Monday a.m. Rangers stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 15, 2010 9:18 AM CDT
380 comments
The Rangers lost both split-squad games yesterday, but there some good signs, including Josh Hamilton hitting his first homer of the spring and Chris Davis continuing to hit well, putting up a 2 for 3 line.
Michael Kirkman was removed after a comebacker hit him in the ear, but he's apparently fine.
Jeff Wilson writes that Derek Holland's strong start yesterday has him feeling he's back in the mix for the fifth starter job.
Richard Durrett offers some thoughts on yesterday's games here, and on what we've seen this spring here.
The S-T has some notes up, including Julio Borbon on hitting lefties.
T.R. Sullivan has a story about how the Rangers pitchers have become believers in the cut fastball.
Sullivan also has a story up on Chris Ray's progress and strong showing this spring, although the part of the story that jumped out at me was this:
The Rangers' closer is off to a good start this spring. So is their potential Plan B closer.One may be just as important as the other, especially because the Rangers are growing stronger in their conviction that reliever C.J. Wilson belongs in the starting rotation.
How the C.J. Wilson in the rotation situation is going to play out has been one of the bigger mysteries of the spring, but if Sullivan is right, we could be looking at Oklahoma having a rotation to start the season that includes Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Brandon McCarthy, and Neftali Feliz.
And Tim Cowlishaw writes about Nolan Ryan's belief that the Rangers should continue to improve this year.
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Twins are talking about using Liriano in relief as oppose to being their 5th starter
So, instead of Ray for Harris, maybe McCarthy for Harris
i dont think anyone
but newberg and a few ppl on here like kiker a lot
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 Mar 15, 2010 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
Baseball America seems to.
Seeing as how they ranked him 6th overall in our system and all.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Mar 15, 2010 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
hmmm
got me there
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions
closer or just relief?
that’s a horrible way to use Liriano if he’s not their closer
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Mar 15, 2010 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions
injury concerns
It isn’t a horrible idea, but it does make their rotation pretty meh without him. If they had a better rotation it would make more sense, and I doubt they actually go through with it.
by elvis1isking on Mar 15, 2010 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Baker and Slowey aren't very meh.
The rest are pretty unimpressive, though.
Having impressive 3-5 starters is pretty rare, though.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Mar 16, 2010 12:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Livin' In America!
/James Brown
"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.
For reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfPmcO9PEkc
(skip to 0:45)
"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.
Sex Machine
Get up offa that thang!
"If this video was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick." Clark
re: Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride, 4/17/09
Since Kirkman appears to have changed his name to Kirkland
Can we call him Costco? How about Big Box? Members Only?
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
Costco would be a decent nick
"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.
Certainly not an expert here...
But I thought Dutch looked great yesterday. He seemed much more calm, very deliberate and his control was in top form. I don’t know what his velocity was, but it didn’t appear to have lost anything with his semi-tweaked delivery.
ProHockeyTalk: General NHL news, rumors and analysis, from the best hockey mind at NBCSports.com.
Thanks.
Looked good, getting mucho gb.
And….Charlie Steiner is very painful although he’ll always have one of the greatest ESPN commercials as a credit.
Still funny
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
Follow me
Follow me to freedom!
Classic.
"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.
Those commercials used to be gold.
Haven’t seen any new ones bc I really don’t watch ESPN.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
Me either, like in years.
"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.
Gold Jerry, GOLD.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
And you can add someone like Kiker in there as well. And then back that up with a AA staff that includes Martin Perez, Tanner Scheppers, Michael Kirkman, Alexi Ogando, Omar Beltre and Beavan. The day of talented pitching reaching all levels of the organization has arrived.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 15, 2010 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions
None of them are named Julius
…we should be safe.
"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.
no kidding man, silliness.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
That would be a decent Major league rotation
Better than the Pirates, Mets, Nationals (w/ or w/o Strasberg), Blue Jays, Royals (sans Greinke), and maybe others…
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
So Feliz is starting the year in AAA?
Why? Bc of the problems with his 2ndarys? Or do they want to limit his innings? Or both?
Talk to me AJM.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
It's just a possibility
made much more realistic by Ray looking good, just like Wilson in the rotation.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 15, 2010 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions
And, I'd guess, by Feliz's inconsitency with his secondary pitches,
and the already fierce competition for the starting rotation…
Feliz as a starter
I think Ray doing well (in camp and in the season) would be a great, great thing for any and all of us that want Neffy to get a real chance at being a starter.
Would be great for Ray to have a bounce back year this year and for Feliz to get 140 innings in AAA where scouts use words like “consistent” and “hits his spots” when describing his work on his secondary pitches. A “wow” every now and then wouldn’t hurt either. :)
Getting excited by this possibility…
by elvis1isking on Mar 15, 2010 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions
^reply fail
heh, at least I made it in the same “group.”
by elvis1isking on Mar 15, 2010 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Ray is the X-Factor to this year's team.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
Who's the X-Force?
And, better question, who’s the New Mutants?
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
don't get me started on the comic book questions...
there be my vice.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
I'm gonna stick with Hambone and Davis.
I think the bullpen will end up being fine.
Too many good arms out there for it end up hinging on Chris Ray, imo.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Mar 16, 2010 12:28 AM CDT up reply actions
To me, it seems his best fit would be in the pen this year.
He could solidify the pen, limit his innings and work on his secondaries. Does this make too much sense? I get that talent-wise he is probably top 3 arms in the org, but his innings HAVE to be controlled, he fits perfectly in the role now and this course would not inhibit his development or “over-expose” him to the league. Like Z said, there are so many quality arms that can fill the fifth spot. It seems like a no-brainer. What am I missing?
Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador
The only worry with that
Is as much as you would like to put him in spots to keep developing his secondary pitches the actual games may not dictate that. He may be pressed into late inning or high leverage situations where his fastball is the only thing he may utilize. or he may throw some secondary stuff that fools guys but only because they are geared up for the fastball, not because they are necessarily that good.
To be a successful starter he needs to be able to throw his secondary stuff for strikes.
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 think that...
…the inconsistency on his offspeed stuff, plus the belief that he’s a starter long-term, may result in him spending the first 6-8 weeks of the season in the rotation in Oklahoma, before he ends up coming up as a reliever.
If I were to bet right now, I’d still bet on him starting the season in the majors, but I’m less confident than I was a couple of weeks ago.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 15, 2010 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions
If he spends the first 8 wks in AAA, does that give us that one more year of team control thingy?
Not entirely sure how that whole thing works…
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
conciseness.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
Feliz had so much time in the majors last year
that he’d probably have to spend ~4 months on the farm this year not to add up to a full service year. That isn’t happening.
The short stint in AAA, which the O’s did with Wieters and people advocated for Elvis, only is meaningful for players making their debuts
Go Rice Owls!
And Holland
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.
gotcha, Thanks.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
longoria 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 Mar 15, 2010 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Yup, which is where the term "longoriaing" came from.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Mar 15, 2010 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Pitching
If Wilson makes the rotation, I can’t see Feliz in AAA.
I assume that Snyder would have good chance of being the second lefthander in the bullpen, but I wouldn’t think they would keep someone Strop or Moscoco over Feliz.
On the rotation, if Wilson is in, then what are the odds of Harrison being in as well, over Hunter? They’ve been careful not to say Hunter is in, and you could have a combination of Daniels using the advanced metrics to believe Hunter isn’t as good as his ERA last year, and Washingon jumping on how good Harrison has looked this spring.
I guess if that happens, then maybe Hunter would be a candidate for the bullpen, which might increase the chances of Feliz ending up in AAA.
Who would have thought there could have been a scenario of a Feliz, Holland, Hunter rotation starting the season in AAA?
by Darrell McKown on Mar 15, 2010 10:03 AM CDT reply actions
Hunter
If he pitches well this spring I don’t see any way you can take him out of the rotation, especially for a guy like Harrison or Holland. The other guys in the clubhouse know what he did last year regardless of what his advanced metrics say and I think it may cause a few eyebrows to raise if Hunter pitched good in spring but was still not on the Opening Day roster.
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.
Clubhouse
I think Daniels showed what he thinks about the raising a few eyebrows in the clubhouse when he moved FOTF off shortstop coming off a Gold Glove season.
JD will do whatever he thinks the right move is, particularly if Nolan has his back.
by Darrell McKown on Mar 15, 2010 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Speaking of that
Interesting Tejada article about his move to 3B.
