Stat of the Day
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 1, 2009 12:00 PM CDT
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For the life of me, I can't understand why this team seems to feel like Nelson Cruz is someone to mix in with David Murphy and Julio Borbon, while Marlon Byrd and Josh Hamilton play every day.
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I can't either...
Nellie is an everyday COFer.
I would start him over anyone else in the OF mix right now.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I agree, NC should be number 1 on the outfield depth chart right now
With Byrd at #2 Hammy and his off season at #3 and Murph at #4
Larry Parrish Was Da Man!
Close...
I know Josh is having a bleh year, but I still put him ahead of Byd.
1) Cruz
2) Hamilton
3) Byrd
4) Borbon
5) Murphy
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Didn't they say Cruz was 5'th in slugging for year?
Shouldn’t share time with Murphy that is Marlons job.
"We have a better chance to win with other guys in the lineup," said Blalock, who is hitting .190 the past 30 games. "That’s something I’ve got to deal with."
Or why when he does play he usually has to hit 6th or 7th,
this drives me nuts as well. Is there any analysis on how he performs based on where he is hitting? The only thing I can imagine is that they think he puts too much pressure on himself up in the order???
I thought it be all warm and shitty, but it just tasted like normal beer. It was still cold.
Lineup spot isn't that big a deal
though it does indicate how Wash/Rudy/probably someone higher thinks of him
Go Rice Owls!
He must not get along with the gut.
I thought it be all warm and shitty, but it just tasted like normal beer. It was still cold.
obviously you are giving requested info
but anyone else think those numbers couldn’t be more meaningless?
the preceding post was a great success.
Yeah, that's not very significant
and has no predictive value.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
You need to replace
“this team” with Ron Washington.
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
Exactly
The answer is that Marlon Byrd do what he do and Nelson Cruz do what he do. That clearly translates to Byrd being an every day player and Cruz being a platoon guy.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Why not make Josh Hamilton the lead-off hitter v LH pitching?
He’s basically become a slap/gap hitter who is depending on his speed to help his offensive game more than anything.
Hitting him 3rd every day seems foolish.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Foolish
Not as foolish as thinking he is now always going to be a slap/gap hitter.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I think he will be until the end of the year.
He needs to be able to bulk back up after that 10/20 lb loss.
That’s alot of power that he lost. Balls that used to leave the yard are barely making the warning track now.
I think his swing and/or approach
have more to do with it than the weight, but he very well may hit that way until the offseason. I still wouldn’t hit him leadoff. I want him to return to being Josh Hamilton, not think about hitting leadoff.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I agree with him not being leadoff
But I don’t think we’ll see the power-hitting Hamilton again until next season.
He’s also recently recovered from an abdominal surgery. I would expect his core to be somewhat weaker due to that as well.
He just absolutely had to prove me wrong last night huh?
But, I can heartily approve of such a miss on my part.
I love JD and all, and I'm warming up to Nolan in the FO.
But still, if the manager is making stupid decisions, it’s their job to correct them however necessary.
I’m sure it’s Wash’s silly gut, but the rest of the organization isn’t innocent.
This organization isn't innocent
especially when you remember The Sosa.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
This is the biggest questionmark I have with the Rangers this year
Cruz was a deserved all-star and he’s being treated here like a 4th outfielder. An OPS near .900, a nice combination of speed, power, and solid defense? He’s been one of the top 3 or 4 players on this club this season.
I really think that it is an omen that he will be traded this offseason. Someone important doesn’t like him, and it isn’t just Wash. There are plenty of GMs around baseball who will look at Cruz and say “we need a guy like that on our team.” And there is nothing that the Rangers have shown to suggest that they wouldn’t be happy to center a deal around him.
I like Cruz, and think this is sad.
Go Rice Owls!
Agree on all points.
"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.
if Cruz is traded for an underwhelming return
I would be pretty pissed off. I might call daily threatening to burn the front office down. Cruz is our second best outfielder hands down. And this year, he’s been our best.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Sep 1, 2009 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions
The only good news
would be that they at least hung on to him long enough that he did have some value. A year ago they would have gotten a fraction of the return.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions
this is true
what would you EXPECT to get in return, if he were traded?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Sep 1, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
I think he could return something very nice
Especially if some GM somewhere (cough…Sabean… cough) got it through their head that Cruz was the missing piece of their offense. There are a lot of clubs – some with some nice pitching – where he’d be the best hitter.
