Grant: Hunter likely to start Game 4
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 24, 2010 6:50 PM CDT
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PrintEvan Grant has a blog post up saying that, while the Rangers haven't officially decided who the Game 4 starter will be, the team will likely go with Tommy Hunter instead of Derek Holland.
Grant also indicates that either Michael Kirkman or Clay Rapada will likely be dropped from the playoff roster in favor of either Dustin Nippert or Mark Lowe.
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That was great.
Cliff Lee: "Seventy or 80 percent of [Hamilton] is better than everyone else. Everyone knows his history. He’s a complete player who plays every aspect well. He’s the best player I’ve ever played with. That’s the best compliment I can give him.’’
Didn't he just have back surgery?
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
Yeah like in May
"I support you, Wash; I’ve always supported you," Young said
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
Well, you're in luck
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX201009290.shtml
"I think Elvis Andrus deliberately hits grounders to the right of shortstops to show that those shortstops aren’t Elvis Andrus" - Jeff
That's fine
I think Holland is feeling his oats a bit and is a good weapon out the bullpen right now.
When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream.
Dropping Rapada for Lowe is fine with me.
I’m not sure I would be too worried about throwing lefties against SF, though. They slugged all of .391 against them.
Godspeed Mike Olt.
I'd still prefer Holland starting.
But the prospect of Hunter facing the Giants doesn’t frighten me like Big Game vs the Yanks did. And Dutch is a major asset out of the bullpen. So it’s alright.
Rapada had 1 good matchup against Cano
but had a hard time finding the zone. Looked too nervous to me
we're from Texas
CJ says "Relax"
They don't have a superstar lefty
what is the point of having a LOOGY in Rapada if you have no one to use him on. It’s not like you don’t have other lefty options in the pen
"I know that I know nothing" ~Socrates
Well, there's Aubrey Huff
He’s not had a platoon split this year, but he’s a lefty who, throughout his career, has struggled against LHPs.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 24, 2010 7:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Meh
vs RH wOBA .367
vs LH wOBA .338
30 points difference and no split this year and its not like he is a total stud like Cano (although he had a very good year this year).
Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t Rapada only on the roster to pitch to Cano. Is it really worth a roster spot for a guy who will only pitch to one guy who has only been very slightly worse against lefties in the past?
"I know that I know nothing" ~Socrates
by Felix is fast on Oct 24, 2010 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Wow sorry
I was originaly posting his OPS and instead went wOBA but was still on the OPS scale. 30 points obviously is more the very slightly worse but my point remains. Is Huff and his career .350 wOBA enough to justify using an entire roster spot just to counter him. Let alone the fact that in the NL every bench spot is more important, the fact that we have two other lefties (assuming Kirkman stays) in the pen, and the fact that Rapada didn’t exactly impress against the Yanks.
"I know that I know nothing" ~Socrates
by Felix is fast on Oct 24, 2010 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Any news out there on Frankie?
Or is he done for the year?
Mavs MoneyBall!!
Dallas Stars Examiner!!
poster formerly known as hinduplaya
Yeah what's up with Frankie frank? Guess he won be back till next year.
Can’t wait for next season after we’ve won the world series and throw out cliff greinke cj cobra. With super Dutch to come in when needed.
by peppersquad on Oct 24, 2010 7:26 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
He's a free agent after this year.
"I know that I know nothing" ~Socrates
by Felix is fast on Oct 24, 2010 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions
and hopefully
someone like St. Louis signs him.
"If the Saints can reach the Superbowl, the Rangers can reach the World Series." - PhilKid
The Animated Ballpark in Arlington
Yeah, i mean he was all mashed up in the ALCS pile, must be doing ok, wondering if he will be ready
Quote from Yankees GM about the Texas Rangers Beating them in the 2010 ALCS "They manhandled us," Cashman said. "It was like a steamroller. We couldn't stop them."
He was spotted at a comedy club last night....
….real nice dude and it was funny. No chairs thrown.
I miss 1989. I miss 1996. Please make me miss another season in 2008.
by Chaim Witz on Oct 24, 2010 7:59 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 2 recs
This Hunter part seems purely speculative based on Wash's stubbornness. I believe it and I like it.
"I don't do a straight up Mitch for Butler" -- booyakasha
who gets Cantu's spot?
10/2 - The legend is about to grow exponentially. Josh Hamilton is about to become the most talked about athlete in the world.
Chris Davis, I'd think
…probably plays third as well as Cantu does, too.
Maybe German, although with Borbon on the bench every game, probably not.
I saw this comment on Fark the other day
Dear Baby Jesus,
You’ve always been my favorite Jesus, lookin so sweet in your manger there. I don’t ask for a lot. I mean, I asked for pancakes that one time when I was 11 and I just really want to say thank you again for that. Well anyway. So there’s this baseball game tonight. And I know that in the grand scheme of things, baseball might not be that important, but to some of us it is. If you could just let the Texas Rangers win this one game, I promise to put a nativity set on my desk this Christmas, even though I work in a government office and I’m an atheist. Please. I’ll do anything. Thank you, Baby Jesus.
Amen.
"There's really no way of knowing... Sometimes when I see their big eyes looking up from my lap I think, that's definitely a homeless guy in a fur coat." Betty White on SNL
by Pocket Ninja on Oct 24, 2010 7:43 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I like to picture my jesus wearing a tuxedo tshirt
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
it says he is professional, but still like to party
This team do what it do ~ Ron Washington
I didn't see a reason to go out there 'n ack-a-fool ~ Ron Washington on the Ben and Skin show
I like to picture Jesus with big eagles wings
and he’s singing the lead vocals for Lynyrd Skynyrd in like this angel band.
And I’m in the front row and I’m hammered drunk.
by Past A Diving Michael Young on Oct 24, 2010 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ha.
I was gonna go as Vanilla Ice to my Halloween party Saturday night. But, me and the other host are going to the game. So we will have guest hosts until we get there. I refuse to shave my playoff beard, so I’m now going as Jesus. So if we go up 3-0 on Saturday, you can thank booyakasha Jesus (a lightly less awesome Baby Jesus).
"I don't do a straight up Mitch for Butler" -- booyakasha
Here's the changes I'd like to see
Drop Cantu for Davis
Drop Rapada for Lowe
Hunter needs to stay in the rotation, with Holland ready to come out of the pen by the start of the 4th inning. They are two very different pitchers, and that favors us to have the giants lineup throw their timing a bit out of whack when Holland comes in. After game 4, both need to be ready to come out of the pen if needed, Holland more so than Hunter.
Besides that, I wouldn’t change anything. Put Vladdy in LEFT in game 2, if it gets past 5 games, see how he’s done batting and go from there.
This team do what it do ~ Ron Washington
I didn't see a reason to go out there 'n ack-a-fool ~ Ron Washington on the Ben and Skin show
Taken under advisement.
"He do what he do." - Ron Washington
by Ron Washington on Oct 24, 2010 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Hey Ron
Nice of you to drop by. Now about those pregame Red Bulls you’ve been drinking. They seem to make you a little jumpy. Try some nice warm green tea with lemon instead. / Dr. Keith Meister
whats wrong with running in place
like a 10-year old when a runner is rounding third? That’s my wife’s favorite part of the game!
by corbsclinton on Oct 25, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
OT...but just saw this.
str8edgeracer
All of us on the couch are happy to meet my new teammate, neftali perez, who according to tim is our new closer?
Defending Big D - Dallas Stars news & analysis
Blogging The Boys - Dallas Cowboys, all the time.... since 2005
by Brandon Worley on Oct 24, 2010 7:44 PM CDT reply actions 6 recs
.
While Hunter has been shaky, the Rangers know what to expect from Holland coming out of the bullpen. If the Rangers switch roles, they feel there is more possibility they could get shaky performances from both pitchers.
I'm fine with this.
I think Holland is an asset in the bullpen. While none of us like to think about the possibility of needing him in any games other than Game 4, there’s always the possibility of a long rain delay or something where we might need a long reliever, and I trust Holland to do that job more than anyone else we have in the ’pen right now.
And, obviously, he’s still there to pick up where Tommy Hunter leaves off in Game 4.
I understand -- and basically agree with -- the idea that having Holland available
for multiple games out of the bullpen is advantageous.
I’m less sure about the Rangers knowing what to expect from Holland out of the bullpen.
Rapada for Lowe please.
"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel
is Lowe that good?
Defending Big D - Dallas Stars news & analysis
Blogging The Boys - Dallas Cowboys, all the time.... since 2005
by Brandon Worley on Oct 24, 2010 8:11 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
no kidding
I don’t get the Lowe support. He’s pitched in a couple games for us, and his velocity was lower than normal and he gave up 1 or 2 bombs in the process. That was not really that encouraging, and now after not having pitched in a game in a month, you want him as a pitcher in the World Series?…no thank you.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
I'd rather see Feldman than Lowe
You never know, might get an extra inning game and having Feldman might come in handy.
10/2 - The legend is about to grow exponentially. Josh Hamilton is about to become the most talked about athlete in the world.
You still have Hunter, Holland, and Kirkman, all of whom can go more than 3 outs
This team do what it do ~ Ron Washington
I didn't see a reason to go out there 'n ack-a-fool ~ Ron Washington on the Ben and Skin show
I'd rather see Feldman...
than Nippert, but sure about Lowe. I’ve seen him pitch so little.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
but is he better than Kirkman or more useful than Rapada
I don’t see it personally
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
does it matter?
wash is not going to use any of these pitchers in key spots…
"what I have learned in 11 years in the sports business is that the dumbest guys in the room are always the media guys." - mark cuban
i dont trust lowe (not that anyone does), but i will never live it down if
Dustin Nippert blows a Rangers World Series.
Check out my webcomic - Fanatics
I'm looking in to the Giants rotation.
Honest to god I thought Jonathan Sanchez was better than he is.
he's got no control
that’s his big issue, and patience usually kills him, but I’m not looking at numbers. just remember from recent history that he walks a ton of guys
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
He misses a ton of bats, which I think is why people tend to like him
"I think Elvis Andrus deliberately hits grounders to the right of shortstops to show that those shortstops aren’t Elvis Andrus" - Jeff
Although his swinging strike % did drop off by a full point this year.
"I think Elvis Andrus deliberately hits grounders to the right of shortstops to show that those shortstops aren’t Elvis Andrus" - Jeff
Me too
Although that LD% makes things more interesting with him.
by TheHuntforRedOctober on Oct 25, 2010 12:39 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I've watched him a few times, and every time I've seen him he's looked pretty wild.
"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel
Yeah... he's their Tommy Hunter
a guy who isn’t nearly as good as his numbers suggest.
So what the Rangers are facing is Lincecum, who is great but not as good as Lee; Matt Cain whose peripherals are quite similar to Colby’s, Jonathan Sanchez, who is their version of Tommy Hunter, and Madison Bumgarner, who is kind of like Derek Holland – young, high ceiling, and not someone who you want to trust your world series with.
The Rangers can match their rotation without CJ…
Go Rice Owls!
Comforting
"I support you, Wash; I’ve always supported you," Young said
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
Giants fan...
Sanchez is good…he does have his bouts of wildness, which is his downfall. However, he has the lowest BA against and a 2:1 K to BB ratio…
Don't care about BAA and using K/BB underrates the damage of walks because the relationship isn't 1-to-1.
He’s not that good, especially when you consider league quality. He’s a hair better than mediocre, and probably would be just about mediocre in the AL. Not bad at all for a third starter, but I definitely thought he was better than that.
His fWAR per 200 IP is 2.9 over the last three years, but he never gets 200 IP. That’s absolutely not bad, and I’d call it above average. But that’s in the NL. I thought he was closer to Cain.
I'd be fine with any of these additions at the expense of Cantu
I’d even be OK rolling with 39 just to not have to worry about seeing him. Give Colby or Ogando his ABs.
by snake oil pete on Oct 24, 2010 11:33 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Heh. 24.
although I would also be OK with 39
by snake oil pete on Oct 24, 2010 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Think about this.
Giants and Rangers had similar records. The AL has had about a .560 record the last two cycles through interleague play.
A .560 record in seven games is just under four wins. If the Rangers and Giants are relatively equal compared to their leagues, then that alone makes the Rangers sizable favorites.
i don't care about season numbers
anything can happen in the World Series. wow, I still can’t believe I’m talking about the Rangers in the series….. Anyways, back to what I was saying.
