Rangers' AFL Participants

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 25, 2009 2:02 PM CDT Comment 38 comments

T.R. Sullivan has a rundown of the Rangers' AFL participants this year...

Thomas Diamond, Brennan Garr, Evan Reed, Marcus Lemon, Doug Hogan, and Mitch Moreland are set to go.

The pitchers are all guys I had on the short-list for candidates to head to the AFL. Moreland makes sense, given that he's missing the end of the minor league season with an injury and his bat is considered fairly advanced. Hogan is a surprise...I know nothing about him.

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Doug Hogan,

ladies and gents.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Aug 25, 2009 2:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The power is legit, and he's definitely a good-faced gamer-y type catcher.

I don’t really see him as ever being more than a major league backup even in a perfect world projection, but that’s nothing to sneeze at.

I think his long-ish swing will prevent him from hitting for enough average at the higher levels, but if the defense and receiving skills are legit and he can develop 10-15 hr power… well, careers have been made on less. Just ask Rod Barajas.

He’s another guy who came out of a big college program (Climpson) and hit pretty well at the lower levels (.249/.323/.535/.858 in Hickory) and this is honestly a pretty good place to put him to get him some experience against higher competition and go ahead and figure out if he’s more Jeremy Cleveland than actual prospect.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Beware 2011: The Fortypocalypse is Nigh...

by thedirkatron on Aug 25, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

TT light, even.

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.

by Rodney on Aug 25, 2009 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

His defense isn't near TT levels, imo.

But I’ve only seen Hogan a handful of times so don’t quote me on that shit unless you’re depserate to quote some random dude from a blog about Doug Hogan’s defense and I’m the only thing you can find.

Teagarden could be a pretty decent comp for his bat, though I think TT has a much better batting eye.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Beware 2011: The Fortypocalypse is Nigh...

by thedirkatron on Aug 25, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's 9 months younger than Teagarden

And has barely played above low-A.

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 25, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

what're you trying to say?

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Aug 25, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rangers trying to fortfiy the bullpen...

Guesses on the next pitcher?

Could it be the Bleienhearted?

I say Kennil, with explicit instructions to quit throwing it so damn hard and hit the strike zone. Only caveat is he might be nearing his innings limit.

"[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 Aug 25, 2009 2:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually

Was the rule they could send only one pitcher below AA? I guess Reed would consume that spot.

"[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 Aug 25, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Strop?

"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out

by tricer on Aug 25, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I suggested Strop

in a thread about a week ago, but if he keeps putting up decent numbers in his return to AAA, he may actually see a few big league innings this fall, since he’ll have to be added this winter anyway.

I’ll guess that the final pitcher is Tanner Roark, since he has spent some time in AA this year.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Aug 25, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish we'd go ahead and sign Tanner Scheppers.....

He’d be good to see there…

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Aug 25, 2009 2:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Very true.

Exemption or last minute add perhaps?

by Rodney on Aug 25, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This might be the reason they haven't announced the last spot yet

If he signs, he’s in. If not, it will be someone else.

"Thank God for Feldman." - Ron Washington to Eric Nadel, August 2008

by kentbenfer on Aug 25, 2009 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hogan just got popped up to Hi-A

1-12 w/8 Ks thusfar.

by Rodney on Aug 25, 2009 2:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Looks like he had a decent season in Hickory though

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.

"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Aug 25, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hogan

Bill Haselman type. Good power, weak batting eye.

"It's not a good strategy, but it's my strategy." -- Courtney Lucas

by Lucas on Aug 25, 2009 2:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's a good comp.

I didn’t understand why they were playing him all the time over Macumba, then I saw hi connect on a long home run and kind of went, “Ah, okay”.

Still think they mishandled Macumba this year, though.

But that’s neither here nor there as far as this convo goes.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Beware 2011: The Fortypocalypse is Nigh...

by thedirkatron on Aug 25, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Macumba

agree on the disappointing amount of playing time.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Aug 25, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and... LEMON!

Yay!

Figured he’d be a natural fit for the AFL this year, but it’s nice to see it official.

Very interested to see how Moreland does as well.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Beware 2011: The Fortypocalypse is Nigh...

by thedirkatron on Aug 25, 2009 2:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yes

he’s pretty much my favorite minor league name once you get past the obvious choices

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Aug 25, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hogan

So I guess the Rangers drew the catcher position and had no one better to send? If you’re not going to send Pina, you probably don’t have another good option.

by Brett Perryman on Aug 25, 2009 2:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pina

Any ideas why they’d send Hogan over Pina?

Pina playing in one of the dominican/venezuelan/mexican winter leagues maybe?

"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out

by tricer on Aug 25, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

most likely

I don’t think winter ball participants can play in the AFL.

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

by RangerMad on Aug 25, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They can

Borbon did both last year.

http://rangers.scout.com

by JasonCole on Aug 25, 2009 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But I thought there was some clause regarding the AFL about no guys from countries where they have active winter ball leagues?

Since Borbon is American, he could do both.

I might be making that bit up, though.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Beware 2011: The Fortypocalypse is Nigh...

by thedirkatron on Aug 25, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure how that would work

I know Julio is a DR resident in the offseason. Not 100% on the rules there though.

http://rangers.scout.com

by JasonCole on Aug 25, 2009 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you're eligible for DR/PR/Ven winter ball...

… you’re generally not eligible for the AFL, which is more-or-less the “American Fall League.” As always, there’s exceptions.

"It's not a good strategy, but it's my strategy." -- Courtney Lucas

by Lucas on Aug 25, 2009 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh, should've read all the way down before commenting above.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Beware 2011: The Fortypocalypse is Nigh...

by thedirkatron on Aug 25, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

there's a sexy name

there’s an unsexy name, and then there’s Doug Hogan. I guess they had to send a warm body to fill a C spot, but still, ugh. I was hoping Tim Smith would recover in time to be a part of it. Smith, Moreland and Lemon would have been a pretty group.

Of course, watch Hogan get on a hot streak and win MVP. If only Dirk would call him a spare…

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Aug 25, 2009 3:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tim Smith

going to play for Canada in the Baseball World Cup.

http://rangers.scout.com

by JasonCole on Aug 25, 2009 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh

well that is neat. they always say only three good things come out of Canada…comedians, indie rock bands, and outfielders. Glad to hear his injuries are healing.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Aug 25, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't know he was Canadian

or did he …. adopt a dog from the Canadian SPCA?

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

by RangerMad on Aug 25, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs