Monday a.m. Rangers stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 8:53 AM CST
470 comments
T.R. Sullivan has some good news on the 40 man roster front...Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando, having been on the restricted list the last several years, do not count towards the 40 man roster until the end of spring training. That means that, rather than having to make a couple of moves now to make room for Beltre and Ogando, as we had initially believed, the Rangers don't have to make a move until late March. That gives Joaquin Arias and Luis Mendoza (most likely) some more breathing room before a move has to be made.
Richard Durrett takes a look at the Rangers' first base situation for 2010. First base was a disaster last year, and the lack of production from the position was a significant part of why the Rangers weren't a playoff team. Chris Davis will start the season at first base again in 2010, and there seems to be optimism that he's fixed the issues that plagued him early last year and is poised for a bounceback year. The Rangers need him to be a lot closer to the guy we saw in 2008 than the guy we saw in 2009.
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Joaquin Arias dodges the bullet again
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
Having to see Mendoza and Arias in Surprise isn't good news to me
Morality you can fake. Fun you either have or you don't.
None, I just like to get these things over with.
Morality you can fake. Fun you either have or you don't.
Ok, but
this gives the team a lot more time to evaluate its options, explore trades, see who stays healthy, etc.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
Yeah, having extra time to make the decision on those two spots is excellent news
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Internet greatness http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/11/10/1125340/will-carroll-calls-out-josey-wales
like when
you wanted to DFA Feldman after the ’07 season?
by Randy Richardson on Feb 8, 2010 11:59 AM CST up reply actions
re: feldman
you mean the year that he had a 5.77 era, 5.5 k/9, 7.4(!!!) bb/9, 1.25 WHIP, 9.1 h/9, almost a HR/9 and had a 3.00 k/bb rate?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, that year
The demands that he be cut loose after that season were dumb at the time, and look really bad now.
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 12:05 PM CST up reply actions
MLB stats
MLB stats at that point in time: 90 IP, 5.3 k/0, 4.4 bb/9, 1.55 whip not exactly a stud RP…
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:07 PM CST up reply actions
fwiw
mendoza over almost same # of IP: 80 IP, 4.7 k/9, 3.4 bb/9, 1.76 whip
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:08 PM CST up reply actions
my point was that feldman was pretty horrible up until 2007. and that mendoza has been pretty horrible as well.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:11 PM CST up reply actions
Is your point also that the Rangers should DFA
any/all players who struggle mightily as they work toward achieving their potential?
my point is that feldman was not at all good in the majors pre 2007.
that is all.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:13 PM CST up reply actions
Agree with ko king
Feldman was horrid pre-2008, as a sidearm gunner. He became much better when Goose changed his arm slot to 3/4, and he began mastering the cutter.
"Thats all we got? One goddamned hit?" - Harry Doyle
"You cant say god damn on the radio."- Colorman Monte
"Ehhh, who cares...nobody's listening!"- Harry Doyle
x
Feldman was horrid pre-2008, as a sidearm gunner.
No, he wasn’t.
Look at his numbers, in the majors and the minors, up to 2006.
He was bad in 2007. Prior to 2007, he was good.
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
as said before
he was so good/solid/whatever that the team decided to change his arm slot and make him a SP instead…
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
if he was as good/solid
as you seem to remember him being,…the rangers wouldnt have changed him to a 3/4 slot SP, and he would still be a RP
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
Feldman
if he was as good/solid as you remember him being
If you don’t trust Adam’s memory, you can look up the facts at Fangraphs or baseball-reference.
Going back to the original comment, there was no reason to DFA Feldman in the offseason prior to ‘08, but many here were advocating dumping him just because he “sucked”. No one here was suggesting or could have predicted Feldman’s future success as a starter, but he did have a track record of success as a reliever prior to ’07 in the majors and minors. I think it was Mark Connor who switched him to the new arm slot and the move to starting.
by Randy Richardson on Feb 8, 2010 6:05 PM CST up reply actions
So...
Because the Rangers changed his arm slot that offseason and moved him from being a middle reliever to a starter, he sucked and should have been DFA’d?
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 6:42 PM CST up reply actions
no...
because he was changed from a RP to a SP AND his arm slot was changed to me, that says that feldman was not exactly a world beater at RP.
my point was that had he been DFA’ed, its not like it would have been something that, had he stayed a RP and stayed at his current arm slot, the rangers would have exactly “missed”
its the same arguement as the danks/mccarthy deal. if danks doesnt have a drastic change (in his example, learning the cutter) then no one would still be bitching about the trade as much…equally had feldman not changed his arm slot and stayed a RP, no one would be bitching now about him being DFA’ed.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
How many sidearming starters are there?
I think to change to a SP they had to change his arm slot
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.
That was the best game I've ever been to.
"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason." - Benjamin Franklin
by JBP on Feb 8, 2010 2:32 PM CST up reply actions
No need
Nolan/Ventura. Hands Down.
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
x
my point was that feldman was pretty horrible up until 2007.
That’s crap.
He wasn’t “pretty horrible” up until 2007.
He was very good in the minors in 2005 and 2006.
He was solid in the majors in 2005 and 2006.
He had a bad year, both in the majors and in the minors, in 2007, at age 24.
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 12:14 PM CST up reply actions
feldman career pre 07 (3 years)
5.3 k/9
4.4 bb/9
1.55 wihp
90 IP
= solid from a RP?
wes littleton over 102 IP from 06-08:
102 IP, 4.8 k/9, 3.3 bb/9, 1.23 whip
….in fact he was so “solid” that the team decided to make him a starter!
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:18 PM CST up reply actions
you're counting
’07 in your “pre ’07” calculation
by Randy Richardson on Feb 8, 2010 12:22 PM CST up reply actions
oops
meant pre 08 — my bad
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:22 PM CST up reply actions
I knew there was something wrong with that.
Pre-2007 majors:
6.0 K/9
2.1 BB/9
1.243 WHIP
50.2 innings. Not bad.
Pre-2007 minors:
7.0 K/9
3.1 BB/9
1.048 WHIP.
97.1 innings. Very not bad.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
one difference
majors v minors = no difference, right?
i mean, having good minors stats means the player is def going to be a MLB quality player, right?
/sarcasm
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
You're cutting to the chase!
I was hoping to make the set-up a bit more leisurely. It’s been a slow day.
Age when the lights went on for them
Feldman: 25
Mendoza next year: 26/27
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.
I hear
Mendoza was dealing in winter ball …
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Who are you
again?
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
he's dealt every year in winter ball....
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
The point is
Had we DFAd him after the season he may never have made it to spring training and never had a chance to be moved to starter.
If we don’t need the spots theres no point cutting Arias and Mendoza now because who knows, Mendoza may come to camp and be lights out and be the next Feldman. If hes the same old Mendoza hes gone. Theres really no rush.
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.
dont get me wrong
im with you on not making moves one sec before they have to be made
but my other point is that feldman wasnt exactly feliz in RP duty up to then
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:09 PM CST up reply actions
No he sucked in relief
But had people said lets cut him now because “I just like to get these things over with” we may have lost a valuable pitcher.
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.
and for anyone to say that they knew (or even thought) he would be a good SP
are liars.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:12 PM CST up reply actions
Nobody on here knew
But obviously someone in the Rangers organization had a feeling. Maybe it was the gut telling someone to switch him.
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.
"had a feeling"
=got lucky.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:14 PM CST up reply actions
Talent evaluation & good coaching = luck.
You are a fucking penis.
by LiamP on Feb 8, 2010 12:38 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
you really thing that the rangers knew
that feldman would go from what he was pre 2008 to what he was in 2009?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:40 PM CST up reply actions
Nah
I’m sure it is a lot more likely that they thought he would suck and kept him on the team anyways just to fill out the 40 man roster
im sorry
im a huge JD fan, btu to think that they, or anyone else, thought he would be their pitcher of the year in 2009 after his pre 2008 history is either veryveryvery stupid or veryveryvery lucky
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
what doesnt make sense
is anyone saying that they knew feldman would be an above 100 era+ MLB starting pitcher.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
Nobody on here knew
But obviously someone in the Rangers organization had a feeling. Maybe it was the gut telling someone to switch him.
took that to mean he was serious…
in hindsight, the gut comment made it sarcasm
lo siento
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
Dozer and the one armed man
are 21st Centruy cockroaches. You just can’t kill ’em. Bold prediction: 2 guys get hurt in ST, and they stay on the 40 all year.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
21st century cockroaches...
Roaches who are in the real estate business?
Morality you can fake. Fun you either have or you don't.
Century 21
Josey Wales born on LSB July 18, 2006 Jumped the shark--That glorious day in 2008. RIP Josey Wales.
In the interest of quicker games Ron should just tell the ump he's pulling the Feliz card and the ump should rule the inning over.--Sherman McCoy on Sept. 4, 2009
Mendoza and Arias
They are out of options, so they aren’t staying on the 40-man roster unless they make the opening day 25-man roster.
I’m guessing they both get waived during spring training, Arias gets outrighted to AAA, and Mendoza refuses the outright assignment and tries to catch on with another team.
by Darrell McKown on Feb 8, 2010 9:35 AM CST up reply actions
but think of all the problems you avoided....
