Sunday a.m. Rangers stuff
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 10:05 AM CST
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PrintOh no! The Rangers are below .500 in spring training! Panic time!
Evan Grant has some notes up from yesterday's 2-1 loss to the Royals. Of particular note (to me, anyway) is Nolan Ryan being interested in seeing Craig Gentry this spring, along with Grant's comment that Gentry is trailing Brandon Boggs in the backup outfielder pecking order.
T.R. Sullivan also has some game notes, saying that Josh Hamilton hopes to get 6 ABs in a B game this morning, and heaping high praise on Chris Davis for his defense at first base yesterday.
The S-T has some notes up, with updates on Hamilton and Julio Borbon, and some discussion of Chris Davis and where he is with his swing right now.
Jeff Wilson has a story up on Brandon McCarthy and the change he's made in his mechanics, in an effort to keep him healthy.
Randy Galloway has a column up on Chuck Greenberg. Galloway says that Greenberg isn't able to hang out in Surprise, like Tom Hicks is, because Greenberg is working 12 hour days trying to "clean up" the financial mess Tom Hicks has made out of the Rangers. I'm not one to defend Hicks, but I do feel it is worthwhile to note that most of the problems with the Rangers' lack of revenues comes from the fact that the team spent a decade being crappy, and fans tend to lose interest in a perpetually mediocre team.
There's also this encouraging quote:
Last week, a list of baseball Opening Day salaries for 2010 was released, and the Rangers had a payroll of $58 million, the lowest in nearly 15 years, and only 25th out of 30 teams.
"I saw that list," said Greenberg, "and, actually, I'm looking at a different number. I've got it maybe $10 million higher than that, but I know there are different ways to count the payroll dollars.
"No matter what it is, it's not enough, but that's no surprise. Yes, the Rangers are in the bottom half in payroll. No, that's not the way it should be."
I know there are a few contrarians out there who have peddled the "payroll doesn't matter" nonsense the past several years, but the reality is, it is easier to win with an $80 million payroll than with a $60 million payroll. We're a lot more likely to see these guys the team is developing stick around long term, rather than get traded when they start getting expensive in arbitration, with an upper-half payroll than with a lower-half payroll.
Evan Grant writes that the key word in Nolan Ryan's 92 game prediction was not the 92 games, but "if," since Nolan's prediction was tempered by him saying that the team should win 92 games if the team is healthy and some things go right. Grant looks at what the key "ifs" are for this team in 2010.
Sullivan has a story up saying that the Rangers "could have one of the best offensive teams in baseball this year," although the team he's referring to is the one in Oklahoma. I still think that is overselling matters a bit, since two of the offensive studs Sullivan refers to are Chad Tracy and Craig Gentry, but there does seem to be some interesting positional talent in Oklahoma this year. One just has to hope we don't have to dip into that pool too much this season, other than using guys as trade chips for a July acquisition.
Anthony Andro talks to Geoff Geary, who likes to surf. I forgot Geary was even in camp with Texas until I read this.
Former Ranger Jason Grilli is likely out for the season after tearing a quad in a conditioning drill yesterday. That's unfortunate...Grilli was solid for the Rangers last year before going on the d.l., and seemed to be a good guy.
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First
Rainout of ST today?
"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 hambone today
B game is canceled
1 minute ago
"When you play Happy," Andrus said, "good things will happen."
Hamilton trade rumor
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/03/cafardo-on-hamilton-beckett-jackson.html
I call b.s. on it…..comes from a Boston writer of all people…
respice adspice prospice
That's not really a rumor
That’s speculation.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 10:15 AM CST up reply actions
"I don’t know what to base it on, but there’s a feeling the Rangers may do something..."
That’s about as accurate or truthful as some moron here telling me what goes on in the clubhouse. Complete conjecture, nothing more.
"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
Cafardo is out there and is talking to teams, and suspect that he’s not just pulling it out of thin air — he’s saying that other teams think Texas may do something, and I suspect that isn’t inaccurate.
But that’s still a ways away from “the Rangers want to move Hamilton.” The Rangers wouldn’t seem likely to move Hamilton unless they believe he’s toast.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 10:23 AM CST up reply actions
But really, couldn't you say that about any star player?