He’s a complete package outfielder, the only real knock on him is that he isn’t young anymore – we very well could be seeing his peak right now.
Go Rice Owls!
peak
I think the continued development of his batting eye, especially considering his delayed introduction to baseball, could indicate that his peak production is still in front of him.
I know the birth certificate says 30 next year, but I don’t think he neatly fits within the “reached 30 soon to decline” group.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
His phsyical tools will regress from here on out
but if he keeps making the adjustments he’s made up until now, that won’t show on the stat sheet anytime soon.
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
Well
there are a lot of clubs – some with some nice pitching – where he’d be the best hitter.
I think you just described The Rangers
Post.Fail.
by red shoe ranger on Sep 1, 2009 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Is Cain that much an improvement over Feldman?
He’s better, obviously, but he’s also going to be more expensive (though his deal isn’t bad) and is a free agent in two years (whereas Feldman is in 3).
I’d consider it if Cain came back with some other prospect, or Cruz+nice prospect for Cain (no Feldman).
Go Rice Owls!
Believe it or not...
Cain would be worse than Feldman. Per FanGraphs:
Cain: 28.3 RAR in 183.1 IP
Feldman: 29.2 RAR in 143.1 IP.
If Feldman can improve his K/BB ratio just a little, he will be a pretty nice #3 or #4 starter.
I don't understand this line of thought
Feldman is getting outs, NO? OK, he doesn’t strike out everyone but isn’t pitching about getting the other team out and not allowing them to score more than your team does? Why would he only be a #3 or #4 starter when he has clearly been the best pitcher on this team this year? If the Sabermetrics is so accurate, why is it that MLB only counts wins and losses when determining which team is declared the winner and worlds champion? Maybe the RAR and such is good for internal stuff but I will take Feldman this year. Just so you know, I only post here with any regularity. Never an DMN’s site.
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
Well, you see...
When you strike someone out, the ball isn’t put in play. The pitcher doesn’t decide when the batter swings. The pitcher doesn’t field those grounders to the infield. The pitcher doesn’t do these things.
There is also a clear disconnect between being the best starter “on this team” and being a #3/#4 type. Do you think Scott Feldman is better than Zack Greinke? Justin Verlander? Tim Lincecum? Those guys are aces. They are aces not because opposing batters cannot solidly hit the ball. They are aces because opposing batters cannot hit the ball at all.
You should note that my above post is not a criticism of Feldman, but praise. He’s put up very good numbers this year in not a lot of innings. If you extend his IP total to 200, then he’s worth about 4 WAR — an All-Star caliber starter.
MLB counts wins and losses because, obviously, one team wins and another team loses. Statistics tells you what should have happened, and what likely will happen in the future. This provides a pretty significant value to teams when evaluating players and to fans when evaluating what has happened and what should happen.
Well, you see...
When you strike someone out, the ball isn’t put in play. The pitcher doesn’t decide when the batter swings. The pitcher doesn’t field those grounders to the infield. The pitcher doesn’t do these things.
There is also a clear disconnect between being the best starter “on this team” and being a #3/#4 type. Do you think Scott Feldman is better than Zack Greinke? Justin Verlander? Tim Lincecum? Those guys are aces. They are aces not because opposing batters cannot solidly hit the ball. They are aces because opposing batters cannot hit the ball at all.
You should note that my above post is not a criticism of Feldman, but praise. He’s put up very good numbers this year in not a lot of innings. If you extend his IP total to 200, then he’s worth about 4 WAR — an All-Star caliber starter.
MLB counts wins and losses because, obviously, one team wins and another team loses. Statistics tells you what should have happened, and what likely will happen in the future. This provides a pretty significant value to teams when evaluating players and to fans when evaluating what has happened and what should happen.
Wins and losses
have little to no predictive value when looking at a pitcher’s ability. All those sabermetric stats have more value in trying to guess what might happen in the future than how many wins a pitcher has this year. Feldman’s perpiheral stats are not indicative of a #1 or #2 starter — based on the usual stats of top pitchers over thousands and thousands of innings over many seasons.
He could be, but someone with his stats just isn’t likely to be more than a #3 in the long run. No saber-friendly type worth his salt will try to tell you any more than that. He could improve his peripherals and then the eval would be adjusted based on that.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
sabermetrics
is more of a crystal ball? just for grins, how does Nolan grade out with 5000+ K’s?