"Since I signed I’ve been working out at third base, and today was real exciting. I’m like a little kid with a new toy. I’m enjoying today."
Quite a different take from MY, eh?
Not quite an apples to apples comparison since MY had just “won” a GG and Tejada was just hoping for a job — but I know which attitude I’d rather have from a “leader.”
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Mar 15, 2010 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd still take Young
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
As a player? Sure
I was just talking about his attitude though.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Mar 15, 2010 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions
IIRC, Tejada had his bout with complaining about a move to 3rd...
back when the Orioles wanted to trade him he came out against a new team moving him to 3rd base.
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
Yeah, that's true
I guess the difference is he wouldn’t have had a job otherwise this time.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Mar 15, 2010 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions
MYoung not only turned the page on the issue
but turned in one of his best years, ever.
It’s time for some of the fans to turn the page as well.
"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 Mar 15, 2010 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
no kidding
If your boss came and asked you to change job descriptions unexpectedly, you’d probably gripe about it for a few weeks, but so long as you took the new job by the reins and did your best (which was good), no one would keep bringing it up years later.
Lets move on.
Go Rice Owls!
i wonder if miggy is as as bad defensively at 3b
as FOTF was
it should be an interesting comparison to see how that transition goes for him — hard to believe out of miguel tejada/jeter/nomar/arod only jeter is still a SS…
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 Mar 15, 2010 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Real world comparisons don't really work when comparing to sports
He didn’t just change job “descriptions” — he changed “jobs”
That said, I just saw the Tejada quote and was struck by the differences.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Mar 15, 2010 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually
as someone who did have to deal with a change of job description not of my own volition, I can say that a) it sucked. b) I wasn’t very good at the new job, and c) I bitched about it, and it eventually led to my release.
Of course Cold Fusion is a huge step down from third base (more like being asked to be a left handed relief pitcher, but) and I wasn’t getting an 8 figure paycheck like FOTF is…..
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
Really? Even if you went to the papers and bitched about it publicly and demanded they transfer you to another company?
There are tons of problems with trying to make this analogy, but even if we do accept the premise, it still makes Face look like an uber-douche.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Mar 15, 2010 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I really like the idea of going to the papers
about my job. I can see it above the fold in the Metro section- “scoop16 demands benefits and overtime”
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
by scoop16 on Mar 15, 2010 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
obviously the analogy isn't perfect
or even good. But people routinely complain to everyone who’ll listen about any sort of shift in job duties. They don’t go to the papers because no one cares. Doesn’t mean it is reasonable, admirable, or anything like that. But I’m just saying that it isn’t all that surprising, kind of understandable given that the rest of the world does it, and that is silly for that episode, which he pretty quickly backed down from, to still be looming over his head.
Go Rice Owls!
He only backed down from it because he had to
No one was going to trade for that contract and the team wasn’t going to move him back to SS.
You’ve also left out a few things about the move for Young. One, he was supposed to be the perfect team player and willing to help the team win any way he can. That leads to the next point, that he wasn’t a good SS and everyone but him and some dumb sports writers knew this. And then you have Elvis coming up who was great defensively and could move Young over to third where his skills would play up and his weaknesses would be better hidden AND the team had a huge glaring hole at. On top of this, he was not asked to give up any money and would be among the highest paid players in baseball and he wouldn’t have to lose any PT or be moved down in the batting order.
But other than that, he was completely justified to bitch for a month and demand a trade.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
Evertything is great in hindsight
But at the time he was being asked to move for a 20 year old with ZERO time above AA and who, for all his defensive prowess, had made 30+ errors at AA the previous season. So yeah I can understand why he was a little upset.
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.
if anyone thinks that errors are all that matter
thats laughable
even moreso for a guy who had almost 20 errors in 3 of the last 5 years
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 Mar 15, 2010 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions
No its not all that matter
But if you can’t see how telling a veteran and the face of your franchise, who just won the gold glove however fraudulent that may have been, you are moving him off probably the most prestigious positional position on the field so a 20 year old with average offensive potential and is coming off a 30+ error season could get the guy upset then I don’t know what to say.
The majority of baseball players probably care less about most of these advanced stats. Especially when it comes to winning games. If a pitcher goes out and gives up 6 runs and the team loses i doubt the rest of the club is going to care what his FIP is. just like if a fielder goes out and gets to a ton of balls because of his range but makes bad decisions and a lot of errors the team is going to care if he responds with what his UZR is.
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.
somewhat true
the problem is that mike young is an average offensive player who played atrocious defense at SS 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.
by knockoutking on Mar 15, 2010 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Id say Michael Young is above average offensively
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.
sorry
career ops+ of 105
before last year career ops+ of 102
technically “above average” …by by 2% at that point in time
also one can compare values (RAR/WAR/%% at fangraphs)
FOTF
andrus
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 Mar 15, 2010 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
in 10 years
Michael Young has 101 runs above average for his position. that’s Above average. his career EQA (or vTA) is .270 (average is .260)
He’s not a HOFer, but in 10 or so years he can be elected into the Hall of the Damn Good but not quite HOFers along with Greg Nettles, Toby Harrah, Al Oliver, and many many others.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
im sorry
he has 1662 hits.
to get into top 100 all time he needs to get to 2461
to get into the top 50 he has to get 2743 (al oliver is currently #50)
on the active career hit list michael young is currently 1 hit behind the illustrious juan pierre (who has less than 100 more PAs than FOTF). he is behind placido polanco (also has less than 100 more PAs than michael young). sean casey actually has about 300 less PAs and 100 less hits than michael young.
he has a HELL of a long way to go to get into the hall of very good (has to be at least in the top 100 in hits and have championships, etc for me)
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 Mar 16, 2010 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
You think Young had any idea about Elvis?
And even if he did, its not his job to scout him, its the Rangers job to scout their own talent and know what they have. Its up to them to make the decision on who plays where. If Young has a problem with that, then he shouldn’t have signed an 80 fucking million dollar contract to give up that decision on where he plays.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
IIRC
there was the quote from kinsler/FOTF basically saying they had no idea who the kid was
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 Mar 15, 2010 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions
you of all people
talking about “turning the page” makes me laugh
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 Mar 15, 2010 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Squawking about changing positions is a lot
different than trading AGonzales, CYoung, Soriano and Danks for five bags of crap and nearly ruining the organization (see attendance drop of nearly 600,000) along the way..
"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 Mar 15, 2010 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions
But if you start balancing that out with the
Teixeira and Coco trades, it makes it easier to move on.
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
MYoungJD not only turned the page on the issue
but turned in one of his best years, ever.
It’s time for some of the fans to turn the page 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 Mar 15, 2010 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions
im sorry
but when they were traded the majority ofpeople who went to games (NOT those on LSB) only knew who sori and young were outo f that mix
no one really cared about gonzalez at that point in time because of teix/blalock.
i love how you blast JD all over the place but then turn around and ignore every OTHER good thing JD has done
i bet you would be in heaven if doug “the best GM in the game” melvin was in town
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions
IF JD did more good things than bad things as a GM
we’d have more than one winning record in four years, fans wouldn’t have turned their back on The Thing and JD wouldn’t have had his powers castrated.
"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 has he had his powers castrated?
what “powers” now belong with nolan?
remember, nolan wanted to bring up andrus from A ball to the majors 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.
by knockoutking on Mar 15, 2010 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Did you see any dumb trades / foolish signings of free agents by the Rangers
from February 6, 2008 thru the 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)
What about from June 2007 till February 6, 2008?
Anything of significance happen during that period of 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.
signings were
alfredo simon, matt kata, franklyn german, ramon vazquez, frank catalanotto, dave matranga, vinny padilla, marlon byrd, kenny lofton, erig gagne, jared sandberg, guillermo quiroz, mike wood, JHJ, willie eyre, jose morban, jamey wright, desi relaford, sammy sosa, brandon puffer, bill white, bruce chen, jorge vasquez, mark redman, adam melhuse, john koronka, luther hackman,
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 Mar 15, 2010 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Any good trades or draft picks made during that 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.
trades
2007-2009 trades:
john lujan for chris stewart
kenny lofton for max ramirez
eric gagne for engel beltre/kason gabbard/david murphy
ron mahay/teixeria for beau jones/elvis andrus/neftali feliz/matt harrison/jarrod saltalamacchia
freddy guzman for chris shelton
tug huglet for ben broussard
DRH/volquez for josh hamilton
armando galarraga (career 98 era+) for michael hernandez
jose marte for dustin nippert
eddie guardado for mark hamburger
john mayberry jr for greg golson
wes littleton for beau vaugh/cash
gerald laird for carlos melo/guillermo moscoso
mat nevarez for ivan rodriguez
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 Mar 15, 2010 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions
bigsteve,
Your boy has work to do…one winning season in four years.