Other teams always keep tabs on desirable/star players, or prospects even. If he talked to said teams about Smoak, would they not show interest too?
"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
I guess it is a matter of interpretation.
I’m assuming he’s talked to scouts, front office types, whatever who are saying this, versus him just assuming it to be the case.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 10:31 AM CST up reply actions
Speculation indeed
just really weird
respice adspice prospice
by FormerDriller on Mar 7, 2010 10:22 AM CST up reply actions
I wouldn't be surprised to see the Rangers do something not involving Hamilton.
They’ve got a few young pitchers they could dangle in Hunter, Harrison, BMac (he’s still young), CJ and a controllable power hitting RFer in Cruz.
I could see them using one of those chips for a CFer or another TORP, but not for anything less than that like a catcher, power hitting COF, or late-inning BP guy.
Hamilton, however, is probably not someone who brings back max value at this time.
This is low risk speculation for Cafardo, if Hamilton does get traded he can say he was in the lead on this one.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
If they trade for a CF'er...
…that would shock me, because they’d be conceding that, after three weeks, they’d determined that Julio Borbon wasn’t going to cut it.
If they did trade for a CF’er, in fact, I’d assume Borbon would be shipped out as part of the deal.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 11:05 AM CST up reply actions
Yep. Meant to add that Borbon would be out of here.
I’m sure the Rangers want to find another impact player — probably pitcher — but I just don’t see it happening during ST.
It’s too early for folks to give up on the season, and if the Rangers swap one impact player for another, what have they gained?
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
My guess is...
…the Rangers could make a move late in spring training, but it would be a relatively minor move, I suspect, involving McCarthy or some of their minor league or bullpen depth, and they wouldn’t be adding a big piece in a move like that.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 11:10 AM CST up reply actions
I wonder if they're satisfied with their utility infielder situation.
Wouldn’t surprise me to see them make a move on that front.
Yeah
Particularly if they could get a guy who could fill the Matt Brown lefty-masher CIF backup role as well, which would let them keep Gentry or Boggs.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
To be fair to Cafardo, he does write for the one team with whom the Rangers could consider a blockbuster.
They have Beckett, and Hamilton certainly would be an upgrade over Ellsbury in LF.
Cruz is probably a higher WAR-player in LF than Ellsbury, but it’s hard to imagine anything less than Hamilton would yield get Beckett (plus a couple of minor leaguers to even out the controllable years part of the equation).
It’s hard to imagine a Beckett-Hamilton swap is a net improvement for the Rangers team. Seems like a wash at best.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
Hamilton's not an upgrade
if he can’t stay healthy.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
Galloway could have asked Greenberg, among other things:
- why he is having trouble securing the financing for his purchase what percentage of the debt financing is currently secured
-
- how much he and his group are contributing in cash to the purchase how much debt will be on the club’s balance sheet after the deal is complete
-
- for specific numbers on where he expects the payroll to be in 1/3/5 years etc.
-
But of course, that would have been way beyond Randy Galloway’s abilities.
Dude
You are turning into a broken record.
Are you going to go away when the purchase is done, or are you going to hang around and snipe about how Greenberg isn’t any better than Hicks?
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 10:29 AM CST up reply actions
Would you not have been interested in knowing the answers?
You are the one who thought yet one more mindless, uninformative Hicks-bashing column from Randy Galloway was worth noting. Why aren’t you asking these questions of such columns yourself?
Why wouldn't you answer my question?
To answer yours, I haven’t seen any indication that Greenberg is having trouble securing financing, so asking that question would be what we in the legal profession refer to as “assuming facts not in evidence.”
I don’t see what a question about what percentage of the debt financing is currently secured has to do with anything.
I don’t think most folks care how much cash Greenberg and his group are kicking in.
The debt question is relevant, but I don’t know that asking that question is going to get you an answer that is relevant.
Trying to pin him down on “specific numbers on where he expects the payroll to be in 1/3/5 years” is an exercise in futility, since he’s likely going to say it is going to depend on the team’s situation, the development of the players currently here, etc., but that he expects it to be higher than it is now. Offering a specific dollar figure would be stupid, and Greenberg isn’t stupid. You’d ask that question, really, only if you are trying to play gotcha with him or beat him up for not giving specifics.
As for “etc.”, I don’t know what you are talking about there, but for the most part, your proposed questions are dumb, and I’d rather have Galloway asking the questions he asked than you.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 10:38 AM CST up reply actions
x
- He himself has said that there are loose ends. OK. Why? What’s the hold up?
- The debt financing question matters greatly as it will determine the interest payments the club has to make. The larger those are, the lower your payroll increases are going to be.
- On the payroll question, he himself has said it should be higher. OK. By how much? What range are we talking here? $70-$80M? $120-$140M? Maybe he’ll duck the question, but it’s worth asking since he says it should be higher.
Sigh
- He himself has said that there are loose ends. OK. Why? What’s the hold up?
When was the last time a sports franchise sold where there weren’t “loose ends” to address between the time the deal is announced and the time it is completed and approved by ownership?
The debt financing question matters greatly as it will determine the interest payments the club has to make. The larger those are, the lower your payroll increases are going to be.
Okay. If they were putting in all cash, versus financing some of the purchase, they’d have lower debt obligations. But there’d still be the return that the investors would be giving up, so at the end of the day, I don’t know that there is a huge difference. Unless you think Greenberg is flat out lying when he says that payroll will be increased and more money will be invested in the product, this isn’t something that is terribly relevant.
- On the payroll question, he himself has said it should be higher. OK. By how much? What range are we talking here? $70-$80M? $120-$140M? Maybe he’ll duck the question, but it’s worth asking since he says it should be higher.
And you’re not going to pin him down. But since you believe that Greenberg needs to be cross-examined and painted in a negative light, that would appear to serve your purposes anyway, since you can say, “See, he’s no better than Hicks!”
I don’t know what your connection with Hicks is or why you feel it is so necessary for you to come in and defend his honor. But it is getting boring.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 10:51 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
x
Okay. If they were putting in all cash, versus financing some of the purchase, they’d have lower debt obligations. But there’d still be the return that the investors would be giving up, so at the end of the day, I don’t know that there is a huge difference.
You have a large interest payment removed. Where does that excess cash flow go?
Unless you think Greenberg is flat out lying when he says that payroll will be increased and more money will be invested in the product, this isn’t something that is terribly relevant.
I don’t think he’s lying. I would just like to know more specifically what he is talking about and how he plans to achieve what he says he’ll do.
As far as Hicks goes, I have no ties. I just think the endless bashing of him is really pointless and uninformative. That has nothing to do with my questions about Greenberg and the future of the Rangers anyway.
Why does he have to pin down a number on payroll?
Just so you can have something to bitch about when it doesn’t happen. Because its almost impossible to nail down a number for this team. With all the young controllable players we have in key positions and the depth in the minor leagues its virtually impossible. If he said ~80 million that would be plausible but then if we went out and made a big trade or signed a big FA we could go well over that. And if he said ~100 million that would also be plausible but yet we could just keep going to arbitration (or signing guys to one year deals instead of extensions) and it would be really tough to come close to that number.
Unless you want a range thats around 30-40 million dollars then its pointless to publicly say a payroll goal. And a range that big makes no sense anyway because its too large.
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.
He himself has said that there are loose ends. OK. Why? What’s the hold up?
Aren’t there dozens of debtors tied to HSG?
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!
Blow me fuck face
"We pitched, we caught the ball, we ran the bases, we had good days where we out-fundamentalized the other team." - Ronald Washington
by Pocket Ninja on Mar 7, 2010 11:18 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
This has already gotten old
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!
Done
"We pitched, we caught the ball, we ran the bases, we had good days where we out-fundamentalized the other team." - Ronald Washington
by Pocket Ninja on Mar 7, 2010 11:25 AM CST up reply actions
I'll play
1. Negotiating with 40-odd creditors on hundreds of millions of dollars takes time
2. You’ll never know this answer. This is not a public trust, it is a private business.
3. Setting a payroll number in the future is dumb. Do not spend to hit a ‘goal’, spend what you need to fill holes and retain talent.
"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.
Fair answers.
1) Maybe that’s all it is. Wouldn’t hurt to ask though.
2) Maybe not. Again, wouldn’t hurt to ask. But given how big an issue the current debt level is, Greenberg would probably at least give some specifics.
3) I’m not talking about a specific number or goal. Just some more color on what he’s thinking the range should be.