Feldman does have a record of 14-4 and Grienke has a 13-8 record.
Grienke has about 40 more innings pitched. Scott started off in the pen this year.
I guess I wonder what the Rangers can do to get a #1 and #2 pitcher for this team. Is Holland gonna grade out that way? Still looks to me like UNTIL someone else comes along Scooter is the #1 pitcher on this team. Maybe not in all of baseball but on the Rangers for sure.
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
x
btw, I was not trying to argumentative.
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
Not a crystal ball
More about trying to figure the odds. Wins and losses are very dependent on what the rest of the team does and thus not often a good indicator of a pitcher’s talent. You could never convince me that Feldman is better than Greinke based on that win total, Greinke just pitches for a shitty team. If Greinke pitches for the Yankees how many wins does he have this year? Same thing with RBIs. A guy could be a great hitter, but if no one is on base in front of him he’s not going to have many RBIs.
Feldman might be the best starter right now, but being the default best starter doesn’t make him a #1 or a top of the rotation level pitcher. I’m damn glad they have him, but I also really hope that very soon he’s not the best starter as Holland and Feliz mature and/or they acquire someone better.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Why would they trade him?
Cheapest bang for the buck we have, other than the King.
Neftali Feliz says sit your 5 dollar ass down before he makes change...
We'll show you Obama's birth certificate as soon as you show us Sarah Palin's high school diploma...
So what are the chances of cruz playing both games today?
1%?
the preceding post was a great success.
Two LHP are starting so
he should start both games. But then, Ron Washington is making out the lineups.
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
Why should he start against 2 LHP?
Have you seen his numbers against LHP?
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.
Because Ron always starts him vs LHP
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
Does Davis get both starts tonight?
"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 certainly hope so.
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
Doubt it
Unless Wash learned from the last time he started Blalock at 1st
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
Is Wash stubborn
or just a slow learner?
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
cruz
So, would it be offensive to Wash if Radigan or Knox asked him in their pre-game interview why Cruz is setting out one of the games(assuming he is) or even why he is batting 7th(again, assuming)? Just wondering:)
why would that be offensive?
I think the offensive question would be “with all of this talent, including Cruz who is in running (behind Mike Young) for offensive MVP of this team, why does our offense SUCK this year? And why is Cruz hitting 7th? And platooning?”
That shouldn’t even be offensive. It should be asked.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Sep 1, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions
this is why I hate Dallas media.
Cowboys coaches, player men, FO execs on down get peppered with “tough” questions after every game yet The Rangers never seem to be asked any “prying” or “tough” questions.
Why?
Post.Fail.
by red shoe ranger on Sep 1, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Theory
The DMN gets a lot of advertising money from the Texas Rangers.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
lol
You do realize that the DMN doesn’t have Rangers coverage anymore?
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
not that
I agree with Josey, BUT, what does that have to do with:
The DMN gets a lot of advertising money from the Texas Rangers.
by red shoe ranger on Sep 1, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions
The DMN
also have columnists (Cowlishaw, JJT, Sherrington) that opine on the Rangers.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
And they don't
opine on the Cowboys? And the DMN doesn’t get ad money from the Cowboys? Yet again you fail logic.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
"Forget it, he's rolling. "
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
We all know why it is
but the interest from this area in the Cowboys absolutely dwarfs that of all of the other teams – combined. I know that most people here aren’t Cowboys fans and probably can’t relate to it, but look at numbers in any form of media. One thing that brought it home to me was comparing numbers on the different blogs on DMN.com. You wouldn’t believe how much more traffic the Cowboys one gets – even on nondescript offseason days, etc. – compared to all of the others.
The media has to respond to this, and one result is microcoverage of Cowboys stuff. Just think, there are about 30-40 guys/gals (and I might be underestimating that number) who spend most of their day pondering angles on the Cowboys as the bulk of their job. How many do that with the Rangers, 4-5? And most of those 4-5 are beat writers and/or people who indirectly work for the Rangers, not analysts or radio/TV reporters.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions
BP
I can’t remember the last time I read criticism of Ranger management in the DMN.
All is good this year because of the performance of the team but the Ranger FO (starting with ownership) was amongst the very worst in baseball and the DMN has done nothing but twiddle their thumbs in this regard.
