Thursday a.m. Rangers stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 13, 2009 9:13 AM CDT
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PrintJeff Wilson writes that Tommy Hunter pitched backwards yesterday, relying more on his curve and then using his fastball, rather than the other way around. Whatever it was, it certainly worked.
Nelson Cruz is apparently close to being ready to return, and could be back in the lineup today.
Esteban German is glad to be back in the majors.
Ian Kinsler only played seven innings last night in his rehab start at Frisco, but him leaving early reportedly wasn't health related.
And T.R. Sullivan writes about the way Doug Mathis has carved out a role in the Ranger pen.
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Per Buster Olney
4. Justin Duchscherer will return to the big leagues in five days. I’d guess that the Rangers will claim him on waivers, whenever he passes through.
That might not be a bad pickup…
DFA Jennings and either use him in the 'pen or the roto?
Worth a look, IMO.
J.P. can take Roy Halladay and shove him up his ass. I’ll take Derek Holland. - AJM
Rangers can no hit curve ball. Straight ball, they hit it very much. Curve ball, bats are inept.
Do you bump Nippert to the bullpen?
What do you do with Grilli when he comes back in a few days?
I just don’t see that 6 weeks of Justin Duchscherer is worth rearranging things for.
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 13, 2009 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions
You already know.
J.P. can take Roy Halladay and shove him up his ass. I’ll take Derek Holland. - AJM
Rangers can no hit curve ball. Straight ball, they hit it very much. Curve ball, bats are inept.
It's actually Andro, not Wilson that wrote the Hunter article
We'll show you Obama's birth certificate as soon as you show us Sarah Palin's high school diploma...
by Brian Thomas on Aug 13, 2009 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions
If you claim Duchscherer...
…you’ve got two pitchers to remove from the 25 man roster.
Who besides Mathis?
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 13, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Has to be Jennings
Deuchscherer put up 2.54 ERA and .99 WHIP last year. Has career numbers include a 3.14 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, with one really bad year pushing his ERA over 3. In ’05 and ’06 he up up a 2.21 and 2.91 ERA out of the pen.
Not to start this discussion again, but...
Eddie Guardado.
(ducks)
J.P. can take Roy Halladay and shove him up his ass. I’ll take Derek Holland. - AJM
Rangers can no hit curve ball. Straight ball, they hit it very much. Curve ball, bats are inept.
Guardado sucks against lefties this year, so I don't think that matters much.
J.P. can take Roy Halladay and shove him up his ass. I’ll take Derek Holland. - AJM
Rangers can no hit curve ball. Straight ball, they hit it very much. Curve ball, bats are inept.
It doesn't matter much, but it does mean
that if you are going to pick up a pitcher, why not pick up a LOOGY instead? I don’t see any reason to pick of Doucher.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
You pick him up because he's better than Jennings or Guardado
tRA+ of 120 last year, and he can either start or relieve. Considering our 5th starter options are currently Nippert, Mathis and Moscoso I think it makes a ton of sense to pick up a guy who can provide some starting insurance and potentially be very good if he’s healthy.
If he sucks, you cut him and replace him with AJ Murray or Moscoso, and you’re still probably better off than you where with Jennings/Guardado.
J.P. can take Roy Halladay and shove him up his ass. I’ll take Derek Holland. - AJM
Rangers can no hit curve ball. Straight ball, they hit it very much. Curve ball, bats are inept.
Is McCarthy going to replace JJennings when ahem... he's healthy?
Might be a good role for him.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Aug 13, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Is this really the time of year
to take a chance on a rehabbing pitcher?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Well, I think it's the time of year to try and make incrimental improvements to your team if you can
Any move you make is likely to come with risk, although Duscherer probably comes with more than most. But he’d probably be better than most of what else is out there (ie, Smoltz).
J.P. can take Roy Halladay and shove him up his ass. I’ll take Derek Holland. - AJM
Rangers can no hit curve ball. Straight ball, they hit it very much. Curve ball, bats are inept.
