Friday morning Rangers stuff

for the most part. He is a good leader of people and the teeth gnashing that goes on here about in-game decisions is rather overwrought. Washington regularly makes me scratch my head, or even shout at the tv, but it’s hard to argue that the team hasn’t responded to him and played hard.

I see this headline on Drudgereport

Texas governor sends Rangers to Mexican border; Accuses feds of failing to ‘adequately secure’…

And I instantly start wondering what good the guys on this team are and whether Hicks had anything to do with it. And then I realize that I’m an idiot, need some coffee fast, and am thinking about baseball too much.

Opening day through July:
.202/.256/.415 over 40% K rate

Since returning Aug. 25:
.276/.302/.448 27.8% K rate

Headed in the right direction, but only 1 2B and 3 HRs since returning, and his walk rate is down to under 5%. He seems to be making better contact, but still a ways to go. He is having better at bats, going by the eye test, but not quite there yet.

I actually like him, but he still believes that the Rangers only have to win series to get into the playoffs. That time is over. It’s time to demolish the teams that are worse than you.

Have you seen Boston’s schedule? They have 3 against NYY and 3 against LAAA… that’s it. 4 against KC at home and 4 against CLE at home. I think their worst possible record is going to be 96-66.

GO RANGERS! Sweep SEA and OAK and take 2 of 3 from the Angels!

Why were 2 out of the 3 games in Cleveland not in HD on television, but the games (with the same camera angles) on MLB.tv were in HD?

Oh, and go away rain.

Chris (Dallas, TX)


The Rangers are obviously involved in European scouting. That’s where they landed Derek Holland, right?

Keith Law (1:23 PM)


And Joel Czech Republic. He’s a stud.

and not a fucking thing has changed…sigh.

Later.

To be converted to a Ranger’s HOF/hospitality area.

Frank (Texas)


How good was the gutierrez for the rangers?

Keith Law (2:26 PM)


I’m still trying to find out what exactly Gutierrez did to make KC sour on him; before the season, they were gushing over him as the sleeper guy in their system. Then they trade him for a defensive catcher and a 5th outfielder. I’d like to at least hear the explanation.

This is pretty hilarious.

Maybe this is where Wash learned some of his motivational tactics?

Adam hates that phrase.
http://www.lonestarball.com/2006/10/15/225416/67

So, the final comment about not spending and barely hanging on versus spending and being in charge got me thinking a bit. Of course, he’s forgetting that the Rangers added Neftali Feliz without spending any money.

This time of year, matchups and strength of schedule matter. That’s always the case in football, which is, at best, the analytical mentality that RG brings to his columns. But, he failed to look at the Rangers/Angels in that light today, and instead chose the convenient/weenie analysis and focused on the payroll differences. So far, the Rangers have had a slightly more difficult schedule as they have played BOS/NYY more often than the Angels. That will change this week.

This year the Rangers have played 44 games against the East and the Angels have played 36. The Angels are 8-4 against NYY/BOS and the Rangers are 11-7. We’re about to see if the Angels stack up as well against NYY/BOS as Texas has, since they will complete their AL East schedule with 4 v. NYY and 3 v. BOS. If the Angels go 4-3, the season largely comes down to who plays better against the West.

That will bring the SOS for the two teams fairly close, although you might argue the Rangers had a slightly more difficult schedule with 47 against the East and 40 against the Central while the Angels will end with 43 against the East and 44 against the Central.

Breaking it down in excruciating detail.
Angles have 1 more game against NYY than the Rangers.
Angels have 4 more games against the Royals than the Rangers.
Angels have 3 more games against the White Sox than the Rangers.
Rangers have 3 more games against the Rays than the Angels.
Rangers have 2 more games against Toronto than the Angels.
Rangers have 4 more games against Cleveland than the Angels.
In interleague play, Rangers had 6 against Houston; Angels had 0; Rangers had 3 against LAD; Angels had 6; Angels had 3 against Colorado; Rangers had 0.

So, you be the judge of whether the disparity in AL East v. AL Central made much of a difference in SOS. I don’t think it did. Interleague probably reduced the Rangers SOS a bit relative to Angels.

Again, if the Angels go 4-3 against NYY/BOS, the season largely comes down to who plays better against the West. So far the Rangers are 24-13 and Angels 21-23 against the West. I would feel better if the Angels had more games left against Seattle, who they’ve played .500 against, rather than Oakland, who they have an 8-5 record against. Oakland appears to be especially bad at hitting when facing the Angels as they’ve scored only 46 runs in those 13 games. Still, if LAA does no better than 4-3 against BOS/NYY, I feel like the Rangers are in the driver’s seat by virtue of their dominance against the West.

5 for his last 33 (last ten games played) for a .151 BA? Oh yeah, he’s the Power Threat, right? 1 3B in those 33 ABs—-Nope. RBI Man maybe? Hell no, 1 freakin’ RBI in that stretch, and only 8 RBI in his last 26 games started, dating back to AUG 1st.

Has this been discussed lately?