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
though it is not out of the realm of possibilities that someone gets injured
makes this Ogando/Beltre development all the better.
Is there going to be enough innings in spring training....
to really get a good look at every pitcher we have now??
I kind of have a feeling we are going to have someone put in the bullpen or sent to AAA that didn’t really have enough of a chance to show what they really have.
Wash is an idiot!!
If they have problems getting all the guys they want to evaluate into "A" games, my guess is we'll just see more guys who are locks pitching in the "B" games instead
Morality you can fake. Fun you either have or you don't.
Fangraphs splits are fun
While his BABIP in Sept/Oct seems unstainable, he’s been able to have high BABIP’s in spurts when he gets his LD% up around 25%. I don’t really know whether we can expect that as the norm but it isn’t out of the question.
Also, gotta love the shrinking K rates. For someone like Davis who doesn’t walk that much, he has to put the ball in play at around 65% of the time to be effective.
The shrinking K rates are very nice
As much as some of the pro-Davis people would try to rebut criticism by saying that K’s aren’t intrinsically bad, they were usually confounding players who K as well as walk with players who K and don’t walk. The former group is perfectly fine, and at times very valuable, whereas the latter group gets run out of the game very early.
Simply put, Chris Davis cannot afford to K 40% of the time if he isn’t going to walk at at least twice the rate he’s doing now. But you’re right, if he can limit his K’s to about 30% of his PA’s, he can be a valuable hitter.
Go Rice Owls!
Davis had a lot of problems last year
but one of his biggest issues was his approach when he had two strikes (.121 average / .349 ops). In contrast, the 20 year old Tiny E hit .209 with a .539 ops last year.
The Davis I saw that came back up in August wasn’t patient at all and it seemed like he was trying to get his at bats over with as soon as possible (so he wouldn’t fall behind in the count).
I’m not sold on what he did in September. He had 7 walks in 142 plate appearances and a .465 BABIP. Yes, he was better than he was in the first half but that means very little because Davis’ first half last year was one of the worst I’ve ever seen a major leaguer have in my life.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Being an optimist
I’m going to hope that the majority of the problems Davis had last year were mental. I’m going to guess he had never really struggled playing baseball his entire life. A quick start to the season could be all he needs to return to 2008 form. Then again, he might just have been a flash in the pan who got exposed last year. Only time will tell.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 10:13 AM CST up reply actions
I don't know exactly what Davis
is either. Whatever optimism I have comes from him being so good at such a young age in 2008.
I do have great optimism for the future of Justin Smoak (just don’t think he’ll be ready in 2010). He’s exactly what this line-up needs. A patient hitter that you can stick in the middle of the line-up who is also a thumper.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
You can be optimistic if you think Davis was unlucky last year.
Davis has a career .362 BABIP in 1222 minor league ABs. In 2008, Davis posted a .353 BABIP in 295 major league ABs. In 2009, Davis’s major league BABIP fell to .327 (including is .390 BABIP in Sept/Oct) in 391 AB.
So which is the real Davis? Is Davis going to be able to maintain a BABIP over .350 for his career? If so, then you could characterize 2009 as unlucky. I’m not sure I necessarily buy into the argument, but it is one reason to be optimistic.
There is nothing unlucky about striking out 114 times
in 277 plate appearances.
You’re in over your head and have no business playing on that team.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
I'm curious what the magic number is.
If Davis had only struck out 83 times in those 277 PA, would that have been ok?
Not if your OBP is .256.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
That doesn't answer my question.
I’m asking whether or not you’d be ok with 83 strikeouts in 277 PA. It’s really a yes or no question.
Now, if you think that 83 strikeouts is too much because he won’t be able to post a high enough OBP, you can say that. But just throwing out the .256 OBP number doesn’t answer my question.
by cstorm15 on Feb 8, 2010 10:54 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
That's me as well
2008 makes you think this guy really has what it takes. But then the Major League history is littered with guys who tore it up for a year, got figured out, and never adjusted. I suppose the answer will be how well can Davis adjust now that he has struggled. If he is hard-headed and convinced his way is fine, it could be a quick end. If he is willing to change, which most reports say he is, maybe he breaks out and returns to 2008 form.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 10:29 AM CST up reply actions
batting average with two strikes
has always struck me as kind of a pointless stat. Why not just use K%? I imagine that more players BAw2s is highly correlated to K%. I guess the guys who would be interesting are those who have something that isn’t directly related. Maybe K-independent hitting stats when you have 2 strikes – do their LD/GB/FB ratios change if they have to shorten up their swing, for instance? A guy with a low K% probably does when they shorten their swings and settle for a more conservative approach, whereas your slugger types probably just try harder to hit a home run on the next pitch.
Go Rice Owls!
I'm gonna bite Josey
Davis had an OPS of .869 in Sept/Oct and his K rate fell to 25.5% during the same period. I’m not raising money for his bust in Cooperstown, but coupled with his total history, I feel comfortable with him in the line-up. I think he has til June to prove himself at the plate.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
I'm on high alert with Davis
from the get-go. You simply can’t afford to have a 1B in the AL who has an OPS below .700.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Sure he did
You’re looking at the wrong months, weeks or days.
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
Wow, you found a loophole.
Chris Davis had a .696 OPS on September 25 before kicking bumping it up the last week of the season.
On April 30, Chris Davis had an OPS of .701.
On May 31, Chris Davis had an OPS of .689.
On June 30, Chris Davis had an OPS of .684.
On July 31, Chris Davis was in Oklahoma City.
On August 31, Chris Davis had an OPS of .671.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
I don't think a season is considered a "loophole"
Are you seriously trying to defend your obviously incorrect statement?
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
Are you seriously
trying to defend Chris Davis’ 2009 season?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
I know I wasn't defending Davis's 2009 season
After all, I’ve been very vocal about bringing in a RH bat as a Davis platoon partner.
Still, it’s important that you get your facts straight.
Josey's argument style...
Nick Naylor: That’s the beauty of argument, if you argue correctly, you’re never wrong.
Joey Naylor: …so what happens when you’re wrong?
Nick Naylor: Whoa, Joey I’m never wrong.
Joey Naylor: But you can’t always be right…
Nick Naylor: Well, if it’s your job to be right, then you’re never wrong.
Joey Naylor: But what if you are wrong?
Nick Naylor: OK, let’s say that you’re defending chocolate, and I’m defending vanilla. Now if I were to say to you: ‘Vanilla is the best flavour ice-cream’, you’d say…
Joey Naylor: No, chocolate is.
Nick Naylor: Exactly, but you can’t win that argument… so, I’ll ask you: so you think chocolate is the end all and the all of ice-cream, do you?
Joey Naylor: It’s the best ice-cream, I wouldn’t order any other.
Nick Naylor: Oh! So it’s all chocolate for you is it?
Joey Naylor: Yes, chocolate is all I need.
Nick Naylor: Well, I need more than chocolate, and for that matter I need more than vanilla. I believe that we need freedom. And choice when it comes to our ice-cream, and that Joey Naylor, that is the defintion of liberty.
Joey Naylor: But that’s not what we’re talking about
Nick Naylor: Ah! But that’s what I’m talking about.
Joey Naylor: …but you didn’t prove that vanilla was the best…
Nick Naylor: I didn’t have to. I proved that you’re wrong, and if you’re wrong I’m right.
Joey Naylor: But you still didn’t convince me
Nick Naylor: It’s that I’m not after you. I’m after them.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 11:04 AM CST up reply actions
Would it make you feel better if I said you simply can't afford t
have a 1B in the AL who has an OPS of .696 on September 25?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
What's really bizarre
is that it makes you feel so much better to say that than just that they can’t afford for him to hit .238/.284/.442 again, something that no one would really argue with.
by Brett Perryman on Feb 8, 2010 11:10 AM CST up reply actions
No
because we all agree with that. We’ve progressed past that argument/discussion and have moved on to whether or not he can return to his 2008 form. If you have a feeling about that, by all means, speak up. Otherwise, we know his stats from last year, move on…
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 11:11 AM CST up reply actions
Ooooh - you changed the subject. Now I've forgotten what we were talking about. Wait, no I didn't
Did Davis post above 700 OPS or didn’t he? And if did doesn’t that make you wrong?
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
*taps foot, waiting*
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
*looks around, notices no response, shrugs, takes off*
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
Josey tends to ignore CD's second half stats (.308/.338/.496/.834)....
and Hank (.201/.237/.348/.585) too for that matter
If you want some slack, bring your own rope.
by rangerfaninva on Feb 8, 2010 10:54 AM CST up reply actions
I don't worry about Hank F because
he no longer plays for the Rangers.
The Great War was fought and won (your side lost) so let the healing begin.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Actually, nobody won and the Rangers' playoff chances were the big loser
"Dying ain't hard. It’s living in the wake of a thorough public humiliation that’s hard.--JDT217
Internet greatness http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/11/10/1125340/will-carroll-calls-out-josey-wales
The only one who lost
the Hank F war was the currently unemployed Hank F Blalock.