The answers to your questions
have been given, MANY TIMES, both here and in several media outlets, at least as far as any answers can be given in public about a private business transaction. You seem to be the only not getting it, so either you’re very stupid, can’t read, or you have an agenda.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
Sorry
But that’s just simply not true.
I get that no one here can answer the questions, for the same reason I can’t. It’s because they haven’t been asked. But that’s a good reason not to pay much attention to anything Randy Galloway says about the matter.
That subject matter would
make for a very, very boring column (which is not to diminish the importance of the ownership change).
"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)
Especially since
it has already been reported on extensively and we basically have all the information we’re going to get from a privately held business.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
The details of the deal haven't been reportedly extensively.
Very little about that has been reported.
As far as what information would be given, maybe the debt load question would be answered, maybe it wouldn’t be. But I’d be interested in seeing the response.
It’s not a pointless question either. Many people have rightfully made a big issue of HSG’s debt load and the limitations they believe it to be causing for the Rangers currently. And many have assumed that debt will be greatly reduced with the new ownership.
debt load
I’ll grant you that, though I cannot imagine MLB would be too excited about a deal with as heavy a debt load as Hicks had.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
Maybe there were only two options:
1) HSG in a prolonged battle in the press and courts with creditors, or
2) Greenberg’s group leaving the same debt level but with new lenders they’ve arranged cashing out the HSG lenders that want out.
HSG has a tremendously different debt load than Hicks, you stoolie
You proport to have inside info on this transaction, but have the most base understanding of finance.
Really, you are a frosh with a finance major, aren’t you?
"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.
His point is...
you don’t know what you’re talking about and you should stop commenting on the matter.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Actually, I think his point
had something to do with HSG debt, Hicks debt, and the debt of the Rangers with the new owners.
It just wasn’t very clear what his point was about those.
From the Galloway piece:
Greenberg repeatedly mentions his goal of the Rangers returning to those days of a player payroll near the $100 million mark, where the once free-spending Hicks had it long ago, although with disastrous results.
“None of this, of course, happens immediately,” said Greenberg. “We’ve got to win back the fans, win back the sponsors, win on the field. We’ve got to do all of that, and also commit our dollars to getting it done. But that’s why Nolan and myself are involved in this. We believe good things can happen.”
This is the problem with this guy
To answer yours, I haven’t seen any indication that Greenberg is having trouble securing financing
We have to go by what is reported in the media. He says he knows people and knows other details that we have no way of knowing — and argues with us.
It’s a waste of time.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Mar 7, 2010 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
And by the way
I am interested in knowing the answers to these questions because I definitely agree with you that payroll matters. But I also know enough about finance and the Rangers’ current financial situation to know that the payroll isn’t just going to automatically increase because there are new owners, as many Rangers fans seem to believe.
The level of debt left on the club, the interest rates at which it is secured, and other such facts will play a major role in how much the payroll can be increased. Yet neither you nor anyone in the Dallas press is asking Greenberg these questions.
Greenberg seems to me like a great guy. I hope he does great with the Rangers. I would just like to know some specifics on how this is being financed.
Here's what I suggest
First of all, you say that neither me nor anyone in the Dallas press is asking Greenberg these questions.
I don’t ask Greenberg questions. I didn’t ask Tom Hicks questions. I also don’t ask Jon Daniels, Thad Levine, Ron Washington, A.J. Preller, or anyone else in the organization questions (except for at Newberg Night or other fan events). I don’t have access to these people. This isn’t what I do.
If you want these questions answered, email Evan Grant and ask him to ask those questions. Email Jeff Wilson and Anthony Andro. Email Richard Durrett and Ben Wilson and Jim Reeves. Email Kevin Sherrington, Gerry Fraley, Randy Galloway, Tim Cowlishaw, and Gil LeBreton. Ask those people to ask those questions.
Contact Jamey Newberg and ask him to pose those questions. Contact Maury Brown, who has covered the sale at length and in detail, and ask him if he knows the answers or can find them out.
There are plenty of people who are better suited than I am to get answers to these questions.
If you are really interested in bringing light to the darkness, go follow up with those people.
If you just want to crap on the sales process and bitch at those of us here who hate Tom Hicks’ stewardship of the team and are celebrating his departure, then by all means, ignore my suggestions and instead keep posting your repetitive posts.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 11:01 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
OK.
That’s fine. I didn’t realize you were this sensitive about differing opinions at your site, but point taken.
Good idea on e-mailing Evan Grant. I will do that.
But do you really think it would hurt you to be a little more critical of promises about Rangers payroll hikes? (That has nothing to do with Tom Hicks.)
x
But do you really think it would hurt you to be a little more critical of promises about Rangers payroll hikes?
Critical how?
The payroll needs to be higher. Greenberg says he’s going to do that.
You want me to write speculative pieces about how Greenberg says he’s going to do that, but maybe he won’t?
Greenberg, unlike Hicks, doesn’t have a track record of being a liar. Thus, at this point, I’m willing to take what he says at face value, particularly because I don’t think what he’s saying is unrealistic.
If Greenberg has the team at a $60-65 million payroll in 2012, I’ll hammer him just like I’ve hammered Hicks.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 11:08 AM CST up reply actions
x
The payroll needs to be higher. Greenberg says he’s going to do that.
No speculative pieces needed. Just some questioning of how he’s going to do it and why he thinks he can.
Greenberg, unlike Hicks, doesn’t have a track record of being a liar.
I think you realize the problem here. You’ve let your hatred of Hicks get in the way of thinking critically about questions related to the new ownership.
The new guy often gets off easy when the incumbent is evil. That’s not a good approach though.
Blow me fuck face
"We pitched, we caught the ball, we ran the bases, we had good days where we out-fundamentalized the other team." - Ronald Washington
by Pocket Ninja on Mar 7, 2010 11:18 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Blow me fuck face
"We pitched, we caught the ball, we ran the bases, we had good days where we out-fundamentalized the other team." - Ronald Washington
by Pocket Ninja on Mar 7, 2010 11:18 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
On the topic of your questions at Newberg Night '09
My wife has come to end long, rambling, detailed questions with a short pause and …‘so what’s up with that?’.
Call it a homage, if you will.
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!
I thought it was
But I could be wrong- weren’t you one of the first ones to get a question in to JD?
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!
It may have been
I think Ben ended a question that way a few years ago, as well.
Actually, the best question from Ben was when he was talking about how several pitchers went down to AAA and worked with Andy Hawkins and got fixed, when they couldn’t at the major league level, and then said, “Now, I’m not asking you to throw Mark Connor under the bus…”
And JD interjected, “I don’t think I have to, I think you did that yourself.”
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 11:25 AM CST up reply actions
You know
you wanna ban him. Go ahead, make my day!
"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
Question
Have you discussed anything about the Rangers on this board, other than this Greenberg/Hicks stuff?
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 10:39 AM CST up reply actions
I didn't think you had
And I don’t understand why the only Rangers-related topic you appear to have any interest in is the sale, and in particular, the carping about Greenberg and the sales process.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 10:46 AM CST up reply actions
I have interest in the on-field related stuff too.
And I appreciate the links and info about that stuff. Just haven’t felt like commenting on any of it since signing up recently.
I find the financing question interesting and have had my curiosity raised since learning Greenberg is only putting in $3 million. There’s nothing necessarily problematic with that as others have pointed out. But it does make me wonder a little more about how this deal is being done.
It would be nice if some people would start asking.
What is your source on the $3M number?
Why should we just take that as gospel from you?
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Mar 7, 2010 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
Who the hell cares how much Greenberg is putting in himself?
We already know there are two investors putting up the most money and that Greenberg is not the big money guy in the deal.
Have even tried to look this stuff up? Do you know how to read news online? Were you even aware of all the reports on the team sale when it came down several weeks ago?
Why are you so damn stupid and helpless when it comes to gathering the basic information on this deal? Go do your fucking homework.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
Ha. Such anger.
The question is about what the debt level and interest payments will be. Yes, I have looked for the information online. It hasn’t been reported anywhere.
Maybe it's Tom Hicks
useless drunken son?
"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland
I'm reasonably certain...
…he’s the same guy as that Texas_Dawg guy, who claimed to be entering the MBA program at Cornell and who I’m betting is buddies with one of Hicks’ kids.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 11:03 AM CST up reply actions
13,895 posts
And that is your critically thought out, well reasoned response?
ha
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
It was his MikeE impression.