We’ll see just how good some of those moves soon enough but you better hope he has a very good 2010.
"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)
Classic Josey
Classic
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 everything is in wins and losses and thats all that matters
that is fucking beyond 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 Mar 15, 2010 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions
oh wait, i went through this before
he said the TB rays GM and front office should have been fired cuz they didnt produce
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 Mar 15, 2010 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I never said that.
I have great admiration for what they’re doing and have done in Tampa.
My problems with JD are numerous but namely that he doesn’t know how to properly assess the weaknesses of a major league team and make moves that improve the 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)
they didnt have winning seasons though
he doesn’t know how to properly assess the weaknesses of a major league team and make moves that improve the team.
ie, the teix deal right? i bet you would have been happier with schafer instead of andrus (had no CF at that point in time) and salty + some BP arm instead of feliz, cuz the rangers were weak at teh ML level
same w/ the signing of profar and sardainas – b/c they have a solid SS at the ML level they shouldnt have wasted money on 2 J2 SS right?
…i bet doug melvin knows how to assess teh weaknesses of a major league team!
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 Mar 15, 2010 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions
OT: As a heads up,
I know you enjoyed ‘A Lefty’s Legacy’, Leavy is coming out w/ a Mantle book in Sept. You can pre-order on Amazon.
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
interesting
thanks a ton man
read any other good baseball books 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 Mar 15, 2010 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Anything by Halberstam
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
Except for the fact we have increased our win total each of the last three seasons
But yeah he doesn’t know how to improve the team
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Excuse me?
We took a major step back in 2007.
The team did improve by four games in 2008 and eight games 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)
Im sorry youre right
3 of the last 4 seasons
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 while technically
you can say 3 out of 4 years, this was the same piece of crap each year from 2006-2008.
Only in 2009 was there anything that could be remotely thought of as improved.
"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're cranky today, brutha
2010 is bright.
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
Josey's still hungover from Patty's Day.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
I don't think we've taken a step backwards
this year but I also don’t think we’ve improved.
That’s one of things that concerns me with the 2010 team…our gameplan seems to be to put together a team that wins 85-89 games because we think the Angels have come back to the pack while the M’s aren’t good enough.
I love the fact that we supposedly have a lot of talent in the pipeline but now we need a GM that can make decisions at the big league level that help us get to 96 wins because give or take a game, that’s usually what it takes to make it to 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)
I agree on the 96 win mark,
but I seriously doubt the gameplan was to do the minimum to skate by with the division this year. There’s only so much you can do.
It’s up to the players, and I think JD gave us a pretty solid core to work with this year. I’m also starting to drink the kool-aid on CD’s spring. That could make all the difference.
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
I think CD is the most important
every day player This Thing has in 2010 (I can live with soft-hitting C’s & SS who are good defensively).
I worry that we haven’t done enough to help the team OBP (which was my big worry going into 2009) other than fire the hitting coach). You can roll out any stat out there you want but that’s THE most important one to me.
"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)
even if they clog up the base paths?
just kidding…
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 Mar 15, 2010 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm looking for improvement within,
there really was only so much they could change.
It’s been discussed ad nauseum about NJohnson wanting to return to NYY, and TGlaus wanting to play the field. I’ll take Vlad as the alternative.
We weren’t really looking to replace anyone else on offense. Nor should we have, other than Borbon/Byrd swap. I think you’re on board with that.
If Hamilton and Davis improve on last year- It works. If they don’t- you probably get your wish w/ JD.
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
JD would help solidify his case
if he would make a move at the trade deadline that helps the team this 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)
To amplify on that...I think this team is somewhere
between 85-89 wins right now and the only things holding them back from taking that next step forward are their manager & stupid GM.
Wash needs to go be a difference maker in 4 games and JD needs to make a deal that addresses a weakness and gives us 4 more games.
I think 2010 is make or break for both, as it should be.
"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)
'Stupid' is too absolute.
It’s what hurts the debate. I can say as a JD supporter, he’s made some mistakes. But when I hear ‘stupid’, I don’t feel there’s a give and take.
Makes your take seem personal, which sucks ‘cause I do like talkin’ baseball with you.
BTW, Did you catch my post about Leavy’s next book? Can’t get enough Mantle stories myself.
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
scoop16...
Saw the post about Mantle. That should be good.
I hold so much against JD because of his performance right up unitl Nolan arrived (nearly $ 9 million was spent on Jennings & Broussard) but in particular right before the 2007 season. Just about everything done that off-season screamed incompetence.
JD didn’t have too many tough decisions to make last year but the big ones surrounded fixing the OBP problem with Milton gone, the decision to pick up Blalock’s option (instead of getting a better / less expensive Bobby Abreu) and then the ensuing entire Blalock/Davis screw-up.
When you give up only 740 runs in a season while playing half your games at TBIA, you need to take advantage because that’s not going to happen very often. Quite basically, we left money on the table in 2009.
I’m tough on JD but he’s earned my wrath and I’m tired of mediocrity or a low bar of acceptance. I put a much higher premium on decisions made that help the major league team 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)
Once again
Since you never seem to answer the question. Who would you have rather signed to play 1B in 2008 knowing they were only needed for a year until Davis was ready?
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.
bigsteve,
Our 1B OPS last year was below .700.
JD screwed the pooch on this decision.
"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 the hell does that have to do with 2008?
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.
uhh what?
the players who played 1b for the rangers in 2009 and their OPS
chris davis .726 OPS
hank blalock: .736 OPS
andruw jones: .782 OPS
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 Mar 15, 2010 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions
WTF?
Our 1B OPS last year was below .700.
JD screwed the pooch on this decision.
So JD should have anticipated that CD would fall on his face after his very good 2008? He should have known that Hank had nothing left and would be worse than Davis? Your efforts to find fault with JD’s moves are bordering on the asinine and ridiculous.
And a rebuilding team, completely ruined by the incompetence of Hart and the financial mismanagement of Hicks, ain’t going to put up many wins at the big league level. Thanks to JD, the system is poised to produce a winning club for many years to come, but I guess since he didn’t perform miracles right out of the gate we should toss him aside, right? Your bit is tiresome and intellectually dishonest. I’d rather listen to LSJ rip on Mike Young.
"Ok, post your favorite moment of the Tom Hicks era
Mine is today when he sold the team." - t ball
Actually, Steve
You are asking the wrong question. The right question is, “Given Davis’ track record up to and through 2008, could you have predicted Davis to hit below .220 over the first half of the season ?”
I know no one in spring training of 2009 who believed that Signing a first baseman to back up Davis was anything approaching a priority.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
And regarding the stupidity...
I keep seeing the same mistakes being made over and over by JD.
It seems like every year we are depending on waaaay too many players or pitchers to do things they either didn’t do last year or sometimes, ever in their career for us to be successful.
.
"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'd rather
depend on older players to sustain unrealistic levels of production. Like Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. And John Lackey. And Nick Swisher.
You’d also like to open the bank to sign those players, hoping that their past success at the majors will justify their extreme price tags.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
I used to save my ire for
Mack Brown. I hope JD can make you 180 like Brown did for me.
I was pretty immovable in my opinion until he won it all. Not much I could say then, and now I really like the way he runs the program.
I’m sure a World Series would be tasty crow.
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
i doubt it
he would still find something to complain about
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 Mar 15, 2010 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Good possibility,
with the farm(real or perceived) being so admired.
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
don't discount Clint Hurdle
this is one of those cases where Rudy J really hurt the team overall…
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
How about this stat about CD this spring:
9 games, 4 strikeouts.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
I still don't get it
Maybe its me. But I think this is the best Rangers team I’ve ever seen. They have the makings of a dominant pitching staff. I can’t tell you how much Harden excites me (not that way). Feldman and Hunter will eat innings, Lewis will flame out quickly and be replaced by Feliz, and either Harrison or Holland will look like Cy Young Candidates by August.
The pen is stocked. We have 2 closers, a decent Roogy, Oliver and his left hand of darkness, and another 15 options for replacements if they have problems.
The lineup has speed and power. I’ve seen Ranger teams that could hit homers, like this one, but I can’t remember a team who could boast 3 guys who stole 30 bases the year before (Andrus, Kinsler, and Borbon).
And to finish it, their defense stands to be as good if not better than last year, with the expected improvement from Young (not having to learn the position on the fly) and more Davis and less Blalock (who reminded me of Michael Jackson out there).
Wash doesn’t seem to be a tactical genius, but the team likes to play for him, and we have an Owner who will fill a hole if we have any come the trade deadline.
Plus, we have a minor league system that not only has coveted trading chips, but also can provide young replacements for any injuries. gone are the days of having to pick up a backup off the scrap heap (except at catcher and MI apparantly)
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
by iblum on Mar 15, 2010 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
you probably liked the
TVP, etc signings a few years ago
in the last 20 years has there ever been a team that went 100% through a rebuilding process in one year?
…its ok i will wait for an example…
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 Mar 15, 2010 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions
why in gods name
do you think nolan had ANYTHING to do with that?
could it have entered your mind that if the money wasnt there?
post feb 2008-2009 transactions (signings):
signed kevin mench, signed sidney ponson, chris michalak, brian gordon, jose diaz, kiko calero
signed elizardo ramirez, signed pedro strop, signed brian gordon, signed doug mathis, signed casey daigle, signed nathan haynes, signed derrick turnbow, signed omar gizquel, brian corey, eddie guardado, jason jennings, brenden donnelly, andruw jones, kris benson, jimmy gobble, esteban german, orlando hernandez
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 Mar 15, 2010 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions
huh?
I was looking at the attendence figures and don’t see any drops of 600k or more. the closest was the drop from 1994 to 1995 of a hair over 500k, and that had more to do with some labor difficulties than anything else (the sad thing is that we drew 2.5 million in only 63 home games, then drew < 2 million the next year in 72 home games.
Blaming JD for a drop in attendence is like blaming Ron Washington for the quality of Hot dogs.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
Especially since hes blamed the drop in attendance on the fact people dispised Hicks
I guess now that Hicks is gone that drop in attendance has to be someone elses fault.
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.
Hicks hired JD and that was a big part of the problem, BigSteve.
Hiring JD wasn’t a “baseball decision,”
It was a decision driven by economics and while Hicks saved money on his GM, the fans turned their back on The Thing because they couldn’t stand the direction they were moving..
"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 does that have to do with the fact that you blamed the drop in attendance on Hicks
Now that hes gone youve shifted the blame to JD. JD wasn’t the team president (whos job it is by the way to focus on the business, aka ticket sales, side of the house)
Nobody here denies JD made some gafs when he was first hired. And it may very well have been because of his low salary requirements that he got the job but based on the last couple years it is without a doubt turned out to be the right decision, baseball or not, to have JD as our GM. Theres also no question that now he needs to start turning minor league success into major league success but thats the normal progression a team goes through when they are rebuilding, which we have been doing since mid season 2007. Turning this franchise from where we were predraft 2007 to where we are now in such a short period of time deserves a pretty big round of applause IMO.
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.
Hicks hired an incompetent (JD) as his GM
so ultimately, it’s his fault.
The fans turned their back on The Thing because they hated the direction that the GM who didn’t know what the hell he was doing was taking the 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 bet
you would have hated the signing of theo in boston or the new guy in SD too
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 Mar 15, 2010 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions
No, I have great admiration for Theo.
He is the goods.
I’m drawing a blank on the new SDO GM.
"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 was basically theo's right hand man
so how is the hiring of theo THAT much different than JD?
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 Mar 15, 2010 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Results.
"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 treat
everything as if it was in a vacuum
if theo was hired as the GM of the rangers instead of JD, would he be seen as the same kind of “cheapass” hire?
if JD was hired at the same time by the bosox would he be seen as a brilliant hire?
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 Mar 15, 2010 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Boston would have ran JD's ass
out of there very quickly.
They don’t put up with “learning curves” or bullshit “5 Step Plans.”
"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)
They also have a little more solid financial footing
What would Theo have done here given the exact same financial limitations?
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.
Impossible to say, bigsteve
but I don’t think Theo would make the bad deals that JD has made nor would he give 1/3 of his entire 2007-2009 payrolls to VPadilla, Cat, Gagne, Lofton, Broussard and JJennings.
"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 about FOTF
would he have signed FOTF to that gawd aweful deal?
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 Mar 15, 2010 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions
The Young Deal
Hasn’t exactly killed us yet. He got $6 million in 2008 to produce 5 WARP, (a big bargain), and then $13 million in 2009 to produce 3.5 WARP (which isn’t much of a bargain, but isn’t Alex Rios.) Its the $60 million left over the next 3 years we’ll have to worry about. But who knows, if his defense improves this year, maybe he’ll be worth it. He won’t be a bargain again.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
its a horrible deal
what are the odds he produces at 3.9 war next year again (career high)?
slim to none?
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 Mar 16, 2010 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Would we be better off right now with Theo than we are with JD?
And conversely would we have won any more division titles with Theo than we won with JD?
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.
Impossible to say, bigsteve
but given a choice, I’d much rather have Theo as my GM.
"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)
Thats only because of what hes done
And I believe if JD was given the same situation he could have the same success as Theo has
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 think theres a decent chance
that just about any GM in baseball could have had the same success that theo had in boston given what he was handed to start off
its like playing a game of hold ’em and starting off with pocket kings…your already way ahead of the game no matter how good/bad you are
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 Mar 15, 2010 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions
And I'd love to have Theo's budget.
Wouldn’t it be fun to watch him or Cashman try to win with the financial clusterfuck of Tom Hicks providing the funding?
"Ok, post your favorite moment of the Tom Hicks era
Mine is today when he sold the team." - t ball
yea beyond that
its like having pocket kings and being the chip leader at the final table
95% of it is already set up for you. you have to royally screw up or get a bad beat to actually lose
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 Mar 15, 2010 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions
If Performance at the Major league level
is your only criteria, then you’d probably wish we could have had this guy who was over .500 5 times in his 9 years as a GM, won 3 division titles and one pennant.
But, I think Lou Gorman is dead, so you are out of luck.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
Well
Not all of Theo’s moves turned out, some of them were stinkers, but considering he can run a payroll nearly twice that of the Rangers, if one guy doesn’t work out, he can sign another, and so on until he gets a good team. Now, that being said, Theo isn’t Dave Cashman, and his moves have been fairly successful over the last 7 years. But if Theo was forced to go into full blown rebuilding due to a salary crunch, could he have done any better?
The Rangers are poised to make a protracted run in the AL West, and the reason for that is not Theo Epstien, but John Daniels.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
What gets lost in all this was the
original premise…Ranger fans need to turn the page on MYoung’s reaction to being asked to move to 3B.
It’s not as though Young publicly treated the GM like dog crap on his cleats every year.
It’s time to turn the page on that one.
I’ll turn the page on JD when I see marked improvement in his ability to assess a major league’s team weakness and effectively fix it to such a degree that it helps put us in the 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)
you are a fool
boston moves since theo was hired in 2002
traded a PTNBL for todd walker
traded josh hancock for jeremy giambi
signed david ortiz
selected bronson arroyo off waivers from pitt
purchased kevin millar
selected brandon lyon off of waivers
signed bill haselman
traded shea hillendbrand for BK kim
signed todd jones
traded brandon lyon/spare for mike gonzalez/scott sauerbeck
traded mike gonzalez/freddy sanchez to pit for brandon lyon/spare/jeff suppan
traded lyon/jorge de la rosa/casey fossum for curt schilling
signed keith foulke
traded henri stanley for dave roberts
traded nomar/matt murton for doug mientkiewicz/orlando cabrera (4 team deal)
signed edgar renteria
signed matt clement/wade miller
signed jason varitek
traded for mike stanton
traded hanley ramirez/anibal sanchez/spares for beckett/lowell/g mota
traded andy marte/g mota/shoppach for josh bard/coco crips/david riske
traded bronson arroyo for wily mo pena
traded david wells for PTBNL
signed hideki okajama (nov 2006)
purchased daisuke matsuzaka (dec 2006)
traded engel beltre/k gabbard/d murphy for eric gagne (july 2007)
traded 2 spares for david aardsma
traded manny/craig hansen/brandon moss for jason bay (3 team deal – july 2008)
traded PTNBL for paul byrd
traded coco crisp for ramon ramirez
signed j tazawa
traded aardsma for spare (jan 2009)
how many of those are “major” moves — he built through the draft and what he had in place mostly
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 Mar 15, 2010 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Theo also took over a 93 win team
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
doesnt matter in this vacuum
at least not to JW
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 Mar 15, 2010 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions
And made them better/dominant
without a learning curve or bullshit 5 Step Plan.
