Wednesday a.m. Rangers things
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 16, 2009 10:06 AM CDT
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PrintIf this team isn't done, it is at least on life support.
There were two plays that jumped out at me last night, that seemed to epitomize the problems with the 2009 Rangers. The first was in the 4th inning, after the bloop off of Doug Mathis that David Murphy dove for and just missed. The next batter singled into center field, and with the runner from first going on contact with two outs, he was easily going to make it to third base. Marlon Byrd came up throwing, though, and as a result, the batter was able to advance to second base. Instead of runners on first and third, there were runners on second and third.
The second was in the bottom of the 5th. Texas had runners on second and third, and after Nelson Cruz popped out, David Murphy came up against the lefty Craig Breslow with two outs. Breslow got behind 3-0 on Murphy, but on the 3-0 pitch, Murphy swung and popped up to shallow center, ending the inning.
This team seems, to often, to have a tendency to play dumb baseball -- to, out of frustration or desperation, too often be overly aggressive in the field or at the plate, as if each player feels like he has to do everything himself. The Byrd play didn't ultimately make a difference in the game, and the Murphy 3-0 popup probably didn't, either...but those two plays seem to symbolize the problems this team has from the mental side of things.
Evan Grant notes that the Ranger offense has had chances in the past three games, when the team has scored a total of one run, but hasn't capitalized.
Jeff Wilson says yesterday was one of the team's worst games of the season, and it couldn't have come at a worse time.
Michael Young's return was intended to provide the team with a spark, but that didn't happen.
Gil LeBreton says the end is near for the 2009 Rangers.
Josh Hamilton won't be back in the lineup until this weekend, and Kevin Millwood won't be back on the mound until Monday, at the earliest, with Derek Holland getting the start on Sunday instead.
Meanwhile, Dustin Nippert is getting the start today.
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I'm starting to think about draft position.
Also, whether Michael can repeat something like his 2009 in his career.
"[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 Sep 16, 2009 10:12 AM CDT reply actions
So until
Millwoods option vest we all might want to think about apologizing to TR, because it looks like his story had some validity
the one where he
said MLB might make us bench Millwood down the stretch, and now all of a sudden he is missing starts with mysterious mechanical issues, just seems like convenient timing
by blueballlefty on Sep 16, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions
He's been pushed back because he's sucked
He hasn’t missed any starts
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 16, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions
no matter what he's done in his last few starts
how many pitchers do you know with a 170+ innings and a sub 4 ERA in September in a pennant race just start getting there starts pushed back, unless they are injured? and nobody has said anything about Milly being injured
by blueballlefty on Sep 16, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions
So you think...
…he’s sucked ass for two months now, but he’s having his start bumped back a couple of days not because he sucks, but because MLB is telling the Rangers to bump him?
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 16, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
don't get this wrong
but 2 of his last 7 starts have been quality starts, and one of them was one out from being a quality start. I’m not saying he has been good, but to say
he’s sucked ass for two months nowis probably not fair, and for the year the good has definitely out weighed the bad as far as Millwood is concerned, and being a veteran with some track record of success we probably have a better chance with him on the mound than anyone else
by blueballlefty on Sep 16, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions
Since July 1
Millwood has a 6.29 ERA, 39 Ks against 31 walks, and 10 homers allowed in 63 IP.
Has he had a couple of QSs? Yeah. Of course, the “one out from being a quality start” you refer to was a game where he walked 5 games and was lucky to have escaped with as little damage as he did.
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 16, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
hey man
I’m not saying he’s been Scott Feldman, or even Cy Young. But he hasn’t been a total shit can either. I’m not trying to be Millwood advocate here, I think he has been bad lately, but there are plenty of veteran pitchers that go through rough patches in a year, but you stick with them. Millwood has 13 years of being at worst servicable
by blueballlefty on Sep 16, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I think his stats over the last 60IP are actually the definition of shit can
I thought it be all warm and shitty, but it just tasted like normal beer. It was still cold.
This.
He has been godawful lately. What he did at the beginning of the season has nothing to do with how he is pitching right now.
"I think I'm going to name my new car Scooter, because it dominates on the road." - mikeyoungfuturehof, 9.10.09
"I’ve been a Rangers fan all my life and I can tell you there’s been plenty of fucking crying in baseball…" - WhipSmart, 6.3.08
Josey is that you?
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
It doesn't matter...
what his season #‘s are. He’s been horrible lately and this team was trying to make a playoff run.
Nobody said anything about injuries. They said he’s working on his mechanics to try and fix why he has sucked so much for over a month. There’s no conspiracy theory here.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
He's not missing start(s)...
he has had one start pushed back and Wash has said there’s zero chance of taking him out of the rotation.
Millwood is going to get his 180 innings.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Convenient timing or not, there is a very clear baseball reason why Millwood is getting pushed
"Feldman and Feliz and and pray for…infectious disease?"--TheJeezus on Sep 9, 2009 1:01 PM PDT
I wouldn't be surprised....
to see Nellie on the bench the rest of the year when Josh gets back.
We all know Wash didn’t think much of him before yesterday. I wonder how much he hates him after those two failed AB’s with runners on and only 1 out last night?
This offense is just pathetic. losing 4 of 5 at home to the M’s and A’s in September when you are trying to make a push for a playoff spot is inexcusable.
This team has just choked the last week. No other way to put it.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Nellie has been our most consistent hitter other than Young
I don’t get Wash and his ridiculous dislike for him.
Murphy’s home run was the only run, but what the hell was he doing swinging 3-0. No one on this team should have a green light 3-0. Murphy may have gotten the only run in the game on his homerun but 1 single in his two other ABs after that would have been more valuable.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Or...
him making the play in RF on that blooper that would have saved 2 runs with two outs.
I don’t know if Nellie gets to that ball or not, but Nellie in RF >>>>> Murphy in RF.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
This is becoming my pet peeve regarding Wash
I’m one of the biggest supporters of him but not starting Nellie is getting beyond questionable.
Remember Red, hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.
Me too..
When I heard the quote from Wash lamenting how “empty” Cruz’s HRs were, I seriously had to consider jumping off the bandwagon. If he’s not getting RBIs hitting low in the lineup, how the hell’s fault is that???
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
empty HRs, kinda like Murphy's last night
or everybody else’s on the team. well, let’s actually look into this statement. If Cruz’s homeruns are empty then there would be nobody on base right? We have the worst OBP in baseball, which tells us that we don’t get on base. So, if we don’t get on base and Cruz hits HRs with nobody on base who’s fault is that. Other than Young, Cruz is the best player on this team, at least this year.
Here’s another thing that irks me. We have Andrus or Borbon at 3rd with 1 out, Kinsler has been sucking for a long time, yet he is a very good bunter, why don’t you put on a squeeze play or two. I think that is one of the easiest ways to score runs, and one of the most exciting. That is good baseball, especially when we can’t score runs.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
player....HRs.....# HRs w/men on base......%
Cruz……..31….7…..23%
Kinsler…29….11….38%
Murphy….16….4…..25%
Young…. 22…..7…..32%
Byrd……..17……9…..53%
Pujols….47…..17…..36%
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
Not being an ass, just curious and lazy but
how many opportunites did each guy have with RISP, or men on? I think that would be a better percentage to see how they are doing.
Give me team chemistry and emotion over stats any day. Do you think 34,000 Ranger fans were screaming their asses off over Pudge and his .275 OBP?
That would be more informative..
My point was that Wash seemd to be suggesting that Cruz wasn’t driving in runs with his HRs, but that to me isn’t Cruz’s fault as much as it is Wash’s for batting him so low in the order so often.
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 disagree with Murphy's being empty.
It was only the 4th inning and there weren’t even any outs. I look at his home run as an inning rally start. Instead the team pooped their pants and no one else did anything else to help. I understand no one was on, but it wasn’t like it was a HR in the 8th inning when we’re down by 12. That to me is an empty home run. Byrd does seem to get himself jacked up with men on base, so I can see his HR’s being more lucrative. But he also hits right behind MY, Andrus, and Borbon most of the time in the 4 hole. Easy to hit HR’s with men on base when there are actually men on.
Give me team chemistry and emotion over stats any day. Do you think 34,000 Ranger fans were screaming their asses off over Pudge and his .275 OBP?
That was my point.
I don’t think Cruz sees as many opportunities as others do.