So far
he has looked pretty decent in AAA. I’m not sure why he is going through waivers though. I’m not sure I understand it from Oakland’s side.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
I've long though an under the table deal
was in place with the Rangers for him. Although now, I don’t know if they need the possible upgrade.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
I suppose
but I’m not falling all over myself to get him here. Look, the Rangers bullpen is one of the better pens in baseball right now. It all depends on what the Rangers scouts think. I certainly wouldn’t shed a tear if he replace Nippert, who I consider a complete wild card.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I think we all know Eddie has no use pitching but clubhouse guy
and we all know what that means for Wash!
by diamond_dave on Aug 13, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Eddie and his wife aren't going anywhere this year
He’s too ingrained in the culture of Rangers, which as we see this year, is a good thing and a bad thing. It’s good he is involved and makes people laugh and this could be a huge asset in the playoffs. It’s bad that if we have a possible upgrade available, it makes it tough to part ways with him. DFA Jennings please. Then send Do Math down telling him he’ll be back up when rosters expand in Sept.
Has to be a better option than
whoever we would throw out there if someone else gets hurt at this point. I wouldnt mind letting him pitch in the pen. I agree with releasing Jennings if thats what it comes down to.
in this case
whoever= mathis, and I dont think any of us want to see him in the rotation again going down the stretch
This move makes no sense
We need a bat, not a sore-arm, low-velocity right-hander like the Duke. There’s a reason that Duke, who’s a free agent after this year, is available—but I’d say pass on him and try to pick up a hitter or call up CD. Leave the staff alone. If Wash is smart, Jennings won’t pitch in another close game but will be an innings-eater in blowouts—he’s capable enough for that position.
We unfortunately don't have many blowouts
plus the way the starters are pitching lately, then pen is barely getting any work at all.
Are we allowed to believe in Tommy Hunter now?
What a performance.
A win today and it’s a 5-5 roadie – nothing wrong with that regardless of the opponent and Verlander is going today for the Motor City Kittys.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
tommy hunter has the best ERA after 9 starts of any rangers pitcher in history...
I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT
?
You must mean for just this season. Tommy has 12 Rangers starts, total.
by Mark from OC on Aug 13, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Any ROOKIE Rangers pitcher after 9 starts.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I think next year when Julio is leading off for the Rangers
we need to work in a Rufio chant from Hook for him.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Loved the catch from Borbon last night and he does have wheels
but he needs a lot more polish before we can depend on him to be a lead-off hitter.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Borbon
That was a pretty big keg of Shut the Fuck Up he sent your way last night.
Officially gay for Neftali Feliz
The Baltimore Chop
after he failed to bunt?
It was great because it worked out but there’s a reason he’s not in the line-up today and likely to be shipped back to OKC tomorrow.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Borbon goes
1-3 with a walk from the top of the order and a diving catch and he needs more polish.
Hank F. goes 1-4 with a RBI single and he’s the savior of the team.
Right.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Aug 13, 2009 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Funny
I watched SportsCenter twice this morning, and they mentioned Borbon’s catch and Hamilton’s 2-run hit, but nothing about Blalock.
You’d think if his contributions were so important to the win last night, they might have come up.
Officially gay for Neftali Feliz
East Coast bias.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
they are too busy talking about youk's suspension
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Blalock is 2nd on the team
in WPA for the year. He is also first in the “clutch” category per Fangraphs. However, CD is 2nd in “clutch” so take it fwiw.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
My point was that even when he contributed nothing clutchy yesterday Josey spooged all over him.
Not that I think WPA is a good tool for deciding who our most valuable players are.
Everybody knows my opinion on Hank F
why doesn’t anybody feel compelled to crticize JD for this decision?
He doesn’t hold the powers that other GMs have but keeping Hank F on the team and sending (and refusing to call him up) CDavis to OKC is his baby.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Aug 13, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
There's a difference
Between wanting CD called up to replace Hank at DH and not believing that Hank has been “carrying This Thing”.
I personally don’t think Davis is ready to come back just yet, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit around pleasuring myself to the “clutch” hitting of HFB.
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
by TheJeezus on Aug 13, 2009 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
So leading the team in HR & RBI and the June Swoon coming to an abrupt end since they stopped platooning Hank F
was one big coincidence and not really that valuable for a team in serious contention for a playoff berth?
Take it up with JD.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Aug 13, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions
You understand the difference between correlation and causation, correct?
Or are you just going to be an idiot and dismiss The Great Bill James?
I've never dismissed Bill James.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Aug 13, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions
lol
Do you know how often you boldly state things as fact that would make his head spin?
(This is one example.)
Such as...
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Aug 13, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Such as equating correlation and causation.
I pretty much call you on on going contrary to James’s core teachings any time you slip up. I have the belief you have never read anything he’s written, or have a clue about the works of he or his disciples. You conveniently ignore me every time I do, though. As is the way of the troll.