"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 did NOTHING
before the beckett deal
traded a PTNBL for todd walker
traded josh hancock for jeremy giambi
signed david ortiz
selected bronson arroyo off waivers from pitt
purchased kevin millar
selected brandon lyon off of waivers
signed bill haselman
traded shea hillendbrand for BK kim
signed todd jones
traded brandon lyon/spare for mike gonzalez/scott sauerbeck
traded mike gonzalez/freddy sanchez to pit for brandon lyon/spare/jeff suppan
traded lyon/jorge de la rosa/casey fossum for curt schilling
signed keith foulke
traded henri stanley for dave roberts
traded nomar/matt murton for doug mientkiewicz/orlando cabrera (4 team deal)
signed edgar renteria
signed matt clement/wade miller
signed jason varitek
traded for mike stanton
id say the learning curve was not having to rebuild. not having to do anything, because he was inheriting a 93 win team.
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 Mar 15, 2010 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Go figure
Take a dominant ML team and a 100+ million dollar payroll and you somehow end up with a GM who doesn’t have to use a “bullshit 5 step plan” or a learning curve.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
he didnt make any moves
at all.
i dont see how thats not a learning curve of some kind
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 Mar 15, 2010 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
"he didn't make any moves"
Say what?
Didn’t he get Ortiz for next to nothing? How did the Schilling Trade work out?
Kinda ballsy to trade an icon like Nomar, wouldn’t you say? Worked out pretty well, I’d say.
Wasn’t that smart not to give Pedro the contract he was looking 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)
my bad
a) ortiz signing
ortiz for min: .266 ba/.348 obp/.461 slg
ortiz for bos: .288 ba/.388 obp/.578 slg
the definition of lucky
b) totally missed schilling. my bad there.
c) nomar:
nomar for bos: .323 ba/.370 obp/.555 slg
nomar for everyone else: .294 ba/.344 obp/.468 slg
ballsy, yes. a good deal? not only no, but hell no
whole deal: 4-team trade by the Boston Red Sox: Nomar Garciaparra and Matt Murton to the Chicago Cubs. The Minnesota Twins sent Doug Mientkiewicz to the Boston Red Sox. The Montreal Expos sent Orlando Cabrera to the Boston Red Sox. The Chicago Cubs sent Francis Beltran, Alex Gonzalez and Brendan Harris to the Montreal Expos. The Chicago Cubs sent Justin Jones (minors) to the Minnesota Twins.
Mientkiewicz in BOS: 1 year, 119 PA, .215 BA, .286 OBP, .318 OPS
-was traded to the mets for the great Ian Bladergroen
Cabrera in BOS: 1 year, 248 PA, .294 BA, .320 OBP, .465 SLG
-was let go in FA and the picks were J Ellsbury and J Lowrie
nomar the rest of that year: .287 BA, .364 OBP, .455 SLG
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 Mar 15, 2010 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe I'm mistaken
but Boston won the World Series in 2004 so just about every move Theo made that year was bathed in greatness including the Nomar trade.
"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 because they won the WS
every move he made was “bathed in greatness” and was a wonderful move for the team?
…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.
by knockoutking on Mar 15, 2010 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions
That particular move worked out
quite well for Boston.
"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)
lol
you win
clearly they were better off with those 2 than nomar for the rest of the year!
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 Mar 15, 2010 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions
That should be sarcastic
but its not.
sigh. nvm.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
Not to mention
Schilling wasn’t exactly an uber deal. $60 million over 5 years for two seasons of 5 wins each, 2 seasons of replacement level pitching, and one year of retirement.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
See Bloody Sock. See of End of Curse of the Bambino.
Well worth it and an excellent move especially when you consider he came at the same price as Millwood (two of those years were built into the contract if the Sox won the Series)..
"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)
the equals to those deals
getting GMJ and Byrd off the scrap heap arent that much off from the ortiz one
traded arod — another franchise icon. and actually was a better deal for the rangers than the nomar deal was for the red sox
traded teix (another icon) and got a nice haul back
so basically the only difference is that he didnt let a pedro-esque player go?
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 Mar 15, 2010 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions
except
Hart traded Arod.
Hart signed GMJ
Hart signed deRosa
Daniels did , however, sign the Byrd man and Uncle Milty (or, Board Game, as he is sometimes known)
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
oops
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 Mar 16, 2010 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions
really?
i bet 70% of rangers fans have no clue who the GM of their team.
beyond that id bet near 70% of MLB “fans” have no idea who THEIR teams GM is
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 Mar 15, 2010 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions
That's highly comical coming from you
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Mar 15, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't know man
Harrison is having the best spring of anybody…I wouldn’t think Harrison AND Wilson make the rotation, but it’s certainly a possibility if they want to compete this year (which we do) and they perform the best (which is partially true)
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Mar 15, 2010 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions
With performances being close or equal
I think it would be a crime to give the 5th spot to CJ over Matt Harrison. I’d rather give it to the guy that’s been dedicated to improving and working harder than rewarding a guy for mouthing off and complaining about not being a starter.
Not me.
I think CJ Wilson is likely to be part of any midseason package we send out for “the missing piece”, so why not let him establish value as a left handed starter for the first half of the year?
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
If we're going to trade him he already has plenty of value
as an established lefty bullpen power arm capable of closing. I don’t think he’ll end up with much more trade value as a 5th starter. Let whoever we trade him to experiment with him starting.
Yeah the only way he increases his trade value moving to the rotation is if hes a 2/3 starter
And if hes pitching like that I don’t see why we would trade him to begin with.
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 don't think CJ has been dedicated to improving and working harder?
I agree that if performances are equal CJ shouldn’t be the 5th guy but I don’t think it has anything to do with his work ethic or desire to be the best he can be.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
It's not just his performance though, it's his mouthing off.
All things being equal, I give it to the guy that’s been a good soldier and done everything asked of him and more without complaint.
by MikeEl on Mar 15, 2010 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm on the Matty H bandwagon
"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball." - Terence Mann
by R Derff on Mar 15, 2010 10:26 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Agreeance
Please give it to Harry, over the blathering dunder-head!!!
"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
Mouthing off
Did you have the same view when Mike Young mouthed off about moving from SS and asked to be traded?
by Darrell McKown on Mar 15, 2010 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
No
but then MY had already willingly volunteered for one position change and not made a peep until that point. CJ has made nothing but peeps and only grudgingly went to the bullpen in the first place, then railed against his use in the bullpen. If we moved him into the starting rotation he would rail against being the 5th starter instead of the 4th or 3rd or 2nd.
Peeps
Ah, sugary Easter goodness… :)
"He's not coming back. That chick was like, the Pele of anal."
-- Sterling Archer
x
Marshmallow Peeps vs. Circus Peanuts…which is worse?
Go.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
Peeps & Circus Peanuts
Am I the only person in the world who actually likes both of them?
I’m not saying I eat either of them with any sort of regularity, but I do find both of them sorta tasty.
Then again, I was also like one of only two people in my Scout troop that could stomach the “pemmican bars” they used to give us at Philmont (which were more like a very dense fruitcake) so perhaps I’m just fucked in the head. Or God was on LSD when he wired my taste buds.
"He's not coming back. That chick was like, the Pele of anal."
-- Sterling Archer
haha, God on LSD...
..wait, did I just commit blasphemy?
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
At least the circus peanuts make good weapons
We need to not always make hard work out of sex- Rick Carlisle.
the interesting thing
is that sori was a better 2b, and had more value than FOTF did at 2b (and he would have had to move one way or another when kinsler came along)
…elvis was a better SS and has more value long term than FOTF did at SS
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
CJ "only grudgingly went to the bullpen in the first place"?
Where are you getting that from?
by Darrell McKown on Mar 15, 2010 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions
personally
i dont think they should have even considered him for the rotation.
what are the odds o’day has AS good of a year next year as he did last year?
assuming feliz starts off at AAA, that makes who – nippert? your 3rd best bullpen arm?