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
home sweet home eh?
losing 4 of 5 at home when we really needed wins hurts.
the season is over. I hope they pushed back Millwood to see how things go over the weekend, and if they don’t go so well, Millwood will be put on the shelf. Don’t let his option vest Rangers. That is the only victory we have remaining in this season.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Wow, i'm glad i was only half paying attention to that Murphy AB
Didn’t realize he swung on a 3-0 pitch. Isn’t Breslow a lefty?
But, does he toss softly?
Hank is the elephant in the room. When will he disappear?
by inactive lsb user on Sep 16, 2009 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Or the even more ominous...
Is he a rookie?
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Sep 16, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions
The Season was great while it lasted
I think we need to fix our offense BIG TIME.
1. Trade Millwood for Bradley
2. Trade Cruz for Dunn
3. Try to shop a C and resign Pudge as backup
I know a lot of people won’t be a fan of #2 because of the salary difference between Cruz and Dunn. Dunn provides the power Cruz has while also posting a .400+ OBP. Dunn is the better player but maybe WSH would make the trade for salary relief.
I was against bringing Bradley back because of the problem we might have with Davis and Smoak (one being a DH). I rather bring in Bradley and see how the season plays out. Worst case scenario, both Davis/Smoak are playing great and we don’t have a spot for one. In that case, we just trade Davis for a decent return since he’s playing well. If one is struggling, we just send them to AAA.
I think having an offense of Dunn and Bradley who post .400+ OBP with Hamilton, Kinsler, and MY would make us one of the best offenses again.
I’d also want to sign Sheets to fill Millwood’s spot.
My suggestion
also has the team trying to push for a playoff spot in 2010. I think it’s worth it since we’re not trading any kids to do so.
The Rangers are trying to cut salary, not add it
They’d be the team looking for salary relief.
Also, I don’t know what you’d do with both Bradley and Dunn, since they are both DHs right now.
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 16, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions
There is a difference in playing the OF
and chasing balls in the OF.
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
Poorly
In the outfield this season, his UZR/150 is around -30. Last year, it was -28.
Fangraphs has Dunn as a 2.1 WAR player this year, and Cruz as a 3.9 WAR player this year…basically, they’ve got Cruz as almost 2 runs better than Dunn this year.
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 16, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions
yeah
I see no reason to trade Cruz for Dunn. What Dunn gives in OBP, Cruz makes up for in many other ways.
I think Cruz may get traded, but only because someone like Rudy or Wash doesn’t like him and some team out there may make an offer JD can’t refuse, i.e., some young hot shot pitcher we would never dream of until it happened. But Cruz would never be traded in a purely lateral move for a guy with more limitations like Dunn.
Go Rice Owls!
if cutting salary is their main goal
shouldn’t they just put Millwood on the DL, and not let that option vest. That would save them 12 million
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
If Pudge was here "as backup"
Wash would still give him the majority of starts.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Sep 16, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions
Great intro AJM.
I do think the ‘pressing’ happens more at the plate with this team. Generally the fielding has been great and i don’t notice the mistakes there as much as i see other teams make them. Another great example of pressing was a Marlon Byrd at bat where he had a 3-1 count and went way up out of the strike zone to pop one up. I’m Hoping that some of this is the symptom of being a young team and that it, along with the offense, improves next year and the years after.
young team?
Not that young. I would consider Andrus, Borbon, Cruz, Hamilton, Davis and Salty/TT as the youngsters. Andrus, Borbon and Cruz have had good years at the plate despite thier youth. The other 4 have had forgettable years. What about Byrd and Kinsler? They are not young and they have put up some pretty poor stretches of ABs on the team.
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
Kinsler
In his 4th season, and was 26 at the start of the season. He’s not a rookie, but he’s not exactly a grizzled vet, either.
by Adam J. Morris on Sep 16, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
And, uh
Isn’t Cruz older than Kinsler?
"I think I'm going to name my new car Scooter, because it dominates on the road." - mikeyoungfuturehof, 9.10.09
"I’ve been a Rangers fan all my life and I can tell you there’s been plenty of fucking crying in baseball…" - WhipSmart, 6.3.08
Whatever Kins is, i'm worried about his approach at the plate.
I fear he’s becoming a Blalock type that tries to yank everything out of the park.
dead pull uppercut swing for the fences
that’s always been Kinsler
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Then i wish he could adjust when that isn't working for him.
Otherwise he’ll always be very streaky, like he’s been this year.
i meant for it to be a question
i agree with you
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Um.