At least he has more time to pound 40s.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
40s
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:44 PM CST up reply actions
love it
Despite the cut off fail
"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball
by rangerdanger on Feb 8, 2010 12:47 PM CST up reply actions
yea ive been having that problem w/ pics on here recently
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:50 PM CST up reply actions
I used to drink 40s in the law school library while studying at night
I’ve heard my school now frowns upon that type of activity. Got out just in time.
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
Are you sold
on what he did in May? .244 BABIP seems awfully non-sustainable.
btw, you are includinging his August in his September stats. the actual values for just September are 6 walks in 100 PA’s and a .365 BABIP
0 walks in 17 PA’s with a .500 BABIP in October and 1 walk in 25 PA’s with a .313 BABIP in August.
get your facts straight. Davis was bad in the first half, but he was also unlucky.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
splits
was about the only thing missing from that awesome site.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
Hell to the yes.
If they ever get around to adding a bit more history more in depth contract info they might have the perfect baseball site.
But for now I guess I’ll have to keep baseball-reference and Cot’s on my baseball bookmark list.
It’s hell being Mel… :(
The 40 Trumps All!!!
One thing I miss
from Hardball Times since they started just linking to Fangraphs stats is their PreOPS, kind of like xFIP for batters.
Who is Mel?
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
Like most of the nonsensical things I randomly say, it's from the Simpsons.
The episode Beyond Blunderdome guest-starring Mel Gibson features the following exchange:
Gibson: The problem I have is people love me so much, they never criticize me. I speed all the time but the cops never give me a ticket. If I don’t pay my taxes, the IRS pays
them for me.
Marge: Oh, you poor thing.
Gibson: It’s hell being Mel.
That line is of course so deliciously ironic in retrospect after the whole “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world” rant and the subsequent backlash happened.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Don't forget about the "sugartits" comment when he actually did get pulled over
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
Davis in the main article automatic Josey baiting....
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
The bungling of Chris Davis
was a big reason this team stayed home last October and whether or not he can recover is a major concern in 2010 if this team expects to contend.
Some people can’t discuss it without bringing up Hank F (who no longer plays for the team) or by trying to defend Davis’ season.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
is hank blalock a big reason the team stayed home last october as well?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
I give it up to the fact pitchers figured him out and the alleged sophomore slump,
he did look much more disciplined at the plate when he came back up. His confidence also looked like it was back.
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
He didn't look disciplined at all
when he came back up.
He was hacking early and often which is why he had 7 walks in 140+ plate apperances.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
There's not too much you've posted to this point that I'd disagree with
Particularly:
There is nothing unlucky about striking out 114 times
which is what got this whole thing started.
However, I think most are okay with progress, which is what Davis made in The Show when he returned. No one’s saying he’s an automatic for 900+ ops & 40 bombs.
It’s just weeks before ST and that’s when people tend to be optimistic. You should try it … might make your day go a little better.
by robert_d_wilfong on Feb 8, 2010 3:41 PM CST up reply actions
I'm actually somewhat optimistic
about the Rangers this upcoming year. 85-89 wins looks do-able at this time.
I don’t think they’ve necessarily improved but I also don’t think they’ve taken a step backwards.
Where they are right now might be good enough to win the AL West but I have higher aspirations than a one and done post season.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
He looked more disicplined than Frank the Tank going through alcohol
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
7 walks in 140+ plate appearances is "disciplined" ??
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
I got dizzy reading that
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
"Some people can’t discuss it without bringing up Hank F"
How else are we supposed to discuss it when Hank was the only option to replace Davis. Had Hank not put up a sub 280 OBP for the season then I am sure more people would have been calling to make the switch sooner.
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.
you're an idiot
the entire team sucked ass. do you remember the 5 games in September where we only managed to score 1 run, and were shutout 4 F’n times. In those 5 games, we only got 6, 5, 5, 1, and 8 hits respectively in those games. That was when the entire team chocked in September and lost 7 out of 9 to division rivals, at home no less. You can’t blame Davis alone, and there is nobody on here saying he was great last year, but you can’t ignore that he wasn’t the only problem. Name me one player that was good in those games.
Young and Hamilton were hurt, and Cruz was banged up and consequently getting benched alot. Those are, outside of Kinsler, your 3 best hitters.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
One interesting thing at the beginning of the season
was that Davis made contact on like 56% of the strikes thrown to him. That’s just absurdly low (over a full season, the lowest is about 70%)- and is probably the cause of him striking out so much. I kept waiting for him to correct that, but he never got above 60% before he got sent down. At the end of the season, his strike contact % stands at almost 71%. So he went from 60% to 70% in about 150 ABs, which means when he returned, he was probably making contacts on around 85% of the strikes thrown to him. If you can do that, your strikeout rate should go down.
Now I want to know if he is going to continue making contact on 85% of strikes, or will he regress to the Mark Reynoldsian 70%. That might have a big effect on his strikeout rate next year.
I glad you brought this up
as I’ve been wondering about the contact issue as well as the quality of contact as a factor in his bad BABIP.
Not one but 2 guys in the comments of TR's article
claim MELVIN to be a top 3 GM. I don’t know whether to laugh or puke.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
That is still one truly awesome 'stache
"If this video was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick." Clark
re: Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride, 4/17/09
Melvin is very good at
assessing what a major league team needs to get better and then finding that player.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
You mean
Melvin is very good at getting credit for what previous GMs left him, then has his teams deteriorate over time because he can’t sustain the quality minor league program needed to prop up all but the richest franchises.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
by DJCahill on Feb 8, 2010 10:40 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
No.
Melvin did a really good job of knowing what the late 90s Rangers needed to improve and then finding that player or pitcher while working most of the time on a tight Schieffer imposed budget.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Mutually Exclusive
Yes, he was good at adding parts, but no, he was not good at keeping the minor league system stocked. You argue like the guy in Thank You For Smoking sometimes…
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
Not really.
Melvin inherited Gonzalez, Rodriguez, Greer, etc., and got credit for the success the team had as those players rolled into the mid to late 20s and reached their prime ages as baseball players.
The successful Rangers teams had a lot more to do with the core players assembled by Grieve than any of the McLemore type pickups that Melvin did while he was tinkering around the edges.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Juan, Pudge and Greer
were on the ’94 Ranger team that finished 10 games below .500. Melvin did an excellent job of building around them on a very tight budget.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
I agree with that
If you have a team with young talent that needs to get over the hump, Melvin is good at finding useful vets in the bargain bin.
He’s not a terrible g.m. I just don’t think he’s a great one, either.
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 11:07 AM CST up reply actions
Also,
Milwaukee was a shit-hole when Melvin took that gig and he’s done well there as well.
Melvin is much better than JD at assessing what the major league team needs to improve and get better.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Milwaukee
What are the bang-up moves he’s done since getting there?
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 11:14 AM CST up reply actions
He did
get Sabathia which lead to a big bag of nothing other than giving up LaPorte…
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 11:15 AM CST up reply actions
Actually LaPorta and Brantley
but he did have a strange set of circumstances cost him draft picks. I’m not sure LaPorta will be all that great.
What was strange about it?
Everyone knew the yankees were going to go after both CC and Tex. Melvin basically hoped Elias would rank CC higher than Tex.
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.
So you think MIlwaukee
went from 106 losses to 90 wins without their GM doing a good job?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
How many of those wins were due to the GM doing something
And how many were due to the talent he inherited simply developing and getting better?
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.
And remember
that Melvin made that kind of improvement with a small market budget although the new owner has them near the middle of the pack.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Im assuming this was a reply fail on your part
Because it has nothing to do with the question I posed
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.
How do you measure number of wins
a GM is individually responsible for?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
I don't know
But if the core of that team was players already in the system when Melvin got there then a majority of the improvement goes on them not the GM. Making small moves to acquire complimentary people does not translate into a 40 win difference.
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.
how is it possible to like melvin
but hate JD?
i dont understand.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 11:47 AM CST up reply actions
Two GMs at a glance
GM 1 – 544-596, 2 winning seasons and one playoff appearance
GM 2 – 321-330, 1 winning season
One you like, one you hate
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on Feb 8, 2010 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
I think you can give Melvin credit for drafting pretty well.
Picked Braun and Weeks. Inherited Fielder and Sheets.
"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010
right now
the Brewers have one of the weaker systems in the minors, and don’t appear to have a particularly bright future.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
BA ranks them 14th
so probably mid level
by Brett Perryman on Feb 8, 2010 3:24 PM CST up reply actions
Oh, hey
You were spot on regarding Rosales, I was not:
As a 26-year-old in the International League last year, Rosales posted an MLE either of .297/.347/.505 (Minor League Splits) or .309/.373/.573 (Baseball Prospectus), depending on who you believe.
"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.
Ill give him Braun as a good pick
but Weeks has been a pretty big disappointment so far as a no. 2 overall pick.
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on Feb 8, 2010 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
Melvin
He had three top 5 picks his first 3 years there. He took Weeks #2 overall, and he’s been okay, not great.
He also took Ryan Braun, who has been great, and Mark Rogers, who has been terrible.
He gets credit for drafting Yovanni Gallardo, but overall, I don’t think his drafts were anything special.