"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason." - Benjamin Franklin
I've thought that
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Mar 7, 2010 11:05 AM CST up reply actions
I'm still expecting a post that says
Blow me f**k face. Go to hell. I’m sick of you.
"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
"Blow me fuck face"
"We pitched, we caught the ball, we ran the bases, we had good days where we out-fundamentalized the other team." - Ronald Washington
by Pocket Ninja on Mar 7, 2010 11:14 AM CST up reply actions
Blow me fuck face
"We pitched, we caught the ball, we ran the bases, we had good days where we out-fundamentalized the other team." - Ronald Washington
by Pocket Ninja on Mar 7, 2010 11:18 AM CST up reply actions
Can there be any more pathetic sight
than seeing Tom Hicks at spring training 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)
I'm struggling to think of one
that would be significantly more pathetic looking.
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!
Simon Calwell performing on American Idol to keep ratings?
Just guessing, since I’ve never watched it. Or do you mean not hypothetical things.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
Yeah, realistic hypotheticals, I suppose
I mean, you could throw out tons of stuff that’s totally off-the-wall pathetic, but in reality, all that bastard’s put us through and all the failure he represents- on two continents- seeing him drag his carcass around is top, top end of patheticness.
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!
When's the next freaking podcast from The Newberg & The Great Morris?
"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)
Monday
We were going to record last Monday, but it had to be rescheduled.
There is a special guest on Monday who hasn’t been on the podcast before. I am not going to say who it is, other than to say that I’m reasonably certain that everyone on this board has heard of this person.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 11:04 AM CST up reply actions
Is it
Greenberg? You guys better grill him…
by brettgardner on Mar 7, 2010 11:06 AM CST up reply actions
Ha. Good one.
That would be awesome. I have no doubt AJM would ask him tougher and better informed questions than he is going to get from anywhere else.
AJM would never get that close to ownership though. Jeopardizes the independence he understandably values so highly.
AJM..are you ever going to make it out to Surprise?
"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)
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)
Nope
People have told me for years now I need to try to come out there for a week or so. I can’t remember the last time I went anywhere for a week. It was probably when I was in middle school.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 11:12 AM CST up reply actions
One week is too long. Go for three days over a long weekend
just enough to get your beak wet.
Then you’ll wanna go for 5 days like moi.
"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 have what is probably the most highly-read Rangers blog site.
Influential Rangers executives and media members regularly visit the site.
Why don’t you want to get more involved with what’s going on with the club? You could have a major influence upon important decisions and thus the direction of the team.
(I don’t mean that as a criticism. I’m just curious as to what your reasons are for holding back.)
Well
My short answer as to why I’m not going to spring training is that I have two little kids and a job that takes up a very large amount of time. It is hard to get away for any length of time.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
I think you're heavily overweighting the influence of blogs on Rangers' FO decisions.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
I'm not.
I don’t think sports club management teams do whatever any blogger tells them to do. But they also aren’t oblivious or indifferent to the opinions and wishes of the most influential voices and websites among their media and respectable, rational segments of their fanbase.
I bet it's Goldstein.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
x
@Royals_Report #Royals 3B Alex Gordon suffered broken right thumb on head-first slide at second in Saturday’s victory over Texas. Can’t swing or throw.
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
That poor kid is cursed
But, he’s the reason the Hardline can’t go to ST, so eff him.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
by Rodney on Mar 7, 2010 11:25 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
x
@jonmorosi #Twins announce four-year, $14 million deal with Nick Blackburn. Deal includes $8M club option for 2014. #MLB
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
Wasn't Nick Blackburn...
…“Your Company’s Computer Guy” on SNL?
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 11:25 AM CST up reply actions
Nick Burns
Oh by the way, you’re welcome!
"Jesus, Spanish- our jobs aren't enough, now you want our words?"
-- Sterling Archer
From EG:
Justin Smoak has some soreness in his hip flexor muscle, Brandon Boggs has biceps tendinitis.
"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.
Sucks
Both of those sound like things that could stick around for a while
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!
Wonder if Boggs' injury is in his throwing arm
If so that could keep him sidelined for awhile
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.
Hey, wanna buy Juando's old ride?!
Maybe I should pimp mine out like this:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/1629875644.html
"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.
not if it breaks down as often as he did.
