Minors 7/8 & 9
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 9, 2009 5:00 PM CDT
85 comments
Here's todays pitching probs:
At 6 Wilmer Font starts for Hickory.
At 7 Luis Mendoza starts for OKC.
At 7 Blake Beavan starts for Frisco.
At 9 Braden Tullis starts for Spokane.
At 9:45 Tanner Roark starts for Bakersfield.
Some dude named Wilkins might start for the AZL Rangers tonight.
_______________________________________________________________________________
At 6 Joe Wieland will get the start for Hickory.
At 8:30 Trevor Hurley will make the start for Spokane.
At 9: 45 Tim Murphy will toe the rubber for Bakersfield.
Tonight OKC, Frisco, and the AZL Rangers have the night off.
Go Rangers
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
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Weiland's 1st
Walk and (surprise!) catcher’s throwing error on a bunt attempt both come around to score.
In other news, Baltimore’s down 3-0 in the 9th to the Mariners, but they just brought the tying run up with nobody out.
by Outworlder47 on Jul 8, 2009 6:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Feliz in the bullpen
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned much lately is Feliz’s progress in holding runners. If he is going to come up and pitch in the bullpen he’s going to have to be able to succeed entering the game with runners already on base (unlike Jennings, apparently). Anybody have any recent reports on that aspect of his game?
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jul 8, 2009 6:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
good thing RW is our manager
kinsler is sitting tonight.
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.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 8, 2009 7:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
well hell
frisco and OKC are off. I didn’t know this. I was hoping to tune in and check the games out before the rangers came on
by whittlemantastic on Jul 8, 2009 8:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
think i'll check some boxscores
then watch some shawshank…
ah haha
nah.. maybe later
by whittlemantastic on Jul 8, 2009 8:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
damn
nothing going on over here.
any updates???
by whittlemantastic on Jul 8, 2009 9:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
think i'll just hang out here for a min
put it in park
by whittlemantastic on Jul 8, 2009 9:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
SPO highlights
Barto and MVQ with the HRs – Murphy with the triple
by shroomer on Jul 9, 2009 10:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This Velazquez kid…
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Jul 9, 2009 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was blowing shit up when he did whatever he did to get sat the fuck down for a season
it was just silly.
now that ive seen game video of the kid and his swing, i can see why.
I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT
by Jayslick on Jul 9, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Crawdads BP pic by Jason Cole
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 9, 2009 5:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice!
LoneStarDugout: Wilmer Font sitting a cool 93-95 in the second inning.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 9, 2009 6:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Font through 3
1 walk and 1 bunt single (subsequently erased on a CS). 3 K’s, all swinging.
by Outworlder47 on Jul 9, 2009 6:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
good stuff, now 4 Ks through 4 IP w/o another hit or walk
he’s been pitching a better recently even though his ERA has gone up. His walk has been going down, which is huge, huge huge.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Jul 9, 2009 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he now has only 3 walks in his last 17 IP... hopefully this is a trend that continues
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Jul 9, 2009 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
According to the announcer
Font is now throwing a healthy dose of breaking balls.
Just threw a 97 MPH fastball.
Struck out a guy on a change-up an inning or two ago.
Improved control and using all of his pitches? Sounds like real progress. I can’t wait to hear what Jason Cole has to say.
by spurdynasty on Jul 9, 2009 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very, very nice.
"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 Jul 9, 2009 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Improved control and use of secondary offerings to go with that heat?
Heaven help the opposition. He could get real scary real quick.
I’ve tried not to get excited about Font like Perez and some others because he’s been so raw and wild. I’m going to be giddy if he starts to show polish.
"andruw jones hits 3 HRS at LA of Anaheim last nite after hitting zero at LA of LA as Dodger in all of '08. thats nuts." SI_JonHeyman
by WestTxAg06 on Jul 9, 2009 7:15 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
i tend to get the feeling that with young pitchers when they start mixing in more breaking balls the walk rate goes
down simply b/c they start getting more swings earlier in the count and probably more swings at balls out of the zone. Its too easy to just lay off the fastball when its out of the zone and wait for a fastball in the zone.
So maybe for Font it isnt so much about his fastball location as it is about batters swinging more at pitches out of the zone.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Jul 9, 2009 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Still, though
Font was getting some called strikes with the curve, throwing it early in counts. Small sample from the few innings I was able to hear tonight, but I didn’t get the impression that it was a lot of swings at stuff out of the zone.
by Outworlder47 on Jul 9, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeaa, im not saying its something that is prevalent for every young guy
just sometimes seems to be a trend with young guys that kinda makes sense i guess
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Jul 9, 2009 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thru 5
1 hit, 1 walk, and hitting 97.