2008 Kinsler – 24.2% LD, 43.3% FB
2009 Kinsler – 15% LD, 54.4% FB
by LiamP on Sep 16, 2009 11:42 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
yep there is it!
They don’t call him pop-up V 2.0 for nothing.
HH is that a sock in your puppet or are you happy to see me?
Anyone know where to find
a player’s hit distrubution stats?
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
So age determines whether a player is a vet?
He had over 1600 PAs coming into this season. His 4th in the MLs. I would not call him a “young” player.
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
I think you're onto something about the players
pressing in situations and trying to shoulder too much responsibility when everyone else seems to be slumping.
But (and I admit I didn’t listen to the game yesterday), the Rangers weren’t going to . The problem with the 2009 Rangers is that they are young and streaky, and they lack a consistent stable lineup presence who is going to reliably be getting on base ~40% of the time. This is especially the case if Young is out. I seem to remember 8-10 games this year when the bats just didn’t show up at all. And when the bats are that silent, the pitchers try to get cute, desperate to keep from allowing anything at all, and start putting guys on base, and whammo, down 7-1.
I think the only priority for this offseason is to get a solid OBP guy, a DH is fine. I can’t help but look at the roster and think that this team is very, very close. But at the same time, the results on the field say that we’re far away. We’re to the “one big piece missing” stage. And ironically enough, that piece isn’t a pitcher.
Go Rice Owls!
yep, i've argued that the absence of uncle Milty
had a bigger effect than just his numbers being gone. He was an example of patience right there in front of the hitters. Don’t know who fits that bill though.
OT
the guys from FJM are guest blogging on Deadspin today….they’ve already mined some comedy gold.
"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"
Sweet!
Thanks for the tip.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Sep 16, 2009 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Re: The Byrd throw to third....
…here’s all you need to know about the difference in game presentation from Rangers radio to TV:
Nadel called it a “stupid play by Marlon” after he lazily retrieved the ground ball initially.
Grieve described it as an Athletics baserunner “baiting the Rangers outfielder into a throw just like the Rangers have been doing to their opponents into doing all year.” And of course that “Rangers outfielder” went unnamed.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
what we've been doing to opponents?
that made me laugh, we don’t usually have anybody on base. if we do, we can steal a base, but we hardly have an opportunity to go to first and 3rd. this team lives by the long ball. And, dies by the popup.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Yeah and God love Tom but...
…how many times can he say “man he hit that hard, that’s just bad luck” after another 275-foot flyout before he loses credibility even with the hardest of hardcore Ranger sunshine and lollipop fans?
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
by Chad Crudup on Sep 16, 2009 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions
yep "he just got under that one"
major league – “He tried the corner and missed”
Greive is not lucky enough to be doing radio like Bob Ueker
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Yeah thats what i love about Nadel, He is not a Company Man
He will say what he thinks, and I am a big fan of Tom’s as well, but either he is just a very upbeat positive guy and real company guy
Larry Parrish Was Da Man!
FWIW
I know everyone’s disappointed- hell, I am too- but at least the Rangers are still playing (somewhat) meaningful baseball in September.
A lot of things have gone wrong this year, there were a lot of rookies broken in, but at the end of the day, I think we would have all been happy in March with an 85-90 win season that came on the back of good pitching and defense. Not to mention successful debuts by Andrus, Borbon, and Feliz, flashes of promise from Holland, and breakout seasons by Feldman and Hunter.
"I cannot believe how fucking off base I was about Tiny E before this season. The Kid is great and is going to become a star."
- Wails
Lets all not forget the Rangers are tanking
with 2 of their better offensive players/team leaders out of the lineup. This lineup wasn’t great with Young and Hamilton in it. I wouldn’t call it a choke. Playoff teams don’t have people like Murphy and Byrd hitting 3/4.
I thought it be all warm and shitty, but it just tasted like normal beer. It was still cold.
Well you're half right...