If the Rangers don't make the play-offs this year I'm gonna go all Epic Bearded Man on your ass.
by BigGuns on Mar 7, 2010 11:53 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Scouts looking at Hammy
Josh Hamilton, RF, Rangers – Scouts are watching him in case the Rangers entertain thoughts of dealing him before the end of sspring training. Said a national league scout ‘Everybody in Texas denies it, and I don’t know what to base it on, but there’s a feeling the Rangers may do something, and teams want to be ready.
Nick Cafardo, Boston Globe
by Andrew in Boston on Mar 7, 2010 12:05 PM CST reply actions
Tiddly winky
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!
The greatest of the Teletubbies...
…Tinky Winky.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 12:16 PM CST up reply actions
Tuscadero, Pinky
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
I hear she's stinky
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!
Song lyric
“Now he’s zipped up like Leather Tuscadero”
Quick, name the artist.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 12:23 PM CST up reply actions
Ice Cube was a poet
Back when he used to actually write. A lyrical genius.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 12:28 PM CST up reply actions
Makes as much sense as an Awayrun. Maybe more.
By your logic, the visiting team should always refer to home plate as “away plate”.
Seems like the umps are shittier than usual everywhere this year. - thedirkatron
I was going to go into that.
But I figure one thing at a time. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
I'm just goofin' new boot goofin'
A funky Gil Scott-Heron.
Though I prefer Eazy, straight to the point- “I’m Eazy-E, I got bitches galore…”
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
Eazy
He’s gone and forgotten. His contribution to culture is as the descriptor to describe the type of AIDS that kills the victim right away.
There’s Magic Johnson/Andrew Sullivan AIDS, and then there’s Eazy E AIDS.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 7, 2010 12:41 PM CST up reply actions
But he was a funny little mofo.
I liked Ren’s delivery too, great group.
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
Me and the Devil
The new track by Gil Scott-Heron is quite good.
by Excel Hearts Choi on Mar 7, 2010 12:46 PM CST up reply actions
Gino Vanelli
'Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night'
Scott Lucas has
A pretty in depth comparative look at MY’s chance at 3,000 hits.
"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.
Payroll
While I agree that the payroll for this team should be in the $90 million range, I hope Greenberg doesn’t feel the need to get it up into that range immediately. In another year or so, it’s going to be time to start locking some guys up long-terms, and the arbitration cases are going to get more expensive. I would much rather see the payroll work its way up the next couple years to keep the core team intact, rather than go give a John Lackey contract to a pitcher like John Lackey.
Amusing
There’s a reason they call them ownership “groups”. The amount the managing partner may have or not have in a deal may have little relevance.
Curious…
Is the question whether player payroll increase for the coming season, or in future years? The latter is a non-starter with nearly every owner as variables such as winning/losing, full-season equivalent renewals, sponsorships… the list is long.
If I’m owning the Rangers I would only see the need to raise salary marginally based upon a piece here or there that needs addressing. Raising salary to raise salary makes no sense.
x
There’s a reason they call them ownership "groups". The amount the managing partner may have or not have in a deal may have little relevance.
Agreed.
I think the amount of cash the overall owners’ group contributes matters though.
If I’m owning the Rangers I would only see the need to raise salary marginally based upon a piece here or there that needs addressing. Raising salary to raise salary makes no sense.
Completely agreed. But many Rangers fans appear to believe the current payroll is unnaturally low due to a lack of funds from Hicks. So with Hicks removed, the belief is that the payroll will naturally jump substantially in the near future, even before any future winning and increased attendance naturally enables that. And people like Randy Galloway feed such beliefs with vague insinuations around their Hicks-bashing, without providing any specifics on how and why this near-term spike in payroll will happen.
You've been pwned, to the utmost extreme, by an expert
“Now go get your fuckin’ shinebox”.
"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.
Did you really just use the "word" "pwned"?
And I’m not sure how I was “pwned” there when I agree with pretty much everything he said.
He’s saying he doesn’t expect the payroll to increase much in the near-term and would only increase it from the current level “marginally” based upon specific needs. Which is exactly what I’ve said from the start I figure we’ll see, as I’ve said I believe the Rangers are currently at their general break-even limit for payroll, barring some major increase in revenues.
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