6 ground outs, 4 flies including one infield pop.
by Outworlder47 on Jul 9, 2009 7:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
CD K's. Smoak BB, Golson RBI 2B
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 9, 2009 7:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
and CD Homers in 2nd AB
pay back… sweet stuff.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Jul 9, 2009 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
WOW
BenBadler: Peter Gammons today wrote that Jurickson Profar got $1.55 million from the #Rangers. I just had a source confirm $1.55MM too
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 9, 2009 7:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I would have expected a number like that
if they were trying to buy him into pitching. Didn’t expect that much once it was confirmed he was staying at SS. Like Liam says below…$2.5 million was off…Hicks must have dug under his mattress and sofa cushions at his $46 million house.
Maybe he will sell his house to get Halladay.
I used to shoot baskets
by SaltyDawg on Jul 9, 2009 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Again guys
unless I’m missing something, that $2.5 million was only quoted as what Texas had already spent immediately after the signing period opened. We don’t even know that Sardinas was included in that number. Reports were that he was still up for grabs that night.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 9, 2009 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he is so very close...breakout candidate soon, IMO.
"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 Jul 9, 2009 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
seems like he is in the middle of his breakout
unless you are referring to a breakout as a late season call up or a rise to TORP status.
I used to shoot baskets
by SaltyDawg on Jul 9, 2009 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so do i owe you a coke?
or the other way around?
I used to shoot baskets
by SaltyDawg on Jul 9, 2009 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think this is about as close as he gets to a breakout.
His lack of swing and miss stuff is kind of alarming.
by LiamP on Jul 9, 2009 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
eh
he throws so many strikes i think he’ll be effective on a good defensive team like we have
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Jul 9, 2009 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
with BB and Hunter in the same rotation
the Rangers will never have a good pitching staff according to FIP
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
by RangerMad on Jul 9, 2009 8:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Getting 27 outs and scoring more runs than the other team wins games
FIP doesn’t.
Don’t get me wrong, FIP is somewhat useful as a stat. But if we have 2 starters who don’t walk anyone and induce lots of ground balls I front of this defense, they’re going to be a heck of a lot better and more useful than mete FIP would indicate.
"andruw jones hits 3 HRS at LA of Anaheim last nite after hitting zero at LA of LA as Dodger in all of '08. thats nuts." SI_JonHeyman
by WestTxAg06 on Jul 9, 2009 8:14 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Add Feldman in there and you got 3
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 Jul 9, 2009 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
The Hunter comparison is kinda depressing.
I know Hunter isn’t terrible and he could actually become useful, but I always had higher hopes for Beavan.
by Houston27 on Jul 9, 2009 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You shouldn't be depressed
Both of those guys could be solid 3rd starters and every team needs those. Jesus, these guys look like horses that will pitch 200 innings and not walk many or give up too many homers. Sorry if they’re also striking out 30% of batters faced, but they’re going to be pretty valuable as is, and huge player development success stories if they do nothing much more than continue as they are.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea, we have the luxury of having several dudes who project as 1's and 2's
and we also have guys who project as the 3 through 5 types. Beavan and Hunter project as excellent options because they seem like the rare very durable pitcher who throws a ton of strikes
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Jul 9, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are right..
However, when he was drafted all we heard about was his velocity and shitty mechanics. From the beginning I expected him to be a big K guy with potential to be a 1 or 2. I understand his mechanics have been cleaned up and that is likely the reason for the drop in velocity.
I suppose it has taken me awhile to get used to him being a Tommy Hunter type of pitcher. I understand those types of pitchers are needed and you are right, it would be a player development success story. Just not the type of development success I was expecting when they drafted him.
by Houston27 on Jul 9, 2009 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The other part of that, though
is that Hunter has improved to the point where instead of being a back of the rotation or bullpen guy, he now looks like he has a real shot at being a mid-rotation guy. So being a “Tommy Hunter type of pitcher” is not such a bad thing.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What is the difference between
a mid-rotation guy and a back of the rotation guy?
To me the number 3 guy is average to above average and has the potential to have a stellar game. While the 4 and 5 pitchers are average to below average with more shitty outings than you would like?
I have read that Beavan is being thought of as a LAIE and to me that is a back of the rotation guy. Are you saying that type of pitcher is a mid-rotation pitcher? For the Rangers, you are probably right, that is a mid-rotation starter. Truly though, in your view, what separates the two?
by Houston27 on Jul 9, 2009 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A league average starter
would usually have an ERA around the 4.50 mark. If Beavan does that while pitching 200 innings, he’s as solid as Millwood and a good 3rd starter. A 4th starter is definitely a notch below average for me. Maybe I should have said 3rd starter in a good rotation, because that’s what Millwood is ideally.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jul 10, 2009 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Hes consistently working in the 87-89mph range and occasionally touching 90-91. Hes giving up too many hard hit balls.