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
yea he bombed on the rogers pick
thats for sure
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 11:47 AM CST up reply actions
When he was the GM of the Rangers
Melvin drafted the following players who became major leaguers-
Hafner, Monroe, Kolb, Lamb, Pena, Zito, Lewis, Mench, Blalock, Harang, Teixeira and CJ Wilson.
That’s a helluva lot of talent.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Thank God Tom Hicks
was able to get the signing of Teixeira done after seeing Melvin screw the pooch with Zito.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
Talent
Harang traded for Randy f’in Velarde
Hafner traded for Einar Diaz and Ryan Drese
Colby Lewis is a guy you have ragged on all off-season about how he can’t pitch in the show.
Blalock got worse every year he was here
Kevin Mench was never that good
Mike Lamb: Seriously…
What an impressive group you named…
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 12:45 PM CST up reply actions
My bad
Hafner was traded on Hart’s watch
The Harang for Velarde trade sure looks horrible these days though…
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 12:47 PM CST up reply actions
I think about Hafner here and there
Does anyone think he wasn’t a product of steroids?
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
No doubt
all the tell-tale signs. Body falling apart. No ability to recuperate from injury. Severe loss of power…
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 12:54 PM CST up reply actions
Hafner
If he was using steroids, he was using in the minors and in college too- I don’t ever remember him being anything other than a behemoth of a man.
"Jesus, Spanish- first our jobs, now our words?"
-- Sterling Archer
Not really his size but performance
Like was said above, the guy could mash and then once steroid testing started he fell off the earth and couldn’t stay healthy.
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
ie., logical fallacy - coincidental correlation
nothing phalic about it.
Don't ever let your sister move in with you. - thedirkatron
Why is it surprising
for folks to use steroids in the minors or college? He may have been pumping roids in high school for all I know. I know folks who were using steroids in Conroe High School in the late 70s, I don’t think its surprising for Hafner to be using them in minors or college.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
who, associated with the Rangers
wasn’t a product of steroids?
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
The one armed bandit/cockroach/speedy gonazles side kick
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
Well
I think their g.m. did a fine job.
I also think that, much as with Texas, he was fortunate to step into a situation where there was a lot of good young talent maturing.
I don’t think he in particular had much to do with Ben Sheets, Prince Fielder, and J.J. Hardy being so good, for example.
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
And JD
inherited a young team 13 months removed from winning 89 games (with almost all the players from that team still in the organization) with a boatload of excellent talent knocking on the major league door plus he got a huge bump in payroll.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
A team 1 month removed
from losing 83 games, which showed their previous 89 win season to be a fluke.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
yes
but he also inherited the team that won only 79 games 1 month before he took over
You hear about the "Electric Arms", they're all the rage.
And in June 2007
we somehow found ourselves 23-42 with a bunch of old players getting playing time.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
I guess we should have brought Elvis up from A ball then huh
Maybe Feliz from Rookie ball. Thrown Beavan straight to the fire from draft day ala David Clyde.
JD recognized what the ML team needed and addressed it. Its not his fault those players weren’t ML ready at that time. Its obviously turned out pretty damn well given our current position
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.
please name
the “boatload of excellent talent knocking on the major league door” who were in the organization before JD took over. I’ll go ahead and agree that the Chris Young, Adrian Gonzales, and John Danks trades were bad in hindsight and JD should be blamed for those trades. However, I can’t seem to recall too many other stand-out players who HAVE contributed greatly to other teams or who HAVEN’T contributed greatly to our team
You hear about the "Electric Arms", they're all the rage.
Ian Kinsler, Adrian Gonzales, John Danks,
Eddy V, CJ Wilson, Scott Feldman were all either in AAA or had dipped their toes in the major league pool when JD took the keys to the car plus he got a 21% bump in payroll.
Another positive for Melvin. The fans are excited about the direction of their team. The Brewers had 1.7 million in attendance in 2003 (didn’t Melvin take over that season?) and have been over 3 million the last two years.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Yeah that new park had nothing to do with attendance did it?
Does Melvin get the credit for that?
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.
The Brewers moved into Miller Park
in 2001.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
damnit
they wanted to see the melvin in action!
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 11:49 AM CST up reply actions
yes
feldman, the guy who was a MLB star from day 1.
feldman canNOT be considered on the same level as volquez, kinsler, adrian, danks, etc. when JD came in
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 11:49 AM CST up reply actions
It doesn't matter what level
Feldman was considered to be when JD took over…he was in the organization when JD got the job.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
that is stupid
of COURSE we should consider a guy taken in the 30th round out of HS, who was a RP side armer and who turned into an over the top SP as EXACTLY the same guy
its like saying that danks was the same guy from 07 to 08, the only difference was that he threw slightly harder and ignoring the fact that he learned a new pitch
to consider players that had radical changes in their abilities as “part of the system” is stupid.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
I actually have to apologize
cause I got confused and thought we were discussing something else, so I’m gonna have to agree that Melvin did a good job of acquiring that talent
You hear about the "Electric Arms", they're all the rage.
Melvin didn't acquire those guys
He drafted C.J. and signed Volquez. The rest were acquired by Hart and/or Fuson.
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 11:51 AM CST up reply actions
Didn't Melvin draft
Tex and trade for Michael Young?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
talk about another guy who the team hit on and got lucky
FOTF=that guy.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
Hicks gets
all the credit for having the money to moneywhip Teixeira.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
then I'm gonna shut up
before I look like more of a rahtard
You hear about the "Electric Arms", they're all the rage.
Read/sort/search
and cross-ref to
"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.
Will you stop saying 13 months removed
he inherited a team 1 month removed from winning 79 games. Thats what he inherited. The 89 win team played another full season under John Hart
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.
Players Daniels gets credit for:
Hamilton
Cruz
Andrus
Feliz
Murphy
Holland
Davis
Borbon
Hunter
Smoak
Who am I missing?
"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010
Scheppers
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on Feb 8, 2010 11:36 AM CST up reply actions
TT
O’Day.
Oliver
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
Kason Gabbard hahaha
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
Hart vs JD
John Hart drafted the following players with major league experience in 4 years:
Drew Meyer (number 1!)
Sam Narron
Kam Loe
Jesse Chavez
John Danks
Wes Littleton
Ian Kinsler
Scott Feldman
Eric Hurley
Brandon Boggs
Justin Maxwell
Travis Metcalf
Tug Hulett
John Mayberry
Taylor Teagarden
German Duran
Doug Mathis.
Daniels drafted the following players with Major league experience:
Chris Davis
Craig Gentry
Derek Holland
Danny Ray Herrera
Julio Borbon
Tommy Hunter
Wait! I just heard somone mention Drew Meyer’s baseball smarts again.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
They were also
24, 22, and 25 in ’94 you stupid motherfucker.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
by DJCahill on Feb 8, 2010 11:07 AM CST up reply actions 5 recs
I blame Adam
for not saying we can’t namecall or use insults today.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
I thought that was yesterday?
"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason." - Benjamin Franklin
I assumed
since he warned us yesterday, and didn’t warn us today, that insults were fair game today.
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
If he wants clean language keep Josey out haha
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
Interesting take on creating an ignore feature...
for blog comments.
http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2010/02/open_threadask_the_blogger.php#comment-385591
I think this is a pretty good idea.
"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin
It is an interesting take.
This thread provides more evidence of why it probably wouldn’t make a difference on LSB.
Nobody can go on the DL until the end of spring training
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.
which at that point we will know
if we need to protect either Arias or Dozer if we intend to go that route.
The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ
i thought first day of the season...
technicality, but still different
by kevinkinsler on Feb 8, 2010 11:44 AM CST up reply actions
is he going to still be on the 60 day?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 11:51 AM CST up reply actions
Probably depends how he looks in spring training
If he looks like he could go to a minor league team around the start of May then I would imagine they wouldn’t 60 him unless they absolutely need the roster spot. But if he looks like he won’t be ready to go to the minors until mid May or Juneish then yeah I imagine they 60 him although they may not want him to acrue the service time
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.
jeeze
what kind of surgery did the guy have? they must have inserted a cannon in place of his arm
maybe it just SEEMS like its been so long since he had his surgeryB?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 11:59 AM CST up reply actions
If I remember correctly didn't he try the rehab route first
And then decided on surgery later which is why it seems so long ago
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.
ahh ok
thx big steve
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
Mid to late 08 he was doing the rehab route
Then early 09 he decided to have the surgery
How early?
Are we talking spring training? Before? Start of the season?
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.
The death of FIP & tRA?
"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.
BP blows
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
by Kinslerhomer on Feb 8, 2010 11:18 AM CST up reply actions
I can't help but be a bit skeptical of a formula
whose form is
SIERA = 6.262 – 18.055*(SO/PA) + 11.292*(BB/PA) – 1.721*((GB-FB-PU)/PA) +10.169*((SO/PA)^2) – 7.069*(((GB-FB-PU)/PA)^2) + 9.561*(SO/PA)/PA) – 4.027(BB/PA)*((GB-FB-PU)/PA)
Those are some very precise decimals there. “SIERA, accurate to the 1/1000th position!”