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 Mar 15, 2010 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Francisco, Ray, Oliver, and it's doubtful that
between Wilson, Harrison, Feliz, Scheppers (at some point) are all out of the bullpen
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Mar 15, 2010 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Spring training performances
bleh
by Brett Perryman on Mar 15, 2010 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
this
times a thousand.
cant stress it enough
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
by knockoutking on Mar 15, 2010 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Pretty sure they aren't going to give it to CJ because he was mouthing off
and this could also be seen as the organization not giving a shit about what CJ said
""It was a ball, dude," Davis said. "I don’t swing at balls anymore." -CD
is it really mouthing off?
jeez. the CJ hate. I can’t stand it.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Mar 15, 2010 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions
What mouthing off?
There was a quote blown out of proportion a few weeks ago, but at no point has he gone out and said that the team would be retarded to not start with him in the rotation. He hasn’t made it some big scandal that he wants to be a starter or anything like that. He’s said he wants to be a starter and that he has the confidence in his abilities that he can not only do this but be a damn good starter. There have been far, far worse ways that he could have handled it up to now, yet people are acting as if CJ has already gone to that extreme.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
The whole discussion..
over who will be the 5th starter and what to do with the BP is a wonderful problem to have. Just think back a few years and we were worried over how we would fill a rotation. An embarrassment of riches is a wonderful “problem” that we are not used to having.
Happy baseball.
"If this video was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick." Clark
re: Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride, 4/17/09
AND the bullpen
we have both stocked full of talent, in my opinion
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Mar 15, 2010 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Our bullpen is ridonkulous....not to mention deep with options at the higher levels (after final ML roster set)
I want fans to go nuts like they did in 04, when they had almanzar, fx2 and cordero warming up in the bullpen…when Cordero would come out of the bullpen to take the mound in the 9th the whole place went nuts, gave me goosebumps every time.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
i just hope we don't screw ourselves over
and keep ourselves out of the playoffs by keeping our better talents in the minors. I don’t know why it didn’t matter last year when Andrus was on the Opening Day roster.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
Looking back
Would you have traded staring the season with Vizquel as the starter at SS and bring up Elvis at the end of April like Holland to gain an extra year of control?
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.
Nope
I love Elvis, but the year of control isn’t that important with him in the long run. He’s not looking at costing another 10 million dollars or so and showing him that the team has that kind of confidence in him and that extra month of playing time will only benefit him and the team in the long run
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
I'm just curious...what would everyone's starting rotations look like
if you took “service time” and “limited innings” arguments out of the equation? In other words, if this was a video game, who would you put in as your top 5 guys?
Mine:
Harden
Feldman
Hunter
Feliz
Holland
Wilson to the bullpen
Harrison is 1st in line for a spot
McCarthy to the bullpen
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
doesnt matter if his FB is a 95 on the video game scale
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions
video games
you HAVE to include feliz/holland/harden because of their stuff, CJ would be in the pen (game would have starred him as a RP anyway)
harden/feliz/holland/feldman/??
speaking of video games, i always think of this old simmons story on espn
curiously, am i the only one who likes reading simmons? 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.
by knockoutking on Mar 15, 2010 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions
No, I like him, too.
Though I haven’t read through the latest mailbag.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2010 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions
good stuff
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 Mar 15, 2010 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions
You know, High Heat is still the best baseball video game.
I really miss that franchise.
"Ok, post your favorite moment of the Tom Hicks era
Mine is today when he sold the team." - t ball
...only his NBA stuff
I hate when he talks Football/Baseball. But when it comes to NBA, he’s one of the better analysts.
"You'll meet them again on their long journey to the middle." -Lester Bangs
So simply who will be the top 5 starting pitchers for the Rangers in 2010?
Feldman
Lewis
Holland
Harden
Hunter
I could pretty easily go with Harrison or Feliz over Hunter.
Feliz I get
Harrison, not so much? Why would you go with Harrison over Hunter?
by elvis1isking on Mar 15, 2010 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions
A more highly regarded prospect having a good spring training.
I think it’s very possible Harrison is better than him this year, I just wouldn’t bank on it. I’m just not ready to call Hunter for real after one year. I’m going to give him better odds than someone who hasn’t been good in the Majors for any extended period yet, though.
like Harrison?
I guess we see things differently, because unless something is drastically different about the movement of Harrison’s pitches I see Hunter as the one better able to maintain consistent results game to game.
by elvis1isking on Mar 15, 2010 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions
yep
I was just wondering why you could “pretty easily go with” Harrison over Hunter. That’s the part I was curious about
by elvis1isking on Mar 15, 2010 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions
But you're telling me why you think Hunter has a better chance in 2009. ..
. . . as if I don’t agree with you.
Harrison's pitches are different
He’s grown about 3-4 MPH on his fastball. That’s pretty huge, especially as a lefthander.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
You might as well give it up
on Holland. I don’t think there is a Snowball’s chance in Hell he starts in the rotation.
1) Feldman/Harden/Lewis/Hunter are mortal locks, IMO.
2) Holland has options.
3) You have to find space for BMac.
4) The average batter who faced Holland last year with RISP hit like Albert Pujols. (Batters against Holland with RISP .379/.441/.667, Albert Pujols 2009 323/443/658)
"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 I wanted to go balls out...
Harden
Feliz
Holland
Feldman
Lewis
One of Harrison, Hunter and McCarthy would be the long guy in the ‘pen, probably McCarthy since he’s shown at least a mediocre ability to miss bats.
Morality you can fake. Fun you either have or you don't.
by lonestarJon on Mar 16, 2010 12:00 AM CDT up reply actions
The chances of that rotation
starting the season are nonexistant.
"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
orig post
I’m just curious…what would everyone’s starting rotations look like
if you took "service time" and "limited innings" arguments out of the equation? In other words, if this was a video game, who would you put in as your top 5 guys?
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 Mar 16, 2010 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Harden, Feldman, Lewis, CJ, Hunter
BP: Mendoza, Nippert, O’Day, Harrison, Oliver, Ray, frankfrankkkkk
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
OT: Albertsons sucks
I go to buy some bacon they had on sale the other day. At least half of the display was out of date, a fact I pointed out to the manager after I got what I wanted….a package in date. Ehhh, said bacon will be going back to the store today, it smells very odd…dammit. Now I have to go buy more bacon for wrapped asparagus tonight.
"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.
Bacon tastes gooood, pork chops taste gooood.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
Easy porkchop recipe
LINK – create an assembly line, wrap ’em up, pop in the oven for 25/30 mins
[I usually double the onion and pepper slices ’cause dat sh!te is good]
Interesting
I recently caught loin on sale for 0.99/lb, but you had to buy a whole loin. Whip out the butcher knife at home and I now have 40 perfect lean, boneless loin chops. I may have to try that recipe.
"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.
interesting
where did you get it at 99c/lb?
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions
This is how I want to get bacon
"If this video was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick." Clark
re: Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride, 4/17/09
Ohhh, great idea!
"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.
This is why the bacon was on sale to begin with...
duh!
(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."
Yeah, there's 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.
Bacon wrapped asparagus
We just tried that for the first time a couple months ago and loved it! Unfortunately, the second time I did it, when I went up stairs to get a plate, I got distracted. This lead to the bacon drippings turning the entire grilling surface into a Fire of Doom. I was at least able to save the stake, but only the charred remains were left of the oh-so-tasty-looking bacon-wrapped asparagus.
If I were more ballin, I’d go all the way and use Prosciutto, but that stuff’s expensive man.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2010 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah, prosciutto is the way to go and yes, it's insanely expensive.
bacon will do as bacon will do for everything.
If they made bacon enemas I’d be all over those.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
I like bacon, and all, but
That’s pretty extreme, sir. I would think the salt alone would, like, kill your colon.
And in my curiosity I now must arrange for this to happen to someone who isn’t me.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
Oops!
It is good though eh? Think I’m going all-in and making bacon wrapped jalapeño chicken to go with, and then kick back and watch the game.
"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 was going to shred on the grill tonight, but my wife already made freaking taco soup :(
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
It's fantastic!
It’s kind of an issue getting bacon sliced thin enough, so we decided to just get thicker asparagus to compensate.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2010 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions
I just buy the cheap thin stuff
To me, it’s more to flavor the sprigs, and mostly cooks to nothing anyway.
"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.
Bacon question
Do any of you save your bacon grease? I have a jar that I keep in my fridge.
Mix a spoonful of it in your cornbread batter, and the top comes out really crispy. I like to use a little when cooking asparagus & green beans as well.