Which would be okay if you didn’t tout him as some sort of deity.
I've read just about everything BJ has written
other than the Abstracts of ’77-81
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Aug 13, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions
I find that hard to believe.
I think even you have better retention and comprehension skills than that would suggest.
I
don’t give a fuck what you believe.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Aug 13, 2009 10:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Choosing Blalock over Davis
and then sending Davis to OKC?
Hell yeah.
My only quibble is that he should have done it on June 1 when CD had a .189 batting average / .247 on base %.
Waiting that long cost this team some wins.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Aug 13, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
I feel compelled to criticize him for this decision.
What’s that got to do with your thinly failed shtick? And why don’t you feel compelled to compliment him?
Borbon on Sunday -
K’d four times, failed to get a bunt down not once but twice, and then F’d up really bad on the bases.
Last night he once again failed to get a bunt down and then hit a Baltimore Chop that happened to work out.
There’s a reason he’s not playing today.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
It's because there is a lefty on the mound
Not because he can’t get a bunt down.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Aug 13, 2009 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions
He couldn't get a bunt down v Lackey and the last time
I checked, Lackey throws with his RH.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
What does that have to do with why he isn't playing today?
Nice strawman.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Aug 13, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Did you miss
his 7th inning at bat against Lackey? Fouling off all those pitches and winning the battle? That’s a rookie making an adjustment. I don’t want him leading off right now, obviously, but he deserves consideration for that spot next year.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I saw the at bat
and the ball went all of 157 feet to CF before it stopped rolling.
And then I saw him F up royally on the bases in one of the biggest games of the year.
Occasionally Wash gets one right and putting Borbon’s ass on the bench today is the correct move.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Aug 13, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm fine with him sitting
and learning, but that at bat was solid even if he had struck out. Leading him off is stupid, but he definitely has potential.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
The potential is there and he should be in The Show
next year but I’m not comfortable with him playing meaningful games for a team that is this close to earning a playoff berth because he’s simply not polished.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
by Josey Wales on Aug 13, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, presumably
when Cruz is healthy he plays much less or is sent back down, so I’m not really worried about that.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Injuries force a team's hand, even the playoff contenders
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
i used to...
I miss Hank’s Homies
I had the flu way before having the flu was cool
by TagDon'tTweet on Aug 13, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions
i wonder whatever happened to them
After Fuentes blows a save and an Angels loss to the Indians:
"Angels still in first place" - UCI Halo
"Hey you know who would have gotten those 3 outs in the 9th?
Darren O’Day." - FirebatM3
LOL
i think most of them got jobs
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
Move forward and let the healing begin, cstorm
Find another topic.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Heh, is that an admission?
Or are you just going to wait til I’m not around and then start repeating the same “Hank F. Blalock” garbage?
Over the last week or two
He’s stopped even trying to hide his bit.
by brettgardner on Aug 13, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions
Now if only people would stop trying to respond to his bit.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
39K/4BB
Carrying This Thing since 7/1/09.
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
Someone
had to pick up the mantle of bad plate discipline when Davis was sent down.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Give him some credit
it took two years for Rudy to get to Hank.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Like Josey says
he is doing the heavy lifting.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
its amazing
how many people thought the Rays were going to win. wow 78%
After Fuentes blows a save and an Angels loss to the Indians:
"Angels still in first place" - UCI Halo
"Hey you know who would have gotten those 3 outs in the 9th?
Darren O’Day." - FirebatM3
LOL
They are
right with Boston and NYY on Pythag wins, Tampa is one of the best 3 or 4 clubs in baseball. Better than TX or LAA.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Yup.
Poor Orioles. All that absurd talent in their system and they’re probably going to have to pray to sniff 3rd place any time soon.
You never know, though
They might make it tough if NYY or Bos suffer a couple of injuries. Both of those teams have some old guys in key positions, though they also have the depth and resources to deal with it. But similar to TX, BALT has several good position players and some real nice pitching on the way.
If I was an Oriole fan I’d be excited just at the prospect of the races be interesting again.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Thank god we don't have to deal with that division.
I think we have three resourceful teams, in different ways, to deal with, but it’s not nearly as frightening as what I consider the best spending team, the smartest team, and the best combination of the two in baseball.
x
“They gave me a sheet of paper that said they didn’t hit off-speed stuff that well, so we went with that,” said Hunter, who gave up six hits and struck out five without a walk over a career-high 72/3 innings. “Then we attacked with the fastball when we got behind in the count. It was all about preparation. I just tried to do what I was told.”