The race to develop the perfect metric for a pitcher or a hitter seems a little silly to me. Yeah, ERA isn’t perfect, so a nice FIP or tRA is a good indicator of whether ERA is “off” due to defense or what not. But quantifying performance to inane levels of precision when noise is such a huge factor in the game strikes me as ridiculous. Looking at ERA and a second-order measure like FIP will explain the vast majority of explainable variance in the game.
Go Rice Owls!
by JBImaknee on Feb 8, 2010 11:34 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
OK.
Because to my eye, it addresses a couple of the points you raise above ~ for example, what SIERA does that FIP doesn’t ~ and the method itself explains why there are all those decimal points. I don’t know that Swartz and Seidman are claiming what you suggest they claim…
well, obviously SIERA addresses things that FIP doesn't.
That isn’t my point. If it didn’t, people wouldn’t have developed it.
You can always generate a more precise metric. But there is a tradeoff to precision. The beauty of OBP, BA, and ERA is that I can calculate it in my head. There is value to that (I’d argue a lot more than most people give it credit for). FIP has an intuitive structure as well – K’s, BB’s, and HR’s. The weighting of the variables has some meaning as well.
Meanwhile, there is very little intuitive value to this metric that is fit to past data. It is a purely descriptive compression of the data that happened to have the best predictive value for the next season. That’s great. Good job. Sure, there is some interest in looking at who is best. But when your equations are selected based on how they best explain past data, you are heading for trouble.
I guess this is my point – when an incredibly simple model can probably explain probably 90% of variance (ERA) and a slightly more complex, but still simple, can explain probably 80-90% of what remains (FIP), then I have trouble seeing why I should bother with a highly overfit model that is designed to explain the remaining variance. Being more predictive than QERA or FIP or whatever for 2009 data is great, but really not useful enough to justify the loss of intuition.
Go Rice Owls!
The SIERA model's not purely descriptive, based on the article,
but I do agree that I want to see more detail about its derivation than they included.
I disagree that FIP is intuitive; the way in which it was derived is complicated, even if it’s final structure is easy to understand (at least relative to SIERA). The weights included in FIP are definitely meaningful, but I don’t understand why you don’t also feel that’s the case with SIERA.
A question: when you say that ERA explains 90 percent of the variance, to what variance are you referring?
Ack! "its final structure"...
(Also, the article indicates that more detail about SIERA is in fact coming, and I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.)
I'm throwing out numbers regarding variance
I’ve never actually calculated it. But if you say that Player X has a better ERA than Player Y; I can be roughly 90% sure that player X is better than player Y. Or, put another way, put X and Y into a neutral ballpark with neutral fielders the next year, player X will probably be better than player Y. Obviously this depends on the magnitude difference between the two players.
Likewise, for FIP – I can probably be 95 or 96% certain. More confident with that than ERA.
Basically, ERA has information about pitcher abilities (which in turn is predictive). FIP (as an example) has more information. SIERA probably has more information. I’m just arguing the marginal improvement of one over the other is an important facet as well. I can look at a guy’s K/9, BB/9, and HR/9 and get a rapid idea about how his FIP is going to look relative to another guy’s. That makes the marginal utility of FIP (over ERA) outweigh its marginal cost.
Maybe I shouldn’t comment until they tell me exactly how much better SIERA is than other methods (and how much those weights change from one year to the next). But I’m skeptical, because I think it’s going to have to represent a big improvement to justify this level of complexity.
Go Rice Owls!
I'd like to see data that speaks to the reliability of ERA.
I’m skeptical of the 90 percent mark, but without hard data, I’ve got nothing on which to base that skepticism other than the fact that smart folks have put so much effort into creating DIPS. Since those smart folks are also obsessive baseball fans… heh.
Anyhow, I’m juggling posting with work, but I’m going to try to do some searching for statistics… anyone else have anything at the ready?
I think they are shooting more for predictive value
While also helping rectify/explain/overcome the large spread you see between ERA and FIP (or xFIP) with some pitchers.
I should prolly pay for a membership…
"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.
Oh, I understand what they're doing.
The question is whether it’s worthwhile. I’ve been giving them the benefit of the doubt; JBImaknee, not so much.
I should probably pay for membership, too.
Not implying anything...heh
More trying to stir convo with more stat crunchers (like JBI) or saber-persons.
"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.
Heh. Fair enough.
What was your impression of SIERA? And do you happen to have any good references to the reliability of ERA, or any of the DIPS metrics?
This was interesting, but I’m looking for stuff that delves a little more into the details, and possibly works things out more longitudinally…
1st impression, I like it
It is horribly complicated, but I have read/heard so many arguments about the variance between FIP/ERA/actual performance that I am interested in anything to eliminate it. Or something like that…
"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.
It's not quite as horribly complicated as it looks.
I’m not sure I would’ve ended the article with an equation that’s given no real term-by-term explanation (especially for the quadratics and interactions).
But they were assuming quite a bit of background knowledge in the article, anyhow, and based on the comments, they have a readership that can handle this sort of piece…
Ah, thanks
I’ll peruse it in the a.m.
"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.
So according to Dave Cameron,
in this piece, ERA has a year-to-year correlation of 0.4 ~ not especially high. I’m still going to do some more digging, but at least this gives me some quantitative basis for my skepticism…
maybe they should start tracking
decibels for each pitch thrown, then they could account for distraction too
You hear about the "Electric Arms", they're all the rage.
Or relative humidity
Which has an effect on ball spin, rate of acceleration on a batted ball, and a pitcher’s tendency to tire after x (some number) of pitches. Heh.
"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 Feb 8, 2010 12:50 PM CST up reply actions
It's pretty important when it's a factor
And totally ignored in the big picture.
"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 Feb 8, 2010 10:06 PM CST up reply actions
There have been a number of sabermetric efforts to factor weather into stats.
I don’t think anyone’s ignoring it, or diminishing its importance…?
Bring something to the table
instead of bitching about the quality of discussion.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
You first
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
by WyoRanger on Feb 8, 2010 12:00 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Ay Oh!
"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball
by rangerdanger on Feb 8, 2010 12:14 PM CST up reply actions
At least I can do something besides be a total and utter ass.
You bring nothing, Jay. You only take away.
Ok so random question...
My wife and I just found out we are having another baby. Its too early for sonogram so we dont know the due date, but my wife did the math somehow and came up with a due date of 10/10/10. Crazy i know. My question is this, if its a boy, and if he is born on that day, am i required to name him Micheal?
wouldnt it be awesome if the rangers won a playoff series on that day?
by mikeyoungfuturehof on Feb 8, 2010 11:54 AM CST reply actions
If it is a girl...
…you have to name her Nadia.
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
i dont get it?
is that his daughters name? know his sons name is mateo right?
by mikeyoungfuturehof on Feb 8, 2010 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
Looks like a 10
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
It's a reach
but I guess I like it.
"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball
by rangerdanger on Feb 8, 2010 12:15 PM CST up reply actions
She's got the best Ranger analysis available to the Dallas Observer(I think that's the "publication")
Insightful, well- researched ideas go to die at her feet.
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
just name her melissa lima mikeyoungfutureHOF
and i am trying to restrain myself from making fun of your SN…
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
You could name him Micheal
If you hate him. I’d suggest Michael.
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
Michael is a very good and respectable name.
ask Mike El.
Hank F. Blalock FTW
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
I'm...
a 10/10 birthday boy. Your future son or daughter will share a birthday with me, Brett Favre, and David Lee Roth!
I’ve been told that my friends are planning an epic hootenanny for the occasion this year. 10/10/10 is going to be awesome.
Congratulations on the news!
by ghostofErikThompson on Feb 8, 2010 2:37 PM CST up reply actions
"The Rangers need him to be a lot closer to the guy we saw in 2008 than the guy we saw in 2009."
This might be the understatement of the upcoming season.
"Ok, post your favorite moment of the Tom Hicks era
Mine is today when he sold the team." - t ball
So, The White Soc un-retire Luis Aparicio's #11 jersey..
So Omar Vizquel can wear it? Isn’t that a little bit silly?
by Too Legit To quit on Feb 8, 2010 12:12 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Davis' glove
in the picture in the Durrett story is freakin dope.
"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball
pic
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:19 PM CST up reply actions
Davis is historically a slow starter
So please don’t jump on him for not doing well, at least until a few weeks into the season. =)
Yeah, Davis finally got it going last year on September 26.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
I think "slow starter" arguments are silly
I never accepted it for Teixeira and I won’t accept it for Davis.
If a guy can’t play well in April, he should be doing more in February and March to get in sync before hand.
Go Rice Owls!
And Davis was a primary reason
we were home last October.
We can’t lose another season because our lack of production from 1B is killing the team.
I’m prone to give him 6 weeks but if he starts April 2010 like he started 2009 (34K’s in 70 ab’s with a .273 obp) I pull the plug and hope (never a good strategy see Palin, Sara) like hell Smoak is ready for The Show.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
is hank blalock a big reason the team stayed home last october as well?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:33 PM CST up reply actions
As far as I know
Hank F Blalock isn’t going to be on the 2010 team so we don’t have to worry about him hurting us or what kind of start he has to the season.
I do know with Hank F in a heavy platoon this past June(while Davis was playing almost every day) the Rangers went 11-15 and had one of their worst months in terms of offense in their history.