…with a completely healthy squad Murphy almost assuredly wouldn’t be hitting third but Byrd would just as assuredly be hitting fourth. At least as long as Wash is making out the lineup.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
by Chad Crudup on Sep 16, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions
i really hope Wash does not win Manager of the Year
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Wash will be in the mix
from Yahoo sports:
AL Manager of the Year predictions
Gordon Edes
1 Ron Washington Rangers Seriously, who expected this?
2 Joe Girardi Yankees His biggest challenge was not to screw it up.
3 Jim Leyland Tigers Didn’t have a starting rotation entering the season.
Jeff Passan
1 Joe Girardi Yankees Shrugged off distractions to likely win 100-plus.
2 Mike Scioscia Angels Remarkable job of keeping team together; really, 1b.
3 Ron Washington Rangers A year ahead of schedule
Tim Brown
1 Mike Scioscia Angels When the season could have gotten away, Scioscia wouldn’t let it.
2 Ron Washington Rangers Texas was competitive for first time in a decade.
3 Joe Girardi Yankees Looks like he’ll be fired some other year.
Steve Henson
1 Joe Girardi Yankees Preseason predictions had him fired, not winning 100 games.
2 Mike Scioscia Angels Maybe the best effort yet from the steadiest of hands.
3 Ron Washington Rangers Played a strong role in shedding losing culture.
Foolish consistency is the hobgobblin of little minds - Emerson
by RangerEddie on Sep 16, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
The September collapse is going to take him out of the running
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Sep 16, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions
I think Manager of the Year
should be Wakamatsu.
"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 Sep 16, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Wak may have actually done more
In terms of effective use of players and making spot decisions. Not a bad choice at all.
"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 16, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions
The Ms lost 100 games last year
are within 6 games of this year’s 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"
by Josey Wales on Sep 16, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, well
Ozzie Guillen, Buck Showalter, Tony Pena – all these guys are fairly recent manager of the year award winners too. They all suck, and only one of them still has a job. You might want to add Eric Wedge to that list too, considering how Cleveland has tanked since their little postseason run.
“Manager of the year” is a fucking meaningless award given to the manager of whatever team has unexpected sucess in any given year regardless of the managers actual skills or abilites. Wash winning it this year would mean less than Michael Young winning the “gold glove” for his tree stump imitations at shortstop.
Hank is 7 runs below a zombie replacement at first base. Do you realize how terrible that is? Zombie’s can’t think, they’re slow, and they’re often ejected from the game for eating opposing baserunners’ brains. - Ben quantifies Hank Blalock
I am no longer thinking about the playoffs, those chances are over,
Now i am worried about Seattle catching and passing the Rangers, i had hoped they could at least finish strong and not like a bunch of wimps. someone mentioned Murphy’s at bat last night, 3-0 against a lefty pitcher with 2 men on and he is swinging, I am a fan of Murphs, but that is boneheaded selfish baseball.
Larry Parrish Was Da Man!
MY tried to come back
to give a jolt to the offense. OK. well, if the offense needed a jolt why bench one of your best players to let a hurt MY play. That seems more detrimental to your goal. Pull out our power hitter, for a hurt MY. ridiculous move.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Agreed. I loved Wash's response to MY returning...
…bench our best hitting outfielder and move our hottest hitter to ninth.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
by Chad Crudup on Sep 16, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions
He’s got them playing hard for him.
Hank is the elephant in the room. When will he disappear?
by inactive lsb user on Sep 16, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
In addition to the 'pressing' factor
I think the extended slumps of this offense come from a lack of flexibility in what Rudy Jaramillo teaches. I take it as coming from him because it seems like all the Rangers hitters suffer from it. Cutting down your swing with 2 strikes, letting a 2-0 or 3-1 pitch go if it’s not right where you want it. Rudy says “i’ve only been doing this for 29 years” but during his reign it’s always been about power numbers, but hey Rudy, the Rangers haven’t been winning.
i think Rudy has been a great benificiary
of the Steroid Era and the RBiA
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
I never get the feeling with this team, and haven't for years...
that they can really “get to” a struggling pitcher. Far too often, their approach to a pitcher on the ropes is to swing even harder and lo and behold he gets out of trouble.
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
Homegrown hitters
Rudy’s plate approach is good for some of the hitters in your lineup, but you need to have some patient, high OBP guys, too. As more and more of the everyday players become home-grown talent, the lineup is being filled top-to-bottom with Rudy’s disciples. This has resulted in our streaky feast-or-famine offense.