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/08/12/indians13.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
by GregoryM on Aug 13, 2009 9:23 AM CDT reply actions
Wow, actual scouting being used by a player
it would be nice if our hitters took it to heart when they received scouting that said the pitcher has problems finding the strike zone.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Should we be concerned about the literacy of the lineup?
Maybe they should give them scouting reports via picture book.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Hell, we have a quote from
AJ that says even if you read it to them, and they understand, and they know bad pitches are coming, the team still can’t lay off bad pitches.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Yeah, that quote pretty much summed up our offensive season.
J.P. can take Roy Halladay and shove him up his ass. I’ll take Derek Holland. - AJM
Rangers can no hit curve ball. Straight ball, they hit it very much. Curve ball, bats are inept.
haha, i like it
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
"gave me a sheet of paper"
i like the “disguised as a country bumpkin” approach. larry bird esque
"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)
Interview on the pregame yesterday
Pitcher said Maddox & BP coach are at the park around 8am working on advanced scouting reports for the starter that night. They use three diff reports for each game.
That’s dedication and preperation.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
I vaguely recall earlier this year
that the SP felt they were better prepared this year. Also, I think Maddux preaches being aggressive in the zone. He is also able to instill confidence in his pitchers. I think that sums up what Maddux (Why is Hawkins always left out?) has done differently than Conner.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
In that article about advanced analysis coming to the NBA a while back. . .
. . . the Rockets talked about how only Shane Battier is allowed to see the advanced reports because most players aren’t smart enough to handle them. But Battier designs his entire game plan around it.
Wonder if that’s what Hunter is.
I wonder if that's what Murphy is.
Your 2009 Texas Rangers: "Can't take a fucking to save their lives" (lisa w, 2009).
Rec
Although I do think Murphy (yes, I’m really saying this) needs to swing at more early pitches. It looks like pitchers have the report on him that he takes the first two no matter what, especially in his first 2 at bats. He starts his first 2 ab’s with 0-2 counts. Just an observation. No data to back up.
lineup posted over at Inside Corner:
2B Esteban German,
3B Michael Young,
CF Marlon Byrd,
DH Andruw Jones,
RF Josh Hamilton,
1B Hank Blalock,
LF David Murphy,
C Taylor Teagarden,
SS Elvis
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Andrus
What does he have to do to get in the leadoff spot vs a lefty??
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Gotta save that spot for Ian
so he can popup 4 out of 4 ABs.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Show up healthy next year
and make adjustments when pitchers adjust to him.
He should make a big jump next year.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Cook Wash dinner.
J.P. can take Roy Halladay and shove him up his ass. I’ll take Derek Holland. - AJM
Rangers can no hit curve ball. Straight ball, they hit it very much. Curve ball, bats are inept.
replace Wash's gut with a functioning brain
The I.Q. test has been abolished.
It is now the Gardner Scale.
I like German leading off in this line-up.
Funny talk on The Ticket about what they prefer from their women in terms of grooming.
Kojak, Hitler Moustache or Gene Shalit.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
I like German as well
the guys offensive approach is 100% opposite of the rest of this team. Thats why Wash likes him..
And for what its worth, German seems to have alot of Vasquez in him. I bet if he gets a fair shot with this team next year that he’d put up good numbers. He’s had one incredibly good ML season another very solid one and just one poor season. I bet he’s due to have another solid one if we keep him around
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Seeing as how he's more versatile...
I kinda like him better than Omar for our UT man next year.
J.P. can take Roy Halladay and shove him up his ass. I’ll take Derek Holland. - AJM
Rangers can no hit curve ball. Straight ball, they hit it very much. Curve ball, bats are inept.
yea, but i think we could keep him and Omar
if we dont keep both Davis and Smoak out ST next year, which definitely could happen. We’d go with four OFs, Murph, Borbon, Hammy, Nellie, and Geman could play some OF if needed. Then have our 2 catchers, 4 starting IF and then Omahh. Hmm, maybe i miscalculated that, we could still have Smoak and Davis with German and Omah and still have a 12 man pitching staff… cool.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Wouldn't be too bad
Lets see how German finishes the year. Ideally, Vizquel returns as the utility guy. He’s shown he can still do something offensively and I still love the defense and the heads up plays he can make whereas German isn’t much defensively. If German finishes the season strong, I wouldn’t mind bringing him back next year as an NRI to ST (would rather save the 40 man spot until then).