When Hank F started playing every day in July, the Rangers went 28-19 (Davis was sent down on July 6).
When Davis was brought up and Hank F was buried, the Rangers then went 18-21.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
so no, hank F didnt have any impact on the rangers staying home
in 2010, right?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Feb 8, 2010 12:41 PM CST up reply actions
Awesome
Josey: Davis was the problem with the 2009 team.
KKK: What about Blalock? Was he a problem with that team?
Josey: We aren’t talking about 2009.
by FuturePants on Feb 8, 2010 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
If Hank F was on the 2010 roster
it might be worth discussing.
He’s not.
Let the healing begin.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
So by your logic Kevin Millwood isn't going to be on the 2010 team so you shouldn't worry about what he did in 2009
yet you constantly bitch (and remember i actually agree with you on this) that we haven’t replaced his production from last year.
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.
I'm worried about the 2010 pitcher
who is supposed to replace what Millwood gave us in 2009.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Well, who's going to replace what Blalock gave us in 2009?
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
Who is going to replace what Blalock gave us?
Blalock had a .736 OPS last year and if Davis improves on what he did last year, maybe he can match it.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Davis
Well, he wouldn’t have to improve much, Josey, seeing as he put up a .726 OPS last year.
On a related note, kindly shut the fuck up about “Hank being buried” when Davis was recalled from the minors. Hank posted a .585 OPS after the All-Star Break, including that month-long stretch where he couldn’t draw a single walk. He had no one to blame for his playing time but his own damn self. Get over it.
"Jesus, Spanish- first our jobs, now our words?"
-- Sterling Archer
And yet
the Rangers went 28-19 with Hank F playing every day beginning on July 1.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
did they go 28-19
BECAUSE of hank
or INSPITE of hank?
what do his stats say about that?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
this has been brought up many times
but he does not understand it
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
The team played very well
with Hank in the line-up in that streak (remember that Cruz & Kinsler missed what, 3 weeks each?) and while his numbers weren’t good, he had a number of big hits and I wanna say he led the team in HR & RBI for 5-6 weeks (beginning on July 1).
The more I think about it, the more I think there has to be some kind of back story (off the field issues) to Hank.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Well
The Rangers also went 87-75 on days I took a shit, and I seem to remember a 3-game winning streak they went on after I had Indian food for lunch.
Oh, if I only hadn’t eaten tacos for dinner that one day in August, they might have won the division!
"Jesus, Spanish- first our jobs, now our words?"
-- Sterling Archer
by RCCook on Feb 8, 2010 2:07 PM CST up reply actions 4 recs
Now I'm hoping
that the pizza with ersatz cheese that I ordered during the SB wears off before ST for a second reason.
On July 3rd
Hank had an OPS of 840, by the end of this great 6 week stretch you speak of, we’ll call it August 17th, his OPS was 755. He struck out 45 times, walked 4 times, including an impressive streak from July 11th until August 17th where he never walked. He did homer 9 times and drive in 23 runs in that stretch which is decent.
I hardly think those numbers indicate a guy who was helping carry an injured team…
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 2:25 PM CST up reply actions
As a supposed follower of Bill James
you just vomited all over every principle he has ever developed. So, are you lying about your willingness to follow Bill James and his understandings of the “Great Game”, or are you lying about this topic?
They are mutually exclusive and allow for no wiggle room.
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
laxtonto
Are you going to tell me Hank didn’t have several big hits for the Rangers between July 1 and August 25 (Davis getting called up)?
His numbers in that time frame were not good and he definitely looked gassed but the team was playing well with him in the line-up and he helped them win several games with big hits. What the team needed was somebody who could spell Blalock because he desperately needed a day off.
Bringing up Chris Davis at that time was stupid and the results were very predicatble (see my prediction in the August 25 GDT).
You don’t bring up somebody who shit the bed that historically bad, throw him in the middle of a pennant race and suddenly expect the team to start playing better.
You boys need to let go of what happened.
JD fucked up the Davis/ Hank F situation all season long and it was a big reason we were home in October but Hank’s no longer here and hopefully JD learned something.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
No relevance what so ever to the discussion at hand.
You are either shitting all over Bill James and his approach to in-game and long run analysis or you have to admit your entire argument is absolute garbage. There is no way to wiggle out of it. Your statements directly counter Bill James’ points of view in these areas.
Either way, your choice. You either can’t use Bill James advanced views to the “Great Game” as a crutch or you can’t use the W-L attribute theory you keep on attempting to use.
There is no mixing and matching with these two approaches. They directly contradict each other.
I guess you have a third choice.. Run off and refuse to answer the question and prove to everyone that you are the ridiculous caricature you have become.
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
So
what’s your question?
I thought I answered it by acknowledging Hank F’s numbers weren’t good.
I don’t really care what you say about my argument.
I said this team was dying in June when Davis was playing every day and Blalock (played in 14 games) in a heavy platoon. They went 11-15 and had one of, if not their worst offensive months in the history of the organization (no small feat for a team that collectively hit .217 in 1972).
I said they would play better with Blalock in the line-up every day. They went 28-19.
I said replacing Hank with Chris Davis would be the end of our season. We went 18-21 and were essentially out of the race in three weeks.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
And that entire logic system goes against everything Bill James stands for.
Either you follow Bill James ideas regarding baseball or you don’t. You constantly pride yourself on the advanced teachings of Bill James and even refer to yourself as a “Bill James devotee”
Bill James has spent years disproving the same exact type of drivel you are trying to use as support for an argument. There is no room for interpretation, your current statements and your prior statements completely contradict each other.
So once again, is Bill James wrong and your current premise correct or is Bill James correct and you are wrong.
Easy question.
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
It's a grey area.
Hank’s numbers weren’t very good but he did get several big hits between July 1 and August 25.
Did you know Hank F isn’t going to play for the 2010 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"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Answer the question
Your the one that backed yourself into this corner. Either your wrong or he is wrong. There is no “grey” area. This countermands everything that Bill James has worked for.
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
No, there is a grey area.
The team was 28-19 overall with Blalock playing every day (including 17-8 in July when Kinsler & Cruz were in the line-up almost every day).
A 28-19 record is a pace to win 96 games and while I do think Hank F needed some days off, I don’t think his presence in the line-up was costing us wins. If you think Hank F was costing us wins, how many wins did he cost us?
In June, with Davis playing and Blalock in a heavy platoon, the team scored 99 runs in 26 games (11-15 record).
In July, with Blalock playing every day and Davis shipped to OKC on July 6, the team scored 123 runs in 25 games.
What we also know is that with Hank F effectively buried after August 23 (started twice in the next 28 days) and Davis playing every day, the Rangers quickly fell out of the race punctuated by a 5 game streak where they scored one run.
What happened after the one run in 5 game streak? They ran to Hank F who promptly hit a HR in a 3-2 win over LAAA.
The strategy used by JD in handling Blalock/Davis was cloaked in failure and it shouldn’t have been shocking to anybody when it happened.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Once again this totally goes against all of Bill James analysis
You back yourself into a corner…
Either he is right or you are. There is no gray area.
Your entire analysis is so far away from Bill James’ theories they can not even be considered related. There is no grounds for a gray area. There can’t be when you are discussing two totally differing points of thought.
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
you are still ignoring
the fact that Chris Davis out-hit Blalock in June. .220/.273/.402 v .179/.254/.339
The reason Davis was sent down was that he hit .189 in May (when the team went 20-9. Oh, and he also hit .200 in April as well.
If you are going to say that it was Davis’ fault that we lost the division, you can’t keep spouting the same old bullshit, because it just isn’t right. You are cherry-picking stats and you know it. You bitch and moan about how badly Davis hit in June, while ignoring that Blalock hit worse. Then you laud how well the team did in July while ignoring that a) the Angels did better and took over first place for good in July, and b) Blalock continued to hit like warmed over crap for July as well. His “key hits” didn’t come often enough, and when he finally went 4 for 39 Daniels (rightly) had enough and banished his ass to the bench where it belonged.
Blalock is so lauded league wide for his prowess last year that he’s been signed by… well….. NO ONE! despite the fact that Andruw Jones has a job, Omar Vizquel has a job, and so does everyone else from last years team (I think).
But take heart. Mike Lamb proved that you can play hideous defense, mediocre offense, and run the bases like Betty White without a snickers bar (Superbowl commercial reference) and still get a job if you hit left handed.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
couple of problems here
You keep bringing up July first. Davis was still playing first on July first. Of course that was a huge day for Blalock, as he hit 2 homers including the game winner in the bottom of the 9th. But that has little to do with Chris Davis, who went 1 for 4 with 2 rbi’s in the game.
Blalock also homered on July 3rd (he was DHing again while Davis played first) to help make a winner of Tommy Hunter.
Blalock hit fairly well (with the odd 0 for) through August 13, including an 8 game hitting streak, but then went 5 for 39 to prompt Davis’ recall. The team only went 5-5 over that span and I’m sure that Washington and Daniels hoped that Davis would inject some offense into the team and propell them to a division title. They were half right. They didn’t forsee Young getting hurt on September first.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
But JD's plan failed miserably.
Putting the bat of Davis into the line-up upset the chemistry at some level that can’t be readily defined other than it just happened.