If he can dial up the mph some he might miss more bats.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Jul 9, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Beavan is so meh
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 9, 2009 8:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I just want to know when he is going to regain his strikeout pitches
We drafted a power pitcher with front of the rotation stuff and right now we have a guy who can’t strike out anyone.
The Rangers have rolled up the welcome mat and bludgeoned the Angels with it. - Josh Lewin
by uthornfan on Jul 9, 2009 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why? His stuff sure is.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 9, 2009 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
As long as he gets outs he will be fine
but if his stuff doesn’t improve, he is not going to have very much margin of error in the big leagues. With his current stuff, he is going to have to have great control and command to get big league hitters out.
The Rangers have rolled up the welcome mat and bludgeoned the Angels with it. - Josh Lewin
by uthornfan on Jul 9, 2009 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And he's done that so far, hasn't he?
by brettgardner on Jul 9, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes he has
he also hasn’t faced big league hitters yet. Lots of pitchers can get by in the minors with command and control, but not stuff. (See Clint Brannon, although he flamed out before he reached AA) Those pitchers tend to get exposed as they climb up the ladder. Hopefully that doesn’t happen to Beavan, but it is not out of the realm of possibility, which seems strange for a guy that threw 97 mph in high school.
The Rangers have rolled up the welcome mat and bludgeoned the Angels with it. - Josh Lewin
by uthornfan on Jul 9, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
FYI
My parents have been vacationing at the Grand Canyon and they are at the AZL Rangers game tonight. They have a camera and said they would try and get some pictures. If they get something good, I will post a link to the photo album in the next couple of days.
The Rangers have rolled up the welcome mat and bludgeoned the Angels with it. - Josh Lewin
by uthornfan on Jul 9, 2009 9:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
2ip 3ks for Phillips.
Just chilling with a 0.00era. Holla.
Trade for Ian Snell.
by sprite on Jul 9, 2009 9:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Lot of interesting LH relief arms
between him, jones, murray, and Martin Perez
I used to shoot baskets
by SaltyDawg on Jul 9, 2009 11:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh yea, what a great LOOGY Perez is gonna make
i cant wait…
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Jul 10, 2009 12:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm just being realistic here
Seriously though, how many LSBers would jump off bridges if the Martin Perez turned into a LOOGY?
"I tend to like young Latinos" -Jason Parks
by SaltyDawg on Jul 10, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wilkins
has now pitched 14+ innings this year w/o giving up a run.
what is his stuff like?
by mo on Jul 9, 2009 10:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
IIRC
He was drafted for his curve ball. On draft day Mark Connor said that he “likes the way he spins the ball,” or something like that. I don’t know if his FB has ever been reported to top 90. So, I’m guessing his success is based on commanding his FB and controlling his curveball. This is by far the best stretch he’s had.
by shroomer on Jul 9, 2009 11:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or maybe because this is his third straight year in Arizona...
by Goyogringo on Jul 10, 2009 12:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that has to dampen
the enthusiasm a bit.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Jul 10, 2009 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So was whittleman
back in the day…
by Goyogringo on Jul 10, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You clearly missed the point.
No one bitched about Whittleman repeating the AZL three times.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 10, 2009 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes.
The two players aren’t even comparable except that they were both HS picks.
by NoNameOnCard on Jul 11, 2009 1:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
really?
your quaint literalism over against my rhetorical dig suggests otherwise
by Goyogringo on Jul 11, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another nice game for Braden Tullis
4IP 4H 1R 1BB 4K
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 9, 2009 10:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He isn't a prospect
but Edward Koncel has two homers for Arizona tonight.
Wilkins lasted five innings, allowing one run (his first of the season) on five hits. He struck out four and walked no one. Not sure what his stuff is like, but from what I remember he lost quite a big of velocity after we drafted him. Not sure if he has gotten it back.
The Rangers have rolled up the welcome mat and bludgeoned the Angels with it. - Josh Lewin
by uthornfan on Jul 9, 2009 11:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Watching Felix tonight makes me kind of curious about how much this org misses Rick Adair.
by LiamP on Jul 9, 2009 11:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
What would indicate to you
that this organization has taken a step back in pitching instruction?
by Brett Perryman on Jul 10, 2009 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn't say they had taken a step back
Maybe I could’ve phrased my question better. What I was curious about was exactly how influential Adair was, and if they’d be better off, worse off or about the same if they had him instead of Clark right now.
by LiamP on Jul 10, 2009 11:08 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Even if Clark is good at his job, you lost a good instructor for sure.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 10, 2009 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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