"He's not coming back. That chick was like, the Pele of anal."
-- Sterling Archer
i save it
everyone should.
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 Mar 15, 2010 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions
No
But my Mom & Grandma used 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.
you don't need to be eating bacon anyway Rodney..
send it off to this woman. She’s trying to weigh 1000 lbs and only has 350 lbs. to go!
If the Rangers don't make the play-offs this year I'm gonna go all Epic Bearded Man on your ass.
Jeebers
I got sucked into a Montel infomercial Sunday for his Health Master Super Blender. Might buy one.
"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.
Ryan wants the Rangers to lower their ERA?
It would take either improved defense or more Ks while maintaining their relatively low BB/9 last year.
Is that reasonable?
I’m not sure their defense will improve. It might be a little worse; it might be a little better. It’s hard to tell how Borbon is going to do in CF and Hamilton in LF. The infield defense is unchanged, so the reasonable thing there is to assume they perform much like last year.
Without compelling reasons to say the defense will improve, it will be up to the pitching staff to do it themselves. Harden clearly raises the staff’s K/9, though he’s talking less about striking people out and more about having short ABs. Outside of Harden, I don’t see any real impact on the staff’s K/9, unless CJ makes the rotation. So, if the rotation is Harden, Feldman, Lewis, CJ, Hunter, I could see the SP K/9 bumping up from 5.6 last year to 6.5 this year, and that would put them in the FIP neighborhood of 4.0-4.2.
So, it seems possible the rotation could improve the team’s run prevention. Hard to bank on it, but it seems like a reasonable possibility, especially if CJ rather than McCarthy is in the rotation.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
Defense
I think Young will be better at 3B this year, and I think Borbon could be an improvement in CF.
by Darrell McKown on Mar 15, 2010 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions
Elvis should be better at SS also
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.
id sure as hell hope hes better at 3b
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions
From about the all star break on ...
he was fine. His numbers are skewed because of his awful start. That said, he improved almost every year he was at short, no reason to think he won’t improve at third.
"Ok, post your favorite moment of the Tom Hicks era
Mine is today when he sold the team." - t ball
Heh. Yeah, I kind of avoided that one on purpose.
The advanced metrics actually showed that was his best season as a SS, but he was still something like -5 on UZR. Still, much better than when he started.
"Ok, post your favorite moment of the Tom Hicks era
Mine is today when he sold the team." - t ball
im saying if hes still not at all good
then it is gonna be pretty damn telling
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 Mar 15, 2010 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions
CJ
your point is probably the biggest reason CJ is getting a look. He really improves the SO ability of the rotation.
Also, don’t count Lewis out. That ridiculous SO/BB rate has to translate somewhat over here to some degree.
I think Borbon improves defense in CF, and Hamilton improves defense in LF (even if just a smidge), but I agree — it will be on the pitching staff to take this team to the next level in regards to run prevention.
by elvis1isking on Mar 15, 2010 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions
I tend to be conservative with Lewis, thinking of him as a healthy BMac.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
fuck era.
if nolan talked about lowering their FIP (a la greinke) id be impressed 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.
by knockoutking on Mar 15, 2010 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Outside of Feldman...
…another way to improve could be increased GB%.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on Mar 15, 2010 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions
More strikeouts would be welcome as well.
"Ok, post your favorite moment of the Tom Hicks era
Mine is today when he sold the team." - t ball
Catcher and pitcher defense could help the team improve some
2B defense is the only potential downgrade I see in the field for the team this season and that could end up being negligible.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
Everything that was good is a potential downgrade.
Not necessarily likely, but individual fielding seasons can very pretty wildly from season to season just because it’s such a relatively small sample of events. Elvis will probably have a great defensive career, but there’s a very real possibility for him to have a down 2010.
If we're talking about defensive stats, then yes
They can vary from year to year. I think a player’s actual defensive talents vary much less than the stats currently show. Why do you think some of these players will decline from where they were last season?
Look at the actual defensive talent on this team. Davis, Elvis, Cruz, and Hamilton are what I consider to be pretty safe bets as to matching last season’s defense at their positions (if not improving on it). These players aren’t going to be losing a step or forget how to play their positions. Young showed improvements as the year went on last season too, maybe not quite there at actually being good defensively, but more manageable at least. Kinsler needs another season to prove he’s over making stupid mistakes in the IF, but I like his chances. And then you have Borbon who’s “noodle arm” can’t be much worse than Byrd’s while his speed will definitely be an improvement.
This team is also seemingly stressing defense on the mound which could have a pretty positive effect on the defense as a whole. The only big question mark on this team defensively is at the catching position, but since we weren’t too great there last season, I don’t see that as bringing the team’s defense down from where it was last season.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
"Why do you think some of these players will decline from where they were last season?"
Off the top of my head, Kinsler is the only person I specifically think will, but anyone who’s good I think stands a decent chance to decline. I’d bet at least one person we expect to be good has a down year.
all but guaranteed
I’d bet at least one person we expect to be good has a down year.
based on injury alone that gives us guerrero, harden, harrison, mccarthy, kinsler, hamilton, etc
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 Mar 15, 2010 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions
I think its possible
but I’m not betting on that to happen and there was still plenty of room for improvement last season. In the end, I’m betting on the talent.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
CJ Wilson to the rotation
You have to believe that at this point, that movement is being driven by somebody with sufficient power that it’s going to happen, regardless of what else happens in the spring. Maybe there isn’t anything that ST was supposed to tell us about those chances anyway, but it at least seems CJ hasn’t done a whole lot to show that he should be the starter.
I think given the age, they just want to give him the chance and let him sink or swim for a month or two. Very odd given our playoff aspirations to go with an unproven starter like that but it is just the 5th starter position.
""It was a ball, dude," Davis said. "I don’t swing at balls anymore." -CD
If he implodes, all the blame goes on Ryan
(in other words)
"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.
Well, sort of
I’m not sure it is a risk you shouldn’t be willing to take. If he does turn into a good starter, that would be a big plus and even if he hits a wall in august, we have enough starting depth to back him up. I think he is kind of old and if you want to make the change, doing it sooner rather than later might be better.
But I do think it is interesting that they are trying something like this but will not end up letting Holland start in the majors, even though he has a lot more high upside payoff.
""It was a ball, dude," Davis said. "I don’t swing at balls anymore." -CD
assuming both are even for the #5 spot
why in the world would you give it to CJ over holland and put holland in AAA or the bullpen?
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
want to maximize CJ's value
Holland spending some time in AAA wouldn’t stunt his growth near to the extent keeping CJ in the bullpen would. You could think of this as if CJ doesn’t get to start now, he won’t ever get to start.
""It was a ball, dude," Davis said. "I don’t swing at balls anymore." -CD
understand that
im just not at all a fan of CJ being in the rotation
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Personally
I don’t see CJ as ever being better than a mid-rotation starter. His stuff just isn’t that great. OTOH, I can see him on the doorstep to being a top notch closer. Contractually, for CJ, being a closer is a lot more lucrative.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
which its interesting that he keeps pushing for it
when the $$$$ is in being a closer
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 Mar 15, 2010 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I just worry
that maybe they rushed Holland through AAA last year. If Harrison is pitching so well in ST, I’d like to see him as the #5 (unless CJ is lights out) sending Wilson back in the bullpen. Then, like what was stated before, if Ray looks good, Feliz can work on his secondary stuff as a starter in AAA along with Holland.
this year only...
CJ has a lot more consistency than Holland
it makes sense
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Mar 15, 2010 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm going to miss BigGuns tweaking out on Millwood's body fat %, that's about it.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
chris ray?
if hes healthy, im excited about him this year!
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
he and Borbon are my 2 faves this year.
I’ve been on Ray’s jock since the trade. Gotsa feelin’.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
yea i was really pulling for him last year
and noto nly cuz i owned him in a deep fantasy keeper haha
enjoyed watching him when i was in balt last season
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Bigsteve still misses his 2008 ERA
Morality you can fake. Fun you either have or you don't.
by lonestarJon on Mar 16, 2010 12:02 AM CDT up reply actions
I
hope that JD doesn’t overthink this situation and trade a decent SP for a utility infielder. Just because you have 7 nice SP candidates at AAA doesn’t mean you have to give them away. Don’t get cute JD.
dont get cute, dont get cocky
wasn’t that long ago when everyone was talking about our catching depth.