Are you told not to criticize management or is it just understood not to go there?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
You know what's funny?
Galloway likes Washington now. There is a rift in the Galloway/Josey Wales viewpoint.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions
BP
Galloway has always had a soft spot in his heart for Wash but he did go after JD when the DMN kept twiddling their thumbs.
He’s been very nice to JD this year.
RG and myself had a nice email exchange not too long ago. Really nice guy and laughs were shared about the Ranger blogosphere.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Did you ask him why he
doesn’t laud Daniels’ job over the past 2+ years on the radio? I’ve wondered that. I wouldn’t think that a responsible journalist would feel like they’re doing their job well if they accurately rip a guy when he’s doing poorly, then just don’t talk about him when he’s doing well. It kind of makes his personal dislike transparent.
I do sense that he’s had a soft spot for Washington all along, though. You guys are way far apart on that one now. I think that I’m a lot more frustrated with Washington than Galloway at this point.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions
He should ask him if...
…Galloway is still reading Armando Galarraga’s line on the air after every start.
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 1, 2009 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions
I surmise RG didn't laud the job Daniels did the past 2+ years
because he’s an honest writer and JD did a terrible job up until February 6 2008. What we saw between the lines in 2008 were the consequences and confirmation of that terrible job.
What has JD done since February 6, 2008?
Very little other than the occasional bully pick-up along with Pudge. For the most part, decent but not ground-breaking moves.
This particular team needed a replacement for Bradley and he never found one.
You continue to laud JD but fail to directly criticize him for hiring Washington (who drives you nuts) and then extending him twice.
The Tex Trade is starting to bear fruit but he dealt a HOF potential player in his prime with 1.5 years left on his deal and he found the Perfect Storm (GM on his way out) in a trading partner.
Other than that deal…mostly a bunch of nothing and one of, if not, the biggest reasons this team turned it around at the gate and on the field is the presence of Nolan Ryan.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
And I ask again...this is the kind of crap you wish the DMN would print?
Maybe you should start your own blog.
You're just flat wrong
in suggesting that he didn’t do a good job in the summer of 2007. Why be a joke instead of engaging in honest debate? There is plenty of room to hold your POV without just blowing something like that out your rear.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, what a terrible draft
Stupid JD.
Neftali Feliz says sit your 5 dollar ass down before he makes change...
We'll show you Obama's birth certificate as soon as you show us Sarah Palin's high school diploma...
Flat wrong?
You think the Lofton & Gagne signings were good? How did that help the big club win games? Seems like a lot of money just to get a piece like Murphy.
You thought cutting loose Galarraga was smart so they could spend $ 4.5 on JJennings? Really?
You thought the Broussard signing made sense?
You thought the Fukomori signing made sense?
You thought the Catalanotto deal was good?
Do you think the Padilla deal worked out well?
How about picking up Hank F’s option last year?
How does a team give up 967 runs?
Still think I’m being a joke?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Okay
I now understand how intellectually honest you want to be. A period of two months where Daniels brought Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Derek Holland, David Murphy, Julio Borbon, Martin Perez and Tommy Hunter into the organization was terrible. I’m done trying to be one of the few who would still reason sincerely with you.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 2, 2009 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions
JD traded a Hall of Fame potential player
to get Feliz & Andrus and you can shake a major league tree and find 5 players like David Murphy.
Some good young players have been brought into the organization but there were also an unbelievable amount of screw-ups from 2006-2008 that had an ungodly poor effect on the field and at the gate (attendance dropped 600,000 in three years after JD took over).
It’s also not coincidental This Thing turned around on a dime in the field and at the gate when Nolan Ryan implemented change.
"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've already responded to you on this, just a few days ago
and as I said then, all you have to do is read through some of my postgame posts, of which there aren’t all that many, and you’ll find plenty of occasions where I am pretty critical of Washington’s moves and the handling on an organizational basis of their young MLB starters. I’ve gotten plenty of grief for harping on that. As for anyone else, I don’t know, I think they may be more willing to say that if the team is doing well then the manager or management as a whole should escape criticism than I am.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Isn't this somewhat self-fulfilling?
I learned at a young age that I was never going to get any Rangers news from the local media. I’d get more about the Rangers from SportsCenter than a Dale Hansen sports segment. The Star Telegram would usually devote 2-3 pages of their sports section to the Rangers and MLB (box scores take up lots of space), whereas the DMN would be between 1-2.