Everybody knew Davis was allowed to shit the bed at such a historical level simply because Davis was one of JD’s boys.
How could anybody be surprised that the team suddenly stopped scoring runs at the most important time of the year?
Hopefully, JD has learned his lesson.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
You are still hiding from the question...
Not that it really surprises anyone at this point. You are just another fake that only uses enough of individual’s theories to suit your purposes without any true understanding or belief.
Once again, for you to continue to use this line of reasoning as a self proclaimed devotee of Bill James, either your assumptions are correct or Bill James’ are. Which is it?
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
What is that Bill James specifically said
about the Rangers use of Chris Davis & Hank Blalock 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"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHA
LOL!!!!
Putting the bat of Davis into the line-up upset the chemistry at some level that can’t be readily defined other than it just happened.
OMFG!!!!
That’s historically idiotic.
No, lets ignore the fact that Michael Young got hurt on September first and the team went 10-12 going from 3.5 games back to 7 games back, scored 5.1 runs per game, and allowed 5.4 runs per game. During that time, the Rangers started Omar Vizquel, Esteban German and then Chris Davis himself at third base, while Blalock played first.
But of course you know that these proffessional ball players tanked because the team decided to promote a guy who had struggled at the beginning of the year and tore up AAA (.333 average with power) to replace Hank Blalock, who’s bad had turned into a sturgeon the last two weeks of August (5 for 49). yeah. I’m guessing that Kevin Richardson’s wife told you this, or was her mouth to full at the time?
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
Nelson Cruz & Ian Kinsler were both
hurt long periods of time in August but the team didn’t tank like it did in September.
Chris Davis came back, so did another 8 for 46 at the worst possible time and all of the sudden we were out of the race.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
wrong again
The Rangers went 8-8 from July 29 through August 14, when Kinsler was hurt, and 8-7 from August 4 through the 19th, while Cruz was out. They were 5-5 while both Kinsler and Cruz were out. didn’t tank is relative. is .500 acceptable?
You are still cherry picking and lying to yourself. You are no worse than the sportswriter who talks about chemistry and ignores injury. While chemistry (not the PED type) has meaning in sports, it doesn’t overcome talent. The most talented teams win. period.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
Saw a nice Bill James quote and thought of laxtonto, iblum, Hank F and Chris Davis.
“the final test of any statistic is whether or not it correlates with winning.”
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
by Josey Wales on Feb 10, 2010 12:21 PM CST up reply actions
You know
if you simply said, Hank Blalock helped the team to a 17-8 record in July while Davis was in the minors, there would be no argument. The guy hit .290/.317/.530 (of course, without that July 1st game where he went 3-3 with 2 homers and a double he was only .274/.303/.473)
Then when August came about and he went .180/.204/.337 through the 23rd while the team went 11-11, Wash had Davis brought back up to replace him.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
Hank's cousin: Hack F. Blalock
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
sorry
but millwood was ~100 ERA+ over his time in texas
not exactly impossible to replace
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
Millwood's gone
Let the healing begin
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 1:06 PM CST up reply actions
using the same argument twice in the same thread gets the same response just fyi
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
you keep saying that
while ignoring the offensive issues at DH and catcher, plus the fact that we had no effective replacement for FOTF when he went down on September first.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
Well that's exactly what he did last off-season..heh.
The whole reason he got a ton of bats last ST was cause Ron wanted him to get the slow-start out of the way then. Didn’t turn out too well…. maybe give it another go this year? >.<
Stop with the logic!!!
"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.
Lone Star Ball RSS
Established: April 2005
Twitter: @LoneStarBall
Specialty: Commentary and analysis
Post We’re Proud Of: Tom Hicks, Debt-to-Value, and the Leveraging of the Texas Rangers
Who We Are: "A blog by a passionate, stat-oriented Texas Rangers fan writing for a group of passionate, stat-oriented Texas Rangers fans. I describe my posting style as “passionate objectivity” — I’m a fan, and post from that point of view, but also try to avoid homerism or fanboy bias."
Glad this thread has been buttfucked by FuckKnuckles McFuck.
Seriously, just stop talking to him.
by cmkelly29 on Feb 8, 2010 12:53 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
Eh, what else are we going to do?
Offseason, hungover from the SuperBowl, there isn’t much else to do but chat with Wails.
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
I had no idea
Cahill got his panties so bunched up when Doug Melvin Talk breaks out.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
I had no idea
you were so enfatuated with another man’s underwear…
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 1:30 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Some people really have a problem with dissenting opinions
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 12:57 PM CST reply actions
Yeah, irony
I wanted to delete this after I posted it. But Josey is entertaining to me, in an obnoxious way. I really don’t usually agree with him on anything, but there has been a lot more action around here today than this weekend
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 1:11 PM CST up reply actions
Ah.
I’ve just been z’ing through all of it, so maybe I’ve been missing out on the entertainment value of today’s action.
Going off previous go-rounds, though, I’m skeptical that’s the case.
It is just the rehashed thing from this summer
But its February, its boring
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 1:19 PM CST up reply actions
Wow. I'm not nearly that bored.
It is astonishing to me how many times the same arguments can be rehashed by the same folks, though.
That's how you know it's going good I guess
Hell last week he had to resort to trolling for Longhorn fans
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 1:37 PM CST up reply actions
Yep, but it's the truth.
"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.
I'm new to posting
And running dangerously close to becoming one of my least favorite message board archetypes, Overposting Opinionated New Guy, but I lurked here for almost a year, and at Newberg for a year before that, so I’m somewhat familiar with you characters.
People like you and AJM and KH are great because you look at the game in ways I had never imagined, and deliver news and facts I would otherwise have to dig for. People like JW serve as a useful foil, and others can learn from the counter arguments presented to him. I just don’t understand why people think they can get him to change his mind about stuff.
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 2:03 PM CST up reply actions
Bonus points indeed for introducing the term
“Overposting Opinionated New Guy.”
Yes, I’m fairly firm in my opinion that Doug Melvin has done a good job in Milwaukee, is a much better GM than JD (if you value what the team at the major league team does) and that Chris Davis wasn’t very good at any point last year other than the last week of the season.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
And yet
Despite not being “very good at any point last year other than the last week of the season,” he ended the year with an OPS a whole 10 points lower than Hank F.
But hey, I’m sure Hank will get that 3/30 contract from someone this off-season, right?
"Jesus, Spanish- first our jobs, now our words?"
-- Sterling Archer
By LSB standards, you are far, far from an OONG.
And I’ve personally enjoyed reading the opinions you’ve posted.
I’d agree about the usefulness of the foil ~ except he’s become a parody of himself. The cinematic parallel that comes to mind is Agent Smith, of “Matrix” fame.
Did you ever post at NMLR (and if so, “who” were you)?
Would this be a good time to
discuss whether or not Mark Teixeira took a giant step towards induction to Cooperstown?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
If I have any desire to discuss anything with you,
including the stale subject of Teixeira and the Hall of Fame, I’ll certainly let you know, Outlaw.
At this point, though, you simply represent an enormous potential waste of my time. And there are more than enough things actually wasting my time for me to bother with you beyond this post.
Have a nice day, though.
by Snark on Feb 8, 2010 2:20 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
So that means affirmative, Mark Teixeira
did take a giant step towards induction to Cooperstown this past year. He played well on the biggest stage and won a ring plus the bar of acceptance was lowered this year when Andre Dawson was admitted.
That completely blows the hell out your passionate argument on NMLR last year that Tex was not a HOF potential player.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
No, I never actually posted
I’ve lurked on message boards for about ten years and never jumped in. Figured this was a great board to join and during this slow time I could kinda work my way into the fray before the rush of noobs hit around spring training.
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 2:18 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 2:25 PM CST up reply actions
good theory
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
OK new guy
the problem that people have with Josey is that he doesnt even have opinions for the most part…
it more or less simply boils down to JD sucks and Nolan is God…that more or less dictates everything that he posts
He simultaneously ignores facts, and then subsequently makes up facts to make his pseudo arguments. All the while, when someone brings one of his glaring errors to the surface, he merely fades away into the mist and changes his entire argument.
That is a troll and nothing else.
That said, I still the AJM is to blame ultimately…at some point, he needs to grow a fuckin pair
Fuck Mike Estabrook
Ahhh....A snide comment from brett, how original
I enjoy almost all of the posters here.
What does Josey add, you can inevitably look at the number of comments on a thread and if it is a high number it usually revolves around meaningless, trolling tirades from Josey that add nothing to the site.
And why dont you try to actually justify something rather than sticking to your (what is now old and unoriginal) routine.
And if you can actually try to make an argument against what i said, please do…but like Josey I dont expect to see that from you either
Fuck Mike Estabrook
Mmm yes
Well you know how hard it is to counter a logical gem like
I still the AJM is to blame ultimately…at some point, he needs to grow a fuckin pair
It's true
AJM has no justifiable reason to keep Josey here and everyone knows it
At the very least there is an ultimate point and message to my post, what the fuck do you actually do around here, Im genuinely curious
Im actually not 100% sure you even watch baseball anymore considering the only comments seen from you these days have nothing to do with it
Fuck Mike Estabrook
Must have missed the part...