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
German is one of those players that
can’t be overexposed but with a .358 career OBP in The Show, there’s a place for him in this world.
He’s played OF in the past (not sure how well) so I’d like to see us keep him around and lead-off occasionally.
Tomorrow may be a good time to tell Ian we’re “experimenting” with moving him into the 3 hole and letting somebody else lead-off for while (either Murphy, German or somebody else).
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
i think i checked UZR and he played CF too, also seemed to play LF well according to UZR if i remember correctly
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
another interesting thing
is at least in the minors he had reverse splits, so he could lead off against RH better than anyone else we have if we wanted to use him there some.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
What are AJ's batting #'s in clean-up this year? Last 30 days?
by diamond_dave on Aug 13, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions
is it possible to have negative slash line numbers?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Cleanup .227/.351/.511 OPS .862 All Rangers cleanup hitters for the season .249/.339/.547 OPS .886. So better OBP (by 12 points) and lower OPS (by 14 points) than our average cleanup hitter. So, he isn’t significantly better or worse than anyone else we run out there.
last 28 days he is .190/.347/.414 OPS .761 but he has been terrible in August so far. Not much reason to play him unless someone else needs a blow or a lefty is pitching.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Give Jones a break
He’s had a poor BABIP, (.217) with his LD%, FB%, and GB% closer to their 2003-2005 numbers than his 2007-2008 numbers, suggesting that his BABIP should be closer to .250. That gives us ~ .03 * 240 as 7 additional hits given better luck.
Make all 7 of those hits singles, and his line is a healthy: .251/.358/.537/.894.
The guy walks, hits for some power, and works some counts. The only thing he doesn’t do anymore is run well. He’s at 1.1 WAR after only 270 PAs. Given 600 PAs at that rate, he’s worth basically 2.4 WAR, with a negative positional adjustment factored into that due to DH defensive liabilities.
He really doesn’t deserve to have his balls busted so badly, especially considering the sad state that the rest of the lineup is in. Given some more time, regression to the mean could actually help Jones out over the rest of the year.
Also note, his HR/FB rate is not overly high as compared to his years 2002-2006 either.
When will MY get a day off?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Yay more Tea less Salt!!!!
The I.Q. test has been abolished.
It is now the Gardner Scale.
by BigGuns on Aug 13, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Sadly
not so much his throws.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Was the game on Sunday originally supposed to be played at night?
The game is now slated for a 1pm start and is the TBS Sunday Game of the Week.
MLB has us on the Saturday night Game of the Week as well.
I gotta believe Boston is gonna fry on Sunday because there’s no way they’re acclimated to that kind of heat.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
awesome
i like being the center of baseball attention, even if it means that it involves the BoSox… I need to get to one of these games this weekend
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
I think they moved it up
because of a Cowbah game that night.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
Cowboys play Sunday?
Two games in 4 days? That doesn’t sound right
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.
It is listed as a 1:05 start on
my schedule I printed back in April. All the remaining Sunday games are day games unless the time was changed to accomodate the Dallas (formerly America’s team) Cowboys.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Yeah, football is tonight
I goofed, shows you how close I follow the Cowbahs, huh?
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
They should be renamed the Arlington Cowboys.
I mean hell, we did give them a big tit in the middle of Arlington to play in..
Burning the ground, I break from the crowd
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Aug 13, 2009 10:09 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Isn't it "I'm on the hunt. I'm after you."?
Regardless, I like it.
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
i think it's both
at varying parts of the song.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
Not to make excuses for our offense, but there's a reason we're 5-6 in the last 11 games
We’ve run into some buzzsaw pitching lately. Not just a veteran like Weaver in the Angels series, but all these young pitchers who’ve been peaking in the second half—in Oakland, it was Anderson, Wuertz, and Gonzalez, and in this series so far it was Laffey. I just looked at Sowers’ numbers and he has a sub-2.00 ERA and sub .200 BAA in the second half—does not bode well for us. Of course, other teams could apply this same logic to our staff, and particularly to Wonder Boy.
This morning...
I woke up with a Bor-boner.
Post.Fail.
by red shoe ranger on Aug 13, 2009 11:14 AM CDT reply actions
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