For baseball news, there was the radio (WBAP then KRLD), and then just tuning into the games themselves (which, since daily, represented a solid medium to discuss baseball).
So if an entire generation of baseball fans learned to avoid TV and the DMN and to a lesser extent the ST, why would you expect that they’d ever think to go back?
Go Rice Owls!
I would think that you could say this about every aspect of mainstream media
As far as the consumer end of it, I certainly wish that they spent more time on the Rangers and Stars, but especially in this day and age, if you take any level of interest in something that the broadcast and newspaper media undercovers, you have plenty of means to find the information, discussion and game broadcasts you desire in almost any case.
I grew up in the same environment that you’re talking about, but that didn’t keep either of us from developing our interest. I had to subscribe to BA as a kid and buy some books and magazines, but with that and the newspapers I think that the opportunity to become pretty well informed was there.
I’ve been a hockey fan for most of my life now, and while I root for more people in Dallas to take interest in the Stars and wish that the media would spend more time on them, there is plenty of everything out there for me personally if I pursue it. I’ve been only taken an interest in soccer in the last decade, and even though almost nothing of interest happens in the U.S., the same is basically true.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions
I think he's saying that
a lack of Rangers coverage on TV and in the DMN has led to fewer fans even bothering to check those media outlets, rather than people becoming fans in spite of the lack of Rangers coverage.
Personally, I don’t read external media sites because the quality of coverage is so bad. I don’t think we’re average baseball fans, but I enjoy talking to people who, for the most part, can form complete sentences and have open minds about what actually affects the outcome of games.
Right
and that’s what I was responding to when I said that I think that you could say that about most any aspect of the media. Are Britney Spears and Paris Hilton so interesting that the public demands constant coverage of their pointless activities, or did the media spur the interest from the public with their incessant coverage? Whether or not it is creating a vicious cycle, the media is going to cover what it thinks will draw the biggest ratings. And the Cowboys draw way, way, way, by far the biggest ratings.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I see.
When you provided examples of how you became a baseball and hockey fan, I took that to mean that you became a fan in spite of the fact that mainstream media doesn’t cover hockey or the Rangers as well as it does the NFL.
On that part, I was speaking more from the standpoint of an individual consumer, rather than the responsibility from the media side. And I don’t disagree with the point, I just think it is a much larger media issue and that our city’s sports coverage is just one of a jillion examples of that central question on the role of media.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I think this is one of those (very rare) things that nearly everyone on the board would agree with
Was there some mention in the last podcast of Rudy/Wash disliking Cruz?
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
yes but they dislike his swing
"We have a better chance to win with other guys in the lineup," said Blalock, who is hitting .190 the past 30 games. "That’s something I’ve got to deal with."
And that's hard to accept.
On a contact basis, just about everything he hits is a screamer – from an inch off the ground to off the property.. And it’s smooth, not cranked up. I guess the occasional topped grounder or pop fly counts more to RJ and Ron. Or (conspiracy alert) maybe he told Rudy “not no but hell no” to a suggested adjustment. If I recall, was it Coolbaugh who suggested he open up to see the ball action better?
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912) also -
"Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance."
~Ambrose Bierce
by Ed Coffin on Sep 1, 2009 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm already of the belief that Coolbaugh should be called up. (Signed)
How many hitters has Rudy mentored that do not have steroids taint? And most of team next year will have worked with him in minors.
"We have a better chance to win with other guys in the lineup," said Blalock, who is hitting .190 the past 30 games. "That’s something I’ve got to deal with."
Bingo
I couldn’t recall.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912) also -
"Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance."
~Ambrose Bierce
by Ed Coffin on Sep 1, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions
I mentiond in the other thread that his BABIP is .279
I’d bet on him being better next year than this year.
Hope it’s not for some other team.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
Nellie is on pace for
only 466 ABs this year. And he hasn’t been hurt.
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
He hasn't?
What about his ankle injury in Oakland that caused him to miss 2-3 weeks
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.
My bad.
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 IT IS YOUR BAD!
JEEZ WHAT KIND OF RANGERS FAN ARE YOU?!?!?!?
/kidding, in case you couldn’t tell
"I love winning." - rockin_rangers, on May 16, 2009
Did Tawanna tell you that?
