated scouting report or something like that.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 20, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions
He gets to watch video his starts too.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 20, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions
well yeah that too
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 20, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions
because he's not that good
i think scouting reports on him have an understood “for his age/for his level” caveat (though he’s still very good for his level regardless of age)
"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)
I'd put the chances of it happening around 2%
If Perez gets Feliz-ed next year and jumps straight to AA to start the season I could see a scenario where late next year if he dominates he gets a cup of coffee. Although there are a ton of other aspects that would play into that as well.
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.
well,
his numbers this year arent just good for his age according to level, they are really, really, really good for anyone… Of course, that is A ball and definitely think he wont be here til midway through 2011 season, which still might seem quick, but when you think about it, he spends alot of next year in AA i bet, then he’ll get some time in AA or AAA in 2011 and come up at some point then. OF course thats if he continues to progress and everything goes well for him, which is definitely not a given with pitching prospects.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
I doubt this year
I think he stays in Hickory all year. His apparent relationships with his teammates and the Rangers philosophy of keeping teams together to try and win those championships make it seem less likely hes gonna move this year.
But next year I see him starting in Frisco and we’ll see where he goes from 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.
I think he was just answering
who the next 2-3 impact pitchers will be.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
Yep
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 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions
Well even that is somewhat surprising
there are guys that are farther along that could make impacts as relievers or starters before Perez ever does.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 20, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions
There are guys that might
contribute earlier than Perez, but he very well could be correct that MP is the next impact guy.
I disagree still
There are guys that are closer that could have an impact like Moscoso and Madrigal.
But that’s splitting hairs and I really doubt Nolan meant to provoke that much thought behind his statement.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 20, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions
I think it's partly semantics...
making an impact, and being an impact player is two different things to me.
Well if that's the case
then yes, it’s definitely semantics.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 20, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I wonder if Kinsler gets moved tomorrow
"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)
from chat:
There is a possibility that [Kinsler moving out of the leadoff spot] could happen, but that decision will be made by Ron. We don’t tell him how to set his lineup. I think it’s a point well taken and has been discussed at different occassions. I’m not making a prediction because it’s Ron’s decision.
Obviously not a direct edict but I wonder how a manager reacts to such a thing.
"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)
Good to know
that the brass doesn’t tell the Old School Brutha what line-ups to set because some of the things Wash does are so plainly wrong.
"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 Jul 20, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Hey this is something that we
can agree on. I do question some of Wash’s lineups
by Michael Cave on Jul 20, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions
holy shit...Nolan has MOON ROCKS!
11:57 [Comment From Frank Hall]
Do you think we really landed on the moon or was it a hoax?
11:57 Nolan Ryan: I have moon rocks and I have to believe they are original. Some of the astronauts showed up in Houston.
That’s fucking awesome.
Moon rocks
snow monkeys…jesus, if he got some footage of big foot he could open a museum of weird shit.
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
This guy has moon rocks too
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
by txranger7 on Jul 20, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
That is so cool.
If I suddenly found myself in possession of a few dozen million dollars, a real moon rock would be on my short list of completely useless but awesome purchases.
Moon rock >>> Picasso art
Go Rice Owls!
Did anybody ask him when we're going to get some hitting up in herrr?
Because I’ve always felt that if only we had a league average offense, this team will contend.
Building an offense
has always been the responsibility of the GM.
It wasn’t broke last year so Nolan didn’t need to fix 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?"
Well, how do we know..
that JD didn’t want to go after a hitter, but Ryan nixed it. After all, his primary job is to KEEP Daniels from doing stuff, right?
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
bking
Do you really think that happened?
If so, why?
"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?"
Nope, but I don't know what happened, and neither do you.
My point is that this meme of “it’s JD’s job to do something unless it works, then it was Nolan’s hand at work” is tiresome.
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
bking
The pitching with this thing was a mess last year so Nolan observed and then implemented changes. The changes had nothing to do with personnel (nobody new was brought in) and everything to do with conditioning, coaching and philosophy.
There was nothing wrong with the offense that JD had built so no changes were deemed necessary nor implemented. This is JD’s offense all the way.
"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?"
Its JDs pitching then too right?
Cause no changes were made to personnel
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.
Absolutely this is, with very few changes
a pitching staff that was assembled by JD.
And without the massive changes in JD’s approach to pitching in philosophy, conditioning and coaching (See 967 runs allowed in 2008) that Nolan Ryan implemented, this staff would not have been very good either.
This year’s offense? All JD.
If you disagree, who did Nolan bring in?
"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?"
This roster is JDs
Offense and defense and pitching.
SO while at the same time that Nolans philosophical (sp?) changes have helped the pitchers go deeper and pitch better JDs defense has also helped by cutting down on the errors and unearned runs allowed.
Nolan helped bring in Maddux. But let me ask wasn’t Mark Conner already here when JD came aboard or at least was a Buck hire right when JD was given the GM job?
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.
bigsteve
So you agree this offense is all JD’s, correct?
"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?"
ohh the irony....
I “DO” so love it when you try and pin someone down, as much as you wiggle and avoid “Due to work and time constraints” so many, many direct questions.
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
Moreland
Nolan threw him into the 1B mix during the chat.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
I caught that, too
Hunter, also, mentioned in the same breath as Feliz and Perez, heady company.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
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