He's already said that i none of the chats I believe
That he isn’t looking to trade SP depth just for the sake of trading it
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
#14
didn’t really know what to do. was thinking something about his high socks, but murphy rocks those too.
the rest are here
play a full (healthy) season
needs to be on the check list!
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Word.
As well as “learn not to uppercut when everything I hit doesn’t fall in”.
"Ok, post your favorite moment of the Tom Hicks era
Mine is today when he sold the team." - t ball
Another suggestion for the check list
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
There's no crying in baseball
unless Geena Davis won’t sleep with you.
Oh my god! What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?
-Wash
Master the art of the popup/batflip combo. (HUGE CHECK)
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Mar 15, 2010 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Callis: Rangers have two of the six pitching prospects with ace potential
Which pitchers on this year’s Top 100 Prospects list do you consider to have true No. 1 starter potential?
Richard Gauger
Marshfield, Mass.
I’m stingy when it comes to anointing prospects as potential No. 1 starters. I want to see one dynamic pitch, at least one plus pitch to go with plus command and plus makeup—and even then I err on the side of caution. That’s why there are only six pitchers whom I would stamp as having legitimate No. 1 starter potential: Stephen Strasburg (No. 2), Brian Matusz (No. 5), Neftali Feliz (No. 9), Martin Perez (No. 17), Tyler Matzek (No. 23) and Jacob Turner (No. 26).
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2010/269653.html
by Brett Perryman on Mar 15, 2010 11:25 AM CDT reply actions
Perhaps a sign of my indemic lack of gratitude
…all I could think was “I wish we’d a lost a couple more games and gotten Matzek.”
He did fall tantalizingly close.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Mar 15, 2010 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
this
but then again no one thought that he would get drafted that high IIRC b/c of his bonus demands
even that said, i bet no one thought he would sign for the bonus he ended upg etting…
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions
As the draft was happening
I thought he was going to fall to us. Obviously in retrospect there was no chance they could sign him, and you get the feeling that they would have taken Purke anyway, but at the time my heart rate was going way up. Matzek, White, Purke, Scheppers all kept falling, but Matzek was the big prize out of the group, to me.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 15, 2010 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions
I was hoping but I didn't think he'd fall past the A's.
Matzek definitely was the BPA at that point.
I was paranoid about that
but I tend to be when it comes to Oakland and LAA. I was certain that the Angels would take Scheppers with one of their picks.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 15, 2010 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Thought for sure they would too.
Born and raised in SoCal, went to school at Fresno St…figured it was inevitable. Yocum even cleared his shoulder.
Scheppers is the reason I can't be bitter about Purke.
I wanted Scheppers with our first pick. Wanted him so bad I would’ve made out with multiple dudes and/or fatties to get him.
Getting Scheppers plus the 15 this year out of our first two picks last year would’ve been a dream come true if you’d asked me the day before last year’s draft went down.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Mar 16, 2010 12:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Kirkman
Dos he start the year in the OKC bullpen? Does he project to be a LOOGY?
Vladimir Guererro - 2010 AL MVP
Frisco rotation Id imagine
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.
has he been moved to the pen and i missed it somewhere?
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think so
I believe hes still a starter although his ML future may be as a reliever.
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.
good to hear
was going to be shocked if they added him to the 40 then moved him to the pen
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 Mar 15, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
I imagine hes like Poveda was last year. Added to the 40 because we didn’t want to lose him for nothing in rule 5 but has little to no chance of actually seeing the big leagues in 2010 unless a ton of injuries occur
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 would think that
he has more of a chance to see the majors this year than Poveda did going into last year, but, yeah, not dissimilar.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 15, 2010 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think he should
His stuff has more potential than that.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 15, 2010 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions
what's a good comp
as far as his ceiling, and maybe, what you expect him to become?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Mar 15, 2010 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Kinda OT:
I had a dream last night I was watching Holland pitch to a guy in ST. He tossed him two wicked strikes, then stepped off the mound a bit. (Somehow I was on the mound with him during this) I hear him muttering “Gotta mix ’em up now, show them what you learned…” He then takes the ball in his right hand and throws a 6" breaking slider RIGHT HANDED for a K. The batter looked like he saw a ghost.
I love my baseball dreams.
"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.
Was Alyssa Milano in it?
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
I had a dream that someone had left a bunch of grilling equipment and accessories on the side of the road on my way to work
And there were a couple pieces I really wanted, like the 6 foot tall chimney starter.
Yours was better.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
damn! I wish I had baseball dreams....I'd like Rich Harden to be in a few :)
Mine are usually freaky with some dude chasing me with knives or somesuch..
If the Rangers don't make the play-offs this year I'm gonna go all Epic Bearded Man on your ass.
My cat (I don't have one)
Clamped down on my fingers, and much like a snapping turtle would not let go, in my weird dream last night.
"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 had a dream that I was drooling...
woke up, and sure enough, it wasn’t just a dream.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Mar 15, 2010 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions
A little surprised by KG's handicapping of next year's #1 prospect
Martin Perez: 5-2
Justin Smoak: 3-1
Michael Main: 15-1
Tanner Scheppers: 15-1
Jurickson Profar: 20-1
2010 15th overall pick: 40-1
Top two certainly make sense, but Main and Scheppers even is shocking unless he thinks Scheppers has a decent shot at surpassing 50 MLB innings, and I find it somewhat baffling that he would rank Profar three spots ahead of Main if he thinks Main has a better chance at being #1 next year, particularly with the huge bust quotient attached to Profar.
So basically, he believes Profar has a higher ceiling but Main could reach his ceiling quicker and safer.
Or some such. I gotta think you’re right on Scheppers(50 innings).
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
That would make more sense if the Rangers weren’t considering sending Profar to full season ball. Also, think about the chances that either of these guys outshine Perez and the like. It’s going to take something quite superlative, and Main is just not 15-1 likely to show that this year.
by Brett Perryman on Mar 15, 2010 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Agree.
I attended a harness race in Freehold, NJ years ago. The favorite went off at 1-9, the second choice 3-2, and the other 8 entries 99-1. That’s probably how I’d handicap next year’s top prospect.
BTW, the exacta paid a whopping $2.40
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
Vizquel was not going to resign here, YOU STUPID MOTHERFUCKERS!!!
It wasn’t about money, it was about where he wanted to live.
"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 don't know,
but I almost punched my radio…
"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.
Glad I missed all of that.
Was Bob setting up every question/statement with a 75 second intro showing how big his sports brain is?
"If this video was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick." Clark
re: Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride, 4/17/09
Mentoring of Elvis-Ian's yearly DL trip-too cheap to resign him <-Omar stuff
Bah, and then Backsick offering his “expert” opinion…maddening. Oh yeah, and Mike said he has never seen a worse CF arm in the Bigs.
“File that under who gives a shit.”
"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.
Who had the worst CF arm ever?
I’m guessing Pedro Borbon, but if he said that about my dear, sweet Boggsy there’s a shankin’ in his future…
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
He said it was way worse than Pierre.
He was talking about Borbon.
"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.
Hearing Bascik talk about the Rangers makes me hate him.
He’s just so fucking smug about it…..
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
This.
You’d think he would have some good insight and all because, well, he played the damn game(!)…but, nope.
"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.
Seriously?
You’d think he would have some good insight and all because, well, he played the damn game
Very tongue in cheek
But honestly, I expected him to have more than he has.
"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.
x
http://www.lonestarball.com/2010/3/15/1373801/evan-grants-projected-opening-day#32598307
""It was a ball, dude," Davis said. "I don’t swing at balls anymore." -CD
Psst
Check the thread above this one :)
"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.
tyd link
http://www.lonestarball.com/2010/3/15/1373801/evan-grants-projected-opening-day#32598307
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 Mar 15, 2010 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Kris Benson signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks.
by GregoryM on Mar 15, 2010 3:27 PM CDT reply actions
Just checked the box score and .....wow!
10 batters…..no outs. That’s gotta hurt.
If you want some slack, bring your own rope.
by rangerfaninva on Mar 15, 2010 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions
OT
Mitch Williams just said on MLBN that Ryan Howard would make the Cardinals better than Albert Pujols does.
Uber-epic fail.
"There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked." --Muhammad Ali
Goddamn.
What is going on? I mean, it’s one thing for someone to be a moron about a sport; it’s another to be paid to know what’s going on and to still be a moron.
by brettgardner on Mar 15, 2010 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions
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