"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'm gonna
uproot that tree. I want the GOLD.
by red shoe ranger on Sep 1, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions
.236/.323/.513
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
Maybe Wash
just likes Byrd more than he should?
What do voluntary mean?
Can arbitration contracts ever have a 'playing-time clause' for the next season?
I’m convinced Byrd has Wash on his balls for PT so he can cash in at the end of the season
by oc on Sep 1, 2009 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Thats pretty close to Andruw Jones territory right 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.
ummm
No
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
ummm I said close
Andruw Jones on the season: 217/329/482
Low average, pretty good OBP, nice slugging. Yeah its close.
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.
hes been great in
april, may, july and august.
4 out of 5 ain’t bad.
the preceding post was a great success.
No, he was great in April and May
One of the worst offensive players ever in June, really good in July, and very very good in August (used selectively)
What?
Great vs really good vs really really good? Huh?
He had a .955 ops in july and .978 in august. I think its safe to include those right there with a .888 april and .999 may. August was his best obp of the year.
And what, you are blaming wash occasionally sitting him for.. helping him?
the preceding post was a great success.
Amen
This has driven me crazy all year.
It’s really going to be bad when/if the team re-signs Byrd to a dumb multi-year contract, then trades Cruz (who would be under team control for at least 2 more seasons, I believe).
On opening day 2010, there should be 4 oufielders on this roster: Cruz, Borbon, Hamilton, and Murphy.
Hamilton is the only one that can hit LH pitching from that group.
"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 would be very worried...
about the Rangers bringing back Byrd. If they had the money to do so.
Since they don’t, I don’t see it happening. Especially with Borbon having been called up and getting a decent amount of playing time. He will take over for Byrd next season.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I hope you are correct
But I worry about that since Wash apparently views Borbon’s OF skills to be on par with bloated Andruw’s.
The front office did the right thing last winter by fixing the defensive problem at SS. Perhaps this winter they can convince the manager that Borbon in CF is the way to go for 2010.
Cruz is still pre-arbitration
He has at least 4 more years of team control left
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.
Hitting LH pitching at OKC is much different than hitting LH pitching in The Show.
Ask Chris Davis & Nelson Cruz.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Davis crushed lefties when he was playing well last year
yes in a mighty coincidence hes been terrible vs lefties this year while completely lost at the plate against everyone.
the preceding post was a great success.
The league has adjusted to Chris Davis since last 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"
I have to wonder
Of course the degree of difficulty is there, but Coolbaugh coaches in AAA. Rudy coaches in the majors. These two might be examples of a contrast in approach?
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912) also -
"Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance."
~Ambrose Bierce
by Ed Coffin on Sep 1, 2009 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions
This is in the wheelhouse of my dislike for Wash.
His line-up’s suck – batting Byrd 4th, putting Cruz on double secret probabtion, batting Kins first, ignoring the spark that Andrus and Borbon bring to the table, and this is off the top of my head. His in-game decisions leave a lot to be desired. I’m respect T ball and other posters’ position about Wash, but I don’t get it. Clearly, he can rally the troops, keep the diverse clubhouse happy and endear himself to the players, but I see that as an asst. manager position. Line-ups and in-game decisions show the strength of a manager. I just don’t see it. This isn’t neither knee-jerk nor based on SSS. The man suffers with the most basic of managerial duties. I can’t name a replacement, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t look for one if I was JD.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
I'd say Wash's management of the bullpen rivals his line-up construction.
It happened again last night (Holland left in game waaaaay too long) and if you look at several of our recent defeats, the root of most of those losses came from bully mismanagement.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Last night
Last night holland was gonna take on for the team after the start he got off to. With a double header coming up you can’t be wasting your bullpen simply to appease a young pitcher. The only reason Wash started using more guys was because of the comeback we made but if you could have predicted we would do that early in the game you sir are lieing (sp?)
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 should have pulled him at 6-0
but I don’t think that it would have made them more likely to win the game, because Toronto just would have pulled Cecil sooner.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Then why should he have pulled him??
If it doesn’t improve your chances of winning, and it doesn’t damage the kid, then saving the pen becomes the next highest priority, right?
Any chance that last night was Holland’s equivalent of a football coach having a guy run the same sweep 5 times in a row in practice? A little lesson reinforced with a little blood?