I don’t care what averages say, I don’t care what head to head says. Just like Wash, I’ll go with my gut every day of the week and twice on Sunday if possible. Right now, my gut says us in 5. Right now, my gut says the Giants pitching won’t contain our lineup, with or without Vladdy in it. Right now, my gut says next Monday will be the biggest day in the history of Texas sports.
This team do what it do ~ Ron Washington
I didn't see a reason to go out there 'n ack-a-fool ~ Ron Washington on the Ben and Skin show
by Eric Prince on Oct 25, 2010 12:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Um, of course anything can happen.
But one team is more likely to win than the other. Actually a lot more likely.
You just said a whole lot of nothing for no real reason.
agreed
i just felt i had to say it.
This team do what it do ~ Ron Washington
I didn't see a reason to go out there 'n ack-a-fool ~ Ron Washington on the Ben and Skin show
Nice to Meet you!
Hi All. My name is Dan and I live in the Bay Area, and have been a life-long Giants fan. I’m just stopping by to wish you guys good luck, and to hope for a good series. You guys have a real likeable team, with great comeback stories (Hamilton, Vlad, Colby Lewis), respected veterans (Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Bengie), and one hell of a management team. I feel like your success is good karma for an honorable and well-respected man like Ron Washington having his personal business exposed. Your GM has done well, and I like Nolan Ryan’s experiment in training his young pitchers to be workhorses.
Let’s hope for a hard-fought, instense series and though I’d be heartbroken if the Giants lose, the one nice thing about this match-up is at least one long-suffering fan base will get their taste of being World Series champs! Good luck, and let;s get this think started already!
by EastBayGiantsFan on Oct 25, 2010 1:16 AM CDT reply actions
same to you pal
stay classy
"Look at our current situation with that camel f$%ker over in Iraq. Pacifism is not something to hide behind."
by Walter Sobchak on Oct 25, 2010 2:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Glad we are playing your Giants
It’s time for some NON east coast teams to experience the Series, looking forward to it.
Quote from Yankees GM about the Texas Rangers Beating them in the 2010 ALCS "They manhandled us," Cashman said. "It was like a steamroller. We couldn't stop them."
Please don't remove Kirkman
dude looks legit.
I’m fine with Big Game starting Game 4 – I think with a much less potent lineup than the Yanks or even the Rays, he can throw strikes and limit the damage.
"Look at our current situation with that camel f$%ker over in Iraq. Pacifism is not something to hide behind."
I'm fine with Hunter
Considering the 1.04 WHIP vs right handed hitters, which he will primarily be facing.
by ruben_sierra#21 on Oct 25, 2010 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Anyone notice how 'Rangers' goes all the way across Cliff's chest
Yet barely goes halfway around Tommy’s?
I love that fat bastard.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Did you call the hypothetical hardware store and buy a theoretical chain saw?
Is Josh hanging with
the pitchers to give them some batting tips?
Hipsters, Flipsters, and Finger Poppin Daddies! Knock me your lobes.
who better?
Quote from Yankees GM about the Texas Rangers Beating them in the 2010 ALCS "They manhandled us," Cashman said. "It was like a steamroller. We couldn't stop them."
Elvis, the buntmaster
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
Ben and Skin
calling AJM out this morning about how he thinks the media always gives MY a pass.
Didn’t specifically say AJM, but said a “high profile blogger.”
"I fully expect to lose tonight" -- LSJ
What was their point about it
to the vast majority of folks here who don’t listen to Ben and Skin?
"I wanted to go out there and punch Julio" - Ron Washington
They love them some MY
"I fully expect to lose tonight" -- LSJ
by Dirk Diggler on Oct 25, 2010 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
The Giants have a guy named Grant too!
Difference is our Grant can write!
Is this real life? Is this going to be forever?
Hopefully only the crappiest position, not the crappiest pick.
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
by bking on Oct 25, 2010 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Other fun facts
Elvis needs 8 World Series hits to tie the single-season playoff record
Nellie needs 3 World Series HRs to tie the single-season playoff record
Nellie also needs just 12 total bases to tie the playoff record
Cliff Lee is already all over the rate stat playoff record book for 2010, but he needs a silly 22 Ks to tie #1 in single season playoff K’s
Go Rice Owls!
oh for the love of pete!
Start Holland already! I was all for Hunter in the ALDS.. but wanted Holland in the next series and this one. He’s really turning it on.. Hunter is just being meh.
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