You need to bring in some veterans who have their own, successful approaches (i.e. Bradley). Bringing in a Jones-type veteran who allows Rudy to change his approach wont work.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Sep 16, 2009 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Wow
This is a big wowzers for me…
http://pitchfork.com/news/36505-holy-shit-pavement-reunion-is-real/
"[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 Sep 16, 2009 11:43 AM CDT reply actions
I love a good "Sky is falling" story
First off, I for one am ecstatic that we’re still talking about the playoffs for the Rangers and not the upcoming Cowboys home opener.
Secondly, the Rangers still control their own destiny, so lets see that vaunted “resiliency” before we write them off. If they respond tonight and hammer the Angels this weekend, then there will be some roasted crow for Monday breakfast. If not, then, well, it was a great ride, it was a year early, and we have quite a bit to look forward to next year. we can talk about vesting Kevin Millwood’s contract, or whether Feliz gets a spot in the rotation or trading a starter for more hitting, or whatever.
I don't dounb that they can come back tonight
AND sweep LAAA, too. That is exactly the sort of thing they would do to get my hopes up again. Then, they will lose 3 of 4 in Oakland next week. I am the mole in Wack-a-Mole. Every time I pop my head up, the hammer comes down.
"What ... 92 miles per hour?" Feldman scoffed. "That's not gas. Feliz throws gas."
by NorCalRangersFan on Sep 16, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions
You actually think...
after watching this teams offense this year that they can win 7 games in a row against the Halos?
I wish I had your optimism.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Jack Ingram
concert after the game Sunday afternoon. Rumors are that there is another “big name” to split the bill with. No names yet released as to whom the “big name” is. If you are interested. Should make for a lot of traffic around the area as Jerryatric Park has its home opener a little later in the day.
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
whered you hear this?
I have a hard time believing they would add a concert onto the end of the game when its the Cowboys home opener and over 100,000 people are expected there. Ive heard they are gonna clear out the rangers parking lots completely before letting anyone park there for Cowboys games.
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's on their website
and they’ve been promoting it during the games quite a bit
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/schedule/promotions.jsp?c_id=tex&y=2009
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Sep 16, 2009 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Hmm I had only heard about the Mercy Me concert before Saturdays game
Having Ingram play after the Sunday afternoon game is gonna be a huge clusterfuck with the Cowboys game a couple hours away
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.
whered you hear this?
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
x
sorry hit the post button too soon. I heard it last night from some of the employees. I don’t know who this person is but Budwiser Beer is sponsoring it. I would bet that Bud is trying to counter Jerrys deal with what Coors?
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
Hear what?
About the parking lots? A friend of mine has season tickets to both the Rangers and Cowboys and are not going to the Ranger game on Sunday. They are gonna go tailgate for the Cowboy game. I asked if I could have their Ranger tickets and my plan was to park and go the the Ranger game then just walk over to the Cowboys tailgate leaving my car in its original spot. He said they were told that they were going to clear out the lots that both teams are sharing before letting anyone park there for the Cowboys game even if you had passes for both games in that lot
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.
Wish list
Immense parking in Arlington south of I-30 and north of I-20 that is free 7 × 24 for any of the following:
- Rangers games
- Cowboy games
- commutes to Dallas or Fort Worth or DFW Airport or the northerly tech corridor across both counties
- Arlington Convention Bureau based events
Would require the much discussed rail connection (even with operator interchanges and transfers), and being subsidized by the entertainment district big players Rangers, Cowboys, Six Flags. Maybe if the GM Assembly plant is “governmentally downsized” some of it could be on their parking property and some indoor space converted to paid parking.
But the infrastruture would have to be magically approved by city government, county government, and about eight private entities.
"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 16, 2009 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
I heard it's
Jessica Simpson.
"[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 Sep 16, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions
x
funny but that would be wrong.
I soloed in the Mile High Club!
The solution to the recent offensive drought?
Keep banging your head against the wall and maybe it will stop hurting.
1. Julio Borbon DH; 2. Elvis Andrus SS; 3. David Murphy LF; 4. Marlon Byrd CF; 5. Ian Kinsler 2B; 6. Nelson Cruz RF; 7. Chris Davis 1B; 8. Taylor Teagarden C; 9. Omar Vizquel 3B.
Manager of the year, my ass.
"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 it also appears the training wheels were put back on and the pacifier is back in place.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
Doesn't look good unless you are a duck.
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
I haven't seen the weather forecast on television
but after checking the radar, I can’t imagine that we’re playing 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"
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