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 don’t see the lesson. He didn’t have it. He wasn’t going to get it. If that really was the lesson, and if it were that critical to save the pen, they would have left him out there after the GS. He only threw 71 pitches. I think that leaving him out there worked to his detriment, not benefit, and that they can cope with the innings because of the date. He didn’t get any more outs, and the only important reliever that was used was O’Day – and he came in because the game got closer.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions
and if Holland actually straightens it out and finishes that inning cleanly??
I think Wash tried to get him soak up some innings, and gave him every chance to right the ship, but the GS was the nail in his coffin.
Three other times this year he’s been left out there to give up 6 or more runs, and three other times he’s been left out there to give up 4 in less than 5 innings.
I just don’t think it’s all that big of a deal. The only reason anyone thinks so, IMO, is that we almost came back.
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
That is where I think the debate was in their heads
and I just maintain that I think the wiser option was to take him out at that point, because it’s not like they will lack options on the spare side of their pen. I don’t think that the risk/reward tipped the direction that you/they do.
Again, though, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal either, and I don’t think that the game would have turned out differently. I was just saying that I was sitting there saying ‘pull him’ at that point, and I’d still think that in retrospect. I’m not trying to make a big deal out of that decision, though. He hadn’t thrown 103 pitches or 41 in that inning or anything.
by Brett Perryman on Sep 1, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Well I don't think that is an excuse
Because the team just called up several pitchers with the roster expanding. RW is just not a very good in-game manager…PERIOD.
That's what frustrates me the part that really can't be learned he has: the part he doesn't can be learned; learn it.
Holland should have been out before it was 10-0, he didn’t have it, it wasn’t coming. And the line-up is ridiculous.
"We have a better chance to win with other guys in the lineup," said Blalock, who is hitting .190 the past 30 games. "That’s something I’ve got to deal with."
And there is a DH today...you wanna totally fry the BP?
Stupid Francona left a pitcher in to get slaughtered the other day too. What is the difference in the two situations? Your perception, perhaps?
"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.
Or that Francona
has managed a team to a World Series win?
Sometimes you can leave a pitcher in to get slaughtered perhaps but I suggest it not be your top rookie prospect maybe Jennings or Grilli
"We have a better chance to win with other guys in the lineup," said Blalock, who is hitting .190 the past 30 games. "That’s something I’ve got to deal with."
Jennings is gone isn't he?
And Grilli isn’t exactly a long man. Thats usually the guy you let get slaughtered but with a double header coming today I think you have to let your starter take one for the team.
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, he has Nolan's hand picked advisor on the bench.
I would say that relic is not doing his job, or they are in agreement more often than not. Which one is it?
"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.
Exactly
while JD may have been advised by others to trade CYoung, AG, Danks & Soriano for the shit in somebody else’s front yard, he is the person ultimately responsible.
"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 Wash has his certain managerial style
It obviously works in the clubhouse. As for his lineups I think the reason he hits Byrd 4th and Cruz lower is he believes the cleanup hitter should hit for higher average and he uses the 6/7 spot as a “second cleanup” spot in the order.
This obviously doesn’t jive with how most people want things to be but then again its his job and he makes it out however he sees fit.
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.
OT:
Anyone see Favre’s crackback block last night? What a chump. I hope he throws 100 interceptions and the Vikings go 0-16.
Video, if you haven’t seen it.
"I love winning." - rockin_rangers, on May 16, 2009
Pretty sharp reaction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VfHnCwLp14&feature=related
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912) also -
"Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance."
~Ambrose Bierce
by Ed Coffin on Sep 1, 2009 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions
No, I was relatively indifferent on Favre.
I think he’s an attention whore with all this “Will I/Won’t I” stuff, but whatever, that’s his choice if he wants to play.
But that’s a cheap shot right there. The crackback rule is in effect to protect players; that was a pretty dirty hit.
"I love winning." - rockin_rangers, on May 16, 2009
I'm sure he apologized to the player afterwards.
by TooLegitToQuit on Sep 1, 2009 2:01 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
This just in...
He apologized, then held a presser to announce he’s not sorry; tomorrow will see another presser to apologize.
And ESPN will break in to cover them all.
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
Yeah, he's a manager that has demonstrated he can improve a team!
The standings tell me so.
"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.
♪ yes Nolan loves me, yes Nolan loves me, yes Nolan loves me♫
♪ the standings tell me so ♫
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
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