… where AJM has to justify himself to your (or anyone else’s) satisfaction.
You know
I never understood why Jamey was so reluctant to ban people at NMLR until I started doing this.
Then, I got it.
I don’t want to ban people. I don’t want to ban Josey. I do think Josey is at about a 9.9, and we could use him at more like a 3 or 4, but if bitching about the same thing over and over again were a bannable offense, several other people besides him would be banned.
I’ve asked SBN to put in place an “Ignore” function. I’ve brought it up on the listserv. The most common reaction is that anyone who wants to “ignore” another user must be some sort of crybaby who can’t stand to have their views challenged. I’d encourage folks to email SBN and tell them you’d like to see an “ignore” function implemented.
The people who, in the middle of a random thread, feel the need to bring him up or post something just to get a reaction from him, or that choose to engage him in the 100th Hank F. v. Chris Davis discussion, are just as much the problem, really.
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 8:27 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Which point?
Because I truly think Adam posted the Davis blurb just to generate debate, full well knowing the little cock in the courtyard could not resist.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
by Rodney on Feb 8, 2010 9:00 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
All of them, really.
Your point above isn’t incompatible with what AJM posted, if you think about it.
I posted the Davis blurb...
…because it was just about the only story out there this morning.
I’m not going to avoid “Will Chris Davis perform this year?” stories because of Josey.
by Adam J. Morris on Feb 8, 2010 9:58 PM CST up reply actions
And all I've really done today
is say that I’m hopeful Davis is better but I wasn’t sold by anything he did when he was brought back up in August plus I said Doug Melvin is pretty good at assessing what a major league team needs to do improve and then doing it.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Yep
that’s all you’ve done you little angel…
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 1:20 PM CST up reply actions
And I also said
this team can’t let Chris Davis kill their 2010 season like he helped kill their 2009 season.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
All the while
square dancing around the fact that those who shall not be named had as big of a hand in helping kill the season.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Feb 8, 2010 1:25 PM CST up reply actions
"
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
Chumming the waters?
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
That's good. Any subject line will do, really.
But it has to accompany the post with the graphic; that way people can hide the image.
you can't have every thread, dude
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
And all I’ve really done today is say that I’m hopeful Davis is better but I wasn’t sold by anything he did when he was brought back up in August…
Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
by Brett Perryman on Feb 8, 2010 3:35 PM CST up reply actions
Come again?
"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.
He's said that
over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
by Brett Perryman on Feb 8, 2010 3:57 PM CST up reply actions
Wasn't the topic in the morning thread
concerning the problems the team had at 1b last year and whether or not the optimism about Chris Davis in 2010 is justified?
Should I have discussed the merits of the Confederate flag or tried to riff on the riveting conversation about FIPS, DIPS, and quadriatic equations instead?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
No, you should point out and restate
how Jon Daniels is a bad GM and Chris Davis was bad until a certain point and and Nolan is responsible for everything good over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
by Brett Perryman on Feb 8, 2010 4:24 PM CST up reply actions 9 recs
Got dizzy with this one
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
She said that last night.
Who gives a shit what Josey says.............................
by Lil' Jonny Donuts on Feb 8, 2010 9:18 PM CST up reply actions
I totally disagree with this statement
and you suck
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
I don't suck
The statement sucked. Hate the idea not the man
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 1:12 PM CST up reply actions
Just being obstinate
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
I should have changed "a lot" to "a few"
And changed Post to Cancel
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 1:18 PM CST up reply actions
OT:
how do you make a image smaller, so it doesnt take up so much room on the thread?
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
x
< img width=100 src=“http://”/>
or 150, etc, whichever seems appropriate.
"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.
most excellent
thank you, sir
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
OT: Damn, Ott has an emergency appendectomy
And Fistric has his knee scoped. Just when they had started playing better.
"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.
Fuuuuuck.
Stars can’t catch a break.
"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason." - Benjamin Franklin
by JBP on Feb 8, 2010 1:59 PM CST up reply actions
And now the yang:
Stars activate Ribeiro month after throat injury
"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.
OT: Where to buy beer
So I know there are some beer aficionados here and I was wondering if anyone could tell me where I could buy Live Oak beer in Dallas, specifically Live Oak Pilz and Live Oak Big Bark Amber. Also, I know Flying Saucer has them, but I really wanted to buy them to take home.
You hear about the "Electric Arms", they're all the rage.
Not sure...
But I would try Central Market at Lover’s and Greenville first. They have a great selection of beers. There’s a Sigels right around the corner with a respectable list as well.
by Mike the Grate on Feb 8, 2010 2:19 PM CST up reply actions
Just called Central Market
and they said that Live Oak only comes in kegs…no bottles available.
by Mike the Grate on Feb 8, 2010 2:25 PM CST up reply actions
I like your style
Shadazz. She's sensitive. Just like jazz. SHADAZZ.
by Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge on Feb 8, 2010 2:30 PM CST up reply actions
I claim a finder's fee.
At least two pints.
by Mike the Grate on Feb 8, 2010 2:31 PM CST up reply actions
Take a jug in and get it filled up.
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
I filled all of mine with urine
While waiting for Black Francis to release his season predictions.
"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.
I'll fill mine with blood
of baby lambs
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
is the blood going to the lambs
or coming from them, cause that makes a huge difference in how i’d view that
You hear about the "Electric Arms", they're all the rage.
Both
Because that’s just how sick and twisted jam0152 is…
"Jesus, Spanish- first our jobs, now our words?"
-- Sterling Archer
it's a routine sacrifice...
jeez, guys
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
*unintentional baseball related pun*
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
i think you get 2 points for that
as long as the pun didn’t lower your OBP below .700
You hear about the "Electric Arms", they're all the rage.
At least I'm scoring here.
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
For those who are scoring at home
and for those who don’t have companionship as well.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
so it's like blood trafficking for barn animals
nice
You hear about the "Electric Arms", they're all the rage.
reply fail
that was supposed to be to Mike the Grate
You hear about the "Electric Arms", they're all the rage.
In doing some simple math, Josey has averaged roughly 15 comments per day in the span of 2 calender years,
wish I could get a break down of time of a day but wow, that’s insane.
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
almost 16 comments a-day sorry didn't correct that error
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
Go look at lonestarjons numbers
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.
wow almost 47 a day and the same service time....
I thought I commented a lot, but then again I’m in college, late nights random schedules, being an accounting and finance major so avoiding the inevitable studying and test….college is great
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
Wait'll the season rolls around and you start participating in gameday threads
If you become a regular in those, your post count will start to skyrocket.
I don’t think I have the same amount of service time as Josey though. Our joined dates in our profiles are when we re-upped our user accounts when SBN went over to their current platform (we didn’t always have auto-refreshing comments… scary). I’m pretty sure he arrived over here after getting banned from the Newberg boards after I’d been here for a couple months or something.
Morality you can fake. Fun you either have or you don't.
Okay I didn't realize that SBN did that, but then again I've been reading LSB since Offseason 2008/ST 2009,
so I guess I’m still a noob no clue
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
Yeah, that changeover happened right before spring training in 2008, so it was before you found LSB.
Not like it really matters though. I’ve only been coming here since January ‘08 and I’m pretty sure I’m the all-time comments leader. It’s kinda nuts.
Morality you can fake. Fun you either have or you don't.
A little research tells me Josey first showed up in late december '07 though
So actually, we do have about the same amount of service time.
I do remember him not commenting around here much until he got banned from the newberg board though. That happened and he adopted LSB as his new bridge to sit under.
Morality you can fake. Fun you either have or you don't.
december '07
the beginning of the end
wales ruined newbergs board
if allowed to stay here, he’ll ruin LSB also
then he’ll go find another bed to shit
Who gives a shit what Josey says.............................
by Lil' Jonny Donuts on Feb 8, 2010 9:23 PM CST up reply actions
We prefer Haiku form please.
"grilled cheese punches like a bitch" -Gdawg
"i feel like k-rod after a save." -by reagan on Jan 23, 2010, that glorious day Hicks was out of our lives.
Yankees blog?
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
In the sense that his arguments are circular and he often misquotes himself and others.
And he uses the same statement multiple times in the arguement?
And thinks he is right 159.9597539485734985734958743958734% of the time?
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
dodgers fan from what hes said in the past...
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
Can the fucking season start already?
Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.
WRONG.
lol
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
Can I make a bad abstinence joke?
Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.
Well, theres been enough bad buttsecks jokes around here the past week
I say go for it.
Morality you can fake. Fun you either have or you don't.
It's a shame I only know the one that everyone knows.
Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.
Hicks: I put $85M of own money for Stars, Rangers
Tom Hicks says he put $85 million of his own money into Hicks Sports Group to cover operating costs of the NHL’s Dallas Stars and baseball’s Texas Rangers over a two-year period through last March.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2010-02-09-2489484728_x.htm
by GregoryM on Feb 9, 2010 8:46 AM CST reply actions
He gambled and LOST , can't win 'em all BMFF Sr.
"Josey drives to games???
I always assumed he rides in on his high horse"
jam0152
Martin Perez, "Mucho queso"
That's a lotta Cheddah!
"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.
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